"Phew."
After returning to his tent, Ren immediately threw himself onto the bed, leaning against the headboard and staring at the ceiling, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Oh, Six Paths Sage, getting stronger is so tiring. I just want to give up."
As Ren mumbled, he pulled off his upper garment, looked at the black sealing formula on his abdomen, and lightly patted it twice with his hand.
"Hey, buddy, do me a favor and pull me in. I have something to tell you."
After a while, seeing no reaction from the seal, Ren rolled his eyes, lay down, closed his eyes, and muttered.
"If you don't, then fine. Anyway, if something goes wrong when saving your companion, you can't blame me."
As soon as Ren finished speaking, he felt the seal begin to vibrate. The next moment, Ren closed his eyes and fell unconscious.
When Ren opened his eyes again, he was back in that familiar sealing space. The Three-Tails was at the gate, staring at him with its single eye.
"I say, aren't you bored by yourself? You won't even let me in to chat with you."
Ren leaned against the wall, complaining to the other party.
Although Tailed Beasts are restricted by seals, they can see and hear everything the Jinchuriki is experiencing through the seal. That's why Ren was talking to the seal as if to himself.
The Three-Tails remained silent, just looking at him, but from the Three-Tails beginning to rise behind it, one could tell its mood was not calm.
"Ahem, no more jokes, let's get serious."
Ren's expression became serious. He used two Instantaneous Body Techniques to arrive near the Gate of Sealing, and under the other party's watchful gaze, he slowly began to speak.
"I'm ready to fulfill my promise. We'll start in three days to rescue your companion!"
"..."
Although the Three-Tails didn't speak, its single eye widened slightly, revealing a human-like expression of surprise.
Although it had expected Ren to keep his promise, it hadn't expected him to be so efficient.
How much time had passed, and he was already preparing to act? The Three-Tails had thought he would drag it out until the deadline or simply renege on the promise.
"What do you need me to do?"
The Three-Tails' low voice emerged, with a hint of anticipation in its tone.
"It's simple. How about we become friends after it's done?"
Ren smilingly proposed a somewhat strange request in the Three-Tails' eyes, then crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, waiting for the other party's reply.
"Friends..."
The Three-Tails remained silent, then spoke again after a long pause.
"If you do it, I'll agree."
After the Three-Tails finished speaking, it prepared to turn and leave. Ren quickly took two steps forward and shouted to the other party through the sealing gate.
"Hey, buddy, what's your name?"
"..."
Watching the Three-Tails slowly disappear into the darkness, Ren scratched his hair, a hint of regret in his eyes, and then prepared to turn and leave.
"Isobu."
Ren's steps paused, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he waved into the darkness.
"See you next time, Isobu. My name is Hoshimi Ren."
After Ren finished speaking, he walked out, and soon disappeared into the darkness as well.
What Ren didn't know was that in the darkness behind him, a yellow pupil was staring at his retreating figure, lost in thought, before eventually re-entering the darkness...
"Oh, I'm back."
Ren opened his eyes and saw the familiar bed beneath him, knowing he was back. But the joy in his eyes was impossible to hide.
It seems I'm quite efficient. I've only been a Jinchuriki for less than a week and I've already exchanged names with it. Once my plan succeeds, isn't being a Perfect Jinchuriki a sure thing?
Brother Turtle's personality is good. If it were one of those other short-tempered ones, who knows how long it would take to appease them.
"Hmm, next, I'll rest up well and prepare for the upcoming operation. Time to sleep."
Ren closed his eyes, but then opened them again the next moment. He sat up and looked around, and when he saw the familiar box, a smile appeared on his face again.
"Hmm, indeed, I still need to sleep with my money. If it's lost, where would I find the employment fee?"
Ren picked up the box, hugged it, and then closed his eyes again. This time, nothing unexpected happened, and he fell asleep smoothly.
For the next few days, aside from eating, drinking, and sleeping, Ren either helped out at the Konoha Camp or assisted Minato with some documents. Time quickly passed to the third day.
"Then I'm off, Big Brother Minato."
Ren, carrying the box, stood at the tent entrance and smiled at Minato.
"Alright, be careful."
Minato put down his pen, looked at Ren, who was ready to depart, and asked again.
"Do you have everything?"
"Don't worry."
Ren pulled out a Flying Thunder God Kunai from his embrace and dangled it in front of the other party.
"I have everything. If there's a problem, I'll call for help. In the Land of Fire, can I really let someone bully me?
See you, Brother Minato!"
Watching Ren leave in a hurry, Minato shook his head helplessly, then picked up his pen again and continued to review the mountain of documents.
Meanwhile, Ren, after leaving the Konoha Camp, headed straight for Lixia Town.
To conserve energy, Ren walked and rested along the way. By the time he reached Lixia Town, it was already late afternoon.
"Does this count as revisiting an old place?"
Ren looked at the still desolate town in front of him, and as he spoke, he didn't forget to pull out a mask from his embrace and put it on his face. After all, privacy needed to be considered.
Following the direction from his memory, Ren soon arrived at the same toilet again. Then, he expertly walked in and found the switch to press it down.
"Welcome...the guest has arrived."
It was still the same man. He was startled when he saw the familiar mask on Ren's face, but he quickly reacted and stepped aside, motioning for Ren to come in.
"Hmm, may I ask how my matter has been handled?"
Ren followed him in and asked. The man didn't beat around the bush and said directly.
"Mr. Kakuzu, whom you were looking for, arrived here an hour ago and is currently waiting in the hall."
"Is that so?"
By this time, the two had arrived in the now empty hall. Seeing the figure sitting alone at the counter, eyes closed in rest, Ren subconsciously tightened his grip on the box in his hand.
"Mr. Kakuzu, the gentleman you were waiting for has arrived."
After the man finished speaking, he walked to the side. His task was complete; the rest was their own business.
"Hmm?"
Kakuzu slowly turned his head, a pair of very eerie green pupils looking at Ren, emitting a chilling aura.
"Hello, Mr. Kakuzu."
Ren met his gaze, walked steadily to the counter, and chuckled lightly.
"Nice to meet you!"
"What's the mission? Did you bring the money?"
Kakuzu didn't beat around the bush, speaking to Ren in a low voice. A hint of impatience appeared in his eyes.
It was clear that if Ren said he hadn't brought it, he would twist Ren's neck on the spot.