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Chapter 29 - [29]: Fates and Facades

Chapter 29: Fates and Facades

Shiranui Genma's voice cut through the roaring crowd, sharp and authoritative. "The first match: Uzumaki Naruto versus Hyūga Neji! The two combatants remain, everyone else move to the waiting room!"

As his words echoed, Renji and the others headed toward the nearby stairs, their footsteps muffled by the arena's clamor. Below, Naruto and Neji faced off in the center of the dirt-packed arena, the air thick with tension. Naruto's defiant grin clashed with Neji's cool, unyielding stare, their rivalry palpable even from a distance.

Renji climbed to the high platform, his sharp eyes catching the glint of ANBU masks scattered among the spectators. Gekkō Hayate's body must've tipped them off, he thought, a flicker of amusement crossing his mind. Danzō's schemes were unraveling, and the village was on edge.

"Renji! Over here!" Sakura's voice rang out, bright and eager. She sat with Ino, who was waving at Shikamaru, and Hinata, who had chosen their company over her father and sister. Despite her lingering injuries, Hinata's presence spoke volumes—she was here for Naruto's clash with Neji. Renji and Shikamaru settled beside Sakura and Ino, while Shino took a seat next to Hinata, his expression unreadable behind his sunglasses.

Renji wasn't here just to spectate. Danzō Shimura's orders were clear: confirm Hiruzen Sarutobi's death. The unspoken implication hung heavy—if the Third Hokage didn't fall, Renji would have to ensure it. A malicious thrill stirred in him, his Mahito-like sadism purring at the thought. How delightfully ruthless. He kept his face neutral, his innocent facade firmly in place.

The battle below unfolded, but Renji's attention drifted. Naruto and Neji's clash was intense—Neji's Byakugan-guided strikes precise, Naruto's raw determination unrelenting—but Renji had little stake in the outcome. When Neji's Gentle Fist finally sent Naruto sprawling into the dirt, defeated once again, Renji stood, his expression calm but calculated.

Sakura, her face taut with worry for Naruto, glanced up. "Renji, where are you going?"

He flashed a warm smile, his heterochromatic eyes softening to put her at ease. "I'm going to look for Sasuke."

Sakura moved to stand, but Renji gently pressed her shoulder, his voice helpless yet reassuring. "Sakura, Naruto's fighting his heart out right now. At least one of us should stay and cheer him on. Leave Sasuke to me—I believe he won't miss this match."

Sakura met his gaze, her anxiety easing under the weight of his calm confidence. She nodded, sitting back down with a soft smile. "I understand."

Renji's figure vanished down the stairs, his warm exterior belying the cold calculations beneath. Ino leaned toward Sakura, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "You know, Sakura, you might love Sasuke, but Renji's the one who makes you feel safe."

Sakura froze, her cheeks flushing as she realized Ino's teasing. "Don't talk nonsense!" she sputtered, flustered.

Ino propped her chin on her hand, winking. "Sasuke's great for dating, but Renji? Total husband material."

Shikamaru, slouched beside them, chimed in dryly. "Renji doesn't just make Sakura feel safe—he's got Naruto's back too. Guy's a saint."

Ino smirked, not missing a beat. "Unlike you and Chōji! One's a lazy bum, the other's a human vacuum cleaner."

Shikamaru sighed, rolling his eyes. "Women are such a drag."

Below, the crowd's cheers surged as Naruto struggled to his feet, his defiance unbroken despite Neji's victory. Renji, now outside the arena, caught sight of Kabuto Yakushi ambushing an ANBU ninja, swiftly taking his place. Spotting Renji, Kabuto lowered his hand, chakra dissipating from his palm.

"Didn't expect so many ANBU today," Kabuto said, his tone laced with meaning.

Renji leaned against a tree trunk, his smile deceptively casual. "Why so many? Don't you know? Gekkō Hayate's body was found in broad daylight. You think Konoha's ninjas are idiots?"

"Don't misunderstand," Renji added, his grin widening. "If I'd told the Hokage, you wouldn't be here at all."

Kabuto's smile was tight, easing the tension. "I know, I'm not doubting you. Just impressed by Konoha's sharp instincts."

Renji's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping. "Orochimaru's setting up a barrier to trap the Third, isn't he?"

Kabuto's silence was telling, his curiosity piqued. How does this kid know so much? Guessing their objective was one thing, but deducing the battle plan? Is Danzō's network that vast? He'd need to investigate later.

"To kill the Hokage in Konoha, a barrier's the only way to keep others out," Renji said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if stating the obvious.

Kabuto's guard spiked, his mind racing. A ninja with both talent and intellect was dangerous. "So, how do I enter the barrier?" Renji pressed, his gaze steady. "That's our deal, right?"

Kabuto's smile returned, calculated. "Two ways. One, break it by force, but that saves Hiruzen. Two, use a chakra-absorbing ninja tool to slip through a hole in the barrier. Neither's easy."

Renji's eyes turned icy, dissatisfaction flickering. Kabuto raised a placating hand. "You can also enter before the barrier goes up."

Renji's lips twitched. Before the barrier? Risky. He didn't trust Orochimaru not to turn on him in the chaos. But the allure of the First, Second, and Third Hokages' souls was too tempting to resist. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Oddly, Kabuto's presence yielded no Malice Value points, a detail Renji filed away.

The arena's cheers roared louder, signaling the match's climax. Renji moved, his figure a blur as he leaped toward the medical room inside the arena. Pushing open the door, he found Neji alone, sitting on a bed, head bowed in thought. A bruise marred his chin—Naruto's handiwork. The sterile room was silent, heavy with Neji's defeat.

Renji closed the door and approached, his voice soft but deliberate. "Neji, you're strong. But do you know why you lost to Naruto?"

Neji's silence spoke volumes. Naruto's words about defying fate had shaken him, but doubt lingered. Is fate really escapable? His hands, trained to perfection, had failed against someone he'd once dismissed.

Renji's smile was gentle, masking his darker intent. Time to up the ante. "Naruto's strong," he said. "I foresaw him beating you."

Neji's head snapped up, startled. Almost no one had bet on Naruto. Renji continued, his voice calm but piercing. "Your Byakugan saw it—the red chakra around him. When Naruto was born, a Tailed Beast was sealed inside him. He's tapping into that power now. This is just the start, Neji. He'll surpass you, Sasuke, me—everyone."

Neji's fists clenched, his eyes blazing with anger. Fate?

Renji leaned closer, his voice a whisper, as if sharing a secret. "Naruto says he'll be Hokage, but no one believes him, right? I do. His father was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."

Neji froze, the revelation hitting like a blow. Renji sighed, his tone heavy. "The Hokage's son, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—Naruto's fate is sealed too."

"What about you?" Neji snapped, his voice raw with frustration. This guy, preaching about fighting fate while standing above it?

Renji's sigh was theatrical, his voice soft. "My fate's sealed too, Neji." A single tear slid down his cheek, glistening in the dim light. The performance was flawless, striking Neji's heart like a kunai. For the first time, Neji glimpsed something fragile beneath Renji's warmth.

"Rest well, Neji," Renji said, turning to leave. As the door closed, Neji replayed that tear in his mind, his thoughts a storm. Fate's cruel, inescapable. Even Renji, so talented, so driven—why must we be its pawns?

Outside, Renji flicked the tear away with a finger, his worried smile shifting to one of sly satisfaction as a figure approached—Hyūga Hiashi, the clan head.

"Hyūga Clan Head, hello," Renji greeted, his tone polite and warm.

Hiashi's gaze flicked to the closed medical room door. Renji sighed, his expression strained but comforting. "Clan Head, I'm Neji's close friend. He doesn't want to see anyone right now, but I've talked to him. He'll come to terms with it."

Hiashi's eyes softened, recalling Neji's defeated look in the arena. He handed Renji a scroll. "This was left by Neji's father. Please give it to him." His gaze lingered on the door, as if trying to reach his nephew through it.

"Okay, please rest assured," Renji said, taking the scroll with both hands, his smile trustworthy.

As Hiashi walked away, a faint chuckle escaped Renji's lips. On an empty staircase, he unrolled the scroll, scanning its contents. Hyūga Hizashi's message was clear: accept the Main Branch's dominance, framed as protecting those dear to him. Renji's eyes narrowed. Forged by Hiashi? Maybe. No evidence, but it didn't matter.

The scroll ignited in a burst of Fire Release, crumbling to ashes. Renji sneered. Change Neji's fate? Rewrite his ending? No. His true goal was darker—someone exposing this manipulation to Neji, fueling his anger, his Malice Value. Renji's hunger for chaos purred at the thought, his innocent smile never faltering.

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