chapter 165 part 1
Chapter 165: Searching for Tsunade, Arriving at the Sabaody Archipelago!
Konoha's gate stood tall and sturdy, built from thick timber. The village's emblem, carved into its surface, projected an air of unique majesty.
Its massive pillars gave it a steadfast feeling, as if they had weathered the ages, witnessing Konoha's every rise and fall.
Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, the two "gate gods," were currently guarding the entrance, bored out of their minds.
Though called gatekeepers, they were really just coasting on Konoha's prestige.
Neither of them had the strength of an average jonin.
Izumo Kamizuki leaned against a gate pillar, his gaze unfocused as he stared into the distance. Kotetsu Hagane sat to one side, idly tapping his weapon.
Suddenly, they spotted a team of ninja running toward them from afar and immediately drew their weapons.
When they got a clear look and saw Kakashi being carried on a husky's back, their expressions tightened, and they hurried forward.
Izumo Kamizuki, having been on many missions with Kakashi, asked anxiously, "What happened?! What's wrong with him?!"
Uchiha Ren urged from the side, "No time for questions! Hurry and get him to the Konoha Hospital!"
Kotetsu Hagane nodded immediately and rushed off to report to the Anbu.
Half an hour later, at the Konoha Hospital.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before Kakashi's sickbed, silently observing his condition.
After a moment, Hiruzen's brows furrowed. "It seems the Akatsuki was established specifically to ambush our village's ninja on their missions!"
Hearing the Third Hokage's conclusion, Uchiha Ren, who had always considered himself unlucky, immediately chimed in, "The Akatsuki is despicable! To think they'd target Kakashi-sensei when he was alone!"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Kakashi choked on his spit and coughed a few times.
In the corner of the room, Danzo fixed his gaze on Uchiha Ren. "Tell me, why did you encounter members of the Akatsuki again on this mission?"
Uchiha Ren's temper flared instantly. He scowled, "How the hell should I know?!"
"Ren!" Kakashi propped himself up. "Watch your tone..."
"Watch my tone?! The village only taught me ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. They taught me the Will of Fire, but when did they ever teach me manners? I'm an orphan, so what if I swear?!"
Danzo's closed eye twitched slightly.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Ibiki Morino, his face covered in scars, walked into the hospital room. He first nodded to Hiruzen, then bowed slightly to Danzo, before finally turning his gaze to Uchiha Ren. "Please come with me."
Before Uchiha Ren could react, Kakashi objected.
"Why is he being interrogated again?"
"It's not an interrogation, just a simple execution of the necessary procedures," Ibiki Morino replied smoothly.
Kakashi endured the pain and pushed himself up. "Lord Third, there's no way Ren has done anything wrong—"
Hiruzen didn't respond, but Danzo interjected, "Evidence suggests that Uchiha Ren has an unclear connection with both the Akatsuki and Orochimaru! We recently obtained intelligence from that rogue ninja from the Hidden Sand Village, and it shows..."
"Uchiha Ren shows signs of defecting!"
Uchiha Ren suddenly laughed. "You say I'm defecting? What a joke! I haven't even repaid the kindness of the First Hokage! How could I leave? I haven't finished repaying my debt of gratitude! Your salt, my vinegar, the people mind their rice and pots, and go to bed late!"
"You came from Dandong, all snowy and bright! I'm craving Cantonese tonight~"
Everyone stared as Uchiha Ren broke into song, and they all thought he had gone insane.
Could it be that the Uchiha clan's hereditary mental illness had flared up?
Only Kakashi's eyes flashed with heartache.
Such a good student...
He was being driven mad by the village!
"Lord Third! Ren has absolutely no problems!" Kakashi repeated.
"Ah, the son of Sakumo Hatake," Danzo raised his eyelids slightly. "Your poison was cured by one of Orochimaru's subordinates. We've known this for a long time. Did you think no one would find out if you didn't bring it up yourself?"
Danzo raised his cane and slammed it heavily onto the ground. "Could it be that you, too, wish to betray the village?"
Kakashi was speechless, unsure how to explain.
At that moment, Uchiha Ren pulled out a kunai.
The entire room instantly tensed.
Several Anbu ninja flickered into position, ready to apprehend him.
But Uchiha Ren, facing them all, spoke slowly, "Ibiki Morino, it's been a few days since we last met. Are you itching for more? Don't worry, I have a taste for it too. Let's get right to it! A cut for a cut. Whoever can't take it anymore loses!"
Ibiki Morino's face turned green.
The last time he'd interrogated Uchiha Ren, he'd ended up with a work-related injury.
When he heard he was to interrogate Uchiha Ren again, he really hadn't wanted to come.
But Danzo's attitude was firm, leaving him no choice.
As he fretted over how he would conduct the interrogation, Ibiki Morino grew troubled.
In a contest of who was more ruthless and could endure more torture, Ibiki Morino didn't believe Konoha could find anyone more thick-skinned than Uchiha Ren.
Hearing Uchiha Ren's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke calmly, "An innocent man has nothing to fear. Uchiha Ren, there's no need for such extreme behavior."
Uchiha Ren's words were as sharp as ever. "Kakashi-sensei, they keep using the person who saved your life to question you. You're the one who should be defecting!"
"You bastard!"
Danzo stood up. "I see no need to waste any more words on him! Take him away for interrogation!"
Ibiki Morino steeled himself and stepped forward. Uchiha Ren's eyes snapped open.
Three tomoe!
Danzo stared intently at the three tomoe, which had golden, hook-like tails. His eyes were wider than they had been at any point before.
Danzo's voice was tinged with anger. "Uchiha Ren, do you dare to rebel?!"
"That's enough!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward. "Since there is insufficient evidence, this matter will be dropped for now."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo said angrily. "He's just a brat, what need is there for sufficient evidence? Just extract his memories!"
Uchiha Ren suddenly shot back, "Why not extract the dark thoughts from your own brain? I don't even want to bring up your past. You sicken me!"
"You!"
Danzo was so enraged he looked ready to act personally. In that instant, a powerful pressure descended, enveloping everyone.
"This! This is—"
It lasted for three seconds.
The old Danzo's reaction wasn't particularly strong, nor was Sarutobi Hiruzen's. Only a few Anbu and Ibiki Morino showed expressions of shock and horror. Uchiha Ren withdrew his Conqueror's Haki.
For a moment, they thought they had hallucinated, but they quickly realized what had happened.
Some kind of jutsu must have been used just now, but they didn't know what it was.
Danzo suddenly frowned. "Did you use a genjutsu on us?"
Uchiha Ren immediately used his Hypnotic Eye on Danzo.
When Danzo broke free from the genjutsu, before he could erupt in anger, Uchiha Ren spread his hands. "Now *that* is a genjutsu used by a genin!"
"You!" Danzo turned to Hiruzen. "Did you see that? He's already making moves against a village advisor! Given time, this brat will surely become a great disaster for Konoha!"
Uchiha Ren retorted directly, "Stop spouting such baseless accusations! My love for Konoha runs deep. How could I betray the village? I even risked my life to save Kakashi twice! Lord Danzo, may I ask how much you have sacrificed for Konoha? I hear that back in the Second Hokage's era, when Lord Tobirama Senju stayed behind as the decoy, you didn't even dare to fart!"
At such a humiliation, Danzo swung his cane directly at him.
Uchiha Ren sidestepped gracefully, neutralizing the casual attack.
Seeing this, Danzo prepared to use a ninjutsu.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hastily intervened, "That's enough, Danzo! Let this matter end here!"
"Hmph!"
Danzo flicked his sleeves and departed, leaving everyone else in the hospital room.
At this moment, Neji Hyuga and Yakumo Kurama, who had been sitting in the corner like they were invisible, were completely dumbfounded.