Chapter 12: Shadows of Ambition
Three days later, Team 7 finally returned to Konoha, their footsteps heavy with the weight of the Land of Waves mission. Renji's mind buzzed with two immediate desires: a long nap and a feast to rival a Kage's banquet. But first, duty called—he had to report to Danzo.
In the dimly lit chamber of ROOT's headquarters, Danzo sat in his chair, his presence as imposing as ever, eyes closed as if the world bored him. "You're back," he said, his voice low and gravelly, not bothering to look at Renji.
Renji nodded, his expression carefully neutral. "Yes."
He recounted the entire mission to Danzo, omitting his own combat and adding excessive trivial details—like how many bowls of rice Naruto ate per meal or when Sasuke tried to act cool.
It was crucial to downplay his own strength because even Danzo didn't know his full capabilities. Over the course of a month, they subjected him to tests, but his power stemmed not from his body but from his soul. This primitive society, aside from Orochimaru, barely had sufficient knowledge about the body, let alone the soul. Thus, while Danzo knew he was powerful and a genius, he was unaware of the power scale akin to Mahito's from Jujutsu Kaisen and felt no need to inquire about the limits of his strength. After all, Danzo had immense confidence in the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and didn't even consider the possibility that Renji might not be telling the truth.
Danzo's patience wore thin. "Enough," he interrupted, his tone sharp as a kunai.
Renji blinked, feigning innocence. "…" What? I didn't even get to Kakashi-sensei's face when he's sneaking peeks at his pervy book.
"No need to mention useless things," Danzo said, his single visible eye narrowing.
Renji pouted theatrically, swaying slightly as if reluctant to end his report. "Fine."
Danzo's eye twitched, catching the act. He glanced at Cat Mask, who stood silently nearby. With a subtle nod, Cat Mask pulled out a bulging money pouch and handed it to Renji.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100!]
[Chakra: 25,750 / 100,000,000]
Renji accepted the pouch with a radiant smile, his heterochromatic eyes gleaming. "Arigato!"
Danzo: "…"
Cat Mask: "…" Why is it always me handing him money?! she thought, her masked face hiding her exasperation.
...
On the bustling streets of Konoha, Renji made a beeline for the BBQ restaurant, the pouch jingling in his pocket. Danzo's always generous with cash. Spend it now, ask for more later. The restaurant was alive with noise—laughter, clinking plates, and the irresistible sizzle of grilled meat. The smoky aroma hit Renji like a genjutsu, making his stomach growl.
"I'm alone. Seat me at the quickest-serving table," he told the waiter, who nodded and led him to a spot near the kitchen.
As Renji waited for his order, he scanned the room. Familiar faces filled the tables, though none knew him personally. Might Guy's team and Asuma Sarutobi's team sat at separate tables, their chatter lively.
"Is that the new member of Team Seven?" Ino Yamanaka's voice carried curiosity as she peeked at the blue-haired boy.
Asuma nodded, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Yeah." It was no secret among Konoha's jōnin squad leaders. Since the village's founding, genin teams had always been three members—Team 7's four-person setup was unprecedented. "He was inserted by Elder Danzo. No one could argue."
"He looks kinda cute!" Ino said, her eyes sparkling with interest.
Asuma's tone turned serious. "Don't underestimate him. He didn't train at the Ninja Academy—he came from ANBU. He might be stronger than all of you combined."
Choji paused mid-bite, barbecue sauce smearing his cheek. "But he's not old enough for ANBU, is he?"
Asuma chuckled. "His background is… special." The three genin—each from prominent clans—nodded, understanding the weight of those words.
Renji demolished his meal at whirlwind speed, savoring every bite. He considered approaching Might Guy to discuss taijutsu training but noticed the jōnin deep in conversation with his students. Not the time to interrupt their master-student bonding, he decided. His mind drifted to Haku's Ice Release, its secrets gleaned from his soul during their battle. Developing it himself was next on his list—a kekkei genkai born from Water and Wind Release chakra. It wasn't as complex as Dust Release, but it would still demand focus. With enough chakra and refinement, its potential could be devastating.
His routine settled: low-rank missions—trash collection, weeding, dog-walking—and private training to master Ice Release. The Land of Waves had been an anomaly; now, it was back to mundane genin tasks. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry grew fiercer, their bickering constant. Sakura, lost in her crush, pined for Sasuke, oblivious to his growing anxiety. Renji, however, saw it clearly—the restless hunger of a prodigy desperate to improve but lacking guidance. Perfect, he thought. An opportunity to sow trust now, reap Malice later.
At dusk, after a grueling mission, Naruto trudged home, half-dead from trying to outdo Sasuke. Kakashi had vanished, as usual, before the mission ended. Sakura, stung by Sasuke's latest rejection, had left in tears. Only Renji and Sasuke remained by the riverside, the evening breeze cool against their skin.
"Sasuke, do you know your chakra nature?" Renji asked, his tone casual but calculated.
Sasuke paused, his dark eyes narrowing. "No. Why?"
Renji shrugged. "Clan kids usually know theirs early, but you're the last Uchiha, so it makes sense. Tomorrow, I'll bring chakra paper. To master powerful jutsu, you need to know your nature first. Kakashi-sensei taught me a jutsu that'd suit you—one that's even stronger with the Sharingan."
Sasuke's gaze flickered, surprised but guarded. Renji kept his voice neutral, devoid of pity—Uchiha pride wouldn't tolerate it. "Why are you doing this?" Sasuke asked, staring at the rippling lake. Why would someone sacrifice their own training time to help a rival? In the Land of Waves, neither he nor Naruto had shared tips during their tree-climbing struggle.
Renji gazed at the water, his expression softening deceptively. "I can feel how much you want to get stronger. We're comrades, aren't we? We should help each other." Mutual help? Ha. It's all groundwork for a bigger harvest. If he didn't build trust now, how could he exploit Sasuke's Malice Value later?
Renji stood, brushing off his pants. "It's getting late. I'm heading back. See you tomorrow, Sasuke."
Sasuke watched him go, his voice barely a whisper. "Thanks."
Renji heard but didn't care. He slipped into ROOT's shadowed tunnels, staking out the passage every operative used. Within three minutes, Cat Mask appeared, fresh from a mission.
"Out of money again?" she asked, eyeing her vest clutched in Renji's grip.
"…No," Renji shook his head, his smile disarming. "Got any chakra paper?"
Cat Mask relaxed, relieved it wasn't another cash grab. "ROOT has plenty. I almost forgot—we need to measure your chakra nature."
"It's not for me. Kakashi-sensei already checked mine," Renji said smoothly.
"Then who's it for?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her tone.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Cat Mask froze. Before she could protest, Renji leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Didn't Danzo say to take initiative and gather intelligence?"
Her masked brows furrowed. She glanced around, then hissed, "What do you call Lord Danzo?"
Renji: "…" Damn it.
Seeing his lowered head, Cat Mask softened but warned, "Don't do anything stupid."
"Got it," Renji nodded, his expression obedient.
She handed him five sheets of chakra paper. "Your chakra nature?"
"Wind, Fire, Water," Renji said conservatively, hiding his full range.
Cat Mask nodded. "Lord Danzo's Wind Release is formidable. I'll report this and get you training scrolls." She left without a backward glance.
…
The next morning, Renji met Sasuke on the bridge, handing him a sheet of chakra paper. "Channel your chakra into it."
The paper wrinkled, then ignited, revealing Fire and Lightning natures—Sasuke's strongest affinities, perfect for a jutsu like Chidori, just as Wind suited Naruto's future Rasenshuriken.
"Sasuke, you've got Lightning nature. You can learn this jutsu too," Renji said, leading him to a secluded training forest. He demonstrated Chidori, the electric arc flaring with a piercing screech that stung their ears. His thrust pierced a thick tree trunk, leaving a smoking hole. Sasuke's eyes gleamed, his ambition ignited.
"Channel high-intensity Lightning Release chakra into your hand and combine it with a high-speed thrust to pierce the target. That's Chidori," Renji explained, coaching Sasuke through the day while subtly refining his own Ice Release. Chidori was no easy feat, but Sasuke's determination never faltered, his focus unbreakable.
At sunset, Renji left early, trusting Sasuke to progress steadily. As he passed a narrow alley, familiar voices caught his ear—Naruto and Sakura, cornered by Temari and Kankurō of Sunagakure. Renji's memory of Naruto's plot was hazy, but the Chūnin Exams loomed large in his mind, a pivotal event filled with key players like the Sannin. Sage Mode, he thought, envying its power. Whether from Ryūchi Cave or Mount Myōboku, he wanted both Jiraiya's and Orochimaru's paths. A clone might be needed later—long-term planning was essential.
First, he needed to refuel his brain cells with another feast. But seeing Naruto and Sakura pressured by outsiders, Renji—the warm-hearted Konoha villager—stepped in. "Naruto, Sakura, what's going on?"
Kankurō held Konohamaru by the scruff, his expression menacingly arrogant. This guy's got some nerve acting high and mighty in someone else's village, Renji thought, deciding to reason with him.
"You're Suna ninja, right? That kid you're holding is the Third Hokage's grandson. Attacking a child in Konoha during peacetime could spark a conflict between our villages."
Kankurō froze, his grip tightening as he glared at Konohamaru. He couldn't vent his anger but didn't dare strike.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100!]
[Chakra: 25,850 / 100,000,000]
Renji stepped closer, sensing Kankurō's urge to lash out. His voice remained calm, almost cheerful. "I'm Elder Danzo's son, a Konoha official second only to the Hokage. The Hokage might overlook you hitting his grandson—he's generous like that. But my father? He's pretty petty. Hit me, and he'll care."
Kankurō stiffened, his bravado crumbling.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100!]
[Chakra: 25,950 / 100,000,000]
Renji gently took Konohamaru from Kankurō's grasp and patted his shoulder. "When you're in someone else's territory without overwhelming strength, it's better to keep a low profile." Kankurō wasn't about to take on all of Konoha alone.
Renji turned, tossing Konohamaru back to Naruto. "Sunagakure ninja, goodbye," he said, waving with a friendly smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Temari dragged Kankurō away, her expression a mix of annoyance and caution.
"Renji, how'd they get into Konoha? They're obviously foreign ninja," Sakura asked, puzzled. The Wind and Fire Nations were allies, but ninja didn't just waltz into each other's villages without clearance.
Renji's eyes glinted with anticipation. "The Chūnin Exams, most likely." The thought of the chaos and opportunities ahead sent a thrill through him. Time to plan my next move.