"This trip back to the Village was truly a huge gain."
Ren soared through the forest, recalling the Thunder God Sword in his pocket, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
As expected, it's good to lean on a big tree for shade.
After several years of his own operation and effort, he had Ninjutsu, he had Summoning Beasts, he had Sage Art, and now he even had a weapon in his hand.
This feeling of strength growing step by step was truly wonderful.
Ren couldn't help but sigh. If he hadn't had interactions with these important figures, his strength would probably only be that of a barely Special Jonin, huddling with others on the battlefield to survive, constantly worrying about his life's safety.
Indeed, only the strong can control their own destiny and future. The sweat and effort expended back then all returned to him in another form.
…
"Stop! Who are you?!"
Ren, who had finally seen the Konoha Camp after several miles of rushing, was stopped by a patrol team before he could even be happy.
It looked like a new team, a Jonin leading three Genin of similar age to Ren. Four pairs of eyes were staring at Ren menacingly, subtly forming an encirclement.
"Excuse me, I am Hoshimi Ren, dispatched by the Village to the front lines for orders. You can report to Lord Jiraiya inside the Konoha Camp, and that should prove my identity."
Ren looked at the few people and smiled sheepishly.
Goodness, it was a very strange experience to be stopped by comrades as an enemy for the first time. But it couldn't be blamed on Ren; after all, the previous times he entered the main camp, he had gone with the convoy. This time, he was alone, approaching the Konoha Camp without concealment, so it would be strange if he wasn't stopped.
"Hmm?"
The few people were slightly stunned, then began to size up Ren.
"Uh, is there a problem?"
Ren saw that the few people didn't report anything or speak, just looked at him with strange eyes, which made him a bit puzzled.
"Are you really… Hoshimi Ren?"
A young girl with her forehead protector on her neck and long hair reaching her waist looked at Ren and asked somewhat timidly. This completely stumped Ren.
"Uh, if nothing unexpected has happened, I should be the only Hoshimi Ren in all of Konoha."
Ren looked at the few people with a black line on their faces. What a joke, as far as Ren knew, there wasn't a second person with his family name in all of Konoha, let alone someone with the same name as him.
"Hmm…"
The Jonin pondered for a long time, then spoke with some hesitation.
"Kaoru, you go report to the Konoha Camp first. We'll wait for you here."
"Yes, Captain!"
"Wait, take this to Lord Jiraiya, and he'll know."
Ren called out to the girl named Kaoru, pulled out the Thunder God Sword from his ninja tool pouch, and threw it to her under the gaze of the others.
"Take it."
The leading Jonin glanced at Ren, who was standing still, and nodded slightly to Kaoru, signalling her to take it.
"Yes."
The long-haired girl immediately reacted, giving Ren and the sword-like object in her hand one last strange look, then turned and headed towards the Konoha Camp, her long hair fluttering.
But Ren was not in the mood to pay attention to this, because in his perception, another patrol team was rapidly approaching from nearby.
This made Ren feel a bit helpless. He was just returning to the Konoha Camp; was it really necessary? He could only reluctantly give a thumbs-up to Konoha's dedicated and professional patrol personnel. He would wait, anyway, he wasn't short on time.
"What's going on, Sosuke?"
A tall female Jonin, wearing a Konoha Jonin vest and carrying a short sword on her back, appeared beside the previous Jonin and asked, looking at Ren in the field.
"This person intruded into the alert range, claiming to be Hoshimi Ren. I've already told Kaoru to go back to the Konoha Camp to verify his identity. There should be a result soon."
Suzume Sosuke explained in a low voice to his companion beside him, while keeping an eye on Ren in the field.
And the female Jonin next to him, upon hearing Ren's name, instantly changed her expression, turning her head to stare intently at Ren, making Ren feel a chill all over.
"Let's wait for the news."
Suzume Sosuke also understood his friend's feelings, but for now, they had to wait for news from the Konoha Camp to confirm.
Ren tensed up, instinctively preparing for battle. There was no other way; these few people were just too strange, especially the later Jonin with the sword on her back. Her eyes seemed to want to see something extraordinary in Ren.
"Captain!"
Finally, after a long and agonising wait for both sides, the news from inside the Konoha Camp arrived. The girl named Kaoru, panting heavily, pointed a trembling finger at the stunned Ren. Her face was incredibly excited.
"What's wrong, Kaoru!"
"He, he…"
Suzume Sosuke looked at his excited subordinate, mistakenly thinking that Ren's identity was incorrect. Everyone's gaze towards Ren immediately revealed a hint of danger, and they secretly assumed their combat stances.
Hmm…
Huh?! Huh!!!
Ren was dumbfounded after he reacted. What was going on? Had the Village listed him as a rogue ninja just one day after he left Konoha??
What was the situation now!!!
"He is Hoshimi Ren!"
Kaoru, having caught her breath, finally spoke all her words. Everyone, including Ren, turned their gaze to Kaoru, and the tense atmosphere from just moments ago instantly froze.
"Eh?"
…
"Excuse me, Senior Ren, this is yours."
Kaoru walked up to Ren somewhat awkwardly, raising the Thunder God Sword with both hands and handing it to Ren.
"It's fine, thank you."
"Tha, thank you…"
Kaoru's face instantly turned crimson, and she immediately turned around and hid behind Suzume Sosuke. This left Ren with a face full of question marks.
"Haha, don't mind it. Kaoru is your number one fan."
"Captain!"
As soon as Suzume Sosuke finished speaking, Kaoru, from behind him, stepped out and glared fiercely at her captain. After her gaze met Ren's, she hesitated for a moment, then, still somewhat hesitantly, stepped forward, took out a pen and a small notebook from her embrace, and handed them to Ren.
"Excuse me, Senior Ren, could you please give me an autograph?"
"Uh, of course, no problem."
Ren hastily and quickly wrote his name. Although it was a bit messy, it was still legible.
Looking at Kaoru, who was putting away her notebook with a satisfied expression, Ren asked with some hesitation.
"Excuse me, do we know each other?"
"Huh?"
Kaoru was startled at first, and before she could speak, Suzume Sosuke, who was beside her, coughed twice feigning, and said with a smile.
"Ahem, Kaoru was taken as a disciple by Director Kana Maiko of Konoha Hospital some time ago."
The female Jonin, who had been silent all this time, also spoke faintly.
"And because a certain someone is not only outstanding in combat power but also exceptional in Medical Ninjutsu talent, a certain little girl's heart has been stirred. Wouldn't you say so…"
The female Jonin looked at Ren through gritted teeth, squeezing out the remaining few words.
"Ho, shi, mi, Ren!"
…
Ren looked at everyone in a daze. His brain had almost stopped functioning.
Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?