Ryu led them out of the hospital's main section and into the physiotherapy and recovery wing, which was quieter and filled with the soft sounds of patients performing rehabilitation exercises. He paused outside a private room where Rina was exercising; her movements were graceful despite her condition.
Dan looked at Rina and said, "So, she is your next recruit?"
Ryu nodded, a confident smile on his face. "She is the perfect candidate, along with her boyfriend, Souji."
Rina was doing a handstand inside a room all alone, perfectly balanced, demonstrating her incredible physical strength. She was able to lift her entire weight with just one finger, demonstrating incredible body control. She was unmistakably a taijutsu specialist.
Tsunade commented, her professional eye impressed, "Her balance is exceptional, even without her feet. Even where her centre of gravity is not the same, she's maintaining perfect equilibrium… Remarkable."
Ryu clapped softly, the sound echoing lightly in the room, declaring his presence. "Excellent work! Your aerobics skills are truly commendable."
"She must be working on her upper body strength and balance after her accident," Ryu deduced in thought, observing her focused determination.
Rina, startled but quickly recovering, turned to them, a question in her eyes. "Ryu? And... Lady Tsunade? Why are you all here?"
Her gaze flickered to Dan and Yuki, a hint of confusion in her eyes as she subtly wondered about the two unfamiliar, powerful figures.
Ryu offered a reassuring smile. "We've come to talk to you. I apologise if we're interrupting your training."
Rina replied, "It's not ninja-level training, just keeping my body active. And you are not interrupting; I was almost done."
Ryu asked, "You were a taijutsu specialist before, right?"
She replied, a touch of sadness entering her voice, "Yes, I was a taijutsu specialist before I lost my feet."
Rina then looked at Ryu, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes. "Is this about Souji...?"
She thought, her heart sinking, that she was called to receive terrible news: that Ryu and this legendary team of the best medical ninjutsu experts could not treat him, and Doctor Hoshino was right all along. The fear of that crushing reality was almost unbearable.
Ryu met her gaze with a gentle yet firm expression, dispelling her unspoken fear. "No, it's not about Souji. It's about you."
She was surprised. "Me? But why?" Her voice was a disbelieving whisper, her mind racing, unable to comprehend why such powerful figures would be interested in her.
Ryu stepped closer, his voice softening with conviction. "I've come here today with an offer. I want you to join my ninja clan."
Rina's surprise deepened. "Your clan? But... why me? What could I possibly offer?"
Ryu's gaze was unwavering. "I am looking for special people to join my clan. People with unique strengths. People who have faced the impossible and refused to break."
Rina laughed bitterly and self-deprecatingly, gesturing to the stumps where her limbs had been severed. "Special?… Look at me. Check out my feet that have been cut off. "What am I, but a broken doll?" Her voice broke with raw, painful honesty.
Ryu replied, "You're not broken. You are strong. You are strong. Look at how you balanced on one finger right now. This is not the act of a broken doll. That is the act of a warrior who refuses to surrender."
Ryu's tone was firm, cutting through her self-doubt like a sharp blade.
Rina's gaze softened. "A warrior...?"
Ryu's smile widened, a boundless promise in his eyes. "Yes…Ninja, actually. And I want to show you what kind of ninja you can be. What kind of future awaits you if you choose to join me."
-Genjutsu: [Mind Palace Projection] activated
Ryu activated his [Mind Palace], and the walls of the room dissolved, seamlessly converting into a blend of virtual reality and reality. The familiar, luminous expanse enveloped them, a faint, resonant hum filling the space as constellations of thought shimmered into view.
Rina was surprised at first, her eyes wide, taking in the impossible shift in reality. Then, a flicker of recognition crossed her face. "This is... genjutsu?"
Ryu's smile, filled with warmth and encouragement, was reassuring. "It is a genjutsu, but it is also a glimpse into the future. Your future, if you choose it."
As he spoke, a figure coalesced in the ethereal space before them. It was a Ryu, slightly older and taller, almost a teen, the same age and height as Sasuke when the series started, perhaps a bit taller.
But the aura was nothing like Sasuke's. Every action exuded a hint of maturity, a quiet confidence that spoke of battles won and wisdom gained. He wore a stylish dark suit and matching sleek boots. His heterochromatic eyes, usually so striking, were subtly concealed by his round, vintage glasses. The emblem of Leaf Village, intricately crafted, adorned a tie pin on his crisp shirt.
Future-Ryu adjusted his cufflinks with a practiced ease, a subtle gesture of readiness. "Are you ready... Bunny?" he said, his voice a low, playful challenge that held an undercurrent of genuine excitement.
Everyone incluing Rina turned their heads, and the rendered space extended by some distance to now show a Future-Rina. She was also three years older, more mature, and visibly stronger, her posture radiating confidence as she stood on her own legs.
Looking at her rendered self in [Mind Palace], Real Rina asked, "What is this?"
Real Ryu just smiled and said, "You will know soon."
Future-Rina moved gracefully, her enhanced form supported by advanced artificial leg blades that stood out due to reflecting the light in the Mind Palace.
Real Rina felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension as she watched her future self move with such grace and power.
Future-Rina wore skintight armour designed for agility and protection, a stark contrast to her current state, implying a mix of shinobi practicality and cutting-edge technology.
Future-Rina smirked, her eyes filled with ferocious excitement, and retorted, "I hate that nickname. But yes, I am finally ready."
Real Ryu took a coin from his pocket, tossing it lightly in his hand, the metallic glint catching the faint light.
"This must be like déjà vu to you, right?" Future-Ryu said to Future-Rina, a mischievous glint in his eye. "The fight starts when the coin falls." Future Ryu spoke as if he had watched this happen before.
Future-Rina chuckled, a confident glint in her eye as she replied, "Bring it on, Ryu. I've been waiting for this moment."
Ryu tossed it high into the air, watching its slow, deliberate spin.
Tsunade, who had been watching the scene unfold with awe and confusion, finally spoke up, "Ryu, what is this?"
Real Ryu just smiled, a calm, knowing expression. "Just a demonstration, Auntie. A glimpse of the future. A glimpse of what's to come."
The coin fell, hitting the virtual floor of the Mind Palace with a faint sound that seemed to echo through the simulated reality.
In that instant, both Doppelgangers, the imaginary versions of Future Ryu and Rina, accelerated into motion, leaping at each other with incredible speed. Future-Rina's blade legs moved past Future-Ryu's face in breathtaking slow motion, just missing him, the scene unfolding like a movie in immersive 3D, every intricate detail meticulously rendered, every ripple of muscle, every glint of metal, perfectly clear.
Real Rina gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment, utterly surprised by the flexibility, speed, and raw power of her genjutsu counterpart. She watched in awe, a new kind of hope sparking within her, a vision of what she could truly become.
Tsunade, equally bewildered, questioned, "Why is it... slowing down at times?"
Ryu chuckled softly. "Because you are watching it from my perspective, Auntie Tsunade. I can manipulate how I perceive time within the Mind Palace. It allows for... closer observation, finer detail, and strategic analysis."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "Do you also perceive time as moving slowly in the real world?"
"Only when I choose to," real Ryu replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It's a useful tool for analysis, for training, or simply for savouring a moment. And watching fights like this from a third-person perspective instead of first is incredibly enjoyable. I wish I had popcorn."
The genjutsu fight continued, escalating in intensity. Now, Future-Rina's kicks were more fierce than before, each strike imbued with incredible force. The blade legs boosted each jump, extending her reach for every powerful strike, turning her into a whirlwind of controlled destruction.
The fight intensified when sharp, retractable assassin's blades emerged from her wrists at a twist of her wrist and shone ominously and disappeared when she straightened her arms. Future-Ryu had to be wary of her hands as he dodged her roundhouse kicks, back kicks, and the occasional jump flip and capoeira kick.
Future-Rina expertly mixed powerful strikes with swift blade-leg slashes, a whirlwind of precision and power, a testament to her augmented taijutsu. But Ryu dodged everything.
Future-Ryu, dodging a swift kick that whistled past his ear, grinned. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? … Bunny!!"
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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