Chapter 31: Konoha... It's Doomed
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru had unwittingly become Renji's greatest allies in this twisted moment.
Orochimaru had kept the Third Hokage pinned down, fully occupied with his desperate struggles. In return, Hiruzen had bound Orochimaru in place, preventing any escape or counterattack. And now, as a bonus, the reanimated bodies of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama lay immobilized under their control. The Shinigami's ethereal hand clawed relentlessly at the souls of the two legendary founders, tearing into their very essence.
Even these former pinnacle Kage-level ninja, at the height of their power in life, couldn't resist the god of death's unyielding grasp. This made it all the easier for Renji to reach out and probe their souls directly.
The souls of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama appeared as swirling voids of black energy, tainted perhaps by the corruption of their decayed physical forms. Though their bodies had long since perished, their souls burned with an extraordinary potency—hundreds of times stronger than those of ordinary ninja. Renji could already envision the bounty awaiting him. Take a risk, and watch your rickety bicycle transform into a roaring motorcycle, he thought with a thrill. The payoff was going to be immense.
Eagerly, Renji delved into their souls, initiating the extraction. A torrent of raw soul energy and fragmented memories flooded his mind in an overwhelming rush! It hit him like a tidal wave—Wood Release techniques, Sage Mode mastery, Sage Art: Gate of the Great God, the elusive Flying Thunder God Technique, an arsenal of Water Release ninjutsu, and the forbidden Edo Tensei itself...
Visions of the Warring States Period flickered by: the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan, Uchiha Izuna's fierce rivalries, endless wars, fragile peace treaties, and the founding of Konoha. Renji's eyes glazed over, unfocused and distant, but his mind exploded into a brilliant kaleidoscope. The entire lives of Hashirama and Tobirama replayed in his consciousness like an ancient film reel sped up on fast-forward.
He staggered back two steps, nearly overwhelmed. Releasing his hold, the two uncontrolled black soul forms were immediately devoured by the waiting Shinigami, vanishing into its maw.
"Hmph, old man—you're the one who's about to break, aren't you?!" Orochimaru snarled, his earlier composure shattered. He looked utterly wretched now, pale and frantic. He never imagined Hiruzen Sarutobi would resort to the Reaper Death Seal!
Blood poured ceaselessly from Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest, drenching his robes in crimson. The color drained from his face with alarming speed. With his life force ebbing away, his grip on Orochimaru's shoulder weakened, loosening bit by bit. Hiruzen knew he couldn't prolong this any further—he had to end it now!
"Even if I can't claim your soul, I'll sever the source of your evil—your hands!" Hiruzen's voice rang out with unyielding resolve. In an instant, Orochimaru's arms withered like dead vines, turning shriveled and pitch-black, dangling uselessly at his sides. Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock, a guttural roar of agony escaping his lips.
The Shinigami, sated with two souls and Orochimaru's cursed hands, began to fade into ethereal mist. Hiruzen's vision darkened, and he collapsed backward onto the ground. Enma, the injured summon who had fought valiantly by his side, extended a massive arm to catch him—but with Hiruzen's chakra reserves depleted, the monkey king was forced to dispel, vanishing in a puff of smoke.
The clear blue sky mirrored faintly in Hiruzen Sarutobi's dimming pupils. All sounds around him grew distant, fading into silence. In his mind's eye, he glimpsed a young Orochimaru, once so innocent, crouching beside him and shyly inquiring about the profound meaning of life.
But that vision dissolved, replaced by the figure of Renji. Right... and this child. Hiruzen suddenly recalled the boy who had borne witness to the entire brutal clash. Renji was clutching his hand tightly.
Hiruzen tried to muster a reassuring smile, but his body refused to obey. He wanted to offer comfort to the young one before him. Even in death, Konoha's future would be guided by stronger Hokage. Though his flesh would fail, the unbreakable Will of Fire—the eternal resolve of every Hokage to sacrifice for the village—would burn on undimmed!
Renji, attuned to Hiruzen's soul fluctuations, could sense the old man's thoughts without a word spoken. He met Hiruzen's gaze with feigned depth, his voice laced with mock sorrow: "Lord Hokage, knowing you're at peace now... it brings me relief."
If he doesn't die soon, I'll have to finish the job myself, Renji mused inwardly. The longer he played this role, the greater the risk of slipping up. Better for Orochimaru to take the blame.
Hiruzen's pupils shifted stiffly, locking onto Renji with a piercing stare. Renji waited patiently, ears straining for the familiar system chime. But it never came. Instead of malice, Hiruzen's soul radiated regret and pity. This child could have been so much more, Hiruzen thought sadly. Twisted by Danzo's shadow... I only hope someone reaches him before it's too late.
Renji: "…"
Well, deathbed tolerance is a real thing, he reflected wryly. Guess I need to hit harder.
"What Lord Hokage treasures most is Konoha, right?" Renji pressed on, his tone dripping with false empathy. "It's such a shame—you won't live to see the village's destruction."
He flashed a hypocritical smile, leaning in close to whisper directly into Hiruzen's ear: "Konoha... it's doomed."
He watched Hiruzen's face intently for any flicker of belief. Seeing none, Renji piled on the provocation.
"Do you think Danzo Shimura and I are allies? Wrong." He paused for dramatic effect. "The Akatsuki Organization and I share the same goal: Konoha's annihilation. We're on the same side." Total bullshit, Renji admitted to himself, but for that sweet Malice Value? Worth every lie. And honestly? This is kinda fun.
Among all reincarnators, his plot knowledge was the ultimate edge—turning spoilers into weapons!
"I almost forgot to mention—we already know Itachi Uchiha is Konoha's spy in Akatsuki." Renji's voice dropped lower. "Rest easy; soon, everyone in this village will join you in the afterlife. Especially Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +50,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +50,000!]
[Chakra (105,130 / 100,000,000)]
Finally—100,000 chakra! His reserves had broken through!
Hiruzen's eyes bulged at the mention of Akatsuki, Itachi, and the Nine-Tails host. Exhaustion claimed him before he could gasp a single word, his final breath escaping in a ragged sigh.
Renji watched the light fade completely from the old man's body. Goodbye, old timer. Catch you in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Maybe you'll cough up more Malice Value then.
Footsteps echoed through the trees—Konoha ninja closing in, their urgency cutting through Hashirama's lingering forest. Renji's gaze pierced the foliage, spotting them in the distance. Time for the finale.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Renji's body erupted in a grotesque spray of wounds—deep gashes and punctures blooming across his flesh like fatal flowers. With his soul-manipulating powers, reshaping his form was trivial; he could mimic any injury without true harm. He halted his regeneration, letting the blood flow freely. His performance crested into silent tragedy.
Masked ROOT operatives lurked amid the Wood Release foliage, unseen sentinels. As Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and the other jōnin burst onto the scene, the sight hit them like a gut punch: Renji, drenched in his own blood, grotesque injuries marring his small frame, crimson tears streaking his pallid face. He clung desperately to the Third Hokage's lifeless hand. Hiruzen's body had already grown cold.
Renji lifted his head, his ashen face drained of all color, eyes hollow and lost. "Renji!" Kakashi's voice cracked with anguish. He scooped the boy up without hesitation, bolting toward the hospital.
...
"Lord Hokage!"
In the sterile white expanse of the hospital room, a vase of fresh narcissus swayed gently in the breeze from the open window. The blue-haired boy on the bed, swathed in bandages, jerked awake and struggled to sit up.
"Renji!" Kakashi's throat constricted. He rushed forward, easing the boy back down. Renji blinked, awareness returning as he scanned the room with dazed eyes. A faint, broken smile tugged at his lips when he saw Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei... which room is Lord Hokage in?"
Kakashi averted his gaze, staring at the floor. Beside him, Might Guy's heart twisted; he balled his fists, his strained face fighting—and failing—to summon a grin. Sakura's emerald eyes brimmed with tears; she gripped Renji's hand, droplets spilling unchecked.
Selfish as it was, Sakura's mind screamed: Thank god Renji's okay! The thought of his corpse was unbearable—she couldn't fathom surviving that. Renji's survival was a small mercy in this nightmare.
"Renji... Hokage Grandpa... he's gone." Naruto, ever the blunt one beside Sakura, couldn't hold back the truth.
"Naruto!" Sakura's voice sharpened, throat tight with panic, as she shot a worried glance at Renji.
But Renji just smiled at them all. "You're lying! You must be pranking me 'cause I just woke up!" His certainty rang hollow. Then the tears came, unbidden, his voice cracking into sobs. "It's all my fault!"
He scrubbed at his face furiously, eyes reddening and swelling. "I was too weak! That's why Lord Hokage... If I were stronger, I could've protected him—protected everyone, the village... It's all on me!"
Kakashi moved swiftly, clasping Renji's hands to stop the self-harm—the gauze on his arm already staining pink. "Renji, this isn't your fault. Not yours, not anyone's—it's Orochimaru's, Otogakure's doing. Blame them." His tone stayed steady, a soothing anchor amid the storm.
"Harming yourself dishonors Lord Hokage's sacrifice."
Renji slumped into Kakashi's embrace, exhaustion pulling him under into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Kakashi tucked him back beneath the covers with care, exhaling a quiet breath of relief. Guy clapped a supportive hand on his shoulder. Renji had endured the Hokage's death up close, tortured in the fray—and yet he'd clung to life. His resilience was a miracle.
The discovery scene had shattered even the stoic Anbu. When they found Hiruzen's hand still clutching Renji's button in a death grip, every ninja preparing the body wept openly. The Third must have grieved his failure to shield the village's young. But he'd given everything—he'd done more than enough.
...
"Renji, have some soup."
As evening shadows lengthened, Renji stirred from his day-long slumber. Sakura, eyes puffy from crying, offered a warm smile and ladled out fish soup that had simmered for hours.
"Thanks, Sakura." Renji met her gaze, his forced smile nearly cracking her resolve anew.
"It's nothing." She turned away, discreetly brushing tears from her eyes.
Tomorrow was the funeral—an unspoken secret they'd kept from him. His body couldn't take the strain, and neither could his spirit. After coaxing him through the bowl, Sakura's face lit with a real smile. He loves the fish soup—I'll make more tomorrow! she thought, slipping out of the room.
Alone, Renji stretched languidly, propping his legs under the blanket. Damn, this soup's incredible. Hospital perks are top-tier. He could lounge here forever. But tomorrow? Hiruzen's funeral. Time to lock in that persona. Sweet sleep claimed him as he pondered the sealed trove from Hashirama and Tobirama—best to crack it open later, when the timing suited.
…
The next day.
Renji awoke to a dim room. Eight in the morning, yet gloom shrouded everything. He flung off the covers, padded to the window, and peered out: oppressive dark clouds loomed low, a steady drizzle veiling the world. Black-clad figures shuffled through the misty rain like wandering ghosts from the underworld.
He stretched, then checked himself in the mirror. Drooped brows, heavy lids—his heterochromatic eyes, usually vibrant, now dulled to a spectral haze. Perfect act, Renji smirked inwardly. Slipping on his ninja sandals, he ghosted past the nurses' patrols with ease.
A black-and-white portrait captured the Third Hokage's warm smile—Hiruzen Sarutobi's legendary life, now etched in eternity. Surrounded by white chrysanthemums, his image beamed with quiet joy. Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and the others approached one by one to lay flowers. Silence hung heavy, broken only by Konohamaru's piercing wails.
Renji halted before the portrait, the memory of Hiruzen's bulging eyes flashing in his mind. I'm a genius, he gloated silently, face a mask of stoic grief. He bowed deeply—a victor's courtesy masked as reverence, echoing the calculated theatrics of a certain notebook-wielding mastermind. To the onlookers, it was pure humility.
In truth, Renji wanted to stand before Hiruzen's grave, raise his fist triumphantly, and scream, 'Yes, Hokage, everyone believes me! This is my perfect victory—that's right, I win!' But the crowd around him kept his madness in check.
Countless eyes turned toward him, heavy with unspoken emotion.
"Renji, I get you're hurting, but your body..." Asuma Sarutobi approached first, his broad hand tousling Renji's hair with paternal warmth—the only one who could reach him now. "Promise me: take care of yourself, get stronger. Protect Konoha—the village Lord Hokage gave his life for. Okay?"
For the first time, a genuine spark returned to Renji's hollow form. The light in his mismatched eyes reignited, warming those around him. He spoke like a solemn oath: "I definitely will!"
I definitely will grind that Malice Value!
----
100 Stones = +1 Chapter
200 Stones = +2 Chapters
300 Stones = +3 Chapters
...
To read future chapters and support me: patrⓔon(.)com/DemonicFiction