At the banquet there were many young heirs present. When they heard someone being called the "number one swordsman of the younger generation," some were openly disdainful.
They thought that if they themselves had entered, the championship would surely have been theirs.
And when they listened to Renji's words, many felt this boy was unbearably arrogant.
To brush aside modesty and directly accept such a title, and then to point at the runner-up beside him as if challengers must first defeat a gatekeeper, it made tempers rise.
Renji ignored the reactions around him and continued.
"I see there are many talented youths here today, all strong fighters of the Fire Country. Why don't we give Lord Daimyo an extra performance of swordsmanship?"
At once several hot-headed youths stood up, provoked by his words. Duantian smirked at his cousin, this kid really knew how to pile work onto him.
One man stood and addressed the daimyo.
"My lord, spilling blood at a banquet would be inappropriate. Why don't these young men use wooden swords instead?" He clapped his hands, and attendants brought out practice swords of various lengths.
The young Uchihas chuckled coldly. What a coincidence. They had only just decided to spar, yet wooden blades were already prepared. Clearly, these nobles had wanted to test Uchiha steel all along.
Renji smiled.
"Very well. Then let us invite these young heroes to step forward." He clapped Kuzen on the shoulder and whispered loudly enough for all to hear:
"Go easy on them. Don't scare the children."
The words were not loud, but everyone in the hall heard them.
Duantian walked into the center, casually picked up a wooden sword, and asked,
Will you come together, or one at a time?"
One minute later the floor was littered with fallen youths, while Duantian stood alone, calmly returning his practice blade to its rack.
Renji spread his hands.
"Alas, trading blows with children like this really is our Uchiha bullying the weak. Lord Daimyo, honored guests, I ask your pardon."
Duantian returned to his seat and said to Renji,
"Don't look at me like that. I held back as much as I could. Any slower and I wouldn't be swinging at all."
"You could have at least let them land one hit," Retsu grumbled.
"I already did. What else should I have done, stand there and let them hack away at me before moving?" Duantian replied.
Yan added dryly,
"It wouldn't have mattered. One of those kids knocked himself out tripping over his own clothes before you even touched him."
Renji bowed to the daimyo.
"My lord, forgive us. None of us expected such a performance to end so quickly." He put on a look of embarrassed regret.
The Second Elder hurried to smooth things over.
"My lord, forgive the children. They lack refinement in their control. Please excuse the disappointment."
At that moment a richly dressed elder stood and said,
"If Lord Daimyo wishes more excitement, why not invite the Twelve Guardian Ninja into the ring? Let them cross blades with Uchiha's young talents and broaden all of our horizons."
Renji seized the opening.
"If Lord Daimyo still feels unsatisfied, then I too would like to spar with one of the Guardian Ninja. After all, protecting the daimyo is the Fire Country's highest duty. Such a position cannot be entrusted to those lacking strength. For me, as a junior, to learn from them would be an honor."
A man in a shinobi uniform stepped forward from the side, a scarf like Asuma's tied at his waist. Kneeling, he addressed the daimyo:
"My lord, if you wish it, I will enter the floor and test the strength of these Uchiha youths."
The daimyo hesitated. He very much wanted to see a true shinobi duel, but he also saw the risk. If his Guardian lost, it would be humiliating.
If his Guardian won, it might be seen in Konoha as unfair bullying of children, and the Uchiha would certainly seek a rematch. Either way, there would be political fallout.
Renji, however, was full of confidence. By now his power already rivaled Itachi before awakening the Mangekyo. These Guardians were little more than seasoned jōnin at best. Against him, they were hardly a threat.
Renji stepped forward.
"Since this Guardian-sensei is so eager, I cannot refuse. Let's play a match." He moved to the center of the hall.
Everyone present leaned forward, this was their chance to truly measure Konoha's mettle.
The daimyo gave a small nod of approval. He too had been swayed by the war-hawk faction's arguments lately. Let this match show him what strength Konoha really possessed.
Both sides faced off. Renji formed the seal of confrontation, his Sharingan spinning into three tomoe. He dashed forward, hand on his hilt.
"Iaido Lion's Song!"
The Guardian countered with a charge of his own, tossing shuriken and drawing his short blade. But before he could even swing, Renji's strike landed.
Renji sheathed his blade and stood tall. In his left hand he now held the Guardian's waist sash, the mark of the Twelve. A sharp crack echoed through the hall as the man collapsed, bleeding heavily.
Renji handed the sash to a stunned attendant.
"The daimyo's protectors are of utmost importance. Do not let pretenders fill the ranks."
The hall fell into absolute silence. One move that was all it had taken. The duel everyone had expected to be titanic was over before it began.
Even the skeptics had to admit it: Konoha's strength was still unmatched, and Uchiha brilliance remained terrifying.
Renji thought to himself: So this is the quality of the daimyo's chosen guards? Barely half of an Asuma. Even calling him jōnin is generous. And these fools dream of challenging Konoha? A medium clan could raze this capital with ease.
The Second Elder laughed.
"Haha, little Renji, I told you not to shed blood. You've thrown the banquet into chaos. Still, you're young. I'm sure the daimyo will not hold it against you. Allow me to apologize on his behalf." He bowed.
The youths bowed as well and returned to their elder's side, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
The banquet soon ended, there was no salvaging it after such humiliation. The daimyo had hoped to humble Uchiha, yet his Guardian was slain in a single stroke. Better to close the hall than to endure further embarrassment.
As they returned to their residence, the Second Elder chuckled.
"Now that was a lesson. The war faction has been noisy these past years, but you cut them down to size today. With that, the matter of succession should no longer be in doubt."
The youths laughed along. Retsu scoffed,
"That Guardian wasn't worth the trouble. Any one of us could have beaten him."
"No," Yan corrected. "It had to be Renji. Only he could end it so decisively."
"Exactly. If the fight dragged on, the whole effect would have been lost," Duantian added.
Renji simply looked down the long street, already turning over plans in his head of how to carve out a permanent Uchiha foothold in the Fire Capital.
Later, in Konoha, an ANBU knelt and reported:
"My lord Hokage. Uchiha Renji and four companions entered the Fire Capital. At the banquet, Duantian crushed the capital's youths, and Renji slew the captain of the Guardian Twelve with a single strike, even seizing his sash. He declared that the daimyo's bodyguards must not be filled with pretenders. That night, the daimyo ordered the Third Prince confined to his residence, forbidden to return to court."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly.
"That little Uchiha brat always making trouble wherever he goes. Still, this time, he's done something good for Konoha."
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