Shiranui Riku, now Orochimaru's disciple, limped home under the soft glow of moonlight. Though her legs throbbed with pain, her face couldn't hide the exhilaration she felt.
Riku had no prestigious lineage, no background to support her rise. All she possessed was her mastery of the full-sword form of Thunder Breathing. But she knew that even this powerful technique alone wouldn't be enough to make her invincible. She needed more tools to stand among the elite.
If Orochimaru hadn't chosen her, her only option would have been to use witness points to redeem the abilities she needed. But when she looked into the system's redemption store, her heart sank. With only 40 witness points, she was far from affording what she wanted.
The only way to earn large amounts of witness points was through participation in the looming Third Ninja World War. But by then, it might already be too late. Besides, many of the exchangeable abilities weren't just plug-and-play. The system could unlock the door, but Riku still had to walk the path herself. Training, understanding, and mastery were still up to her.
In a way, this was a blessing. Because of this, Riku had developed her own interpretations of Thunder Breathing, rather than blindly following what was written. It gave her room to innovate and evolve. Take, for example, Thunder Breathing: First Form – Thunderclap and Flash: Sixfold. Though originally inspired by Agatsuma Zenitsu's technique, Riku had modified it herself, figuring out how to adjust the direction of her charge to reduce the strain on her legs.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. With Orochimaru guiding her, she would be like a sponge, soaking up every piece of knowledge he shared. Under his mentorship, Riku was confident she'd be ready when the war inevitably arrived.
Four days later, at the Ninja Academy.
Sitting at her desk, Uzumaki Kushina turned to Riku and grumbled. "Riku, you don't know how hard Sealing Techniques are! There's so much to memorize. Do you know that book, 'A Beginner's Guide to Sealing Arts'? It's as thick as my palm! And Grandma Mito actually expects me to memorize the whole thing!"
Kushina's round face was filled with frustration as she vented to Riku.
Riku smiled and ruffled Kushina's red hair. "It's tough now, but it'll get easier later. I know you, Kushina—you're going to be the strongest kunoichi out there."
Usually, Kushina would have beamed at the compliment, but this time she just pouted. "It's not just the training. Grandma Mito said that after graduation, I have to stay by her side and master sealing techniques before I'm allowed to go on missions.
"I was really looking forward to forming a team with you, Riku. I've been dreaming about us doing missions together for ages..."
Kushina's shoulders slumped, disappointment radiating off her.
Riku hesitated for a moment. "Kushina... I actually have something to tell you. After graduation, I probably won't be doing missions with a team either."
Kushina perked up. "Why not?"
"Because I became Orochimaru's disciple four days ago. From now on, I'll be training under him."
Kushina tilted her head, confused. "Orochimaru? Who's that? I've never heard of him."
It made sense. Orochimaru had been keeping a low profile, and Kushina's world mostly revolved around the academy, her grandmother, and the Uzumaki residence. She wouldn't have had a chance to hear about him.
"You know Tsunade and Jiraiya, right? They're two of the Sannin."
Kushina nodded. "Of course I know them."
"Orochimaru is the third Sannin."
Kushina gasped, covering her mouth. "Wait—one of the Legendary Three accepted you as his student?!"
Riku nodded. "Yes. I passed his test four nights ago. He said he'd be coming to see me again today."
Kushina's eyes sparkled with admiration. "That's amazing, Riku!"
But Riku's tone turned somber. "Still, that means I'll be spending most of my time training with him. We won't get to see each other as often anymore."
Kushina smiled and patted Riku's shoulder. "It's okay. When you finish your training, we'll have all the time in the world."
But inside, she was crushed.
Since the day they became friends, not a single day had passed without her seeing Riku. The thought of that suddenly changing was hard to accept. But Kushina didn't want to drag Riku down with her sadness. She put on a brave face.
Riku, of course, could read her friend like an open book. She knew exactly what Kushina was feeling.
But this wasn't the time for tears or goodbyes. They both had battles to prepare for.
Riku reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bell.
It was one of a pair—a special item she had spent 30 precious witness points to redeem. These bells had only one function: when one rang, the other would ring as well. No matter the distance, they would lead the bearer to the other.
She handed the bell to Kushina. "This is for you."
Kushina's face lit up. "Is this a gift for me?"
Riku smiled. "Yeah."
Kushina clutched the bell to her chest. "I love it. Thank you, Riku."
Riku chuckled softly. Who knew a simple bell could bring so much joy?
But her tone turned serious. "Kushina, this bell isn't just a trinket. It has a special function. I have the other one. If anything ever happens to you, ring it. It doesn't matter where you are—I'll come find you. Just promise me you'll always keep it on you."
Seeing Riku's intense expression, Kushina responded with equal seriousness. "I promise. I'll keep it with me at all times."
She couldn't resist giving the bell a little shake. Moments later, she heard the faint chime coming from Riku's cloak.
She smiled, full of warmth.
Even if their paths were diverging for now, this little bell meant they'd never truly be apart.