"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire!"
Renji spat flames, following immediately with a fan of five shuriken. He fought while dragging the battle closer toward Konoha, step by bloody step.
The jonin countered in a flash. "Water Style: Water Formation Wall. Water Style: Exploding Wave!"
Renji braced and pushed back with a roaring "Fire Style: Great Fireball!" before dashing on, body screaming in pain.
The enemy pressed closer, relentless. Each clash carved another wound across Renji's skin. His breath rasped. His muscles burned.
This isn't working. If this keeps up, I'll die before backup arrives.
"Old man, we've already freed the captives!" Renji shouted between jutsu. "Your mission's a failure. Walk away now. Why chase a fight you can't win?"
The jonin gave no reply. No mercy. Just more steel and chakra. Shuriken whirled. Ninjutsu detonated.
Renji grit his teeth. So be it. If I can't outlast him, I'll die fighting.
His attacks grew sharper, more desperate. He bled freely, every move costing him. Then, at the edge of exhaustion, something inside him cracked open.
A rush of chakra surged into his eyes. The world sharpened. His opponent's motions slowed, crisp and clear.
Sharingan.
He could see the flow of attacks, each angle more readable. He was still outmatched, still reeling, but no longer blind.
The jonin's eyes widened. "So. You've awakened them. An Uchiha's Sharingan. If I can't deliver the jinchūriki, then one of your eyes will do. My failure becomes my reward."
"Thanks, but I'd rather keep both," Renji spat blood, raising his hands to fight again.
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
"Lightning Style: Flicker Step!"
The jonin blurred forward, bolt and blade descending together.
But before the strike could land, four voices rang out behind Renji.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon!"
"Earth Style: Yellow Springs Swamp!"
The jonin twisted, fast as lightning, but not fast enough. Two Uchiha veterans, eyes gleaming with three-tomoe Sharingan, drove their blades through his chest.
He sagged, lifeless.
Takuma rushed in, scooping Renji into his arms. His voice shook with both anger and pride. "Left eye, one tomoe. Right eye, two. You reckless little fool."
Renji's voice was faint, but he managed to croak, "Dad… what about the blond kid and the red-haired girl? Yan and Retsu?"
Takuma glanced toward the treeline. "The girl and the boy are safe for now. Root tried to take them, but there's no Root operative alive who can pry something from Uchiha hands. As for your teammates, your uncle and Kenshi followed their trail. Hold on."
Ahead, the forest broke open. Dozens of shinobi squared off, ANBU, Root, and Uchiha, the tension razor-sharp.
Takuma called out loudly, striding forward with his son across his shoulders. "Well, well. Jiraiya of the Sannin. Which one's yours?"
The white-haired man looked horrified. "Don't say that! I don't even have a girlfriend yet. Don't ruin my reputation!"
Orochimaru chuckled, recognizing Takuma's attempt to ease the tension. "Reputation? Jiraiya, your reputation can't get any worse." He produced a scroll. "By the Hokage's order, the red-haired girl is transferred to ANBU custody."
The Uchiha glanced at the seal, then grudgingly stepped aside.
A Root squad leader stepped forward immediately. "By order of Danzo-sama, the girl belongs to Root."
Orochimaru sneered. "Danzo doesn't give the orders here." He flicked a Hokage-sealed token at the man, who fell back in silence.
Jiraiya beckoned the blond boy over. Minato bowed deeply to Renji before retreating with the ANBU. Kushina was escorted away with Orochimaru's group. The Uchiha withdrew in silence, their mission done.
Back with the clan, the three teammates reunited.
"You awakened too?" Retsu grumbled, arm in a sling. "I nearly died for mine. You walk out with both eyes spinning, not a scratch left. Unfair."
Yan grinned. "I thought you were dead, Retsu. Guess my heart couldn't take it. Boom, Sharingan awakened. That means we're close, right? Deep bonds and all?"
Renji just sighed, too tired to argue. When I'm healed, I'm going to beat you both senseless.
The three trudged home together, bickering all the way.
When Renji opened his eyes again, it was to the white ceiling of the infirmary. His body still ached, but the worst had passed.
The mission had been technically successful. But it had been far too close. Had they not been Uchiha, had they not been special, they would all be corpses by now.
Uncle Nobunaga had quietly covered the truth. Officially, only Retsu's Sharingan had awakened. Renji and Yan's were kept secret. One child opening his eyes in the heat of battle was believable. Three at once would draw too much attention. Better to hide their strength and laugh about it in private.
For now.
The Hokage commended the Police Force and rewarded the trio personally: the right to choose two B-rank jutsu each. Sarutobi even said their names with fondness. From now on, they were marked in his book.
Meanwhile, Minato was taken under Jiraiya's wing. And to everyone's surprise, Kushina became the disciple of Koharu. A compromise between Hokage and Council, surely.
Danzo, as usual, got nothing. The man was a snake who always lunged but never managed to bite.
Renji mulled over what jutsu to claim when the door opened.
"Yo, delivery time!" Yan grinned, carrying a box the size of his torso. "Curry beef rice, daikon soup, jasmine tea, and a matcha cake for dessert."
Renji nearly laughed. In another life, Yan would've made a perfect food courier. Every day he'd been there, bringing dishes, testing recipes on his teammates. And the food was actually good.
"Thanks. Let's eat with Retsu," Renji said, standing.
They gathered in the next room, eating as if nothing had happened.
"What are you two choosing from the Hokage's reward?" Renji asked.
Retsu wiped his mouth. "I want one Earth Release B-rank, and… not a jutsu, but the Hokage's own Earth Release notes. His insights. The man's called the Professor for a reason."
Yan blinked, impressed. "Smart. Then I'll pick something different. If we spread out our attributes, we can build team combos. Imagine combining them."
Renji leaned in. "Or we go all-in. Collect all five elemental notes, then add one universal technique or sealing art. That would give us a foundation no genin team has ever had."
They argued and schemed, fire in their eyes.
The next day, Yan returned from the Hokage's office with six scrolls: the upper volumes of Fire, Lightning, Wind, Earth, and Water Release insights, plus the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
They pored over the texts with hungry minds. Though incomplete, the knowledge of chakra nature transformation alone was priceless.
They knew these gifts were more than reward, they were bait. A gesture from the Hokage, a hook for the clan. But that didn't matter. They would take everything, learn everything, and make themselves untouchable.
Renji's wounds healed. Yan and Retsu stood ready. Kenshi called them again, promising tailored training.
The Uchiha's future had begun to blaze.
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