Chapter 86: The Allure of Geller's Stone
A newfound sense of power thrummed through Ren's veins as he strode from his room. The ten days of relentless, simulated combat had honed his instincts to a razor's edge. The world seemed sharper, his movements more fluid. He was no longer just a repository of stolen techniques and a powerful bloodline; he was now a true shinobi, tempered in the fires of endless battle.
*Good,* he thought, a cold focus settling over him. *My foundation is solid. Now it's time to build upon it. And for that, I need points. A lot of them.*
His first stop was the main hall. As he pushed open the heavy stone door, he found Orochimaru exactly where he expected him to be, ensconced on his throne-like chair like a pale king. Kabuto stood dutifully at his side, a silent, observant shadow.
Orochimaru's lipless mouth stretched into a wide, knowing smile as Ren entered. "Hehehe~~ Ren-kun. You finally grace us with your presence. You sequestered yourself for a full day and night. I was beginning to worry some misfortune had befallen you. But I assumed you were engaged in some... deep meditation... and instructed Kabuto not to disturb you."
"My apologies for not informing you," Ren replied, his tone neutral, offering no real explanation. "I was indeed occupied with a private training regimen."
"Think nothing of it," Orochimaru waved a slender hand dismissively. "A shinobi of your caliber must have his secrets. Your well-being is all that matters." The lie was as smooth as silk. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Pleasantries are a waste of time," Ren stated, cutting to the chase. "I need information. Have there been any notable occurrences in the shinobi world? And more importantly, what of the specific matter I asked you to investigate previously?"
Weeks ago, upon first aligning himself with the snake sannin, Ren had tasked Orochimaru's network with a peculiar mission: to locate a specific, nomadic caravan. The memory had surfaced from his past life—a fragment of a story about a lost nation and a legendary artifact of immense power, known as Geller's Stone. A relic so potent it had driven its own creators to self-annihilation through greed and war, eventually sealed away by the last remorseful survivors. If such a thing truly existed here, its value to the system would be astronomical. The thought of an entire vein of such ore, converted into points, was a siren's call he couldn't ignore.
Orochimaru's chuckle was a dry rattle. "The world is always swirling with trivial conflicts and rumors. Nothing of true consequence. However, regarding your unique request... my people have indeed located a caravan matching your description. A group of wanderers, seemingly harmless, who speak of a fallen homeland. My agents are tracking their movements as we speak. The latest intelligence places them on a route through the Land of Wind. You should have no trouble intercepting them."
"The Land of Wind?" Ren's brow furrowed. That aligned with the hazy memories he possessed. A sense of urgency gripped him. *I have to get there before the fated confrontation. Before it's destroyed.*
"Indeed. Is there something particular about this group that interests you so?" Orochimaru probed, his golden eyes glinting with keen interest. "My scouts found them to be remarkably... ordinary. Their only distinguishing feature is their tall tales of a forgotten kingdom."
"My reasons are my own," Ren deflected. "I simply need to ask them about something. An artifact they might know of. Geller's Stone."
The name hung in the air. Ren saw the instant spark of avarice in Orochimaru's gaze. The snake sannin was a collector of rare and powerful things; the name alone was enough to trigger his insatiable curiosity.
"Geller's Stone..." Orochimaru mused, tasting the words. "Hehe~ It seems you are in quite a hurry, Ren-kun. Very well, I shall not delay you. The caravan is moving toward a small trading outpost on the border of the Wind Country. I will have one of my operatives waiting there. They will guide you to the caravan's precise location."
"My thanks," Ren said, already turning to leave. The conversation was over.
"Of course. Happy hunting, partner," Orochimaru's voice slithered after him.
The moment the hall's doors shut, Orochimaru's playful expression sharpened into one of intense calculation. "Geller's Stone... A name that stirs the blood. To make a Uchiha of his power so single-minded... Kabuto."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru?"
"Follow him. Discreetly. I want to know what this 'Geller's Stone' is. Observe everything. Do not engage and do not, under any circumstances, allow yourself to be discovered."
A faint smile touched Kabuto's lips. "Understood. I will learn its secrets." With a bow, he too vanished from the hall.
Orochimaru was left alone, his whisper echoing in the empty chamber. "What treasure have you unearthed, Ren-kun? And how can I make it mine?"
Meanwhile, Ren was already a blur of motion, exiting the Sound village and heading southwest toward the Land of Wind's vast deserts. The urgency was now twofold. His own desire for the points was now compounded by a new, external pressure.
**"Ding! System Mission issued: Secure Geller's Stone. Host must acquire the core Geller's Stone before its destruction. Mission Reward: 50,000 points. Mission Failure Penalty: Deduction of 50,000 points."**
*Fifty thousand!* The number was staggering. The reward was a fortune that would finally unlock the Hashirama cells and so much more. The penalty, however, was a catastrophic debt he could not afford.
*The system truly has the soul of a thief,* he thought, a grim smile on his lips as he pushed his speed to the limit, the landscape blurring around him. *But it knows what I want. I will have that stone. I just hope I'm not already too late.*
He was unaware that another, far more subtle player had also entered the game. Taking a separate, more direct route, Kabuto was already plotting his own course to the same destination, his mission not to follow Ren, but to beat him there and observe the prize from the shadows.
The race for the legendary stone had begun.