Chapter 172: Unwanted Attention
The conversation with Itachi had concluded. Ren had shared critical intelligence about Obito Uchiha and boldly declared his own ambition to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. While Itachi disapproved, he knew his time was too short and his strength too diminished to intervene. He could only let Ren walk his chosen path.
Ren was now on his way back to the Land of Sound. The mission was a complete success; he had secured the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and eliminated one of Akatsuki's most formidable fighters. From his talk with Itachi, he learned that Akatsuki had already captured the One-Tail, Five-Tails, and Seven-Tails. Furthermore, while Itachi and Kisame were capturing the Four-Tails, another Akatsuki team was simultaneously targeting the Three-Tails.
Before parting, Itachi had offered a final, earnest warning: "Ren, the Two-Tails and now the Four-Tails were both primary targets for Akatsuki. By taking them, you have drawn the full attention of Obito Uchiha and Pain. Their power is on a different level entirely from Kakuzu, Hidan, or even Kisame. Especially Obito. You have never seen him fight. Be careful."
After this warning, Itachi left the unconscious Four-Tails Jinchuriki with Ren and departed. Ren stored the captive within his personal dimension and began his journey home.
So the Five-Tails and Seven-Tails are already in Akatsuki's hands. Retrieving them will be troublesome. I wonder if Sasuke has secured the Three-Tails. Akatsuki sent Deidara's team after it. Sasuke's current strength should be more than enough to handle him—after all, in the original timeline, he forced Deidara to self-destruct. The only wild card is Tobi. But since Sasuke is valuable to his plans, he probably won't intervene directly. Ren mused as he traveled.
His plan was to return to Otogakure without incident. However, as he approached the border of the Land of Earth, a minor complication arose.
As before, the border crossing was guarded by Iwagakure shinobi. Ren intended to use a simple genjutsu on one of the guards to pass through unobtrusively. He was nearly through when his path was interrupted.
The guard post was momentarily distracted by the arrival of another figure—a kunoichi with dark hair, recognized immediately by the guards.
"Lady Kurotsuchi! Are you leaving the Land of Earth?" one guard asked, bowing respectfully.
"That's right. I'm heading out on a mission. Here's the pass the old man gave me," replied Kurotsuchi, the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage. She handed over a scroll.
"Since it's you, Lady Kurotsuchi, there's no need for formalities. You may pass," the guard said deferentially.
"No, you should do your job properly," Kurotsuchi insisted impatiently. "If the old man finds out you're slacking because of me, I'll never hear the end of it. Just check it quickly!"
Ren paid the exchange little mind, focusing on placing his genjutsu on a guard to smooth his own passage. But while he was focused ahead, he had attracted attention from behind.
Just as the guard began inspecting Kurotsuchi's pass, her sharp eyes fell upon Ren. His full-body cloak was distinctly out of place among the traders and travelers, making him stand out. A sense of suspicion prickled at her.
"You there! The one in the cloak! Stop!" Kurotsuchi called out.
Ren paused, a frown forming beneath his hood. He was the only one wearing such attire. Trouble.
"What is it?" he asked without turning around.
"State your identity and business in the Land of Earth," she demanded, walking closer.
"I'm a merchant. I came here to conduct business."
"A merchant? Then where are your goods?"
"Sold. All of it."
"Is that so?" In a flash, Kurotsuchi hurled a kunai directly at Ren's back.
It was a probing attack, slow and telegraphed. Without even turning his head, Ren tilted his head slightly to the side, allowing the kunai to whistle past his ear and embed itself in a nearby post.
"Hmph! An 'ordinary merchant' who can dodge an attack like that? You're quite skilled," Kurotsuchi sneered, a triumphant smirk on her face.
The commotion alerted the other guards. "What's going on?" the squad leader barked, running over with his team. They quickly surrounded Ren.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Kurotsuchi said. "He's a shinobi, not a merchant. That's a fabricated identity. Skulking around in a cloak like that? He's definitely up to no good."
Ren sighed inwardly. So much for a quiet exit.
"A shinobi? All shinobi must register upon entry and exit! Jigoku, how did you process him?" the squad leader yelled at the guard Ren had hypnotized.
But the guard named Jigoku didn't respond. He stood motionless, his face blank and expressionless.
"Jigoku! What's wrong with you?" The squad leader shook him, then realized the truth. "Damn it! He's under a genjutsu!"
The leader quickly formed hand seals. "*Kai! (Release!)*"
Jigoku jolted back to awareness, blinking in confusion. "Wha... what happened?"
"You were placed under a genjutsu!" the leader growled.
Kurotsuchi stepped forward, her expression cold and authoritative. "You infiltrate the Land of Earth secretly and attack our shinobi? You have some nerve! Now, tell us who you are and what your purpose is!"
Ren let out a long, weary sigh. "I really didn't want any trouble. But it seems trouble always finds me."
Knowing a peaceful departure was no longer possible, he reached up and pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing his face.
A wave of shock and recognition rippled through the Iwa-nin. In the wake of the destruction of Kumogakure, Uchiha Ren's likeness had been circulated to every major village. His face was now infamous.
"You... you are... Uchiha Ren!" the squad leader stammered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and alarm.
The quiet border crossing had suddenly become a very dangerous place.
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