Naruto: Lost to Hinata on Purpose, and Now Everything's a Mess Chapter 83 83 : Riku, An Unplanned Person

Sakura was completely speechless. I always thought this proctor was just like Naruto…

At that mont, Naruto himself was also thoroughly embarrassed. He hadn't realized just how much he acted like that.

Standing behind him, Ibiki Morino stepped out from behind the curtain, his cold voice cutting through the noise. "No one asked for your comntary."

Anko Mitarashi, the proctor for the next stage, raised her fist, her face flushed with embarrassnt. She glanced around at the remaining candidates in the classroom and frowned slightly.

"What's going on? Why are there so many people left after the first test? Ibiki, did you go easy on them?"

Ibiki remained calm. "There are a lot of talented ones this year."

As he spoke, his eyes landed on Riku. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was sothing strange about him—sothing entirely in control and deliberate in his every move.

Anko laughed at Ibiki's response. "That's because your test was too soft. Don't worry. In the second round, I'll eliminate at least half of them."

Gasps echoed across the classroom.

"What?! You want to eliminate half of us? Are you kidding?"

But those who had taken the Chūnin Exams before knew that with the format of the second test, eliminating half the participants was entirely possible.

Many first-tirs just didn't know what was coming.

Riku stared at Anko calmly. At this ti, she was still a young and vibrant kunoichi—around the sa age as Yugao. A Special Jōnin of the Hidden Leaf.

She had solid strength.

But because of Orochimaru's curse mark, her potential had been hindered. In terms of raw talent alone, she definitely had what it took to be a full Jōnin.

Anko noticed Riku's gaze. After finishing her announcent, her eyes flicked toward him. Is this the special kid the Third Hokage ntioned? He does look good... Does he really have Jōnin-level strength?

Anko had always been close to the Third Hokage. As Orochimaru's forr student, she was, in a sense, like a grandchild to Hiruzen.

If it weren't for the Third Hokage, she wouldn't have been able to live a normal life, burdened as she was with the dark secrets of Orochimaru.

She took one last glance at Riku and said, "The second stage of the exam starts tomorrow. As for which training ground you'll head to, ask your squad's Jōnin instructor—they'll know. That's all. You're dismissed."

With a puff of smoke, she vanished.

The first stage of the exam had co to an end, and for Riku, it hadn't been difficult at all—it felt more like sightseeing.

After they left the examination room, Hinata and Ino stayed close to Riku. Shikamaru, curious to know more about him, invited Ino to join him for barbecue.

Naturally, Ino dragged Riku along.

Back in the Academy, Riku had barely spoken to most of them, and certainly hadn't built any friendships.

But he wasn't unfriendly—he spoke when necessary and kept silent otherwise.

By the end of the evening, they had already grown familiar with each other.

Later that night, in the very sa barbecue restaurant where Riku was eating with Shikamaru and the others, Orochimaru appeared in a private room across from none other than Kabuto Yakushi.

Although the two spoke quietly, their attention was fixed on two individuals—Riku and Sasuke.

While laughing and chatting with the others, Riku clearly sensed Orochimaru and Kabuto in the adjacent room.

So bold... he thought. Orochimaru dares to show up here at a ti like this? Then again, Konoha's current security might as well be for show. He won't have any trouble slipping in.

Does anyone even know about his Reanimation Jutsu?

Even the Third Hokage can't detect it. Ordinary shinobi wouldn't stand a chance.

Riku had no intention of confronting Orochimaru yet.

Even though he knew Orochimaru and Kabuto were keeping an eye on both himself and Sasuke, he didn't want to engage—at least not for now.

Inside the private room, Kabuto looked visibly anxious.

"Lord Orochimaru, it's far too risky for you to be here right now."

Thanks to the reserved room, their conversation remained private.

Orochimaru, however, remained utterly composed. "No one can detect . Don't worry. Have you finished gathering information on Riku?"

Kabuto ford a series of hand signs and produced a scroll filled with data on Riku.

He had always been skilled at intelligence gathering. In less than half a day, he had compiled nearly all recent information on Riku—and in great detail.

Aside from the specifics of Riku's abilities and unknown ninjutsu, everything else was docunted on the scroll.

After reviewing it, Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Interesting... Riku, huh? What a pity. Just like the Fourth Hokage—no kekkei genkai, no Sharingan. A real sha."

Orochimaru had done extensive research on the Sharingan. He was obsessed with it—not just the dōjutsu itself, but the bloodline of the Uchiha clan.

If all he wanted was a Sharingan, he could have acquired a pair long ago. He had access to plenty.

After all, the Sharingan embedded in Danzo's arm had been preserved using his own techniques.

But unlike Danzo, Orochimaru wasn't interested in the eyes alone—he wanted the full bloodline.

Still studying the scroll, Orochimaru mused aloud, "This guy has led a life even quieter than the Fourth Hokage. But when it cos to talent, he far surpasses him. He's even mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"What a genius... In all my years, I've never seen soone like this. It's just too bad he's not an Uchiha—he would have been the perfect vessel for my Reanimation plans."

Kabuto nodded in agreent. "I was surprised too when I read the report. To have this level of power at twelve... If I had to guess, I'd say Riku is already at Jōnin level. He might even be stronger than ."

Orochimaru chuckled softly. He was confident that Riku was indeed stronger than Kabuto.

At present, Kabuto was still weaker than Kakashi. But based on what Orochimaru had seen from Riku's actions during the Land of Waves mission, Riku was already more powerful than Kakashi.

If Kabuto were to beat Riku, it would only be through deception or a successful ambush.

In the shinobi world, sneak attacks could turn the tide. With the right intel and the elent of surprise, even a Kage-level ninja could fall to a Jōnin.

But unless he landed that perfect sneak attack, Orochimaru knew Riku would dominate a direct fight with Kabuto.

Still, he kept that thought to himself.

The real reason Orochimaru had co here was to gather intelligence on Riku—so he could decide whether to factor him into future plans.

If Riku's strength truly rivaled or exceeded Kakashi's, then his presence could disrupt the entire Konoha Crush operation.

And that was a problem.

Orochimaru was confident that he himself was far more powerful than Riku, but his goal wasn't Riku—it was to assassinate the Third Hokage.

He had made extensive preparations for it.

But the unexpected appearance of soone like Riku had introduced variables. If Orochimaru couldn't eliminate him, then at the very least, he had to ensure Riku stayed outside the radius of his operation.

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