Chapter 30: Renji Mahito versus Shino Aburame
Renji strode toward the lounge, his eyes catching Naruto's figure in the arena below, darting around with boundless energy, blowing kisses to the cheering stands. The crowd's roars filled the air, and snippets of their chatter reached Renji's ears as he passed.
"That ninja's kinda cute!" a spectator gushed.
"Yeah! Totally not what I pictured for a ninja!" another replied.
"Think his name's Uzumaki Naruto?"
Renji's lips twitched, suppressing a smirk as he rejoined Sakura and the others in the stands. Sakura's eyes flicked to him, her voice tinged with worry. "Sasuke…?"
He flashed a reassuring smile, his heterochromatic eyes warm. "Don't worry, Sakura. Sasuke'll show up."
She nodded, her tension easing. "Mm."
"Naruto, that guy—what a shock!" Ino exclaimed, her voice brimming with surprise. "Who'd have thought he'd take down last year's top rookie, Hyūga Neji?"
Shikamaru nodded, but his face quickly sagged into his usual dejected slouch. The reason was clear—Shiranui Genma's voice boomed across the arena: "Next match: Nara Shikamaru versus Kankurō!"
Shikamaru dragged himself to his feet, muttering under his breath, but before he could even step into the arena, Kankurō raised a hand, his voice flat. "I forfeit."
Genma blinked, caught off guard, then recovered. "Kankurō forfeits! Nara Shikamaru wins!"
The crowd murmured, a mix of disappointment and curiosity. Genma's gaze swept the venue—no sign of Uchiha Sasuke. He sighed, continuing, "The battle between Uchiha Sasuke and Gaara is postponed. Next match: Renji Mahito versus Shino Aburame."
"Renji, good luck!" Sakura said, clenching her fists, her earnest encouragement lighting up her face.
Renji smiled and nodded, his gaze shifting to Shino Aburame, who rose from beside Hinata, his expression unreadable. "Shino, let's go together," Renji said, his tone friendly but calculated.
Shino glanced at him from behind his dark sunglasses, nodding silently. They walked side by side into the arena, the crowd's cheers swelling around them. They stopped three meters apart, the air crackling with anticipation.
Shiranui Genma raised his hand. "Begin!" He stepped back, leaving the arena to them.
Shino's voice was steady, his tone respectful. "I know I'm not your match, but giving it my all is my way of showing respect."
Renji's smile faltered internally. Respect? Just forfeit and save us both the trouble! The thought was laced with his impatience—Who wants to perform like a monkey in front of this crowd? But outwardly, he nodded, his expression calm. Fine. Let's make this quick.
In a blur of motion, Renji struck first. His arms spread like a hawk's wings, slicing through the air as his steps carried him forward with predatory grace. He appeared before Shino in an instant, his fist slamming into Shino's chest with devastating force. The impact compressed the air, unleashing a shockwave that sent Shino flying backward, the crowd gasping.
But in mid-air, Shino's body dissolved into a swirling mass of insects—the Aburame clan's secret technique: Insect Clone! The bugs scattered, reforming Shino a few meters away, his stance shaky but defiant.
Renji didn't hesitate, pressing his advantage. As Shino reappeared, Renji closed the distance in a heartbeat, his fist crashing down.
Boom!
The arena quaked, spiderweb cracks splintering across the ground. Shino's insect wall, formed to shield him, shattered like glass under Renji's raw power. Shino's body slammed into the arena wall, blood trickling from his mouth, his breath ragged.
Renji's hand shifted into a blade-like stance, his figure a silver streak cutting through the sunlight, leaving afterimages in his wake.
Swish, swish, swish!
The swarm of parasitic insects buzzing around him was swept away, scattered by his relentless speed.
He stopped beside Shino, his presence overwhelming. The crowd erupted, Naruto's voice rising above the rest. "As expected of Renji! So awesome!"
Shikamaru propped his head on his hand, half-dead with boredom. "No suspense here. Pitting that Sand genin against Renji would've been more interesting."
Sakura's eyes sparkled, a smile spreading across her face. "Renji's taijutsu's gotten so much stronger!"
A flash of green caught her eye. She turned to see Rock Lee and Might Guy approaching, Lee leaning on a crutch, his face alight with determination. Naruto and the others noticed them too, their voices overlapping in a flurry of questions.
"Lee? What're you doing here?"
"Isn't your body still recovering?"
Lee's face was steady. "I came to watch Renji fight, and I'm pumped for Gaara versus Sasuke." He waved off Sakura's offer of her seat. "It's fine, just standing for a bit."
His gaze locked onto the arena, where Shino struggled to his feet, blood oozing from his mouth. Just as the crowd expected a surrender, a colossal fist formed of countless parasitic insects descended from the sky, its sheer size dominating the arena.
Shino swayed, his strength waning, but his resolve held firm. Renji watched the insect fist hurtle toward him, his body vanishing in a silver flash, too fast for the eye to follow. When he reappeared, he stood behind Shino, his finger pressed against a vital point on Shino's neck.
Shino's lips curved faintly, a silent acknowledgment. His insects retreated into his body, and he raised a hand. "I surrender."
The outcome was expected, but its speed stunned the crowd. Shino had planned to drain Renji's chakra with his insects, but Renji's lightning-fast taijutsu outpaced them entirely. Losing to Renji was no shame.
Medical ninjas escorted Shino away, while Renji returned to the stands amid thunderous cheers, his smile humble but his mind sharp. One down.
Shikamaru trudged down for his match against Temari, his face a portrait of reluctance. Renji barely watched, his attention split between the stands and the northern platform where the Hokage sat. Orochimaru's move was coming, and Renji needed to be ready to slip into the barrier—or miss a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"What?! That idiot Shikamaru forfeited?!" Naruto's indignant shout snapped Renji back to the arena. The match was over—Shikamaru had thrown in the towel, as expected.
Next up: Gaara versus Sasuke. Renji's thoughts flickered to Gaara's broken ribs from their earlier clash. A Tailed Beast's recovery should've fixed him by now.
Leaves swirled in the air as Sasuke and Kakashi made a dramatic entrance, their presence electric. Naruto's eye twitched. "Talk about showing off…"
Sasuke stayed in the arena, while Kakashi climbed to the stands, his eye crinkling in a lazy smile. "Yo, long time no see, Renji, Naruto, Sakura."
"Kakashi-sensei, where've you and Sasuke been this past month?" Naruto demanded, his voice thick with resentment. "I didn't even see a shadow of you guys!"
Kakashi waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, just a training spot. Bit far. You wouldn't know it, Naruto, so I won't bore you."
He glanced at Naruto. "Did you win?"
Naruto's face lit up, pride bursting through. "Yeah, I won!"
Kakashi's eye curved. "Not bad."
Naruto glanced at Renji, then back at Kakashi, pouting. "Kakashi-sensei, why didn't you ask Renji? That's so biased!"
Kakashi blinked, caught off guard by Naruto's logic. "Because I don't need to ask Renji—he'll definitely win."
Naruto froze, processing the words. Wait… so I'm the one who needs pity? His shoulders slumped, realizing Kakashi's lack of faith in his strength stung more than he'd expected.
…
The arena thrummed with electric tension, the crowd's roars a tidal wave as Shiranui Genma's voice sliced through the noise. "Next match: Uchiha Sasuke versus Gaara!"
Sasuke stood poised in the center, his dark eyes locked onto Gaara, whose sand churned around him like a living storm, radiating a chilling menace. The air crackled, the spectators holding their breath, sensing the lethal stakes of the matchup.
Naruto's voice broke through, thick with worry. "But can Sasuke win?"
His usual bravado faltered. Gaara's aura was suffocating, a predator who'd kill without a second thought. Naruto's fists clenched, his concern for his rival raw and unguarded.
Renji patted Naruto's shoulder, his smile warm and steady. "Trust Sasuke."
His words were calculated, meant to soothe Naruto's nerves. Sasuke and Naruto's rivalry was their own dance—Renji was just a bystander chasing Malice Value, his eyes gleaming with hidden intent behind his gentle facade.
Kakashi's eye curved in a confident grin. "Naruto, have some faith in your Sensei too. Sasuke and I weren't just slacking off this past month."
Renji's lips twitched. Show-offs. Kakashi and Sasuke's grand entrance screamed flair, a trait Kakashi had once flaunted shamelessly in his youth before life tempered it. Sasuke's training had clearly borne fruit—his taijutsu sharper, his Chidori a mastered spark of destruction.
Suddenly, Naruto's head slumped onto Renji's shoulder, his eyes shut, his breathing slow. Renji's gaze sharpened. Genjutsu. Not exhaustion—Naruto wasn't that careless. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: This genjutsu could knock out insomniacs. No side effects, instant sleep.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (55,130 / 100,000,000)]
Renji scanned the stands. Spectators had collapsed in droves, save for a handful of ninjas untouched by the illusion. Kakashi, Might Guy, and other elite jōnin stood firm, their senses too honed for such a trick. Sakura, her genjutsu talent shining, was already dispelling the illusion on Naruto and Shikamaru, her hands swift and precise.
Renji felt the genjutsu's energy flow into him, his body absorbing it as chakra—a sweet boost. Keep it coming. His smile remained serene, hiding his hunger for more.
Swish, swish, swish!
Otogakure ninjas, hidden among the crowd, surged forward, their headbands flashing in the sunlight. Konoha's ANBU met them head-on, blades clashing in a chaotic symphony. On the high platform, the Kazekage—Orochimaru in disguise—held the Hokage hostage, his grip a silent blade at Hiruzen's throat.
The arena erupted into mayhem. Otogakure ninjas blocked Kakashi and Might Guy's path, their weapons drawn. Kakashi's eyes turned icy. "Otogakure? Why attack Konoha?"
No response came. The enemies charged, their movements sharp and relentless. Guy grinned, his blood pumping. "Yosh! Kakashi, let's make this a competition!"
Kakashi's serious facade cracked, a helpless shrug following. "Not the time, Guy. But… fine, let's do it."
His foot sent an Otogakure ninja sprawling, while Guy's kick launched another into the stands. Sakura dodged the jōnin's skirmish, her hands flashing as she freed Naruto and Shikamaru from the genjutsu's grip. Naruto blinked awake, his confusion shifting to fiery resolve.
Kakashi, parrying a blade, barked orders. "Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru—find Sasuke and Gaara. This is an A-rank mission!"
In the chaos, Gaara, wild and unhinged, had been whisked away by Temari and Kankurō, Sasuke chasing them without hesitation. Kakashi's instincts flared—Gaara's Tailed Beast made him a danger Sasuke couldn't face alone.
Sakura glanced at Renji, her voice urgent. "What about Renji?"
The Otogakure ninjas in their section were mostly down, thanks to Kakashi and Guy's relentless assault, but more swarmed the village, threatening civilians. Kakashi fixed Renji with a serious look. "Renji, can you stay and fight with the chūnin and jōnin?"
"Yes!" Renji nodded, his tone eager but his mind cold. No Genin heroics for me. His eyes flicked to the high platform, where his true goal lay.
Kakashi and Guy bolted toward the village's screams, Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru sprinting after Sasuke and Gaara. Sakura paused, her voice soft but firm. "Renji, be careful!"
Renji's smile was reassuring as she left. Alone, he faced a wave of Otogakure ninjas blocking his path. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed four modified humans from his ninja tool pouch. The grotesque, twisted creatures emerged, shrieking like specters as they tore into the enemy, their movements feral and unstoppable. The Otogakure ninjas faltered, overwhelmed by the horrifying onslaught.
A red glow flared in Renji's vision—the Four Red Yang Formation solidifying around the high platform. He moved like lightning, racing toward it.
Bang!
Ninjas trying to breach the barrier were incinerated, their bodies charred to ash.
Renji's gaze darkened as he studied the glowing formation. A hidden gap flickered—an intentional flaw left by Orochimaru and Kabuto, honoring their deal. He charged through, his figure a blur, as if defying death itself.
"Who's that Genin?" an ANBU shouted, stunned.
"He'll die in a Kage-level fight!" another cried.
"How'd he get in?"
"Looked like he forced his way through!"
"They've sealed the gap now!"
The formation blazed red, locking out the ANBU. Inside, Orochimaru's eyes glinted with dark curiosity as Renji appeared. What's your play, kid? This invasion was more intriguing than he'd planned.
"Renji!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was heavy with worry, his mind racing. Danzo's work? Renji's presence screamed suspicion, but he was a child. "Hide and stay safe!" Hiruzen urged, knowing he couldn't protect him once the fight began.
"Edo Tensei!" Orochimaru's hiss summoned two coffins from the ground. A third began to rise but was halted by Hiruzen's swift chakra surge.
The Hokage's eyes narrowed, his voice a growl. "Orochimaru! How dare you defile the souls of the dead!"
Orochimaru's smile was serpentine as he drove kunai into the backs of the First and Second Hokages' heads, suppressing their wills. Senju Hashirama and Tobirama became his puppets, their eyes dull, their movements mechanical.
Outside, the ANBU gasped. "The First and Second Hokages revived?"
"No!" an older ANBU corrected. "It's Edo Tensei, a forbidden jutsu by the Second Hokage. It uses a living vessel and the deceased's flesh to summon their soul from the Pure Land, reshaping the vessel to mimic their living form."
Inside, the reanimated Hokages lunged. Tobirama moved like an arrow, his lifeless eyes chilling as he struck with lethal precision. Hiruzen dodged Hashirama's palm but couldn't evade Tobirama's fist. The blow to his cheek sent his senses reeling, his body slowing, his mind fogging. Facing his revered mentors, he felt trapped, an insect in a web.
Bang!
Tobirama's hand slammed into Hiruzen's spine, the force shattering bones and organs. Blood sprayed from Hiruzen's mouth as he crashed to the ground, the ANBU outside shouting in despair. "Lord Hokage! They're not the real First Hokage and Second Hokage! Fight for the Leaf, or it'll fall!"
Hiruzen's eyes drooped, nostalgia clashing with duty. He knew these were mere shells, but their faces stirred memories. The ANBU's cry snapped him back. Konoha comes first. His spirit blazed, his blood surging, his eyes glowing with resolve. A vast chakra erupted from him, shaking the air.
Orochimaru's lips curled. "That's more like it, Teacher."
Tobirama's leg swept down, blasting a crater into the rooftop, dust exploding. Hiruzen dodged, countering with a strike that pushed Tobirama back, if only briefly. The ANBU outside clung to that spark of hope.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!" Hashirama's hands swung, the ground quaking as grotesque roots burst forth, filling the Four Red Yang Formation with a tangled forest. The air rippled, smoke and dust swept away, hiding the battle from the ANBU's view.
"What's happening?" an ANBU cried.
"It's the First Hokage's Wood Release!" another answered. "This power built Konoha!"
Orochimaru stood amid the forest, his voice mocking. "Teacher, the Professor of the Ninja World, defeated by time. You're past your prime."
Hiruzen gasped, his chakra and stamina nearly drained. He knew he couldn't match the reanimated Hokages. Only one jutsu could end this—the Reaper Death Seal, used by the Fourth to seal the Nine-Tails.
His hands flew through signs: Snake, Boar, Ram, Rabbit, Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, Snake. Clasping them, he summoned two shadow clones. Orochimaru frowned. Clones? A waste of chakra.
"Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!" Tobirama's genjutsu plunged the arena into darkness, stealing all light. Only Orochimaru and his puppets could see, their attacks unhindered. Hiruzen countered, summoning Enma, the Monkey King, who guided him through the dark. Together, they seized Orochimaru's shoulders.
Orochimaru's face twisted as a chilling power surged from Hiruzen. A towering Shinigami phantom loomed, its claw piercing Hiruzen's chest, then Orochimaru's. "This is the Reaper Death Seal!" Hiruzen roared, blood dripping. "Your soul will be devoured, suffering for eternity!"
Orochimaru fought the agony, his trembling fingers summoning the Kusanagi sword. It glowed blue, shooting toward Hiruzen. Enma caught it, but the blade still pierced Hiruzen's side, blood pooling.
Renji, unnoticed in the chaos, stepped forward, his palms resting on Hashirama and Tobirama's shoulders, his eyes glinting with unspoken intent.
----
We've reached 100 power stones! As I promised, here's your extra chapter!
Also, guys! I just released a new fanfic called Reincarnated as the Son of Homelander.
If you're into The Boys and Marvel vs.-style stories, you can check it out on my profile!
200 Stones = +1 Chapter
300 Stones = +2 Chapters
400 Stones = +3 Chapters
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