Naruto: Lost to Hinata on Purpose, and Now Everything's a Mess Chapter 1 1 : With A Special Physique

Konoha, training field.

The reborn Riku sat quietly on the sidelines, watching several shinobi sparring on the field.

He ca here like this every single day, just to observe.

As ti passed, the ninjas gradually finished up and left the grounds.

Dusk settled over the village.

Riku stood up, a faint smile curving his lips.

"I've learned a new ninjutsu—Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu. It may not be an advanced technique, but it's definitely useful for right now."

While it wasn't as powerful as the version used by mbers of the Uchiha clan, it was still quite practical for soone like him—especially considering he was only six years old.

"This body is ridiculously convenient. I only have to see sothing once to learn it completely."

"I've already read through all the basic ninjutsu manuals in the academy's library. If not, I wouldn't have been able to fully understand how to properly execute the Great Fireball Technique."

Letting out a soft sigh, Riku noticed the sky dimming. It was about ti to head back.

Midway through his walk, he smiled slightly and muttered, "I feel like I've gotten stronger again. Just from walking a short distance, I can already sense improvents in my body."

"Maybe it's because I'm still young. Once I get older, the progress probably won't be this obvious."

Even after walking just a few hundred ters, he could feel his physical capabilities improving at a noticeable rate.

That was the frightening thing about this body—everything he did, even mundane activities, increased his overall stats.

As he walked through the streets of Konoha, Riku's gaze fell on Ichiraku Ran.

He paused for a mont.

Inside, he spotted Hatake Kakashi seated at the counter.

Next to him was soone with a distinctive bowl-cut hairstyle.

After a mont's thought, Riku stepped inside.

"Welco!"

The warm greeting echoed as the curtains slid shut behind him.

The six-year-old Riku strolled up confidently and grinned. "Uncle Teuchi, one tonkotsu ran, please."

He sat down right next to Kakashi and Might Guy.

Kakashi glanced at Riku curiously.

Sothing about this kid was... off. He'd noticed it the mont Riku entered.

But what exactly was strange, Kakashi couldn't pinpoint.

Guy followed Kakashi's line of sight to the boy sitting beside them.

"Kakashi, you seem very interested in this brat," he said bluntly.

Riku frowned slightly—he knew Guy was talking about him.

He turned his head to look at the two jonin beside him.

Kakashi was montarily startled, then gave an apologetic nod. "Sorry."

Riku acknowledged it with a calm nod, then turned his attention back to Teuchi, who was busy preparing the noodles.

His deanor remained composed.

Kakashi glanced sideways at Guy with mild exasperation. "How many tis do I have to tell you? Don't just spout off nonsense."

Guy chuckled.

After a short while, Kakashi and Guy finished their al. It seed they had received a mission.

They placed so ryo on the counter.

"Boss, here's the paynt," Kakashi said.

With that, both of them vanished from Riku's side in a blur.

Shunshin no Jutsu.

Riku didn't react outwardly. He continued eating his ran with a calm, steady pace.

But inwardly, he was amused.

Body Flicker Technique... not bad. I've just learned another practical jutsu.

Truthfully, Riku hadn't co just for the ran. He'd hoped to observe the two jonin—maybe glean a jutsu, or overhear sothing useful.

That kind of intel would be invaluable for his developnt.

Still, he didn't rush his al. He continued eating at a leisurely pace, as if nothing had happened.

After finishing, Riku silently placed his money on the table and left.

But outside, on a large tree overlooking the ran shop, Kakashi and Guy watched him leave.

Guy asked with interest, "You suspect him?"

Kakashi shook his head. "Not exactly. I just have a strange feeling about him. That's all."

"Maybe I'm just overthinking it."

Guy wasn't so sure.

He knew Kakashi had been in the ANBU. His instincts were rarely wrong.

Still, to him, the boy just looked ordinary. A little more adorable than most kids, sure. But he didn't seem to co from any famous clan.

Just another civilian student.

What could be strange about that?

Several hundred ters away from Ichiraku Ran, Riku exhaled quietly.

"That was too close. ANBU-level shinobi really are dangerous. I didn't even do anything, and that guy almost marked ."

"I need to stay far away from people like him from now on."

Thanks to his heightened perception, Riku had sensed Kakashi and Guy watching from the tree.

That's why he hadn't rushed out, but instead calmly finished his ran before leaving.

Today had been a close call—the most dangerous encounter he'd experienced since arriving in this world.

Back ho, Riku washed up and went straight to bed.

There was no training scheduled—because he didn't need any.

Over the years, aside from basic taijutsu drills at the academy, he hadn't done any extra training.

And yet, with each breath he took, the amount and quality of chakra in his body increased.

He was only six years old.

And yet, his chakra reserves were already comparable to those of an average Chūnin.

The next morning.

Like always, Riku slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and headed to the academy.

The mont he entered the classroom, familiar scenes unfolded.

Naruto was being weird toward Sasuke again.

Ino and Sakura were fawning over Sasuke like usual.

Hinata kept sneaking glances at Naruto.

Shikamaru looked half-dead, slouched over his desk.

Chōji munched quietly on a bag of chips.

Riku was in the sa class as all of them.

But unlike them, he was nearly invisible—just another background student.

His grades were average. His strength was average. He didn't stand out in any way.

Just as he took his seat, class began.

Iruka entered, smiling warmly at the students. "Today is our first midterm exam."

The room erupted.

Naruto jumped to his feet. "Iruka-sensei! What's a midterm exam?!"

Iruka's smile twitched as he narrowed his eyes. "Naruto, sit down."

Naruto froze for a mont, then pouted and sat down with a huff.

Once the room settled, Iruka continued, "A midterm exam ans that we've reached the halfway point of this sester. We'll be assessing your progress so far."

Even though he'd scolded Naruto, Iruka still took ti to explain.

"Since we haven't started learning ninjutsu yet, this exam will mostly focus on taijutsu and kunai-throwing technique."

"There will also be a practical combat evaluation."

The classroom buzzed at those words.

"Practical combat?!"

"Wait—so we have to fight each other?"

"Who's gonna get paired with Sasuke?"

Everyone knew Sasuke was the strongest in class right now.

No one wanted to face him and be humiliated in front of the others.

anwhile, Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes burning as he stared at Sasuke.

If you didn't know any better, you'd think there was sothing else going on between them.

Naruto declared, "Finally! This is my chance! This ti, I'll beat you in front of everyone and show them who's the strongest in this class!"

"As long as I win, Sakura-chan will fall in love with !"

"Hahahaha!"