Chapter 31 - The Mist is no more

"Daisuke, I'm done," Ryu said quietly, his eyes empty as he stared at the lifeless body of Riku.

Daisuke appeared behind the 12-year-old, his short sword stained with blood. "I've finished as well. The Anbu and their Captain won't bother us again. We won, Ryu. But why do you look so defeated?"

Ryu hesitated before responding. "I don't know, Daisuke. Riku killed my father, but I felt no satisfaction in taking his life. There are others I need to kill now, but I'm afraid it will be the same with them."

Daisuke furrowed his brow. "Why didn't you feel satisfied?"

"Because I realized that no one does evil deeds without believing they're justified," Ryu explained, his voice wavering. "I couldn't stay angry once I saw things from his perspective."

Daisuke placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder. "It's true that everyone has their reasons for their actions. But why should that concern you? Your own convictions should matter more."

"You don't understand, Daisuke!" Ryu exclaimed, desperation creeping into his voice. "I didn't just 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 Riku's convictions; I 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 them!"

Daisuke looked into Ryu's eyes, searching for answers. "Tell me, Ryu, who are you?"

Ryu's confusion was evident. "What do you mean?"

"Who are you? Where do you come from? Who are your parents? What do you want?" Daisuke asked softly.

After a pause, Ryu answered. "I'm Ryu Kajya, son of Haru Kajya. I come from a small village near the Hidden Mist, and I want to take revenge for my parents' death."

Daisuke nodded. "And how far will you go to achieve that goal?"

"Any length," Ryu replied, determination returning to his eyes.

Daisuke's voice was calm and steady. "Good. Don't let others' beliefs sway you from your path if you still believe in it. Have faith in yourself and keep a clear image of who you are."

Ryu listened intently as Daisuke continued, "As for your problem, Think of it like watching a play. You can empathize with the characters, learn from them, and even see things from their perspective. But no matter how well-acted or realistic it is, you're still you, and they're just characters. It's important to remember that. Of course, I know there's a difference between a play and what you're experiencing, but I trust your willpower and judgment. You can understand the other side without losing sight of your own path."

Ryu's eyes softened, grateful for Daisuke's words. "Thank you, Daisuke. I needed to hear that. So, should I continue my pursuit of revenge against the Mist?"

Daisuke looked concerned. "Ryu, I know you're powerful, more than I could have ever imagined, but facing an entire Hidden Village on your own is too dangerous."

Ryu smirked, a glint of confidence in his eyes. "Who said I was alone?"

Ryu's right eye held a unique power that granted him knowledge of anything he focused on, as long as he channeled enough Chakra into it. When he first awakened his Mangekyo, he poured all of his Chakra into his eyes, enabling him to access information about everyone around him on a molecular level. This included their memories, thoughts, behaviors, and more. With this knowledge, Ryu gained the ability to reconstruct them.

Surveying the area, Ryu noticed hundreds of trees surrounding him. His eyes flashed with determination, and in one swift motion, he waved his hand.

The transformation began with an awe-inspiring spectacle. The trees around him shook violently, their bark splitting as a surge of energy enveloped them. The trees slowly morphed into powerful Shinobi, each a fusion of Daisuke and Riku. Their bodies were perfectly designed, combining Daisuke's infiltration skills with Riku's combat prowess, creating an elite force to be reckoned with.

Their newly formed muscles rippled beneath their skin, and their eyes glinted with fierce determination. Each Shinobi was adorned in regal black robes, accented with silver and crimson. Their faces were concealed behind intricate white monkey masks, their expressions mysterious, yet strikingly resolute.

As the transformation was complete, a heavy silence settled upon the area. Ryu's presence, standing at the forefront of the assembly, emanated an air of regality and authority. In unison, the Shinobi began to kneel, their movements perfectly synchronized, as they gracefully bowed their heads, the shadows cast by their masks creating an air of mystery.

In front of Ryu now knelt a formidable force of approximately seven hundred S-rank Shinobi. "So, what do you think? Can I go against the Mist now?" Ryu asked Daisuke, who was still reeling from the sight before him. "R-Ryu? What on earth is this?" Daisuke stammered, his eyes wide as he took in the army Ryu had conjured.

"It's just a few hundred S-rank Shinobi ready to follow my every command," Ryu replied nonchalantly. "Why are they dressed in a replica of my Anbu uniform?" Daisuke inquired, noticing the sea of black robes and white monkey masks before him. "I took some inspiration. Anyway, do you think it's time to get the job done?" Ryu asked.

"Hold on, why didn't you use this during the battle? In fact, why did you need to escape to the clinic in the first place?" Daisuke questioned, his confusion evident. "Oh, I just figured out how to do it," Ryu responded casually, suppressing a chuckle as he pictured Daisuke's stunned expression.

"I see... Well, I suppose the Mist won't stand a chance now, huh? You should get started soon, but remember, only target the Shinobi; the civilians are innocent," Daisuke advised with a serious tone. "Of course, I'll only eliminate the Shinobi. Now, all of you, eliminate every Shinobi in the Hidden Mist, including the Mizukage. Complete your mission as silently as possible and report back to me once it's done." Ryu commanded, and the Shinobi vanished into the shadows.

The following morning, the entire world woke up to chilling news. The Hidden Mist had been wiped out overnight!

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So yeah, Ryu's officially the strongest Shinobi in Naruto history right now, and it's only the beginning. How'd you like the new use of his power? Now don't worry, his new goal will be something he won't be able to use his power to achieve, and it will also justify the Blacksmith in the title. I've seen some complaints and I totally agree, I just thought it didn't have a justifiable reason to enter this arc since he was needed as a doctor more than a blacksmith in the clinic. Now he'll return to his roots though. So, yeah, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.