Chapter 83: ATM
ROOT Headquarters.
Inside a dimly lit, spartan room.
There was a single bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a chair. Aside from those—and one lonely rocking chair—the room was empty. Every chamber within ROOT looked the same: functional, lifeless, stripped of comfort. Even Danzo Shimura, the head of the organization, lived under the same austere standard.
Sai sat quietly on the chair, his gaze fixed on Renji Mahito.
Renji was calmly tying his long blue hair into its usual high ponytail. From the wardrobe, he took a blank white mask and fitted it over his face, the motion practiced and mechanical. He then performed one final inspection of his ninja tool pouch, ensuring each item was perfectly placed.
Sai, already packed and waiting, studied Renji's back. The air between them was heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, Sai broke the silence.
"Will you kill Uchiha Sasuke?"
Moments earlier, ROOT's intelligence division had relayed the news: Uchiha Sasuke had killed Orochimaru. His next target was undoubtedly his brother, Uchiha Itachi. Danzo had already ordered the mission—intercept the battle between the brothers and eliminate them both.
Renji gave no reply.
"Why aren't you answering?" Sai pressed, irritation flaring.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000]
[Chakra (154,604,002 / 200,000,000)]
Renji said nothing.
He didn't even understand what went on inside Sai's head half the time. But since Sai constantly produced small bursts of Malice Value, Renji didn't mind keeping him around. As long as Sai didn't die, he served his purpose.
'I've absorbed so much of Naruto's prime "main course" Malice Value,' Renji mused. 'Now I need Sai's "side dish" just to cleanse my palate.'
"Are you hesitating to kill him?" Sai asked, that artificial smile stretching across his face. "Uchiha Sasuke used to be your teammate, after all." His tone carried mock sympathy—and real spite.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000]
[Chakra (154,605,002 / 200,000,000)]
Renji ignored him. He finished securing his pouch and moved toward the door. Sai's words were just background noise, an annoying hum that refused to fade.
Sai followed close behind, like a shadow that wouldn't disappear.
"Why won't you talk? Feeling guilty?" Sai continued, his fake grin faltering. The cracks in his mask began to show.
'How did Team 7 manage to soften him?' Sai thought bitterly. 'How did they turn that sharp-tongued Renji into someone calm, measured—even kind? Even if it's just an act, he's never worn that act for me.'
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000]
[Chakra (154,606,002 / 200,000,000)]
Renji's patience thinned. He turned, his voice low and sharp. "Can you shut up for one minute?"
Sai sneered. "Am I annoying? Uzumaki Naruto pesters you all the time, but you don't complain then. If Uchiha Sasuke were here, would you ignore him too?"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000]
[Chakra (154,607,002 / 200,000,000)]
'They're all annoying,' Renji thought. 'I only tolerated them out of necessity. They still have uses for my plan to leave this world. But Sai… He's the ideal villain—consistent, obsessive. My perfect little ATM: small deposits, high frequency.'
"Oh, right... Uzumaki Naruto and Sakura Haruno are heading out to find Sasuke too," Sai said casually, his gaze fixed on Renji. "When you meet them, you won't get sentimental and expose your identity, will you? ...No, of course not. You're ROOT."
His grin widened. "If they ever found out you were lying to them, they'd never trust you again, would they?"
That thought made Sai genuinely happy.
"Why aren't you nicer to me, Renji?" Sai asked suddenly. He reached out, almost touching Renji. Renji's eyes narrowed, and he jerked away in disgust.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000]
[Chakra (154,608,002 / 200,000,000)]
Sai smiled faintly. "Only I know your real face—cold, ruthless, hypocritical. But that's fine. Naruto and the others couldn't handle it. They'd only hate you."
'Perfect,' Renji thought. 'The more they hate me, the better.'
"Stop wasting my time." Renji opened the door, stepped out, then glanced back. "Let's move."
"Okay," Sai replied, that same fake smile still plastered across his face.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000]
[Chakra (154,609,002 / 200,000,000)]
...
In the Forest
Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino sped through the dense trees. The canopy above swallowed the sunlight, leaving only scattered beams of blue.
Naruto led the group, his eyes burning with determination.
'I will bring Sasuke back,' he vowed. 'And when I do, we'll all go to the Memorial Stone together—and talk to Renji all day.'
Sakura felt something wet on her cheek. She looked up. It wasn't rain. Her gaze shifted toward Naruto.
'Those are… Naruto's tears?'
Naruto suddenly halted.
Hinata immediately stopped beside him. Kakashi turned. "Naruto? What is it?"
To cover more ground, Naruto had sent dozens of Shadow Clones across the forest. The sensation that hit him now came from one of them—it had just been destroyed. In its last moment, it saw a flash of blue hair.
"Naruto!" Hinata rushed forward as he dropped to his knees, clutching his chest, struggling to breathe.
Sakura hurried over and activated her diagnostic jutsu. Her expression darkened. "It's palpitations and shortness of breath... caused by emotional shock."
She whispered, voice trembling. "Naruto, calm down."
"I… I think I saw Renji."
The words froze the team. Hinata's eyes filled with tears. Kiba clenched his teeth. Shino spoke quietly, "Renji is dead."
The faint hope in Naruto's eyes dimmed. "Yes… Renji is…" His voice faltered. "But my clone saw someone—with a mask, and long blue hair…"
Sakura's hand struck his face. "Enough! There are plenty of ninja with blue hair! Renji's body—"
Her voice cracked. "I personally… placed him in the coffin."
Naruto looked away, guilt twisting his face. Then he nodded. "I understand."
He ran on. Behind him, Hinata bit her lip, watching him silently.
Naruto blinked. For an instant, he saw a familiar figure running beside him—blue hair fluttering, smiling gently. 'Be careful, Naruto. Don't fall.'
He blinked again—and the vision vanished.
Then—crash! Naruto fell ten meters, landing hard on the forest floor. He stood, wincing, and froze.
A figure stood before him.
Uchiha Itachi.
Naruto spun around. The others were gone. He was alone.
"Why aren't you running?" Itachi asked calmly. "You know you're alone."
'The others are caught in my clone's genjutsu.'Itachi thought.
"Hah!" Naruto yelled, forcing a grin. "I don't need to run! Even if I'm alone, I've got a thousand clones waiting to join the fight! Once I catch you, I'll find Sasuke!"
Itachi watched him quietly. "Why are you so obsessed with my brother?"
"He's my friend —and more of a brother than yours for me!" Naruto shot back. "I'll bring him home, no matter what!"
'...More of a brother than I ever was,' Itachi thought. A faint smile ghosted across his lips. 'Good. After I'm gone, someone will still protect him.'
Crows burst into the air. The forest melted away into a sea of red.
Naruto was trapped in Itachi's genjutsu.
"You're already inside my illusion," Itachi's voice echoed. "I just want to talk."
Naruto clenched his fists. "About what?!"
"You want to bring Sasuke back. But what will you do if he refuses?"
"I'll bring him back anyway!" Naruto shouted. "Even if it kills me!"
"By force?"
"I can protect Konoha and save him!" Naruto declared. "I'll do both. That's my ninja way!"
Itachi looked at him for a long time, then smiled faintly. 'Naive… but unshakable.'
A single crow flew toward Naruto—
Crunch.
It didn't reach him. A white-gloved hand caught it mid-air, crushing it. Fingers pried out the crimson Sharingan from its eye socket.
Long blue hair brushed Naruto's hand.
Naruto froze.
The masked figure spoke in a calm, flat voice. "I'll be taking Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan on behalf of Lord Danzo."
Then he vanished.
Naruto lunged forward—but grasped only empty air.
Itachi's eyes narrowed. 'A Flying Thunder God seal?!' He saw it glowing faintly beneath Naruto's torn jacket. 'Renji Mahito… But he's dead!'
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000]
[Chakra (154,619,002 / 200,000,000)]
"These are Renji's clothes!" Naruto shouted.
'Renji's scent… I know it. That was him.'
Itachi sighed inwardly. 'If Danzo now holds Shisui's eye, and both Renji and Hasumi Maki are still moving behind the scenes… the situation is spiraling out of control.'
...
Rendezvous Point
Sai stood waiting as Renji reappeared.
'Now I have a pair,' he thought, extending his left hand. Beneath the skin, a faint bulge rose, then sank back down. 'Right hand—Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan. Left hand—Shisui's. Once I take the second eye from Danzo, the set will be complete.'
'After that, I'll let Obito's eye gather more Malice Value… then evolve it into a Rinnegan.'
'I can show myself to Naruto in a mask for now,' he thought, 'but the real reveal will wait. When Pain attacks Konohagakure and Danzo becomes Hokage—that's when I'll step in. Once the Uchiha brothers finish their duel, I'll harvest Sasuke's Malice Value myself. Maybe even cross paths with Obito again… earn some extra points. And yes—Rin Nohara's clone should definitely appear.'
The thought of the chaos to come made Renji almost laugh aloud.
----
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