"Uzushio…?"
Inside the Mizukage's office, Ren's brows rose beneath his mask as he listened to the Third Mizukage's briefing.
"How did they end up in the Land of Whirlpools?"
"They probably thought that with Uzushiogakure destroyed and no local shinobi village left…" the Third Mizukage said, rubbing his temples, his voice edged with unmistakable irritation, "…they could hide well, live like little kings, and do whatever they pleased."
His expression darkened.
"Five cowards fled the battlefield. Only one returned to accept punishment."
"Ren. You understand, don't you?"
"How Kirigakure has always dealt with shinobi who openly defect."
"I understand," Ren replied calmly.
Then he asked, as if confirming a detail in a ledger, "If they escaped from the Land of Fire into the Land of Whirlpools, were they tracked by Konoha on the way?"
"Our scouts reported another force following them," the Third said. "Most likely Konoha's intelligence personnel. But we can't confirm what kind of squad they'll send."
Ren nodded, glancing at the mission prompt that had just refreshed in front of him.
Mission: Hunt Down Mist Defectors
Description: Infiltrate the Land of Whirlpools. Before Konoha's ANBU arrives, locate the four shinobi who fled the battlefield and either kill them or bring them back.
Reward: Two Minor Runes
Optional 1: Eliminate the entire Konoha ANBU squad. (One Secondary Rune draw)
Optional 2: Find the lost descendants of the Uzumaki clan and earn their trust. (One Secondary Rune draw)
Ren's thoughts drifted for half a breath.
Only two optional objectives… and neither offers a Keystone draw. Hmph. "S-rank" isn't much to write home about.
…Still, "earn an Uzumaki descendant's trust," huh.
Last time the "reinforcement" was Hyūga Hanabi from thirty years in the future. Don't tell me this time it's… Karin from decades ahead?
The Third Mizukage sighed.
"Finish quickly, Ren. War with Konoha is close. There will be many missions that need you."
"Yes," Ren answered.
He turned to leave, then paused as if remembering something.
"Third-sama. Will I be going alone?"
"No sensor-type partner?"
"Looking for Mikazuki?" The Third's gaze went slightly blank, then he sighed again. "Unfortunately, we're stretched thin. There are too many missions needing sensory shinobi, and too few of them."
Ren's mouth twitched beneath the mask.
And whose fault is that?
Sensory types are weaker early on. In your academy's kill-or-be-killed exam, they don't live long enough to become shinobi. So kids with talent drift toward taijutsu or lethal ninjutsu instead.
…No. You're not even the real one. You're Madara's puppet.
If Mist had too many strong sensory shinobi, someone might notice the strings.
Ren swallowed the impulse to spit those words out.
Aloud, he only said, "I'll return quickly. Third-sama."
"Count on you," the Third Mizukage replied.
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