Making sure his sealing scrolls were secure in his pockets, Ryuku set off for his next destination—the Konoha Library.
Located at the foot of Hokage Mountain, the library was open to everyone, whether they were shinobi, civilians, or merchants.
Though it housed a wealth of information about Konoha and the so-called Will of Fire, the higher-ups had ensured that all valuable ninja scrolls—even E-rank techniques—were securely stored in the Hokage's Office. Because of this, visitors could only access basic knowledge and theoretical concepts. Over time, the library had lost its appeal, becoming noticeably less crowded as fewer people found it worth their time.
Ryuku stepped into the circular, two-story building and found it nearly empty. The ground floor was eerily quiet, with only a handful of people scattered around. Rows of untouched shelves and vacant seats filled the space, but he wasn't surprised.
Moving past the shelves without hesitation, he headed straight for the stairs, ignoring the bald man seated behind the main counter, who was too engrossed in his newspaper to even glance up.
The ground floor housed the Konoha History and Hokage Section, neither of which interested him. Without a second thought, he made his way to the second floor.
Upon arriving, his gaze immediately landed on a blonde-haired girl with odd-looking glasses. She had claimed most of a large table, spreading multiple scrolls over one another in a chaotic yet focused manner.
It didn't take her long to notice him. She gave a brief nod before returning to her reading, completely unbothered.
Hmm... She's like the walking definition of an introvert...
Ryuku scanned the floor before his gaze settled on the Jutsu Section. Stacks of scrolls lay neatly arranged, each meticulously labeled with its title.
He sifted through them swiftly and found only two that piqued his interest:
1. The Basics of Fūinjutsu
2. A Study on Mastering Sealing Marks
The first scroll, at a glance, seemed almost worthless—something most shinobi would ignore. But for Ryuku, it was a necessity. If he wanted to create a seal comparable to Tsunade's Hundred Seal Technique, mastering Fūinjutsu was non-negotiable. Otherwise, with his pathetic chakra levels, forget about the Ōtsutsuki Clan or Kaguya—he wouldn't even qualify as a full-fledged Chūnin anytime soon!
Setting the scrolls on a nearby table, he moved towards the Medical Section. While not as vast, the section housed a few crucial scrolls—ones that could greatly aid his offensive style.
Before long, he picked up a large scroll titled Chakra & the Human Body, then turned toward the introverted girl from earlier.
"Big Sis?" he called softly.
Shiho glanced up, momentarily surprised, before a faint smile graced her lips—perhaps pleased by the unexpected address. "Just call me Shiho-san," she corrected in a gentle tone.
Sweet words work wonders on girls, huh… Ryuku mused inwardly.
"Okay, Shiho-san… I was wondering if I could take these three scrolls home for a detailed study," he asked directly, his violet eyes locking onto her strange glasses as he awaited her response.
Shiho glanced over the scrolls, and a flicker of curiosity crossed her face.
Fūinjutsu… and an in-depth study on chakra and the human body? That was unexpected from someone his age.
"You can, but I need to note down your name, address, and profession first. Also, there's a weekly rental fee," she explained while pulling out a notebook from behind the counter. "For these three, it'll be 1,500 Ryō per week. That okay with you?"
I can afford that much…
Ryuku gave a brief nod, answered her questions, then handed over 6,000 Ryō upfront—for an entire month. After carefully sealing the scrolls inside his storage scroll, he left the library with steady steps, ready for his next move.
After handling most of his tasks, he was finally ready for some much-needed shopping in Konoha's Main Market. There was no fucking way he was going to keep eating expired bread and those stupid, unhealthy sandwiches.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered, striding toward the bustling market.
For the next hour, Ryuku moved through the market with patience, carefully selecting the best food to support his physical growth. The first things he bought were freshly cut meat and a tray full of eggs. After that, he picked up other basic necessities for his daily life.
Once his hands were full with supplies, he decided to call it a day and head home.
But before leaving, he stopped in front of a particular shop and took a seat outside.
It was none other than the famous Ichiraku Ramen!
"Welcome, dear customer. What would you like to order?" greeted an older girl with dark brown hair and black eyes. Dressed in a white waitress robe with a matching bandana, she was someone Ryuku recognized immediately.
"How about your best, Ayame-san?" he asked with a slight smile. His forehead and right eye were partially covered by his messy ash-gray hair, but his smile seemed to do the trick, as Ayame's response came almost instantly—warm and teasing.
"Ara? You seem to know me, little charming prince," she said playfully.
Before Ryuku could respond, a hearty laugh erupted from inside the shop.
"Sit tight, dear customer! A Deluxe Special Ramen is on its way!" the old man Teuchi called out, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. He quickly got to work on the noodles while instructing Ayame to prepare the vegetables.
Ayame turned her gaze back to Ryuku, tilting her head slightly. "Damn, kid. What have you been eating all this time? Just look at you—so skinny and malnourished! You need to take better care of yourself."
Before he could react, she reached out and lightly patted his head, a warm smile on her face.
What the...
Caught off guard, Ryuku simply sat there, letting her do as she pleased.
"Stop teasing the customer, Ayame. You're making him uncomfortable," Teuchi chided, though his tone was gentle. He gave her a light tap on the head, causing her to make an exaggerated pained expression before quickly returning to her work.
"Teehee," she giggled, flashing Ryuku a playful wink before assisting her father again.
Ryuku didn't know what to say to this father-daughter duo. He could tell they were simply trying to cheer him up—that was just the kind of people they were. Humble and kind-hearted. Maybe it was his face? Or perhaps his frail-looking body? Or both, making him seem like someone in need of sympathy.
He hadn't really cared about his appearance until now. Walking around looking like a barbarian didn't bother him before, but maybe it was time for a change.
I'll deal with it later...
A few minutes later, Ayame returned with a steaming bowl of ramen, placing it in front of him.
"Here you go. It's hot, so be careful not to burn your mouth, hehe."
"Thanks."
"No problem! And don't be so formal—you're making me nervous~"
There she goes again, acting all cute… he muttered inwardly, though he didn't really mind.
By now, it was well into the afternoon, and the shop had begun to fill up with customers. The lively chatter created a warm, bustling atmosphere, but Ryuku remained focused on his meal, tuning out the noise.
That was, until he overheard something that piqued his interest.
"Hey, Masuda, are you really skipping the Medical Campaign again this time?"
"What's the point? I became a shinobi to kill enemies, not to sit in a hospital all day wearing those weird clothes and masks…"
"Haha, just admit you're scared of studying! Why hide it?"
"Shut up, you Genin loser…"
Ryuku's eyes gleamed as he processed their conversation.
Interesting...
****
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