"So, you're going to cause trouble somewhere else now, huh?"
Shinnosuke clutched his forehead with one hand, looking helplessly at his subordinate.
No, Ren was already a Special Jonin; strictly speaking, he had officially graduated from Shinnosuke Squad. Thinking of this, Shinnosuke's mood became a bit complex. He hadn't expected it to happen so fast, and now his own squad was left with just him and Ryufeng. Those two boys, Hayama and Ren, progressed so quickly.
Indeed, Hayama had also been promoted and was now a Jonin, just like Shinnosuke. But that was normal, after all, Hayama was already twenty-one. With the battle achievements he had accumulated over the years and his strength already at Jonin level, his promotion now was quite normal.
"Tsk, Ryufeng, you need to work harder. Our squad now only has you left as a Chunin."
Ren hooked Ryufeng's shoulder, a mischievous smile on his face.
"Bastard! Just you wait, Special Jonin is nothing, just a minor achievement."
When Ryufeng heard Ren teasing him with that, his cool expression instantly broke, and he yelled at Ren in exasperation.
"Tsk, Ren really is something."
Hayama showed a wry smile. Although his two teammates were very young, their strength and mindset were no less than that of ordinary adults, and in fact, even surpassed them. Don't look at how both he and Ren had been promoted; with Ryufeng's Bloodline Limit and talent, promotion was only a matter of time.
"Oh, right, Ryufeng."
Ren suddenly recalled a piece of news he had unintentionally overheard at today's meeting, then turned to look at Ryufeng.
"The reinforcement troops sent by the Village to the Kirigakure battlefield are led by Uncle Yusuke, so do you need me to deliver a message or write a letter?"
"Father…"
Ryufeng hesitated for a moment, then nodded to Ren.
"Okay, I'll write a letter right now."
After speaking, Ryufeng didn't dawdle. He walked to the bed, pulled out paper and pen from his person, and began writing furiously.
"Ahem, well then, Ryufeng, wait for me at the Konoha Camp entrance later. I still have something to do."
After two coughs, Ren slipped out under the knowing glances of the others, then walked straight to the Medical Camp not far away.
He still had to meet her. Sigh, who told him he was no longer single?
...
"So, Uncle, why are you here…?"
Ren looked at the stern Yuhi shinku in front of him and Kurenai, who was standing beside her, kurenai was covering her mouth and chuckling, Ren's face was full of embarrassment.
At the same time, he was secretly complaining. Why did he have to run into his father-in-law on patrol when he came to say goodbye to his girlfriend? It was truly hard to describe.
"What? Do I need your permission to come see my daughter?"
Yuhi shinku snorted coldly, looking at Ren unhappily. This kid, he seemed quite pleasing to the eye when he was little, but now he felt more and more displeasing.
"Speak, what are you here for Kurenai?"
"I came to say goodbye to Kurenai. I've been ordered to reinforce the Kirigakure battlefield and will be departing this afternoon."
"You've been transferred to the Kirigakure battlefield?"
Yuhi shinku looked surprised when he heard this, and began scrutinizing Ren up and down, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
"That shouldn't be. Why are you always transferred to a new battlefield? You're not some rare talent, are you?"
"Uncle, I must correct you here."
When Ren heard this, he instantly felt he couldn't tolerate it. In front of Kurenai, even facing his father-in-law, he couldn't lose face.
"I, the esteemed disciple of Tsunade, one of the Sannin, a Bloodline Limit wielder, Konoha's youngest Special Jonin, your son-in-law…"
"Hiss!"
Before Ren could finish, Kurenai, who was beside him, had already placed her hand on his waist and twisted it hard, directly choking his last two words in his throat.
"Alright, stop chattering. I'm off to perform my mission. Be careful when you get there."
After speaking, Yuhi shinku disappeared with an Instantaneous Body Technique, leaving the two of them looking at each other inside the tent.
"Can you not go?"
Kurenai was silent for a moment, then changed from pinching to pulling, tugging at his sleeve and speaking softly.
"This opportunity is very important to me. If I succeed, I will gain the strength to protect my comrades, to protect you."
Ren gently embraced Kurenai, his tone softening.
"This is war. I don't want anything to happen to you. But with my current strength, it's hard enough to protect myself, so how can I protect you? We are Ninja!"
Kurenai's body trembled slightly, but she quickly stabilized herself. After a long moment, she looked up, her red eyes resolutely meeting Ren's.
"I understand. Go ahead and do it, Ren. I will protect myself while also striving to become stronger. We will return alive together."
"Yes, Officer Kurenai!"
Ren grinned, looking at Kurenai, who now smiled brightly, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Indeed, it is when people gain bonds that they find the motivation to continue living and the goal to strive for. My Ninja Way, besides becoming Hokage, must be to protect this hard-won bond.
...
"Be careful on your way."
Ren took Ryufeng's letter and patted his shoulder, a smile on his face.
"Don't worry, I will safely deliver this letter. You, Captain Shinnosuke, and Brother Hayama, please also be extra careful here. The battlefield is not like the Village. I will take my leave now."
"Okay."
After speaking, Ryufeng stepped aside. As for Shinnosuke and Hayama, they hadn't come. Ryufeng said they had gone on a mission and asked him to tell Ren to have a safe journey. As for Kurenai, she had returned after seeing Ren out of the Medical Camp.
This parting was for a better reunion next time.
"Ren, over here."
As soon as Ren leaped onto the carriage, he saw Minato Namikaze standing on the roof of a nearby carriage, waving at him. The former then flashed a few times, moving from the back of the carriage to the front. He then sat down beside Minato Namikaze.
"You, your speed is getting faster and faster."
Minato Namikaze nodded with a smile, but Ren, hearing this, silently rolled his eyes and said nonchalantly,
"Brother, stop joking. My speed, compared to others, can it compare to yours? There's probably no one in the entire Ninja World faster than you, who can use Flying Thunder God."
Minato Namikaze smiled helplessly, crossing his arms and looking at the distant scenery.
"While I'm happy you acknowledge me like that, in the vast Ninja World, while there aren't many people faster than me, there definitely are some. I heard the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, which only the Raikage lineage of the Hidden Cloud Village can cultivate, is the fastest in the Ninja World. I'd really like to spar with them sometime."
"Hahaha, really?"
Ren lay on the roof of the carriage, a Senbon in his mouth. The sunlight fell evenly, making him feel warm all over. Ren's eyes narrowed comfortably.
"There will be an opportunity."