BAM!
As Shinichi Uchiha was slammed into the ground by the blunt side of the blade, the Genjutsu surrounding Ren Uchiha shattered like a bubble.
The tip of the Kusanagi sword now pointed directly at Shinichi's throat, forcing him to look up at the boy in humiliation. The indignation and shock in his eyes were palpable, yet they seemed to be evolving into a far more complex emotion.
Seeing this, Ren felt a sudden pang of deja vu—he remembered Seiichiro, the last Uchiha he had defeated. His eyelid twitched. He had no deep grudge against Shinichi, and the last thing he wanted was to be "marked" by another obsessed Uchiha. With Setsuna and Seiichiro as precedents, their bizarre series of actions still haunted him. If he added a third one to the mix, things would get truly out of hand.
Ren's hand shook as he quickly sheathed his sword. He extended a hand to Shinichi, scratched his head, and spoke with forced sincerity:
"Shinichi-senpai, you're really strong. I almost lost to you! Anyway... how about we stand up and talk?"
Faced with Ren's "Sichuan Opera face-changing" act—a social maneuver twenty years ahead of the current era—Shinichi was momentarily stunned. He stared at Ren for a long while before slapping the boy's hand away and picking himself up.
"Hmph," Shinichi snorted. "I was letting you win on purpose."
"Yes, yes, of course..." Ren transformed into a mindless nodding machine, then tried to explain, "Look, about being late, I really didn't mean—"
"Strength is the best passport in the Uchiha clan," Shinichi interrupted, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. "You've proven yours. That's enough. It wasn't your fault; I listened to the slander of small men and misunderstood you. I'll settle that score with Yoshio later."
Shinichi turned back, his three-tomoe Sharingan locking onto Ren with newfound seriousness. "It's clear you know absolutely nothing about Genjutsu. As your senior, I will teach you properly."
Just then, a commotion erupted from the direction of the main camp. Shinichi's brow furrowed. "Tonight, there might be a major operation. We could be deployed immediately. In light of the emergency, I'll prioritize teaching you techniques you can use on the battlefield right now."
Without further ado, he began a hands-on demonstration of basic Sharingan operations. Because Ren had just "farmed" the high-proficiency Genjutsu: Sharingan from him, he found himself looking at these basics from a master's perspective.
To his surprise, he actually understood everything!
The lesson continued from noon until dusk. As the setting sun dyed the clouds yellow, two new lines of text popped up before Ren:
[You have mastered: Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes (B-rank, Entry).]
[You have mastered: Genjutsu: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change (B-rank, Entry).]
The former was an advanced offensive application of the Sharingan, capable of making a victim feel as if four iron spikes were pinning them in place. The latter was a rare reflection-type Genjutsu—not an ocular power itself, but a technique that used the Sharingan's insight to reverse an opponent's illusion back onto them.
By evening, a murderous aura permeated the Konoha camp.
As Ren and Shinichi entered the camp, a ninja with a pineapple-style haircut and a Jonin flak jacket approached them. It was Shikaku Nara, the tactical mastermind of the base. He handed a list to Shinichi with a grave expression.
"Shinichi Uchiha, here is the roster and the route for tonight's operation. This mission will be spearheaded by the Infiltration Unit, the Special Operations Squad, and the Konoha Surprise Attack Force led by you."
"Furthermore, this is a deep-penetration strike. We are prioritizing speed, so there will be no logistics or sensory units attached. The Mid-Range Combat Battalion will follow at a distance as a safety measure, but do not rely on them. The mission details remain classified until you breach the Sand's lines."
Ren looked at Shinichi in surprise. He hadn't realized his senior held such a significant role as the commander of the Surprise Attack Force.
Shinichi's brow furrowed deeply. "Special Operations Squad? What the hell is that? I've never heard of such a unit. Shikaku, you'd better give me a logical explanation, or I'm not leading my men into some mysterious suicide mission."
Uchiha were blunt, but they weren't stupid. Shikaku's orders basically translated to: Shinichi's squad is the vanguard for a dangerous mission behind enemy lines, and there is no backup.
Shikaku remained unfazed. He patted Shinichi's shoulder calmly. "The strategy for this entire operation was formulated by Lord Orochimaru. The Special Operations Squad is led by Lord Orochimaru himself, comprised of ANBU elites for a mission even more vital and dangerous. Even if you don't trust me, trust Lord Orochimaru."
Shikaku glanced at the bewildered Ren, a spark of wonder flashing in his eyes. He shook his head, leaving his thoughts unsaid, and walked away.
Shinichi unfolded the list and studied the map. After a moment, he crumpled the paper and sighed deeply. Since Orochimaru—the supreme commander—was leading from the front, he had no grounds to argue. But as he looked at the names, he turned to Ren, clearly struggling to speak.
"Shinichi-senpai," Ren asked, catching the vibe. "Is my name on that list?"
Shinichi exhaled heavily. "I'm sorry. You and Shisui are both on here. I'm going to see Lord Orochimaru and have him cancel your deployment."
Without waiting for a reply, Shinichi stormed off toward the central command tent.
Ren stood alone on the street, shaking his head. It was useless. This strategy was set in stone; Orochimaru wouldn't change it for one person. Besides, the Sannin had already made it clear that he wanted Ren to clash with the strongest enemies.
Ren looked around. The camp was a sea of somber faces. Some were sharpening gear, some were meditating, and one was even hunched over a wooden crate writing a final will. This wasn't normal.
Ren knew enough about war to know that Konoha usually divided forces by clan ability. Uchiha were the vanguard. But he noticed a Sarutobi clan member nearby, breathing deeply in front of a tent. That man should have been in the Mid-Range Support Battalion, not part of this strike. Yet, he looked ready for a life-or-death struggle.
What was that man preparing for? What orders did he receive? Which battlefield is he heading to?
Was there another operation happening tonight alongside Ren's strike and Orochimaru's squad? Ren knew nothing. Even the Root ninjas hadn't contacted him. It was as if Ryoma Aburame's "one-versus-a-hundred" mission had been intentionally forgotten.
What is happening that I don't know about?
A sudden, deep voice snapped Ren back to reality.
"Ren Uchiha! Report to the Surprise Attack Force at the center of the camp immediately! Get to your position!"
"Your place is in the first row, sixteenth position!"
As the command fell, a flash of pale lightning illuminated the sky.
CRACK-BOOM!
The thunder roared as the clouds dipped low, the sky turning into a dark, demonic face ready to swallow him whole. Then, a needle-thin rain began to fall, drumming against the tents with a muffled pit-pat-pit.
Ren took a deep breath, casting aside all stray thoughts. He gripped the hilt of his Kusanagi and marched toward the center of the camp with a steady gaze.
The slaughter would begin tonight.