Since others had already come for him, Aoyama Ryuyun wasn't the kind of man to be hunted and not strike back.
"You—!"
The remaining four Root operatives stared at him in disbelief.
They hadn't expected him to attack first.
"Go together!"
"Kill him!"
"For Danzo-sama!"
Their voices rang out in unison — cold, fanatical, and utterly devoid of hesitation.
Danzo's training had erased their fear. Retreat wasn't even a concept to them.
"Heh…"
Ryuyun exhaled a quiet chuckle. There was no point in speaking to shinobi who had already surrendered their will.
"Shishi Odoshi — Kirigiridani."
With a flash of steel, both of his swords sliced through the air, releasing a storm of golden sword energy that streaked forward in every direction.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
The forest howled as dozens of waves of slashing force tore through trees and stone alike.
In mere seconds, the clearing was devastated.
When the motion finally ceased, everything within several dozen meters had been flattened — trees severed, dust rising in the aftermath.
As for the Root operatives… their end was swift and absolute.
Ryuyun sheathed both swords with a sharp click, his expression calm.
Just then, a cold voice echoed faintly through the forest.
"Ninja Art — Spirit Transformation Jutsu!"
Ryuyun's eyes narrowed.
A faint, ghostly shape darted through the trees toward him — an ethereal projection, translucent and swift, cutting through solid matter like mist.
"Hmph. A cheap parlor trick."
His golden eyes glinted, predatory and sharp.
A wave of Haoshoku Haki burst forth like a storm.
Boom!
The spiritual form froze midair, then shattered under the sheer weight of Ryuyun's will.
Ordinary attacks couldn't harm the soul — but Haoshoku, the force of dominance and spirit itself, could.
Somewhere in the shadows, a man staggered violently, clutching his chest.
"Ugh!"
Blood spilled from Kato Dan's mouth. His Spirit Transformation Jutsu had rebounded — a backlash so violent his vision blurred.
"Impossible…!" he gasped. "No one's ever… broken it before…"
The pain wasn't physical — it was spiritual, clawing straight through his mind.
For the first time, Kato Dan felt his soul tremble in fear.
Ryuyun turned his gaze toward the source, eyes filled with cold amusement.
"So it's you, Kato Dan."
The corner of his mouth curved slightly. "I was wondering what kind of fool would crawl out from Danzo's kennel."
Kato Dan's eyes went wide, blood trickling down his chin.
"You—how do you—"
"Observation Haki," Ryuyun said plainly. "If I can sense Root trash in the trees, I can sense you."
It all made sense now.
Kato Dan — supposedly a dutiful Konoha shinobi — had long been a pawn of Shimura Danzo.
No wonder he had dared to pursue Tsunade despite the gulf between their status.
No ordinary Jonin would risk courting a Senju unless he had powerful protection.
Ryuyun's tone turned sharp. "So this is what Danzo's been grooming you for? To play the lovesick fool for political gain?"
Kato Dan's expression twisted.
"Because of you… it's all because of you!" he screamed, clutching his head as the backlash tore through his spirit.
"If it weren't for you, Tsunade would've been mine! I would have—"
His words devolved into madness.
Ryuyun tilted his head slightly, watching him struggle.
"So that's the sorrow of the weak," he said quietly.
The ground beneath Kato Dan began to tremble, the soil twisting and rising like liquid stone.
Kato Dan's eyes widened in horror.
"What is this?!"
Under normal circumstances, he could have phased out easily with his Spirit Transformation Jutsu — but now, with his soul fractured, he was helpless.
"This," Ryuyun said coldly, "is power you'll spend your whole life looking up to."
"You…!"
Those were Kato Dan's final words before the stone engulfed him completely.
The rock tightened under Ryuyun's command, compressing like a vice — until the forest was silent once more.
He opened a sealing scroll and calmly stored the corpses and remains inside, then dusted off his hands.
With measured steps, Aoyama Ryuyun turned and began walking toward the village.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office…
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled deeply, staring at Danzo across the desk.
"So," he said, tone heavy with annoyance, "you came here today to tell me about trivial reports?"
He had expected something serious when Danzo had requested a meeting — perhaps news of the frontlines or an update on Root operations.
Instead, it had been nothing but small, inconsequential chatter.
Danzo met his gaze impassively.
"For Konoha's sake," he said coolly, "even the smallest matters must not be overlooked."
"..."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed.
He knew Danzo too well — that tone of false righteousness meant he was hiding something.
He leaned back, studying him carefully.
"Are you keeping something from me?"
Danzo's face remained unreadable, but beneath the surface, his mind was racing.
By now, he thought, Aoyama Ryuyun should have already been captured and brought to Root headquarters…
He kept the faintest hint of a smile from touching his lips.