Chapter 163 : Civilian Ninja, Is Comparable To Fourth Hokage?
Samui looked at Riku calmly. "Although your name isn’t listed in any of the intel we have from the Hidden Cloud, I’d say—judging by your age—you were likely promoted to Jōnin recently."
Ino and Hinata exchanged startled glances, unsure how Samui could know something like that.
Shino, however, remained composed at the side, poised to strike if necessary.
Riku stared back at Samui with a neutral expression. "A Jōnin from the Hidden Cloud. It’s rare to see someone so composed."
The Hidden Cloud was famous for its emphasis on brute strength. Among all the muscle-bound men of the village, it was unusual to encounter a ninja so calm and steady.
Hearing Riku’s words, Karui and Omoi immediately bristled. Was he mocking them?
"You trying to start something, kid?" Karui snapped.
Riku ignored her entirely and instead turned back to Samui, offering a slight smile. "I have a way to locate your leader. How about we complete this mission together?"
Karui didn’t wait for Samui to respond. "You’ve got some nerve—this guy belongs to us—"
Boom.
Before Karui could finish, an overwhelming pressure burst from Riku’s body. The air around them quaked with violent force.
The ground beneath Riku’s feet exploded, deep cracks spiderwebbing across more than ten meters of terrain.
Even the wooden walls of the room groaned and splintered from the force.
Karui fell silent, her voice caught in her throat as she stared at Riku in open terror.
"What... what kind of terrifying chakra is this...?"
Omoi immediately drew his katana and stood protectively in front of Samui and Karui, but sweat beaded heavily on his brow.
"Damn... You think you need to say that out loud?" he muttered, voice shaking.
Even Samui’s usually impassive expression was tinged with wariness. A bead of sweat slid down her temple.
She had sensed that Riku was strong earlier—but she hadn’t expected this. The only time she had ever felt chakra on this level was when the Fourth Raikage used Lightning Release in a full power burst.
But this? This wasn’t enhanced chakra.
This was pure, unfiltered chakra—erupting like a tidal wave, cracking stone and wood from sheer force.
"This boy’s strength is far beyond what I imagined... At this age, and already so powerful... Terrifying."
Samui instinctively shifted into a defensive stance.
Elsewhere in the room, the rogue ninja from Kirigakure collapsed to his knees. He had dropped the moment Riku’s chakra flared. The pressure had overwhelmed him. He had never seen chakra like this.
Even their leader, the strongest shinobi he knew, couldn’t compare to the sheer raw power Riku had just displayed.
Ino, Hinata, and Shino were equally stunned.
Hinata’s heart pounded. So Riku-kun is already this powerful...
Ino’s eyes sparkled as she stared at Riku. I didn’t expect him to be so terrifying... and so cool. When his chakra burst out just now, he looked like a god.
As for Shino—when Riku’s chakra had erupted, all of his insects had instinctively recoiled, shrinking back in fear.
There’s no doubt now. Riku made it to Jōnin purely by his own strength. And his power is far beyond Kurenai-sensei’s... even stronger than my father’s.
Riku turned to Samui, his voice calm and composed. "So—can we talk now?"
To Riku, Samui was a potential ally. He saw her as an equal, someone worthy of discussion—not just an enemy or outsider.
Samui didn’t answer right away. She held his gaze for a long moment before speaking. "Yes. Cooperation... isn’t out of the question."
With Samui’s agreement, Riku stepped forward and stood in front of her. Though Samui was nearly a decade older than him, she was slightly shorter—though not by much. At 168 cm, she was tall for a kunoichi—taller even than Tsunade, who stood at 163 cm.
"Let’s get the information about Akita out of this guy."
Samui nodded, silently agreeing with Riku’s command.
Neither Karui nor Omoi dared to speak out now.
That chakra earlier—it wasn’t just intimidation. They could feel it in their bones: this guy could kill both of them effortlessly. Even their mentor might have struggled against it.
And their mentor was none other than Killer Bee.
Even if Bee could defeat them all, Riku clearly wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. But Riku had no intention of throwing his weight around. Technically speaking, Samui outranked him.
Of course, since they weren’t from the same village, the issue of rank didn’t really apply.
Once Samui agreed, Riku turned to Ino with a smile. "Ino, it’s your turn now."
Seeing Riku smile at her, Ino flushed slightly with embarrassment.
But this was exactly what the Yamanaka Clan specialized in.
She nodded and stepped up to the captured Kirigakure Chūnin.
Riku lifted the man up and bound him tightly to a wooden post using chakra wire.
Ino stood before him and began forming hand signs.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
The moment her jutsu took hold, the Kirigakure ninja slumped unconscious.
Riku caught Ino as she lost balance and held her up with one arm.
Now they waited.
Samui glanced at Riku with interest. "That girl—is she from the Yamanaka Clan?"
Riku nodded. "Yeah."
Samui gave a small nod in understanding. "No wonder you said you had a way to get information."
The Yamanaka Clan’s interrogation techniques were well-known throughout the ninja world.
Even Karui had to admit, "That jutsu of hers is pretty damn useful."
But Samui’s focus had shifted back to Riku. After Ino gathered the intel, she turned to him and asked calmly, "Which clan do you belong to?"
She found it hard to believe that someone as powerful as Riku wasn’t from one of the great clans.
Riku held Ino in one arm and replied evenly, "I don’t belong to any clan."
Samui frowned, clearly skeptical. It didn’t seem likely. But then, she remembered someone—another shinobi of extraordinary power from the Hidden Leaf. A man who was also born a civilian, yet rose to become a legend.
The Fourth Hokage.
Not just a Konoha legend, but a legend across the entire ninja world.
As she looked at Riku, Samui couldn’t help but wonder: Could he be the same type of shinobi?
Based on the chakra eruption alone, Riku’s strength was easily on par with an elite Jōnin—maybe even comparable to Killer Bee.
At least in terms of chakra reserves, he absolutely was.
That kind of raw talent... Samui couldn’t help but feel intrigued.
Most shinobi would be.
Young, powerful, and unknown—Riku was still a mystery to the world. But if he ever chose to step into the spotlight, there was no doubt he’d leave his name etched into ninja history.
Of course, that depended entirely on whether Riku wanted to be known.
He looked at Samui and smiled. "What? Not convinced?"
Samui blinked, then shook her head with a faint smirk. "It’s not that. In the history of the Hidden Cloud, there was also a civilian-born shinobi who became one of the most powerful ninja in the world. Konoha’s Fourth Hokage. He defeated the Fourth Raikage."
---------------------
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early Chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your Support is Truly Appreciated
--------