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Chapter 27 - [27]: Time to Pay Some Rent

Chapter 27: Time to Pay Some Rent

The wind screamed past Uzumaki Naruto's ears as he plummeted down the jagged cliff, his body spiraling wildly, beyond his control. His pupils shrank to pinpricks, his eyes wide with a raw cocktail of fear and despair. 

The world blurred into a chaotic smear of gray rock and biting cold, the howling wind swallowing all other sounds, plunging him into a deafening silence. I'm going to die… The thought echoed relentlessly in his mind, drowning out everything else, his heart hammering as panic gripped him.

Then, a streak of blue flashed across his vision, drawing closer with every heartbeat. Naruto squinted, his breath hitching—Renji! Why was Renji diving after him? The sight ignited a spark in Naruto's chest, a fierce resolve flaring to life. No! I can't die! Renji's here—I can't let him die either!

A powerful will to survive surged through him, refusing to let him surrender. He'd promised Renji he'd protect him, and now was the moment to honor that vow. Gritting his teeth, Naruto twisted his body, struggling to slow his fall, his muscles straining against the relentless pull of gravity.

His vision flickered, then went black. When his sight returned, he stood in a strange, oppressive space, shadows pooling like ink around him. A faint glow illuminated a path forward, leading to a towering gate. Beyond it, a pair of blood-red vertical pupils gleamed, slicing through the darkness. A massive figure emerged—the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, its presence a suffocating weight.

Naruto's eyes widened, his pulse racing. That's the fox Ero-sennin told me about! But he squared his shoulders, his voice bold despite the tremor in his chest. "Hey, you! You've been freeloading in my body forever! Time to pay some rent!"

...

Bang!

A torrent of red chakra erupted from Naruto's hand, wild and untamed.

"Ninja Art: Summoning Technique!" The air crackled with raw power, and in the next instant, Naruto and Renji slammed onto something soft yet impossibly elastic, like a giant trampoline swaying beneath them.

Renji steadied Naruto with a calm, precise grip, his eyes scanning the enormous red creature beneath them. From this angle, its full form was obscured, but Renji's lips curled into a knowing smirk. Mount Myōboku's Gamabunta. Nice catch, Naruto. He'd pegged it the moment they landed.

"Hmm? What the hell is this place?" Gamabunta's voice rumbled through the cliff, deep and resonant, shaking the air like a thunderstorm. "What's Jiraiya playing at, summoning me now?"

Naruto's eyes sparkled, brighter than the morning sun. He slid down to Gamabunta's cheek, practically vibrating with excitement.

"It ain't Ero-sennin! It's me! I'm the one who summoned you!" His voice was thick with pride, his grin stretching ear to ear. He hadn't dreamed he could call forth such a beast!

"Tch!" Gamabunta scoffed, his massive eyes narrowing with skepticism. "Alright, kid, where's Jiraiya?"

Naruto's face flushed red, his fists clenching in fury. "Believe it or not, I summoned you, dattebayo! Ero-sennin chucked me off the cliff to make me learn the Summoning Technique, and Renji got dragged into it!"

Gamabunta fell silent for a moment, the scene before him lending credence to the brat's words. But the boss of Mount Myōboku, taking orders from a scrawny kid? Not a chance. With a mighty heave, Gamabunta launched himself skyward, his massive body soaring. Naruto and Renji shot upward, caught in a wild, stomach-lurching ride like a carnival drop tower gone rogue.

Renji's eyes gleamed with exhilaration, a sharp laugh escaping his lips. This is a blast! He landed back on Gamabunta's back with a thud, steadying himself beside Naruto, his grin betraying a flicker of his hidden thrill-seeking side.

"Hmph! Big Toad!" Naruto bellowed, his voice brimming with defiance. "If I stay on your back 'til sunset without getting tossed, I'm your boss!"

Renji slid off Gamabunta's back with a fluid motion, landing gracefully on a nearby tree branch. He cupped his hands and shouted, "Naruto! You can do it!" His tone was encouraging, but a sly glint in his eyes hinted at the amusement he found in Naruto's bold challenge.

Naruto's eyebrows furrowed, his fighting spirit blazing like a wildfire. "Don't worry, Renji!" he roared, his voice echoing with unyielding determination.

Renji slipped away from the chaos, avoiding the clash between Naruto and Gamabunta. He perched on a rocky outcrop jutting from the cliff, his posture relaxed but his mind sharp, calculating. A figure emerged behind him—Jiraiya, leaning casually against a tree trunk, his eyes studying Renji with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny.

"Why'd you jump after Naruto?" Jiraiya asked, his voice low but probing.

Renji's smile was warm, his tone soft and earnest, masking the cunning beneath. "Because I believe in Naruto. He's a dead last, sure, but he's got more heart and grit than anyone. I know he can pull this off. Even if he doesn't, I'd save him. You're his teacher, Lord Jiraiya, pushing him to his limits like this. But I'm his friend—I'm here to back him up, to be his support."

Jiraiya's gaze lingered, the golden light of the setting sun casting a warm glow over Renji's face. A memory stirred in the Toad Sage's mind—a figure from the past, similar in spirit and talent, a friend from another generation. This kid… he's like him. It felt like fate, weaving its threads through time.

The sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and purple. From afar, Naruto's voice rang out, wild and triumphant.

"Hahaha! I did it, dattebayo!" He bounced on Gamabunta's head like a hyperactive kid, his laughter echoing through the cliffs. "Renji! I did it! Hahaha!"

His laughter faltered as he slid off, exhaustion overtaking him. Gamabunta's tongue shot out, gently wrapping Naruto and setting him down. Jiraiya's lips curved into a knowing smile—Gamabunta had accepted the kid.

Jiraiya handed a large scroll to Renji. "Take this to Gamabunta."

Renji grabbed the scroll, darting to the massive toad's side. He unrolled it, revealing Uzumaki Naruto's name scrawled in bold ink. Gamabunta snorted, his massive eyes narrowing. This brat really summoned me? With a puff of white smoke, he vanished, leaving Naruto sprawled beside Renji, fast asleep.

Jiraiya took the scroll and left without a word. Renji hoisted Naruto onto his back, heading toward the address Danzō's intel had provided—a small, single apartment in Konoha's quieter district.

The door creaked open, revealing a chaotic mess: instant ramen cups and milk cartons littered the living room, clothes and hats strewn across the floor. Renji set Naruto on the small sofa, draping a blanket over him, and slipped out quietly, his footsteps silent in the night.

The next morning, Naruto woke with a jolt, bolting to find Jiraiya. "Ero-sennin! Did you take me home last night, dattebayo?"

Jiraiya shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Nope."

"Huh?" Naruto's brow furrowed, then his eyes lit up. "Wait, was it Renji?" His face darkened, his voice rising with indignation. "Ero-sennin, I ain't done with you! Throwing me off a cliff is one thing, but why'd you drag Renji into it?!"

Jiraiya paused, eyeing Naruto with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You idiot. Renji jumped on his own. He dove after you to save you—and because he believed you'd make it."

Naruto froze, his eyes wide, the weight of Jiraiya's words sinking in like a stone. Renji…

...

Renji skipped training that day, the final day before the Chunin Exams. Might Guy had invited him, Tenten, and Neji for barbecue, but Neji was obsessed with training, Tenten stayed to support him, and Renji declined. ROOT duties called—Cat Mask had contacted him, likely with a mission from Danzō for the exams.

Back at ROOT headquarters, Renji expected the masked Cat Mask but found a stranger instead—a woman with long black hair, pale skin from years underground, crimson lips, and dark eyes. She was unremarkable by Naruto standards, yet a familiar aura radiated from her.

"Let's go," she said, her voice low and unmistakable.

Renji froze, recognition dawning. Cat Mask, Owl. He blinked, confused. "Where are we going? No mask on a mission?"

Cat Mask Owl held one arm with the other, her voice quiet but deliberate. "Tonight, I'm treating you to barbecue."

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