At this moment, atop the city wall, Terumi Mei and Ghost Hozuki fell silent as they watched the group standing before the Four-Tails, shielding Ren Uchiha.
The atmosphere turned profoundly awkward.
First, there was that red-eyed youth whose very art style seemed different from everyone else's—clearly a powerhouse. Then came Sasori of the Red Sand and Kakuzu, men whose reputations echoed with dread throughout the shinobi world. Finally, three more uninvited guests of unknown origin had materialized out of thin air.
Ghost Hozuki's leg, half-extended for his grand leap, froze in mid-air. The muscles in his cheek twitched uncontrollably.
If I jump now, I become a rogue... but who in their right mind actually wants to be a rogue? But if I don't jump, I just finished saying all those pretty words...
Meanwhile, Terumi Mei stared with a stiff expression at the unfolding situation—and at the bewildered Ren Uchiha standing behind them all. Though she knew this boy possessed a bizarre gravity that constantly dragged people of conflicting ideologies toward his impractical dreams—Hidan, Shinno, and herself being prime examples—this was too much. She'd even heard that the Sannin Orochimaru, who had once tried to skin them both, had taken him as a disciple.
But in just two months, a whole new batch of strangers had sprouted around him like bean sprouts after rain.
Just how do you keep kidnapping all these high-level powerhouses!?
Seeing the way these people stole glances at Ren—filled with a special kind of sentiment that transcended ordinary friendship—Mei felt a sudden, sharp pang of "cardiac arrest." A gong seemed to be clanging in her brain, sounding a frantic alarm.
Danger!
Even in this grave moment, she couldn't help but hallucinate ominous red kanji floating over her head. She imagined the world's most famous beauties and Kage-level vixen surrounding the dense boy, tilting his chin while he laughed like an idiot.
Muri! Muri! (Impossible!)
Get away from him! I was the one who was here first!
Mei turned her stiff neck toward Ghost Hozuki, who was still hovering his foot over the ledge. She spoke in a low, ghostly tone:
"Since we're already here..."
Ghost Hozuki felt his heart skip a beat. "Wait, this situation doesn't seem to require—"
Mei interrupted with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, veins popping on her forehead. "Hozuki... think of it as a mission for the village. A dangerous organization assembled by Ren Uchiha needs someone to infiltrate and gather intelligence."
With a "gentle" smile, she gave his leaning back a light shove.
Whoosh!
Following the arrival of the mysterious trio and the subsequent leap of the "Mist Prodigy" Ghost Hozuki—who landed while unwrapping his massive, bandage-covered blade—the tension reached a fever pitch.
Future Fourth Raikage A's heart sank. He felt numb. Seeing that Ghost Hozuki was in no mood for dialogue, A turned his gaze back to the three hooded strangers.
The leader of the trio slowly lowered his hood. He had spiky orange hair and the four-line forehead protector of Amegakure. His face was resolute, his gaze unwavering as he held a hand out to protect Ren.
"Son of the Raikage, please stand down," the man said. "Today, we will not allow you to harm him."
A narrowed his eyes. "You are... Yahiko? The leader of that 'Akatsuki' organization from the Land of Rain?"
Since Jiraiya had left the Land of Rain, the trio led by Yahiko had established the original Akatsuki, acting on the philosophy of "peace through dialogue." As they grew, intelligence on them had begun to filter into the hands of the Great Nations.
"What is your connection to this boy?" A demanded, pointing at Ren. "Why shield a man who has committed such treachery? Do you have any idea how absurd this is?"
Yahiko stepped forward, hand over his heart. "I understand perfectly! And because I understand, I know we cannot allow the person meant to spark the revolution of the shinobi world to fall here!"
A's expression grew savage. "I know of you. You act to keep the Land of Rain from war—a naive goal, but I held no personal ill will toward you. Until now. Protecting this boy, a man wanted by the Five Great Nations... have you considered that this will bring the flames of war to your country, your village, and yourself?"
Konan and Nagato tensed behind Yahiko, but the leader's eyes flashed with a sudden, piercing anger.
"The flames of war?!" Yahiko's voice dripped with indignation. "Is that so? Is that your justice? Because you are a Great Power, a protagonist of the era, you can say such things so casually? You can oppress small nations without guilt, ignoring the scorched earth and the tragedy of parents forced to eat their children?"
"Do only you get to define peace and justice? Does the assassination attempt by a boy from the Land of Hot Water—driven to revenge by your bullying—not serve as a warning to you?!"
Yahiko gripped the hilt of the greatsword on his back, pointing it at the A-Bee duo. "If you do not know the pain of others, you can never truly understand them. And even if you could understand, you could never reconcile. You have no repentance. Someone needs to teach you what repentance means!"
"Nagato, Konan! Prepare for battle!"
He glared at A. "Son of the Raikage, if you do not retreat, you will die here. Peace or war—it lies in your decision!"
A stared at the lineup before him: En Oyashiro, Ghost Hozuki, Sasori, Kakuzu, Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, and Terumi Mei watching from the wall. His palms grew damp. He was a straightforward man, but he wasn't a fool. Facing this group, he'd believe it if someone told him they were here to hunt his father, the Third Raikage.
Suddenly, a streak of white lightning descended from the sky—a scroll sent via the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu.
A caught it and read the frantic scrawl: [Turtle Island under attack by Orochimaru. Return immediately!]
A's face changed, recognizing his father's handwriting. But deep in his eyes, there was a flash of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. "Bee, we're leaving!"
While everyone's attention was on the Raikage's sons, what was Ren Uchiha doing?
He was "climbing." Or rather, "climbing down a Tailed Beast."
Grabbing the Four-Tails' fur, he was secretly scooting down the beast's back while no one was looking. However, the posture was quite pathetic—inching along like a caterpillar, teeth gritted, shivering in the wind. The side effects of his new Sage Form were kicking in, plunging him into extreme weakness.
Yet, in this powerless state, he noticed something fascinating.
With his mutated eyes, he could see the natural energy he had previously vacuumed out of the area slowly returning. As it touched his skin, it began to seep in autonomously. It was like muscle growth—the only way to grow was to first tear the existing fibers apart.
By pushing his body to the limit using only natural energy, his cells were now starving for it. His body was becoming a "Post-Natal Sage Body"—capable of absorbing natural energy automatically, much like Jugo of the Tenpin clan. But unlike Jugo, who went berserk when natural energy was too high, Ren's cells—which had already subdued and mastered this power—integrated with it smoothly.
His physical strength began to climb. Hidden abilities within the human "secret storehouse" were being pried open.
[You have obtained a new Talent: Sage Transformation (Post-Natal, Rank S).]
[Associated Talent: Sage Transformation. You are gradually awakening various abilities: Cell Discharge, Cell Attraction, Multiple Lotus Pink Fire Cannons, Axe Chop...]
[Based on Talent: Sage Transformation, you have obtained: Nature Communion (Rank A, Novice).]
Ren's eyes widened. This was an incredibly rare ability. And he had managed to manufacture it through sheer, reckless self-modification.
But the warmth of the energy was suddenly replaced by agony. It felt as if thousands of needles were piercing his body, puncturing his meridians, blood vessels, muscles, and bones—breaking everything down to rebuild it.
The pain was so intense that even Ren's iron will snapped. His vision went black. His grip on the Four-Tails' fur loosened.
He felt himself falling... falling... falling...
The sensation reminded him of his helplessness when falling into the Hell Valley days ago. He drifted into the darkness.
Until—
"REN!!"
A frantic, clear, and tender voice drew near. He felt himself fall into a warm, soft embrace. In the endless dark, a light finally found him.
[Ding!]
Note: Support me and get early access to chapters on Pat reon.com/XareonMTL