“Worry about me?
Don’t be.
Asuma struck first — I only defended myself.
The village can’t touch me for that,” Ryuu replied dismissively.
“True enough… but Ryuu, word is you defeated him with taijutsu alone.
Asuma is a Tokubetsu Jōnin… how has your taijutsu grown so extraordinary?”
Might Guy asked, sounding genuinely dejected.
While Ryuu only trained three hours after his daily shift, Guy poured every waking moment into taijutsu.
Yet even so, he lagged far behind.
He remained barely at genin level — unable to defeat even a fellow genin, let alone an elite jōnin.
A mere chūnin could overwhelm him with ease.
“Guy… do not belittle yourself.
One day, you will become an extraordinary ninja,” Ryuu said firmly, meeting his gaze.
Guy froze.
All his life he had been called talentless trash.
No one — not a single soul — had ever believed in him, let alone called him gifted.
Yet Ryuu spoke without mockery.
He meant every word.
Something in Guy’s chest tightened.
“You are… a genius,” Ryuu said meaningfully.
“A genius?
Me?” Guy laughed bitterly.
“You are a genius of effort!
Have you not seen it?
You possess what no other ninja has — an iron will!
Where others train once, you train ten times!
That iron resolve outweighs any natural talent!”
“Believe me, Guy — one day you will surpass Asuma by far!” Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Hey… hey… why the tears?
And the snot?
Really, Guy… gross…”
Guy wiped his face, voice thick with emotion.
“Ryuu… no one has ever spoken to me like this.
No one has ever truly seen me.”
“Alright, enough sentiment.
Back to training before Kurenai sees and thinks I’ve done something terrible to you,” Ryuu said, waving him away with a look of exaggerated disgust.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Huff — huff — huff!
They threw themselves into their drills.
Three hours of sweat later, Ryuu said his goodbyes and headed home.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
On an empty lane, two figures materialized — blocking his path.
Masked, they were clearly ANBU or Root.
Root, Ryuu guessed.
Hiruzen ruled in the light; Danzō worked in the shadows.
Open, honorable deeds belonged to Hiruzen — but dirty, underhanded work?
That was Danzō.
To openly seize an Uchiha… this bore Danzō’s mark, not Hiruzen’s.
“Uchiha Ryuu.
Lord Danzō requests your presence,” one boar‑masked operative stated flatly.
Ryuu’s guess was correct — Root.
Tell Danzō I decline.
And do not bother me again,” Ryuu replied coldly.
Officially, Root was merely the ANBU training division — nothing more.
In truth it was Danzō’s private army, feared more than ANBU itself.
But fear was for ordinary people.
Ryuu bowed to no one.
Technically, every one of Root’s covert operations was unauthorized.
Anyone could refuse them — or report Danzō for misuse of authority.
No one dared.
Root would silence dissent, and Hiruzen would simply look away.
Everyone knew the truth — Hiruzen allowed it.
But Ryuu dared.
“How dare you refuse Lord Danzō?!” Shock and outrage flared.
Root’s commands were law.
Who was this boy to defy them?
“Ridiculous.
The Hokage may command me.
The Captain of the Military Police may command me.
What authority does Danzō hold?
Who does he think he is?” Ryuu sneered openly.
“Impudent fool!
You seek death?!”
“Since you refuse reason… do not blame us for force!” the boar‑masked operative snarled.
He blurred forward in an instant, reaching to seize Ryuu.
“GET BACK!”
Ryuu swung his arm — and the repulsion of Shinra Tensei erupted once more, smashing outward.
“Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”