Kapitel 193: 192-Cursed Mark

By the time Kudo and the shadow clones left Tanigakure, the evening sky had settled into a deep indigo, speckled with the first stars of the night.

Travelling at night posed no significant challenge for them, especially since their pace could now increase without the young Daimyo's son, Akihiko, to worry about.

The darkness provided cover, allowing them to move swiftly and silently through the night.

The distance between Tanigakure and the border of the Land of Rivers was quite significant. Hours passed before Saseki and his group intercepted Kudo and the shadow clones.

Meanwhile, as Renjiro and the rest of the squad remained behind in Tanigakure, their presence was undetected even by Akihiko's convoy.

It was not particularly difficult for them to stay hidden, given their skills and experience.

They blended seamlessly into the shadows, their senses attuned to any potential threat.

'If nothing happens after a day, then I guess we will go back to the village. There won't be a need to waste both the squad's and my time,'

Renjiro thought as they decided to monitor the situation regarding Akihiko.

Tanigakure was a bustling village, and they had welcomed several high-ranking nobles of similar standing to Akihiko. The security was tight, though not as stringent as Renjiro would have preferred.

'If we can move undetected, then it means that other people can also do so,' Renjiro thought, a sense of unease settling over him.

Then it happened. Dead in the night, one of the guards from Akihiko's convoy attempted to assassinate the young master.

Renjiro and his team, ever vigilant, acted swiftly. The would-be assassin was immobilized within moments, his weapon clattering to the ground with a metallic thud.

Renjiro's eyes narrowed as he regarded the immobilized guard.

"Check whether he is under some sort of Genjutsu," he instructed Akira.

"The rest of you, secure the area while I raise the alarm."

Akira nodded, her Sharingan activated as she began to examine and interrogate the guard.

The rest of the squad fanned out, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any additional threats.

Renjiro moved quickly, his footsteps silent as he made his way to inform the head guard from the convoy and the one in charge of security in Tanigakure.

The head guard from the Land of Fire was surprised to see Renjiro and his squad still in Tanigakure.

"Renjiro-sama, I thought you had left," he said, his voice tinged with confusion.

Renjiro gave a brief nod. "I had a hunch that something would happen to the young master," he explained.

The head guard's eyes widened in understanding, a newfound respect shining in his gaze.

"I see. Your foresight may have saved the young master's life. We owe you a great debt," the head guard said, his voice filled with gratitude.

Renjiro nodded curtly, acknowledging the compliment. "Ensure that the rest of the convoy is secure. We need to be prepared for any further attempts," he advised. They then went to do other preparations

After informing the concerned parties, including the team in charge of security in Tanigakure, Renjiro quickly returned to his squad as the head guard informed his superiors

The rest of the convoy guards were now on high alert, Renjiro wanted to interrogate them to ensure that there weren't any more spies in their ranks but he quickly shot that idea down.

'If we can both interrogate the two people we caught then we can fish them out. While the guard might not know if there are other spies present, that other guy in Kudo's custody might know.' Renjiro thought.

As Renjiro approached, he could see Akira still interrogating the guard.

"What did you find out?" Renjiro asked, his tone brisk.

Akira looked up, her Sharingan deactivated.

"He's not under any Genjutsu," she reported.

"But after a brief interrogation, I discovered he is a spy for a local group of rogue shinobi who wanted to kidnap Akihiko but after they failed, they decided to kill him."

Renjiro's eyes narrowed as he processed this information. "So, it wasn't just an assassination attempt. They wanted to kidnap him," he mused, his mind racing with the implications.

"We need to secure him. Killing him would be easier, but it would bring more issues as he is our best shot at proving what happened." Renjiro said as he looked at the dazed guard. He was still under Akira's genjutsu.

With a swift movement, Renjiro planted a seal on the guard, ensuring that he would be unable to escape even if he managed to break out of the Genjutsu.

Just as he was about to give further instructions, memories flooded into his mind from the shadow clone that was with Kudo.

The sudden influx of information was a bit disorienting, but Renjiro quickly regained his composure.

He saw the battle, felt the intensity of the fight, and experienced the capture of Saseki, the rogue jounin.

The memories provided valuable insight, and Renjiro knew they needed to act on this information swiftly.

He turned to his squad, his voice calm and authoritative. "We've captured the leader of the rogue shinobi. Kudo is securing him now."

When Kudo arrived with Saseki in tow, they quickly decided to interrogate him to compare notes with what the got from the guard.

"He might have valuable information about their plans and the organization behind these attacks."

Kudo nodded, stepping aside to allow Renjiro to take the lead. Renjiro knelt down beside Saseki, his eyes meeting the rogue shinobi's. "You have two choices," Renjiro began, his tone cold. "You can cooperate, and we'll ensure you are treated fairly. Or you can resist, and things will get much worse for you."

Saseki's eyes flickered with defiance, but he remained silent. Renjiro sighed, knowing that this would not be easy. He signalled to Akira, who stepped forward, her Sharingan activating once more.

"Let's see if we can get you to talk," Akira said, her voice soft but menacing. She locked eyes with Saseki, and within moments, the rogue jounin's resistance began to crumble. The Sharingan's power was undeniable, and Saseki found himself unable to resist its influence.

Slowly, painfully, Saseki began to talk. He revealed the plans of his group, their intentions to kidnap Akihiko, and the broader conspiracy at play.

"Tell us about the organization behind you," she demanded.

Saseki's face twisted with pain and defiance. "I... can't..." he gasped, his breath coming in ragged bursts.

The struggle was evident in his eyes, the internal battle between his will and whatever force was preventing him from speaking.

Renjiro's eyes narrowed, noticing something strange. Black lines began to form on Saseki's face, creeping across his skin like a sinister web.

'What is that?' Renjiro wondered, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

Akira pressed on, her voice firm. "Who are you working for? What are their plans?"

Saseki's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. His eyes bulged with terror and agony, the black lines spreading rapidly. The squad watched in shock as his body convulsed violently.

Renjiro's heart raced. "Stop! Akira, stop the interrogation!" he ordered, his voice sharp.

Akira immediately ceased her questioning, but it was too late. Saseki's body stiffened, and with one final shudder, he collapsed, lifeless. The black lines receded slightly, leaving his face pale and contorted.

Tora and Miki rushed over, their faces pale with horror. "What just happened?" Tora asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Renjiro knelt beside Saseki's body, examining the black lines closely. "That's Juinjustu," he said grimly.

"A curse mark. He wasn't allowed to talk about the organization behind him. The mark killed him the moment he tried to reveal anything."

The squad fell silent, the weight of the revelation settling over them like a dark cloud.

Renjiro's mind raced, piecing together the implications of what they had just witnessed.

'I guess this was not Danzo's original idea,' he thought.

=====

Bless me with your powerful Power Stones.

Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcomed

If you can, then please support me on Patreon.

Link - www.patreon.com/SideCharacter

You Can read more chapters ahead on Patreon

Kommentar Kommentar von 2

Abstimmen

Kapitel 194: 193- It's the Hope that Kills

Finally, Miki's voice broke the silence. "So they would rather have their operatives die than risk revealing any information about their plans?"

Renjiro nodded slowly. "It seems that way. Whatever we're dealing with, it's far more dangerous and organized than we initially thought."

Akira's Sharingan faded, her eyes returning to their normal state. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with concern.

Renjiro stood up, his expression resolute. "We first inform the Daimyo's guards then go back to the village. This information needs to be reported to the village immediately."He began,

"Since we have thwarted their plans twice and even managed to catch their spies and one of their leaders, they are less likely to make any more attempts at Akihiko's life. Though the threat is still far from over."

They nodded as Renjiro made his way to Fumio, the head guard of Akihiko's convoy. He needed to inform Fumio of this latest development and discuss their next steps.

Reaching the head guard's quarters, Renjiro knocked firmly on the wooden door. It creaked open to reveal Fumio, his expression tired but alert.

"Renjiro, what news do you bring?" Fumio asked, stepping aside to let him in.

Renjiro entered the room, noting the sparse furnishings that reflected Fumio's pragmatic nature.

"We interrogated Saseki," Renjiro began, his tone grave. "But he died before he could reveal any useful information. It seems he was bound by a curse mark, a Juinjustu, that prevented him from speaking about his organization."

Fumio's brows knitted in concern. "That is indeed troubling. If they were just common bandits, it wouldn't be a huge issue, but this indicates a far more organized and dangerous group."

Renjiro nodded. "Have you informed your superiors about the assassination attempt?"

Fumio sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yes, I have. And I've already received a response."

Renjiro's eyes widened in surprise.

'Already?? It has just been a few hours. I wonder how he has informed them. He definitely did not use Birds because they would take more time to send the message, let alone get a reply.'

Seeing the look on his face, Fumio immediately recognized it and gave a wry smile. "I know what you are thinking, don't worry, the Daimyo's court has its ways. We utilize a special technique for rapid communication. The response I received was immediate."

Renjiro nodded, absorbing this new information. "What did they say?"

Fumio's expression turned serious. "They are greatly concerned about the assassination attempt and the level of threat we are dealing with. They agree with our assessment that this is no ordinary group of bandits."

Renjiro felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. The swift response indicated the seriousness of the situation, but it also meant that higher authorities were now closely watching their every move.

"That's good to hear. Coordination and support from the Daimyo's court will be crucial."

Fumio hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "There's something else, Renjiro. After speaking with my superiors, I have a request to make of you."

Renjiro raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead. What is it?"

Fumio took a deep breath. "My superiors have been impressed by your dedication and performance over the last few days. They have seen how effectively you handled the threats and protected Young Master Akihiko even after the objective of your mission ended. They are willing to offer you a position in the Daimyo's court."

Renjiro was taken aback. "A position working for the Daimyo?" he repeated, surprise evident in his voice. His mind raced as he thought of how to respond politely yet firmly.

"Yes," Fumio confirmed. "They believe someone with your skills and dedication would be a valuable asset to the court."

Renjiro's thoughts churned. The offer was an honour, but he did not need to think twice about declining it.

He immediately decided to decline the offer not because of his loyalty to Konoha or his position in the police force but because Renjiro had a plan, and the plan did not involve him residing anywhere else, at least for the foreseeable future.

Another issue was that Renjiro could still not wrap his head around the feudal system in place. Shinobi's were powerful but they were still tied down to the feudal system, something he did not subscribe to.

Even if Renjiro decided to change his plans, which he had time to, he still wouldn't feel at peace with it since he would build some sort of Resentment due to his radical views on the systems in place.

This reminded Renjiro how despite being in this world for close to a decade, he still held some of the deep-rooted beliefs from his first life. Something that was weirdly comforting as well as frightening because he knew what was to come and what he needed to do to survive.

"I am truly honoured by the offer," he began carefully. "However, I am currently committed to serving in the Konoha Police Force. My duties there are paramount."

Fumio nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I see. But would you consider the offer if your clan head Daichi or even the Hokage agreed to it?"

When he heard this, Renjiro quickly stopped the smirk that started to form in his mouth.

"If my clan head Daichi or the Hokage were to approve such a request, I would gladly go to the Fire Capital and serve there."

'Yeah right as if either of them will agree to this.' Renjiro immediately thought.

Fumio smiled, accepting Renjiro's response. "Understood. I will convey your sentiments to my superiors."

He was pleased because Renjiro did not outrightly decline, there was still a chance that everything could work out if the Hokage agreed.

'Too bad, he is hopeful. He doesn't know that it is the hope that kills.' Renjiro thought.

With the conversation concluded, Renjiro prepared to leave. Before he could step out, Fumio added, "One more thing. You need to surrender Saseki's body and the guard to us. A team from the Fire Capital will be arriving in a few hours to take them into custody."

Renjiro nodded. "Of course. We will hand them over to you as soon as possible."

With their business concluded, Renjiro returned to his squad, who were waiting patiently. "We're handing over Saseki's body and the guard to Fumio's team," he informed them. "After that, we'll head back to Konoha."

The squad acknowledged the plan and began to prepare for the handover. When the team from the Fire Capital arrived, they conducted the transfer smoothly, ensuring every protocol was followed.

Saseki and the guard were taken away, and Renjiro felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

With nothing left to do in Tanigakure, Renjiro and his squad began their journey back to Konoha.

The trip was uneventful, a stark contrast to the tense days they had just endured going to Tanigakure. The forest that had seemed so menacing before now felt like a protective cocoon as they made their way home.