37 Chapter 37 - Killing a Roach

Alright, so before we start, I wasn't sure if Danzo had his Sharingans before the Uchiha massacre. I googled it and the results varied, but it mostly says that he did so I'm going with that. ================================================================ As

As Shisui continued to fight, he struggled to hold his ground against the relentless assault from the Anbu. Gradually, he found himself cornered and overwhelmed by their numbers, leaving him vulnerable to a stealthy attack. Unbeknownst to him, Danzo had crept up behind him, ready to strike.

Just as Danzo reached out to snatch Shisui's eye, a powerful grip seized his wrist. Both the Anbu and Shisui froze, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a third party on the battlefield.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Ryu spoke slowly, a playful grin on his face. With a swift, forceful kick, he sent Danzo hurtling backward, the impact reverberating through the air.

After sliding across the grassy turning for a dozen meters, Danzo regained his footing and addressed the newcomer, his voice steady. "Who are you?" As he spoke, the Anbu quickly gathered around him, forming a protective barrier.

Ryu locked eyes with Danzo, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "Just someone passing by." He turned to Shisui, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I got your back, man. Do you want to stay and fight, or continue on your way to Fugaku?"

Shisui hesitated, confusion etched across his face. "Who are—how do you—never mind, this isn't the time. I'll stay and fight. Thanks for the help." With a nod, he disappeared from sight.

Before Danzo and his subordinates could react, an Anbu's head tumbled to the ground. The remaining Anbu looked around in shock, their battle formation shattered.

"Oh, so we're in a hurry? Wish you'd mentioned that sooner," Ryu remarked, his tone light and teasing. With a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath Danzo's Anbu transformed into an array of razor-sharp blades, impaling them in an instant. Danzo's eyes widened in shock.

Danzo had been prepared for Shisui's incredible speed, but this was something else entirely. The shinobi he had spent years training and manipulating were gone in the blink of an eye! This Jutsu was formidable, and Danzo vowed to claim it for himself. However, he realized the danger posed by this unknown enemy. He needed to eliminate the threat quickly while staying out of harm's way. There was only one solution: "Izanagi!" Danzo bellowed.

Shisui, recognizing the implications of Danzo's actions, couldn't help but wonder, "Is he really that afraid of this guy?" Without hesitation, Shisui retreated from Danzo's vicinity, allowing Danzo to charge toward Ryu. Seeing Shisui's urgent reaction, Ryu acted swiftly, conjuring blades to surround and impale Danzo from all sides.

But to Ryu's astonishment, the impaled figure of Danzo vanished as if it were a mere illusion, only to be replaced by an uninjured Danzo continuing his charge toward Ryu. Closing the distance at breakneck speed, Danzo finally reached Ryu, who appeared to be in a dazed state. "What the...?" Ryu mumbled as Danzo loomed over him, a kunai poised at his throat.

Just as Danzo was about to strike, Shisui reappeared at his side, delivering a powerful kick that sent him flying backward. "Snap out of it!" Shisui shouted, jolting Ryu out of his trance. They both watched Danzo intently, prepared for his next move.

"Hold on, Shisui. I want to try something," Ryu said, his eyes brimming with curiosity. Without waiting for a response, he summoned another dozen swords beneath Danzo's feet, impaling him once more. Yet, as before, the injured Danzo vanished like a mirage, replaced by an unscathed version of himself, already closing in on them.

"It's no use! We can't hurt him while he's using Izanagi. We need to outlast it," Shisui warned, swiftly moving away from the scene.

"Is something like this even possible?" Ryu murmured, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. As Danzo drew near, intent on killing Ryu, his hand stopped just short of its target. Suddenly, Danzo's form shifted, transforming into a roach.

"I don't have time for this. I need to figure out what on earth I just witnessed," Ryu said, addressing the bewildered roach that had once been Danzo. "Since you've lost your precious eyes, once the current Izanagi's duration ends, you're finished. And that happens... now. Enjoy your new life as a roach; you've just missed your only chance to change back." With that, Ryu vanished from the scene.

"What in the world did he just do? I must report this to Lord Hokage!" Shisui exclaimed before disappearing as well. The roach, once Danzo, looked around in a state of confusion and terror. What had just occurred? It desperately needed a way to reverse the transformation, regain its former power and seek vengeance. Unfortunately for the roach, as it pondered its predicament, a kunai pierced it, ending its life. 'I almost forgot about Danzo. Best not to leave any loose ends,' Shisui thought as he continued on his way after throwing the kunai.

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As Ryu flickered excitedly through the lush forest, the vibrant green foliage seemed to come alive around him, dancing in the gentle breeze. The sunlight pierced the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Ryu's eyes sparkled with anticipation, his body humming with energy as he darted among the trees, his heart pounding with the thrill of his recent encounter.

'Is that what manipulating reality looks like? I can't even comprehend it!' Ryu thought as he tried to process the information he gathered during the fight. Ever since awakening his Mangekyo, he had kept his left eye's scanning ability active, ensuring he was never caught off guard. This included the fight against Danzo, where he had witnessed something entirely unexpected—the effects of Izanagi.

Ryu's left eye granted him the ability to see anything within a certain area of effect. Though he was not fully aware of it, due to its faintness, this even included the very fabric of reality. Izanagi made this abundantly clear. Witnessing the manipulation of reality itself was enough to drive anyone mad, to say the least.

Eager to learn more, Ryu forced Danzo to use Izanagi once more, capturing the event with both eyes to gather as much information as possible. Unfortunately, it didn't help much. While Ryu obtained the data he sought, understanding it was another matter entirely. Comprehending something on this scale required immense mental gymnastics, and Ryu was far from achieving the necessary level of understanding. Despite his burning curiosity, that subject would have to wait.

For now, there were other things Ryu wanted to do, and, for the first time in a while, he could afford to take his time.