Chapter 39: Arrival at Star Village

After Ren incinerated the bandits blocking the rear with a Fireball, their leader on the opposite side charged at him in a blind rage.

"You bastard! Die!" the bandit chief roared, swinging his heavy cleaver in a wide, powerful arc aimed at Ren's head.

Ren didn't flinch. He moved with blinding speed, his right hand snapping up to catch the blade between his index and middle fingers, stopping it dead. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he snapped a section of the blade off. The metal shard shot back toward the bandit leader.

"Damn it!" the man yelled, twisting his body to avoid the projectile. But in that split second, Ren had already closed the distance. He drove his fist forward in a simple, devastating punch aimed at the man's chest.

The bandit leader desperately crossed his arms in front of his torso in a block.

***CRUNCH.***

The sound of shattering bone was sickeningly loud, followed immediately by the leader's agonized scream. The force of the blow didn't stop; it lifted the man off his feet and sent him flying backward into the remaining group of bandits. He landed in a heap, motionless. A deep, fist-shaped depression was visible in his chest.

***Ding! Host eliminates 1 Low-Genin level combatant. Reward: 10 Points.***

*Only ten points?* Ren questioned internally. *Did the system eat the rest?*

***Answering Host: As the Host's power level has increased, eliminating Genin-level opponents no longer yields significant points. A nominal 10 points is awarded.***

*Tch. So stingy,* Ren grumbled, but he accepted it. The rules were the rules.

"H-How... How is that possible? The boss... The boss was so strong, and he was killed in two moves..." one of the bandits stammered, his voice trembling. "Let's get him! Avenge the boss!"

A few bandits surged forward, fueled by a fleeting burst of bravado. But it died the moment Ren turned his gaze on them, a cold, cruel smile playing on his lips. The reality of the situation crashed down on them. This wasn't some helpless merchant. This was a monster who had killed their powerful leader like he was nothing. Charging him was suicide.

Their courage shattered, the remaining bandits dropped their weapons and fled in every direction, scrambling into the woods. Ren didn't bother to give chase. He simply walked back to the wagon and sat down.

The driver, Zongten, practically leaped from his seat, his fear replaced by awe. "Little brother! You... you're a ninja! And such a powerful one! No wonder you were so calm!"

"It was nothing," Ren replied flatly.

The elder hurried over, his previous arrogance completely gone, replaced by effusive gratitude. "I had no idea you were a shinobi, young master! Thank you! Thank you for your help! Without you, we would have lost everything... maybe our lives! It's all because of those two lying scoundrels..." He shot a venomous glare at the two samurai guards. "From now on, I'm only hiring proper ninja for protection! Never again with these wandering frauds!"

"You're welcome," Ren said with a dismissive wave. "Let's just get moving."

"Y-Yes, of course! We must reach the next station! We can properly thank you there!" the elder said, bowing repeatedly before returning to his covered wagon.

The two samurai chose that moment to slink over to the elder. "Sir... about that... we were actually using a strategy back there! A feint! We were waiting for the perfect moment to strike when their guard was down, we—"

"Get out of my sight!" the old man exploded, his face turning red with fury. "A strategy? Do you take me for a fool? You're nothing but cowards and liars!"

"But... our payment..." one of them ventured weakly.

"Payment?!" the elder shrieked. "You have the audacity to ask for payment? Get out of here before I have the ninja deal with you!"

The mention of Ren was enough. The two samurai paled, muttered their apologies, and scurried away into the woods, not daring to look back.

The caravan continued its journey without further incident. As dusk fell, they arrived at a small trading post town and settled in for the night.

After a night's rest, the caravan set out again, this time heading directly for the Land of Bears. Several days of travel passed before the landscape began to change, signaling their arrival in the small nation. Ren bid farewell to the caravan. The elder, immensely grateful, pressed a small but heavy pouch of ryo into Ren's hand—payment for his protection on the road. Ren, who had been utterly broke, accepted it without protest.

After leaving the caravan, Ren found an inn in a border town for the night. The next morning, he inquired about the location of Hoshigakure, the Star Village. The directions were vague, pointing him toward a treacherous mountain range. He set off alone.

After a few hours of travel, he stood at the edge of a massive cliff. Below and ahead, a valley was choked with thick, yellowish toxic fumes.

"So this is Star Village's defense," Ren mused, looking down at the poisonous smog. "A natural barrier. Ordinary people would need gas masks. But for me..." He didn't finish the thought. Instead, he leaped off the cliff.

Instead of falling, he kicked downward against the air itself. *"Moon Step!"* He shot forward, running across the sky high above the poisonous gas. It didn't take long to cross the hazardous zone.

He made no attempt to conceal his approach. The moment he cleared the smoke, guards posted on the cliffs surrounding the hidden village spotted him.

"Look! In the sky! What is that?" one Hoshigakure ninja exclaimed.

"By the stars... it's a person! Flying without using the Peacock Method! How is that possible?"

"Sound the alert! Everyone, on guard! Jiro, run back to the village and report to Lord Hoshino immediately!" Content originally comes from N()velFire.net

The ninja named Jiro took one last terrified look at the figure soaring in the air before turning and sprinting into the village.

*So these are the ninja of Star Village,* Ren thought, a cold smirk on his face. *Time to welcome your uninvited guest.*

He ceased the Moon Step and dropped from the sky, landing with a devastating ***BOOM*** that cracked the stone platform where the guards were stationed. The impact sent a shockwave through the area, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The Hoshigakure ninja stumbled back, weapons drawn, their faces masks of shock and fear.

"You! Who are you?!" the lead guard demanded, his voice shaky but trying to project authority. "You dare trespass in Hoshigakure! State your business!"

"Don't be so tense," Ren said, spreading his hands in a mockingly peaceful gesture. "I just want to ask you a few questions."

"Answer us, outsider! Who are you and what is your purpose here?!" another ninja yelled, as they began to fan out, surrounding him.

*Tch. So much for a peaceful chat,* Ren thought. *It seems I'll have to persuade them the hard way.*

A cruel grin spread across his face. "It seems you'd rather not talk. Very well. I'll just have to beat the answers out of you."

"Get him! Subdue him and let Lord Hoshino deal with him!" the lead guard ordered.

The Star ninja lunged at him simultaneously, kunai gleaming. Their movements were slow, their techniques rudimentary compared to what he was used to.

*"Lightning Release: Chidori Stream!"*

Ren didn't even bother moving. A dome of crackling electricity erupted from his body. The charging ninja cried out as the current seized them, their muscles locking up. They dropped to the ground, twitching and paralyzed, utterly helpless. They were only Genin, and weaker than those from the major villages. His Chidori Stream had completely incapacitated them.

He let the electricity fade. The air smelled of ozone and fear. He walked calmly over to one of the paralyzed ninja and knelt beside him.

"Now then," Ren said, his voice deceptively soft. "Shall we try this again? Where do you keep your Star?"

The ninja's eyes widened in horror and understanding. "W-What? You... your target is our sacred Star?!"

"That's none of your concern. Just tell me where it is."

"Humph! I'll never tell you!" the ninja spat, though the effect was ruined by his trembling.

"Oh? In that case..." Ren's hand shot out. There was a sharp, final ***SNAP***. The ninja went limp. Ren stood up and moved to the next one.

"Tell me."

"Go to hell! Lord Hoshino will make you pay for this!" the second ninja yelled, his defiance laced with terror.

"A pity you won't be around to see it." Another swift, brutal motion. Another ***SNAP***.

He turned to the third guard, his expression utterly cold. "They were stubborn. How about you?"

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