At the sudden disappearance of Might Duy, En Oyashiro did not immediately relax his stance or stop gathering his chakra, because an enemy who vanished was far more dangerous than one who simply retreated, and his instincts honed across decades of survival screamed that this disappearance was neither accidental nor a victory.
He hovered above the cracked Red Lake with his blood constructs still partially formed around his limbs, scanning the canyon with narrowed eyes while listening for vibrations through the iron-rich liquid beneath his feet, because any ambush capable of removing such a monstrous opponent without warning could just as easily turn upon him.
When Renga finally came from behind the stone wall, limping heavily and clutching his side where the impact from Might Duy's earlier strike had torn muscle and cracked some ribs, En Oyashiro did not lower his guard immediately. He was never this venerable, so he was still cautious.
Renga staggered forward several more steps before his legs finally gave out, and as he dropped to one knee he forced himself to bow despite the pain, his breath coming in ragged gasps as blood threatened to spill from his mouth and nose.
"Thank you, En Oyashiro-san," Renga said with a hoarse voice that still carried authority despite weakness.
"Without your timely intervention, this battlefield would have turned into a grave," Renga continued slowly while forcing himself upright with sheer willpower, "and not only I but Kaien and my Daughter as well would have died here."
The moment Renga collapsed forward from exhaustion, En Oyashiro moved without hesitation, his blood reacting to his intent as it flowed outward to bind Renga's wounds and halted the bleeding before the damage could become fatal.
"That boy," En Oyashiro said quietly while focusing on stabilizing Renga's circulation, "I sensed something unusual about him even before you explained anything, but tell me who is he?"
Renga coughed once, blood flecking the ground despite En Oyashiro's control, yet his eyes shone with unmistakable pride as he answered without hesitation.
"He is the grandson of the Raikage," Renga said firmly, "and his existence is kept secret precisely because enemies would tear their nation apart just to kill him."
En Oyashiro's eyes widened slightly in sober understanding because instinct alone had guided his decision and now logic confirmed that he had followed the correct path.
"No wonder," En Oyashiro murmured under his breath, reflecting briefly on how thin the line between extinction and survival truly was for his clan.
Renga straightened his posture with effort, shifting from a wounded man into a representative of authority despite the blood soaking into his clothing.
"En Oyashiro, leader of the Chinoike clan," Renga said in a formal tone that echoed across the canyon walls, "after witnessing your loyalty and decisive action when Kumo's future was at risk... Kumo is forever grateful. I declare that we will not take Hidan or Chino or any other children."
For a split second En Oyashiro believed rejection followed those words, and a quiet bitterness surfaced within him as he assumed this was the price of being feared for their blood manipulation.
Before he could speak, Renga continued with renewed strength, his voice steady despite his injuries and the enormous chakra drain he had suffered.
"I, Renga, chief advisor of the Raikage, speak here with the authority of the Raikage himself," he declared solemnly, "and I formally recognize the Chinoike clan as shinobi of the Hidden Cloud from this moment forward."
"You and your people will serve under Kumo's banner, protected and bound by its laws, contributing your strength toward its future," Renga concluded with unwavering resolve. He knew that Chinoike clan had a bad dealing with Daimyo but they would never know if we don't tell them... now that their existence is exposed, they could be attacked anytime.
For several long seconds En Oyashiro remained silent, processing the reality that what he expected to take decades had been achieved in a single battle soaked in blood and resolve.
"We accept," En Oyashiro finally said, bowing deeply, his voice heavy with responsibility of his clan. He has so confidently agreed because of the respect people of the clan had for him and they were practically no opposition to him in the clan.
The moment was shattered by a scream that tore through the canyon.
"RETREATTTT!"
Renga's head snapped toward the direction of the sound, recognition striking him instantly as his face hardened with dread.
"That voice belongs to Kaien," Renga muttered, the pain he was feeling left for an instant, "and he would never shout like that unless they encountered a strong enemy."
Renga forced himself to think despite the haze creeping into his vision, understanding immediately that whatever Kaien had sensed was far beyond their current capacity to confront.
"En Oyashiro-san," Renga said urgently, his voice low but burning with intensity, "I need to trouble you once more, because Kaien never panics without a reason."
En Oyashiro clenched his jaw and glanced toward the devastated red basin, now scattered and diluted across the canyon walls.
"I have exhausted nearly all my chakra," En Oyashiro admitted grimly, "and without the Red Lake, I cannot fight at full capacity."
Renga quickly thought Killer Bee-sama should be hurrying after sealing Might Duy, He still need to go to the Raikage and know the details of where we are though... he should be training Yugito Nii near Land of Frost. It would still take at least 2 day to go back to village and come back.
With shaking hands, Renga came to a conclusion that would decide life or death for everyone involved.
"I can send only one person," Renga said, each word weighted with consequence, "and it must be you."
En Oyashiro stiffened slightly as Renga continued, his tone no longer requesting but ordering.
"You will go to Killer Bee-sama immediately," Renga ordered, "and you will tell him only this: 'The Little One is in danger.'. As he might assume you are an enemy i sent to be killed.. so let those be your first words."
"Your body will not withstand the transfer speed," Renga added, "so reinforce yourself with blood until you resemble a solid barrier, as thick as the trunk of a big tree."
En Oyashiro hesitated only briefly, knowing full well the cost of such an act. "If I do this, I will not be able to stop your blood loss and you could die if there is no timely treatment," En Oyashiro warned.
"It does not matter," Renga replied without hesitation, his eyes blazing with resolve.
En Oyashiro nodded once, then released his control over Renga's blood, redirecting every remaining drop of the Red Lake into a dense cocoon that wrapped his body like a living sarcophagus.
Renga stood upright with tremendous effort, as he took time gathering the last of his chakra while ignoring the agony screaming through his nerves.
"Heavenly Transfer Technique," Renga whispered.
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A/N: Upto 20 Advance chapters available @ patreon.com/aizenDuchiha0
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