Chapter 175: The Three-Tails' Chakra
Ren retrieved Samehada from his personal dimension and tossed it to Suigetsu, who caught it with a look of pure elation.
"The Great Sword Samehada! Boss, you actually brought it back!" Suigetsu exclaimed, hefting the unique, scale-covered blade.
"I retrieved it after dealing with Kisame," Ren said. "Since you're the only one in our team suited for a large sword, you may have it. But be warned, that weapon is... peculiar. It has a will of its own. If it likes your chakra, it will serve you faithfully. If not, it may reject you, even betray you. Are you certain you can master it?"
Although he had always intended to give the sword to Suigetsu, a warning was necessary. Samehada was no ordinary tool.
"Don't worry, Boss!" Suigetsu grinned, too excited to fully absorb the caution. "If I dare to take it, I'm confident I can tame it! My brother, Mangetsu Hōzuki, once wielded it. I'm sure I can too!"
"Is that so? Very well. The rest is up to you." Ren left it at that. The sword was of little use to him, and if it could enhance Suigetsu's power, so much the better. If Suigetsu failed to control it, that was his own lack of strength.
Turning his attention to Karin, Ren gave an appreciative nod. "Karin, you've done excellent work. It seems Otogakure is firmly under your control. What about the other outposts from Orochimaru's network?"
A flicker of pride crossed Karin's face. In an organization of fighters, her administrative skills were her unique contribution.
"Otogakure itself is fully secured," she reported. "We've also consolidated all of Orochimaru's former strongholds. However, the northern outpost is... problematic. It's a human experimentation facility. The subjects there have been transformed into powerful but bloodthirsty monsters. They are difficult to control. It took significant effort from Jugo and that idiot Suigetsu to subdue them, and we had to eliminate many in the process. Are you sure we want to integrate them?"
Ren nodded, pleased. "Outstanding. To bring all of Orochimaru's forces to heel in such a short time is impressive. Your management skills are indeed superior. As for the northern outpost, don't concern yourself overly. Those creatures' lifespans are short due to the Curse Mark's erosion. They are essentially cannon fodder. Since they crave battle, we will let them serve as the vanguard if and when we go to war with the great villages."
Karin showed no surprise at this cold calculus. In her view, it was a pragmatic decision. The world was cruel; even a village like Konoha would sacrifice its own for the greater good. Letting these doomed creatures die meaningfully was, in its own way, a form of utility.
"Enough of that for now," Ren said, changing the subject. "Where is Sasuke? I haven't seen him since I returned. Has he not come back from the Three-Tails mission yet?" This was concerning. Sasuke's mission should have been simpler and shorter than his own.
"Sasuke..." Karin's expression tightened slightly. "His mission was a failure. He didn't return with the Three-Tails. Moreover, he was severely injured and is currently recovering." A brief flash of distress crossed her face before she schooled her features back to neutrality.
"Oh? A failure? And he was injured?" Ren's brow furrowed. Deidara... Even with the altered timeline, their confrontation still occurred. "Very well. Let's go see how he is."
Ren led the way out of the hall and toward Sasuke's quarters, followed by Karin and the others.
He entered without knocking. Sasuke was already sitting up in bed, as if expecting him. His face was pale but composed.
"How is your recovery?" Ren asked.
"Acceptable," Sasuke replied flatly. "Perhaps due to the remnants of Orochimaru's power within me, my healing is faster than normal. Combined with Karin's abilities, there is no critical danger." He paused, his expression darkening. "But the mission was a failure. I could not bring back the Three-Tails." He then held out an object to Ren. It was a small, ornate teapot. "However, I did retrieve this."
Ren took the teapot. It was the Tailed Beast Chakra Collector he had obtained from the system. Before Sasuke's departure, Ren had given it to him with instructions to use it on the Three-Tails as a contingency measure. It seemed his foresight had paid off.
He held the collector, feeling the potent, ominous chakra swirling within it. A slight smile touched his lips.
"Having this is enough. The Three-Tails itself is no longer critical."
The primary objective had been achieved. They had secured the essence of the beast's power.
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