After finalizing a few details with the Chief, Ren stepped out from the inner room.
In the outer chamber, Shisui had already finished questioning Uzumaki Minako.
Seeing Ren return, he summarized her background concisely.
Nothing special—just a survivor of Uzushiogakure, a wandering remnant of the Uzumaki who had escaped destruction by sheer luck.
Having learned Ren's identity from Shisui, Minako knelt with her head lowered, hands folded neatly before her, her gaze resting humbly near his feet.
Once Shisui finished speaking, she bowed deeply again.
"Thank you for saving us. I will never forget this kindness."
"As long as my daughter Karin can grow up safely… no matter what you ask, I will do it."
"Because of my body… if someone bites me, their chakra can recover quickly. I can be of use to you."
She knew her worth.
Her sealing techniques meant little before the Uchiha's vast legacy.
But the Uchiha had paid a high price to rescue her—despite having no ties to the Uzumaki, even harboring past enmity.
There had to be a reason.
And the only thing she could offer… was herself.
After everything she had endured, exhausted in both body and spirit, she only wanted a place to belong.
For that—
She was willing to give anything.
"Minako, please rise."
"The Uchiha are not beasts. There's no need to speak like that."
Ren's tone softened slightly.
Minako stood, still keeping her head lowered, uncertainty lingering in her heart.
Then Ren bent down—and gently picked up the infant beside her.
Her body trembled.
She looked up sharply, eyes still bloodshot—hope and tension intertwining.
Yet she did not stop him.
Ren noted her reaction, inwardly satisfied.
"This child is Karin?"
He looked at the sleeping baby, her face soft with milk-scented warmth, lips twitching unconsciously.
"She'll grow into a beautiful girl."
"Thank you… for your blessing."
"For now, stay here and recover. The ninja cats will arrange everything."
"After the battle with the Mist, I'll take you to Uzushiogakure. Prepare yourself."
At the mention of Kirigakure, hatred flashed in Minako's eyes.
She opened her mouth—then suppressed her words.
Ren returned Karin to her arms and spoke plainly.
"There are two purposes."
"Your clan's archives… and surviving Uzumaki."
If traces of certain sealing techniques remained, it would save him considerable effort.
And more importantly—
The Uzumaki had value.
Loyalty.
Sealing teams.
Even… future jinchūriki units.
"Even if nothing remains," Ren added calmly, "it's still worth returning to your homeland."
"…Thank you, my lord!"
"And raise Karin well."
"Perhaps one day… she will be Uchiha Karin."
"…My lord—!"
The words struck like lightning.
Minako stared at him, stunned.
Before she could speak further, Ren had already turned away.
"Live well. Better days will come."
She slowly set Karin down, then bowed deeply once more—remaining there long after they left.
Sunlight fell across the child's red hair, casting a warm glow.
The black cat approached, gently tapping her with its tail.
"Follow me."
—
At the same time—
Deep within the forest, Uchiha Inabi and Hyuga Hizashi led their reconnaissance team at high speed.
"Three o'clock. Eight hundred meters. Four chakra signatures," Hizashi said quietly.
"No jōnin. Kirigakure scouts."
Inabi's eyes sharpened.
A hand signal.
The Uchiha vanished into the shadows.
"Hizashi, maintain perimeter watch. We'll handle this."
Hizashi nodded.
It wasn't a battle.
It was a slaughter.
Under the Sharingan's overwhelming first-strike advantage, the Mist squad barely had time to react.
Steel flashed.
Bodies fell.
"Clear."
"Move."
—
Ten miles deeper—
Hizashi suddenly signaled.
"Northwest—multiple signatures approaching our objective. Fast. Strong."
His Byakugan flared.
"Four jōnin."
"…One of them—Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Inabi's heart tightened—then ignited.
"How many?"
"One."
"Carries dual blades… Hiramekarei."
"Wait—enemy sensor has detected us. They're coming!"
Inabi's hesitation vanished.
"Kill them."
"One swordsman. Three jōnin."
"Hizashi, with me. The rest—finish the others fast."
Scarlet Sharingan spun in the shadows.
Hizashi's Byakugan veins bulged, tracking every movement.
"Front—150 meters! Flanking formation!"
The next moment—
A massive figure burst through the forest.
The wielder of Hiramekarei.
He grinned, drawing the twin blades.
"Byakugan… and Sharingan?"
His body froze for a split second—
Caught in illusion.
"Break it!"
His teammates disrupted the genjutsu instantly.
"Die!"
The Uchiha struck.
The swordsman recovered, abandoning all arrogance.
Chakra surged into Hiramekarei—
The blades expanded, glowing brilliantly.
"Die! Hiramekarei—Split Strike!"
Twin chakra blades swept out like massive pincers.
"Scatter!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame!"
Flames collided with chakra—
BOOM!
The forest exploded in fire and shockwaves.
Through the smoke—
The swordsman charged.
His style was brutal. Overwhelming.
For a moment—
He pressed them back.
Then—
A gap.
"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"
Hizashi struck.
The swordsman staggered.
Inabi moved.
A flash—
A thrust—
"Not yet!"
The blade blocked—
Counterattack sweeping low.
Inabi barely avoided it.
His strike shifted—
Cutting deep across the man's side.
Bone showed.
Pain surged.
But escape was no longer possible.
"Eight Trigrams: Thirty-Two Palms!"
Hizashi closed in.
Strikes rained down.
Chakra flow disrupted.
Hiramekarei flickered.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson!"
Flaming shuriken filled the air.
Inabi followed—
Blade burning with chakra.
The swordsman faltered.
Too many threats.
Too many angles.
Too slow—
Just for a moment.
Thrust.
The blade pierced his heart.
His eyes widened.
He looked at Hizashi.
At Inabi.
At the sky.
Then—
Fell.
Hiramekarei dropped beside him.
—
Elsewhere—
The remaining three Mist jōnin were eliminated.
Clean.
Efficient.
Terrifying.
—
Silence returned to the forest.
Only blood lingered in the air.
Inabi exhaled slowly.
Hizashi lowered his stance.
A brief nod passed between them.
"Seal the blade. Take the head."
"Send word to the General."
A ninja cat was summoned.
A report written.
Then—
They vanished once more into the forest.
Above—
The setting sun painted the sky red.
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