章 56: Chapter 56 3 Man Squad

Riku adjusted the mask on his face, the fabric snug but comfortable as he and Fū walked side by side through the bustling streets of Takigakure. The air was cool, the faint mist from the nearby waterfalls hanging over the village. Shiro perched on Riku's shoulder, his head tilting curiously as villagers greeted them with warm smiles.

Fū was her usual self—chatty and animated, her hands gesturing as she spoke. "So, Shibuki said our third member just got here this morning," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "Apparently, he's from another village, like you!"

"Great," Riku muttered, his tone neutral. He wasn't thrilled about the idea of working with a stranger, especially given the high-stakes nature of the upcoming Chūnin Exams. But orders were orders, and Shibuki had been insistent that all participants form three-man squads.

"Oh, come on," Fū teased, nudging him with her elbow. "At least try to be optimistic. What if he's super strong and can make things easier for us?"

Riku sighed. "Or he's a liability and we have to carry him through the exams."

Fū rolled her eyes but didn't argue. They turned a corner, approaching the training grounds where Shibuki had told them to meet their new teammate.

---

The training grounds were quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves and the distant sound of rushing water. Standing in the middle of the field was a tall figure with short, spiky brown hair. He wore a jacket, and his confident stance made it clear he wasn't a novice.

"Is that him?" Riku asked, his voice low.

Fū nodded, her grin widening. "Looks like it."

As they approached, the young man turned to face them, his piercing green eyes scanning them with curiosity. He was older, probably sixteen or seventeen, and carried himself with an air of calm confidence.

"You must be Riku and Fū," he said, his voice steady.

"And you must be our babysitter," Riku replied flatly, earning a snort from Fū.

The young man raised an eyebrow but didn't rise to the bait. "Name's Daisuke. From Kusagakure. Shibuki sent me to round out your squad."

Fū stepped forward, her hand extended. "Nice to meet you, Daisuke! I'm Fū, and this is Riku. Don't mind him; he's always like this."

Riku crossed his arms, studying Daisuke carefully. The guy didn't seem phased by Riku's cold demeanor, which was both surprising and mildly irritating.

Daisuke shook Fū's hand, then turned to Riku. "I've heard about you," he said, his tone even. "Shibuki says you're talented."

"Is that so?" Riku replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

Daisuke nodded. "I hope you're as good as they say. The exams are no joke, and we'll need to work together if we want to make it through."

Fū clapped her hands together. "Alright, enough with the awkward introductions! Let's see what you've got, Daisuke. How about a quick sparring session?"

Daisuke smirked. "Sounds good to me."

Riku sighed but didn't object. If they were going to be working together, he might as well get a sense of what Daisuke could do.

---

The sparring match took place on the open field, with Fū acting as the referee. Daisuke stood on one side, his hands resting on the hilts of the twin blades strapped to his back.

Riku watched from the sidelines, his arms crossed as he observed Daisuke's stance. The guy was poised, his movements fluid and calculated.

"Alright, you two," Fū called out. "No lethal moves, and no summoning any crazy creatures, Riku."

Riku rolled his eyes but stepped forward, drawing a simple wooden staff from his back. He didn't bother with anything flashy—this was just a test, after all.

Daisuke unsheathed one of his blades, the steel catching the sunlight. "Ready when you are."

The fight began quickly, with Daisuke darting forward in a blur of speed. Riku met him head-on, the staff clashing against the blade with a loud crack.

Daisuke was fast, but Riku was faster. He parried each of Daisuke's strikes with precision, his movements smooth and effortless. Daisuke, to his credit, didn't let up, using feints and quick footwork to keep Riku on his toes.

"Not bad," Riku muttered, blocking another strike.

"Same to you," Daisuke replied, a small grin tugging at his lips.

The match continued, both of them testing each other's limits. Daisuke was skilled, his technique refined and his strikes powerful. But Riku's experience and natural talent gave him the edge.

After a few minutes, Fū called for a halt. "Alright, that's enough! Save some energy for the exams, you two."

Daisuke sheathed his blade, his breathing steady despite the intensity of the fight. "You're good," he admitted, glancing at Riku. "Better than I expected."

Riku shrugged, spinning the staff in his hand before planting it in the ground. "You're not bad either."

Fū beamed, clearly pleased with the outcome. "Looks like we're going to be a solid team!"

Daisuke nodded. "Let's hope so. The exams are going to be tough, but I think we've got a good shot."

Riku didn't say anything, but he couldn't shake the unease that lingered in the back of his mind. The exams were more than just a test—they were a battlefield. And with the secrets he carried, he knew things were only going to get more complicated from here.

For now, though, he'd focus on the present. He had a team, and whether he liked it or not, he'd have to rely on them in the days to come.

…

The day began early as the trio gathered in the training field, the morning mist still clinging to the air. Riku stood with his arms crossed, his crimson Ryūgan eyes glimmering faintly as he gazed at Daisuke. Shiro perched lazily on his shoulder, occasionally tilting his head to observe the new teammate.

"Alright, Daisuke," Riku said, his voice calm but commanding. "Before we really dive into this, I want to know what you're working with."

Daisuke raised an eyebrow, resting his hand on the hilt of one of his twin blades. "What do you mean?"

"Your elemental affinities," Riku explained. "If we're going to work together, I need to know how we can complement each other in a fight."

Fū leaned against a tree, arms crossed and a smirk on her face. "Oh, this is gonna be good. Riku's Ryūgan is crazy. He can see your chakra flow like it's written out for him."

Daisuke blinked, clearly intrigued. "Alright then. Show me what you've got."

---

Riku activated his Ryūgan fully, the slit pupils contracting sharply as he focused on Daisuke. The world shifted into a canvas of swirling energy, with chakra networks glowing vividly in his sight. As he studied Daisuke, the faint hues of his elemental affinities began to manifest—a deep, earthy green and a swirling blue.

"Earth and water," Riku said after a moment, his tone thoughtful. "You've got a dual affinity. Not bad."

Daisuke crossed his arms, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, I've been told I've got potential with them. Earth's my primary, but I've been working on water release too."

Riku nodded. "Earth for defense, water for versatility. That could be useful."

Fū clapped her hands together, interrupting the serious tone. "Okay, great, we know Daisuke's chakra now. Can we actually train instead of standing around talking?"

Riku glanced at her, then back at Daisuke. "Let's see what you can do. Show me your best earth and water techniques."

---

Daisuke stepped forward, dropping into a stance. He formed a series of quick hand seals before slamming his hands onto the ground. The earth beneath him rumbled, and a large wall of stone erupted upward, standing tall and sturdy.

"Earth Style: Stone Wall," Daisuke said, stepping back and gesturing to the structure. "Basic, but effective."

Riku walked up to the wall, inspecting it closely. He knocked on it a few times, noting its density. "Not bad. Now water."

Daisuke nodded, forming another set of seals. This time, he pulled water from a nearby stream, shaping it into a swirling vortex in front of him. With a sharp motion, he sent the water shooting forward in a concentrated blast.

"Water Style: Water Bullet," Daisuke said, his voice steady.

Riku sidestepped the blast easily, watching as it splashed harmlessly onto the ground. "Decent control," he commented. "But your aim could use some work."

Daisuke frowned but didn't argue.

---

The training continued, with each of them focusing on their individual strengths. Riku worked on refining his shadow manipulation, creating tendrils of darkness that danced and writhed at his command. Shiro occasionally darted off to practice his own techniques, splitting into smaller clones and reforming with ease.

Fū alternated between her wind-based techniques and the lightning release Riku had helped her develop. Sparks flickered around her hands as she sent arcs of electricity toward wooden targets, her accuracy steadily improving.

Daisuke, meanwhile, focused on combining his earth and water releases. He created defensive barriers of stone reinforced with a layer of water, testing their durability against Fū's lightning and Riku's shadows.

The clearing buzzed with activity, the sound of jutsu and the occasional grunt of exertion filling the air.

---

By the time the sun began to set, the trio was exhausted but satisfied with their progress.

Riku leaned against a tree, catching his breath. Shiro perched on his shoulder, looking equally worn out but content.

Fū flopped onto the ground, her green eyes sparkling despite her fatigue. "Not bad for a first day, huh? I think we're starting to get the hang of this team thing."

Daisuke sheathed his blades, nodding in agreement. "Yeah. We've still got a long way to go, but I'd say this was a good start."

Riku glanced at the two of them, his usual stoicism softening just a little. "You're not bad," he admitted.

Fū grinned, nudging him with her elbow. "Coming from you, that's practically a glowing review."

As the trio began to pack up and head back to the village, Riku couldn't help but feel a small spark of hope. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't fighting alone. And though he wouldn't admit it out loud, it felt good.

…

The quiet of the Hokage's office was broken only by the soft rustle of papers as Hiruzen Sarutobi sifted through the list of applicants for the upcoming Chūnin Exams. His brows furrowed deeply, his ever-watchful eyes scanning each name with scrutiny. These exams were not only a chance to test the strength of young shinobi but also a matter of international politics. Each name represented a potential ally—or a potential threat.

The name Fū caught his attention almost immediately.

"The Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails…" Hiruzen muttered to himself, leaning back in his chair. "Takigakure is sending her, are they?" He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "That could complicate things, especially if anyone tries to target her."

But his musings were cut short when his gaze fell on the next name on the list: Riku Kuroshiro.

Hiruzen's grip on the paper tightened as a spark of anger lit in his eyes. The memory of the havoc this boy had caused four years ago was still fresh. Riku, barely a child at the time, had stolen classified information, and vanished without a trace, leaving a trail of chaos in his wake.

He slammed the paper onto the desk with a scowl. "Absolutely not."

---

Just as he reached for his pen to cross the name out, the door to his office slid open without warning. Jiraiya strolled in, his usual carefree demeanor clashing with the tension in the room.

"Hiruzen, old man, you're looking as stressed as ever," Jiraiya said with a grin, plopping down into the chair across from the desk without waiting for an invitation.

Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temples. "Jiraiya, what do you want? I'm in the middle of reviewing the applications for the Chūnin Exams."

"Perfect," Jiraiya said, leaning forward. "Because I heard you've got a pretty interesting lineup this year."

The Hokage's eyes narrowed. "Interesting doesn't begin to cover it. Takigakure has sent Fū, which is already a matter of concern. But this—" He jabbed his finger at Riku's name. "This is unacceptable."

Jiraiya tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Riku, huh? That name sounds familiar. What's the big deal?"

Hiruzen fixed him with a sharp glare. "You mean to tell me you don't recognize the boy? He's the one who infiltrated Konoha and stole classified jutsu four years ago. A dangerous rogue, even at that age."

Jiraiya blinked, then his expression shifted into one of surprise—and faint amusement. "Wait, that Riku? The kid I traveled with a while back? Well, now this just got interesting."

"Interesting is not the word I would use," Hiruzen said coldly. "He's a criminal, Jiraiya. And now he thinks he can walk into our village as if nothing happened, just to take our Chūnin Exams? I won't allow it."

---

Jiraiya leaned back, crossing his arms with a thoughtful hum. "You're not seeing the bigger picture here, old man. The kid might've caused trouble in the past, sure, but he's not the same person he was back then."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know that?"

"Because I traveled with him," Jiraiya said simply. "I watched him grow. He's got a good head on his shoulders, even if he's a bit… unconventional. And let's not forget, he's strong. Stronger than most of the kids who'll be taking these exams, I'd bet."

"That strength is precisely what concerns me," Hiruzen said. "A rogue ninja with that kind of power is a threat to everyone around him."

Jiraiya sighed, his tone growing more serious. "Look, I get where you're coming from. But you're not giving the kid a chance. If you deny him the opportunity to prove himself, you're just pushing him further into isolation. And trust me, that's not a good place for someone like him to be."

Hiruzen's expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. "Even if I were to allow it, how could I possibly justify this to the rest of the village? To the other Kage?"

"Simple," Jiraiya said with a shrug. "You frame it as a test. If he screws up, it's on him. But if he succeeds, it's a win for everyone. Besides…" He smirked. "Wouldn't you rather keep an eye on him here, where you can control the situation, instead of out there, where he's a wild card?"

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, considering Jiraiya's words. As much as he hated to admit it, there was a certain logic to the argument. Denying Riku entry would only create more animosity, and the Chūnin Exams were, at their core, a place for young shinobi to prove themselves.

"Fine," he said finally, his tone heavy with reluctance. "I'll allow it. But if he steps out of line, even once, he'll regret it."

Jiraiya grinned, standing up and stretching. "That's the spirit, old man. You won't regret this, I promise."

As Jiraiya turned to leave, Hiruzen's voice stopped him.

"And Jiraiya… if anything goes wrong, it'll be your responsibility."

Jiraiya waved a hand over his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Don't worry, he'll behave. Probably."

Hiruzen sighed, watching the toad sage leave. "This better not come back to haunt me," he muttered, turning his attention back to the stack of papers on his desk.