Ryan adjusted his posture, feeling the refined hum of ice-cold energy circulating through his pathways. His new breathing method was a masterpiece of efficiency. Gone were the days of wasting half his chakra on friction and heat; now, every drop of energy was perfectly converted into his frost-natured signature.
50% efficiency was a joke, he thought. Now, 100% of my output is pure, sub-zero data.
The air in the training ground grew heavy as a Chunin instructor flickered into existence atop a wooden pillar. He looked down at the crowd of sixty toddlers with the gaze of a man who had seen too many "heroes" die in the mud.
"Listen up, brats!" the instructor barked. "Registration is done. First test: Twelve laps around Training Ground No. 1. If you vomit, keep running. If you faint, you're out. Move!"
Ryan looked at the massive track. Twelve laps? For a six-year-old? On Earth, I'd be calling the UN for human rights violations. Here? This is just a Tuesday.
As the crowd of kids started to scramble, Ryan didn't rush. He scanned the area, his analytical mind sorting through the "mob" characters to find the "SSR" tier subordinates. His eyes locked onto a kid leaning against a tree, lazily chewing on a toothpick. He looked like he was about to fall asleep mid-instruction.
Ryan walked over, his steps silent and deliberate. "You're leaning against that tree like it's the only thing keeping you upright. What's the name?"
The kid opened one eye, looking at Ryan with a bored expression. "I'm Genma Shiranui. As for the leaning... I'm just always tired, man. My old man says I have 'high ninja talent,' but honestly? I'd rather be taking a nap. Life is a drag when your legs feel like lead."
Ryan's eyes narrowed. Genma Shiranui. The future proctor and bodyguard of the Fourth Hokage. Space-time affinity, high tactical IQ, and he eventually learns a version of the Flying Thunder God. But in the anime, he never quite hit the big leagues.
"Genma," Ryan said, his voice dropping into a serious, adult tone that felt out of place coming from a child. "What did the medics say about your fatigue?"
Genma spat his toothpick to the other side of his mouth. "They checked my chakra. Said it was high. Everything looks 'normal' in my body, but I have about 50% of the energy I should have. They think I'm just lazy. Maybe they're right."
Ryan smiled. It was the smile of a doctor who had just diagnosed a patient in 1950 with 2026 medical knowledge.
"They're wrong," Ryan stated firmly. "You don't have a chakra problem, Genma. You have a Thyroid regulation imbalance. Your body is producing high-quality chakra, but your metabolism is failing to convert it into physical stamina. This world's medical ninjutsu is great at fixing holes in the chest, but they're primitive when it comes to endocrinology."
Genma actually stood up straight, his toothpick going still. "Endo-what? Look, kid, you're using big words for someone who still hasn't started the first lap."
"Work for me," Ryan said, stepping into Genma's personal space. "Not for the village, not for the Hokage. For me. I can cure that fatigue in a month. I'll give you the energy to match that 'talent' your father talks about. We won't just be ninjas, Genma. We'll be the ones looking down at this world from the peak."
Genma looked at the pale boy in front of him. There was a coldness in Ryan's eyes—a depth of experience that made Genma's hair stand on end.
"You're a weird one, Ryan," Genma muttered, a small, genuine smirk appearing on his face. "But if you can actually make me feel like I'm not walking through mud every day... why not? I don't have much to do anyway."
"Good," Ryan turned toward the track. "Now, follow me. We have twelve laps to win, and I'm going to show you how to pace your breathing so you don't collapse by lap three."
As the two of them started running, Ryan watched Genma's movement. Space-time affinity... if I can get him to master the Flying Thunder God early, I'll have the ultimate escape route. But first, I need Hiruzen Sarutobi to notice me.
Ryan knew that if he showed too much "Genius," Danzo would kidnap him. But if he showed "Loyalty" and "Specialized Talent," the Third Hokage would claim him as a 'Special Talent' of the village, effectively putting a 'No-Fly' zone around him for Root.
"Hey Genma!" Ryan shouted over the wind. "Don't just run! Focus on the rhythm of your heart! When we finish this, I'm going to introduce you to the 'Yellow Flash.' If we're going to be at the top, we might as well learn from the fastest."
Genma's eyes widened. "The Yellow Flash? You know him?"
"I call his girlfriend a princess," Ryan grinned. "It works every time."
Ryan accelerated, his feet barely touching the ground. He wasn't just running; he was calculating. By the time they reached the 10th lap, most of the other kids were crying or crawling.
Ryan and Genma, however, crossed the finish line side-by-side. Ryan looked at the Chunin instructor and saw the man's eyebrows shoot up.
That's right, write it down, Ryan thought. Ryan Kenji: Tactical lead. Genma Shiranui: High potential follower. The 'Empire' starts today.