Trash Station of Naruto

Not long after, outside Konoha.

Ren carried only a ninja tool pouch, but it was completely empty.

A large number of blades and weapons had all been stored inside the Amethyst Ring.

Ren stared at the location marked on the scroll and said, "Let's go!"

With a leap, he instantly landed atop a tree.

Chakra flowed beneath his feet. The instant he stepped onto a branch, it produced a powerful gripping force. Then, with another step, he burst forth with Chakra, generating immense explosive force that allowed Ren to jump farther.

Even a simple jump contained an application of Chakra. This was also a basic lesson at the Ninja Academy: the technique of ninja movement.

Kushina and Mikoto followed behind him, while Might Duy kept watch over their surroundings.

Might Duy naturally understood Ren's intentions. He had been brought along merely to protect the two girls. Though it was an ordinary investigation mission, no one knew what might happen, especially during the Second Shinobi World War.

Besides that, there was the mission reward. A mission came with quite a substantial payment. Ren did not care about it, nor would Kushina and Mikoto give it a second thought. After all, the three of them were wealthy, while only Might Duy needed money. Although Ren could offer him financial help, Might Duy had always considered himself indebted. He even planned to try becoming a Jonin after completing his taijutsu, then repay the money Ren had given him.

At this moment, Might Duy surveyed the area before following behind Ren.

Ren stared at a spot on the scroll and said, "Such a small area? It seems this mission was specially selected. I hope Tsunade's luck is good."

Muttering to himself, Ren spread out his senses.

Time passed, and several hours had gone by. Ren said, "Only one place remains. Once we check it, this investigation mission will be complete!"

Kushina was somewhat displeased. "What was that? We just came out for a stroll and haven't seen anyone at all!"

With her fiery temperament, Kushina definitely did not like missions that involved simply making a roundabout trip.

Compared to Kushina, Mikoto was much gentler. It had to be said that Mikoto and Kushina truly had completely opposite personalities.

Ren landed on a branch and said, "Something's there!"

The three behind him landed as well, all looking toward Ren.

Ren stared into the distance. There was a small hill there, but signs of human activity could be seen around it.

Seeing this, Might Duy said, "Ren... we should leave this place. It may be an investigation mission, but because of the war, ninjas from other countries can easily appear within the Land of Fire!"

Ren nodded, understanding Might Duy's meaning. With the Land of Fire's long border, how could it possibly maintain defenses at every moment? Furthermore, the Land of Fire was sparsely populated. It was common to travel dozens of kilometers without seeing a single village.

Thus, ninjas from other countries could easily enter the Land of Fire. Entering was one thing, but trying to get close to Konoha was simply courting death.

The people appearing here might very well be enemy ninjas.

Just as Ren was thinking, he saw someone emerge from the cave, with an Iwagakure forehead protector on his brow.

Seeing that person, Kushina's eyes lit up with excitement. "There really is—"

Before she could finish, Ren had already stopped her.

Ren narrowed his eyes and formed a hand seal with one hand. Ninja Art—Sensory Mimicry!

His spiritual power slowly flowed out from his body, enveloping the three before him before merging with the tree beneath their feet.

This was a sensory ninjutsu taught to Ren by his grandfather. Sensory ninjutsu was not merely for sensing; it had other uses as well. For example, this Sensory Mimicry connected one's sensing ability to the surrounding scenery, making oneself become part of the scenery.

Just as Ren was now connected to the tree, other sensory ninjas would perceive Ren as a tree. Unless they saw him directly with their own eyes, it would be difficult to discover Ren's presence through sensing alone, or even through a ninja's instincts.

After finishing everything, Ren's lips curled into an alarmed expression. "What the hell is this? Why is he here!"

He did not speak aloud, but his words were transmitted to the other three through their mental link.

Kushina asked, "Who is that person?"

Ren stared at the man in the distance. He had red hair, a short beard, and wore red clothing from head to toe. If Ren was not mistaken, the man before him was Roshi—Roshi of Iwagakure. He was from the same generation as the Tsuchikage and was also Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchuriki.

Moreover, judging from Roshi's appearance and the terrifying vitality and Chakra Ren sensed from him, Ren had nearly identified Roshi as a member of the Uzumaki Clan.

In truth, Ren was suspicious as well. That hair was far too similar to that of the Uzumaki Clan. Perhaps Roshi truly was an Uzumaki. After all, the Uzumaki Clan had scattered across many places, and perhaps one of them had entered Iwagakure!

Ren looked at the three of them and said, "This matter is no longer something we can get involved in. Notify the others now."

Ren did not know what Roshi was doing here, but a Jinchuriki had appeared here, and Konoha was not far away. It definitely could not be anything good.

As though realizing that the situation was bad, both Kushina and Mikoto fell silent. Ren reached into his ninja tool pouch and took out a scroll from the Amethyst Ring.

The scroll appeared, and Ren slowly formed hand seals.

Just as Ren was forming the seals, Roshi vanished from his sight.

Ren said, "Not good... it seems we've been discovered!"

The moment those words fell, a figure was already standing in the distance.

That person was Roshi. He smiled faintly. "Brats from Konoha!"

As soon as he spoke, Might Duy rushed out and faced Roshi. "Ren... take them and go. I'll stop him!"

His words were filled with determination, along with a trace of confidence.

Might Duy had only just created the Eight Gates, and he did not yet know how powerful the ninjutsu he had created truly was. However, he knew that he could fight to the death and hold Roshi back for a while.

Ren placed both hands on the scroll, and the writing upon it instantly vanished.

This was a contract scroll, one Tsunade had given to Ren. If Ren encountered danger and activated the runes within the scroll, she would receive the message where she was.

Such contract scrolls were extremely precious. Only disciples of major clans were equipped with them, and even then, only the geniuses among those clan disciples.

Uzumaki Clan

The scroll turned into flames and disappeared. Roshi noticed this as well, but he did not care.

Ren drew the Stellar Katana, his sharp gaze fixed on Roshi in the distance. "Rock Ninja appearing in the Land of Fire—what are you trying to do!"

Roshi did not answer Ren's question. He merely glanced at him before turning his gaze toward Kushina. "A member of the Uzumaki Clan? What a tragic fate!"

His words carried a sigh, even a hint of sorrow.

Only then did Roshi look at Ren. "Kid... your secret ninjutsu is quite good. If I hadn't relied on a special sense, I truly would not have discovered you. But it ends here. All of you will stay behind. Don't worry, I won't kill you, but you'll be unconscious here for a while."

Upon hearing this, Ren looked toward Kushina and said, "Is it because of Kushina? The two of you have the same hair color. Could it be that you're also from the Uzumaki Clan?"