Chapter 200: Naruto Renji — The Bullet Fired in My Youth Now Strikes Between My Eyes; Perhaps I've Lost My Way
One Piece Renji: [A newcomer!!?]
Finally, someone new! After so long, a new member was joining the group.
Naruto Renji: [Good! Hopefully someone from a cultivation world this time.]
At last, some fresh blood.
HK Movie Renji: [Doesn't my zombie world count as cultivation?]
Zombie Renji: [How is that cultivation, exactly?]
That definitely didn't qualify as a cultivation world.
Naruto Renji: [Didn't you say the Dragon Vein was about to be restored?]
He remembered hearing that Zombie Renji had found clues about the Dragon Vein. Once restored, perhaps cultivation wouldn't be so difficult anymore.
Zombie Renji: [The Dragon Vein was split apart. Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Liu Bowen to hide it in secret. Finding it now is nearly impossible—and the Evil Dao faction's already moving. Their intel's even faster than ours!]
No one knew what would happen once the Dragon Vein revived.
Before death, it had been filled with resentment. If the Evil Dao seized it, it would spell disaster. Even if they gathered all the fragments, the final outcome remained uncertain. Still, one thing was clear — its power would never be the same again.
Daily Life Renji: [Better something than nothing, right?]
Zombie Renji: [True.]
At least it was progress.
Naruto Renji: [Then work hard. Maybe I'll get to borrow your cultivation techniques soon!]
Zombie Renji: [Deal.]
Worth a try.
Bleach Renji: [If that's how it is, Ichigo Kurosaki must be arriving soon. The story's starting again. But I still don't get why that scheming old fox Aizen hasn't stopped testing me!]
He was beyond frustrated.
He'd already shown his power openly, yet Aizen still kept probing, watching, and questioning. Now, besides maintaining his cover in the Gotei, he even had to spar with Unohana.
He just wanted this nonsense to end. If Aizen would hurry up and move to Hueco Mundo, maybe he could finally stop being suspicious all the time.
Naruto Renji: [That's nothing. I've still got a spy living right beside me!]
Ever since Konan joined the Shinobi Nation, Renji had known perfectly well she was feeding intel to Pain. She was undoubtedly sending reports back to Amegakure.
Still, he didn't mind. In fact, he was looking forward to it. He couldn't wait to see Itachi's expression when the time came.
Leaving Konoha for Akatsuki, only for Akatsuki to be absorbed into the Shinobi Nation — Renji wondered how that man would react.
Itachi had once believed Renji would fail. Yet now, the Uchiha had conquered Konoha, and under Renji's rule, the entire ninja world stood united.
What expression would he wear now?
Knock knock.
The sound of knocking pulled Renji from his thoughts. Closing the chat interface, he said evenly, "Come in."
The door opened, and Konan walked in, arms full of documents.
"Renji, you haven't handled paperwork in ages!"
Her brows were furrowed, her tone sharp with disapproval. At first, she'd been eager — working close to the Hokage meant firsthand access to critical intel. Nagato had once told her: climb higher, see further.
But as time passed, she realized something was wrong.
Was this man serious?!
He did nothing, dumping every report, approval, and file on her desk. Back in Amegakure, she'd never handled this much administrative work. Now, she barely had time to breathe.
Every day was endless paperwork — she even dreamt about unfinished reports.
"Come on, Konan," Renji said with a grin. "Isn't this normal? Look how well the Shinobi Nation's doing! It's all thanks to you guys. You've done amazing work. Tonight, I'll treat everyone to Ichiraku Ramen!"
"…"
Not again.
Konan clenched her fists silently. Every time she complained, he'd deflect with the same two lines — 'Let's go out to eat' and 'It's all because of your hard work!'
At first, she'd believed him. But after working under him long enough, she realized — he was just spinning lies to keep her working.
She had always thought of herself as calm and detached, able to face anything with composure. But after dealing with Renji for this long, she finally understood — she'd been far too naïve.
"Renji, if others saw you like this, what do you think they'd say?"
Konan wanted him to take responsibility instead of dumping everything on the secretary team.
The team wasn't small — it included experienced elders like Onoki and Chiyo, and talented younger staff like Kurotsuchi, Samui, and Shizune.
Six people working nonstop — yet the tasks never ended. Sometimes, she genuinely wondered why she was still here.
An undercover agent working nine-to-eight, weekends included.
Nagato… if only you knew what I've suffered.
A dull ache filled her chest. She'd rather fight Renji than drown in paperwork for him again.
Her "lazy boss" just let everything pile onto her.
When she'd first joined, she'd admired him.
To her, Renji had been a legend — the man who accomplished what Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara never could: uniting the ninja world. He had mastered both diplomacy and power, the perfect blend of Hashirama's compassion and Tobirama's strategy.
But after truly working under him… that shining image had long since shattered to pieces.
"Let them see, Konan. If others notice how relaxed I am, they'll just think, 'Wow, Renji must have an amazing secretary team!' Konan, you really are the best."
She really wanted to hit him.
Hold it in.
Hold it in no matter what!
Konan took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch him in the face. She knew she couldn't beat Renji — and more importantly, she still had to maintain her cover.
"I'm done! I'm not processing another document!"
She slammed the stack onto his desk. She hadn't slept for three days, and tonight, she'd decided she was forcing him to do the work himself.
"You could always give them to Shizune, or someone else. No need to make things hard on yourself," Renji said lightly. His meaning was clear: anyone but him.
Konan glared.
"Forget it. Come take a walk with me," he said suddenly, patting her shoulder.
Renji knew her patience was about to break. If even someone as calm as Konan was this close to snapping, she needed a change of air. Forcing her to keep working would only make things worse.
"What about the files?"
"Konan, you have to understand — people don't live just to handle paperwork. If you don't finish today, there's always tomorrow. But if you miss the sights you were meant to see today, you'll never get them back. Ever heard of 'Morning flowers, evening regret'?"
She froze.
Was that… supposed to be philosophy?
Konan hesitated for a moment, but when she saw him already walking ahead, that hesitation lasted only a second. She sighed and left the papers behind.
It felt like he was spouting nonsense, but… maybe just this once, she'd believe him.
Besides, she really couldn't stand another line of text.
They walked through the streets, now crowded and lively. The Shinobi Nation had expanded again. With major villages joining, smaller countries and hidden clans had also begun to migrate here.
Despite four rounds of expansion, the population kept growing — and so the borders kept pushing outward.
As they walked, Renji greeted passersby with a casual smile. He glanced back at Konan and asked, "So, Konan, what do you think of this place?"
This place? The Shinobi Nation?
Konan stayed silent for a long while, reflecting on her time here. She had to admit — it was good. At least here, she could see hope.
In the Land of Rain, even with Pain ruling, the people had no hope. It was a land of endless sorrow. But here… there was laughter.
"I like it," she said softly. "People here actually smile."
That was the truth.
At least everyone had a chance to live, to work, to dream. With trade and cooperation flowing, people could support their families.
And without war, they could finally stop being afraid.
"But… I don't know how long it'll last," she added quietly. "Like you said — once there's no strong hand keeping order, everything might fall apart."
Konan's gaze dimmed.
What would happen if Renji died? Would this peace collapse? Would everything they built burn away?
Would she even be able to face Nagato after that?
For a fleeting moment, her heart wavered.
But just as quickly, she buried the thought. Whatever happened, she owed Nagato everything — his dream of peace, his sacrifice for her.
She would see it through, even at the cost of her life.
"Yes," Renji nodded. "Peace is precious, but never eternal. Even the strongest empires fall from within."
He smiled faintly. "If I live long enough, the Shinobi Nation might last a few hundred years… maybe less."
"Isn't there any way for the ninja world to have permanent peace?"
Konan's tone carried genuine confusion. "If everyone wants it, why do they destroy it?"
"Ambition," Renji said. "Human ambition is endless. Right now, I'm strong, so everyone suppresses their desires. But the day someone stronger appears — everything will change."
He paused. "And then there's profit. As long as everyone shares the same interests, things are peaceful. But once resources have to be divided, conflict starts."
He chuckled softly. "Look at Konoha. When they first founded it, it was like baking a cake — plenty to go around. But as more joined and less was left, greed and infighting began."
Renji knew it all too well.
Even now, the Shinobi Nation wasn't truly united. Factions had formed — the Mist, the Leaf, the Stone, the Sand, the Cloud, and the smaller villages' alliance.
He told Konan this not to lecture her, but so she'd pass the truth to Nagato.
If possible, he didn't want to fight him. Nagato was a tragic man — cursed the moment Madara had found him.
"Renji," Konan asked softly, "what if someone tries to destroy this peace you built?"
She hesitated, but asked anyway.
Perhaps Nagato would change his mind after seeing all this… but perhaps not. He might still insist on making the world feel the pain of peace lost.
Since Yahiko's death, he'd become more and more extreme — his ideals warped by that man in the mask.
Konan had never trusted that masked man.
Renji's voice was calm. "I built this nation to protect its people from war. If someone tries to shatter this hard-won peace… I'll stop them, no matter who they are."
For a moment, he fell silent.
Had he become what he once opposed?
He remembered Madara's words — and realized he might be walking the same path as Hashirama.
After founding the Shinobi Nation, he understood it clearly. This was his creation, his legacy. If anyone tried to destroy it — even a friend — he would never allow it.
For the first time, Renji understood Hashirama's resolve.
He pushed the thought aside and smiled faintly at Konan.
For now, he didn't want to think too far ahead.
(End of Chapter)
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