BOOM!
A foot as massive as a building slammed down, making the earth tremble.
Ren snapped his eyes open. He immediately saw the colossal form of the Two-Tails, Matatabi, rampaging through an unfamiliar camp. The air was filled with screams, roars, the whistle of flying kunai, and the deafening thunder of explosive tags.
The blue-black concentrated chakra—a Tailed Beast Bomb—began to form at the creature's maw. It was aimed directly at him. Ren's heart hammered against his ribs, his mind clouded by primal terror.
But in the next heartbeat—
[Talent: Combat Intuition (S) Triggered.]
His vision went dark for a split second, and his body began to move on its own.
"Cloud ninjas are attacking! Everyone, WAKE UP!"
Setsuna's roar exploded in his ears, followed by a spray of debris from an explosion. Ren shook his head, clearing the dust and the nightmare from his mind. He found himself wedged in a strange position between a collapsed wall and a broken roof beam.
Ahead, Setsuna stood alone against three panting Kumogakure ninjas. To the side, Seishiro clutched a kunai, his entire body—hands, feet, teeth, and even his glowing Sharingan—shaking uncontrollably.
"Why... why do I, a Chunin, have to face enemies like this?!" Seishiro sobbed, his voice cracking.
"Finally caught you, Uchiha rats!" Ramii, the eldest Cloud ninja, let out a cold laugh and wove a series of signs.
Lightning crackled in his palm—Lightning Style: San-Da-Mu-Ryū-To (Sunder Bolt). It was a technique that radiated electricity to strike multiple targets in a small radius.
Setsuna's face was grim. He was facing a nightmare squad. Dodai, the Third Raikage's right hand, was a master of the Lava Style and nearly at Kage-level. Combined with the veteran Ramii and the sealing expert Moroi, they were a team designed to kill a legend like Setsuna.
Setsuna glanced back at his subordinates. "Ren! Seishiro! GO! I'll create an opening. The mission is in your hands!"
Ramii's eyes narrowed. "Moroi, go slaughter those two trash bags. Setsuna likely has key intelligence; we can't let them notify the village."
Moroi hesitated. "If I leave, I can't guarantee the barrier will hold Setsuna."
"Make it quick!" Ramii snarled. "We must kill Setsuna today. With his visual prowess, he could potentially suppress the Two-Tails at the Valley of Hell. If that happens, our entire plan crumbles."
Moroi nodded, blurred into motion, and circled around Setsuna toward Ren and Seishiro. Setsuna tried to intervene, but Dodai and Ramii blocked him instantly.
"Old man," Dodai smirked. "In a duel, I might not be your match. But with the two of us here to break each other out of your Genjutsu, we can keep you busy long enough."
Ren crawled out from under the debris, clutching a kunai. He quickly analyzed the situation:
1. Kumo wants to drop the Two-Tails on the Valley of Hell to free the Chinoike.
2. Setsuna is the only one who can stop a Tailed Beast, so he's the primary target.
3. A specialist (Moroi) is coming to silence them.
Ren grinned, dusting off his clothes. This was it. In the original history, Shisui would have used his Body Flicker to escape, and Seishiro would likely be the tragic catalyst for someone's awakening. Ren couldn't do worse than history. He had to get the intel back.
Ren stepped forward to face the incoming Moroi. He turned to the shivering Seishiro.
"Seishiro-senpai, you retreat. I'll hold him off!"
"What?!" Seishiro gasped. "Are you insane? That's a Tokubetsu Jonin! He's a master of Kenjutsu and Sealing! You don't stand a chance!"
Ren looked at him with calm, detached eyes. "Senpai, if no one stays behind, we both die and the intel dies with us. Besides, if you die here, they'll steal your Sharingan. The clan can't afford to lose its bloodline. I'm the better choice for a distraction."
Seishiro stared at Ren, horrified and moved beyond words. He couldn't comprehend how someone could treat their own life with such casual disregard for the sake of another.
"But Ren... I don't know how to contact the Ninja Cats!"
Ren nearly coughed up blood. Really? Now? He reached into his pouch and shoved a parchment into Seishiro's hand. "Take this. It's a one-time contract with the Ninja Cat clan. Use it and ask the envoy for help."
Seishiro looked at the scroll. A summoning contract was a life-saving treasure, and Ren had just handed it over like it was nothing. To Seishiro, Ren now looked like a saint bathed in divine light.
Before he could say thank you, Ren shoved him backward with all his might!
SHING!
A barrier wall erupted between them. Moroi had slammed his hands onto the ground, activating a Duel Barrier. Only one person could walk out alive. If Ren hadn't pushed him, they both would have been trapped.
Through the translucent wall, Seishiro saw Ren's silent shout: "RUN!"
Seishiro's pupils shrank. Tears streamed down his face. In this moment, every grudge he held against Ren vanished. He saw a hero. He saw the pride of the Uchiha.
"Ren! Hang on!" Seishiro sobbed, clutching the contract as he scrambled away. "I'll bring help! I promise!"