"Uchiha Renji, what do you think I should do?" Shizune raised her head hesitantly, tears already filling her eyes.
Right now, she didn't look like an experienced medical ninja at all, but rather like a helpless child.
"You've done well enough." Renji stood up, gently wiped away Shizune's tears, and said, "Leave this to me."
Feeling the warmth on her cheek, Shizune was stunned.
Normally, Uchiha Renji was a shy and even self-deprecating boy.
But now, the feeling he gave her was completely different.
Those eyes—firm like an eagle's—gave her an inexplicable sense of security.
However, thinking back to the intimate and slightly ambiguous gesture, Shizune blushed and quickly changed the subject:
"They're seriously injured. How should we rescue them now?"
"Unless we transport them back to Konoha or get more support from medical ninja... But they're already discussing retreating and abandoning the wounded."
"Don't worry. I'm here. They won't be abandoned. Let's end this war and go home—together." Renji stretched his body and stood tall.
Seeing Shizune's confused look, he lightly tapped her forehead and walked out.
"Ugh! I hate that!" Shizune instinctively rubbed her forehead, but noticed that her voice sounded strangely soft, and her cheeks flushed even more.
At the entrance of the cave, the tactical meeting continued.
As soon as Uchiha Renji approached, he heard the final decision:
"Now, in the name of the captain, I propose we immediately abandon the wounded and retreat. Raise your hand if you agree." Yamanaka Kaze declared.
Aburame Togen, standing beside him, raised her hand and said, "I agree."
"Transporting the wounded and treating them on the way will slow down our retreat. Abandoning them is the logical choice. I hope you'll think carefully. Also, don't forget what happened to Konoha's White Fang."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed.
The death of Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, had been a tremendous loss for the village—
Yet he had been shamed by many.
People are selfish. They only care about results, not what was sacrificed to achieve them.
And now, Aburame Togen's words had clearly pushed the group into a moral crisis.
"No need to vote. We completely disagree and will never abandon our teammates." Renji said calmly.
"That's Uchiha Renji! Wasn't he seriously injured? How is he even standing?"
The crowd was shocked.
Just remembering how Renji had been pulled from the explosion array, covered in blood, still frightened many.
Yamanaka Kaze and Aburame Togen's faces darkened.
They were both considered young geniuses—whether in Root or in Konoha.
They had never been openly challenged before.
Root doctrine taught that anything could be sacrificed in pursuit of victory.
"Renji, you're just a Chūnin. You have no authority in this decision. Step aside immediately!" Yamanaka Kaze barked.
"Keep spouting nonsense and misleading others, and I'll have you punished under military law!"
The atmosphere turned tense.
Everyone looked at Renji, who was now nothing like the timid, self-doubting boy they used to know.
"Uchiha Renji, how dare you defy the captain's order? Are you looking to die?" Kaze roared.
Aburame Togen added coldly, "Don't forget, we're facing hundreds of Kumo ninja, including the A-B combo!"
"This world is ruled by the strong. And you—a weakling who isn't even a jōnin—have no right to speak."
"I'll give you two options. First, shut up and get out of the way.
Second... die."
The cold words sent a shiver through everyone in the cave.
"Renji, come back!" Shizune rushed forward and said quickly, "I'm sorry, everyone. Renji's still not thinking clearly..."
"Shizune, let me handle this." Renji reached out to stop her, then raised his head and stared directly at Togen.
"So what you're saying... is that comrades can kill each other?"
"Then tell me—can I kill you too?"
His quiet words echoed in the cave, sending chills down everyone's spines.
This was not the Uchiha Renji they once knew.
"Hmph, such arrogance from an Uchiha. We've long suspected your clan was plotting something. But with your pathetic strength, you dare threaten me?" Togen scoffed.
"A worthless Chūnin like you should have stayed silent. But now... you've signed your own death sentence." Yamanaka Kaze added coldly.
"You've defied orders and committed treason. We're within our rights to kill you!"
"Weaklings should stay in the corner and tremble."
Suddenly, murderous intent surged and locked onto Renji.
Everyone knew: if he moved even slightly, a deadly strike would follow.
"Yamanaka Kaze, we're comrades. Don't take things too far."
A purple-haired jōnin stepped forward: "We need to calm down and discuss this together. That's the only way we'll find a real solution."
"Hmph, Mao Yue, I suggest you don't meddle. We're in charge of this mission, and this brat is a burden. He's defying orders—he deserves to die."
"So your logic is... if you're strong enough, you can kill whoever you want?"
"Perfect," Renji smirked. "Then let me show you what despair feels like."
Blood-red energy surged through his pupils like a rising tide.
In an instant, the three tomoe merged into one.
His eye power erupted like a hurricane, centered entirely on him.
His black hair rose without wind.
Those crimson eyes radiated an oppressive, heart-crushing aura.
"What are those eyes!"
"Uchiha Renji… That's not just a Sharingan. Count them—1, 2, 3… 9 tomoe?!"
"How is this possible?! Three tomoe is already powerful… but nine?"
The pressure from his eyes crushed the room.
It was the Nine-Tomoe Mangekyō Sharingan—a terrifying evolution.
Even within the Uchiha clan, only a few ever knew about this eye.
Let alone someone who awakened it by accident.
But none of that mattered now.
What mattered was the overwhelming sense of doom everyone felt under the weight of Renji's divine ocular power.