Multiversal Wanderer: Starting in Naruto-Chapter 54: Changing World Line

Days Later

—--

"Excuse me, can I sit here?"

A shy but refreshing young man spoke timidly, summoning a bit of courage as he addressed the purple-haired woman.

"Tsk. Where did this clueless guy come from?" Kamishiro Rize inwardly scoffed. But then she paused, sniffing lightly. Hmm? He smells delicious. Why not try a little appetizer before the main course?

Kamishiro Rize was a glutton, never satisfied. Even when she couldn't devour a full meal, she didn't mind a sweet snack beforehand. While she'd already sentenced the boy to death in her mind, her face wore a gentle, innocent smile.

"Sure. It's our first meeting, after all," she replied softly.

Kaneki Ken lit up with joy. From his seat, his best friend gave him a thumbs up, quietly cheering him on. Encouraged and filled with nervous excitement, Kaneki hesitated before speaking, afraid she'd reject him—but she didn't. The gentle woman before him had agreed. That was all that mattered.

"Nice to meet you. My name's Kaneki Ken. I've noticed you reading here a few times. That book you're holding—isn't it The Egg of the Black Goat by Takatsuki Sen? I really like that one. Mind if we talk about it together?"

The moment Kamishiro Rize started chatting with him, Kaneki was completely captivated. Inexperienced and hopelessly romantic, Kaneki was no match for the glutton's charm. He was easily drawn into the conversation, unaware that he was being led by the nose.

Before long, the two were the only people left in the café.

Touka glanced at Kaneki with thinly veiled disgust. In her eyes, he was just another idiot blinded by beauty. The fact that he'd caught Rize's attention? He was done for. Tonight, there'd be nothing left of him—not even bones.

Though the café Antique never actively preyed on humans, it also didn't interfere with other ghouls' hunting. It may have been a "dove" organization among ghouls, but at the end of the day, they were still ghouls—the most pitiful kind, really.

"I didn't notice how late it's gotten," Rize said sweetly. "If you don't mind, Kaneki-kun, could you walk me home?"

Kaneki naturally agreed, still swept up in his fantasy. To him, his courage had finally paid off. It was late, and as a man, it was only proper he escort the girl. He never even questioned why someone so beautiful would live in such a rundown, desolate part of Tokyo.

They walked side by side through the city's bustling streets, which gradually grew quieter and more deserted. Still lost in Rize's beauty, Kaneki didn't suspect a thing.

"I had a great time today," Rize said, voice like honey. "I met Kaneki-kun... you're so kind, and we have so much in common. But time flew by, and now it's already time to say goodbye."

With those words, she gently hugged him.

Kaneki's heart pounded violently. Nervous and flustered, he melted into her embrace, savoring the moment.

And then—

Rize's mouth opened wide, her fangs sinking into Kaneki's shoulder.

A sharp scream echoed through the alley.

"You really are delicious, Kaneki-kun. I love your taste. I wish I could merge you with my body. Stop struggling—become one with me."

"W-What the hell are you?!"

"Now that's just rude, Kaneki-kun," Rize said with a twisted smile. "That's not what you were thinking earlier. I heard your heart beating for me. And now you call me a monster?"

She watched him writhe, that same eerie smile playing across her lips. Like a cat playing with its prey, Rize was thoroughly enjoying herself.

As Kaneki stumbled under a flickering streetlight, she struck again—this time piercing his arm with her kagune. Watching him struggle only intensified her hunger.

"Don't worry, Kaneki-kun. I'll eat you slowly. Not a single bite will go to waste."

Suddenly, a sharp whistle split the air.

Whoosh!

A kunai flew like a high-speed bullet, piercing straight through Rize's kagune and slamming her into the ground with brute force.

"What the hell?!" Rize gasped. "CCG?! What kind of weapon is that?!"

Three figures emerged from the shadows—Su Xiuyu, Mito, and Uchiha Chisato. The kunai had come from Chisato.

"You again?" Rize narrowed her eyes. "I thought I had you figured out. But it looks like I was wrong. You're not CCG... What the hell is that weapon? Tch, no matter. Let's see if you can handle this!"

With a surge of strength, Rize launched herself toward Chisato, aiming to take her out before she could throw another one of those cursed weapons.

"Fire Style: Dust Hiding Technique!"

A cloud of smoke and dust exploded from Chisato mouth, followed by a violent blast.

Though Rize's body was scorched and battered, her limbs remained mostly intact—proof of a ghoul's terrifying regeneration.

"What the hell are these weapons?! That hurts like hell!" Rize screamed. "I'm going to kill you!"

Her hunt had been going so well. She'd found a snack and even someone who made her heart flutter. But then this brat showed up with her insane "weapons" and ruined everything. Furious beyond reason, Rize snapped.

"Die! DIE!!"

Her kagune lashed out at Chisato through the smoke—but Chisato easily deflected it with a kunai.

"You're not CCG... Then who the hell are you?!"

"When you attacked us," Chisato said coldly, "you were already dead."

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"

Massive torrents of flame erupted around Rize, detonating with brutal force. There was nowhere to run. She threw her kagune up in defense, using her body as a shield—but it was no use. Her regeneration saved her from instant death, but she was barely holding together.

"I surrender! Please! I'll give you anything—just don't kill me!"

Rize's voice trembled. She knew she couldn't take another blast like that. There was no way she'd survive another second if she didn't retreat or beg.

Despite claiming surrender, Kamishiro Rize suddenly lunged toward Uzumaki Mito. She aimed to grab the silent girl and use her as a hostage. Words meant nothing—no one wanted to bet their life on someone else's mercy.

Unfortunately for Rize, today wasn't her day.

Just as her hand reached for Mito, Mito caught her arm mid-motion and threw her over the shoulder with explosive force. Rize crashed into the ground with such impact that the concrete cracked and caved in beneath her. Blood gushed from her mouth as she lay half-dead in the pit, staring blankly up at the night sky. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Tokyo's night was always bright, but tonight, the glare from the city lights made it impossible to see the stars.

"...Before you kill me," Rize coughed, trying to regain composure, "can you at least tell me who you are? I'm just... curious. You don't smell like ghouls, but no normal human has power like that. And that weapon earlier—it wasn't a Quinque. Who are you people? Even if I ran into the One-Eyed Owl, I wouldn't be completely powerless."

Her tone had shifted—calm now, as if she'd accepted her fate and just wanted answers.

"You overestimate yourself," Su Xiuyu finally spoke, watching her struggle. "If you really met the One-Eyed Owl, you'd be dead before you even realized it. You just don't understand how deep the rabbit hole goes."

He sounded casual, almost bored. He and Mito, Chisato had only been wandering around when they accidentally bumped into Kaneki Ken. Both Mito and Chisato figured there'd be no harm in messing with him a little—Kaneki always looked like a pitiful little dude with the worst luck.

"And you?" Su Xiuyu looked down at Rize, shaking his head. "You're just unlucky. Out of all places in this massive city, you happened to cross paths with us."

"...Wait, you still haven't told me who—"

Rize's last words were cut off mid-sentence. A sharp thunk echoed through the night as a shuriken flew through the air and embedded itself deep into her chest. Chisato stood a few feet away, her expression cold.

Rize's eyes widened before her body went limp.

As for poor Kaneki, Su Xiuyu casually took out his phone and dialed emergency services. After a quick call, he and his group left the scene. Not long after, the distant wail of sirens pierced the silence.

A dark figure stepped out from the shadows and picked up Rize's corpse. Meanwhile, Kaneki Ken, having lost too much blood, slipped into unconsciousness and was loaded into an ambulance that sped away toward a private, high-end hospital.

In his dazed state, Kaneki thought he heard voices.

"Did the transplant go smoothly?"

"More or less. We got there just in time. Rize had already flatlined, but her Hesperides cells were still active. We managed to start the procedure."

"What about her? Kamishiro Rize is dead, right? Such a waste... She was the perfect donor. A shame."

"She's brain-dead, yeah. But thanks to our cultivation tech, her limbs are still functional. Her regeneration and her Kagune are both stable, so she'll still be a valuable source. Don't worry—it won't affect the plan."

"But those three people..." another voice muttered. "They're dangerous. I'm sure they noticed me. And their combat strength—taking down the SS-class Glutton, Rize, in seconds without any Quinque? That's SSS-level power, easily."

"There's a wide gap between SSS-levels, though. Since Rize couldn't even fight back, we can't judge the true extent of their power."

"Maybe. Still, it's a variable. We'll send the data to the leader and let them decide what to do."

"And the kid?"

"The transplant was a success. He'll live. But when he wakes up... he won't be human anymore."

Under the bright, sterile lights of the hospital, Kaneki Ken drifted deeper into unconsciousness.

—

Meanwhile, Su Xiuyu, Mito, and Zhili strolled casually through the Tokyo night. With their level of strength, they didn't need to rest like ordinary people. The novelty of arriving in a different world was still fresh in their minds.

"So, Xiu Yu," Mito asked curiously, "what exactly is a ghoul? Are they really a race that feeds on humans?"

"Yeah," Su Xiuyu nodded. "That's the short version. They're a pathetic but dangerous species—cursed to survive by eating humans. A lot of them end up twisted, mentally and morally."

"Like that woman earlier?" Mito asked.

"Exactly. Rize was strong, too."

Chisato tilted her head, puzzled. "Wait... you're calling her strong? I thought she was weak."

"Not really," Su Xiuyu explained. "She was a real threat—stronger than an average Chunin from the ninja world. Ghouls have insane regeneration and physical durability. If a Chunin went up against her without some kind of instant-kill move, they'd probably get shredded."

He turned to Zhili. "You've changed, too. Your chakra is far beyond what a typical Jonin in Konoha has. With your fully awakened Three-Tomoe Sharingan, you'd be considered an elite Jonin. It's not that Rize was too weak—it's that you've become stronger."

Su Xiuyu had been growing stronger steadily, and thanks to the system panel, he had a clear grasp of his evolving combat capabilities. Of course, he knew full well that true strength couldn't always be measured by stats alone.

Just then, a sharp, desperate scream echoed from a nearby alley.

"Xiu Yu," Mito said softly, "should we check it out?"

Su Xiuyu sighed. "Yeah... let's take a look."

Mito wasn't the kind of girl to walk past suffering, but Su Xiuyu also knew she wasn't naive. She grew up in the Warring States era—no child from that time could afford to be soft.

Inside the alley, two investigators stood over a barely moving figure. One was young—Amon Koutarou. The other was an older, more battle-hardened man: Mado Kureo.

The scream had come from a weak ghoul they were interrogating—or perhaps torturing. Mado was infamous for his hatred of ghouls. His methods were cold, brutal, and merciless.

Even the dying ghoul couldn't help but scream under his cruelty.

-------

"Come on, Mito. It's just the CCG and a ghoul—no innocent civilians here. Let's move."

After Su Xiu Yu and Mito confirmed there were no bystanders, they turned to leave. But Koutarou Amon, freshly assigned to the field, couldn't hold back his impulse.

"Stop! Who are you?" he barked before lunging at Su Xiu Yu with his Quinque raised.

Su Xiu Yu didn't even blink—as if Amon's attack didn't register. Chisato calmly stepped forward, her kunai in hand. Wind chakra flowed over the blade, and with a swift motion, she cleanly severed Amon's Quinque.

Amon was then sent flying with a brutal kick. He crashed to the ground and groaned, unable to get up.

Just then, a thin figure stepped in front of him.

"The rookie doesn't know any better," Mado said, placing himself between Amon and Su Xiu Yu. "He acted out of line. Let him off this time. The kid's just a righteous junior."

Su Xiu Yu nodded at the weary-looking man and left without another word.

Mado pulled out his phone. "Hello, CCG Headquarters? We need an ambulance—Junior Amon's down. Also, send someone from tech. There's something here you'll want to see."

The ambulance arrived quickly, and Amon's injuries were minor. Mado wasn't too concerned. He had high hopes for this rookie. It was Amon's first real operation with the CCG, after all. Maybe he'd just let the nerves get the better of him.

"You're telling me a little girl severed Amon's Quinque like it was nothing? With a blade that looked like plain steel?" a fellow investigator asked, eyebrows raised.

"I'm sure," Wuxu replied calmly. "I may be old, but I'm not blind. And none of those three were ghouls. I can smell them. There was no scent of ghoul on them."

"That just makes it more absurd. What kind of little girl could do that? If she were in the CCG, she'd be a future legend."

At the crime scene, as the tech team collected samples, one of them pointed at the broken Quinque.

"Look at this cut. Amon's weapon may not be a special-grade Quinque, but it's still tougher than regular steel. Yet this slice... it's clean. Like a hot knife through butter."

One investigator glanced at Mado. "Why didn't you try to keep them for questioning?"

"I'm not looking to piss off someone that powerful without a damn good reason. I still want to live long enough to take out real ghouls. And between you and me, that little girl? She was the weakest of the three. They weren't even on alert. Just strolling casually. Amon got lucky that they only gave him a light slap on the wrist."

"It felt like a grown-up play-fighting with a kid," Mado added with a tired sigh. "You get what I mean?"

"Yeah. I'll report it up the chain."

---

Meanwhile, Kaneki Ken opened his eyes and stared blankly at the sterile white ceiling of the hospital room. Dazed, confused, and overwhelmed, he couldn't remember how he got back. That woman with purple hair... she was a knife to his soul—sharp, cold, unforgettable.

His stomach growled viciously. Starving, he made his way to the fridge and started scarfing down food. But something was off.

Everything tasted... wrong.

Bland. Like sand.

The more he ate, the worse it got. No flavor, no satisfaction. And then came the vomiting. Violent, uncontrollable.

Panic set in.

No matter what he tried to eat, it came back up. His hunger was growing into something terrifying. It clawed at him like a living thing, while every bite felt like swallowing ash.

He ran to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he froze.

His face was pale, twisted by fear.

Then—his left eye turned red.

A kagune eye.

"AHHH!" Kaneki screamed and punched the mirror, shattering it as he collapsed to the floor, crying.

He had no family. No one to turn to. And now, even his own reflection was a nightmare.

---

The Tokyo night sky hung heavy and dark. The city bustled as usual, crowded streets pulsing with life.

Kaneki walked among them, hood up, body trembling. The scent of humans filled his nose—so tantalizing, so rich. His mouth watered uncontrollably, saliva dripping from his lips.

Thighs, arms, curves, the warm pink tones of flesh—all of it called to something primal inside him.

He gritted his teeth. No! These were people. He wasn't a beast!

But the urge didn't stop.

Kaneki didn't know it yet, but his humanity was slipping. The instincts of a ghoul were taking over, bit by bit. Even normal humans, when starved long enough, can turn into cannibals. And he was already halfway there.

Then—a smell. Something even more irresistible than before. From a narrow alley.

He turned and saw a gaunt ghoul chewing on a corpse.

His stomach twisted in conflict. His ghoul instincts screamed at him to leap in. But the human part of him recoiled in disgust.

The ghoul noticed him.

"You look starved, man," the thin creature said, tossing an arm toward him. "Here, have some. I got plenty to spare."

Among ghouls, that kind of generosity was almost unheard of. Most were aggressive, territorial, especially around "food."

Kaneki waved it off, but his body betrayed him—saliva was pouring from his mouth, his stomach growling like a beast.

The thin ghoul chuckled. "What are you even holding onto, huh? If you're a ghoul, then be a ghoul."

A new voice chimed in—sharp, feminine, and full of disdain.

"What a waste. Still trying to act like a human?"

Kaneki looked up and saw a beautiful girl—Touka Kirishima.

"Just give in already. Stop fighting it. Listen to your body." She stepped closer, holding out a piece of flesh toward him.

Kaneki stared at it, hand trembling. His hunger was unbearable. He reached out instinctively—but stopped himself with his other hand.

"I'm human... I'm not... not a ghoul! Take it away! Take it away!"

"Pathetic. You think you can fight instinct with some half-assed willpower?" Touka scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "You really are a disappointment."

She turned to leave, but paused at his whimpering.

Tired of his indecisiveness, she plucked a small piece from the corpse and shoved it into Kaneki's mouth.

"Gulp."

The piece slid down his throat.

That was the moment everything changed.

"You're not human anymore," Touka said coldly. "Welcome to the world, you half-baked freak."

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