Jiraiya scratched his head. He could tell that Ren's claim of looking for him was just a front; this boy had other objectives for leaving Konoha.
Recalling the awkward scene where he hadn't even recognized his own "disciple," Jiraiya chuckled bitterly to himself. Fine, I won't report this to the Old Man. As long as there was no intent to harm Konoha, Jiraiya was actually quite easy-going.
As for Ren's claim of being "quite strong," Jiraiya assumed the kid was just trying to show off in front of Konan. After all, he was just a teenager; wanting to look cool in front of the opposite sex was perfectly normal.
As Ren's figure vanished into the treeline, Yahiko wanted to ask more, but he found his mind blank, unsure of where to even begin. Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Konan's hands began to ring violently!
Purupurupurupuru—!
"Eek!!" Konan gasped, her hands trembling as the snail slipped and fell to the grass. She stared at the creature with a complicated expression, momentarily paralyzed.
Jiraiya stepped forward. Looking at the strange creature, he deduced it must be Ren's summoning beast. He picked up the receiver on the snail's back, and the creature's face instantly morphed to bear a thirty-percent resemblance to Ren.
"Hello? Why is it Jiraiya? Where's Konan?"
In the forest, Ren looked at the white-haired snail in his hand and frowned.
"The snail's mouth is making Ren's voice!" Yahiko shouted, hovering nearby. Konan watched curiously; hearing Ren's familiar tone, her fear vanished, replaced by pure wonder.
Ren's voice came through the shell again: "Jiraiya, give the phone to Konan. I forgot to tell her something."
"What is it?"
Without waiting for Jiraiya, Konan leaned toward the snail and asked, "I'm here. I'm listening."
"The Den Den Mushi is a living creature. Remember to feed it a little every day—anything works as long as it provides energy. Also, if you want to find me, just pick up the receiver, and I'll get the signal on my end."
Konan nodded, her voice soft. "Mm, I understand! It's like a pet, right?"
"Exactly! That's the spirit!" Ren laughed. "By the way, what time do you guys usually train?"
"We don't have a fixed time. It mostly depends on Jiraiya-sensei," Konan replied.
"...Right. Classic Jiraiya."
"Hey! I'm still standing right here!"
Ignoring the disgruntled Sannin, Ren continued, "Anyway, talk to you tomorrow!"
Clack.
As Ren hung up, the snail's eyes closed and drooped, entering a dormant state.
"What a magical snail!" Konan felt a spark of genuine affection for the creature. Cradling it in her hands, she carefully carried it back to her room, beginning her daily routine of pet ownership.
On the other side, Ren tucked his receiver back into his cloak, a smirk on his lips.
"Time to move! Target: The border with the Land of Earth!"
Since he didn't know the exact location of Old Man Madara's hideout, Ren wasn't in a rush. He took his time, testing various ninjutsu along the way.
One day, Ren stood atop a high cliff. The sky was thick with thunderclouds, and arcs of electricity snaked through the dark expanse, poised to strike.
Chirp—!!
The sound of a thousand birds erupted from Ren's hand. Blue lightning danced, and in a singular moment, it resonated with the storm above. The lightning gathered, coiling into the shape of a massive dragon's head!
"Thunder Dragon!"
Roar—!
A draconic cry thundered from the heavens. The lightning dragon flared with blinding intensity, instantly striking a distant mountain peak!
Rumble!
The brilliant flash illuminated the darkness, drowning the world in white. Then came the deafening explosion, the shockwave rattling Ren's eardrums. When the light faded and vision returned, the cliffside had been mostly obliterated. Small sparks of electricity still danced across the scorched rocks.
"And that was with controlled output. If I'd drawn in the entire storm, this place would be a basin by now." Satisfied with his new move, Ren leaped down toward the blast site.
As he landed, he froze. Not far from him, a girl with dark hair and tattered clothing lay sprawled on the ground.
Was someone here? Ren frowned. He hurried to her side and checked her pulse. Confirming she was still alive, his gaze deepened with suspicion. Even with controlled power, an average Jonin would have been fried. This girl looks fragile... how did she survive?
The girl had no forehead protector, no weapons, and her small, scarred feet were bare. She didn't look like a shinobi from any nation.
A local civilian? Ren felt a pang of guilt. Sometimes the world produced naturally gifted individuals; had he just stumbled upon one?
Ren set up camp on a nearby flat rock, deciding to wait for her to wake up. If she truly was a gifted outlier, he'd collect a blood sample to study—maybe he'd find something unexpected.
Half an hour later, the girl's throat moved, letting out a soft moan. "Nngh..."
Before she even opened her eyes, she was greeted by an irresistible aroma. Looking up, she saw a black-haired boy roughly her age roasting meat.
"You're awake." Ren turned his head, a smile on his face that seemed warm enough to melt snow.
He was in an exceptionally good mood. Just moments ago, he had received his first proactive call from Konan. Though she only asked for the secret to making braised pork, it was a milestone in their relationship!
"I'm sorry," Ren said softly. "While I was practicing my ninjutsu, I accidentally blew up your home. Luckily, you're okay!"
"My... home?" The girl looked at the mangled cliffside in the distance, her eyes devoid of emotion. "That... is not... home."
Hearing her hesitant, halting speech, Ren wondered if his lightning had scrambled her brain. That would be a real tragedy.
He tried again: "By the way, I'm Ren Kurogane. What's your name?"
Name.
At the mention of that long-forgotten concept, the girl remained silent for a long time. Finally, she spoke:
"My name is... Hikari."
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