On the retreat, Ren's group met no resistance.
After all, the Land of Water and the Land of Fire hadn't officially declared war yet.
And the Land of Fire's main forces were still at the Lightning and Earth borders, holding the line against two enemies who hadn't yet signed any formal ceasefire.
Even if Konoha's higher-ups received Kakashi's warning…
they couldn't possibly throw up a net along the border in time to trap Ren's group.
Unless the first person to respond was Minato Namikaze—on standby.
But if it were the Yellow Flash…
he wouldn't have arrived only when Ren was already leaving the Land of Fire.
So Ren's unit returned to Kirigakure by the following evening.
…
"Above is the entire process of this mission, and the final reason for its failure, Third-sama."
Inside the Mizukage's office, Ren—wearing the ANBU assassination mask—submitted the report he had drafted during travel and waited silently.
Even after reading that:
—The mission failed
—Two veteran jōnin died
—Dozens of ANBU infiltrators returned as only six survivors
—The Three-Tails, Isobu, had entered a long reformation cooldown
The Third Mizukage's expression barely changed.
He finished the report calmly, then tapped a paragraph on the scroll and asked in a deep voice:
"A third party intruder possessing a Mangekyō Sharingan beyond the three-tomoe stage… and suspected Wood Release."
His gaze sharpened.
"Ren—are you absolutely certain this intelligence is reliable?"
"The Mangekyō was information I received after the battle from an ANBU senior who fought in the Second Great Ninja War," Ren replied.
"The intruder's space-time technique does not match any secret art I know. And that Sharingan did not have the traditional tomoe pattern."
"So I judged it to be a special ocular power obtained at the moment of Mangekyō awakening."
Ren's voice remained level.
"As for the suspected Wood Release… I have never heard of any bloodline or secret technique besides Wood Release that can rapidly generate large quantities of iron-hard trees in such a short time."
The Third Mizukage set the scroll down, studying Ren with a hint of interest.
"Wood Release. Mangekyō Sharingan."
He spoke slowly.
"Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara rose above all others in the Warring States era and broke tradition to establish the village system precisely because of those powers."
He leaned back.
"No exaggeration: if the Senju and Uchiha had been close enough to exchange bloodlines…"
"Then Konoha would have become so strong no village would dare challenge it."
His voice turned colder.
"Fortunately, their hatred ran deep enough that even sharing a village did not erase it."
"That gave the other four great villages time to grow—and gave us the ambition to contend with Konoha."
Then his eyes narrowed.
"And now you're telling me Konoha secretly nurtured a young shinobi who possesses both Mangekyō and Wood Release."
A pause.
"Ren… you've brought me an enormous problem."
Ren said nothing.
He waited.
After a moment, the Third Mizukage sighed and asked:
"Besides you, who else knows this?"
"Five ANBU members who were separated from us also witnessed the intruder's combat."
"Separated…"
The Third Mizukage's eyes thinned meaningfully.
Then he spoke as if he had already decided the outcome.
"Then, Ren, remain on standby in the village for three days."
"If they return within three days to report, we will only punish their cowardice in the field."
"But if after three days, any of them are still missing…"
His voice darkened.
"Ren—then that becomes your work."
"Yes, Third-sama."
Ren lowered his head, acknowledging what he was being ordered to do.
"And one more thing."
The Third Mizukage's tone hardened.
"Tell the few who returned with you: information about that shinobi with Mangekyō and Wood Release is forbidden from being leaked to anyone."
"This intelligence will become an absolute secret. Only the Mizukage may view it."
"Yes," Ren said, then paused and asked the question that truly mattered.
"But if we conceal that Uchiha's existence… how do we explain the heavy casualties to the other jōnin?"
The Third Mizukage exhaled, rubbing his brow.
"Say you encountered one of Konoha's Sannin."
"After Matsuda and Ringo died, you were forced to abandon the mission and retreat."
He looked at Ren.
"This story won't grant you the reputation your real performance deserves…"
"But it also won't let the village elders label you incompetent."
Ren's eyes lowered slightly.
Satisfied.
"I understand."
"Go," the Third Mizukage said. "The days ahead will bring many missions that require your leadership, Ren."
…
After Ren left the Mizukage Tower, the Third Mizukage's gaze became complicated, then stiff.
He returned to his desk, tapped the tabletop with one finger, and murmured with hollow eyes:
"Ignored Cutting Sprigs. Withstood Hell's Rampage."
"Performed the Kaguya's Dance of the Seedling Fern."
"And in such a brief exchange, found the flaw in that brat Obito's Mangekyō ability."
He chuckled darkly.
"Even knows how to hide his true cards."
"Kirigakure produced a brat with real skill, huh?"
"No wonder those Kaguya idiots—with nothing in their heads but killing—have been trying so hard to pave your way."
His lips curled.
"A pity."
"I've already chosen Obito as the successor."
"In that case… you're no longer useful."
Then his smile sharpened.
"But speaking of it…"
"Obito seems to hate you quite a bit."
He laughed softly.
"Then live a little longer, Ren."
"Grow famous. Become Kirigakure's pillar and hero."
"The stronger you become…"
"The greater Obito's drive to become strong will be."
"As for the other survivors…"
"I'll arrange for them to die in the next battles."
…
Ren walked through multiple quiet alleys and empty corners—
waiting for the assassination attempt he had expected—
and when none came, he finally relaxed the alertness he'd maintained since stepping into the Mizukage's office.
"Tch. Madara, you old fox… you can really hold back."
"Your news about Obito getting wrecked should've reached you faster than I could return to Kirigakure, but you still didn't move against me at all."
He clicked his tongue.
"Do you think Kirigakure—with the Seven Swordsmen absent—can't guarantee keeping me?"
"Or… do you have other ideas about me?"
Ren's eyes sharpened.
"Whatever. Think what you want, Uchiha Madara."
"In a war era, my speed of stockpiling cards and growing stronger will only exceed your imagination."
"When you finish teaching Obito and die…"
"We'll see who 'handles' whom."
He looked up at the moon.
Not yet past its zenith.
Ren sprang onto the rooftops, racing toward the Kaguya clan grounds.
If he slept now…
He might still catch Kazumi's breakfast tomorrow.
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