Chapter 61 : Selecting The S-Class Ninjutsu Of The Sealed Book
This combination of ninjutsu shocked even Kakashi and the others. Only now did they truly realize the extent of Riku’s strength.
Until now, Riku had never shown the full scope of his abilities.
Whether it was Kakashi, Yamato, or Yugao, they had all assumed that Riku’s capabilities were roughly at the level of a Jōnin—perhaps an Elite Jōnin at best.
But now, it was clear that Riku had already surpassed them all. His strength had reached Kage-level.
He had even mastered the formidable Wood Style, a rare and powerful Kekkei Genkai.
After releasing his ninjutsu, Riku appeared beside Guy and said with a smile, "Guy-sensei, you can take the healing pills now."
Riku knew Guy was reluctant. For someone who relied so heavily on taijutsu, a healing pill like this was invaluable.
At this moment, Guy’s bones were broken, and his body was wracked with pain. But even so, he was hesitant to use his only pill.
Riku laughed. "If you don’t want to end up crippled, you’d better take it."
Guy hesitated, then sighed. "I was hoping to save it for a more dangerous situation... But unfortunately, I only have one."
After speaking, he took a small bottle from his ninja pouch. Inside were clear, crystalline healing pills.
Riku watched him take one and smiled. "Though it’s extremely difficult to refine these, it’s not impossible to make more in the future. Don’t be too disappointed."
Within a minute of taking the pill, Guy’s shattered bones and torn flesh fully healed. He was restored to peak condition.
Even the hidden injuries that had accumulated from years of overtraining were repaired.
Guy stood up. "This pill is incredible. It’s a shame I don’t have more."
"It looks like I need to push myself even harder from now on—otherwise, I won’t be worthy of this medicine."
He was still dwelling on the pill.
Riku said nothing—just smiled.
Afterward, Kakashi led the team in rescuing all the surviving villagers.
But in a city of over 30,000, only a few hundred were still alive.
This massacre sent shockwaves through the ninja world.
It was an event so devastating that every great nation was forced to take notice.
At the same time, the names of Kakashi, Guy, and Yamato spread across the Five Great Nations.
As for Riku and Yugao—one a Genin, the other a Special Jōnin—no one paid much attention to them.
To the rest of the world, including the Third Hokage, this mission’s success belonged to Kakashi, Guy, and Yamato.
Riku and Yugao were assumed to have merely played support roles.
And since none of the three Jonin had been seriously injured, it was assumed the mission hadn’t been that difficult.
Even the Third Hokage didn’t realize that Riku had played a key role.
Coincidentally, Riku preferred it that way.
Still, since Riku had technically completed the mission, the Third Hokage awarded him a rare opportunity: to choose an S-rank jutsu.
Inside the Hokage Library, Riku opened the Sealed Scroll.
He was given ten minutes to select a single S-rank jutsu.
The Third Hokage didn’t believe anyone could memorize more than one jutsu in ten minutes—especially not complex ones at the S-rank level.
But what he didn’t know was that Riku possessed a perfect photographic memory.
One glance was enough for him to memorize the content.
So in those ten minutes, Riku recorded half of the jutsu stored within the Sealed Scroll.
Of course, memorizing something didn’t mean it could be mastered immediately. These were Forbidden Techniques—classified that way for a reason.
Even the Third Hokage wished more people could learn them, but their risk was simply too great. For ordinary shinobi, trying to master such techniques could be fatal.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself hadn’t learned all the jutsu in the scroll. Many of them were far too dangerous, even for someone of his skill.
Riku carefully read through all the jutsu related to Wood Style, as well as the Flying Thunder God Technique, Tandem Paper Bombs, Impure World Reincarnation, Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and more—before exiting the library.
Once outside, Riku made his way to the Hokage’s office.
He looked at the Third Hokage and said calmly, "Lord Hokage, I’ve made my choice. I want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Hiruzen was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Riku to choose that one.
Aside from the Fourth Hokage, no one had ever fully mastered it.
But since Riku had made his decision, Hiruzen didn’t object. He gave a small smile. "Very well. I’ll give you the full documentation."
He formed hand seals, and a small scroll materialized before him.
"This scroll contains the complete information on the Flying Thunder God Technique. But be warned—this jutsu is incredibly difficult. Ever since the Second Hokage developed it, only the Fourth Hokage has fully mastered it. You should prepare yourself for the possibility of failure."
Riku nodded. "It’s worth trying. Even if I can’t master it right away."
The Third Hokage blinked, then smiled wryly. "Yes, I suppose that’s true. But since it’s a Forbidden Technique, it’s highly dangerous. If there’s anything you don’t understand while studying it, talk to Kakashi. He hasn’t mastered it, but he can guide you toward safer practices."
"Or come directly to me."
Having witnessed Riku’s performance during the mission, the Third Hokage had already decided to invest in his training.
Riku nodded. "I will."
Then he vanished from the Hokage’s office.
As the boy disappeared, the Third Hokage lit a cigarette and murmured with a smile, "I wonder if this kid might surpass even Kakashi one day..."
Though Kakashi was still "just" a Jonin, everyone in the village knew he was Konoha’s strongest all-around shinobi—and a top candidate for the Fifth Hokage.
But politically, he still couldn’t stand against the elders and village leadership.
In truth, Hiruzen wished Jiraiya would return to take up the mantle of Hokage. But Jiraiya refused. Tsunade, meanwhile, suffered from a deep phobia of blood.
That left only Kakashi.
If not for the emotional wounds caused by the deaths of Obito and Rin, the Third Hokage would have already appointed Kakashi as his successor.
Unfortunately, those traumas had stunted Kakashi’s growth, leaving him stalled at Elite Jonin level—far below his true potential.
And at present, there weren’t many in Konoha more qualified than him.
Danzo, of course, was out of the question.
After leaving the Hokage’s office, Riku opened the scroll containing the Flying Thunder God Technique and began studying it.
He already had access to teleportation through his Mangekyō Sharingan—but the Flying Thunder God offered something more: the ability to teleport objects, not just himself.
That was something his Mangekyō couldn’t replicate.
But after scanning through the scroll, Riku frowned slightly.
"As expected of an S-rank space-time ninjutsu... The complexity is on another level."
Still, Riku was not someone who gave up easily. He immediately threw himself into studying it with focus and care.
Not long after, Yamato appeared in the courtyard of Riku’s home.