Three years passed in a flash.
Minato Namikaze graduated early at the age of ten. After receiving intensive training from Jiraiya, Minato faced Shiranui Riku several times in sparring matches at the Ninja Academy. He tried to use the speed he had honed through Jiraiya's instruction, but every time, Shiranui Riku defeated him. What truly surprised Riku was how rapidly Minato improved. With each encounter, Minato's speed was faster and more precise.
But Riku was growing, too. While he had mastered the full sword form of Thunder Breathing, he was now pushing his limits in speed training, refining himself further.
After Minato graduated early and became a Genin, he continued training with Jiraiya and left the academy. Shiranui Riku hadn't seen him for two years.
Despite being capable of graduating, Riku chose not to apply. He didn't see the point. Unlike Minato, he wouldn't be mentored by elite teachers. With the village at peace, early graduation meant mundane D-rank missions like finding pets or picking up trash—low pay, tedious, and no growth.
Riku still wasn't liked by most villagers. They had stopped openly bullying him, but the disdain lingered. Rather than waste time on errands, Riku preferred intense personal training.
After Tsunade returned to Konoha for a short visit, staying just two days to see Uzumaki Mito, she left again with Shizune. Though Kushina had another chance to speak with Tsunade, she didn't. She still felt bitterness over how Riku had helped her while Tsunade hadn't.
Jiraiya and Minato were away, Tsunade was gone, and Orochimaru remained the only Sannin still in Konoha.
Riku had finally met Uzumaki Mito. As the wife of the First Hokage, Riku assumed she was closely aligned with the village leadership, and so he remained cautious. Yet, her kindness unsettled him. She seemed almost too warm toward him.
Meanwhile, Kushina had begun studying the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts under Mito's tutelage.
Riku's Sharingan awakening had been kept secret. Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Jiraiya and Tsunade not to reveal it. If the Uchiha clan found out, they might demand Riku return to the clan or even challenge him. Sarutobi, planning to train Riku in his own way, wouldn't allow that.
Better to hide the Sharingan until Riku matured and it was too late for the Uchiha to reclaim him. Riku was fine with that—he had no desire to deal with their arrogance and rejection.
During these years, important figures like Uchiha Obito, Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin, and Might Guy were born. Based on Kakashi's age when he entered the battlefield at five, Riku knew that peace had maybe two years left. Soon, the Cold War would begin.
Kushina herself would face a kidnapping attempt by ninja from the Hidden Cloud. While the timing was uncertain, it would occur once she became a Genin.
Kushina was now twelve. In six years, she would inherit the Nine-Tails and Mito would pass away. Time was running out for Riku.
He trained hard every night, pushing his limits. Thanks to his Senju lineage, his chakra reserves grew exponentially. He needed more witness points and more power before the world shifted.
In those three years, he had earned 50 witness points—most notably when he saw Might Guy being born. One day, after injuring his muscles during training, Riku went to the hospital for medicine and overheard someone calling out to Might Duy.
Curious, Riku followed and witnessed the birth of Might Guy, earning witness points in the process. Sadly, other notable births were inaccessible to him, hidden behind clan walls.
...
Night fell over Konoha.
At a secluded training ground, Shiranui Riku continued his training. He had spent 10 witness points on a new katana and was now practicing raw strikes against wooden posts, no chakra, just strength and repetition. Sweat poured down his face and dripped to the earth.
Then, without warning, a raspy voice spoke behind him.
"You train hard."
A chill shot up Riku's spine. He hadn't sensed a presence.
He turned sharply. His pupils contracted.
Pale skin. Purple eye shadow. Magatama earrings. Slitted, snake-like pupils.
Orochimaru.
The only Sannin Riku had never encountered—until now.
Riku quickly composed himself, bowed slightly, and said, "Master Orochimaru."
Orochimaru walked forward with arms crossed, stopping before Riku.
"I've been watching you for several days now. For someone your age, you've mastered powerful techniques and awakened the Sharingan. Truly worthy of your Uchiha and Senju heritage."
Riku straightened and met his gaze, masking any fear. "You've been observing me, sir?"
Orochimaru's lips curled into a grin that, to Riku, felt more like mockery. "The Third seems fond of you. He asked me to consider taking you as a student. Normally, I'm not interested in disciples—they're a distraction. But you... you intrigue me."
Riku stayed silent.
"You and I are similar, Riku. We wear masks. We show others only what we want them to see. Don't bother denying it. The glint in your eye gives it away—a predator waiting to strike. I like that."
Riku felt his scalp tingle.
He hadn't expected this.
Orochimaru wanted to take him as a disciple.