Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Rogue Hunt—Predator's First Feast

Dusk painted Konoha's outskirts bloody orange. Ren Uchiha trekked the forest trail alone, Naruto benched by Iruka ("No more incidents!"), Sasuke off brooding. Perfect solo op.Great Sage, track that windbag rogue.[Target locked: 2.3km northeast, chakra signature: Mid-chunin, wind/earth affinity. Companions: 2 genin scrubs. Intent: Recon + snatch. Slime countermeasures: None. Go wild.]Ren chuckled. "Wild it is. Human form for stealth—go." His body solidified, but core bubbled excitement. Kunai pouch? Nah—Infinite Storage via slime mass.Rustle ahead. Ambush setup: rogue leader perched branch, two minions with earth walls half-raised."Target acquired," rogue growled, scarred lip curling. "Uchiha freak—boss wants your bloodline for experiments."Experiments? Sounded Orochimaru-lite. "Boss huh? Tell him I'm flattered—send gift basket next time."Minions charged—kunai flurry + Doton: Mud Trap.Ren's eyes sharpened—Slime-Sharingan hybrid active. Trajectories predicted. He melted low—mud splashed harmlessly over goo puddle. Slime surged, tendrils snaring legs.Predator micro-engages. Boots dissolved; minions screamed as feet tingled numb. "W-what is—""Quick-dissolve genjutsu," Ren lied, reforming behind them. Gentle chops—out cold. [Absorbed: Basic Doton, minion chakra scraps. Meh.]Rogue leaped down, wind blades whirling. Fuuton: Great Blade! Air slashes carved trees.My souvenir! Ren dodged with Super Speed, countering his fresh Air Blade—clash sparked. "Copycat much? Borrowed your trick—improved it."Rogue snarled. "Monster!" Earth spikes erupted—Doton: Earth Flow Spears.Ren laughed maniacally. Boss mode. Body ballooned—massive slime humanoid, 3 meters tall, crimson eyes glowing. "Monster? Nah—Ultimate Slime: Predator King!"Spikes pierced—glorp glorp. Dissolved instantly. Rogue's eyes bugged. "Impossible!"[Mass Predator active. Earth affinity +22%. Spear skill acquired.]Slime-Ren lunged, maw unhinging—Gluttonous Maw. Rogue blasted wind gale—pushed back, but tendrils latched arms."Get off!" Desperate Fuuton: Tornado Burst—winds howled.Ren's form rippled, absorbing gales. "Wind buffet? Tasty!" Core spun, converting to propulsion. He rocketed forward, fully engulfing the rogue.[Predator climax: Full absorption commencing. Resistance: Futile.]Screams muffled—shlorp. Flesh, chakra, memories slurped. Rogue's life flashed: Bandit cell, "Sound Village" whispers (Orochimaru adjacent?), scouting "anomaly Uchiha."[Jackpot! Skills: Fuuton: Great Blade (full), Tornado Burst, Earth Spears. Leadership intel: 5-man cell nearby. Evolution surge: Slime Body Lv. 3—Elemental Resistance unlocked. Sharingan sync: 32% (tomoe hint detected).]Reforming human-sized, Ren burped a wind gust—trees swayed. "Overkill? Maybe. But zero bodies = perfect crime."Naruto crashed through bushes. "Ren! Iruka said stay put—holy crap, you slimed him?!""Shh! Ninja stealth, ramen klutz." Ren ruffled his hair. "Got upgrades. Sound Village scouts—Orochimaru fanclub?"Naruto paled. "That snake guy? Creepy!"ANBU flickered in—masks blank. "Report, genin."Ren saluted casually. "Rogue ambush neutralized. Non-lethal takedown—targets webbed in goo." He gestured: minions cocooned in hardened slime (new trick), rogue shrunk to slime-marble in his pocket.Lead ANBU (cat mask) scanned. "Impressive. Hokage briefed. Uchiha—monitor status elevated."They vanished with captives. Naruto whooped. "You're a legend! Eat Orochimaru next!"Ren smirked. "One snack at a time. C'mon—ramen spoils victory."Back in village lights, Ren felt the buzz. [Status: Powers diversified. Threat level up—Sound interest confirmed. Recommendation: Ally with canon protagonists.]Noted. But my show's the main event.Sasuke intercepted at ramen stand, slurping miso. "Heard. You fought alone.""Jealous? Join next feast." Ren slid bowl over. "Try slime ramen—self-refilling."Sasuke eyed suspiciously—took a slurp. "...Hn. Acceptable."Iruka arrived, sighing. "No more vigilante slime hunts!""Promise," Ren lied through grin. Till the next shark.Under stars, Konoha's gooey guardian plotted. Sound Village? Akatsuki? All you-can-eat. Timeline, prepare for digestion.Hokage Tower: Hiruzen puffed pipe, ANBU report in hand. "A slime Uchiha... fascinating. Keep him blooming."The rampage accelerated.