Chapter 9 - CHAPTER 6. V3

THIS IS EDITED VERSION 3. [ please let me know which edited version you guys prefer ]

In one of the orphanages of the Hidden Leaf Village, children were scattered across the large playground beside the main building, chasing each other or teaming up for games. But there was one boy who stood apart from the others, hidden away in the shadows near a grove of trees, lost in his own world. This boy, with a serious expression unusual for his age, was Ryuga.

At seven years old, Ryuga already looked remarkably distinct. He had grown taller than many of his peers, his physique showing signs of early athleticism, honed by secret training sessions. His jet-black hair framed his face, contrasting sharply with his pale skin. The softness of youth lingered on his features, but his unique eyes hinted at something extraordinary. His right eye, a deep, abyssal black, seemed to draw in light, giving off an unsettling, mysterious aura. His left eye, in stark contrast, was a brilliant, almost ethereal purple, as if a rare gemstone had been embedded within him. These two eyes were more than just different colors—they were the harbingers of extraordinary powers.

Today, Ryuga was "practicing" throwing shuriken and kunai, or so it would seem to anyone observing from a distance. In reality, he was controlling them with invisible chakra threads, strings of pure chakra that he had learned to manipulate with an incredible degree of control. These weren't ordinary wires or threads; they were extensions of his own chakra, woven so finely that they were almost undetectable even to other ninjas. Chakra control of this level would be difficult for most trained shinobi, but for Ryuga, it had become second nature, the result of relentless training and the guiding intelligence of his skill, Wisdom Core—his "wiz."

Two years had passed since Wiz had completely healed Ryuga's body from the experiment's traumatic aftereffects, transforming him into a being with abilities far beyond the normal limits of his age. At seven, Ryuga had been attending pre-ninja nursery school, blending in with other children by day while harboring secrets beyond any they could imagine.

In these two years, so much had changed. When Wiz completed the arduous work of reconstructing Ryuga's body, unexpected transformations had occurred, both physically and spiritually. The merging of his strong soul with his new body resulted in the evolution of certain sub-skills. Storage Space, a compartment in which Ryuga could store objects, had evolved into a specialized ability called "Stomach," which was directly connected to his body and now possessed a significantly increased capacity. This change had fundamentally altered how Ryuga interacted with his surroundings. Now, with his evolved Stomach, he could even store living things within his body for limited periods—an ability with enormous potential.

The consequences of this evolution went deeper than just physical storage. By merging with his body, Storage Space had unlocked Ryuga's affinity for space itself. In fact, his affinity for the space element had become "monstrous," far surpassing anything he could have anticipated. He was now able to interact with space in a way most ninjas could only dream of. If he concentrated, he could tear the very fabric of space with his bare hands. Though he could only access the initial layers, it was more than enough to give him an edge.

His affinity for darkness—yin chakra—was equally formidable, although he had yet to unlock its full potential. Wiz had explained that his strong affinities for space and darkness were likely connected to the place from which his soul originated. The darkness affinity, Wiz speculated, might be an imprint from that mysterious, featureless void where he had received his three wishes before entering this world.

In the Naruto world, elemental affinities were typically cultivated through a technique known as Nature Transformation, an advanced form of chakra control that allowed shinobi to convert their chakra into elemental energies like fire, water, and earth. For Ryuga, however, this wasn't strictly necessary. The experiment had implanted cells from multiple clans within him, so he already possessed latent affinities to several elements. From the Senju, he gained wood and earth. From the Uchiha, fire and electricity. From the Hyuga, water and yang (light). And from the Uzumaki, he had inherited earth and yin (darkness). These built-in affinities meant Ryuga was primed to control multiple elements without extensive training, but he had focused primarily on chakra control for now.

Ryuga's entire training regimen over the past two years had been oriented around perfecting chakra control. With Wiz's guidance, he had developed an extraordinary mastery over his chakra, learning to shape it with such precision that he could use it to create near-invisible, unbreakable strings. These strings, which he was currently using to practice shuriken and kunai throwing, were essentially undetectable. The invisibility was a result of using the byakugan's unique chakra perception, which allowed him to create chakra that could pass through objects without disrupting their natural chakra flow, leaving no visible marks or signs of tampering.

Ryuga was taking advantage of a unique aspect of this world's chakra structure: after the Sage of Six Paths had divided the Ten Tails' chakra among all living things, chakra had come to reside in nearly every object in the world. With his byakugan, he could observe the flow of chakra even in trees and plants. This allowed him to guide his chakra threads through the natural chakra pathways of an object without interference. The result was a stealthy, undetectable attack method that gave him a distinct advantage.

Beyond chakra control, Wiz had also guided Ryuga in physical training, gradually helping him build a body that could endure the rigors of more advanced ninjutsu. Ryuga's reconstructed body was far stronger than it looked; even at seven, his physical abilities exceeded those of most older kids in the academy. His chakra reserves had grown significantly, thanks to the careful cultivation and guidance provided by Wiz. Ryuga estimated his chakra pool was equivalent to that of a chunin, possibly even a special jonin.

The reconstructed chakra circuits, designed by Wiz, ensured that he could wield all the powers from his implanted cells without the risk of the instability that had plagued him as an infant. Unlike others with bloodline limits, Ryuga didn't need to worry about compatibility issues—his chakra circuits were optimized to support multiple powers, creating a seamless blend that was uniquely his own.

This fusion of talents also affected his eyes. Both his sharingan and byakugan had evolved to remarkable levels. The byakugan, in particular, was no longer purely white but had taken on a faint purple hue, reflecting his space affinity. This evolution allowed Ryuga to see space layers around him with unprecedented clarity, which, when combined with his sharingan, enabled him to detect even the slightest distortions in the fabric of reality. Not only could he use both eyes simultaneously, but Wiz also ensured that he wouldn't suffer the usual drawbacks associated with constant sharingan and byakugan use, such as exhaustion or eye strain. His eyes functioned in harmony with his body, allowing him to experience a nearly 360-degree view at all times without any strain.

To the casual observer, Ryuga's byakugan appeared no different from that of any other Hyuga, but there was a key difference. Unlike the standard byakugan, which required the user to bulge their eye veins for greater clarity, Ryuga's remained relaxed, thanks to Wiz's processing support. Wiz handled the data overload, analyzing and filtering sensory input for anything relevant to Ryuga's safety or interest. This allowed Ryuga to remain calm and focused, knowing that Wiz was constantly on alert, scanning the environment on his behalf.

Ryuga's training also extended to other skills, like using his chakra to shape various weapons. He could form swords, spears, and other objects from pure chakra, turning his energy into physical extensions of his will. These chakra constructs were exceptionally durable, an attribute owed to his precision in chakra control. Ryuga's ability to shape his chakra into complex forms, such as the ultra-fine threads he now wielded, was proof of his skill. Not a single bit of his chakra went to waste; Wiz had trained him to utilize every last drop, ensuring maximum efficiency.

Today, as he maneuvered his kunai and shuriken around the tree with ease, he could sense that his abilities had reached a new threshold. The chakra threads responded to his will almost as if they were extensions of his fingers. He practiced guiding them in increasingly complex patterns, weaving them around branches, darting between leaves, and shifting them back to his hands with flawless precision.

Ryuga's mind wasn't solely occupied with chakra threads and physical training, however. Wiz had encouraged him to train his strategic thinking as well, engaging him in games like chess, shogi, and go. These games honed his ability to anticipate and counter his opponents, essential skills for survival in a world rife with danger. Over the past two years, Wiz had evolved from a mere guide to a true partner, capable of analyzing Ryuga's strengths and weaknesses to a remarkable degree. They had developed a symbiotic relationship; Wiz offered insight and tactical support, while Ryuga provided creative ideas and intuition.

By now, Ryuga could feel the difference this training made. Not only was he stronger and faster, but his mind was sharper. He knew he would face even greater challenges in the future, especially as he began to interact more with others in the village. But with Wiz by his side, he was confident that he could overcome whatever lay ahead.

These thoughts lingered as Ryuga brought his practice session to a close. The other children were still playing, oblivious to the secrets he held. But that was just as he preferred it—for now.