"Damn lunatic!"
Ren hid behind the Wood Golem, cursing under his breath.
Nagato really was sick in the head. The moment things didn't go his way, he unleashed something like that. Was he not afraid of dying?
The Rinnegan was both an unmatched power and a terrifying life-draining curse. Ren remembered clearly—Nagato had once been fine, but ever since summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he'd turned into something barely human.
And it wasn't just that one ability. Every major use of the Rinnegan was a gamble with life, especially since those eyes weren't born from Nagato himself.
Any attempt to "push harder" was outright burning lifespan.
If not for his abnormal constitution—his hair color even hinted at Uzumaki lineage—he would've died long ago. Instead, he was still walking around like a living corpse.
That was Super Shinra Tensei, wasn't it?
Ren felt the intensity rolling past him and muttered to himself.
Reality wasn't anime. No one shouted technique names out loud—at most, you named it in your head.
He'd sensed the unimaginable chakra erupting from Pain and had immediately chosen to defend with the Wood Golem.
Now it was clear—that decision had been the right one.
Still not on the level of his future "one bag of rice for how many floors" in Konoha… but dangerous enough.
Nagato wasn't yet at his future peak. His control and output didn't compare to the version that could flatten Konoha in an instant.
But even so, leveling this forest was well within his ability.
"Ren!"
Yūgao, Kakashi, and Tenzo rushed over. Yūgao's eyes were full of worry.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Ren smiled. "My body's pretty tough."
She ignored him, immediately using medical ninjutsu. Ren sighed helplessly, tapped her forehead lightly, then asked,
"How are things on your side? I couldn't fully cover you, but I could see some of it. That was Kakuzu and… Jūzō Biwa, right?"
Ren hadn't been too worried about them. After all, one of their opponents was a pure insider.
Which meant their real enemy was only Jūzō.
Even with the terrain favoring him—and his Mist Technique limiting Kakashi's Sharingan—three-on-one, with possible covert assistance, wasn't something that could go wrong.
"We're fine," Kakashi shook his head lightly, though concern lingered in his gaze.
"They may be a new pairing—coordination wasn't great."
Then he frowned.
"But Suna's situation might be worse. Your fight spilled directly in their direction. Also… who was that guy? His strength was terrifying."
"Yeah," Tenzo nodded. "I've never seen anything like this."
He glanced around at the devastation. The forest that had been shrouded in mist was practically erased.
Then he looked back at Ren—and somehow felt that thinking too much was pointless.
Because our side has a monster too.
"And Jiraiya-sama's situation is unclear," Kakashi added. "He fought Orochimaru, but now he's missing. I hope he's alright."
"Jiraiya…"
Ren raised an eyebrow. Jiraiya vanishing like that was troublesome.
Worse, Ren realized Jiraiya hadn't been carrying the Flying Thunder God kunai he'd given him.
That complicated things.
And Suna's condition was unknown as well.
After a moment's thought, Ren grabbed Yūgao's hand.
"Hey—don't mess around."
"Save your strength," Ren shook his head. "You three leave immediately. Find a safe place and wait for me."
"You—"
Yūgao frowned, but Kakashi understood at once.
"You're going to find Jiraiya-sama?"
"Yes. Him—and Suna's people."
Ren sighed.
"After something like this, even if I don't want to deal with them, ignoring it will only bring bigger trouble. Pakura saw things too clearly—if there's no survivor to speak, the blame will fall on us."
The shinobi world was absurd like that.
Truth didn't matter nearly as much as convenience.
Often it was simply: If we say it's you, then it's you—even if it isn't.
Ōnoki didn't actually know whether Uchiha Obito had Wood Release—he'd never seen it. But between the cost of war with Konoha, Kumogakure lurking like wolves, and the balance of the entire shinobi world…
Someone had to be blamed.
And that someone was Obito.
Ren couldn't help wondering if this was karma coming full circle.
Either way, he needed someone from Suna with real weight.
If not—
Well, the team leader was Jiraiya.
So Jiraiya absolutely can't die, Ren thought. If things go south, I still need him to take the fall.
His senses expanded—and he locked onto a target.
At the same moment, far away in a cave, Nagato coughed blood.
"Konan, we're leaving. Now."
This operation had drawn almost everyone—except Sasori and the mysterious man calling himself Uchiha Madara.
Konan hadn't fought. She was guarding Nagato's real body.
"What happened?" she asked, alarmed. "Did you overuse Shinra Tensei?"
"Yes."
Nagato's expression was dark.
"Our position's exposed. Ren… is not ordinary."
In just a brief exchange, Ren had grasped his condition, his mindset—even his doubts.
It was terrifying.
Worse was Ren's strength.
Defeating Hanzō—the so-called demigod—had once elevated Nagato's sense of divinity.
But facing Ren shattered that certainty.
Even without all his Paths present, even though he'd injured Ren—
He'd lost.
Information exposed. Position tracked.
"There's trouble," Konan said quietly.
"He deliberately damaged Yahiko's body," Nagato said bitterly.
"Forcing me to pour chakra into repairs—so he could follow it back."
"So… recruitment?"
"We continue."
Nagato didn't hesitate.
"Someone like him is too dangerous to ignore. At the very least, we plant a seed."
Konan hesitated, then nodded.
"…Did you even get to say anything to him?"
Nagato fell silent.
"…He didn't give me the chance."
Back near the battlefield, Ren ordered Kakashi and Tenzo to protect Yūgao, reminding them to use Flying Thunder God immediately if anything happened.
Once they left, he moved.
Jiraiya's location was still unclear.
Did he get dragged to Mount Myōboku by toads?
Ren snorted.
Running from Nagato's indiscriminate attacks was the smartest move.
As long as you survived, everything else could be settled.
Fortunately, Ren found someone valuable.
In a cave not far from the battlefield, untouched by the blast, Ren looked at the unconscious woman inside.
"Rough luck."
It was Pakura.
Her chakra was nearly exhausted. Wounds covered her body—especially a deep gash in her abdomen that was still bleeding.
Without treatment, she'd die.
"At least you're not dead."
After examining her, Ren confirmed she could be saved.
Years ago, she'd survived thanks to his interference. Now fate had thrown her into Kirigakure again—only to be used as a scapegoat.
"Good thing you ran into me again."
Ren worked quickly—removing damaged clothing, cleaning wounds, channeling chakra, applying medicine, and bandaging her.
He fed her a soldier pill and exhaled.
"She should wake up."
This mess annoyed him.
Obito's retaliation fit Ren's interests—he had a new task to investigate Kirigakure, and chaos meant points.
But being framed before doing anything?
That was rude.
If you play dirty, Ren thought, don't blame me for making your name echo through the entire shinobi world—just like Danzo's.
He formed seals.
Two Wood Clones emerged.
Kirigakure's internal situation was complex—two opposing factions already taking shape.
One was the Mizukage under Obito's control.
The other was the village's true powerbroker—the elder Yuan Shi, who even cultivated the future Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
Ao, with his Byakugan, was also part of that camp.
Ren needed that old fox.
"Move. Look for familiar faces."
The clones rolled their eyes.
They were all Ren—of course they knew.
Elsewhere, Jiraiya staggered to his feet amid the ruins, grimacing in pain.
"Shouldn't have gone to look…"
He'd chased after the falling figure, suspecting one of his Rain students—only to be blasted away by overwhelming repulsion.
Ribs broken. Injuries everywhere.
Not fatal—but bad.
And he was separated from Ren.
Should've brought that kunai…
He believed Ren was fine—the Wood Golem had blocked the blast.
But he had to move.
Meanwhile, Mei Terumi stood among the ruins, furious and aching.
Ao and Zabuza joined her.
Casualties were heavy.
"We move," Mei said firmly. "Ao, I need your eyes. We find the truth. No one dies here for nothing."
Zabuza stepped forward.
"My men were slaughtered. This won't end quietly."
They departed—unaware they were being watched.
Back in the cave, Ren confirmed Yūgao was far enough away to be safe.
Then he heard a groan.
Pakura stirred.
She woke, disoriented—then saw Ren.
"…You saved me again?"
Pain flared from her abdomen. She looked down—and froze.
Her upper clothes were gone, replaced by bandages.
"You saw… everything?"
Ren tilted his head.
"Yes. Not bad figure."
She exploded.
"You bastard—!"
Ren sighed.
"You're a ninja. You were dying. I treated you. Priorities."
He draped her clothes over her shoulders.
"We're all adults. Try being a little more mature."
She was furious—and speechless.
Once dressed, she looked at him steadily.
"You saved me so I'd speak up—for you."
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Then I'll help you. As an ally."
Before they could continue—
Footsteps.
Three figures were dragged in, bound by vines.
Mei Terumi. Ao. Zabuza.
Pakura stiffened.
Ren smiled.
"Perfect."
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