After deciding on his next move, Ryūjin casually dropped the bodies of Fiya and his companion onto the ground, then formed hand seals for a Transformation Jutsu.In an instant he became someone entirely different.
Once finished, Ryūjin began heading back toward the battlefield. He couldn't just ignore Shisui's survival or death. After all, the Leaf Village knew Shisui had led a team to search for Obito's body. If Shisui died but Ryūjin returned alive, people would start asking questions. Endless trouble would follow.
And truthfully, Ryūjin was also curious to test how powerful the Rinnegan really was.
If Shisui was handling things, naturally Ryūjin wouldn't interfere. If Shisui was in danger, Ryūjin planned to act in secret. Of course this was still under the premise that Ryūjin stayed safe.
By the time he arrived, the battle between the two sides was nearly over. The Leaf forces were in a sorry state. Except for Shisui and Kakashi, almost everyone else had fallen. Kakashi himself was severely wounded, captured by two Iwagakure ninja.
There was not much he could do. Although Kakashi had just transplanted Obito's Sharingan, he didn't yet know how to use it. Even if he did, the power disparity between the sides was huge.
Shisui, known as Body Flicker Shisui, had created four clones and positioned them in all directions, confronting Han single-handedly.
Body Flicker Shisui's reputation was well earned, Han admitted, admiration in his gaze. He had never been able to find Shisui's true body despite how long he fought.
However, Han laughed coldly and muttered under his breath that if this continued, "this kid might just die."
At once Han's body partially transformed into his Tailed Beast form, and he opened his mouth to fire a Tailed Beast Ball straight toward Kakashi.
Shisui's eyes widened. He couldn't just stand by and witness Kakashi's death. Instantly he used Body Flicker and reappeared right in front of Kakashi.
At the same time, Shisui's eyes activated with power, and a gigantic green half-body giant materialized, shielding Shisui inside. Susanoo had appeared.
Everyone present was stunned by the sight of it. They had heard of Susanoo, but few had actually seen it. Its terrifying scale left them in disbelief.
Han's expression also changed, shock and dread flickering in his eyes. This was the legendary Susanoo, a force far beyond normal ninjutsu.
BoomThe Tailed Beast Ball fired by Han struck Shisui's Susanoo with tremendous force. The surrounding Iwagakure ninja couldn't handle the impact and quickly retreated using Body Flicker.
Despite the power behind it, the Tailed Beast Ball didn't break through. The Susanoo only shook slightly and cracked, but Shisui's power repaired the surface almost instantly.
Han's face shifted again as his Tailed Beast chakra surged within him, and another Tailed Beast Ball burst forth.
Han's strategy was simple: he intended to pin Shisui in place with Kakashi, then relentlessly bombard Susanoo with Tailed Beast Balls until it collapsed. He didn't believe a Susanoo could withstand continuous attacks, even if it could handle one.
The plan worked, at least initially. To protect Kakashi, Shisui had to keep his Susanoo standing between them, passively defending. Soon the Susanoo began to fragment under the repeated bombardment.
Shisui's thoughts turned anxious, his vision blurring. Not only was his chakra draining quickly, his Sharingan eyes were being pushed past their limits, blood trickling from his sockets.
If this continued, he feared he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
While everyone's attention was focused on his struggle, a figure watched silently from the bushes. Ryūjin had arrived, unnoticed by anyone caught in the intensity of the battle.
Observing Han unleashing his power, Ryūjin inwardly grimaced. Yeah right, if Shisui can't handle this then I guess I'll just step in.
Originally he planned to stay hidden if Shisui made it out safely, but now it was obvious that wouldn't happen.
Without hesitation, Ryūjin zeroed in on Han and activated the strongest sealing jutsu he could currently use.
Chibaku Tensei.
Ryūjin had little choice but to expend his chakra to the max, hoping he could at least seal the beast long enough.
The moment he activated the jutsu, a massive suction force erupted. Han's gigantic body was lifted off the ground by the pull almost instantly.
Crack crack crackThe earth around them shattered as rocks and debris were drawn together, forming a sphere. It was much smaller and rougher than Nagato's famed Chibaku Tensei, just enough to encase Han, and told the world it was crude, but it worked.
Han was trapped inside.
He might eventually break free, but for now the seal held, and that was a success in itself.
"Phew! That half-finished Chibaku Tensei drained the rest of my chakra, its consumption is insane!" Ryūjin gasped, his breath heavy.
Panicked, he stuffed a soldier pill into his mouth, which at least steadied his mind somewhat.
"No, when I get back to the Leaf Village I need to train like crazy and build my chakra reserves, otherwise it's embarrassing. I have a cheat, but I can't even properly use it."
One might mistakenly believe using Chibaku Tensei alerts Zetsu, but that isn't the case right now. Obito had just died, and Black Zetsu hadn't even appeared to start impersonating his will yet, there was no army of White Zetsu to spy on the world at this moment. Ryūjin's intervention remained undetected for now.