Yesterday Renji had been taught a lesson. Only then did he realize how obvious everything had been in his mother's eyes and how blind he had been to it.
Yawning, he walked toward the training field. Today he had arranged to meet his teammates to decide what to ask for besides the five scrolls they had already claimed.
Retsu was there with one arm in a sling, nibbling on osmanthus cake that Yan had brought for both of them. Yan hovered beside him asking if it was too sweet or too sticky. Renji could not help but think they looked like they were on a picnic instead of standing in the training grounds.
After some talk, Renji and Yan went with clan leader Nobunaga to the Hokage's office to receive their reward.
It was Renji's second time entering that office. Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen behind the desk filled him with a deep unease.
The Hokage gave a speech about how Konoha was one family. He praised the Uchiha for years of loyal service and said the village would express its gratitude by granting more funds in the coming quarter.
He then announced rewards for their part in the spy pursuit. Last time they had received the upper scrolls. This time they would receive the lower ones. From the ninjutsu archives they could also select one technique, excluding forbidden and sealing arts.
He also presented a letter of commendation from the daimyo himself, praising the Uchiha for destroying the black market valley and urging them to continue defending the Fire Country. Hiruzen went on with more words about unity between nation and village and about the Uchiha being a cornerstone of Konoha.
The clan leader answered with practiced gratitude. At last the boys stepped forward. Yan requested Darkness Night Walk.
After a few pleasantries they left. Renji kept thinking about the daimyo's commendation. Without that letter he might have forgotten that the daimyo, not the Hokage, was the Fire Country's ruler.
As they walked back, Yan broke the silence. "My grandfather told me yesterday we were set up. It was probably the Great Elder. Your uncle must have had a hand in it too. Most of all it was Teacher Min. He carried it out. If he had told me honestly that he needed me as bait, I would have agreed for the clan's sake. But the way he did it made me feel sold out."
Renji's chest tightened. He felt the same. His own teacher had been the one executing the plan, and his uncle the one who had designed it.
Yan went on. "Our squad is probably finished. Your mother is taking you to the Land of Iron to see your grandfather. My grandfather wants me back home to train with him. You know why. Our mission is over. From start to finish we were puppets. I hope what you said the other day comes true. I am leaving. I hate goodbyes."
Renji watched his friend's back fade into the distance. Who liked goodbyes anyway. He dragged his feet to the training ground where Retsu was staring at a box of cakes. A letter lay beside him, written by Yan.
Retsu handed it over. "Yan is gone. I am guessing you will leave too. No one can keep training under someone they feel betrayed them. Our squad is done."
Three days later a carriage rolled out of Konoha. Renji sat on the roof, watching the gates shrink into the distance. He swore silently that when he returned he would be someone new.
On the road to the Land of Iron, he noticed his father, usually talkative, was quiet. At first Renji thought it was because his father was ashamed that his elder brother had nearly gotten his son killed. But the farther they traveled the more he saw his mother's aura expand. She had always been strong at home. Now her presence was overwhelming.
Since the Uchiha had just erased the valley, no one dared pick a fight. Rough men on the road took one look at the clan crest and hurried away. Some bandits even came forward to guide the carriage out of their territory faster.
Crossing into the Land of Iron, Renji saw warriors everywhere. They avoided the carriage. They were not foolish enough to provoke the Uchiha.
At last he asked what had been on his mind. "Mother, why is grandfather not in the clan? Why come all the way to the Land of Iron?"
Her answer was simple. "To raise his sword. He has not returned once in five years."
"What about Father? Why is he so quiet?" Renji asked.
His mother smiled. "You should ask him."
Renji leaned toward his father. "Why are you so silent?"
His father gave a bitter smile. "You will understand when you meet your grandfather."
"You could have stayed home," his mother teased.
"I wanted to see Father-in-law too. And I cannot be apart from you," his father said quickly.
They arrived at a wooden courtyard by a lake. It was beautiful, backed by mountains and facing the water. Renji's father suddenly gripped the hilt of his blade.
A middle-aged warrior stepped out of a hut and bowed. "I am Haruki of the Land of Iron. You must be the family of Senior Fujian. He is fishing on the lake. He should be back soon."
Out on the water, a figure sat on a bamboo raft in a rain cape, rod in hand, basket at his back. To Renji, his grandfather looked like the hermit masters from old tales. The sight reminded him of a word from his past life: harmony of man and nature.
The raft drifted closer. Just as it reached the shore the old man stood and vanished. Renji's father drew his sword. Steel rang. His father staggered back a few steps. The old man stood with only a fishing rod, basket at his back. "A little progress," he said, "but still useless. In that cage called Konoha, how could you grow stronger?"
"Haruki, my family is visiting. Come another day," the old man said. The warrior bowed and left.
The old man shook his head, looked at Renji's mother, then pointed at Renji's father. "This man is still useless. He only knows how to talk. You fell for his words. He cannot even block a fishing rod. You have suffered, Lan. I promised your mother I would find someone strong for you, but you insisted on this weakling. If you regret it I can cut him down and find you another."
Renji finally understood why his father had been so unhappy. Who could be happy hearing this.
While he stood there stunned, the old man's hand touched his head. "Renji, you have grown taller. You look just like your uncle when he was young. I caught a fine fish for you. Your mother will cook it. Have you been training well? Being the youngest genin means nothing. Strength is what matters. Do not end up like your father, training with a sword for half a lifetime and unable to block a rod.
He is finished. But you are a good seed. I brought you here so you would not be twisted by those schemers in Konoha. Remember, against absolute strength, schemes mean nothing. Hashirama and Madara did not need tricks. If someone defied them, they beat him down. If he resisted again, they beat him again. Our ancestors went further. They killed whole clans and stood at the gates of villages. What trick could oppose that? We are a clan of warriors. Strength is everything."
His mother tugged his arm. "Enough. Do not scold them the moment we meet. It has been years since we saw each other. I missed you. Renji, call your grandfather. Let us go inside. We will eat together as a family."
Renji grinned. "Grandfather, I am starving. Let us eat first. We have been on the road all day." He grabbed his grandfather's arm and pulled him toward the house.
The three of them went inside. Behind them, his father followed slowly, wearing a bitter smile.
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