The morning sun cast a pale glow over Konoha, highlighting the familiar rooftops and the distant, imposing Hokage Monument. For the first time in years, Ryuzen walked the streets without the weight of Root pressing on him. His steps were measured, silent, almost ghostlike, yet each one carried a sense of cautious freedom.
The village seemed unchanged, yet everything felt different. No orders dictated his path, no hidden cameras watched every flicker of his expression. Even the faint hum of Leaf life—the children training in the streets, merchants shouting from stalls, the faint laughter of passersby—felt alien. He was free, yet the freedom was unfamiliar, almost disorienting.
Ryuzen paused near a quiet alley, letting the sounds of the village wash over him. For so long, he had moved in shadows, obeying commands without thought. Now, he could make his own choices—but that very thought was heavy. Choices are dangerous, he reminded himself. But they're mine.
A Meeting with the Yellow Flash
A gentle wind carried a familiar, calm presence. Ryuzen turned to see a figure standing at the edge of the alley, framed by sunlight filtering through the trees. The blonde hair and the calm, confident posture made Ryuzen stop mid-step.
"Good morning," Minato Namikaze said, voice quiet but carrying warmth. "I hear you're adjusting well… or at least trying."
Ryuzen inclined his head slightly, keeping his expression neutral. "I am free now," he said simply. "Though freedom feels… different from what I expected."
Minato smiled faintly. "It always does. The first step is always the hardest. But that's why I'm here. To guide you. Not as Root did. Not as a shadow. But as a shinobi who wants to see your potential fully realized."
Ryuzen's eyes flickered. He had heard of Minato before, of course—the Yellow Flash of the Leaf. Yet this meeting felt… personal. Unlike Root, there was no hidden agenda. No pressure to conform.
Minato extended a hand. "Come with me. Today, you learn to move as a shinobi of the Leaf. Not Root. Not a weapon. But as yourself."
Adjusting to Freedom
The first hours were quiet. Minato guided Ryuzen through basic movement drills in a secluded clearing, small bursts of speed, leaping over trees, silent landings. Each motion was observed carefully, corrections given with gentle words rather than commands.
"You're precise," Minato noted, watching Ryuzen leap from branch to branch. "Root made you that way. But precision without thought is limited. You need anticipation, flexibility, and… awareness. Observe the environment, and let it guide you as much as your instinct."
Ryuzen nodded. The advice was simple, yet layered. Root had trained him to obey, not to think. This was different. He wasn't following orders—he was learning to respond.
"Begin a series of movements across the clearing," Minato said. "But this time, don't follow the path I expect. I'll watch, but I won't interfere."
Ryuzen's mind sharpened. Every branch, every uneven patch of ground became part of his calculations. He moved faster than before, yet fluidly. Each landing absorbed impact, each jump measured and precise.
Minato's eyes followed every motion. "Good. Faster. But now anticipate. I won't tell you what comes next."
Tactical Training
The second exercise tested speed and strategy directly. Minato produced small kunai, tossing them casually toward Ryuzen—each one aimed to force him to react, move, and adapt.
Ryuzen caught the first one mid-air, but the second clipped his sleeve. A subtle error, but enough to make him frown. Minato remained still, observing, silently encouraging him to correct the mistake himself.
"It's not about catching everything perfectly," Minato said finally. "It's about reading the pattern, predicting the movement, and acting before the motion completes. Don't just react—anticipate."
Ryuzen's eyes narrowed. Root had taught him precision, but not anticipation. He understood immediately: anticipation was the key difference between a weapon and a shinobi.
He moved again, faster this time, letting the kunai fly past in a blur. Each movement was calculated, preemptive, almost instinctive. He caught each kunai or dodged it before it could land.
Minato smiled faintly. "Better. You're thinking ahead. That's what separates someone who follows orders from someone who creates outcomes."
The Flying Raijin Moment
Minato decided it was time for a subtle demonstration. He called upon his Flying Raijin technique, teleporting a short distance instantly behind Ryuzen, throwing a shadow clone to his left simultaneously.
Ryuzen barely flinched. Years of Root training had honed his reflexes. Yet the technique was unfamiliar—he had to process the dual threat quickly.
He shifted his stance, letting his weight fall into his back leg, calculating trajectory and timing. When Minato reappeared behind him, Ryuzen ducked, rolled, and swept a kunai toward the clone just as Minato vanished forward again.
Minato landed silently a few meters away, observing. "Excellent. You processed two moving threats and adapted in real-time. That's the skill I want you to refine."
Ryuzen exhaled slowly. For the first time, he felt the thrill of fighting as a free shinobi, not a Root instrument. It was exhilarating, frightening, and intoxicating all at once.
Reflection and Bonding
After several more hours of drills and exercises, they sat together under a large oak tree, the clearing bathed in afternoon sunlight. Ryuzen wiped sweat from his brow, still silent, still guarded.
Minato studied him quietly. "You've changed already," he said softly. "A few days ago, you moved only by command. Now, you're calculating, anticipating, and making choices. That's growth."
Ryuzen finally spoke, voice low and measured. "I… understand the difference now. Orders bind, but thought frees."
Minato nodded, satisfaction in his eyes. "Exactly. You're not just learning to fight faster or hit harder—you're learning to think. That is the true essence of a shinobi."
For the first time, Ryuzen allowed a faint smile. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but genuine.
Ending Scene
The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the clearing. Minato stood, brushing off his hands.
"Today was the first step," he said. "You'll have more challenges ahead, Ryuzen. Not from me, but from the world. Root's influence isn't gone completely, and there will be others who doubt you."
Ryuzen nodded, gripping a kunai loosely. "I am ready."
Minato smiled faintly, a flash of warmth in his calm demeanor. "Remember this—freedom is more than absence of control. It's the ability to choose, to act, and to protect. You're not Root anymore. You're a shinobi… my shinobi."
The wind rustled the leaves, carrying the faintest echo of chakra energy—a whisper of the past and a promise of the future.
Ryuzen exhaled slowly, the tension of years beginning to release. His path was uncertain, but it was his own. And for the first time, that was enough.
Author's Note
Chapter 36 marks Ryuzen's first real steps into freedom under Minato's guidance. The focus is on rebuilding his skills with autonomy, teaching him to anticipate rather than obey, and letting him experience the exhilaration of choice.
Flying Raijin is used subtly to show Minato's superior skill and to push Ryuzen to think faster, not to overwhelm him. The chapter emphasizes psychological growth, mentorship, and strategy rather than violence, setting the stage for future challenges.
The next chapter will explore Ryuzen's first independent mission under Minato's oversight, testing both his skills and his ability to make decisions without Root's influence.