Chapter 54: The Gates of Suna
The bandits' ill-gotten gains now belonged to him. Ren's first act was to test the new dimension the System had unlocked. With a focused thought, he willed himself into the exchange space. The world dissolved around him, the squalor of the shack replaced in an instant by an infinite, silent void.
He stood on a featureless, flat plane that stretched into a grey horizon in every direction. Above, the "sky" was the same monotonous, lightless grey, devoid of sun or stars. The air was utterly still, without scent or temperature. It was a realm of pure potential, and currently, a profoundly empty one.
"System," he called out, his voice swallowed by the immense silence. "You called this a world. It feels more like a storage closet for giants."
***The space's development is contingent on the Host exchanging for Elemental Seeds. Without them, it remains a foundational void.***
"Elemental Seeds?" Ren asked, his interest piqued. "Explain."
***They are the conceptual core of creation. Exchange for the Seed of Earth, and land will form. Exchange for the Seed of Water, and oceans will gather. The Seeds dictate the fundamental laws and composition of the space's environment.***
"Sounds grandiose. And expensive, I assume. What's the price?"
***Item: Elemental Seed. Classification: Unique. Rank: S-Class. Exchange Cost per Seed: 10,000 Points.***
Ren let out a low, appreciative sound. Ten thousand points was a significant sum, but not the impossible figure he had feared. "A future project," he mused. "For now, this will do as the most secure vault in the world."
He walked to the chest he had brought in with him. He pulled out a thick stack of ryo notes, stuffing them into his pocket for immediate use. The rest—the chest itself, the coins, the bars, the glittering jewelry—could stay here, perfectly safe.
"Enough sightseeing," he announced to the emptiness. With another thought, he was back in the real world, the stench of the shack and the coppery tang of blood assaulting his senses. He didn't linger. He left the hut and the two terrified former slaves without a backward glance, his path set firmly for the Land of Wind.
The journey took hours. The rugged, green-brown terrain of the borderlands gradually yielded to rolling dunes of pale, golden sand. The air grew hotter and drier, carrying a fine, abrasive grit that stung any exposed skin. Ren had reached the edge of the Wind Country.
He shielded his eyes against the blinding glare of the sun on the endless ocean of sand. "Finally," he muttered, though the sight was more daunting than welcoming. "Now I just have to cross this. How long until I find a decent inn?" The vastness of the desert was legendary; the largest nation by land, but most of it was uninhabitable wasteland. Its people clung to life in oases, and its hidden village was a fortress against the elements.
His luck held. Before the sun could dip too low, he spotted the slow-moving silhouette of a caravan against the shimmering horizon. Catching up to them, he learned they were merchants from the River Country, making their regular trek to trade goods in the Wind Country's scattered oasis towns. Traveling with them, he finally reached a small, bustling trading post just as the desert's biting cold began to set in. The relief was palpable. He found a modest inn, paid for a room with the cash he'd taken, and spent a glorious hour scrubbing the dust, sweat, and memory of the bandits from his skin. A hot, hearty meal of spiced stew and flatbread later, he collapsed onto a real bed and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, he was renewed. Rested, fed, and clean, he felt his energy and resolve return in full force. After a quick breakfast, he secured detailed directions to the Village Hidden in the Sand from the innkeeper and set out on the final leg of his journey.
As he traveled, his mind honed his plan. His target was the One-Tail, Shukaku.
*One-Tail Shukaku,* he thought, a smirk playing on his lips. *If the Fourth Kazekage was considered the weakest of the Kage, then you, my friend, are the embarrassment of the Tailed Beasts.* His knowledge was clear. *Naruto, a genin, and a single summoned toad managed to defeat it. A pathetic showing. Perhaps it's Suna's inferior sealing techniques that limit its power. Or maybe the beast itself is simply too insane to focus. Whatever the reason, it's the weakest link. And you always start with the weakest link.*
The logic was sound. Gaara, the current Jinchuriki, was powerful but unstable. He was isolated, feared by his own people, a weapon they despised. The perfect target.
*Suna is vulnerable,* Ren strategized. *Their Kazekage was assassinated by Orochimaru. They've surrendered to Konoha out of weakness. The village lives in fear of Gaara himself. If I can lure him out, there will be no rescue party. No one will rush to save the monster they want gone. The One-Tail's chakra will be mine.*
He recalled the history. Gaara had been captured before. Once by puppeteers who used his student as bait—a ploy that worked only because Naruto had already cracked open Gaara's hardened shell. The second time was by Akatsuki, who bombed the village to get to him.
*So, the blueprint exists,* Ren concluded. *I don't need a complicated scheme. I just need to issue a direct challenge. The isolated, angry Gaara, desperate to prove his existence and strength, will come. He'll see it as a fight he can dominate. He won't comprehend the true nature of the trap.*
With his plan solidified, Ren pushed his speed, his body a blur kicking up plumes of sand as he raced across the dunes. Soon, a massive geological formation rose in the distance: a colossal canyon splitting the desert, its sheer rock walls a stark contrast to the flowing sands. This was the gateway to Sunagakure: the protective canyon known as the Shield of Sand.
As he approached, he could make out the figures of several shinobi stationed at the mouth of the canyon. This was the only easily defensible entrance to the village, a natural choke point.
*So this is it,* he thought, not breaking his stride. *The famous entrance. And they only have a handful of Chunin guarding it? Their defense is as laughably complacent as Konoha's. Do they truly believe the title of a Great Village is a shield enough?*
He made no attempt at stealth. He walked directly towards the entrance, his posture relaxed but his eyes missing nothing.
The Suna guards, spotting his approach, moved to intercept him. One, a man with a scarf wrapped around his face to ward off the sand, held up a hand. "Halt. You're not from the village. State your business. If you wish to enter, you must first register with us."
"Register?" Ren said, his tone dismissive. "That won't be necessary. I'm not staying long. I'm just here to find someone. I'll be in and out."
"Everyone must register," the guard insisted, his voice firming up. "Who is it you're looking for? We can have a ninja escort you to them."
A cold smile touched Ren's lips. I'm here for the Sabaku no Gaara."
The effect was instantaneous and electric. The casual professionalism on the guards' faces vanished, replaced by a complex mix of raw fear, deep-seated hatred, and intense vigilance. The name 'Gaara' was a trigger that sent a jolt through the entire squad.
"G-Gaara?!" the lead guard stammered, his hand instinctively moving closer to his kunai pouch. "Who are you? What business could you possibly have with Gaara?"
Before Ren could answer, another guard, a younger man with sharp eyes, squinted at him. His face went pale. "Wait a minute... I know that face!" he exclaimed, pointing a trembling finger at Ren. "I've seen it on the Bingo Book update from Konoha! That's Uchiha Sasuke! He's an S-Class rogue ninja! It's him! I'm sure of it!"
The reaction was immediate. In a synchronized motion of pure shock, the other guards leaped back, putting a dozen meters between themselves and Ren. Kunai were drawn in a flash, held in defensive postures. Their eyes, wide with alarm, were now fixed on him. An S-Class missing-nin wasn't a trespasser; he was a natural disaster walking into their home.
*Uchiha Sasuke? S-Class?* Ren was momentarily taken aback, but then he almost laughed. *Oh, this is perfect. They think I'm him. That means Tsunade took the bait from Hoshigakure. She pinned their destruction on Sasuke and slapped an S-rank bounty on his head. And now I'm reaping the benefits of his fearsome reputation. My apologies, Sasuke. I suppose I owe you for taking the blame.*
One of the Sand ninja voiced the confusion they all felt. "An S-rank rogue from Konoha? Can't they even control their own criminals?"
Another answered, his voice hardening with resolve. "It doesn't matter! He's on Suna's territory now. As Konoha's allies, it's our duty to apprehend their fugitives! Squad, prepare to engage!"
Weapons were raised. The desert wind seemed to still, the tension at the canyon's mouth reaching a breaking point. Ren's smirk only widened. This was a far more interesting welcome than he'd expected.
𝗚𝗨𝗬𝗦, 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗧 𝗚𝗘𝗛𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪9