Chapter Two: The Three Young Titans of the Leaf Village

Chapter Two: The Three Small Powerhouses of Konoha

Ryuester, relying on his familiarity with Konoha from memory, used his improved Body Flicker Technique to tour around the village. After making a circuit, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at the sheer size of Konoha. If not for his near-cheat-level magical power and the modified Body Flicker Technique, even half the Jonin would be exhausted. No wonder that so-called Green Beast of Konoha prefers running to using the Body Flicker. To clarify, Might Guy’s Body Flicker isn’t particularly impressive; besides, he runs faster than the technique itself.

“Uncle, give me a big bowl of extra-flavor ramen!” An energetic voice drew Ryuester’s attention. He looked up toward the source.

A boy, about thirteen or fourteen, with golden spiky hair and dressed in orange, was shouting at a ramen shop with a sign that read “Ichiraku.”

“That must be Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of Hokage. Heh, soon I’ll be his teacher too.” Ryuester smiled faintly and turned away in style.

“It’s Naruto, huh? Here’s your large extra-flavor ramen. Hmm? Isn’t that Lord Thunder of Konoha?” After handing Naruto his bowl, the ramen shop owner caught sight of Ryuester’s departing back and muttered to himself.

“Lord Thunder? Huh? Is that the big sister?” Naruto followed the shop owner’s gaze and asked, seeing Ryuester’s silhouette.

“That’s right! That’s Lord Thunder, full name Hatake Ryuester, who achieved great feats in the closing days of the Third Ninja World War. She slew the battlefield commander of Iwagakure, as well as 123 Jonin; the number of Chunin and Genin she defeated is countless. Specializing in lightning-style chakra, her speed is like thunder—hence the name Thunder,” the shop owner explained.

“That’s amazing! I’ll have to work hard too!” Naruto gulped down his bowl of ramen, then stood and declared.

“Good luck, Naruto!” The ramen shop owner gave him a thumbs-up.

“Don’t worry, I’m already a Genin!” Naruto pointed to the headband on his forehead.

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I am a proud Genin – dividing line
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Ryuester arrived at the Konoha Ninja Information Center. The shinobi guarding the door rose and greeted, “Lord Thunder,” then let Ryuester inside.

“So this is where all ninja records are kept?” Ryuester took out his own file.

Name: Hatake Ryuester
Age: 17
Chakra Nature: Lightning
Promotion Record: Genin at 7, Chunin at 10, Elite Chunin at 12, Special Jonin at 13, Jonin at 15, Elite Jonin at 17.
Personal Summary: Born with chakra comparable to a tailed beast, masterful in lightning-style techniques, swordsmanship adapted from his father, White Fang. Achieved great feats in the late Third Ninja War, earning the title Thunder.

Ryuester stared at the booklet recording his information, a dark line crossing his face. Such absurd achievements—was this really him?

Shaking his head, he left and proceeded to the library, intending to find some genjutsu techniques to study.

In the Jonin reading area, Ryuester conjured a pair of glasses onto his face and searched for a while, but most were other ninjutsu; genjutsu materials were scarce.

With no other choice, Ryuester began reading books on lightning-style chakra usage.

“Didn’t expect to gain so much. What’s this sound? An urgent Jonin summon.” He closed the book and had just returned it when a bird’s call caught his attention. In the next moment, the library was completely empty.

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I am the false summons – dividing line
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“Knock, knock, knock—come in.”
Creak—“Lord Third, I’m here. Is there something you need?” Ryuester closed the door and bowed.

“No rush. You’re always the first to arrive, Ryuester. Let’s wait for the others before we begin,” the Third Hokage said, as usual, smoking and speaking in a calm, indifferent tone beneath the fire-emblazoned cap.

“Right.” Ryuester stood to the side, eyes closed, resting…

Half an hour later…

“Knock, knock, knock—come in.”
“Sorry, Lord Third, I got lost on the path of life.” A silver-haired, masked man with a somewhat sleazy air scratched his head as he walked in.

“All right, take your seat, Kakashi. Let’s start the meeting.” Kakashi stood beside Ryuester.

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Meeting with the Third – dividing line
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“So this afternoon we’re to meet our Team Seven members, right?” Ryuester mused aloud.

“Sigh, let’s get something to eat first, then go meet the kids,” Kakashi replied, still looking listless.

“Brother, could you teach me a few genjutsu techniques?” Ryuester used the Body Flicker to appear in front of Kakashi with a hopeful look.

“Uh… sure. The genjutsu I know are: Technique of Seeing Naraku, Fox’s Mind Technique, Demonic Illusion: Not Here, Mist Servant Technique, and Nirvana Sanctuary Technique. Which do you want to learn? I’ll teach you.” Kakashi perked up when Ryuester asked. Definitely obsessed with his younger sibling.

“I want to learn them all!”
Bang—“Eh, seriously? Those are all pretty advanced genjutsu.” Kakashi stumbled and fell, rubbing his head as he got up.

“I want them all. Give me their scrolls.” Ryuester kept his hopeful expression.

“All right, I’ll write them for you tonight.” Kakashi looked resigned.

“Thank you, brother!”

Whoosh—“Lord Thunder! Kakashi-senpai! Lord Third Hokage requests your presence.” An ANBU appeared before them, relayed the message, and vanished.

“Ha, you know him, brother? His speed’s decent—about sixty percent of mine,” Ryuester joked.

“Yeah, he’s an ANBU I used to lead. His name’s Tenzo.” Kakashi was always warm only toward Ryuester. Confirmed: obsessed sibling.

“Let’s go see Lord Hokage.”

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Naruto’s home – dividing line
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“Lord Third, you brought us here just to this dump?” Ryuester, using chakra to hang from the ceiling, asked.

“Uh… I just wanted you to see your future teammate’s home,” the Third replied awkwardly.

“Lord Third, is this the home of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?” Kakashi asked.

“Yes, and Uchiha Sasuke will be on your team too. The rest is up to you,” the Third said, taking another drag.

“This milk expired ages ago! No wonder it causes stomach aches,” Kakashi remarked, picking up a freshly opened bottle.

“Looks like you’ll have a tough time!” said the Third.

“Sigh…” ×2

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Scene shifts to the classroom – dividing line
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“So slow!” Naruto stuck his head out the door to look.

“Naruto! Hurry back and sit down,” Sakura called out.

“But why are our Team Seven teachers so late? The other teams already left with their new teachers, and Iruka-sensei’s gone too,” Naruto complained, clearly disgruntled.

“I have no idea; all I know is this time our team will have two Jonin leading us. Hey, what are you doing, Naruto?” Sakura replied, feigning ignorance, then called out when she heard Naruto’s voice.

“Heh! Being late is their fault!” Naruto said, putting a chalkboard eraser in the door frame.

“I didn’t see anything!” Sakura’s face said ‘I saw nothing,’ but inwardly, “I love things like this!”

“Tch, such an idiot. Jonin would never fall for such a childish trap,” Sasuke remarked coolly, crossing his fingers to cover his nose and mouth.

“Yeah, yeah! Naruto, you really are dumb,” Sakura quickly echoed Sasuke.

At that moment, Kakashi and I arrived at the classroom door. Kakashi signaled to Ryuester and entered first.

Smack—Kakashi deliberately put his head in first, and the chalkboard eraser hit him.

And so, Team Seven’s first meeting began, with everyone present.

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PS: Just to clarify, each time I cross worlds, I get gifted one skill from that universe! Keep it up, we’re almost at chapter nine!!