The final bell rang through the halls of the Ninja Academy. Iruka-sensei stood on the wooden platform, clipboard in hand. "All right, everyone—graduation's tomorrow. I couldn't be prouder of how far you've all come. It'll mean the world to me to see you all step into the world as real shinobi. Now... Naruto, you're on Hokage Rock cleanup duty. You're the one who painted the faces, so you're scrubbing them clean."
Naruto's bright gasp turned to a pout. "But Iruka-sensei, I was just—"
Ino clapped her hands together excitedly. "Koichi-kun's shop is open now! He's selling the first chapter of his manga—I'm heading there right after class!"
Naruto froze mid-step, eyes wide. "Koichi-nii-san's store? I promised him I'd visit once it was up and running!"
A smile flickered across Naruto's face as memories bubbled up: the day by the forest stream when he'd first met Koichi Takemiya sketching under a tree, how Koichi had shared his ink and laughed with him even before Iruka fully saw Naruto. Even the old man—Hiruzen, the Third Hokage—had joined them then, listening to Koichi's story ideas.
"Count me in!" Naruto shouted—only for Iruka to grab his sleeve.
"Hold on, Naruto. You're the one who painted the Hokage Rock, remember? That cleanup's all on you. But hey—once you've scrubbed those faces clean, I promise I'll take you to Koichi's store myself. Just the two of us."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really?! I'll finish it in no time!"
As Iruka led Naruto away toward the mountain path, Naruto shot one last excited glance over his shoulder at his classmates.
Ino turned to the rest of the group. "Alright, I'm heading to Koichi-kun's shop. Sakura, Shikamaru, Chōji—you guys coming?"
Kiba, overhearing the plan, perked up. "I'm in."
Sakura nodded. "Let's go."
Ino smiled and added, "Let's invite Hinata too."
Hinata cast one last glance toward Naruto in the distance, cheeks slightly pink, before following the others.
Shino, who'd gone unnoticed for most of the conversation, muttered something under his breath and quietly followed as well, as if it had never been a question.
Nearby, Sasuke had been listening quietly. His expression didn't change, but inwardly, he recalled Koichi—the boy two years ahead of them who had quit the Academy, despite clearly being talented enough to be a shinobi. Sasuke had observed Koichi a few times sketching—either on the rooftop of the Academy where Sasuke ate lunch or near the quiet dock by the village lake where Sasuke often sat alone. He'd noticed Koichi had excellent chakra control and could perform basic ninjutsu without even using hand seals.
Curious, Sasuke had challenged Koichi near the lake a few times. But each time, he was beaten—not even by Koichi himself, but by his shadow clone, while Koichi kept sketching calmly. It was the first time Sasuke learned about a jutsu that could create solid clones. He had tried it afterward, only to fail because of his limited chakra.
That memory lingered.
Sasuke made a note in his mind: he would visit Koichi's shop later. He wanted to see for himself what would make someone walk away from the shinobi path.
Sakura turned and, spotting Sasuke nearby, lit up. "Sasuke-kun! Want to come with us?"
Sasuke simply grunted and fell into step behind the others, silent as ever.
…
Inside The Hidden Ink, Koichi sat cross-legged behind the counter, flipping through a stack of parchment. Eleven shadow clones were gathered around the store, each holding a finished scroll. One by one, they dispelled with a soft puff of smoke, the memories and completed work flowing back into Koichi.
He blinked as the last clone vanished. "That's all twelve chapters done," he muttered with a small grin. The first chapter was already printed and on the shelves. The others? He'd release them week by week—give the village something to look forward to. Let the story unfold like rainfall—slow, steady, and meaningful.
Koichi leaned back and stretched his fingers, eyes falling on the finished manuscript beside him. The first chapter of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance Arc was finally complete. He'd chosen to start with this arc for a reason—it was the most powerful, emotional part of the story and the perfect prologue to set the tone. Titled "Hitokiri," the chapter adapted the 165th chapter of the original manga into something tailored for this world. This chapter revealed the chilling presence of the legendary assassin Battōsai during Kyoto's bloody Bakumatsu era, setting the stage for Kenshin's tragic past.
Koichi already had plans for what would follow. He wanted to delve deeper into Kenshin's origins—to show the moment when a kind-hearted boy named Shinta was saved from bandits by a mysterious swordsman named Hiko Seijūrō.
In this upcoming flashback arc, he would illustrate the contrast between the helpless child and the powerful master who changed his fate. Hiko's stern but protective nature, his philosophy on strength and survival, and his naming of the boy as "Kenshin" would be central themes. This was more than just a backstory—it was the emotional core of the man who would become Battōsai.
He could already picture the somber tone of the pages: firelit carnage, the silent stare of Shinta, the dramatic swing of Hiko's cloak, and the first time Kenshin wrote his new name. This flashback arc would come after the current one, tying the threads of tragedy and humanity even tighter around the tale he wanted to tell.
With the final stroke drawn, Koichi set aside his brush and held up the hand-drawn manga cover he'd created for the new series—a dramatic scene of Kenshin and Yukishiro Tomoe standing in the snow, just like the Trust & Betrayal OVA he remembered so vividly from his past life. The image was stark, melancholic, and absolutely beautiful.
"Yeah," Koichi muttered, satisfied. "This is the one that'll catch their eyes."
On the first page of the manga, he added a small handwritten note:
Note: This story is set in a world without chakra, unlike the shinobi world. Cities like Kyoto and Tokyo are from a different world altogether. Just enjoy it as a tale from another place and time.
He carefully set the chapter aside and reached for a fresh sheet of paper. Chapter two would mark the moment the Hitokiri coldly distanced himself from the political factions trying to control him, solidifying his image as the lone, lethal Battōsai. It was also the chapter where Yukishiro Tomoe would appear for the first time—quiet, mysterious, and destined to change everything.
Just as he touched the brush to paper, the chime above the door jingled softly.
Koichi rose from his seat, brushing off his hands as he stepped around the counter.
"Welcome to The Hidden Ink," he said with a friendly smile, meeting the new customers at the door.
And with that, creation paused—replaced by the gentle buzz of fresh footsteps and curious eyes entering his world.
…
Ino, Sakura, Shikamaru, Chōji, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba carrying Akamaru strolled down the alley where the familiar dango shop stood. Ino walked ahead, clearly excited, though trying hard to act casual about it. Her efforts failed miserably.
"You're totally bouncing, Ino," Sakura teased, nudging her with an elbow.
"Am not!" Ino huffed, but her grin said otherwise.
Chōji glanced around hopefully. "Is there any food near Koichi-kun's shop? Maybe some snacks or something?"
"That's all you ever think about," Shikamaru muttered with a sigh. "So troublesome..."
Just then, they turned a corner and came to a stop in front of a modest wooden storefront. The sign above read The Hidden Ink—exactly the name Iruka had told them.
Ino's eyes lit up. "This is it! Come on!"
She pushed open the door with a smile, the little bell above jingling as she stepped inside. Her classmates followed closely behind.
Koichi stood near the counter, having just seen off a customer who tucked a fresh copy of the Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance Arc manga under their arm. He looked up as the door chimed again.
His gaze landed on Ino first, who gave him a bright smile. "Hi, Koichi-kun."
He blinked in surprise for a second but quickly composed himself. "Ino... everyone... Thanks for coming. Welcome to The Hidden Ink."
Ino stepped forward, a soft blush on her cheeks. "I read the first chapter… and I really loved it."
Koichi tilted his head slightly. "Wait—today's the release day. I don't remember you buying a copy."
Ino smiled sheepishly. "I didn't. Iruka-sensei bought one this morning and left it on his desk. Sakura and I sort of... borrowed it when he wasn't looking."
Sakura nodded in agreement.
Ino beamed. "That's why we're here! We both want our own copies. And I brought everyone else to support you, Koichi-kun. I'm going to recommend it to everyone I know!"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow as he glanced around the store. "The Hidden Ink, huh? Not a bad name…"
Then he noticed the books on the counter and shelves. "Is this your work?"
Koichi nodded and pointed toward the covers on the counter. "That one with the two figures in the rain? That's Rain Between Us—a quiet story about two people who keep meeting during rainy mornings in a forest pavilion. It's more about emotions and silence than big fights." He then gestured to the cover with the snowy scene. "And this one's Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance. It's from a totally different world—no chakra, no Hidden Villages. Just an old era full of swords, war, and a legendary assassin trying to find peace. I just finished the first chapter today."
Kiba leaned in closer, eyes fixed on the manga cover of Rurouni Kenshin. "Whoa... this looks intense."
He turned to Akamaru resting on his shoulder. "What do you think? Should we get it?"
"Woof", Akamaru gave a small bark, tail wagging.
"Alright then," Kiba grinned. "We're buying this one."
Shikamaru gave a lazy nod. "Tch. Might as well. Looks interesting."
"I'm getting one too," Chōji said, already digging into his pouch for Ryō.
Koichi smiled and pulled out two fresh copies of Rain Between Us, handing them to Ino and Sakura. Then he reached under the counter and brought out three crisp copies of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance, placing one each in front of Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chōji.
He turned toward Hinata, Shino, and Sasuke.
"Hinata?" Koichi asked gently.
"I-I'll take the same one as Ino and Sakura," she replied softly, cheeks pink.
Shino adjusted his collar. "I'll go with what Kiba picked."
Koichi then looked at Sasuke, who just gave a short grunt. "Hn," he muttered, before pointing slightly at the Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance manga.
Koichi nodded and added three more copies—two of Rain Between Us - Chapter 1 and one of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance - Chapter 1—to the pile.
"Each copy of Rain Between Us - Chapter 1 is 180 Ryō," he explained, "and Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance - Chapter 1 is 300 Ryō."
The kids eagerly handed over their payments, clutching their fresh copies like prized treasures. Koichi found it expected—being clan heirs, none of them were likely short on money. Even Sakura, despite not being from a clan, came from a family with a solid business background. It was one of those advantages that came naturally with legacy or stability.
Koichi glanced at the group and smiled. "If you all enjoy the manga, come back on Getsuyōbi—every Monday—for the next chapter," he said casually.
The boys eagerly nodded, already itching to read what they'd just bought. One by one, they exited the store, flipping open their copies the moment they stepped outside. Hinata, Shino, and Sasuke followed quietly behind them.
As the group chatted and looked around the cozy store, Sakura nudged Ino with a playful grin.
"Go on," she whispered. "Say what you wanted to say."
Ino hesitated, cheeks pink, before stepping forward. "Koichi-kun... um, after graduation tomorrow... would you want to go out with me? Just the two of us?"
Koichi blinked, momentarily surprised, then smiled gently. "How about next week instead? You'll be on a team after graduation, and it'll give us something to look forward to. Once you're officially a kunoichi, we can plan something nice."
He glanced away for a second, thoughtful. Internally, he reminded himself: even though he'd been reincarnated into this world, his soul and mind were still those of an adult. He'd never cross the line. But once Ino began her journey as a kunoichi, things might feel a bit more balanced between them.
Ino lit up, trying to hold back her squeal of happiness. Sakura grinned, nudging her again. "Congrats, Ino," she whispered.
Ino turned back toward Sakura, clutching her new manga with a bright smile. "I'm going to tell everyone about Koichi-kun's manga. Just wait and see."
With that, she and Sakura stepped out into the afternoon light, books in hand, laughter echoing behind them as they left The Hidden Ink.
…
Just moments after the group left, a soft ding echoed in Koichi's ears—a familiar sound from the system that signaled his first official sale of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance.
[Status Updated]
[Achievement Complete: First Sale – Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance]
[Reward: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū (Flying Heaven Govern Sword-Style)]
The system's text shimmered in his vision.
Koichi blinked. Then, all at once, knowledge rushed into his mind—fluid, seamless, and deeply familiar.
Superhuman speed and reflexes. High-speed battōjutsu techniques. Sweeping, powerful strikes capable of taking down multiple foes. Refined precision, strength, and control in every movement.
And at its peak—the devastating technique: Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki.
Koichi stood quietly behind the counter, breathing slow and steady as the flow of mastery settled into his mind. He didn't need to move or test it to know: the sword style of the legendary Battōsai was now his.
He could feel the subtle change already—his body lighter, his balance more precise. The system quietly noted his agility had risen from C+ to B-, a small but satisfying boost.
A small smile tugged at the edge of his lips. "Guess it's time to start practicing the real thing."
He made a mental note to visit a blacksmith or weapon shop later. If he was going to train in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, he'd need a proper sword—something well-balanced, strong, and worthy of the style.