266-Question

"So they had a Chinoike as reinforcement," Yano muttered as he stood facing Renjiro.

Renjiro had already informed Yano of the events that had transpired when they had launched their attack on the underground facility. It had been Kakashi who first signalled him to initiate their assault after he discovered where the additional kids were being kept, and everything had gone smoothly—until Kawana Chinoike appeared.

The sudden arrival of the Chinoike shinobi had turned what seemed like a straightforward mission into a deadly confrontation. Renjiro explained how the Chinoike had used the blood from the earlier massacre against them, manipulating it with the Ketsuryūgan to form deadly whips that had nearly taken Kakashi out.

Yano's brow furrowed as Renjiro recounted the battle. "Where are Kakashi and the kids now?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder as though expecting them to appear any moment.

"They're with my shadow clones," Renjiro responded, keeping his pace steady.

"Should I ask them to come?"

Yano nodded. "Yes, it's time we regroup. We can't stay separated for long."

As Renjiro began to make a hand sign, Yano's voice cut through the air once more.

"But how did you figure out how to counter the Ketsuryūgan so quickly?"

There was a trace of curiosity in his voice. The Ketsuryūgan wasn't something many konoha shinobi had encountered outside of war, and those who had often did not live to tell the tale.

Renjiro's Sharingan glowed faintly in the darkness as he looked toward Yano. "I have a Sharingan," he said simply, gesturing toward his eyes where the three-tomoe pattern lay.

"And the Uchiha clan makes it a point to study other dōjutsu. We learn how to deal with them, should the need arise."

Yano grunted, his expression softening slightly. "Good thing you were here with Kakashi. If you hadn't been... things could've gone much worse."

Without another word, Renjiro created a shadow clone, which appeared beside him briefly before it vanished into thin air. The clone was Renjiro's own way of delivering the message to the other clones, instructing them to bring Kakashi and the children back to them. Since the clone dispelled itself, the other shadow clones would get its memories and know what to do.

As the clone dissipated, Renjiro turned his attention back to Yano, his gaze sharpening.

"But what took you so long to join us?" he asked, his voice carrying a subtle edge of frustration. If Yano had been there earlier, it could have been easier to handle the children and Kawana.

Yano's expression remained unreadable, though his voice held a note of nonchalance. "I had to scour the entire building to make sure we collected all the important documents."

Renjiro's brow furrowed for a moment, his thoughts churning as he processed Yano's explanation. But they soon relaxed.

The mission had been about more than just taking down the illegal fighting ring that forced children to battle. Konoha had suspected that another village was involved in orchestrating this entire operation, and it seemed Yano had been determined to find proof.

"So it was Kumo behind all of this?" Renjiro asked, his tone low and measured.

Yano gave a single nod, his face grim. "Yes. Kumo's been secretly operating this facility for some time. Kidnapping children from various lands and forcing them into combat, all while staying out of sight. Then taking the strongest to Kumo. We needed concrete evidence before making any moves."

Renjiro's gaze darkened as he absorbed the weight of Yano's words. Kumo, the Hidden Cloud, had always been an ambitious and ruthless village, but this operation felt particularly underhanded. To steal children from the Land of Fire and use them in such a brutal way was unforgivable.

A rustling in the distance signalled the arrival of Renjiro's shadow clones. They emerged from the shadows, one of them carrying Kakashi over his shoulder, unconscious but breathing steadily. The children, who had been rescued from the facility, walked beside the other clone, their faces pale and their bodies trembling from the ordeal.

Kakashi groaned softly as the clone laid him down, his eyes fluttering open as he stirred back to consciousness. He blinked groggily, his expression disoriented as he tried to take in his surroundings. "What... happened?" he asked, his voice rough with exhaustion.

"You were hit by a genjutsu," Renjiro explained, crouching beside his teammate. "Kawana's Ketsuryūgan managed to slip through your wouds, but we took care of him."

Kakashi nodded weakly, rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks... I guess. What about the children?" he asked, his gaze shifting to the group of frightened kids who stood huddled together.

"We can't leave them here," Renjiro replied, his voice resolute. "We'll need to take them back to the village."

Yano, who had been listening in silence, shook his head. "I'll stay behind. You two take the children back to Konoha and report to the Hokage. We'll need reinforcements to dismantle this operation entirely."

Renjiro's lips pressed into a thin line as he considered Yano's words. 'Wouldn't the three of us taking them back be easier?' he thought to himself. But there was not much he could do in this regard. Yano had already given the orders. With a resigned sigh, Renjiro and Kakashi prepared to leave.

The journey back to the village took them only two hours. Despite the weight of the mission, both Renjiro and Kakashi had conserved enough chakra to make the trip swiftly.

Upon reaching Konoha, they wasted no time in heading to one of the ANBU bases, the one Yano had specifically recommended. The entrance was nondescript, hidden away in the dense woods surrounding the village. As they approached, a masked ANBU member greeted them, their face hidden behind a rabbit mask.

Renjiro's sharp eyes caught a brief glimpse of a mark on the ANBU's throat—a small, almost imperceptible one. His mind briefly lingered on it, curiosity tugging at him, but he dismissed the thought just as quickly.

There were more pressing matters at hand.

After relaying the mission details, both Renjiro and Kakashi went their separate ways. Kakashi was still visibly tired, and Renjiro, despite his outward calm, was mentally exhausted from the short fight with Kawana and the lingering questions that plagued his mind.

Instead of heading home, Renjiro found himself wandering the village streets, his thoughts heavy with uncertainty. He needed answers—answers that only one person could give him. Miwa.

Luckily, it didn't take him long to find her. She was at her house, her small but tidy home tucked away in a quiet corner of the clan compound. As soon as she saw Renjiro, a playful smile crossed her lips.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favourite nephew," Miwa teased, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the doorway.

'I am your only Nephew.' Renjiro thought but didn't bother to voice it.

"You don't visit me often enough these days, you know. Ever since you left the police force, you've been too busy for your poor aunt."

Renjiro offered a small, strained smile in return. "I've been busy."

Miwa arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Busy with what, exactly?" she asked, her tone light but with an undercurrent of genuine curiosity.

Renjiro hesitated, the weight of his ANBU duties hanging over him like a cloud. He couldn't tell Miwa the truth about his current role—at least, not explicitly.

But deep down, he suspected she already knew. After all, Miwa had always been perceptive, and it wouldn't have taken much for her to figure out where his new "missions" were coming from.

"I just... have things I need to take care of," Renjiro replied, his tone vague as he quickly changed the subject. He didn't want to linger on that topic for too long. There was something far more important on his mind.

Miwa gave him a knowing look but didn't press further. Instead, she gestured for him to come inside, her carefree demeanour slipping back into place. "Come in, come in. No need to stand out there looking all broody."

Renjiro stepped into the house, his heart beating just a little faster than usual. He had come for a reason, and he couldn't let his nerves get the better of him. After a brief moment of silence, Renjiro turned to face Miwa, his expression serious.

"Aunt Miwa," he began, his voice low and measured, "I need to ask you something."

Miwa, sensing the shift in his tone, leaned back in her chair, her playful smile fading slightly. "Ask away," she said, though there was a new tension in her voice.

She could tell that whatever Renjiro was about to ask was important.

Renjiro took a deep breath, his mind racing as he prepared to ask the question that had been haunting him for years. "How did I leave Uzushiogakure? I mean how did I really leave Uzushiogakure?"

The question hung in the air like a heavyweight, and for a moment, Miwa said nothing. Her face darkened, the carefree attitude she always wore like armour slipping away entirely.

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