Mikoto Uchiha was having a very bad day.
She had been chasing these intruders for ten kilometers. Her lungs were burning, her legs felt like lead, and the enemy had finally decided to stop running and start killing.
She threw a kunai. The lead Cloud Ninja deflected it with a bored yawn.
"Give it up, little girl," the Leader grunted, holding a struggling sack over his shoulder. "You're out of your league."
The other three ninja drew their swords, crackling with lightning. One of them flickered behind her.
Too fast!
Mikoto turned to block, squeezing her eyes shut, bracing for the pain.
ZHOOM.
A sound like tearing canvas ripped through the air.
"You know," a voice said casually, "kidnapping little girls is really bad for your PR."
Mikoto opened her eyes.
Ren was standing between her and the ninja. He wasn't in a stance. He was just... standing there, looking like he was waiting for a bus.
"Ren?" Mikoto gasped.
"Hey," Ren waved. Then he looked at the Cloud Ninja. "And hello to you, discount Raikages. You guys lost? The Village of Rythm is that way."
The Cloud Ninja behind Mikoto didn't wait for introductions. He lunged, his sword aimed at Ren's neck.
Ren didn't activate his Sharingan. He didn't need eyes to dismantle amateurs.
Hirenkyaku.
Ren slid to the side. The movement was unnatural—no footstep, no push-off. He simply glided on a frictionless plate of Reishi. The Cloud Ninja slashed empty air and stumbled.
"Blue sparky hands," Ren whispered.
He channeled Natural Energy from the air.
CHIRP-CHIRP-CHIRP.
A blinding, white-blue Chidori exploded in his hand.
Thrust.
Ren drove his hand through the ninja's chest armor like it was wet tissue paper. The man gasped, then went limp as the lightning fried his heart.
Ren let the body drop. "One."
The Leader dropped the sack. "Kill him!"
The remaining two subordinates charged. One used a Water Dragon; the other tried a Lightning Lariat.
Ren stepped forward.
He met the Lariat user head-on. Just before impact, he slid under the arm using the frictionless Reishi under his feet—Matrix style—and slashed his sword upward.
Slice.
The ninja's legs were separated from his body.
The Water Dragon user panicked, trying to redirect his jutsu. Ren was already there. He placed his hand on the water.
ZAP.
The Chidori current surged up the stream. The ninja convulsed, smoke pouring from his ears, and collapsed.
The Leader stood alone. He looked at his three dead elites. He looked at the teenager who hadn't even broken a sweat.
The Leader roared, drawing a massive broadsword.
The Leader charged, screaming a war cry.
He vanished in a blur of Hirenkyaku. He appeared behind the Leader before the man had even finished his swing.
Snip.
Ren's sword flicked. The Leader's head tumbled off his shoulders.
Silence returned to the forest.
Ren wiped his blade on the Leader's vest. "Well, that was anti-climactic. I expected a Phase Two transformation or something."
Mikoto stared at him, her mouth slightly open. "Ren... you..."
"I know, I know. I'm awesome. Hold your applause," Ren said, walking over to the sack.
He cut the ropes.
Kushina Uzumaki tumbled out, red hair messy, face red with rage.
"I WAS ABOUT TO KICK THEIR BUTTS, YA KNOW!" she screamed immediately, flailing her arms.
Ren blinked.
"Sure you were," Ren patted her head, which made her growl like a feral cat. "I just softened them up for you. You were totally luring them into a false sense of security."
"Ren, we need to go," Mikoto said urgently, her Sharingan still active. "More might come."
"Right," Ren agreed.
Rustle.
Leaves shifted.
Ren and Mikoto snapped their heads toward the clearing's edge.
Four figures landed silently. They wore grey armor, cloaks, and white porcelain masks.
ANBU.
Mikoto sighed in relief. "Reinforcements. Thank goodness."
Ren didn't relax. He narrowed his eyes.
Wait a minute.
He looked at their masks. Standard ANBU masks had red markings or distinct animal shapes. These masks were plain. Some had weird, root-like patterns. Their chakra felt cold. Emotionless.
Root, Ren realized. Danzō's personal creeper squad.
"Hand over the girl," the lead Root agent commanded. His voice was devoid of tone.
"We are taking her to the Hokage," Mikoto stepped forward, authoritative. "I am Mikoto Uchiha of the Police Force. We secured the target."
"We will take it from here," the agent repeated, stepping closer. "Hand her over. Or be eliminated."
Kushina shrank behind Ren, gripping his robe. She sensed it too—these guys weren't friendly.
"Hold on," Ren stepped in front of Mikoto. He put on his best 'confused innocent civilian' face.
"Are you guys Konoha Ninja?" Ren asked loudly.
"We are ANBU," the agent stated.
"Your masks look weird," Ren pointed out. "I watch a lot of ninja documentaries. ANBU masks have red stripes. Can I see some ID?"
The agent paused. "We do not carry identification on missions."
"No ID?" Ren shook his head theatrically. "That's suspicious. How do I know you aren't Cloud Ninja using Transformation Jutsu? Or Stone Spies?"
"Hand over the girl," the agent drew a tanto. "This is your last warning."
"Ren," Mikoto whispered, "they are giving off killing intent."
"I know," Ren whispered back. "They aren't regular ANBU. Which means..."
"...Legally, they are unidentified armed hostiles threatening a Police Officer."
This is going to be perfectly legal.
The Root agents lunged.
Hirenkyaku.
Ren slid between the first two agents. His sword flashed twice.
Slash. Slash.
Two heads hit the ground.
The remaining two agents didn't even flinch at their comrades' deaths. They coordinated perfectly, attacking Ren from high and low angles.
He channeled Wind Chakra into his blade—something his mother taught him.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Cut."
He swung his sword horizontally. An invisible blade of wind extended from his steel, cutting through the agents' tantos, through their armor, and through their torsos.
Both agents fell in two neat pieces.
"Well," Ren said, dusting off his hands. "That confirms it. Definitely not Konoha ninja. Real Konoha ninja would have shown me their library cards."
Mikoto looked at the Root agents. She wasn't stupid. She knew about the darkness of the village, but seeing Ren slaughter them without hesitation—and then justify it with bureaucracy—was terrifyingly impressive.
"Ren," Mikoto said quietly. "Those were..."
"Unidentified hostiles," Ren interrupted firmly, looking her in the eye. "Right, Officer Mikoto?"
Mikoto paused. She looked at Kushina, who was trembling. If those men had taken Kushina, who knows where she would have ended up.
"Right," Mikoto nodded slowly. "Unidentified hostiles."
Ren reached into his pouch and pulled out a red signal flare.
Pop. Hiss.
A brilliant red Uchiha Fan symbol illuminated the night sky above the forest.
"Calling the cavalry," Ren said, watching the red light drift down. "Because there is no way I'm writing the report for this mess by myself."
He looked at Kushina. "You okay, Tomato?"
"DON'T CALL ME TOMATO!" Kushina shouted, then she punched him in the arm. But she didn't let go of his sleeve.
Ren sighed. "Great. I saved a loud one."
He looked at the dead Root agents. Danzō wasn't going to be happy about losing a squad.