Ryuichi POV

I sat cross-legged in the training ground, my focus entirely on manipulating the small flames dancing in front of me. I experimented with their intensity, sometimes making them burn hotter and brighter, and at other times, I altered their color, watching the fire shift from a standard red to orange, then yellow. Each flicker and change of hue felt like a tiny victory in understanding the nature of fire.

"That's enough for now," my father's voice cut through the air. He had been closely monitoring my progress, his eyes sharp and focused as always. He gave me a slight nod of approval before continuing, "How about I teach you a jutsu today?"

"A jutsu?" I perked up at his words, curiosity flickering in my chest like the flames I had just extinguished.

"Yes," he replied, his tone turning more serious. "Not just any jutsu, but one that holds great significance within our clan. The jutsu I'm about to teach you is the cornerstone of the Uchiha Clan's legacy. Very few Uchiha are ever considered true shinobi until they master the fire element, and this particular technique marks that mastery. It's a rite of passage—learning it signifies that you've come of age as a shinobi."

His words carried weight, and I felt a surge of anticipation as I listened.

"This is the Great Fireball Jutsu, a C-rank ninjutsu," he continued. "In the Uchiha Clan, you aren't considered a full-fledged adult until you've mastered this jutsu. It's a rite of passage for every Uchiha who wishes to uphold the clan's legacy."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of what he was saying. I watched closely as my father demonstrated the hand signs effortlessly, his movements fluid and controlled. His fingers blurred through six seals: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, and finally Tiger. He inhaled deeply, taking in a massive breath of air, and held it in his chest for a moment. Then, in one swift motion, he exhaled, and an enormous fireball erupted from his mouth.

The Great Fireball shot forward with terrifying speed, growing larger as it traveled, until it was nearly half the size of the nearby lake. The sheer heat radiating from the jutsu caused me to stagger back a few steps. The intensity was overwhelming, and I felt the scorching air brush against my skin even from a distance.

When the flames finally dissipated, my father turned to face me, his expression calm but his gaze piercing.

"Remember, the key is in the breath," he said, his voice firm but with an undertone of concern. "After completing the hand signs, inhale a large amount of air. Use the heat generated by the chakra in your chest to create a flame, then expel it forcefully, shaping it with your chakra. You need precision, control, and power."

I absorbed his instructions, but my mind wandered momentarily as I considered something. I had memorized the hand seals necessary for the jutsu, but as I replayed them in my mind, a question began to form.

'Why these hand seals specifically?' I wondered. The tiger seal made sense; it was used to increase the pressure of chakra, which would boost the power of the jutsu. The monkey seal shaped the chakra, giving the fireball its form. But what about the others? Snake, Ram, Boar—were they all necessary just to enhance the intensity? Could I simplify the process? If I could increase the fire's intensity without relying on those seals, maybe I could perform the jutsu faster.

"Are you just going to stand there, Ryuichi?" my father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked and refocused. 'I guess there's only one way to find out,' I thought to myself, deciding to test my theory.

Instead of following the traditional sequence of hand signs, I gathered chakra directly into my lungs without using the Ram seal. It was rougher than I expected—less smooth, more volatile—but I maintained control. Next, I focused on converting the chakra into fire nature without the Snake seal, relying purely on my understanding of the element. It took more effort, more focus, but it worked.

I formed the Monkey seal, using it to mold the chakra into a fireball within my chest. The flames flickered to life inside me, and I used the surrounding air to feed the fire, increasing its intensity without relying on the Boar or Horse seals. I felt the heat rise, swelling within me as the fire grew hotter and more powerful. Finally, I performed the Tiger seal, increasing the chakra pressure within my chest. My lungs expanded painfully, filled with both chakra and air, the pressure building to an almost unbearable point.

Then, with a sharp exhale, I released the fireball.

Fugaku's pov

I stood there, momentarily stunned, watching as my son, Ryuichi, exhaled the fireball. It wasn't as large as I had expected—about the size of an adult human, nothing extraordinary at first glance. For a five-year-old, it was certainly impressive, but it wasn't the sheer size of the fireball that had left me speechless. No, it was the fact that Ryuichi had executed the Great Fireball Jutsu on his very first attempt and with only two hand seals. This wasn't something even prodigies could accomplish without years of practice. What kind of genius did that make him?

I knew my son was exceptional. His talent for ninjutsu had always been clear, ever since he was able to mold chakra at a young age. But this? This was beyond anything I had imagined. To skip multiple hand seals on his first try was something that even the most revered geniuses—shinobi like Minato Namikaze and Tobirama Senju—might pause to admire. Ryuichi hadn't even practiced the jutsu before. He simply understood it, instinctively grasping the flow of chakra and the mechanics behind each seal, then innovating on the spot. The implications of such innate genius were staggering.

A chill ran down my spine as I realized I couldn't keep this a secret from the village any longer. If I didn't report this to the Hokage, it could be considered treason. Ryuichi's potential was too great, too dangerous if left unchecked or misunderstood. The village needed to know—the Hokage needed to know.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Ryuichi's hand and began pulling him toward the Hokage Tower.

"Father, what's wrong?" Ryuichi asked, his voice laced with confusion. He had no idea the magnitude of what he had just done.

I stopped and knelt down, bringing myself to eye level with him. I needed him to understand the seriousness of the situation, but I didn't want to alarm him unnecessarily.

"Ryuichi, you probably already know that you're special," I began, choosing my words carefully. "Your talent for ninjutsu and chakra control—it's beyond anything I've ever seen. But today... today, you've surpassed even my expectations." I paused, ensuring he was absorbing what I was saying. "What you did with the Great Fireball Jutsu... reducing the number of hand seals without ever attempting it before, that's something unheard of. Most shinobi only manage to cut down seals after years of mastering a technique, once their chakra pathways have memorized the flow of the jutsu. You did it on your first try."

I could see the gears turning in Ryuichi's head, his expression shifting as he began to grasp the gravity of what he'd done.

"The Hokage," I continued, "he knows more than anyone else about chakra and jutsu. He'll know how to help you refine this skill. You have the potential to do things no shinobi has ever done."

Ryuichi gulped, visibly affected by the weight of my words. But behind the anxiety in his eyes, there was also determination. He might not have fully understood the consequences, but he trusted me.

I placed a firm hand on his head, trying to reassure him. "Don't worry, son. I will protect you with my life. I swear, on the honor of Konoha and everything I hold dear, I won't let anyone take you away or exploit your talent. I promise you."

Ryuichi's tense posture relaxed slightly, and I felt a pang of guilt. The fate of geniuses in the shinobi world was rarely a kind one. But I had sworn to protect him, and I would do whatever it took to ensure his safety, no matter what the village demanded of him.

With that silent vow burning in my heart, we continued walking toward the Hokage Tower. Every step felt heavier, the weight of my son's future pressing down on me. The receptionist at the entrance tried to stop us, but I brushed her aside, too focused to entertain any delays. Without hesitation, I pushed open the door to the Hokage's office, ignoring all formalities.

The door slammed open, and the heated argument inside momentarily paused. A blonde woman was standing in front of the Hokage's desk, her eyes blazing with anger.

"I'm not staying in this village, sensei!" she shouted, her voice filled with frustration before she turned toward me, her eyes narrowing with annoyance. "And you, Uchiha, have some nerve! Do you have no respect for the Hokage or me? Wait your turn until our conversation is over!"

Her words dripped with irritation, and I immediately recognized her—Tsunade Senju, one of the legendary Sannin.

I bowed my head slightly, though I was in no mood for formalities. "Senju-sama, I apologize for the interruption, but this is of the utmost importance. It concerns my son."

Tsunade's glare sharpened, her temper clearly not improved by my explanation. "Your son? And why should I care about—"

"Tsunade," came the calm, authoritative voice of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He exhaled a cloud of smoke from his pipe, his eyes sharp and calculating. "Let him speak. You know Fugaku wouldn't barge in here unless it was something important."

Tsunade huffed in irritation but crossed her arms and stepped aside, though the fire in her eyes hadn't diminished. I turned toward Hiruzen, trying to find the right words. My son's potential wasn't something to be taken lightly.

"My son, Ryuichi... He was able to reduce the number of hand seals for the Great Fireball Jutsu to only two—on his first attempt."

For a moment, there was complete silence in the room. Both Tsunade and the Hokage stared at me, their expressions shifting from disbelief to shock, as though I had just said something that defied the very laws of chakra itself.

Tsunade was the first to speak, her voice hard and skeptical. "You'd better not be lying about this, Fugaku." Her eyes bore into mine, her skepticism quickly giving way to a dawning realization of what this could mean. The very idea that a child—anyone—could perform such a feat on their first try was unthinkable.

Hiruzen put his pipe down slowly, his sharp gaze turning to Ryuichi. "You're certain of this?" His tone was even, but I could sense the weight of his words. If what I said was true, this was no ordinary child standing before him.

"I watched it with my own eyes," I said, my voice steady. "He skipped four hand seals without compromising the jutsu's effectiveness. It wasn't just luck—he knew exactly what he was doing."

3RD POV

The occupants of the room stared at Ryuichi who began to shrink under their gazes. For a long time nobody spoke, all of them thinking upon this new information.

Eventually a voice broke through the silence.

"Boy come here".

Everyone turned their heads towards Tsunade, her eyes not leaving Ryuichi. Ryuichi moves towards her and looks up at her.

"Have you done the tree climbing exercise?"

"No, I haven't Tsunade-sama." Ryuichi replied.

"Hmm, did he tell you the principle behind the tree walking exercise?"

"No Tsunade-sama, I didn't talk to him about it yet."

Tsunade paused taking in what ryuichi said and continued.

"Here's the gist of it, you use chakra to stick the soles of your feet to the tree bark. You need to use the right amount of chakra to accomplish this- too little and you won't grip the tree, too much and you'll be pushed away from the tree. Did you get all of that?"

Ryuichi stared at her as he tried to remember the explanation she gave just now. It took him a few seconds but he nodded.

" Good now try doing that on the wall over there." Tsunade said, pointing to a wall adjacent to the right side of the hokage.

Ryuichi turned back to look at his father, silently asking his permission on what to do. His father looked back at him and nodded - signalling him to do what Tsunade said.

Ryuichi walked towards the wall and planted one of his feet on it. He closed his eyes and began to feel the chakra inside his body. He willed it to move towards his sole and surround it. The chakra latched onto the wall making his foot stick onto the wall. Feeling his foot stick to the wall he repeated the same action onto his other foot. He lifted it to the wall and latched onto it. Seeing that he got both his feet to stick to the wall he began to climb up. He kept moving forward until he was on the ceiling hanging upside down.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she watched Ryuichi's display of chakra control, her expression unreadable at first, but her mind was racing. She had seen many talented shinobi in her lifetime, but this was different. There was something about Ryuichi's connection to his chakra that felt almost otherworldly.

"This kid," Tsunade began, her voice low but filled with conviction, "he interacts with chakra differently from the rest of us. I don't know how, but his connection with it—his ability to manipulate it—is incredible. The only person I've ever seen with such a natural, powerful bond to chakra was my grandfather, Hashirama Senju."

The air in the room seemed to freeze at her words. The weight of her statement wasn't lost on anyone present. To compare a young boy, barely beginning his shinobi journey, to the legendary First Hokage—Hashirama Senju himself—was beyond extraordinary. Everyone in the room, including Fugaku and Hiruzen, looked stunned by the gravity of Tsunade's declaration. The silence that followed her claim was thick with disbelief.

Fugaku was the first to regain his composure, though a shadow of concern crossed his face. His voice, steady but laced with worry, broke the silence. "Hokage-sama," he began, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I trust this matter remains between us. The last thing I want is for Danzo and his Root to take an interest in my son."

His tone was firm, a protective edge clear in his words, as he looked to Hiruzen for reassurance.

Hiruzen nodded slowly, taking a deep puff from his pipe as he gathered his thoughts. "Dont worry Fugaku. rest assured, your son will be safe. I have no intention of letting Root, or anyone else, lay a hand on him," he said, his voice firm, aiming to reassure Fugaku that he had no plans to let Danzo manipulate the situation.

But before the Hokage could continue, Tsunade interrupted, her sharp eyes still locked on Ryuichi. "Hey, kid. What do you think about becoming my apprentice?" she asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the tension in the room.

Ryuichi blinked, startled by her question. Fugaku tensed, his protective instincts immediately rising to the surface. Even Hiruzen looked curious at the unexpected offer.

"Aren't you planning to leave the village again, Tsunade?" Hiruzen asked, raising an eyebrow. There was no accusation in his tone, only genuine curiosity.

"I am," Tsunade confirmed, crossing her arms over her chest. "And I'm planning on taking the kid with me." Her words were direct, matter-of-fact, as if she had already made up her mind. "If he stays here, he'll end up dead anyway. You know how it is with talent like this," she added, her voice hardening slightly. "Come with me, Ryuichi, and I'll make you the best medical-nin to ever exist. With your talent and my tutelage, there's no limit to what you can achieve."

Her confidence was palpable, and her proposition lingered in the air like a challenge. Ryuichi, despite his age, could feel the weight of her offer. But Fugaku immediately stepped forward, placing a protective hand in front of his son, his sharp eyes glaring at Tsunade.

"He's not going anywhere," Fugaku hissed, his voice low and dangerous, like a protective wolf guarding its cub. The tension between the Uchiha patriarch and Tsunade escalated quickly.

"Calm down, both of you!" Hiruzen's voice boomed, commanding the room with authority. He took another slow puff from his pipe before continuing, his tone more measured. "First, let's ask Ryuichi himself. Are you interested in medical ninjutsu?" Hiruzen's gaze softened as it fell on the boy.

Ryuichi hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts. His mind flashed through everything that had happened so far, from his fireball experiment to the tree-walking exercise, and now Tsunade's sudden offer. He felt the pressure of the room bearing down on him but spoke with honesty.

"I am interested in medical ninjutsu, Hokage-sama," Ryuichi began, his voice steady but thoughtful. "But I'm not interested enough to leave my family behind for it. Besides, with my academy studies, ninjutsu training, and now learning fuinjutsu, I don't think I'd be able to take on another discipline like medical ninjutsu right now."

Hiruzen nodded, taking in the boy's response with understanding. "A wise choice, Ryuichi. You're aware of your limits, and that's important. But how about this," the Hokage suggested, his eyes glinting with a thoughtful expression. "I'll allow you to join the reserve genin force. That way, you won't have to continue at the academy anymore, which, to be frank, would be of little use to someone of your skill level at this point. Tsunade can teach you her medical techniques during that time, and she'll do so at the Uchiha compound. You won't have to leave your family, and you'll still benefit from her expertise."

The suggestion hung in the air, a middle ground that seemed to satisfy both sides. Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she mulled over the Hokage's proposition. She opened her mouth to argue but was quickly interrupted.

"You won't be required to take on any missions for the village," Hiruzen added, cutting her off before she could protest. "Simply passing on your knowledge to a talented student like Ryuichi is more than enough for us. You don't have to commit to anything else."

Tsunade's lips twitched as if she were considering all the angles. She let out a small huff, crossing her arms again. "Fine," she relented, though the fire in her eyes hadn't diminished. "But I'm only doing this because the kid has potential. Don't expect me to stick around for any village business."

"Of course," Hiruzen agreed with a gentle smile, taking another puff from his pipe. "We wouldn't ask for anything more."

Fugaku remained silent, though his tension had eased slightly. His protective stance relaxed as he glanced down at Ryuichi, who looked up at his father with quiet determination. The boy had made his choice, and Fugaku trusted his judgment.

Tsunade, still eyeing Ryuichi with a mixture of challenge and intrigue, spoke again. "I'll start teaching him tomorrow, at the Uchiha compound. But don't get any ideas, Fugaku—I'm not babysitting. If he can't keep up, that's on him."

Fugaku's expression softened for a moment, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Ryuichi will do just fine," he said confidently.

With the arrangement settled, the air in the room lightened, though the weight of what had transpired still lingered. Ryuichi stood in the center of it all, knowing that his path had just taken an unexpected turn.

=chapter end=

Author's Note:

Hey guys FINALReader19 here. Thank you for reading our story and hoped you liked it so far. Please be sure to leave a review and follow for regular chapter updates. Thank you