Renjiro's eyes fixed on the vial, his EMS spinning slowly as he catalogued every detail of it.
But it was the chakra signature that truly caught his attention; the faint, almost imperceptible pulse of energy that emanated from the vial, a signature that he recognised as intimately as his own. His chakra. His energy. His essence, preserved within the glass like a frozen moment of his own existence.
Orochimaru, Renjiro thought, the name landing in his mind like a curse. Of course. The bastard is a snake.
He mentally berated himself. He had trusted Orochimaru, had believed that their arrangement was mutually beneficial, had convinced himself that the Snake Sannin would honour their agreement because it served his interests.
But he had forgotten the fundamental truth of Orochimaru's nature; the man was a predator, a creature of infinite ambition and flexible loyalties, someone who would sell anyone and anything if the price was right.
I should have killed him when I had the chance, Renjiro thought, the regret burning in his chest like acid. I should have ended him the moment I saw an opening. But no, I had to preserve the timeline. I had to keep him alive for the future.
The irony was almost unbearable. His knowledge of future events, his careful manipulation of the timeline, his attempts to preserve certain outcomes while preventing others; all of it had led to this moment. He had spared Orochimaru because he believed the Sannin would play a role in events yet to come, because he had calculated that the benefits of keeping him alive outweighed the risks. But he had miscalculated, had underestimated Orochimaru's willingness to betray him, had forgotten that snakes do not form bonds; they only strike when the opportunity presents itself.
Perhaps this was exactly why trusting Orochimaru was stupid, he concluded, the thought carrying a cold, bitter edge. Perhaps I should have known better. Perhaps I did know better, and I simply chose to ignore my instincts because I thought I could control him.
He kept his face completely unreadable, his expression a mask of professional composure that betrayed nothing of the storm raging within.
They really do have something, Renjiro realised, the certainty settling into his consciousness like ice. Not just traces at the battlefield. Something physically connected to me. Something that can be tested, analysed, used as evidence.
The situation was more complicated than simply dismissing Danzō's evidence as circumstantial. The vial was real, the chakra signature was genuine, and the connection to Orochimaru was undeniable. He needed to find a way to explain it, to separate possession from treason, to prevent the elders from controlling the narrative.
How the hell am I supposed to spin this? he wondered, his tactical mind racing through possibilities, searching for an angle, a weakness, a vulnerability that he could exploit.
Hiruzen broke the silence. "What exactly does the vial contain, Koharu?"
Minato followed with a more specific question: "Why can I sense Renjiro's chakra coming from it?"
The questions hung in the air, demanding answers that Koharu seemed reluctant to provide. She didn't respond immediately; instead, she exchanged a deliberate glance with Danzō. Danzō turned toward Renjiro, his visible eye carrying a smug expression that made Renjiro's blood run cold.
He believes he has finally cornered me, Renjiro realised, his EMS picking up the subtle shifts in Danzō's physiology.
He wants me to react. He wants hesitation. He wants fear. He wants me to reveal something accidentally.
Renjiro consciously refused to give him that satisfaction. His face remained completely unreadable, his posture relaxed, his breathing steady. He would not give Danzō the reaction he was looking for.
Seeing Renjiro remain silent, Danzō took control of the explanation.
"The vial contains Renjiro's chakra," he announced. "The chakra remained within the material because the vial had been in Renjiro's possession for an extended period."
He paused, allowing the words to sink in. "This is another piece of circumstantial evidence that supports our accusation. Renjiro possessed the Hashirama cells. Renjiro possessed the vial. Renjiro encountered Orochimaru. The same material was allegedly discovered at the battlefield." He gestured toward the vial with his cane. "The pattern is unmistakable."
Hiruzen turned toward Renjiro. "Is that true, Renjiro? Did you possess this vial?"
Renjiro barely reacted to the question. He didn't bother answering immediately because the question itself wasn't the important part; what mattered was the logic, the evidence, the way the pieces fit together. He needed to understand the full scope of the trap before he could begin to dismantle it.
Minato stepped forward. "If I may ask a question, why would an object containing Renjiro's chakra be left at the site of a confrontation between Renjiro and Orochimaru? Both men are extremely intelligent and experienced shinobi. Neither would realistically leave something that incriminating behind by accident."
Danzō immediately turned Minato's objection around. "The very presence of the material proves that something happened," he argued. "The material is extremely important. It originated from Renjiro. It was found where Renjiro and Orochimaru fought. Therefore, some form of exchange must have occurred."
He paused, his visible eye meeting Minato's with unwavering intensity. "I am not claiming to have witnessed the exchange. I am simply making an inference that any reasonable person would draw from the available evidence. The circumstances align in a way that demands explanation."
The logic was twisted but effective. Danzō was using the absence of definitive proof as evidence itself, exploiting the gaps in knowledge to construct a narrative that served his purposes. He didn't need to prove that an exchange had occurred; he only needed to suggest that it was the most likely explanation.
Danzō stopped pretending that this was merely an investigation. "Given the evidence presented, I formally demand that Commander Renjiro surrender his position immediately. He should be removed as Jōnin Commander, stripped of his authority, and executed for treason against Konoha."
The demand shocked the room through its sheer severity. Homura's expression shifted, his carefully maintained composure cracking to reveal genuine surprise. Koharu's hands clasped together more tightly, her knuckles whitening with tension. Even Hiruzen seemed taken aback, his ancient eyes widening slightly before returning to their careful neutrality.
Minato's expression hardened. "That is an extreme demand, Danzō. You are asking for the execution of one of Konoha's most decorated shinobi based on circumstantial evidence."
Renjiro remained calm, his expression controlled. Internally, however, he recognised the political danger; Danzō wasn't merely trying to prove the accusation. He was trying to establish that Renjiro's continued existence was itself a threat, that the mere possibility of his guilt justified his elimination. This was about removing Renjiro from the political structure of Konoha, about eliminating a rival, about consolidating power.
Hiruzen intervened, "I reject the demand for immediate execution. However, I believe there is merit in removing Renjiro from command pending a full investigation."
He paused. "Whether Renjiro colluded with Orochimaru or acted independently, the circumstances remain suspicious. Orochimaru is a Sannin, one of the most powerful shinobi in the world. A confrontation with him should not end with Renjiro walking away completely unharmed unless something unusual occurred."
Renjiro internally processed Hiruzen's position, his tactical mind analysing the implications. The problem wasn't simply the evidence; it was public perception. Even if every individual piece of evidence could be challenged, the accumulated narrative could still destroy him.
If the village believed Danzō, if the Jōnin believed Danzō, if the clans began believing Danzō, then the truth almost became irrelevant. He could theoretically prove his innocence later, but the political damage could become irreversible.
I'm really fucked, he thought. It doesn't matter what happens in this room if they've already convinced everyone outside it. If the village believes him, I'm cooked.
Instead of surrendering his badge, Renjiro suddenly laughed.
The sound was unexpected, startling; a genuine, openly amused laugh that echoed through the tense silence of the chamber.
Everyone reacted. Hiruzen's expression shifted, his ancient eyes widening with visible unease. Minato looked confused, his brow furrowing as he tried to interpret the unexpected sound. Homura and Koharu exchanged uncertain glances. Danzō's expression tightened, his visible eye narrowing with barely contained frustration.
Renjiro pointed out the absurdity of Hiruzen's argument, his voice carrying a note of cold amusement. "The logic is flawed. The assumption that surviving Orochimaru automatically means an arrangement existed is not evidence; it is speculation dressed up as proof."
The statement put Hiruzen's moderate position under pressure without Renjiro directly accusing him of conspiracy. It highlighted the weakness in the elders' argument, exposed the assumptions that underlay their accusations, and challenged the narrative they were trying to construct.
And then, without warning, Renjiro disappeared.
He used the Hiraishin technique, carrying him across the room in an instant. He appeared directly in front of Koharu. Before anyone could react, he placed a hand against her chest, his palm flat against the fabric of her robes.
His chakra suddenly flared, the room filling with the pressure of his power. Koharu's eyes widened, her body tensing with shock and fear.
Hiruzen immediately interpreted the movement as an attack. He launched himself toward Renjiro, his voice carrying a note of alarm. "Renjiro, stop!"
Minato realised what Renjiro was doing; or at least realised that Renjiro wasn't necessarily trying to kill Koharu. He raised a hand toward Hiruzen, signalling him to wait. "Hiruzen-sama, hold on!"
But Hiruzen ignored the signal. He charged toward Renjiro, his leg swinging in a powerful kick aimed at the commander's head.
At the final instant, Renjiro disappeared. He reappeared at his original position, his body materialising from the Hiraishin marker he had left behind. Hiruzen's attack hit nothing but air, the force of the kick carrying him forward several steps before he could regain his balance.
Renjiro looked genuinely confused by the reaction, his expression carrying a note of bewilderment. "I don't understand why you attacked me, Hiruzen-sama," he said, his voice carrying a note of calm inquiry. "I was merely making a demonstration."
Renjiro raised one hand, his fingers moving through a series of seals with practised precision. A sealing technique activated, the familiar pulse of chakra spreading through the air like ripples in still water. Another container appeared in his hand; a jar that looked similar to the one he had previously produced, containing the Hashirama cells. But something was different. The preservation fluid had a slightly different hue, the biological material within seemed to pulse with a different rhythm, and the chakra signature emanating from it was unmistakably different.
Renjiro's expression became considerably colder, his eyes carrying a note of barely contained fury. "I've had enough of the petty tricks," he said, his voice carrying an edge that none of them had heard before. "I originally thought Danzō was the only person I needed to worry about. But now I realise that the entire situation may involve everyone in this room."
He turned toward Koharu, his gaze locking onto her with an intensity that made her flinch. "The same Hashirama cells now carry your chakra signature, Koharu. I infused them just now, when I placed my hand against your chest. Any competent fūinjutsu specialist can infuse their chakra into biological material."
=====
Bless me with your powerful Power Stones.
Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcome
If you can, then please support me on Patreon.
Link - www.patreon.com/SideCharacter
You Can read more chapters ahead on Patreon
Latest Chapter on Patreon: Chapter 974- You're a Terrible Liar(1)