Together with Fu and Torune backing him, Ryuu found it easier to convince others to join his cause. However, for this particular mission, Ryuu decided to enter the mansion alone. Inside, a person of interest awaited.
Ryuu walked into the hideout, a sprawling mansion situated on a rocky hill. The compound was filled with children and adults, all watching Ryuu with curiosity and apprehension as he went to the leader.
The man in charge was a tall, muscular figure wearing the standard attire and mask of the Foundation, sporting an eye patch.
Ryuu confronted him with a direct question. "You have two choices here. Listen to me and do as I say, or face the consequences as I beat you to a pulp in front of the children. Which one will you choose?"
The shinobi drew a giant chakra saber. "This is a private area." He said, asserting himself.
Ryuu casually responded, "Yeah... not anymore." He scratched the back of his head, a smirk playing on his lips.
Taking a defensive stance, Ryuu positioned one arm behind him while extending the other into a taijutsu stance. "Bring it."
Without hesitation, the shinobi launched a powerful attack, swinging his saber with great force. However, Ryuu effortlessly evaded the strike, causing the shinobi to hit the floor instead.
Ryuu took his chance and stepped on the saber, stopping it, then hit the shinobi's face with a flying knee, making him stagger.
With a smirk on his face, Ryuu capitalized on this opportunity. He lifted the saber with his foot and kicked the hilt, propelling it into the air. As it spun, Ryuu spat a thin spark of Phoenix Flame and skillfully split the blade in half.
Shink! The sound of the blade splitting echoed through the room as both halves lodged themselves into the shinobi's legs, pinning him down.
Ryuu landed gracefully, a smirk of satisfaction adorning his face.
As the fight concluded, more and more children entered the mansion, their eyes widening at the impressive display of skill they had just witnessed.
"Danzo Shimura is dead," Ryuu announced to the crowd. "I am offering you a chance at a new life. All you need to do is swear allegiance to Konohagakure and embrace the lessons I have planned for you.
Leave behind what you learned from Danzo and the Foundation. From then on, you will live a fulfilling life surrounded by friends and family. And who knows, I might even share a thing or two about women." Ryuu smirked, his words laced with a hint of mischief.
As he glanced behind, Ryuu noticed two kids standing in front of the door, each wielding a Katana. One had short black hair and dark eyes, while the other had long gray hair and dark eyes. "Shin and his brother," Ryuu recognized them, recalling the information he had read about them.
Dressed in root uniforms, the kids were ready to attack him. Ryuu calmly walked towards them, squatting to be at their height.
"I know you two," Ryuu began. "Shin and his brother, right?"
They both charged toward him, fueled by their loyalty to Danzo-sama.
Sighing, Ryuu swiftly threw a kunai into the air and teleported to it, grabbing their heads as he landed.
"Our loyalty is to Danzo-sama!" Shin exclaimed, squirming and trying to break free.
Ryuu held them firmly, looking directly into their eyes. "Why don't we forget about Danzo Shimura? He corrupted all of you kids, but I put an end to him. Those who continue to follow Danzo will face imprisonment for aiding a criminal. That is the order given by the Hokage."
Ryuu's voice softened as he continued, "However, I want to spare you children. You can choose to live and fight for your family, not from the underground darkness of the Root, but as shining leaves of the new generation."
He released his grip on them, and they fell to the ground, holding their heads in confusion and pain.
"I will train all of you to serve Konoha and do your best," Ryuu explained. "But I won't use the brutal methods employed by Danzo. Instead, I will use my approach."
"We don't want to train with you!" Shin protested, launching another attack.
Ryuu effortlessly caught his fist and let it go, maintaining his composure.
"I understand your hesitation, but choosing loyalty to a dead man and a criminal organization will only lead you to serve time in prison," Ryuu calmly explained. "You will lose your family and waste all the years you've spent training here."
Ryuu's gaze softened as he locked eyes with Shin. "Besides, I've read your files, Shin. I know that you're terminally ill, and I can offer you a chance of survival."
Shin's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and skepticism evident in his expression.
"You're lying! If Danzo-sama can't do it, what makes you think you can?!" Shin protested, clearly skeptical of Ryuu's claims.
Ryuu simply shrugged, undeterred by Shin's doubt. "I'm only the greatest medical ninja ever. I'll save you all if I have to," he confidently replied, looking around at the terminally ill children. Deep down, he knew the gravity of the situation and the immense responsibility he carried.
As Ryuu extended his hand to Shin, offering him a chance for a better life, Shin hesitated. He wasn't easily convinced.
With a swift movement, Shin cleanly sliced off Ryuu's finger, causing a surprised reaction from everyone present.
However, their surprise quickly turned into awe as they watched Ryuu's hand activate burning red flames, and his finger regrew before their eyes.
"Whoa!" the children gasped in amazement, their eyes wide with astonishment at Ryuu's display of medical prowess.
Ryuu picked up his newly regenerated finger and sealed it away, feeling a sense of loss for his severed digit. "Sigh... I liked that finger," he murmured, a hint of disappointment evident in his voice.
Shin's initial skepticism wavered as he witnessed the miraculous regeneration. The child with short black hair spoke up, supporting Ryuu's cause. "We'll join you," he said, catching Ryuu's attention.
Ryuu's eyes lit up with a smile, grateful for the newfound support. However, Shin continued to resist, still harboring doubts.
"No, we won't! What are you thinking?!" Shin protested again.
The child with black hair looked at Shin and pointed to Ryuu's hand. "Look at his hand, Shin. You cut off his finger, and now it's perfectly fine. He said he was the greatest medical ninja, and then he did that. Don't you think he can cure you? Give him a chance."
Shin clicked his tongue in frustration but eventually relented. "Fine. But I'm only doing this for my brother," he begrudgingly agreed, his determination shining through.
Ryuu's smile widened at Shin's decision. "That's a noble reason," he said, acknowledging Shin's loyalty to his brother. Standing up, Ryuu addressed the rest of the children.
"Thank you for giving me a chance. Together, we can build a better future. Trust in me, and I will do everything in my power to heal and protect you."
As the children looked at Ryuu, they saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and they began to believe that a brighter future was indeed possible.
'Works like a charm,' Ryuu thought to himself, pleased with his progress in convincing the children. 'If I can win over the best here, the rest will surely follow. But still... I miss my finger...' he sighed inwardly.
"Before we leave, I want all of you to line up outside. I know most of you don't have names, and if you do, they're probably just codenames. But that's about to change. I'm going to give each of you a name.
Names are important; they define a person's character," Ryuu addressed the assembled group, his gaze resting on a short-haired boy.
"You, Shin's brother," Ryuu called out, catching the boy's attention. "Your new name is Sai. I have a good feeling that I can count on you for important tasks." Ryuu winked and gave him a thumbs-up.
Sai's eyes widened as he processed his new name. "Sai... I won't let you down," he replied with determination.
Ryuu continued, "And as for me, I forgot to introduce myself earlier. My name is Ryuu Uchiha, the proud protector of Konohagakure." He flashed a confident smile, though a small sweat drop formed on his forehead. 'Well, at least Kakashi isn't here to scold me about putting 'great' before my name,' he thought to himself.
"I look forward to working with you. Let's gather at the main mansion at midnight, and from there, I'll show you our new base, which is still under construction."
"Yes, sir!" the group responded in unison, saluting Ryuu.