Chapter 71: Departure
As the last tendrils of the Hidden Mist technique dissolved, a massive, skeletal arm fashioned from swirling, grey-white chakra shot out from the fading vapor. It moved with impossible speed, its bony fingers closing around Kakashi before he could even process its existence. It wasn't an attack; it was a capture. It plucked him from his stance and clenched him in a fist of pure energy.
*Nani?! What is this...?!* Kakashi's mind screamed. He struggled desperately, his muscles straining against the immense, unyielding pressure. It was like trying to bend steel with his bare hands. With a grunt of effort, his hands flew into a seal. Lightning chakra coalesced around his right hand, screeching into the form of his signature technique. "Raikiri!"
He drove the Lightning Cutter directly into the skeletal wrist holding him. The impact was met with a sound like a hammer striking an anvil. Sparks flew, but the chakra construct didn't so much as crack. The Raikiri, a technique that could pierce through almost anything, simply fizzled against the impossible density of the grip.
*Damn it...! What is this thing?! Even the Raikiri can't break it! Is this Uchiha Ren's doing?*
The mist finished clearing, revealing the scene within the earthen walls. Ren stood perfectly still, untouched. Two fresh craters marred the ground on either side of him—the aftermath of the Lightning Hounds. But Ren was unharmed, encased within a horrifying, semi-translucent skeleton of the same grey-white chakra. A single ribcage and one immense arm, which currently held Kakashi prisoner. This was the true power of Ren's Mangekyo: the Susano'o.
In the final moment, when the Chidori Current had failed, Ren had instinctively manifested this ultimate defense, shielding himself completely from the dual explosions.
As they watched, the skeletal structure around Ren began to evolve. Another arm sprouted from the opposite side, followed by the rough outline of vertebrae forming a neck, and finally, a skull-like head took shape, hovering over Ren. From a distance, it looked like an ancient, wrathful deity, radiating an aura of absolute power.
"Surprised, Kakashi?" Ren's voice was calm, almost conversational, from within his protective shell. "Allow me to show you my true trump card... this is Susano'o."
"Susano'o..." Kakashi breathed, ceasing his futile struggle. "So that's what this is. Another ability of the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"Correct," Ren stated, a note of pride entering his voice. "The third power granted by a pair of Mangekyo eyes. They call it the power of a god. No matter what attack you use—ninjutsu, taijutsu—it is useless against Susano'o's absolute defense."
"I see. So it was this that blocked my Lightning Hounds. And Hoshigakure... you destroyed that village with this technique, didn't you?"
"Indeed. And it wouldn't be difficult for me to destroy an entire country with it."
"Uchiha Ren... Konoha has never wronged you. Why turn against it?"
"Turn against it?" Ren laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "You seem to have forgotten. Apart from two years at the academy, I never officially stayed. I never graduated. I am not a Konoha shinobi. At most, I was a resident. Is there a law against a resident leaving the village?"
Kakashi fell silent. Ren was right. Without a ninja registration, Konoha couldn't legally brand him a missing-nin. He was just a citizen who had left.
"Then tell me," Kakashi pressed, changing tactics. "During the Chunin Exams, when Orochimaru and Suna attacked... was it you? The ANBU who appeared before me and Guy?"
"So what if it was?"
"I knew it. If you fought for Konoha then, you must still have some feeling for it. You wouldn't have risked exposure otherwise."
"Fought for Konoha? Feelings for Konoha?" Ren's laugh was sharp and derisive. "You think too highly of yourself. I don't care what happens to Konoha. If it were destroyed tomorrow, it would mean nothing to me. I interfered that day for one reason only: I was bored and wanted to relieve some tedium. Don't project some noble motive onto me; it's laughable."
"You truly feel nothing for the village?" Kakashi asked, a final attempt.
"Nothing," Ren stated flatly.
"Even so," Kakashi persisted, "I must advise you to return with us. Your identity is known now. For your... actions, Lady Tsunade will show leniency. Konoha will accept you. Otherwise, you will be branded a rogue ninja in truth. You will be hunted."
"Hunted?" Ren's voice dripped with scorn. "Do you think that frightens me? Let me be clear. I will return to Konoha one day. But not as a penitent. I will return as an avenger. I will settle a score with Konoha itself. And it won't be long. For now, let them enjoy their peace a little while longer." His tone was chillingly calm, his eyes glacial.
"An... avenger?" Kakashi was stunned. The word hinted at a deep, hidden grievance he knew nothing about. *What secret is he carrying? Why would he call himself that?*
"Hmph. For old times' sake, I'll spare all of you today," Ren declared, his decision made. He wouldn't kill Kakashi. The man was a worthy opponent, and held no personal grudge. "But this is the only time. If you hinder me the next time we meet... I will show you no mercy."
The pretence was over. It was time to leave. "As for you... a little punishment for your trouble."
The Susano'o's grip tightened. Kakashi cried out in pain as the pressure threatened to crush his ribs. Then, with a powerful swing, the colossal arm hurled him through the air like a ragdoll, straight towards the location of Shikamaru and the others.
Kakashi shot across the clearing and slammed into the ground with a sickening crunch, carving a new crater into the earth.
"That's... Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto yelled, spotting the impact.
"What happened?! Let's go!" Shikamaru commanded, leading the charge towards the new crater. Choji followed, carrying the still-unconscious Ino.
Coughing up dust, Kakashi struggled to sit up, his body screaming in protest.
"Mr. Kakashi! Are you okay?!" Naruto reached him first, helping him up.
"Let me heal him," Sakura said, her hands already glowing with green medical chakra as she knelt beside him.
After a moment, the worst of the damage was stabilized. "Kakashi-sensei, what happened? Where's Ren?" Naruto demanded, unable to hold back.
Kakashi let out a weary sigh. "I lost. I was no match for Uchiha Ren."
"What? How is that possible?!" The exclamation came from all of them. Shikamaru's face was grim. "Not even you, Kakashi-sensei? That's... hard to believe."
"It's the truth. He defeated me. He chose to spare my life and threw me back."
"Then where is he? Where's Ren?!" Naruto asked, his voice frantic.
"Uchiha Ren... I believe he has already left."
"Damn it! I'm going after him!" Naruto turned to run, but Kakashi's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist with surprising strength.
"Don't, Naruto."
"Why not?!" Naruto pleaded, his eyes desperate. "We have to bring him back! We couldn't stop Sasuke... we can't let another friend leave!"
"Naruto, I understand how you feel," Kakashi said, his voice heavy with exhaustion and finality. "But it's useless. He will not come back with you. The Uchiha Ren you knew is gone. He does not consider you a friend. He will not listen to you."
"No! Even so, I have to try! I have to—"
"Naruto," Kakashi interrupted, his grip tightening. "I cannot allow it. It's too dangerous. Uchiha Ren is extremely dangerous. If I am not his match, you certainly are not. He will kill you if you get in his way."
"He wouldn't! He's not like that! He couldn't hurt us!" Naruto refused to believe it.
"Naruto, listen to Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru interjected, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Remember the state he left us in. He showed no mercy during our fight. I even felt killing intent from him. He's not the same person."
"Damn it!" Naruto's shoulders slumped. The fight drained out of him, replaced by a familiar, crushing wave of helplessness. He sank to his knees, pounding the ground with his fist. "It's happening again! I'm useless! I can't do anything! I just watch my friends leave and I can't stop them!"
"Naruto, don't say that," Sakura said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault. You did everything you could."
"She's right," Shikamaru added. "You tried. That's what matters. You can't blame yourself for things outside your control."
"Alright, Naruto," Kakashi said, pushing himself to his feet with a wince. "Enough of that. We need to locate Gaara and ensure he is safe. Then we return to Sunagakure. We can... figure out our next steps from there."
Naruto looked up, his eyes still full of pain, but he gave a slow, resigned nod. "...I understand."
The fight was over. Uchiha Ren was gone, leaving behind a trail of questions, a display of terrifying power, and the shattered hopes of those who had once called him a friend.
𝗚𝗨𝗬𝗦, 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗧 𝗚𝗘𝗛𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪9