Tokyo Ghoul: Starting with Mangekyo Sharingan

"Invastigador Kasuka, let's stay here for now and wait for the search squad to come back and rescue us" said Byakuya as he walked over to Kasuka.

He knew the search squad would definitely return with reinforcements, so it was best just to wait here. He wasn't fully familiar with the maze-like layout of 24th Ward and knew they might run into ghouls at any moment. Wandering around or retracing their steps wasn't the safest option.

"Agreed" Kasuka nodded, also thinking that waiting for rescue was the best choice.

"Oh, and I should return this" Byakuya said, handing back the S rated, lance-type quinque he had borrowed from her.

"Hmm… although it's my quinque, you clearly handle it better than I ever could…" Kasuka replied, marveling.

She hadn't expected to be the one saved by her subordinate after staying behind to protect the others. Without Byakuya, she realized, she likely would have died miserably. After witnessing firsthand the strength of the ghoul in its "kakuja" form, she could only imagine the disastrous outcome if she'd faced it alone.

"I have a radio here. Let me contact them and update them on the situation" she said, contacting the search squad.

...

Meanwhile, back at the CCG base, the search squad noticed something wrong almost immediately after exiting 24th Ward—they had fewer people than they should have. Besides Investigator Kasuka, one other person seemed to be missing.

'Could someone not have gotten out in time?'

Marude, the squad leader, felt the pressure. Not only was this a mistake on his part, but it also dishonored Kasuka's sacrifice in buying them time for escape.

"Hurry and confirm who's missing" he commanded.

A quick check revealed the absent agent was Uchiha Byakuya, Second-Class Investigator. A deep sense of worry filled Marude, in the rush of trying to stop Kureo, he had somehow overlooked Byakuya's absence. But under normal circumstances, Byakuya should have kept up with the team—what could have happened?

Looking over at Kureo, who was sitting nearby, clearly distraught, Marude let out a deep sigh.

"We can only go back in once the reinforcements arrive..."

They couldn't risk diving deeper into 24th Ward until reinforcements came. Otherwise, the sacrifice made by Investigator Kusuka would be meaningless. As it was, everyone was feeling grim about her chances against the One-Eyed Owl.

CCG had clashed with the One-Eyed Owl many times and knew how strong it was, so it was hard to be optimistic.

Kureo, too, had lost all hope. His dull eyes hinted at despair. Though he appeared calm, he was deeply despondent, unable to imagine what state they'd find Kasuka in if they returned to F124 in 24th Ward…

But just then, Marude's radio crackled to life. He thought it was CCG headquarters checking in, so he didn't pay much attention at first. Then, he heard a familiar voice.

"Marute, the One-Eyed Owl has retreated" Kusuka's voice echoed over the radio.

"What?!" Marude was dumbfounded.

The One-Eyed Owl had retreated? Could it be that Assistant Special Investigator Kasuka managed to drive it back?

Hearing Kasuka's voice, Kureo suddenly perked up, tears streaming down his face. Just moments before, he'd been in despair, and now, this unexpected news hit him with such intensity that he wept with relief.

"So, Investigator Kasuka actually managed to drive back the One-Eyed Owl? Amazing!"

"Even when Iwao Kuroiwa drove it off last time, it was with the elite force of 2nd Ward surrounding it. This makes Kasuka's accomplishment even more impressive" the other agents murmured in admiration.

"Of course, Kuroiwa's previous injury to the One-Eyed Owl probably weakened it, so that may have indirectly helped Investigator Kasuka"

In their awe, they overlooked Byakuya, thinking that a Second-Class Investigator was unlikely to make a difference in such a fight.

"Congratulations, Assistant Special Investigator Kasuka! After this, you're sure to be promoted to Special Investigator" Marude congratulated her.

However, Kasuka quickly clarified,

"No… it actually wasn't me. It was Investigator Byakuya who repelled the 'One-Eyed Owl' on his own"

"Oh… wait, what?!"

Marude was stunned as the realization sank in. Could a Second-Class Investigator really have done this?

The rest of the squad exchanged looks of disbelief, hardly able to comprehend what they'd heard.

Marude quickly snapped out of it. This wasn't the time to be stunned—they need to rescue them both immediately. Injured or not, if they ran into another high-rated ghoul, they could be in serious danger.

"No matter what, we have to return to F124 immediately to safely escort Kasuka Mado and Uchiha Byakuya out of 24th Ward. Does everyone understand the mission?" he instructed, his tone grave.

They re-entered 24th Ward and rushed toward F124 as fast as they could.

Kureo led the way, moving so quickly the others struggled to keep up.

...

Soon, the search squad arrived at F124.

They found Byakuya and Kasuka standing there, waiting.

"Could you explain exactly what happened?" Marude asked, glancing over them. Noticing they weren't visibly injured, he also saw a quinque broken in two on the ground. He recognized it as Byakuya's.

Kasuka briefly recounted the events.

Marude looked at Byakuya with amazement. "A Second-Class Investigator able to stand against an SSS rated ghoul… I'm impressed"

"Investigator Marude, you overpraise me. Without Investigator Kasuka's quinque, I'd have had no chance" Byakuya replied calmly.

An S rated Quinque at least gave him a fighting chance against the One-Eyed Owl, unlike a B rated quinque, which would have shattered instantly.

Without a weapon to injure it, the One-Eyed Owl might not have retreated at all.