Days spent in focused research passed just as quickly as days spent slacking off—gone in the blink of an eye.
Early that morning, Ren headed out with Yugao toward ANBU after tidying up. Since they were living together, they naturally went everywhere together, and their relationship had quietly grown closer because of it.
The only regret, perhaps, was that the Senju ancestral estate was far too large—too many rooms.
"And I'm still a bit too young," Ren sighed inwardly.
Before long, they arrived—only to find that ANBU had a newcomer today.
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Yugao looked at him in surprise. She clearly hadn't expected the Uchiha clan's eldest son to appear here.
Ren, however, was perfectly calm.
Uchiha Itachi joining ANBU?
That was hardly surprising—he'd end up slaughtering his clan later anyway.
"Ren, you're here."
Shisui smiled as he pulled his junior over, half like introducing him, half like staking territory.
"I don't think I need to introduce him. You're already old acquaintances, after all."
"Senior, I've always wanted to thank you for saving my life," Itachi said politely, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
He'd heard plenty about that night. To be honest, he'd been wondering—if Uchiha Obito hadn't shown up, what would Ren have done?
After thinking it through, Itachi felt there was a very real chance this ANBU senior would've snapped his neck and dumped the body somewhere remote to erase the evidence.
"Time really flies," Ren said, adopting a senior's posture as he patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"To think the kid who once took the Chūnin Exams is now my colleague."
Itachi's mouth twitched harder.
"By the way," Ren continued casually, "who's your captain? Maybe I know them."
"Captain Kakashi," Itachi replied with a strained smile.
Ren immediately sighed theatrically.
"Ah, Captain Kakashi. He's a good leader—but I hear he's always late, and ever since Obito, his mood swings like a pendulum, so—"
"Hey, hey, Ren," Kakashi interrupted, arriving with Yamato. His exposed eye rolled dramatically.
"Talking behind my back isn't very nice."
"And I'm already over it," Kakashi added. "Not as bad as you're making it sound. You saw that when you were studying in ANBU, didn't you?"
Whether he'd accepted reality or found his own answer, Kakashi's emotions had indeed stabilized. That didn't stop Ren from teasing him, though.
"Ren, good morning."
Yamato greeted him politely, smiling.
Since Ren awakened Wood Release, Yamato's attitude toward him had grown noticeably warmer. Both were former Root members, both wielded Wood Release—even if Yamato's came from experiments. In that sense, they were the same.
"Morning," Ren replied with a nod.
Kakashi then got to the point.
"Alright, introductions are done. Ren, your squad is coming with mine to see the Hokage."
"Huh?"
Ren and Yugao exchanged confused looks. Even Shisui looked mildly surprised.
Kakashi didn't keep them guessing.
"There's a mission. Our two squads will be operating together."
A mission?
Ren blinked. He'd expected more patrol duty and slacking around Konoha. He hadn't thought a task would come this soon.
Inside the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked grim.
Homura and Koharu stood silently nearby. Danzō, on the other hand, looked agitated.
"This is clearly a conspiracy," Danzō snapped.
"Kumogakure is deliberately provoking us, and Iwagakure is planning to take advantage!"
"We can all see that," Hiruzen said tiredly.
"But the situation still requires investigation."
He really didn't want to deal with this—but Konoha had no choice. It was the same kind of political trap they'd sprung on the Fourth Raikage.
Whether Senju or Uzumaki were involved, Konoha had to respond.
Senju mattered because Tsunade had just returned—and now there was Ren, a Wood Release user.
Uzumaki mattered because their clan had been annihilated and scattered.
If Konoha ignored it, how would the world judge them later?
Snake striking the vital point—perfectly done.
"Just ignore it," Danzō scoffed.
"Why bother?"
"We can't," Koharu replied, rubbing her temples.
"Ōnoki has already spread the news."
"Intelligence suggests Kitsuchi may go personally," Homura added.
If Iwagakure took the initiative, Konoha would lose face. This was village-level chess.
Knock knock knock—
The office door opened. Kakashi entered with Ren and the others.
Seeing all four of Konoha's top leadership present—and clearly displeased—everyone sensed trouble.
"You're here," Hiruzen said, then explained the situation in Grass Country.
"The circumstances are serious. Konoha must verify them. I intend to have your two squads merge and investigate. Can you handle it?"
"We understand, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied immediately. The others followed suit.
Ren's expression, however, turned strange.
He'd already messed with the Fourth Raikage once. Retaliation was expected.
But this?
Was Ōnoki psychic or something?
"So… are we dealing with Kitsuchi," Ren wondered,
"or something else?"
He doubted Ōnoki would risk his son directly. More likely—
"Mercenary ninja… or the Akatsuki."
Ōnoki hiring outside forces was no secret.
"Prepare yourselves," Hiruzen said.
"I'll deploy border troops near Grass Country, with ANBU and Root support in the shadows."
He glanced at Danzō.
"No objections?"
"…Fine," Danzō replied reluctantly.
After brief preparations, the team departed immediately.
ANBU worked that way—missions came without warning.
"This sounds like a headache," Ren muttered as he donned his mask, glancing at Itachi.
"Good luck, kid. First ANBU mission and it's this kind. Don't die."
"I'll be careful," Itachi replied, masking his thoughts.
He hadn't expected his first day in ANBU to be like this.
Joining ANBU had been his choice—but his father had spoken to him afterward.
In short: observe the village for the clan's benefit.
Itachi didn't like it. But he'd agreed.
"Village and clan…"
He would find his own answer.
Several days later, after crossing into Grass Country, things changed.
Bandits were everywhere.
"This place is chaos," Itachi muttered.
"Most small countries are," Kakashi replied flatly.
"Focus on the mission."
"But why is it like this?" Yugao asked.
"Because they need it this way," Ren answered casually.
Small nations survived by supplying missions to major villages.
Bandits couldn't be eliminated—only managed.
They trained young ninja.
They fueled economies.
Uncomfortable truths.
Kakashi cut the discussion short.
"Enough. We're not here to fix the world."
Then—
Ren's senses flared.
"Ambush!" he shouted.
BOOM—
BOOM—
BOOM—
Explosions erupted.
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
Ren and Kakashi formed barriers simultaneously.
The ground shook—
"Watch your footing!"
Earth spikes burst upward.
They leapt clear.
"Well," Ren said calmly, scanning the fog,
"looks like we're popular."
A gust tore the mist apart.
Puppets filled the sky.
And below—
Sasori.
"I've been looking for you for a long time," Sasori said coldly.
Beside him, another figure emerged—green-eyed, wearing a black cloak with red clouds.
"I hear one of you has the Mangekyō," Kakuzu said.
"And another uses Wood Release and Flying Thunder God."
"How strong are you, really?"
"This is bad," Kakashi muttered.
But Ren just smiled.
"Oh? The loser from last time."
Sasori's fingers twitched.
"You'll die for that."
The puppets moved.
"Everyone—battle positions!"
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL