Chapter 67: The Inevitable Clash
With Ren's identity confirmed, a torrent of questions followed, each one trying to unravel the mystery of the boy they thought they knew.
"Will you answer some questions for me?" Kakashi asked, his tone more weary than demanding.
"Hmph. For Ino's sake, I'll indulge your curiosity. Make it quick," Ren replied, his arms crossed.
"The night you disappeared from Konoha... was it as Ino suspected? Did Sasuke take you with him?"
"You could say I left Konoha alongside Sasuke," Ren confirmed. It was technically true; he had used the chaos of Sasuke's defection as his own cover to escape.
"Then why aren't you with him now?"
"I said I left *with* him. I never said I was *following* him."
"I see. So, the truth is, you had already recovered your faculties while still in Konoha. You were never the... incapacitated individual everyone believed you to be. Yet you told no one. You concealed it, even from your own brother, Sasuke. Why?"
"To leave Konoha, of course," Ren stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "If you'd all known, my departure would have been considerably more difficult to arrange."
"To leave Konoha? Was it to seek revenge on Itachi Uchiha by yourself?"
Ren's expression darkened slightly but he didn't answer.
"Then why impersonate Sasuke? Why carry out these attacks under his name? Was it to hide your own identity?"
"Hey, I never once claimed to be Sasuke," Ren retorted with a dismissive wave of his hand. "*You* all made that assumption. I simply couldn't be bothered to correct you. It suited my purposes."
It was a frustratingly valid point. Ren had never verbally claimed the identity; he had just allowed their preconceptions to do the work for him.
"...I see," Kakashi said, the pieces clicking into place. "So, are we done with the questions?" Ren asked, growing impatient.
"For now. Any further discussion can be held back in Konoha."
"Back in Konoha?" Ren let out a short, derisive laugh. "I think you've misunderstood. I never agreed to return to Konoha with you."
"Hmph. While Sasuke was the one convicted, you are the one who committed the crimes in Hoshigakure. Sasuke merely took the blame. Now that we know the truth, you *will* return with us to face the judgment of the Fifth Hokage."
"Ha! You want me to go back to Konoha? Stop joking. I'm telling you, it's not happening." Ren's voice was laced with cold, final disdain.
"Ren?" Ino's voice was small, pleading. "Why won't you come back with us? Are you... are you afraid Lady Tsunade will punish you?"
"No, it's not that," Ren said, shaking his head, his tone softening slightly when he looked at her.
"Then why? What's the reason? Tell me!"
"I'm sorry, Ino," he said, genuine regret in his eyes. "For reasons I can't share, I can't return to Konoha. Not until I've accomplished what I set out to do. And telling you why... it could put you in danger. So please, don't ask again. I promise you, once everything is settled, I will come find you."
"But—" Ino began, her protest cut off by Kakashi's firm voice.
"Enough," Kakashi interjected, his demeanor shifting from interrogator to combatant. "Do you honestly believe I will allow you to walk away so easily?"
"Really?" Ren's smirk returned, a spark of anticipation in his Sharingan. "And what do you plan to do about it?"
"It seems you will not come peacefully. In that case, I have no choice. I will subdue you by force and bring you back to Konoha." Kakashi's tone was casual, but his body was tense, his single eye fixed on Ren. He had seen Ren's capabilities firsthand; this would not be an easy fight.
"Really? Well then, let's see if you have what it takes!" Ren shot back, his grin widening.
"Naruto, no matter what happens, do not intervene. Just stay back. However, keep a close watch on Uchiha Ren. If he tries to flee, you must stop him. Understood?" Kakashi commanded without looking away from Ren. "And Ino, you too. Step away from him and follow my orders."
"Mr. Kakashi, you're not actually going to fight him, are you? You can't!" Ino cried out, her fear for Ren eclipsing everything else. In her mind, Ren stood no chance against the legendary Copy Ninja.
"Yeah! Ren, you should just come back with us! You're no match for Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto added, his concern genuine.
"Ren, please," Ino begged, clutching his arm. "Just come back with us. Whatever you need to do, we can help you! We can do it together!"
"Ino, don't say anything more. Just listen to Kakashi and step back," Ren said, his voice firm but not unkind.
"No! I won't leave! If I leave, you'll fight! I won't let you!" Ino refused, tightening her grip on him.
"Uchiha Ren," Kakashi's voice was hard. "It would be best for you to come willingly. I have no desire to hurt you."
"Oh? No desire to hurt me?" Ren's expression turned icy with contempt. "Are you that confident you even can?" he thought privately, scoffing at Kakashi's presumption. "Likewise, I have no particular wish to injure you. But if you continue to stand in my way, I'll have to apologize to Ino later."
"This is your last warning. Ino, step back!" Kakashi ordered.
"Ino, you should really step back now," Ren echoed, trying to gently pry her off.
"No!" she insisted, holding on with desperate strength.
"Fine. Ino, look at me," Ren said, his voice taking on a compelling tone.
"What?" Confused, Ino instinctively looked up, meeting his gaze.
The moment their eyes locked, the tomoe in Ren's Sharingan spun. A simple, powerful genjutsu slammed into Ino's mind. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her body went limp as she fell into a forced unconsciousness.
"Just sleep for now," Ren murmured softly, catching her as she fell. "When you wake up, it will all be over." He created a Shadow Clone, which carefully took Ino from his arms.
"Take her to Shikamaru. They'll look after her."
"Understood," the clone replied. It hoisted Ino into a secure hold and flashed over to where Shikamaru and the others stood, depositing the unconscious girl into their care.
"Hey. You lot, take good care of her for me," the clone stated flatly, its tone bordering on arrogant, before dispelling itself in a puff of smoke without waiting for a response.
"Really, what a drag," Shikamaru grumbled, adjusting his hold on Ino. "Even as a shadow clone, he's insufferably cocky."
Back with the original, Ren received the clone's memories and felt a wave of relief knowing Ino was safe with the others.
"Now," he said, turning his full attention back to Kakashi, his Sharingan blazing with challenge. "It's just the two of us. Let's see what the legendary Copy Ninja Kakashi is truly capable of."
"Is that what you want?" Kakashi's hand moved to his headband, ready to unveil his own Sharingan. "Then allow me to show you."
𝗚𝗨𝗬𝗦, 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗧 𝗚𝗘𝗛𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪9