The evening air in the camp was heavy with tension, though most people had yet to notice it.
Kakashi Hatake raised a brow as he followed Obito's intense gaze toward the storage area. The direction immediately caught his attention. That was where the camp's supplies and medical reserves were kept. Just the day before, Akiyama Hayato had personally led them there to organize their equipment, so Kakashi knew the place well.
Now, standing near the tightly sealed warehouse doors, was a man who didn't belong.
He wore the standard flak vest of a Konoha Chunin, but his face was almost entirely concealed beneath bandages. His posture was stiff, his eyes darting cautiously from side to side. Every movement screamed secrecy.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
The man paused, ensuring no one was watching. Then, in one swift motion, he formed a series of hand seals.
A puff of smoke.
A gray mountain sparrow appeared in his palm.
The man quickly tied a small paper cylinder to the bird's leg and leaned in close, whispering:
"Go. Deliver this intel to Wind Eye."
That single sentence was enough.
Obito's eyes widened in realization, his mind snapping into focus with rare clarity.
"Kakashi, that guy—!"
He never got to finish.
A sharp, piercing whistle tore through the air.
Kakashi had already moved.
In a flash, he appeared beside the man, blade slicing forward with cold precision. The sparrow hadn't even flapped its wings before it was cut down midair, its body falling lifelessly to the ground.
Kakashi flicked the blood off his blade, his expression turning icy.
"Hey," he said calmly, "what exactly are you doing?"
"…!"
The disguised Chunin—Fujiwara—froze for a fraction of a second.
Then his eyes hardened.
No hesitation. No panic.
Only decisiveness.
He slammed a smoke bomb onto the ground.
Boom!
Gray-black smoke exploded outward, swallowing the entire area in an instant. Under the cover of the smokescreen, Fujiwara turned and sprinted toward the edge of the camp at full speed.
"Not good!"
Kakashi reacted instantly.
"Obito! Go report to Lord Akiyama! Tell him we've got a spy—I'll pursue!"
But Obito was already gone.
Charging straight into the smoke, he bolted after Fujiwara without a second thought.
"Don't think you're getting away!"
Kakashi clenched his teeth.
"…That idiot!"
Without wasting another second, he formed hand seals.
A Shadow Clone appeared beside him.
"Go after them," Kakashi ordered sharply.
The clone nodded and vanished into the smoke, chasing after Obito and Fujiwara. Meanwhile, Kakashi himself turned and dashed back toward the command center.
---
Within moments, the entire camp was thrown into chaos.
Akiyama Hayato quickly gathered the available ninja, issuing rapid commands. The atmosphere shifted instantly—from calm organization to full alert.
The disturbance naturally caught Ren's attention.
After hearing what had happened, he let out a quiet sigh.
Of course…
Obito really was the most unpredictable ninja of this era.
Charging after a spy alone without backup? That was exactly the kind of reckless move only Obito would make.
Ren watched as Akiyama prepared to personally lead a pursuit team. His eyes flickered, and he stepped forward.
"Wait a moment, Jonin Akiyama."
Akiyama turned. "What is it?"
Ren spoke calmly, his tone steady and logical.
"If that spy risked exposure just to send information about the warehouse, then the enemy's goal is obvious—they want to destroy our supplies."
He paused, letting the implication settle.
"The priority shouldn't be chasing him."
"It should be securing the camp."
Akiyama's expression shifted slightly.
Ren continued:
"We need to relocate critical supplies immediately and reinforce defenses to prevent sabotage."
"As for the pursuit… assign an experienced Jonin skilled in tracking to lead Kakashi—and me."
"We'll bring Obito and the spy back safely."
The suggestion was clear, precise, and difficult to refute.
In truth, Ren had no desire to go.
Staying behind to guard the camp would be far safer.
But with Kakashi and Obito both out there, hiding would only raise suspicion.
Besides…
His confidence didn't come from bravery—but from survival.
The enhanced Substitution Jutsu—Simulated Realm Instantaneous Transfer, combined with his mastery of the Transformation Technique, gave him one critical advantage:
If things went wrong…
He could run. Faster than anyone.
"…Fine."
Akiyama exhaled slowly, his earlier urgency settling into controlled authority. He gave Ren a look of approval before issuing his orders.
"Inuzuka! Take these two and pursue immediately!"
A young kunoichi stepped forward, accompanied by a large black dog.
"Yes!"
She was Inuzuka Tsume, though still young—around sixteen or seventeen. Despite her age, her sharp gaze and confident posture marked her as an elite tracker. Beside her, the black Ninken stood alert, nose already twitching.
Akiyama continued:
"Whether you capture or kill Fujiwara doesn't matter."
"But you must ensure these two return safely."
"Yes, sir!"
Then he turned to the rest.
"The rest of you—come with me. Move the supplies immediately!"
"Everyone else—reinforce the perimeter and verify identities. No mistakes!"
"Understood!"
---
Within minutes, the camp entered a state of full combat readiness.
Meanwhile, Ren and Kakashi followed Tsume as she and her Ninken picked up the trail.
Kakashi's Shadow Clone had left subtle markers along the path—blades of grass bent at unnatural angles, broken twigs forming a silent trail only trained eyes could detect.
They moved swiftly along the foothills, covering several kilometers in mere minutes.
The trail began to fade near a small stream.
Kakashi suddenly stopped.
His expression froze for a brief moment—then sharpened.
"My Shadow Clone's been dispelled."
He looked upstream.
"They're about two kilometers ahead."
"Obito and Fujiwara… are already fighting."
"Go!"
Without hesitation, the three accelerated.
---
Soon, faint sounds reached them.
Clashing metal.
The crackle of fire.
A flicker of flames dancing between the trees.
The battle had already begun.
But just as they were about to close in—
Tsume suddenly turned her head sharply.
Her Ninken barked loudly.
"There are others!"
She pointed toward another direction.
"About a kilometer away—three people. Moving fast!"
Kakashi's mind raced instantly.
"Reinforcements…"
He quickly calculated the situation.
Then spoke decisively:
"Jonin Tsume, go support Obito immediately."
"You must capture or kill the spy."
"Ren and I will intercept the reinforcements here."
Tsume hesitated for only a fraction of a second before nodding.
"Understood! Hold them off—I'll be back!"
With that, she and her Ninken vanished into the forest.
---
The battlefield split.
Two paths.
Two fights.
Ren and Kakashi quickly moved into position, taking cover behind a large rock formation.
"Traps first," Kakashi said.
Ren nodded.
Together, they began setting up explosive tags and hidden mechanisms among the stones and trees, blending them seamlessly into the terrain.
Ren's gaze locked onto the distance.
Through the gaps in the trees, he spotted them.
Three figures.
Clad in dark gray ninja attire.
Their headbands bore a symbol—four vertical lines.
Kakashi's voice was low.
"Ninja from the Land of Rain."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
Good.
If they were from one of the Five Great Nations, things would be far more complicated.
Those ninjas often had hidden techniques, backup plans, or terrifying strength.
But Rain ninjas?
Dangerous—but manageable.
Ren turned to Kakashi.
"Kakashi… let me ask you something."
"…What?"
"What's your strongest Wind Release technique?"
Kakashi frowned slightly but answered.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
"It has a frontal range of about ten meters. Strong enough to blow away boulders."
Ren nodded.
"Second question."
He leaned in slightly.
"Can you keep a secret?"
"…?"
Kakashi gave him a strange look.
But Ren's expression was calm.
"I have a tactic."
"One that could wipe them out quickly."
"I'll need your cooperation."
His voice dropped to a whisper as he explained.
Kakashi listened.
At first, his expression remained neutral.
Then—
His eyes widened slightly.
"…You're serious?"
Ren only smiled faintly.
---
The distance closed rapidly.
One hundred meters.
Eighty meters.
Forty—
Click.
One of the Rain ninjas stepped onto a hidden trigger.
"!"
BOOM!
An explosive tag detonated instantly, flames bursting outward. The three ninjas reacted quickly, scattering to avoid the blast.
But in that moment—
Ren vanished.
No sound.
No movement.
Just… gone.
"Substitution Jutsu—"
His voice echoed faintly through the air.
"Simulated Realm Instantaneous Transfer!"
--------------------------------
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