Tsunade's final words sounded rather ambiguous.
Don't die somewhere I can't see you.
Ren wondered what that was supposed to mean. Was he permitted to die as long as he did it directly in front of her?
Of course, he did not believe his place in Tsunade's heart could compare with Nawaki or Dan Katō. Those two losses had left wounds within her that even decades might not heal.
Still, she had accepted him as her disciple and allowed him to sign the Shikkotsu Forest contract. At the very least, that should place his importance somewhere close to Shizune's.
If Shizune were ever killed before Tsunade's eyes, the emotional damage would undoubtedly be devastating.
Ren kept those thoughts to himself.
Tsunade was already worried about his departure. This was not the time to respond with a tasteless joke about dying in front of her.
Instead, he remained for a little longer, speaking with her about lighter matters. He asked several questions about the scrolls she had given him, listened to her warnings about recklessly attempting the Second Hokage's techniques, and deliberately changed the subject whenever the conversation threatened to return to the battlefield.
Once the hour became late, Ren gathered the scrolls into his arms and stood.
"I should go. There are still several things I need to prepare before tomorrow."
Tsunade followed him to the entrance.
"Remember what I told you. Those scrolls contain my Second Grandfather's personal research. Don't damage them, and don't try anything beyond your limits."
"I understand."
"And don't treat Katsuyu like an ordinary summon."
"I would never do that."
"You poked her twice."
Ren fell silent for a moment.
"I was confirming the physical characteristics of a Shikkotsu Forest summon."
Tsunade stared at him.
"Get out."
Ren left with an innocent smile, carrying his newly acquired scrolls beneath Tsunade's watchful gaze.
As he crossed the courtyard, he noticed Kana Uzumaki emerging from one of the nearby buildings with a basket of freshly washed clothes.
Kana had recovered considerably since being rescued from Kusagakure. Her complexion was healthier, and although caution still appeared in her eyes whenever someone approached unexpectedly, she no longer looked like a frightened prisoner expecting to be harmed.
When she saw Ren, her expression brightened.
"Oh, Ren. Did you come to visit Lady Tsunade again?"
"Yes. Teacher Tsunade gave me some materials to study."
Ren slightly lifted the stack of scrolls in his arms.
"I'm taking them home to read."
Kana looked at the worn scrolls and smiled warmly.
"You work very hard. Even though you're still so young, you've already accomplished so much."
Then she seemed to remember something.
"Please wait here for a moment. I have something I want to give you."
Ren stopped.
"For me?"
Kana placed the basket down and hurried back inside the residence. Less than a minute later, she returned carrying a glass bottle.
A dark red liquid filled it nearly to the top.
At first glance, it resembled a bottle of red cola. But once Kana held it out to him, Ren immediately realized what it contained.
Blood.
"This is my blood," Kana explained quietly. "It can be used to treat injuries and restore chakra."
Her gaze fell toward the bottle.
"Back in Kusagakure, they used to collect it from me frequently."
The simplicity of her words could not hide what they meant.
Kusagakure had treated her healing ability as a resource. Whenever its ninja returned injured from missions, they used her body to recover, biting her or taking her blood without concern for the damage inflicted upon her.
Even now, the memory made her fingers tighten around the bottle.
"I heard Konoha is preparing for another major battle," she continued. "You'll probably be sent to the front soon."
"I don't own anything especially valuable, so I couldn't think of a proper way to thank you."
Kana raised the bottle toward him.
"Please take this. Consider it my gratitude for saving my life."
Ren stared at the bottle, genuinely surprised.
It was an unexpected gift—and an extraordinarily valuable one.
The unique vitality of the Uzumaki clan flowed through Kana's blood. Combined with her rare constitution, it could rapidly heal injuries and replenish chakra.
In practical terms, this bottle was similar to a weaker version of a Senzu Bean.
Ren possessed several methods of protecting himself, including medical ninjutsu, the Substitution Technique's special traits, and now Katsuyu. Under ordinary circumstances, he might never need to drink Kana's blood.
But battlefield emergencies were rarely ordinary.
Even if Ren did not use it, the blood could save Rin, Obito, Kakashi, or another critically injured companion.
It might also provide Orochimaru with an opportunity to study the relationship between Uzumaki vitality and regenerative ability. Such research could lead to new healing methods—although Ren would never permit anyone to obtain further samples without Kana's voluntary consent.
He accepted the bottle carefully.
"Thank you, Kana. This may save someone's life."
Kana shook her head.
"You don't have to thank me. If you and your companions hadn't come to Kusagakure, I might not be alive now."
Ren secured the bottle so it would not break during the journey.
"I'll use it only if there's no other choice."
Kana's smile became more genuine.
"Then I hope you never need it."
After bidding her farewell, Ren finally left the Senju compound and returned home.
That night, he immediately began examining Tobirama Senju's research scrolls.
The Second Hokage's notes were far more complicated than ordinary instructional materials. They did not merely record hand seals and chakra routes. Tobirama had documented failed variations, changes in water pressure, alternative methods of shaping the technique, and observations about how terrain affected its stability.
Ren first copied the section concerning the Water Formation Wall onto a separate scroll.
Once the copy was complete, he presented it to the Water Formation Wall through the gala system.
The technique reacted instantly.
[Water Formation Wall: Wow! Are these new clothes Master bought for me?]
[Water Formation Wall: I'm going to put them on immediately!]
A notification appeared before Ren's eyes.
[Water Formation Wall favorability increased by 9.]
[Current favorability: 68/100—Intimate.]
Ren blinked.
Nine points?
Under normal circumstances, a Limited Skin increased favorability by approximately six points. This time, however, the gift had triggered a critical increase and granted fifty percent more than expected.
The Water Formation Wall's excited voice soon appeared again.
[Water Formation Wall: So a wall of water can be constructed like this too! I understand now!]
[Water Formation Wall: Master, I feel tougher and more flexible than before. My desire to protect you has never been clearer!]
"Good, good. Very impressive."
Ren closed his eyes.
A stream of new knowledge emerged within his mind. His understanding of water's defensive properties deepened, and countless details he had previously overlooked became clear.
Water was soft, but it did not have to be weak.
A rigid defense endured an attack directly. Water redirected pressure, absorbed momentum, and changed form without collapsing.
Ren was extremely satisfied.
The Water Formation Wall appeared to be the affection-starved type of technique. Offering it a modest amount of attention produced an enormous return.
At this rate, its third-stage favorability trait would be unlocked soon.
Compared with Tobirama's Water Dragon Bullet, the reduction in hand seals for his Water Formation Wall was not especially dramatic. The ordinary technique required five seals, while Tobirama's version reduced that number to two.
Its true value lay in the change of form.
The standard Water Formation Wall rose upward from the ground, producing a single wall that defended against attacks from one direction.
Tobirama's version moved in a circle around the user, creating a rotating defensive barrier.
Rather than protecting only the front, it could provide a complete three-hundred-and-sixty-degree defense similar to the Hyūga clan's Rotation.
That difference was enormous.
A conventional Water Formation Wall left the user vulnerable to attacks from behind, above, or either side. Tobirama's version could intercept multiple attacks arriving from different directions, making it far more suitable for chaotic battlefield conditions.
Ren planned to test it as soon as an opportunity arose.
For now, he still needed to finish preparing for departure.
He wrapped the original Senju scrolls carefully and stored the copied materials inside a sealing scroll. He then checked his kunai, explosive tags, medicine, wire, food rations, and spare clothing.
Kana's blood was wrapped in cloth and placed within a reinforced compartment to prevent the bottle from breaking.
Once everything was organized, Ren washed, returned to his room, and went to bed.
The night passed without incident.
Early the following morning, Ren stood outside his family home with his equipment secured across his body.
His parents faced him at the doorway.
They had already watched him leave for the battlefield before, but experience did not make the farewell easier. If anything, knowing what the war could do made their reluctance more obvious.
Ren reassured them that he would remain careful and return safely.
He did not mention that his unit would be operating under Orochimaru as part of a secret offensive. The mission was confidential—and telling them would only deepen their fear.
After one final farewell, Ren turned away from the house.
Rin was already waiting nearby.
Her supplies were packed, and a medical pouch rested securely against her lower back. Despite the worry she had shown the previous day, her expression was now calm and determined.
The two left the civilian district together and made their way toward Konoha's main gate.
Kakashi and Obito had arrived ahead of them.
Kakashi stood against the wall with his arms folded, displaying his usual aloof expression. From the way his visible eye rested upon nothing in particular, one might have assumed he had no interest in anyone around him.
Obito looked entirely different.
His hair was messy, his eyes were half closed, and he yawned repeatedly. Judging by his appearance, Kakashi had dragged him out of bed before his mind had fully awakened.
The instant Obito saw Rin, however, every trace of sleepiness vanished.
"Rin! Ren! You're finally here!"
He waved both arms so energetically that a passing gate guard glanced toward him.
"Kakashi woke me up before sunrise! It wasn't even time for us to gather!"
Obito looked around the entrance.
"By the way, where are Asuma and the others? Are they all late? I can't believe an entire team would arrive after me!"
Kakashi turned his dead-fish eye toward him.
"They left an hour ago."
Obito froze.
"What?"
"To keep the operation secret, each squad is departing separately. We'll reunite near the southwestern battlefield."
Kakashi's tone remained completely flat.
"I already explained that to you."
Obito stared at him.
"Did you?"
"You truly are an idiot. You can't even understand ordinary human speech."
Obito's drowsiness disappeared completely.
"What did you say, you smug bastard?"
"I said you're an idiot and a dead last."
"You—!"
The pair immediately began arguing.
Despite having survived real battles, their insults remained as immature as those exchanged by academy children. Neither possessed enough creativity to say anything beyond idiot, dead last, and smug bastard.
Ren and Rin exchanged a glance.
Both sighed.
There was no reason to intervene. Kakashi and Obito argued constantly, but they never remained angry with each other for long. Each quarrel would end naturally, only for another to begin the next time they met.
Ren checked the position of the sun.
"It's almost time. Save the argument for the road."
Kakashi and Obito fell silent long enough to look at him.
"We need to reach the area around Mount Kikyō within two days," Ren continued. "That's where we'll rendezvous with Lord Orochimaru and the other squads."
"The journey won't be easy, and we cannot afford unnecessary delays. We're leaving now."
Obito crossed his arms.
"Hmph. For Ren's sake, I'll let you off this time."
Kakashi turned toward the village gates.
"A dead last is still a dead last."
A vein throbbed upon Obito's forehead.
"What did you say?!"
Despite their bickering, Team Minato finally departed Konoha.
This was already their third journey along the road leading southwest.
The first time, they had traveled to escort Hebiji.
The second time, they had entered the war zone for frontline training.
This time was different.
They were no longer inexperienced Genin being protected by their teacher. They were full-fledged Konoha shinobi marching toward a true battlefield.
Minato's absence left the formation feeling incomplete. Still, every member of the team had grown considerably stronger since their previous departure.
Ren was now a Special Jōnin and temporary captain.
Kakashi had gained further mission experience.
Obito had awakened his Sharingan.
Rin's medical ninjutsu and combat skills had improved dramatically.
They encountered no serious obstacles along the road. A few wild beasts withdrew after sensing their presence, while a small group of bandits fled almost as soon as they noticed the Konoha forehead protectors.
The team maintained a rapid pace, stopping only when necessary.
Halfway to Mount Kikyō, Ren suddenly raised one hand.
The others slowed immediately.
Several chakra signatures were approaching from the forest ahead.
A moment later, familiar figures emerged between the trees.
It was Asuma's team.
However, one glance at their tense expressions told Ren that this was no accidental reunion.
Something had happened on the road ahead.
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