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Whoosh—
In the dense forest, a figure materialized atop the canopy of a massive tree requiring a dozen people to encircle.
Having fled several miles with Kurenai in his arms, Ryūsei set the unconscious jonin down and checked her injuries.
Rip—
The sound of tearing fabric echoed as Ryūsei tore open a section of Kurenai's clothing. Examining the kunai wound, he sighed in relief. "Good thing he's one of us. Otherwise, Teacher, you'd be in real danger this time."
Itachi's kunai hadn't struck a vital spot.
The man who, for the village's sake, eliminated his own clan and even his parents, was indeed lenient toward allies. Truly the perfect inheritor of the "Will of Fire," with the mindset of a Hokage by age seven.
Had Itachi been as ruthless as during the clan massacre, Ryūsei could've only saved himself, not Kurenai.
Barring Nagato, the super-kage-level gatekeeper, Itachi was among the ninja world's strongest.
Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Izanagi, Izanami, Susano'o, Totsuka Blade, Yata Mirror, Kotoamatsukami—each a game-breaking ability.
If Uchiha Madara maximized the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi fully realized the Mangekyō's potential.
Other Uchihas awakening the Mangekyō gained either signature pupil techniques or Susano'o, often blinding themselves quickly.
Itachi, however, unlocked the Mangekyō's full potential without going blind.
Like Karin's "what-if" scenarios, Ryūsei's past-life forums buzzed with "what-if" debates about Itachi.
If he weren't plagued by illness, if he gained the Eternal Mangekyō, would he surpass Madara?
Being compared to Madara by so many underscored Itachi's might.
In the original story, Itachi was one of the few undefeated shinobi.
Thankfully, such a ruthless figure was an ally, or Ryūsei would've been wracked with guilt.
Though unafraid of Itachi and confident in escaping the Akatsuki's strongest duo, Ryūsei couldn't have saved Kurenai from them.
His Water Release techniques couldn't overpower Kisame, and he'd nearly resorted to Wood Release. Fortunately, Itachi gave him an opening to rescue Kurenai.
Without immediately removing the kunai, Ryūsei activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to assess Kurenai's condition.
Soon, he sighed in relief again.
Kurenai's mental state was stable, indicating the Mangekyō genjutsu wasn't Itachi's signature Tsukuyomi.
Otherwise, only a medical master like Tsunade could wake her—within a week at best, a month at worst.
Even so, Kurenai would need days to regain consciousness.
Her brain's neural pathways were dominated by a potent Yin Release chakra, trapping her in a genjutsu world.
Ryūsei couldn't dispel it, nor could Kurenai break free; they could only wait for it to fade naturally.
Clearly, Itachi had acted seriously.
After all, only Konoha's top brass knew his double-agent status.
To Konoha ninjas, he was the S-rank rogue who slaughtered his clan.
If Kurenai were awake, she'd report Itachi and Kisame to the village.
Itachi's trip to Konoha was merely to warn Shimura Danzō that, even with Sarutobi Hiruzen dead, he was still alive.
He also hoped to leak the Akatsuki's Jinchuriki-targeting plans without causing a bloodbath in Konoha.
Confirming Kurenai's mind was intact, Ryūsei removed the kunai and used medical ninjutsu to heal her.
With the ninja world's top Yang Release chakra, Ryūsei's medical techniques brimmed with vitality. Even his basic healing surpassed A-rank Palm Sage Technique.
If Kurenai bit him, her wounds would heal instantly, like with seal-less healing.
Soon, Kurenai's injury vanished without even a faint scar.
Once the Yin chakra in her brain dissipated, she'd wake.
Ryūsei hoisted Kurenai onto his back and flickered toward Tanzaku Town.
This time, he moved at full speed, arriving in three hours.
By then, night had fallen.
Knock, knock, knock…
Ryūsei flickered to Karin's residence and knocked.
"Ryūsei-kun, you're here!"
Before the door opened, a girl's delighted voice rang out.
As the wooden door swung open, a red-haired girl in cute white pajamas and flat-framed glasses appeared.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Karin. I'm here to pick you up," Ryūsei said with a smile.
Karin's face lit up, but her smile faltered as she noticed Kurenai on his back. "Ryūsei, who's…?"
"She's my teacher, Kurenai, and your recommender for joining Konoha."
Ryūsei explained briefly, "We ran into rogue ninjas on the way. She's injured and unconscious. Let me come in and set her down."
"Of course, Ryūsei-kun, come in quick!"
Karin stepped aside, letting Ryūsei carry Kurenai inside.
After closing the door, Karin rolled up her sleeve, revealing her arm, and asked worriedly, "How's your teacher's injury? Should I use my ability to heal her?"
"No need. Teacher Kurenai's only under a genjutsu, temporarily unconscious."
Ryūsei shook his head. "Once the Yin chakra in her brain fades, she'll wake. Let her rest here a few days."
"That's a relief," Karin exhaled, guilt crossing her face. "I'm sorry, I've caused you trouble."
Ryūsei, setting Kurenai on the bed, ruffled Karin's hair with a smile. "Don't overthink it. It was just a coincidence."
Shifting topics, he asked, "How've you been? Mastered the ninjutsu I taught you?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Karin nodded eagerly. "The medical and Water Release techniques you taught me—I've got them all down."
"As expected of an Uzumaki descendant. Your chakra control is as exceptional as my friend's," Ryūsei praised, intensifying his head-patting.
"Hehe…"
Karin, distracted, grinned goofily like a smitten fangirl.
Then, as if remembering, she asked, "Oh, Ryūsei-kun, have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
Ryūsei shook his head. "We fought rogue ninjas on the way and hurried here for hours."
"I'll make you dinner now."
Ryūsei didn't refuse. "I need to wash up."
"Okay."
Karin bustled out, filling the tub, fetching clothes from the next room's wardrobe, and making the bed.
Her practiced movements showed this wasn't her first time.
As the ultimate devoted follower, Karin placed herself humbly—almost painfully so.
Unlike Ino, Sakura, and Hinata, who were Ryūsei's childhood friends on the cusp of deeper bonds, Karin had only recently met him. He'd pulled her from an abyss, becoming her sole light.
Having felt warmth, Karin feared losing Ryūsei's affection and attention.
This fear drove her to please him instinctively.
Ino, Sakura, and Hinata didn't mind Ryūsei cooking for them when peckish.
But in the half-month living with Karin, Ryūsei hadn't entered the kitchen.
Not that he didn't want to—Karin wouldn't let him.
During that time, she served him to the point of spoon-feeding and dressing him.
Ryūsei tried correcting her self-deprecating nature, to little avail.
Only after joining Konoha, under Tsunade's protection, realizing the Uzumaki clan's prestige, and gaining confidence from her identity and strength, might her personality shift.
So Ryūsei stopped pushing, gradually accepting her service.
In the bathroom, after washing, Ryūsei soaked in the tub to ease his fatigue.
Gazing at the misty ceiling, his mind calmed, and he reviewed his battle with Kisame.
After mastering Senju Tobirama's Water Release, Ryūsei's skill was among the ninja world's top three.
Using only Water Release, Kisame's full arsenal couldn't defeat him, nor could Ryūsei best Kisame.
But Kisame hadn't fused with Samehada, and Ryūsei hadn't used Wood Release.
In a no-holds-barred fight, the outcome was uncertain.
Ryūsei hadn't yet learned advanced Wood Release; Water Release was his strongest tool.
Still, with just Water Release, he was a top-tier ninja.
Among the five great villages, he'd be an ace combatant, even a shadow candidate if no better option existed.
Only Water Release ninjas like Kisame, equivalent Fire Release users, or similar-tier opponents could match him.
Those who could counter him included Kisame fused with Samehada, absorbing ninjutsu chakra; comparable Earth Release ninjas; or unique types like Itachi, who could trap foes in Tsukuyomi's mental-damage realm; Obito, with his pocket dimension; or aerial ninjas.
Yet these were kage-level elites, whom even the Five Kage struggled to defeat, often losing.
Among peers, Ryūsei was leagues ahead.
Reflecting on this, Ryūsei sank deeper into the water, mood buoyant.
Twelve years after transmigrating, he finally felt secure!
After his bath, Ryūsei emerged in pajamas.
Karin had prepared a simple dinner.
As he ate, chatting with her, he pondered when to teach her sealing techniques.
Karin needed to learn them so he could justify teaching Ino, Sakura, and Kurenai, and use them openly.
But he wasn't sure if Tsunade would fully trust Karin initially or allow the Intelligence Division to interrogate her.
If so, he couldn't teach her seals before she joined Konoha.
He'd need a solid excuse beforehand.
And it had to be before Tsunade prioritized training Karin!
If Tsunade impulsively gave Karin Mito Uzumaki's sealing scroll, Ryūsei couldn't use her as a cover.
As a "Senju descendant," learning seals from Karin was fine—Tsunade would turn a blind eye.
But teaching others without permission broke rules.
That's the perk of owning your techniques!
Timing was critical.
Whoosh—
A spark of inspiration hit.
The Mask Storage Hall.
If Karin "found" Uzumaki heritage there, the excuse, though far-fetched, was highly plausible.
Even if interrogated, her sudden sealing mastery post-joining would have a perfect explanation.
With this, Ryūsei's appetite surged, and he quickly finished Karin's dinner, leaving her beaming with joy.
For the next few days, Karin tended to Kurenai while Ryūsei used Mind's Eye of the Kagura to monitor Tanzaku Town, tracking chakra signatures for the Sannin reunion.
Tsunade didn't keep him waiting.
One day, Ryūsei sensed an immense chakra.
Beside it was another, rivaling Kurenai's.
Activating his Red Eye, he confirmed: Tsunade and Shizune.
Their arrival meant Orochimaru, Kabuto, Jiraiya, and Naruto were near.
"Mm…"
Coincidentally, Kurenai, unconscious for days, awoke from the genjutsu.
Controlled for days by a non-Tsukuyomi technique, Itachi's genjutsu prowess had grown exponentially since five years ago.
"Teacher, you're awake!"
Ryūsei rushed to her side, feigning delight.
"Ryūsei, are you okay?"
Kurenai's first words, vision still blurry, warmed Ryūsei's heart.
He patted her hand, smiling. "Don't worry, we're fine. Those rogues didn't kill us."
"Good… I dragged you down."
As her vision and mind cleared, Kurenai recalled being instantly defeated by Itachi, her face flushing with shame. "That's twice I've held you back, counting Kurosaki. Am I a failure as a teacher?"
"Not at all. You're strong, Teacher—just unlucky to face counters."
Ryūsei comforted her with a grin. "Besides, without your genjutsu lessons, I couldn't have escaped them."
"No need to console me. You must've used a hidden trump to save me. I know my limits. Itachi's genjutsu is the most terrifying I've encountered."
Despite her words, Kurenai's mood lifted.
Noticing the red-haired girl beside Ryūsei, she asked, "Is she the Uzumaki descendant you mentioned?"
*****
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