"Is this your attitude when asking questions? Or is this how all tailed beasts behave?" Uchiha Ryun began to mock.
This infuriated Matatabi. "If you won't talk, then die!"
Yugito's ten fingertips ignited with flames, which began to travel along the chakra threads toward the Mouse Tail Ball Jutsu.
Uchiha Ryun smiled faintly. With a downward motion of his right hand, a golden-red long sword severed the chakra threads on Yugito's right side.
At this moment, Matatabi realized that no matter how much tailed beast chakra she channeled through her right hand, she couldn't reconnect those five threads. Uchiha Ryun took the opportunity to use the Body Flicker Technique, escaping the explosion range.
The Mouse Tail Ball Jutsu on Yugito's left hand exploded first. The violent blue flames completely covered the spot where Uchiha Ryun had been standing. Since the right-hand chakra threads were severed, the right-hand Mouse Tail Ball Jutsu was detonated by the left-hand explosion.
But Uchiha Ryun had already escaped the encirclement unharmed. Thick dust filled the air. Without waiting, Uchiha Ryun clapped his hands together: Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
He unleashed it toward Yugito's remembered location! Matatabi snorted. "Playing with fire in front of me?"
She extended her right hand, blocking Uchiha Ryun's Great Fire Annihilation.
Only Yugito herself wore a bitter expression. This level of combat intensity meant she'd likely be weakened for half a year after this fight!
Sensing Yugito's inner turmoil, Matatabi sighed. This still wasn't a satisfying fight. Continuing would damage her partner's life force.
So she prepared to leave with Yugito. But then Uchiha Ryun's voice drifted over. "You think you can come and go as you please?"
Matatabi clenched her fists. "What else? Do you think you can stop me? I admit your Mangekyō Sharingan is powerful, but aren't you afraid of going blind from overusing it?"
It wasn't that Matatabi feared Uchiha Ryun, but Yugito couldn't hold on any longer. They had to leave within ten minutes!
"Heh, you know quite a bit. But I've had enough fun. Witness the restraining power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Matatabi!" With that, Uchiha Ryun's six-tomoe wheel-patterned eyes locked onto Matatabi.
Matatabi shuddered. Her consciousness plunged into darkness. Before her, two massive eyes appeared on the dark sky, their pattern matching the six-tomoe wheel Sharingan. Instantly, Yugito fainted, and Matatabi fell into deep slumber.
Uchiha Ryun withdrew his Susanoo. Blood tears streamed from his eyes. He wiped them away and blinked. His vision was slightly blurry, but it didn't matter. A few days of rest, and his Sage Body would restore his ocular power, recovering his sight.
Now, not only had he saved a Hyūga main family member, but he'd also captured a jinchūriki. A great haul!
Just as Uchiha Ryun was about to tie up Yugito and take her back to the village, his expression suddenly changed. He grabbed the Hyūga main family member and retreated.
"Lightning Straight!" The attacker was none other than the future Fourth Raikage, A!
Covered in Lightning Armor, A shot toward Uchiha Ryun like a blue streak, attempting to grab him.
But Uchiha Ryun reacted swiftly, using the Body Flicker Technique to retreat. He knew this fight would be endless. After battling the Two-Tails jinchūriki, now came the Raikage's heir. If the Third Raikage showed up next, it'd be game over!
"State your name!" A guarded Yugito's side, not daring to engage Uchiha Ryun. Anyone who could easily defeat a jinchūriki was beyond his level.
"Uchiha Ryun. Your village's plot to steal our bloodline limits isn't over." With that, Uchiha Ryun activated Sage chakra, grabbed the Hyūga main family member, and flew toward Konoha.
A's face darkened. He turned to the Kumo-nin spy. "You. Tell me what happened."
The second-in-command quickly explained the events. A's expression changed instantly. "Useless fools who can't accomplish anything!"
The shinobi knelt, not daring to speak.
Had they succeeded, A wouldn't have said this. But they failed, got counterattacked, and nearly lost their jinchūriki.
Now things were serious. For Kumo's sake, A immediately devised a solution. He raised his right hand, coating it with Lightning Release chakra, and executed the two spies.
"Dead men tell no tales. If I insist they were rogue ninja, what can Konoha do?" A narrowed his eyes.
Soon, Kumo-nin arrived at the scene. A said coldly, "These two traitors acted against our alliance with Konoha. I've dealt with them."
"Cut off their heads and deliver them to Konoha. I'll take our jinchūriki back." A ordered.
"Yes!" The shinobi bowed, severing the spies' heads to present to Konoha.
A handed his future Raikage badge to several shinobi, instructing them to explain the incident to Konoha and offer reasonable compensation.
Then he carried Yugito and sprinted back to Kumo. The shinobi exchanged glances before proceeding through the proper channels.
Uchiha Ryun soon reached Konoha's gates, where the scene surprised him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Hyūga Sekijō, and Hyūga Fūrin were all waiting.
Seeing Uchiha Ryun return, Hiruzen sighed in relief, then scolded sternly, "Ryun, you were too reckless! If anything happened to you, how would I face Hirotomo or Tsunade?"
Though Hiruzen reprimanded him, the concern in his voice was unmistakable.
"Hokage-sama, forgive me. It was an emergency. I rescued our comrade at the border. Any later, and he'd have been lost." Uchiha Ryun handed the Hyūga man to Hyūga Fūrin.
Hyūga Fūrin immediately kowtowed. "Hokage-sama, please don't blame Ryun-sama. He acted to save my husband. Punish me instead!"
After verifying the Hyūga's Byakugan was intact, Hyūga Sekijō relaxed. He bowed to Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, this stemmed from our Hyūga clan. We'll bear all responsibility."
"Hokage-sama, you taught us in the Academy never to abandon comrades. They're family. When family is harmed, we must act." Uchiha Ryun subtly flattered Hiruzen.
Hiruzen wondered, 'Did I say that?' But seeing their admiration, he couldn't deny it.
After deliberation, Hiruzen sighed. "Ryun, you acted bravely to save a comrade. But be more careful next time. Losing you would grieve this teacher." He straightened Uchiha Ryun's collar and patted his shoulder meaningfully.
Such a fine student—he adored him!
Then Hiruzen helped Hyūga Sekijō up. "We're family. No talk of punishment."
Hyūga Sekijō paused, meeting Hiruzen's gaze. "From now on, the Hyūga clan serves you, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen couldn't suppress his grin. "Now, now, Sekijō. We're all one village. No need for formalities."
———————
I chose not to make Uchiha Ryun invincibly overpowered, fighting Matatabi, then A, then the Third Raikage consecutively. That would break the story's balance.
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