Chapter 94: Basic Genjutsu Lessons

After making his way to class, Ryu noticed a change in the atmosphere as soon as he walked in. Several pairs of dark eyes belonging to the Uchiha clan members fixed upon him, their gazes sharp and unwelcoming.

Ryu sighed internally. 'Great,' he thought, 'another pain in the ass to deal with.' He met their glares with a calm, steady gaze of his own, refusing to be intimidated.

As he took his seat, Ryu couldn't help but wonder what had sparked this sudden animosity. Was it his recent performance in class? Or perhaps word of his unconventional aspirations had spread?

Before he could dwell on it further, the classroom door slid open with a sharp clack. A tall, slender man with piercing violet eyes and long, flowing dark hair entered. The chatter in the room died down instantly as the students sensed an aura of power emanating from the newcomer.

"Good morning, class," the man's voice was soft yet carried an undercurrent of authority. "I am Instructor Yuuki from the Kurama clan. I will be teaching you the art of genjutsu."

A collective murmur of excitement rippled through the room. Ryu felt a thrill of anticipation run down his spine. The Kurama clan was renowned for their mastery over illusions, and having one of their own as an instructor was a rare privilege. He leaned forward slightly, eager to absorb every word.

A collective murmur of excitement rippled through the room. The Kurama clan was renowned for their mastery over illusions, and having one of their own as an instructor was a rare privilege.

Yuuki's gaze swept across the room, his eyes seeming to pierce through each student. "Genjutsu is perhaps the most misunderstood and underutilised of the shinobi arts. It requires perfect chakra control, a skill many ninjas neglect in favour of flashier techniques." 

He paused, letting his words sink in. "However, make no mistake. The basics of genjutsu and how to counter it will be taught to all of you. This knowledge may very well save your lives one day."

Ryu leaned forward; his interest piqued. He had always been fascinated by the concept of genjutsu, the ability to manipulate reality itself. It was an art that required not just power but finesse and creativity.

Yuuki continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Genjutsu affects the senses and can be triggered through any of them—touch, smell, vision, hearing. Once caught in an illusion, the victim's mind becomes a canvas for the caster. Suggestions, images, even entire scenarios can be implanted." 

The class listened in rapt attention as Yuuki delved deeper into the intricacies of genjutsu. Ryu's mind raced, absorbing and categorising every piece of information. He could already see the potential applications, not just in combat but in his future medical career as well. 

Ryu thought, "Can Genjustu be used as a substitute for analgesic? But pain can break genjutsu. I recall that Kurenai Yuhi broke Itachi's genjutsu by biting her lips. But what if its not a visual genjutsu but only a fake sense of euphoria? Is it feasible, then?

"Before we learn how to break a genjutsu," Yuuki said, his eyes glinting. "We must first learn to recognise when we're caught in one. That will be the focus of today's lesson."

The next hour flew by in a blur of theory and practical demonstrations. Yuuki's teaching style was engaging, punctuated with real-world examples that had the class on the edge of their seats. As the lesson drew to a close, Ryu felt a sense of excitement bubbling within him, so he asked as many questions as he had. Genjutsu, he realised, could be a powerful tool in his arsenal.

As the students filed out of the classroom, the earlier tension returned. Ryu found himself face-to-face with Akira Uchiha. She was frustrated due to Kenji's awakening Sharingan before her.

"Hey, Hamura," Akira sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Think you're so smart, huh? How about we settle this with a real fight?"

Ryu regarded the girl calmly, his mind quickly assessing the situation. He could feel the eyes of the other students on them, waiting to see how he would respond. 'This is pointless,' he thought. 'I have nothing to prove to her.'

 "I appreciate the offer, Ms. Akira," Ryu replied evenly, "but I have plans to visit the library. Perhaps another time."

Akira 's face contorted with anger. "Coward!" she spat. "Running away to hide behind your books?"

For a moment, Ryu felt a flicker of annoyance. The child in him wanted to rise to the bait, to prove himself. But the adult mind that resided within this young body knew better. He was above such petty provocations.

With a small smile, Ryu simply shook his head. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving a fuming Uchiha in his wake.

Ryu felt someone was following him as he headed to the library. His suspicions were confirmed by a quick glance: it was another uchiha, Saya, making an effort to blend in but failing. He gave in to a little laugh. Her curiosity was charming in a way.

The library was a vast, imposing structure, its shelves stretching high towards the ceiling. As Ryu entered, he was greeted by a woman with kind eyes and a stern expression.

"Welcome," she said, her voice warm despite her severe appearance. "I am Maku, the librarian. How may I assist you?"

Ryu bowed respectfully. "Good afternoon, Maku-san. I'm a first-year student, and I was hoping to do some research."

"Well, as a first-year, you have access to the E-section." She gestured towards a section of the library. "The D-section and above are off-limits, protected by [Detection seals]. Any attempt to enter will be detected and will result in immediate expulsion and a year-long ban." 

Ryu's eyes widened slightly. The security measures were more stringent than he had anticipated. "Is there any way to gain access to higher tiers?" he asked, careful to keep his tone respectful.

"Only the principal can grant such access. And before you ask," she added, seeing the question forming on Ryu's lips, "the Hokage is our principal, with his advisor acting in his stead when necessary."

She pointed towards a staircase. "The vice principal's office is on the second floor. He can't grant you access himself, but he can make a request on your behalf. Though I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. Such privileges are earned through results, not mere curiosity."

Ryu nodded, filing away the information for future use. 'A challenge, then,' he thought, a spark of determination igniting within him. 'I'll just have to prove myself worthy of those higher tiers.'

Ryu nodded, filing away the information for future use. "Thank you, Maku -san. I'll make the most of what's available to me."

As he made his way to the E-section, Ryu couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and frustration. Even this basic section housed an impressive collection of books. With his perfect memory, he could absorb vast amounts of information, but it would still take considerable time to go through everything.

He began browsing the shelves, his eyes scanning titles and contents with practiced efficiency. Most of the books covered fundamental concepts - chakra theory, basic jutsu principles, village history. While essential knowledge, Ryu found himself yearning for more advanced material. 'This is just scratching the surface,' he thought, 'but it's a start. I'll build on this foundation.'

From the corner of his eye, he spotted Saya, pretending to be engrossed in a book while stealing glances in his direction. Her presence was a reminder of the façade he needed to maintain. To the outside world, he was just an unusually dedicated child, not an adult mind in a young body.

As he continued his research, Ryu meticulously categorised each piece of information in his mind, creating an intricate mental database. he named it [Mind Palace].

It was a technique he had developed to make the most of his perfect recall, allowing him to cross-reference and analyse data with ease. 'This will come in handy,' he mused, 'especially when I start delving into more complex subjects.'

A thought occurred to him as he worked—the shadow clone jutsu. If he could master that technique, his learning speed would increase exponentially. Each clone's experiences and knowledge would return to him upon dispelling. It was an A-rank jutsu, currently beyond his reach, but a goal to work towards.

Ryu mentally noted that he should bring up the topic with his grandfather. He would concentrate on learning as much as he could from the available resources for the time being.

As the afternoon wore on, the library began to empty, but Ryu remained. In this moment, surrounded by books and knowledge, he felt truly at home. The glares of the Uchiha, the whispers of his classmates, all faded away.

##PoWeR StOnEs##

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