Several days later, deep within the deserts of the Land of Wind.
Ren, Yugao, and Shisui moved steadily across the sands, their figures small beneath the vast, blinding sky.
The climate here truly lived up to the country's name—wind and sunlight in perfect abundance.
Unfortunately, that "perfect abundance" leaned heavily toward the extreme.
Along the way, Ren spotted more than a few figures enjoying what looked suspiciously like eternal sunbathing.
Perhaps, before they were reduced to bleached bones, they could still be called human.
"…Is this really a place people can live?" Ren muttered.
He genuinely couldn't understand what kind of hardened madman would choose to settle in a place like this.
Back in Konoha, at the very least, you could see wild boars, clueless deer—something baring its teeth at you.
Out here?
He felt like he was the one baring his teeth at the animals.
"The climate here is… harsh," Shisui Uchiha said, his voice tight with heat.
To protect against sandstorms and sunburn, he had wrapped his head in a local-style scarf, which only made the heat feel more suffocating.
"But for the mission's sake, we'll have to endure it."
"Yes, yes, I know," Ren replied, nodding.
Shisui really did live up to his reputation—mission, mission, mission, every other sentence.
He sounded more driven than Ren himself, and Ren literally survived on missions.
"…But Ren," Yugao Uzuki suddenly said, turning her head slightly.
She studied him for a moment before continuing.
"You look better than you did when we set out. You seemed a bit drained back then. The environment here is worse, yet you've recovered. I suppose I don't need to worry anymore."
"So you were watching me that closely, senpai?" Ren smiled, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm honored."
He was joking—but he knew she wasn't wrong.
A few days ago, his mood had been poor.
After all, his esteemed boss had handed him a mission that could only be described as malicious.
Deal with Pakura?
With what—his head?
Even setting aside cursed seals and other variables, Ren wasn't confident he could beat her in a straight fight.
Yes, he was a so-called "stat monster," already hovering around jōnin-level strength. Push himself to Level 7 and he'd likely qualify as an elite jōnin.
But Pakura was no ordinary shinobi.
For all he knew, she was already elite jōnin—or something beyond.
And odds were, she was heading straight into Kirigakure territory to be killed. Finding her at all would be a problem.
The more Ren thought about it, the more a chilling possibility surfaced.
"…Don't tell me Danzō is trying to use this to get Shisui killed?"
After all, Aburame Ryūma had said it quite plainly:
"Don't you still have your ANBU teammates?"
"So that's it," Ren thought grimly.
"Work under Danzō long enough, and you'll get sold out sooner or later."
What should have been a reconnaissance mission had turned into an assassination order—one that practically sent him to die.
Danzō truly embodied the creed of never charging at the front, but always blowing off steam afterward.
Worse still, his task directly conflicted with Hiruzen Sarutobi's intent.
Hiruzen wanted stability.
Danzō wanted chaos.
Even if events aligned by coincidence, Ren was convinced of one thing:
That old bastard was trying to climb higher.
Fortunately, after some thought, Ren had already made his decision.
His system only cared about completion, not method.
That left him with plenty of room to maneuver.
"You—!" Yugao said, flustered by his earlier comment. She quickly changed the subject.
"Focus on the mission. Patrols are everywhere. Kirigakure's harassment of Sunagakure must be severe."
"That's right," Shisui agreed, scanning the horizon.
"Honestly, progressing this mission is difficult. Ordinary patrol units don't hold enough intelligence, and Sunagakure itself…"
He stopped there, but the implication was obvious.
Sunagakure was beset by internal and external threats. Security would be airtight.
Infiltrating the village was nearly impossible.
Without solid intelligence, the mission risked stalling entirely.
Both Shisui and Yugao frowned at the thought.
"But we don't actually need to worry that much," Ren said suddenly, rubbing his chin.
"Sunagakure may be sealed tight—but who says we have to start with them?"
"…Kirigakure?" Shisui and Yugao echoed, momentarily caught off guard.
Ren's smile widened.
"Exactly. Kirigakure's been harassing Suna nonstop. They won't be sending amateurs."
"To respond, Suna will have to deploy strong shinobi. If we just happen to run into them…"
Shisui and Yugao exchanged looks, their expressions subtly shifting.
If the two sides clashed and they intervened—
Whether they aided the weaker side or waited until both were exhausted—
They stood to gain either way.
Strong Sunagakure shinobi meant valuable intelligence.
Kirigakure operatives might offer just as much.
It was efficient.
It was effective.
…And it was undeniably dirty.
"But if we're exposed, wouldn't that affect the village?" Yugao asked, frowning.
Ren already had an answer.
"We disguise ourselves as Iwagakure. They're already in conflict."
"And don't forget—Sunagakure has disguised themselves as other villages to raid our outposts before."
"I see," Shisui said after only a moment's thought.
"Ren, that's a solid proposal. Let's do it."
A veteran of war had no room for naïveté.
Against enemies, morality was flexible.
And Sunagakure had played dirty with Konoha before—this was simply convenience returning the favor.
"Then we—"
Shisui stopped mid-sentence.
He lifted his head, eyes narrowing toward the sky.
Almost simultaneously, Ren and Yugao did the same.
A signal flare rose slowly into the air in the distance.
The three exchanged glances.
Ren blinked.
[New Mission Acquired]
[Obtain useful intelligence from Sunagakure and Kirigakure shinobi]
"…Another one," Ren muttered.
"Three missions stacked."
Unexpected—but welcome.
More missions meant more returns.
Turning to Shisui and Yugao, Ren smiled.
"Looks like our luck isn't bad."
The next instant, all three vanished into motion, concealing themselves as they rushed toward the flare's location.
In this desert, anyone bold enough to fire a signal so openly was almost certainly Sunagakure.
And opportunities like this didn't come twice.
They advanced carefully, deliberately slowing their pace to avoid converging Sand patrols.
Fortunately, the flare wasn't far.
The closer they drew, the clearer the sounds became—explosive tags, jutsu detonations, the clash of battle.
"We've entered the combat zone," Shisui whispered, pulling on his mask.
"Stay sharp."
Ren and Yugao followed suit.
As Ren glanced at Yugao's tense expression, he spoke softly.
"Don't worry, senpai. I'm here. You'll be fine."
"…You," Yugao replied, instantly reminded of that moment with Orochimaru—equal parts exasperated and amused.
She was about to say more—
When Shisui's low voice cut in.
"We've got a problem."
His gaze was locked on the distance.
"That woman… appears to be Pakura of Sunagakure."
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