Kapitel 197: 197
Over 10 Years Ago: Hisato Mura's son last mission POV
Ren Mura stood hidden in the shadows, his mind entirely focused on the genjutsu he had cast over the enemy guards. His concentration was total, his chakra flowing steadily as he maintained the illusion across multiple targets. The scene before him—the guards' movements, the sounds in the compound—was fabricated, all part of the complex genjutsu he had woven. He wasn't aware of his surroundings in the physical sense; his consciousness was entirely devoted to holding the illusion, unaware of the passage of time or the actions of his team.
He trusted them. They were ANBU, after all, a close-knit group who had carried out countless missions together. His friend, a skilled shinobi he had trained with for years, had been by his side when they received the mission. The Root agents had joined them, their involvement kept quiet and off the official records. Ren didn't question it—he was a soldier, and his duty was to follow orders.
His role tonight was crucial. The genjutsu he cast would allow the team and the Root agents to slip past the guards undetected, securing the mission objective without raising an alarm. It was delicate work, requiring all of Ren's mental faculties. He couldn't afford to let his focus slip for even a moment.
As Ren deepened the genjutsu, keeping the guards locked in a false reality, he felt the drain on his chakra. It was demanding work, but he was used to it. However, his focus on the illusion left him completely unaware of what was happening around him. He had no sense of time, no awareness of his team's movements, or the fact that the Root agents had already advanced without him. He wasn't aware that his own team had moved forward too—without waiting for him to finish.
Minutes passed, but to Ren, it felt like mere moments. His body remained in the same crouched position, maintaining the illusion while his mind was locked in the intricate patterns of the genjutsu. He didn't know that his comrades had shifted their priorities and moved forward, leaving him vulnerable.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
A loud alarm pierced through the night, snapping Ren's concentration. His genjutsu wavered, the illusion faltering as the real world suddenly rushed back in. The guards, who had been trapped in his illusion, were now alert, their gazes sharp and their weapons drawn. The mission had been compromised.
Ren's heart raced as the gravity of the situation hit him. His first instinct was to call out to his team for backup, assuming they were still nearby. But as he scanned his surroundings for the first time since casting the genjutsu, a sinking realization set in. He was alone.
"ANBU team, what's your status?" Ren asked, his voice steady but laced with urgency.
Silence.
A cold dread began to creep up his spine. He called again, this time louder, more desperate. "ANBU team, do you copy?"
Nothing but static.
Panic tightened in his chest. He had no idea how long he had been alone, or when his team had left. His mission was to maintain the genjutsu while the others infiltrated the compound, but they were supposed to return for him once the objective was secured.
Where were they?
Ren quickly realized that his team had moved forward with the Root agents, prioritizing the mission goal over everything else. But something about this felt wrong. They should have at least warned him, given him some signal to retreat. Had they forgotten him? Or worse—had they left him behind on purpose?
His mind raced as the situation grew more dire. The guards, now fully aware of the breach, were closing in on his position. Ren's chakra reserves were low from maintaining the genjutsu for so long, and he knew he didn't have the energy to fight them all off.
Realization dawned on him with cold clarity: he had been sacrificed. His role had been to ensure the success of the mission at any cost—even his own life. The Root agents had secured the mission objective, and his ANBU team had chosen to retreat, leaving him as the expendable piece on the board.
His breath quickened, but he steeled himself. He was alone, betrayed by the very team he had trusted with his life. The guards were closing in, and Ren knew his time was running out.
He prepared for his final stand, knowing that no one was coming to save him.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein