Kapitel 285: 284-Time to End this Charade

The clash was instantaneous, each movement a blur as Renjiro twisted to counter the thrust of a kunai aimed squarely at his chest. The Kumo ANBU's strike was swift and practised, but Renjiro's reflexes honed from years of intense training were quicker.

He sidestepped, deflecting the blade with a forearm, then using his momentum to swing his opponent off balance with a calculated leg sweep. The Kumo shinobi staggered, his mask tilting in surprise before he steadied himself, eyes narrowing with a newfound wariness.

Renjiro smirked beneath his own mask, his senses sharp. Every fibre of his being screamed to activate his Sharingan, but he resisted the urge. Not here.

Not now.

The Sharingan was too recognizable, too much of a liability in this covert mission. Yet he could feel the strain, the energy required to keep up with the elite Kumo shinobi without relying on the full extent of his bloodline limit. He had to rely on raw instinct and technique.

Kakashi moved in sync with him, intercepting another red-masked ANBU with a rapid flurry of punches and kicks. They clashed with brutal force, each impact ringing out into the night like muted thunder, while Takata hung back, eyes wide as he watched his supposed protectors fend off the enemy with lethal precision.

'They are kids but they are capable,' He thought.

Renjiro ducked beneath another kunai slash and closed the distance between himself and his opponent with a burst of speed, delivering a punch to the man's ribs.

The Kumo ANBU grunted, stumbling back, but recovered quickly, retaliating with a quick, electrified jab that Renjiro narrowly avoided. He could feel the heat of the chakra-laced strike as it passed, and he knew that these shinobi weren't ordinary guards. They were elite—each one skilled enough to push him and Kakashi to their limits.

Another ANBU charged at him, drawing out a pair of long, slender blades and swinging them with deadly precision. Renjiro dodged, weaving through the strikes, feeling each close brush with the steel as he manoeuvred to create an opening. He feinted to the left, then ducked low, grabbing the enemy's wrist and twisting it with a sharp jerk that forced the shinobi to drop one of his blades.

"Don't get too cocky," Renjiro muttered under his breath, shoving his opponent backwards with a well-placed kick to the chest.

The Kumo ANBU staggered but did not fall, instead regrouping with his fellow shinobi as they adjusted their tactics, clearly recognizing the skill of their opponents. Renjiro could see it in their stances, the way they began to move in tandem, closing in tighter around him and Kakashi, cutting off escape routes and limiting their mobility.

Renjiro's mind raced, analyzing the flow of their attacks, every movement a piece in a complex puzzle that he and Kakashi had to solve without giving themselves away. Even without the Sharingan, this was feat his experience afforded him.

Kakashi appeared at Renjiro's side, voice low and urgent. "They're adjusting to our moves. We need to find an opening or we're going to be overwhelmed."

Renjiro nodded, his eyes darting to Takata, who was clutching a small package against his chest, his expression anxious.

"Takata," he whispered, "stay close. If we break through, you run."

But the Kumo ANBU had no intention of letting them escape so easily. One of the masked shinobi stepped forward, lightning crackling around his fists as he gathered chakra.

"Lightning Release: Spark Fist!" he shouted, lunging toward Renjiro with electrified fists aimed at his torso.

Renjiro braced himself, narrowly dodging the first strike as it surged past him, close enough that he felt the static tingle on his skin. He countered immediately, reaching out to grab the attacker's wrist and twist, using his opponent's momentum against him.

But the Kumo shinobi wrenched free with a sharp jerk, spinning around to deliver another electrified punch that Renjiro barely deflected, feeling the jolt of energy course through his arm on contact.

The fight grew fiercer, each movement faster and more desperate as Renjiro and Kakashi fought to keep up. Kakashi managed to pin down one of the ANBU with an Earth Release jutsu, slamming his hands to the ground and creating a wall of stone that momentarily separated them from their attackers.

But the Kumo ANBU were relentless, one of them blasting through the wall with another chakra-enhanced punch that sent debris flying through the air.

Renjiro gritted his teeth, sidestepping the rubble as he assessed their dwindling options. He could feel his chakra reserves thinning, each manoeuvre costing him more energy than he could afford. They needed a way out, and they needed it fast.

"Renjiro!" Takata's voice broke through the chaos, his expression panicked as he pressed the package into Renjiro's hands. "This—it's vital. Whatever happens, get it back to Konoha and give it to the Jiraiya-sama."

'What?'

Renjiro blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but he tightened his grip on the package, understanding the gravity of Takata's words. He didn't have time to ask questions. All that mattered was the mission—and surviving to complete it.

The Kumo ANBU regrouped, their eyes narrowing as they caught sight of the package. Renjiro could see their focus shift, their intent clear. Whatever was in his hands, they couldn't afford to let him leave with it.

"Renjiro, we're out of options," Kakashi muttered, his voice tense. "We either make a break for it or we're not making it out at all."

Renjiro looked at him, weighing their choices, then nodded. "Agreed. Let's go."

Just then, a harsh cry filled the air as one of the ANBU surged toward Takata, kunai gleaming in the moonlight. Renjiro's eyes widened, but before he could react, the blade descended.

---

Several hundred meters away, Yano faced off against A his breath coming in shallow gasps as he struggled to keep pace. A was a powerhouse, and each of his movements exuded a dangerous calm that left no doubt about his prowess.

Yano could tell that A was holding back, testing him, but even at half-strength, A's strikes were powerful enough to shake the ground beneath them.

Yano dodged a devastating punch, barely managing to sidestep the blow as it carved a trench into the earth. He retaliated with a flurry of strikes, his fists moving in a blur, but A deflected each one effortlessly, his expression unchanging.

There was a cold, detached look in his eyes, a glint of something almost…bored.

"Is that really all Konoha has to offer?" A's voice was calm, almost mocking. "I expected more from the village of the Hokage."

Yano clenched his teeth, pushing himself harder, refusing to back down. He summoned his chakra, channeling it into his limbs as he launched into a series of powerful kicks, each one aimed at A's vital points.

But A was unyielding, dodging and countering with ease. He moved like a storm, his every motion fluid and unstoppable, and Yano felt the gap in their strength with every exchange.

Finally, A's patience seemed to wear thin. With a faint sigh, he raised his hand, lightning chakra sparking between his fingers. "I guess it's time to end this charade."

Yano's heart pounded as he realized the danger. A wasn't playing anymore. He barely had time to react as A charged, his speed blurring, his fist crackling with lightning. Yano threw up a hasty defense, but A's punch broke through his guard, striking him in the chest and sending him sprawling across the ground.

He struggled to his feet, gasping for breath, every nerve in his body screaming in pain. A watched him, expression cold and unfeeling as he approached, his steps slow and deliberate.

"This is the end, Konoha shinobi," A murmured, raising his hand for the final blow.

Yano looked up, his vision blurring as he felt the crushing weight of defeat pressing down on him. At that moment, he understood that he was facing death.

=====

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Kapitel 286: 285-Who said you wouldn't?

The harsh night air was filled with tension and the smell of ozone, electricity crackling around the Kumo ANBU as they prowled forward with deadly intent. Renjiro's breath hitched when a sudden, high-pitched scream pierced the silence.

One of the Kumo ANBU, his mask gleaming in the moonlight, had broken from the pack and surged toward Takata with lethal precision, his kunai slicing through the air.

Renjiro moved instinctively, desperate, as he tried to close the distance. But it was too late—the blade met flesh with a sickening crunch, Takata's gasp mingling with the sound of the weapon piercing his chest.

The dying man's eyes widened, his body stiffening as he looked at Renjiro, shock and pain frozen on his face as he crumpled to the ground, his last breath escaping in a soft, final exhale.

For a moment, all Renjiro could do was stare, the weight of Takata's death sinking in, settling like a stone in his chest.

Something snapped within him. The decision he'd made not to use his Sharingan, not to unleash his full power, suddenly seemed foolish, a hindrance he could no longer afford.

While in Renjiro's mind, the logical action would be to capture them and see whether they could gain any information from them, it seemed that the Kumogakure shinobi were taking another path.

Unbeknownst to them, this ruthless intent was exactly as A, had intended. He recently confirmed the identities of those pursuing his men—spies from Konoha—and while he could have chosen to imprison or interrogate them, he was resolute; none of them were to leave Kumo alive.

A's squad had killed Takata's teammates without hesitation, a brutal but clear message that they weren't interested in prisoners.

Renjiro steeled himself, letting his anger fuel him. His Sharingan flared to life, the three tomoe in each eye spinning as his vision sharpened, his world transformed into a tapestry of enhanced perception.

The Kumo shinobi instantly reacted to the change, and one of them let out a warning cry;

"An Uchiha! Beware his—"

But before the warning was finished, Renjiro was there, a flash of motion as he sliced his opponent's throat, his eyes cold and unforgiving.

The shinobi fell, his final words choked off, and Renjiro moved on, pivoting smoothly to face the next ANBU in his path.

"Sharingan!"

The remaining Kumo shinobi braced themselves, adopting defensive stances, yet their wariness only fueled Renjiro's resolve. He blurred forward, his speed disorienting.

He struck one of the shinobi with a rapid combination of punches, each move precise and ruthless. The shinobi scrambled to defend himself, his movements slowing as Renjiro manipulated his reactions, subtly manoeuvring him into a position. With a final twist of his hand, Renjiro completed a set of hand seals using the shinobi's hands and spewed a massive fireball toward his opponent.

The blast engulfed the man, flames curling around him as he screamed, the fire consuming him in a blazing inferno that illuminated the forest with an ominous red glow.

Kakashi watched with grim satisfaction. He had held back as well, restrained by the mission's initial objective to extract information, but seeing Renjiro unleash his full fury spurred him on.

This wasn't the cold, calculated Kakashi of the original story; here, Kakashi fought with a steady, calculated intensity as the seasoned partner to Renjiro's unleashed power, falling into the rhythm they'd perfected as a team.

Following Renjiro's lead, Kakashi engaged another Kumo ANBU. His opponent, skilled in taijutsu, matched Kakashi's strikes, each blow ringing out into the night.

The shinobi dropped low, launching an earth release technique that sent jagged rocks shooting up from the ground toward Kakashi. Reacting in a split second, Kakashi formed hand seals, slamming his hand to the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Wall!" A wall of stone rose, absorbing the impact of the rocks, and Kakashi moved with fluid precision, dodging the crumbling debris to re-engage his opponent. He feinted left, then swung his arm around in a blur, catching the shinobi with a lightning-infused palm strike that paralyzed him momentarily. In that brief pause, Kakashi drove a kunai deep into the man's side, ending the skirmish with ruthless efficiency.

[A/N: I know at this point it seems that Kakashi only uses Earth wall, but wait, he will eventually become the copy ninja Kakashi]

Renjiro turned to see the remaining Kumo ANBU tense, their expressions barely visible behind their masks, but he could sense their unease. This was no longer a battle they could win through strength alone—they needed an escape, and Renjiro had no intention of letting them slip away.

His eyes glowed red as he locked gazes with each of them, casting a genjutsu that ensnared their minds like a trap, rendering them motionless in an illusory prison.

Two of the Kumo shinobi struggled, their bodies trembling as they resisted the illusion.

"We won't fall for your genjutsu!" one of them spat, shaking his head violently as he broke free. His companion followed suit, and together they lunged at Renjiro, blades poised to strike.

Renjiro remained still, his gaze impassive. Both shinobi stabbed forward, one from the front and the other from behind. Metal met flesh—or so it seemed. The instant their blades sank in, Renjiro's form flickered, shimmering like smoke, and then vanished entirely.

"Who said you wouldn't?" Renjiro's voice echoed in their ears, chilling as they realized the illusion they were under. Their vision cleared, and they looked down in horror to see their kunai buried deep—not in Renjiro, but in each other's chests. Blood trickled down their armour as they gasped, eyes widening with terror and disbelief before collapsing to the ground.

The remaining shinobi, still trapped in Renjiro's genjutsu, were left defenseless, their minds ensnared in nightmares of their own making. Moving swiftly, Renjiro and Kakashi dispatched them one by one, leaving no room for mercy or hesitation.

When the last Kumo ANBU fell, Kakashi flicked the blood from his kunai, a look of grim satisfaction crossing his face.

"We should have killed them before," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration.

Renjiro's gaze fell on Takata's lifeless body, his jaw clenching with guilt. "We should have," he echoed, his voice softer, tinged with regret. He'd been through countless battles, and seen death more times than he could count—so why did holding back feel like a mistake this time?

Had he grown too attached to the idea of control, of holding his own power in check?

"Maybe I'm still naïve," he murmured to himself, shaking his head as he struggled to refocus.

Kakashi's voice pulled him back to the present. "Should we return to the village with the package? Takata's gone…but his mission doesn't have to be."

Renjiro's head shot up, resolve hardening in his gaze. "No. We're not leaving Yano behind."

He shot Kakashi a look, daring him to argue. "If you want to go back, take the package and go. But I'm not leaving Yano."

Kakashi's gaze held his for a long moment before he let out a resigned sigh. "I know better than to argue with you."

He looked at Takata's body one last time before they began gathering up the fallen Kumo shinobi, storing the bodies swiftly and efficiently. With no more words exchanged, they flickered through the trees, backtracking to the area where they had left Yano.

The silence was tense, broken only by the sound of their soft footsteps as they moved at full speed. Renjiro's senses were on high alert, and suddenly, he caught the faint trace of chakra ahead. His heartbeat quickened as he focused on the signature.

'Is that…Yano?' Renjiro's mind raced, expanding his chakra field to confirm, relief flooding him when he recognized the familiar chakra signature. Without a word, he signalled to Kakashi, redirecting their path toward the disturbance.

As they neared, the scene before them grew clearer: Yano was locked in a desperate struggle with A. Even from a distance, Renjiro could feel the sheer force of A's chakra, his aura crackling with lightning as he delivered blow after crushing blow. Yano staggered, barely holding his ground, blood streaking down his face as he struggled to avoid A's relentless attacks.

"Lightning Release: Thunder Break!" A roared, thrusting his hand forward.

The bolt of lightning connected with Yano, sending him flying backwards with a strangled cry as the force of the attack tore through him. Yano's body crashed into the ground near the edge of a cliff, his form limp and bloodied. A smirked, striding over to Yano's body, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"Any last words, Konoha shinobi?" he sneered, lifting Yano by the collar before tossing him over the edge. Yano's body disappeared over the cliff, vanishing into the dark void below.

Renjiro felt his heart drop as he watched Yano plummet, a cold sense of dread gripping him. "This is bad… this is really bad," he muttered under his breath, realizing that retreat was their only option. But before he could make a move, a chill ran down his spine.

A had sensed them.

In an instant, he was there, standing just a few feet away, his gaze sharp and piercing as he surveyed Renjiro and Kakashi with a dangerous glint in his eyes.