"Ren, I'm heading off first. I still need to report to the medical unit. See you."
Yugao Uzuki waved at Ren, then turned and ran toward ANBU headquarters without looking back.
Watching Yugao's near-escape-like retreat, then glancing at the teasing grin on Anko Mitarashi's face, Ren could only shrug helplessly.
"Hey—you're Ren, right?"
Anko was clearly the familiar type. She jogged over and slung an arm around Ren's neck, laughing.
"You're not even going after her? Isn't that a bit heartless?"
"Anko, that's enough."
Kurenai Yuhi rubbed her temples. She knew exactly what her best friend was like. Turning to Ren, she smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about her. Please don't mind—ah, you were the one from the last Chūnin Exams—"
"Anko-senpai, Kurenai-senpai. Hello."
Ren's greeting made both women pause in surprise—Anko included.
Clearly, they had recognized him.
After all, his use of the Flying Thunder God during the Chūnin Exams had caused quite a stir.
If not for his ANBU status, his fame would've been even greater.
"So it was you!"
Anko's eyes lit up. She looked Ren over carefully, then laughed.
"No wonder you disappeared afterward. Turns out you're the same as Yugao—forget it. Want dango? My treat!"
"Thank you."
Ren smiled. Anko really was an interesting person.
Wild and reckless on the surface, but undeniably genuine.
Though once betrayed… she'd probably explode completely.
Orochimaru's shadow ran deep.
"Still, maybe next time. I've already eaten. Thank you for the offer, senpai."
As he spoke, Ren stood and prepared to leave.
Because right at that moment, he felt something… off.
"Chakra fluctuations?"
As he walked, Ren frowned slightly.
"It feels vaguely like a Flying Thunder God mark… but extremely faint."
After a moment's thought, he made a decision—following that indistinct sensation.
It was too hazy to activate a direct teleport.
"…Could it be Uchiha Obito?"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
That strange sense of separation—only Obito could cause something like that.
"But earlier, he was hiding inside Kamui. I shouldn't have been able to sense him at all… unless—"
Realization struck.
Before, his overall physical attributes had only been LV7.
But after merging Wood Release, he'd made a massive leap.
LV9 physical attributes meant a comprehensive upgrade—including perception.
"So as long as Obito doesn't remove his mark… I'll always be able to sense him?"
Ren blinked, then unconsciously sped up.
Against "good guy Obito," his interest was fully piqued.
Setting aside the fact that he had already planned to use Obito as a scapegoat for Wood Release—
Just encountering Obito once had netted him a huge amount of Free Points.
That alone made Ren extremely fond of him.
Danzō couldn't even compare.
[Mission Complete: Contact with Sunagakure]
[Mission Evaluation: S]
[Reward: Free Points ×4]
Four Free Points wasn't bad—but for Ren, whose demands had skyrocketed, it was still far from enough.
Danzō's stinginess left him helplessly amused.
Thankfully, Obito had delivered himself right to his doorstep.
[New Mission Acquired]
[Objective: Repel Konoha's Invader]
Ren nodded at the refreshed mission.
Obito never disappointed.
And exposing more of Obito's secrets meant hidden tasks.
Such a good person—how could Ren not love him?
His pace was fast. He quickly realized this road led toward the Uchiha district, and soon enough, he spotted Shisui Uchiha.
What left Ren both amused and speechless was the sight of Obito spreading "conspiracy theories" to Shisui.
Granted, Obito was indeed a bit… special.
But sometimes, his talk-no-jutsu was frighteningly effective.
Otherwise, he never would've strung along Nagato for so long—
nor earned the obedience of someone like Kisame.
"Half-truths and half-lies really are persuasive," Ren thought.
"Or maybe… it's all true."
Either way, Ren had no intention of letting Obito continue.
He clapped his hands lightly and stepped out.
He could already tell—Black Zetsu and White Zetsu had likely noticed him.
Hiding further was pointless.
Better to strike first.
After all, from the moment he faintly sensed the Flying Thunder God mark until now—
Five minutes were almost up.
"What about the Nine-Tails night, then?"
Ren spoke with a mocking smile, glancing at the stunned Shisui before turning to the silent Obito.
"How do you explain that?"
"The Fourth Hokage was your teacher. I've read plenty of classified files."
"Both he and his wife—Jōnin Kushina Uzumaki—took excellent care of you."
"And yet you killed them?"
"You're truly a wonderful disciple, Uchiha Obito."
"You—!"
The instant Ren appeared, Obito's anger flared—and those words pushed him over the edge.
He had deliberately avoided the Nine-Tails incident, steering Shisui toward Danzō instead.
Now Ren had dragged the issue straight back onto him.
It infuriated him.
Still, Obito regained his composure quickly.
He stared at Ren coldly, then let out a low laugh.
"Shisui, look at this."
"He shows up directly. What does that tell you?"
"He doesn't trust you."
"ANBU. Root. The Hokage. The Hokage's advisor—none of them trust the Uchiha!"
"Don't flatter yourself."
Ren shook his head, smiling faintly.
"You hide in another dimension, but I can still sense your mark—barely."
"And you said it yourself—I'm ANBU."
"Shisui, don't forget. You're ANBU too."
"So tell me—do you trust a comrade who fought beside you in the Land of Wind…"
"…or a wanted criminal who lies through his teeth?"
"And besides," Ren added calmly,
"he's a Konoha fugitive. Capturing or killing him benefits everyone."
Shisui's mind was in chaos—but Ren's last sentence snapped something into place.
No matter how dire the Uchiha's situation was—
Uchiha Obito had to be dealt with.
If he was captured or killed, the Nine-Tails incident—the greatest source of conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha—could finally be resolved.
Killing intent surged in Shisui's eyes.
"Damn brat—"
Obito's fury peaked.
And in that instant, several kunai shot toward him.
Obito was about to sneer—
When a realization struck him.
He had already remained inside Kamui for five minutes.
Slash—
Blood burst into the air.
Ren appeared beside him, kunai flashing with cold light.
"You really think you can hide forever?"
"I figured out your limit last time."
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