Ryuu's voice was filled with disbelief and nostalgia as he saw his long-gone master, Hinote Senju, standing before him. Hinote appeared younger than when Ryuu last saw him, yet he still carried a wooden walking stick.
"Finally decided to join the land of the living, huh?" Hinote said with a smirk, his tone light but his eyes reflecting a more profound, unspoken concern.
Ryuu blinked, still processing the surreal situation. "Sensei, but how... you're supposed to be..."
"Dead?" Hinote interrupted, his smirk turning into a gentle smile. "Well, that's a bit complicated, isn't it?"
Ryuu scanned his surroundings, the familiar landscape of the waterfall and the Hokage faces. He was above his backyard, a place of peace and memories. Yet, something felt off. An uncanny sense of unreality lingered in the air.
He turned back to Hinote. "Is this… some Genjutsu? Banshō technique?"
Hinote shook his head, "Not quite. I would never use such a technique carelessly. Think of this as a stopover. A place created in a moment of crisis."
'A moment of crisis?' Ryuu's words echoed in his mind as he remembered the events leading up to this: the numbness in his hand, Nobu's grim diagnosis, and the sudden collapse.
"Am I… dying?" Ryuu's voice was barely above a whisper, the realization dawning on him like a cold wave.
"Something like that," Hinote said softly.
Ryuu looked around, each landscape detail now having a deeper meaning. "Why am I seeing you here, Sensei?" Ryuu asked, his voice tinged with longing and unresolved questions.
Hinote's expression turned serious, "Why? It's because you fucked up." Hinote shook his head, "You experimented with one of my secret seals, and now you face the consequences. Is that a surprise?"
Ryuu's eyes narrowed, "Right... I'm sorry."
"You should be. I created that Fūinjutsu as a last resort, and you used it just because you wanted someone dead."
"But sensei-" before he finished, Ryuu was smacked again.
"I don't care what he did to you or anyone else!"
Ryuu's head went red and swelled, "Take it easy, will ya?"
"Tch!" Hinote clicked and held his hand out to Ryuu.
"The least amount of respect you could give is to stand up. No student of mine should have their ass on the ground for that long."
Ryuu took his hand with a hint of disdain. His other hand was rubbing his swollen skull. "Yup, this is Hinote sensei, alright... still as grumpy as an old man..." he muttered.
"What was that?" Hinote asked, squeezing the blood from Ryuu's hand.
"Nothing!" Ryuu quickly replied, his voice tinged with worry.
"Hinote Sensei, what do I do now? How do I get back?" Ryuu asked out of frustration.
Hinote's forehead creased with irritation. "You are a fool," he sighed. "Why don't you try to find out for yourself?!"
Ryuu's shoulders slumped in defeat, his face clouding over with depression. "You're right... I'm such an idiot. We're stuck here; Ichika's probably furious with me by now. Or worse, she's moved on, found someone else..." His words trailed off into a mumble as he spiraled into a pit of despair. "And Nobu... he's probably chosen a new host..."
"Tch, unbelievable!" Hinote muttered under his breath, slapping his forehead in exasperation. "How did I ever tolerate this level of foolishness? Get a grip."
Ryuu looked up, and his expression suddenly shifted, "Right! How do I get out of here, Sensei?"
"Well... I'm not sure." Hinote says with a sheepish smile.
"Tch! It's such a drag that now I'll have to think of a way out, you know?" Ryuu put his hand on his chin to think of an idea. 'I have to take this seriously now. He noted to himself.
"Hinote-sensei, how long has it been, by the way? Time moves differently in some places. Does this one count?"
Hinote grunted a little; he looked around as if he was looking for something.
"I... I'm not sure..." he explained.
Ryuu silently nodded, "I see..."
'This is serious. If it weren't that bad, then Nobu would've got me out soon.' He clenched his fist, 'So I can't feel my chakra or anything so far. I wonder how my body is reacting to this.'
"Ryuu." Hinote calls.
Ryuu looks at his master, wondering why he's being so silent after he calls.
"The reason you're here...
It has something to do with your... progenitors."
Ryuu's eyes widened, 'My progenitors?'
----------------------------------------
The streets of Konohagakure were choked with a restless crowd, pressing against a barrier of jonin.
"Let us through!" "We need to see him!" they chanted, straining against the line of shinobi.
Behind the jonin, a crimson barrier seal pulsed with power, reinforced by Anbu stationed on every corner. This display of force was deemed necessary for one man: Ryuu Uchiha.
Within the barrier, Kakashi, Obito, Shisui, and Itachi surrounded their comrade's unmoving figure. "It's been a week," Kakashi stated grimly.
Ryuu stood upright, yet his body was unconscious. Eerie blue flames danced around him, while the right side of his face was marred by horrific burns, the flesh decayed and patterned.
"Ryuu-sensei..." Shisui whispered, his fist clenching. "How could this happen?"
"We still don't know," Itachi replied, his voice heavy with worry. "All we know is that no one has been able to reach him or Nobu."
"Does she know about this?" Obito asked, glancing at Kakashi.
Kakashi's eyes were filled with tension. "Ichika is due back from her mission today. Hokage-sama has contained the news within the village. Not even she knows. We need to resolve this before it escalates further."
"We're fortunate Rikuto was able to erect this barrier," he continued. "Who knows how bad this could become."
Shisui's head dropped. "With sensei like this, things could deteriorate at any moment."
Kakashi frowned. "You're the last person I expected to hear such pessimism from."
Shisui's eyes widened. "I didn't mean it like that! It's just..."
Obito placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Shisui. We understand."
Moments later, Inoichi's voice echoed in their minds. "All units are to return to the Hokage's office immediately. I repeat the situation with the village. This is an S-rank mission."
Exchanging glances, the four shinobi swiftly headed toward Sakumo's office.
Inside, Sakumo presided over a tense meeting. Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, Fugaku Uchiha, Shikaku Nara, and a stranger sat facing the Hokage.
"Allow me to introduce Shikazo Nara," Shikaku began. "He'll be joining us, having been hand-picked by Ryuu to be my apprentice."
Shikazo stepped forward. His youthful, angular face held sharp, almost bored eyes, and his loosely tied ponytail allowed strands of hair to fall across his features.
With a respectful bow, Shikazo spoke, "It is an honor to meet you, Hokage-sama. Ryuu-sama speaks highly of you." His voice was youthful yet steady.
Sakumo nodded, then swiftly moved to the matter at hand. "Shikaku, give me a status report."
"Hokage-sama, thanks to your swift decision to outlaw gossip on the subject, rumors about Ryuu have been minimal. However, those that have spread pose a significant threat. I recommend reinforcing village defenses. News of Ryuu Uchiha's death could have catastrophic consequences for the Leaf and our allies."
"I'm aware of the danger," Sakumo replied grimly. "None of us foresaw this. We were complacent, celebrating Danzo Shimura's death. As a result, our forces are spread thin, with many shinobi on missions worldwide. However, we need all hands on deck."
He turned to Fugaku, his expression grave. "It appears Danzo had one final, twisted plan – a contingency to mock the Uchiha."
"Shikazo has been analyzing the situation," Sakumo continued. "His theory, and the most logical explanation, is that Danzo used one of his Sharingan to place multiple shinobi under genjutsu, compelling them to steal vital documents and betray the village if he and Ryuu died and remained absent for a week."
Fugaku's eyes widened in disbelief, and his usual composure shattered.
"Hokage-sama, at your request, I've dispatched my best trackers to intercept the shinobi heading towards the Hidden Cloud. But who will stop those going to Suna and Iwa? And what measures will you take within the village?"
A sharp knock echoed through the office, and the doors swung open to reveal Kakashi and Obito, followed by Shisui and Itachi.
"Sorry to interrupt," Kakashi said, his voice calm but laced with urgency. "We've been briefed on the situation."
"And we're ready for our mission," Obito added, his tone resolute.
Sakumo nodded grimly. "With your skills, we will prevail."
"Do we have a specific plan?" Itachi inquired.
Sakumo leaned forward, his expression serious. "The situation is dynamic, but we've deployed Anbu for reconnaissance. Given your exceptional speed, Kakashi and Obito, I expect you to reach the potential hotspots near Otogakure and Kusagakure before the enemy."
Shikaku, his gaze fixed on a map, added, "We must also prepare for a possible attack. The leaked information and rumors of Ryuu's demise could incite a coalition against us. Mizukage-sama, your support is crucial."
Yagura rose, his stance radiating determination. "Kirigakure stands with Konoha. It's the least we can do. We owe much to this alliance." He then turned to depart with his guards.
"Very well," Sakumo replied. "You must return and prepare your village." He looked at Obito. "You're the fastest way to Kirigakure. Escort Yagura and his guards. Rikuto Uzumaki has already been deployed to assist them."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Obito said before vanishing in a swirl of Kamui, teleporting Yagura and his guards back to Kirigakure. He then went to inform Rikuto, who was still watching over his brother.
Once the room emptied, Sakumo gestured for Kakashi and Shikaku to remain. "Kakashi," he began, his voice grave, "there's something else... a critical task."
Kakashi met Sakumo's gaze, a sense of responsibility settling heavily upon him. "I'll do whatever the village needs," he replied, his voice steady. But for a fleeting moment, his eyes flickered away, a silent vow echoing in his mind: 'When he's not here... you can leave it all to me.'
Shikaku leaned in, his voice low and urgent. "The threat of a united front from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and possibly Sunagakure is real. We must prepare for the possibility of a full-scale invasion. Even a victory could come at a devastating cost."
Sakumo's eyes held a depth of concern that mirrored Kakashi's own. "Your mission is twofold. You must intercept the rogue shinobi and gather intelligence on movements from those villages. We need to be ready for any eventuality."
Kakashi nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Understood," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "I won't let you down."