36 Chapter 36 - New eyes and arriving at the Hidden Leaf

Ryu winced as a strange sensation washed over him. It was like bumping his elbow against something, but the feeling enveloped his entire body. "At least it's better than excruciating pain," he murmured, snickering as his body underwent the transformation. He glanced over at Jiraiya, wondering if the older man would wake up. Ryu couldn't use his Sharingan in this situation, but Jiraiya lay motionless, apparently fast asleep. Or so Ryu thought.

Jiraiya's eyes snapped open, his mind racing. 'What the hell! This can't be real. His Chakra is increasing at an absurd rate—it's already doubled! Is this a mutation, or a special ability from an unknown clan? He doesn't seem to be panicking, which means he's experienced this before. This kid keeps getting stranger. I hope he can connect with his family in the Leaf or at least find a sense of belonging among his clansmen.' Jiraiya's thoughts were a whirlwind of curiosity and concern.

Ryu, unaware of Jiraiya's inner turmoil, focused on his own thoughts. 'Now that the transformation is complete, it's time to learn more about the Rinne Sharingan.' He activated his Mangekyo abilities, and a flood of information about the Rinne Sharingan filled his mind. He absorbed the details of its operation and composition, eager to understand its full potential. 'I think I've got it. Time to evolve my Sharingan!' Ryu braced himself as he initiated the next transformation, opting for a temporary version to test the waters.

"Holy cow!" Ryu gasped, eyes wide as they adjusted to the new sensation. "It's like I've got two microscopes for eyes, and everything's moving in slow motion. I've got to test these new abilities. Jiraiya's asleep, so I can sneak away, right?" Doubt crept in, and Ryu decided to be cautious. "Better double-check, just in case." He activated his Mangekyo's ability, subtly observing Jiraiya.

To Ryu's surprise, Jiraiya was indeed awake. 'Did he notice my transformation? I didn't manage to conceal my Chakra well during the process. Well, there's no use dwelling on it now.' Ryu tried to focus on the positive. 'At least my new eyes seem to be working as intended. I'll need to test them thoroughly later, but so far, things are looking promising!' Excitement bubbled within him, but he knew he had to be careful not to draw unwanted attention.

---

As Ryu and Jiraiya left their campsite behind, they continued their journey through the forest. The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting spotted patterns of light and shadow across the forest floor. Birds sang their morning songs, and the air was filled with the earthy scent of damp leaves and rich soil. Ryu and Jiraiya moved at a brisk pace, eager to reach their destination.

"Are you okay, Jiraiya? You don't look so good," Ryu asked, a hint of concern in his voice. Jiraiya rubbed his eyes, stifling a yawn. "Huh? Oh, I'm fine, kid. I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night," he explained, trying to sound casual.

Ryu's suspicion was piqued, and he decided to take a peek into Jiraiya's thoughts. 'Of course I couldn't get any sleep, you little rascal! After witnessing what you did last night, how could I? I'll have to work even harder to make sure he stays in the village. I need ideas...' Ryu couldn't help but chuckle as he saw Jiraiya mentally scrambling to come up with ways to keep him in the Hidden Leaf Village. Interestingly, none of the ideas involved forcing him to stay against his will. Ryu took note of this, appreciating the underlying respect for his choices.

'If everyone in the Hidden Leaf is like that, I might not have any trouble calling that place home someday. Though, hopefully, they're not all as perverted as this one,' Ryu mused, casting a sidelong glance at Jiraiya. For now, he would continue to observe and learn about his new companion and the village that awaited them.

---

As Ryu and Jiraiya continued their journey, the forest gradually thinned, and the sounds of the bustling village reached their ears. They finally emerged from the tree line, the Hidden Leaf Village stretching out before them.

Traditional-style buildings with sloping roofs and paper lanterns lined the streets, and the scent of freshly cooked food wafted through the air. People went about their daily tasks, the atmosphere lively and welcoming.

Encircling the village was a towering wooden wall, punctuated by two enormous green doors that stood wide open, inviting them in. A silver plaque above the entrance bore the village's emblem.

"We're here, kid," Jiraiya announced, rousing Ryu from his daydream. As they approached the entrance, they bypassed a long line of visitors waiting for inspections by the gate guards.

"You know, I never got why these villages are called 'Hidden' if everyone knows where they are. It doesn't make much sense..." Ryu mused aloud.

Jiraiya chuckled. "It stems from the fact that this is a village of Shinobi who specialize in stealth," he explained.

Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Yes, stealth experts who shoot giant fireballs and water dragons... I think only the Anbu truly qualify as stealthy Shinobi. And even if it's a village full of stealth experts, the village itself isn't hidden, so the name is just confusing," he countered, leaving Jiraiya with a slightly bitter expression.

Shaking off the comment, Jiraiya continued, "Anyway, I need to go and inform the Hokage of your presence, as well as discuss some other matters with him. In the meantime, you can go explore the village. By the way, the Uchiha residence is in that direction." He pointed off to the side. "Just don't be too disappointed..."

"Sure... Call me when you're finished. I'll go around for a bit," Ryu agreed as he and Jiraiya parted ways. Once Jiraiya was out of sight, Ryu activated his left eye's ability, pouring enough chakra into it to encompass the entire village. The scene before him unfolded like a panoramic display, and he noticed an intriguing situation. 'There's a couple of Anbu and an old man chasing an Uchiha. Is he a deserter? I'll go check it out,' Ryu thought, before flickering away.

Ryu arrived at a clearing just in time to witness a young Uchiha with spiky, short hair appearing in the clearing with a flash. Almost immediately, about a dozen Anbu dressed in white coats materialized behind him. A moment later, an old man with black hair and bandages covering his body entered the scene.

Curious about the situation and eager to learn more about the Uchiha clan, Ryu read the young Uchiha's mind. As he processed the newly acquired knowledge and coped with the disorienting effect of the memory transfer, the two sides engaged in battle.

One Anbu agent launched a barrage of razor-sharp wind blades from his fingertips, slicing through the air with lethal precision. Shisui effortlessly evaded the attack, using his Sharingan-enhanced reflexes to anticipate the trajectory of each blade.

Another Anbu agent attempted to immobilize Shisui by manipulating the shadows beneath his feet, trying to bind him in place. However, Shisui's agility allowed him to leap from one tree branch to another, disrupting the agent's control over the shadows and narrowly escaping capture.

The fight continued to escalate, with each side displaying an array of dazzling techniques. Shisui launched a series of fireballs that seemed to materialize out of his mouth, forcing the Anbu agents to scatter and evade the deadly flames. In response, an Anbu agent summoned a torrent of water that surged toward Shisui with the force of a raging river. The young Uchiha nimbly dodged the flood, leaping and twisting through the air like a leaf caught in the wind.

As the battle continued, the Anbu agents decided to switch tactics and engage Shisui in close-quarters combat. They hoped that by working together, they could overwhelm the young Uchiha with their combined strength. They closed in on him, moving with a fluidity and fineness that seemed almost otherworldly.

The first Anbu agent lunged at Shisui with a palm strike aimed at his chest, attempting to disrupt his breathing and momentarily stun him. Shisui, however, effortlessly sidestepped the attack and countered with a swift elbow to his assailant's temple, sending him reeling.

Seeing an opening, another Anbu agent rushed forward, spinning low to the ground in an attempt to sweep Shisui's legs out from under him. Shisui recognized the maneuver and leaped into the air, using the momentum from his jump to deliver a powerful downward kick aimed at the agent's shoulder. The force of the impact knocked the Anbu off balance, leaving him vulnerable to a follow-up strike.

As Shisui pressed his advantage, a third Anbu agent attacked from behind, attempting to lock him in a chokehold. Demonstrating remarkable situational awareness, Shisui used his Sharingan to predict the agent's movements and ducked just in time to avoid the hold. He then spun on his heel, grabbing the agent's outstretched arm and using his own momentum against him to hurl him into a nearby tree.

The Anbu agents, realizing their strategy was failing, began to attack Shisui in rapid succession, hoping to catch him off guard. They launched a barrage of punches, kicks, and even headbutts, aiming to wear him down through sheer force of numbers. Shisui, however, proved to be more than a match for their combined assault.

He parried a punch from one agent, simultaneously delivering a knee strike to the attacker's midsection. As another agent came in with a high roundhouse kick, Shisui ducked low, sliding beneath the kick and sweeping the agent's supporting leg out from under him. All the while, he kept a watchful eye on his surroundings, using his Sharingan to anticipate and counter each new threat.

And as the battle continued to rage, Ryu finished processing Shisui's memories.

'So the old bastard wants his Sharingan for that powerful Genjutsu, huh? Let's give this Shisui a hand!' Resolved to intervene, Ryu sprang into action.