บท 25: Fleeting Moment
After having breakfast from the couple's house, he placed a serving of ramen in his table for Yoruichi when she wakes up. Ren then finished watering the plants with Kushina's help. He also watered the plants that he was planting at his backyard. He then changed into a training outfit and started his morning jog. He started jogging around the village. He could see the hawkers setting up their stores, regular forces patrolling. He even greeted Teuchi who was just opening up his store.
Ren was peacefully jogging when 2 people wearing green tracksuit passed by, running at full speed. Many people were looking at the two in disgust. Ren was confused why they looked at them that way. Although he had been living in Konoha for a week, his jogging isn't too far as he still hasn't explored the village due to his busy work schedule.
When Ren returned home, he saw Yoruichi, naked, gorging on the ramen with a smile on her face. Ren immediately returned and took a cold bath. Its not that he didn't like warm bath but the cold bath helps him cool down his body after a light workout.
He then started meditating. Ren always meditates every morning to clear his mind and organize his thoughts. He would be meeting the hokage and he knows the gist of why the hokage called for him. He also have to start planting on the poisoned lands in Mount Myoboku. Ren thought that next week was the opportune time to plant it so he could harvest a lot before spring.
After organizing his thoughts, he wore his medical uniform jacket and went on his way to tell Orochimaru about his meeting with the hokage.
Ren was about to enter the hospital when an animal masked anbu blocked his way.
"Head Surgeon Ren, you should go to the hokage's office now. Lord Orochimaru is already there waiting for you." The anbu said to Ren.
"Is that so...? I see. Lead the way then." Ren said and the anbu started walking on the direction of the Hokage's tower. Ren actually knows about that tower since its one of the buildings Yoruichi briefed him with. While they are walking, the anbu kept on glancing towards Ren as if he's double checking something. Seeing him glancing at him for many times, Ren felt uncomfortable and asked him.
"What? Is there something wrong with me?" Ren asked the anbu.
"Nothing much. Is the rumors about you, true? That you are Lord Orochimaru's illegiti- *Bang*" The anbu crashed on the ground unconscious. Ren's face had veins popping out as he circulated his breathing. Although the punch he sent was powerful, it was only enough for knocking the anbu out.
Seeing the mess he made, he dragged the anbu to the hokage tower. When he reached the entrance he sensed the masked Anbus and stopped him.
"What happened to him?" A bear masked anbu asked.
"Well, he was busy gossiping and was not paying attention, he didn't notice a rock on the way and tripped badly." Ren bullshitted in front of experienced assassins. Of course the anbus knew that the newbie anbu who fetched Ren probably did something wrong and ended up in this state. The anbus didn't chase after him and let him through, he had an appointment with the hokage after all.
When he entered the Tower, a woman saw him and stood up before making way to Ren. She didn't know Ren's character so she could only act respectfully towards the head surgeon of the medical department.
"Head Surgeon Ren, the hokage's waiting for your presence in the top floor. Lord Orochimaru has also arrived there. Let me lead the way." The woman respectfully said as she guided Ren towards the top of the tower. When they arrived at the tower, she softly knocked three times and stood beside the door.
"Come in!" A voice was heard from the other side. The woman opened the door and motioned for Ren to come in and bowed down respectfully before closing the door. When Ren entered the room, there was an old man wearing Konoha's Official Kage Uniform, his hat with a kanji of fire was placed beside stacks of papers. Orochimaru was also sitting in front of the Hokage. Ren didn't speak up and waited for the hokage to speak, he would be disrespecting the hokage if he took the lead by talking.
"Ah, young man, Ren. Have a sit." The hokage, Hiruzen, said to him. Ren followed suit and sat down but his sitting posture isn't too comfortable nor is it too stiff. Hiruzen glanced at Ren and he couldn't help but nod after seeing Ren's posture.
"I've been hearing a lot about you from my student Orochimaru." Hiruzen said to Ren.
"You praise me too much. I'm still practicing my skills. I still have lots to learn." Ren replied at Hiruzen's words.
"You don't have to sell yourself short. Even the Jonins you healed were praising you for your medical skills." Hiruzen said while Orochimaru had a smile on his face.
"Not really. There are lots of herbs, medicines, and techniques that I still have no idea about. I'm still starting on my journey." Ren said making Hiruzen sigh.
"Enough with the pleasantries. I know you're a straightforward person." Hiruzen suddenly said which made Ren's lips to curl upwards. Seeing his smile, Orochimaru chuckled.
"So... May I know the reason why, the Hokage wants to talk to me?" Ren asked and his 2nd personality took over as his eyes narrowed down. Hiruzen was surprised seeing his sudden change while Orochimaru has gotten used to it.
"I think you know the reason why." Hiruzen said while taking a puff on his pipe.
"You mean those jealous of me immediately working as the head surgeon?" Ren played dumb. He knows why he was being called by the hokage. The man wishes to protect the big asset named Ren.
"Something like that." Hiruzen vaguely replied. He was looking at Ren while puffing his pipe.
"If you are thinking in the lines of me being a ninja, I'll politely decline your offer. I'm just a civilian, I can't fight. All I could do was patch and heal your wounds up." Ren said.
"Exactly. You don't know how to fight, or even if you do, you won't be able to escape either. They are the cream of the crop ninjas. That man will stop at nothing as long as you bring benefit to him and the villa-" Hiruzen didn't get to finish what he was about to say.
It was only a fleeting moment. But it was enough for all the anbu under Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and the Hokage himself, to notice. That fleeting moment of eternal silence.
During Ren's training with Killua, he had gained another personality... or you could call it something like a 'switch'. Hiruzen's words flipped the switch on for a moment before Ren forcefully suppressed it. That switch, was named by Ren as a Kill Switch, once that was flipped on, he would not hesitate to kill anyone who threatens him or those close to him.
The anbus quickly jumped in and pressed their shortsword against Ren's neck. He didn't even flinch from it. A drop of blood fell from Ren's neck as the anbu pressed their swords further, waiting for the hokage the execution orders.
"Stop! Go back." Hiruzen said but the anbus didn't retreat, they deemed Ren as someone dangerous. That feeling of silence and death, it bothers them, as if grim reaper kissed their necks as they sweated coldly.
"Are you not stepping back or I'm going to make you?!" Hiruzen shouted at his subordinates. The anbus reluctantly retreated in the shadows.
"Looks like I'm worried for nothing." Hiruzen said as he stood up and faced the window overlooking the entire Konoha.
"I apologize for my actions, but if the circumstances that you're saying did happen then don't blame me. I heard from the villagers that you are a pacifist and a good leader. Not everything can be solved by just talking and sharing your differences. A good leader must know when to praise or punish his subordinates, you only know how to praise, an outsider just tried to kill you, but you reprimanded those who protected you. I'll be taking my leave. There's still a lot of patients waiting for me." Ren said as he stood up and left the room leaving a smirking Orochimaru and a shocked Hiruzen.
Hiruzen was shocked not only because of his words, but he understood why Ren said it. He kept replaying Ren's words in his head.
'He just tried to kill me, huh.' Hiruzen thought as his pipe suddenly fell to the ground. He sighed and stared at the village he spent his time and effort to make bloom.
'A good leader must know when to praise and when to punish. I'm getting old. I should start grooming a successor who's more fit in this seat.' Hiruzen thought to himself.
"By the way, I've heard about the rumors. Is that young man really your illegitimate son?" Hiruzen asked Orochimaru who has been sitting and hadn't spoke a word since Ren came in. Orochimaru didn't speak but only chuckled after hearing Hiruzen's question.
"Looks like you set me up with that young man." Hiruzen said and Orochimaru nodded.
"Isn't he interesting? Someone with such medical skill and that killing intent, wishes to be a civilian and said he can't fight? Or maybe he indeed can't fight because he always kills those who threatened him. Something must've happened for him to keep pressing that he only wishes to be a civilian." Orochimaru said with a smile and Hiruzen nodded.
Although Hiruzen has been through the war and met many enemies in the battlefield, it was his first time seeing that dense killing intent. Its also from a young man as well. He doesn't know why Ren prefers being a civilian than a ninja. He sighed one last time as he sat down and ask one of his subordinates to give him a new pipe and started working on the paperworks while chatting with Orochimaru.
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