Chapter 201: Ghosts in the Mist (Part-23) (END) [Ren’s Wiggle Seals the Deal]

Chapter 201 - Ghosts in the Mist (Part-23) (END) [Ren’s Wiggle Seals the Deal] {Chapter 200 :)} The moment his foot landed on a shallow patch of sand, the seals below activated. A deep, slow chakra pulse activated beneath the surface. Like something breathing underground and then it happened. Roots shot up from beneath Kisame's feet. [Root Bind Activation] Dozens of chakra-hardened roots burst from the sand, wrapping tightly around Kisame's ankles, knees, and forearms in a fraction of a second. The tendrils spun up around Samehada, coiling around its hilt and spikes. The roots glowed faintly as seals etched into them in black ink, pulsed with suppressive force. Kisame's grin finally broke. "The hell is this-!?" He struggled, muscles flexing, water chakra flaring from his core. But it didn't behave right. The chakra slipped and misaligned, and then he realised his chakra control was unstable. Then came the second activation.. [Chakra Suppression] The inked seals on the roots glowed in sync, and a faint ripple passed through Kisame's entire body. He gasped as his chakra stuttered like static in a sealed pipe. His jutsu flow fractured, and Samehada recoiled in confusion, twitching violently in its bindings. "Damn it! My chakra's-!" He tried to swing, but his arms locked against the pressure. A clone of Ren moved in and slammed a highly advanced paralysis seal on him and another one moved as he placed multiple sealing tags on the sand around him. [Terrain Lockdown.] The wet sand beneath Kisame suddenly solidified, not into stone, but something worse. An unnatural density settled in, reinforced with sealing marks that disrupted chakra flow through moisture. The ocean behind Kisame might as well have been a mile away as even if he tried to use his chakra to borrow the ocean's power he wasn't successful. He twisted his torso and tried to use Samehada again, but it didn't respond. The suppression seals had confused its feeding instincts. Even its scaled surface trembled like it was in pain. Kisame snarled as he tried to mold his chakra. "You think this'll hold me?!" However his chakra slipped again, like trying to mold clay underwater. Ren landed just a few feet in front of him, the real one now, no clone tricks. Lightning still crackled faintly around his arms. His eyes locked with Kisame's. Kisame's grin had turned to a grimace. "You must not have chakra to burn anymore," he said, breathing harder now. "So you planned this petty trick." Ren nodded once and shouted, "Retreat!" The word rang out above the surf like a command seal. The moment it fell, Utakata and Tenzo vanished, flickering away toward the ocean without hesitation. They didn't need further instruction as this was the signal they'd been waiting for. On the far end of the beach, Itachi, having already handled the remaining Hunter-nin, moved to assist Kakashi. The two coordinated in perfect silence, launching a combined wave of Fire and Lightning Style jutsu to force Raiga back just long enough. Itachi vanished first. Kakashi followed a heartbeat later, forming several clones mid-movement. They lunged at Raiga without pause, meant to delay, not to defeat. As the last of the group began to retreat, Ren stayed behind. He was moving fast, placing seal after seal onto Kisame and Samehada. Samehada got the worst of it as it had more tags as Ren knew it was the greater threat between the two. When he finally saw that everyone else had cleared the area, he moved into the final step. He placed four distinct marks in the sand around Kisame's trapped form. The barrier flared to life with a deep hum as purple chakra walls locked into place around the target like a cage of glass. Kisame growled behind it, frozen in place. Ren gave him a grin through the translucent barrier and raised two fingers in a lazy peace sign. Then the Four Gates opened and Ren vanished in a blink. Kisame was left behind, still trapped, snarling, breathing heavily as he twisted against the bindings. His voice rose in a shout, full of rage. "You little bastard! You think this is over?!" He thrashed again, but the barrier held. Moments later, Raiga flickered into view beside him. Kisame didn't even glance his way, still fuming. Raiga's tone was flat. "I told you not to play around." He looked down at the mess of seals and then flickered away, disappearing into the ocean without another word as he began chasing after Ren and the others. Kisame's teeth clenched tighter. "Damn it," he hissed. Then shouted, "Samehada! Stop being confused!" The sword trembled where it lay, still bound in half a dozen ink-laced seals. Kisame barked again, louder. "Those are made of chakra, start eating them and get over here!" Samehada quivered... then jolted forward. Its jagged scales shifted as it reached down and bit into one of the suppression tags and it worked. The seal dissolved in a ripple of chakra, and the sword vibrated in satisfaction. Immediately, it began tearing through the rest. But Ren had layered too many. Seals upon seals, ink burned into layered matrices. Even as Samehada devoured one, three more sat behind it so the progress was slow. Worse was , there were traps that had been hidden in the sequence. As the sword reached Kisame's bindings and bit into one of the deeper layers, a seal flared red. BOOM. The explosion threw Samehada backward, tumbling it through the sand. Kisame winced, eyes narrowing. "Ren... you bastard," he muttered. "You even trapped your own damn traps." Samehada shook itself, scorched, bleeding from several ridges, but crawled forward again. Driven not by loyalty, but by shared rage. It could feel Kisame's fury and wanted to taste his killing intent. Five minutes passed. By the time Samehada finally bit through the chakra suppression core seal, the one disrupting Kisame's molding, its scales were cracked and several of its teeth were missing. But it worked and Kisame's chakra surged violently back into circulation. A single breath and the seals binding him shattered. Multiple delayed traps exploded again, burning lines across his arms and shoulders, but he didn't care. He didn't even flinch. The moment chakra flowed cleanly again, his body flooded with energy. The killing intent that rolled off him was heavy. He stood without effort, grabbed Samehada, and let out a breath. Then he launched forward ignoring the barrier like it didn't even exist. The ocean parted around him as he moved, kicking up tide after tide behind his sprint. Samehada screamed in his grip, eager, bloodthirsty. Ren was ahead of him somewhere and Kisame wasn't letting him go. ~~~ Even though Ren and the others had only been running for a few minutes, they'd already covered an enormous distance as the high-speed travel over the ocean with chakra-enhanced strides left no time for rest. Up ahead, they were already closing in on Four and Yugao, who were escorting the wounded Leaf agents back toward the Fire Country coastline. But their situation was just as desperate. Waves of Mist shinobi were swarming them from behind. The battle between Ren and Kisame had been impossible to hide. It had torn open the shoreline, shattered terrain, and sent chakra signatures rolling across the water like thunder. The Mist had noticed and within minutes, dozens of reinforcements had arrived at the beach but it was too late to intervene in the battle, but early enough to spot the fleeing Leaf teams. Now, they were in pursuit. Mist Hunter-nin, special forces, and high-speed jōnin units had joined the chase, relentlessly tracking down the escaping survivors. Yugao and Four led the group with steady hands, doing everything they could to keep the injured agents moving, but it was barely enough. Thankfully, they weren't alone and KO was still with them, seeing the situation turning dire she didn't waste any time and summoned multiple butterflies. The swarm bloomed behind her in a flicker of chakra. The soft golden shimmer of their wings briefly lit the ocean surface before they scattered in multiple directions, moving just above the water like drifting petals. Each butterfly began releasing pollen in a slow, shimmering dust that floated across the waves. As the Mist shinobi caught up, several of them immediately began slowing down, their expressions dulling as the genjutsu took hold. A few collapsed into the water without even realizing it. But the Mist weren't untrained. Within seconds, someone shouted, "Genjutsu! Wind Style, clear the path!" Chakra surged and multiple Mist shinobi released wide-range Wind Release techniques that scattered the butterflies and pollen clouds with coordinated blasts. Visibility snapped back into focus and the chase resumed. But that brief delay had sealed their luck because Ren's team had caught up. A streak of motion blurred at the back of the retreating Mist-nin and then Ren appeared, landing hard on the water with a low crouch. He looked up and immediately assessed the situation. His gaze swept over Ko and the exhausted butterflies, the collapsing agents in the water, the advancing enemies so he didn't hesitate. [Gate of Limit! Open!] The Fifth Gate flared open inside his body. Veins bulged. Chakra roared outward in thick waves, the surface of the ocean quivering beneath him. Ren took a single breath, then jumped up and raised his right leg high above his head. The ocean beneath him shuddered as his heel dropped. [Heavenly Foot of Pain.] The force of the impact split the ocean in two. A towering wave blasted outward, sending Mist shinobi flying on both sides. Those caught directly beneath the strike were slammed down to the seabed, bodies driven through the water like falling meteors. The ocean snapped shut seconds later, but the damage was done. Ren didn't slow. He surged forward, streaking between the two scattered enemy groups. As he passed the stunned Mist shinobi, he swung both fists sideways in a wide arc and blasted out twin waves of chakra, compressed and focused. The resulting shockwave almost cracked the air. Dozens of shinobi were thrown backward, some dead on impact, others flung across the ocean like rag dolls. Those who survived simply froze, their senses barely intact. They stared at the devastation, unable to comprehend how one shinobi had just parted the sea and erased a squadron in seconds. But Ren didn't stop. He could feel it, Kisame's chakra was still behind them, growing stronger by the second. He had maybe a minute. So he acted. First, he grabbed Itachi by the collar and flung him forward without warning. "Wha-" Itachi managed, just before he blurred out of view and was launched like a cannonball across the ocean's surface. Next was Tenzo. Ren dashed beside him and hoisted him by the vest. "Wait, I can run!" "Not fast enough." He threw him like a sack of supplies. Tenzo vanished into the distance with a shout. Then Kakashi, winded from earlier but still keeping pace. Ren didn't ask this time either as one hand grabbed Kakashi's flak jacket and launched him too. The copy ninja barely had time to raise a hand in protest before he was gone. Only one person remained. Utakata. Ren slowed for half a second beside him as he muttered, "Sorry, sensei." Utakata nodded his head and Ren picked him up and hurled him forward with a grunt. Now that they were all ahead, he turned and picked up speed again. Behind him, he could feel the chakra pressure and knew Kisame was coming fast and furious. Ren reached the retreating Leaf forces just as the last of the agents regrouped on the open water. Ren's chest rose and fell with steady control, but the tension behind his eyes told the real story. He couldn't fight Kisame again. Not here in the centre of the huge ocean. Not yet atleast. Up to this point, he'd managed to keep the battle isolated as there was no Yagura, no reinforcements. But if another Kage-level or even an S-rank shinobi appeared now, the balance would shatter instantly. They'd be crushed. Ren scrambled through his storage belt, fingers sweeping across ink-marked tags until he found the right one, it was a medium-sized summoning scroll, compact and heavy. He slammed it against his palm. A puff of smoke exploded upward, and with it a caravel burst into existence, tall and sturdy, the figurehead of a sheep carved into its front. Ren buckled a bit under the weight but still managed to throw it overhead as it landed hard on the water a short distance ahead, rocking briefly before settling into place. The shinobi ahead of him came to a jarring halt. For a second, the sudden stop almost caused a pile-up, but they were all trained professionals. Without waiting for orders, they launched themselves toward the ship in coordinated arcs of chakra-assisted movement. Utakata was the first to reach the deck. Without pause, he moved straight to the helm and took the steering wheel, spinning it sharply to adjust for the incoming current. Ren landed next and shouted, voice cutting through the wind, "Kakashi! Open as many gates as you can! Don't worry about the injuries and help me push!" Kakashi didn't hesitate. He clenched his jaw, made a seal with his right hand, and began unlocking the Eight Gates. Gate of Opening. Gate of Healing. Gate of Life. Gate of Pain. Gate of Limit. Gate of View. Open! The sixth gate exploded to life within him. His body shuddered from the strain, blood vessels bulging slightly at his temples, but he stayed on his feet and sprinted with Ren toward the ship's stern. They planted their feet together, leaned in and began pushing and the ship jolted forward. Ren had the Fifth Gate open, his base strength far beyond Kakashi's. But Kakashi's Sixth Gate narrowed the difference. He was gritting his teeth, chest tightening, but he didn't slow. They drove their strength into the hull in perfect rhythm, launching the vessel forward across the waves. At the same time Four jumped to the ship's upper mast, hands already flying through seals. [Wind Style: Gale Stream!] A stream of pressurized wind burst from his palms and caught the sails, rapidly increasing acceleration. The mast creaked from the force, but held. Yugao and Noi didn't waste a second. They scrambled up the rigging and began tying down the ropes with reinforced chakra-thread to stabilize the mast before the pressure tore it off. Meanwhile, Itachi took the uninjured agents and spies disappeared below deck, grabbing hold of the rowing blades attached to the ship's lower paddles. Chakra flared as they began rowing in perfect sync, adding propulsion from beneath the waterline. Utakata kept steering, his hands firm on the wheel, eyes locked on the choppy ocean ahead. He made constant micro-adjustments to keep them steady on the fastest route out of Mist territory. In moments, the chaotic retreat had turned into a well-oiled machine. Ren and Kakashi continued to push from behind, carving a wake through the ocean like a speeding arrow. Water sprayed up in two walls around them, mist flying in their faces as the wind roared. Ren didn't say a word, he didn't need to as they all knew what this was. They weren't just escaping. They were evacuating everyone, together, injured or not. Slower shinobi, unconscious agents, scouts with broken ribs, none of them would've made it sprinting alone. The ship was the only way. Even if it cost them seconds. Even if Kisame caught up Ren had bet everything on this single move and now, he just had to hold on. As Ren continued pushing the ship, waves tearing past him and chakra still burning in his limbs, he suddenly heard the voice he'd been waiting for. "Where the hell do you think you're going, you damned brat!?" Ren clicked his tongue as he figured Kisame had arrived. He didn't even turn around. Just let out a long breath and muttered, "Shit." Then, over his shoulder, he spoke quietly to Kakashi, who was still beside him, drenched in sweat and shaking slightly from the strain of the Sixth Gate. "That's enough, Kakashi. The ship's picked up enough speed drop the gates and get back onboard." Kakashi grit his teeth. "No. I can hold on for a while longer. With the Sixth Gate open, I'm still good to fight." Ren shook his head. He could feel Kisame's killing intent pressing in now, it was closer by the second. "You're the strongest here after me," Ren said plainly. "If I stay back to hold Kisame and someone else shows up, the others will be defenseless without you. Go. I can handle it." Kakashi hesitated for only a moment, then exhaled sharply. "Alright. But if you die doing something this stupid, I'm going to remind you of this for the rest of your afterlife." With that, he leapt onto the ship's railing and dropped down onto the deck. The moment he left, the burden on Ren's senses lifted slightly. But Kisame's presence only grew heavier. Ren smiled faintly, shaking his head. 'Kakashi really had changed. Not quite the canon version anymore, huh?' He wondered briefly what kind of reward the system would give for changing canon, then mentally slapped the thought aside. Not the time. He gave the ship one final push then stopped pushing and turned. Kisame was now standing in full view, Samehada slung behind his shoulder, his eyes locked on Ren like a predator that had just cornered its prey. Ren met his gaze and realised that if looks could kill, he would've died fifteen times already. Seeing that Ren wasn't fleeing anymore, Kisame's grin widened. Without a word, he began forming hand seals, then slammed his palm into the ocean. A massive wave surged upward, it was taller than the ship, towering like a cliff and riding it was Kisame himself. Ren's jaw dropped slightly. "...Holy shit," he muttered. "That is so cool. Can you teach me that?" Before Kisame could answer with something profane, a deep, booming voice echoed from above. "You brat! This is not the time to admire your opponent's jutsu!" Ren glanced up. A massive red toad, cloaked in tattered blue, was descending from the sky, rusty skin glinting under the sun. Boom! The toad landed directly on top of the rising wave and crushed Kisame with it. The ocean exploded outward in a massive shockwave, swallowing the sound of impact. Ren blinked then sighed as he reaslised Jiraiya had arrived. He already knew the Sannin would be showing up but somehow, the timing was so spot on that he felt like a fanfic protagonist. It was just a little too perfect. He looked ahead again. Kisame had already surfaced, Samehada in hand, drenched and glaring up at Ren with pure hatred. He wasn't even looking at Jiraiya. Just Ren who had now jumped on the toad. Jiraiya, now standing atop the toad's head, noticed it too. "Seriously?" he muttered. "I do the dramatic entrance, and he's still obsessed with you?" The toad grunted, shifting its weight. "Oi, brat!" it barked. "Who said you could sit on my head?" Ren sat down on the toad's head casually as he reached out and patted the old toad once. "Eh, c'mon, chief. I brought you a tasty snack and this is how you treat me?" The toad growled. Jiraiya stepped in quickly. "Enough. I'll handle the shark from here. You've done more than enough." He reached into his cloak and handed Ren a small scroll. "Message from Yoru. Read it once you're safe." Ren tucked the scroll into his belt without comment. Then turned one last time toward Kisame, still fuming and soaked below. He grinned, raised a hand, and waved mockingly. Then as if to accentuate him escaping he even turned and gave a butt wiggle. "Bye-bye, dumb shark. Next time I promise I'll finish the job." And with a flicker of movement, he vanished, as he was gone in an instant, chakra signature fading toward the ship. Left behind, Jiraiya sighed deeply. Kisame, on the other hand, erupted. "JUST YOU WAIT, YOU DAMNED BRAT!!" ~~~~~ {With this, the ghosts in the mist arc is finished.}