Glub, glub!
Bubbling water erupted in a constant hiss, sending plumes of white steam upward and spreading the pungent stench of sulfur everywhere. Within the deep, oppressive darkness, the only source of light was the faint white glow of a barrier floating atop a subterranean lake of boiling water.
Crack, crack!
Loose rocks and dust rained down from the volcanic walls. The entire environment felt like a kettle that had been brought to a boil but had its spout plugged, internal pressure building relentlessly. The air was so scorching—reaching nearly 60°C—that even Ren Uchiha, now a shinobi, felt his vision swimming.
A lurking sense of crisis coiled in the gloom like a venomous snake waiting for its moment.
Ren's vision blurred. For a second, through the white light of the barrier, he thought he saw his "Death Star" flickering in the dark sky. He even imagined his long-lost ancestors waving at him from the beyond.
At that thought, Ren's spirit suddenly surged! He was awake—completely, utterly awake! He finally understood everything.
This place was a volcano created by Dodai's jutsu, and directly beneath him was a boiling hot spring. This... wasn't this the perfect place to be buried?!
Talk about every cloud having a silver lining!
Originally, Ren thought he had wasted his money; the tags didn't explode, and he had almost accidentally pulled off a "miraculous comeback" by beating a Cloud Special Jōnin. Combined with Great Elder Setsuna's explosive threats, it looked like the Cloud ninjas were about to pack up and run for their lives.
But—who could have guessed?!
Boss Dodai had delivered a masterpiece! Earth-Core Rise to build the volcano, and Rubber River to seal the lid. High pressure, 100°C boiling water, and a localized eruption... This was a death trap!
Ren was practically moved to tears. Thank you, Boss Dodai, for this massive volcano! Dammit, trying to claim an insurance payout is way too hard!
While Ren was crying tears of joy, the Cloud ninja Moroi was "red-hot" for a very different reason. He glared at Ren—who looked like he was crying from fear—with zero sympathy. Only pure, unadulterated hatred.
His eyes were bloodshot, his veins bulging on his forehead. Because of this kid, Dodai had sold him out! He had been tossed into a volcano along with his own barrier! Moroi had never felt such despair. The repressed rage was about to burst out of his chest.
"Ren Uchiha!" Moroi roared, his voice distorted. "It's all your fault! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess!"
He clenched his fists, screaming in a manic frenzy: "I'm going to kill you! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!"
However, hearing this, Ren wasn't terrified. He was delighted! He looked at the furious Moroi and almost wanted to applaud. Fantastic! This guy still wants to kill me! This is like bungee jumping and realizing you forgot the cord, only to find out you're actually falling into a giant pile of pillows!
Facing Moroi's murderous gaze, Ren suppressed his inner joy and nodded calmly. "Good, very spirited!"
He snapped his eyes open. To ensure Moroi's rage hit the threshold, he intentionally raised an eyebrow, putting on his best arrogant, cold, and "Sasuke-style" expression. He let out a soft, mocking laugh.
"Before these eyes... your struggles are meaningless."
Sharingan—Activate!
The scarlet pupils reflected Moroi's twisted expression as the single tomoe spun slowly. It was a masterpiece of "try-hard" cool. He didn't need to say much; the aura of a "True Pro" radiated from him. Anyone who saw him would want to beat him up just for the attitude.
Naturally, Moroi couldn't resist this psychological warfare. His nostrils flared, and the veins on his forehead pulsed.
In the next instant, Moroi exploded off the surface of the boiling lake, tearing through the white mist with a demonic roar. But Ren simply tilted his body, dodging a flurry of fast punches. He countered with a backhand strike to Moroi's heart.
Cloud-Style: Reverse Slash! Ren had learned it on the spot. He followed up with a flying kick to Moroi's face, sending him tumbling back. Then, he added casually: "Give up. I have already seen through all of your movements."
"AAAAHHHHHHH!"
Driven to madness, Moroi ignored his exhausted body and slammed his hands onto the boiling water: "Sealing Art: Thunder Kill Bind!"
Ren was startled—he didn't expect the guy to have any juice left. He tried to dodge, but the water was conductive. The environment buffed the speed of the jutsu. A brilliant flash of lightning formed a massive 'Thunder' (雷) kanji beneath Ren's feet. Four lightning chains pierced through him, locking him in place.
Moroi flashed a twisted, triumphant grin.
And then...
Splash. He fell straight into the boiling water.
Glub, glub! Beneath the surface, Moroi's limbs flailed weakly, his eyes wide with horror as the boiling water began to cook him alive. A giant bubble rose to the surface.
Moroi—the Special Jōnin of the Cloud, the future leader of their Barrier Corps, a man who could create thirty-six regenerative barriers—was gone. No more sound. No more breath.
As Moroi died, the Thunder Kill Bind faded away. Ren stood there, completely bewildered.
"Wait, big brother... you couldn't hold on for two more seconds?!" Ren shouted at the water. "Just walk over and stab me! What the hell?!"
The guy had used a jutsu with zero chakra left, not even leaving enough to stand on the water. Are all Cloud ninjas this short-tempered?
Ren collapsed onto the water's surface, gasping for breath. He was truly at his limit. As the light from the barrier faded into total darkness, he let out a long, weary sigh. He looked at his reflection in the boiling spring.
His handsome face was now a mess of dirt, blood, ink, and sweat. He looked like a coal miner who had just crawled out of a pit. Ren let out a soft chuckle, sensing the pressure beneath the water reaching a breaking point. The eruption was coming.
"So... this is my end..." He sat back, his face full of peace. He was so, so tired.
However, in that moment—
A golden flame ignited in the darkness! Like the very first beam of light at the dawn of creation! A familiar, thunderous roar exploded in Ren's ear:
"Fire Style: Great Fire Destruction!"