Chapter 73: An Unexpected Encounter

As the dust and deafening roar from the Tailed Beast Bomb’s cataclysm settled, the full extent of the devastation was laid bare. A massive, smoldering crater, hundreds of meters wide, now scarred the desert. A deep fissure snaked outward from its edge, testament to the sheer, concentrated power that had created it.

Ding! Host has eliminated one Jōnin. Reward: 5,000 Points. Total Points: 31,000.

Whoa… Ren whistled softly, a thrill of excitement running through him. This Tailed Beast Bomb is no joke. The destructive force is insane.

ROAR! The cloned Shukaku threw its head back and let out a triumphant howl, seemingly proud of the carnage it had wrought.

“Alright, alright, settle down,” Ren said, patting its massive head. “You’ve made enough noise to wake the dead. More will be coming to investigate. We need to move. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

The beast whined softly but obediently lowered its head.

“System, how do I recall this thing into my body?” Ren asked, eager to experience being a Jinchuriki.

The host need only will it so through meditation.

“That simple? But System, if I seal this clone inside me, will I become its Jinchuriki?”

Affirmative. Sealing a cloned Tailed Beast within yourself will grant you the status of its Jinchuriki. It will provide a massive reservoir of chakra, accelerated chakra recovery, and enhanced physical regeneration for non-fatal wounds. However, the host may only host one cloned beast at a time. To host another, the current beast must first be extracted.

“I see. And if it’s sealed within me, can I still summon it to fight?”

Affirmative. However, if the beast is extracted, you will lose all Jinchuriki benefits.

“Good enough.” Ren gave the beast’s head a final pat and jumped down to the sand. “Time to come home, you overgrown raccoon.” He closed his eyes, focusing his will.

The massive form of the cloned Shukaku began to distort and shimmer. It dissolved into a stream of potent chakra that flowed into Ren’s body, vanishing from the desert until he stood alone. The moment the process completed, a tsunami of raw power flooded his system. His depleted chakra reserves were not just refilled—they expanded exponentially, breaking through a previous ceiling. The power he felt was on a completely different level—he had ascended from Elite Jōnin to the realm of a Kage.

“My power… it actually broke through! This feeling… it’s incredible! It’s like an endless well of energy! Hahaha! I’ll never have to worry about chakra limits again!” He laughed, the sound echoing across the empty dunes, reveling in the intoxicating sensation of absolute power. Fresh chapters posted on NoveI(F)ire.net

His celebration was cut short. A flicker of movement in the distance caught his enhanced senses.

Huh? A person? Is that one of the Sand ninja from before? He survived a Tailed Beast Bomb? Color me impressed. A cold smirk played on his lips. Well, his luck just ran out. He activated the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing and reappearing high in the air above the fleeing figure, tracking him with the Moon Step.

The ninja was the sole survivor, the Genin thrown to safety by his teacher. He was badly injured, dragging himself across the sand, driven by a desperate need to deliver his warning.

Damn it… Otani-sensei… Goudan… Er Lengzi… I’ll get this information back to the village. I swear I’ll avenge you… I won’t let your deaths be in vain!

He never saw the kunai until it was almost upon him. Reacting on instinct, he barely managed to deflect it with his own weapon. He had no time to feel relief before a searing, unimaginable pain exploded in his chest. He looked down, disbelief freezing on his face, to see a hand protruding from his sternum.

D-Damn… Am I dying?… Sensei… I failed… I’m sorry… Guys… I’m coming to join you… He tried to turn, to see the face of his killer, but darkness swallowed him before he could.

The hand retracted, and his body crumpled to the sand.

Hmph. Trying to report back to your village? Ren thought, wiping the blood from his hand with a cloth. I’ve had enough trouble for one day. Go keep your friends company.

He had used the Moon Step to stay airborne, observed the ninja’s intent, and ended it with ruthless efficiency—a kunai as a distraction, followed by a teleport behind him and a single, lethal Finger Spear thrust.

Damn it, he suddenly realized. I should have asked him for directions to the nearest town first. Now I’ve gone and killed my only guide. Brilliant. He sighed in frustration. Oh well. I’ll find it eventually. It’s not dark yet.

He chose a direction and started walking. Fortunately, his guess was correct. After two hours, the silhouette of a small town appeared on the horizon, sparing him a night in the desert. He found an inn, scrubbed the desert grime from his skin, devoured a hot meal, and collapsed onto the bed.

It’s been a while since I left Konoha. Aside from acquiring the cloned Shukaku, my progress feels slow. My point total hasn’t increased much. I need to be more proactive.

Now that Konoha knows my identity, a bounty is inevitable. Not that I care. Any fool who tries to collect it will be swatted like a fly. As for Danzo… Ren’s thoughts turned dark. My power is at Kage-level now, but taking on Danzo and his Root operatives, let alone the entire village that would inevitably defend him, is still suicide. I need more points. More power. More Tailed Beasts. Danzo… your time is borrowed. I will collect the blood debt you owe my family. Soon.

With that grim resolution, he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, he was on the road again. His next target was the Land of Water, or more precisely, who resided within it: the Three-Tails, Isobu. It was the most logical choice—a wild Tailed Beast with no Jinchuriki, meaning no village to defend it and complicate matters. The Two-Tails, while also a target, was hosted by a Jinchuriki from Kumogakure, a village with a notoriously short-tempered and powerful Raikage. That was a fight for another day.

Not long after leaving the town, his heightened senses prickled. He was being followed.

Someone’s on my tail? Bounty hunters already? Mistaking me for Sasuke? He didn’t alter his pace or glance back, allowing his pursuers to maintain their distance, his mind analyzing their movements.

An hour passed, and he was well into the wilderness. His followers were still there, maintaining a steady distance but making no move to attack. Their patience was puzzling.

What’s their game? If they want my head, why not just attack? This is getting irritating. Time to flush them out.

He stopped walking and turned to face the empty road behind him. “Hey! You’ve been tailing me since I left the city. How much longer are you planning to skulk around? It’s incredibly annoying. If you want my head, come and try to take it!”

A dry, rasping chuckle echoed from the stillness. “Hehehe~ As expected of Sasuke-kun’s brother. I was curious to see how long it would take for someone Lord Orochimaru holds in such high regard to notice us. It seems we were exposed from the very beginning. Most impressive.”

Three figures emerged from the landscape as if stepping out of a shadow. They were shinobi, their forehead protectors marked with a single, distinctive symbol: a musical note.

The Sound Village.

Ren’s eyes narrowed, focusing on the leader of the trio. A familiar face, one he knew from Konoha’s intelligence reports and his own memories.

Kabuto Yakushi.

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