Chapter 218 : Riku Strength Is Above Namikaze Minato
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Senju Tobirama was defeated by Uchiha Madara using the Flying Thunder God Technique—not because he didn’t know the jutsu, but because his reaction speed couldn’t match Madara’s.
He was caught in an instant.
That’s why, to truly master the Flying Thunder God Technique, you need not only talent, but also lightning-fast reflexes, sharp tactical instincts, and impeccable combat awareness. Without those, the technique is practically useless.
At best, it can only serve as a means of long-distance teleportation.
This is why many shinobi don’t bother learning it. Aside from the immense difficulty and lack of talent required, it simply doesn’t suit most people.
Not every ninja possesses split-second reaction time.
And the jutsu consumes chakra, too.
Even though Minato Namikaze didn’t have an overwhelming amount of chakra, he was still at Kage-level. His chakra reserves far exceeded those of an average Jonin.
And Minato fought strategically. He never wasted chakra—his techniques were always calculated and precise.
But Riku? He was faster than Minato in every way.
Reaction speed, tactical planning—and most importantly—chakra capacity. He surpassed Minato in all of them.
That’s why Kakashi could instantly tell that Riku had surpassed the Yellow Flash.
He hadn’t noticed before because Riku had only shown brute strength—raw, terrifying power that was undoubtedly at Kage-level. Even among the Kage, few could rival him.
But since Riku learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, he’d rarely used it. No enemy had forced him to reveal his true speed—until now.
Now Kakashi was sure of it.
Riku’s gaze shifted to a mound of earth not far away.
"I didn’t expect a blast like that to fail to kill you, Sasori."
At the sound of Riku’s voice, the dirt pile began to tremble.
A moment later, it exploded outward—Sasori emerged from beneath it.
In that split second before the explosion, Sasori had used Earth Style to sink dozens of meters underground and created layers of earth walls around himself.
The explosion had barely grazed him.
Riku spoke calmly, "Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura—go after Deidara. Try to stop him."
Kakashi, already anticipating this, nodded.
"Be careful."
Riku gave a small nod.
But Sakura spoke up, "Kakashi-sensei, I want to stay and fight with Riku. I have the antidote to Sasori’s poison. It’s better if I stay."
Earlier, Deidara had used Gaara’s body to shield himself from the explosion.
Kakashi thought it over and said, "All right. Riku, I’ll leave her to you."
Naruto glanced at Riku, doubt flickering in his eyes.
He couldn’t help but feel suspicious. Sakura volunteering to stay behind with Riku? It didn’t sit right with him. He didn’t say anything, but the feelings bubbled beneath the surface.
He was angry. Even if Sakura didn’t choose him, couldn’t she at least wait for Sasuke?
Sakura’s eagerness to help Riku—it gnawed at him.
It reminded him of what he’d nearly walked in on yesterday... what he suspected was going on between the two of them. And now this? His doubts only grew.
Naruto wasn’t stupid. Maybe a little naïve, but not blind.
They were all sixteen now—adults, by shinobi standards.
This was the age when emotions ran hot. Impulse ruled.
But for now, Naruto shoved those thoughts aside.
His priority was getting Gaara’s body back. He couldn’t allow Deidara to escape with it.
So, despite the nagging suspicion in his chest, he said nothing.
Riku frowned slightly, but kept silent.
Kakashi and Naruto might have a shot against Deidara.
Deidara had just detonated a giant clay bomb and used up a significant amount of chakra. Kakashi could probably manage it.
And the Nine Tails had been quiet since Riku’s earlier confrontation with it. Naruto wouldn’t lose control again—at least not for now.
As for Sakura—she regretted speaking up almost immediately.
Yesterday, Naruto had already misunderstood what happened between her and Riku. Staying behind to fight alongside him now would only make things worse.
But Sakura’s intentions were pure—Sasori’s poisons were dangerous, and her antidote could prove useful.
After Kakashi and Naruto left, Chiyo quietly observed them.
"Little girl," she said with a wry smile, "I think you made a good choice. That boy, Riku, gives off a much stronger sense of security."
She assumed this was a love triangle—Riku and Naruto fighting over Sakura. It was common in shinobi teams.
This was, after all, part of the purpose of forming three-person squads—two boys and one girl.
The girl served not only as a teammate but often as the source of emotional tension and balance.
It was a deliberate strategy used by villages across the Five Nations.
Riku scowled slightly.
Sakura froze, startled, and quickly turned to him, then back to Chiyo.
"You’ve misunderstood, Granny Chiyo," she said hurriedly. "It’s not like that. I already like someone else—it’s not Riku. Or Naruto."
She glanced at Riku apologetically.
After all, she knew Riku hadn’t done anything.
Riku merely frowned and didn’t respond.
He turned his attention back to Sasori.
"I didn’t think a blast like that would fail to kill you," he said coldly. "But this time, you won’t escape."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, "The most talented puppeteer in Sunagakure’s history—I’m curious to see what you can do."
Sasori didn’t appear nearly as calm.
That explosion had been classified as Level 073—and yet the area around Riku was untouched.
No matter how he looked at it, it was hard to believe.
Sasori studied Riku carefully. "Uchiha Itachi once said you were powerful. Hoshigaki Kisame told me you even seriously injured him... and that was when you were just thirteen."
"I didn’t understand at the time," Sasori said slowly. "But now... I can see it. You’re something else."
Riku smiled faintly. "Is that all? Just ’something else’? Doesn’t matter. You’re not leaving here. Either surrender and return to Sunagakure to face justice—or die here."
He turned briefly to Chiyo. "I assume that’s why you came too, right, Granny Chiyo?"
Chiyo stepped forward beside him and nodded. "Sasori... why did you defect? Was it because of the Third Kazekage’s disappearance?"
Her voice was heavy.
She didn’t want Sasori to admit it. Because if he did... he would have to die.
Even Chiyo wouldn’t be able to protect him.
To assassinate the Kazekage—the leader of their village, someone considered the strongest in Sunagakure’s history—was unforgivable.
And the Third wasn’t just the Kazekage. He had been Chiyo’s disciple.
Trained by both the First and Second Kazekage, and revered by the village’s elders, he had quickly risen above all other shinobi in power.
He had symbolized Sunagakure’s future.
His disappearance had thrown the village into chaos.
And if Sasori really was responsible...
Then no matter how painful it was, Chiyo knew what she had to do.
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