Chapter 13: Renji's The Best!
The late afternoon sun bathed Konoha's streets in a golden glow as Naruto's voice broke the air. "Chunin Exams? What's that?"
Konohamaru crossed his arms with a pout, trying to act tough in front of Naruto. "The Chunin Exams are tests for genin to become chunin, duh!"
Naruto's sapphire eyes sparkled with excitement. "Chunin! I'm totally gonna be a chunin, dattebayo!" He pumped his fist, already envisioning himself wearing a Chunin's vest.
Sakura nodded, processing the information. "So that's what it is." Her thoughts shifted, and she turned to Renji, concern flickering across her face. "Oh, right. Renji, do you know where Sasuke is? We haven't seen him all day."
Naruto pretended to look away, feigning disinterest, but his ears twitched, betraying his curiosity.
Renji's mismatched eyes softened with calculated regret. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you. Sasuke was training with me today. My apologies for worrying you."
Sakura waved her hands frantically. "It's okay, Renji, no need to apologize! Are you and Sasuke training together?"
Renji nodded, his tone warm but deliberate. "Yes, Sasuke's working hard." He knew exactly how to plant seeds of trust—small gestures that would bloom into opportunities for Malice Value later.
Naruto's face twisted into an exaggerated pout, a sense of rivalry flaring. "No way! Renji, you're playing favorites! You're only training with Sasuke and totally forgot about me!"
Renji paused, tilting his head with mock innocence. "But weren't you playing with Konohamaru and his friends?" His carefree tone stung Naruto, sharp and unsettling.
"Ah!" Naruto's guilt was palpable, his whiskered cheeks flushing. "It's Kakashi-sensei's fault for always disappearing! I wanted to train, but I couldn't find him! And you and Sasuke were gone too! I had no choice but to hang out with them!"
Renji's expression screamed, Just admit you're still a kid, Naruto. "Have you guys eaten dinner yet?" he asked, changing the subject.
Sakura and Naruto shook their heads. Naruto clutched his rumbling stomach dramatically. "I'm starving! Let's eat together!"
Sakura hesitated. "No, my parents are waiting for me at home. I have to go. Let's do it another day!"
Naruto's face fell, but he nodded. "Alright."
Sakura waved to Renji and Naruto, her pink hair bouncing as she headed home. Naruto watched her go, a flicker of envy crossing his face. Eating with parents… what must that be like? His shoulders slumped slightly.
Renji caught the shift in mood but pivoted to his next target. "Konohamaru, treat Naruto and me to ramen," he said, grabbing the squirming boy by his scarf before he could escape.
Konohamaru planted his hands on his hips, indignant. "Why should I treat you? Respect your elders and cherish the young—you should be treating me!"
Renji tugged his collar with a sly grin. "I just saved you, and Naruto's your boss, right? Treating your savior and boss to ramen is nothing." Besides, you've got that fat Hokage-grandson allowance.
Konohamaru grumbled, defeated.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10!]
[Chakra: 25,960 / 100,000,000]
Renji gave Konohamaru a light tap on the head.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10!]
[Chakra: 25,970 / 100,000,000]
He tapped again.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10!]
[Chakra: 25,980 / 100,000,000]
One more tap—no reaction. Konohamaru, teary-eyed with a runny nose and three fresh bumps, looked thoroughly tamed. Renji clicked his tongue, disappointed. Out of Malice already? Weak.
It was late when they reached Ichiraku Ramen, the shop nearly empty. Teuchi set steaming bowls before them with a warm smile. "Enjoy."
Naruto slurped his noodles noisily, mumbling through a full mouth. "Renji, tomorrow, let's train together, okay?"
Renji chewed thoughtfully before answering. "Alright." Though he suspected Kakashi would brief them on the Chunin Exams tomorrow, likely leaving little time for training.
Back at ROOT, Renji spotted Cat Mask in the underground passage. He casually tossed her a stick of red bean dango he'd bought, then slipped into his room to sleep soundly, a faint smirk lingering. Small gestures, big rewards.
Cat Mask stared at the warm, sweet-smelling dango, then quietly retreated to her own quarters.
...
The next morning, Renji, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura gathered on Konoha's bridge, the early sun casting long shadows.
"Good morning," Renji greeted, his voice calm and steady.
Sakura smiled brightly. "Good morning, Renji!"
"Hehe!" Naruto hooked Renji's arm, bouncing like overexcited dough. "Renji! Renji! Don't forget our promise from last night!"
Renji nodded, unfazed. "Don't worry, I won't."
"Wow, Renji's the best!" Naruto's squinting eyes and beaming grin pressed uncomfortably close to Renji's face.
Sakura looked away, exasperated. Naruto, you idiot! Even friends have boundaries! Only Renji, with his endless patience for comrades, could tolerate this. She sighed—reminding Naruto would be pointless anyway.
Sasuke glanced at Renji, intrigued by this "promise." Around Renji, he felt at ease, his guard lowered. Training with him was a rare escape from the pressure that gnawed at him. Unlike tedious D-rank missions, practicing with Renji let him focus, pushing his limits without judgment.
"Ah! Everyone's here!" Kakashi appeared, spotting Naruto clinging to Renji like a sticky rice ball. He peeled Naruto off unceremoniously. "Naruto, stand properly."
Naruto pouted, muttering under his breath. Annoying Kakashi-sensei…
"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei," Renji said, glancing at the sky. "It's rare for you to not be late."
Kakashi's eye twitched. "…" He pulled out four application forms and handed them over. "Chunin Exam applications. Participation isn't mandatory—it's your choice."
Naruto snatched his form, squinting at the text like it was a foreign language. "What's this?"
"Chunin Exam application forms," Kakashi said. "Sign them if you want to participate. Report to Classroom 301 at the academy in five days, 3 PM sharp."
Naruto's face lit up. "Chunin Exams! This is awesome!" He clutched the form, muttering "Chunin Exams" repeatedly like a mantra. "Oh, right! Kakashi-sensei!" He spun around, but Kakashi had vanished. Naruto's face darkened. "I finally caught you… I wanted special training…"
His eyes slid to Renji, and he lunged, clinging again. "Renji! You'll help me, right? Hehe!"
Sakura watched, her expression torn between fondness and frustration.
"Then let's all train together, the four of us," Renji said simply, his tone warm but calculated to draw them closer.
Sakura froze, waving her hands frantically. "No! No! I'm sorry, I mean…" Under Renji's gentle gaze, she sniffled, her voice dropping. "I don't want to waste your time because of me."
Renji took her hand, his voice soft but deliberate. "What are you saying, Sakura? If you consider me a comrade, don't say such hurtful things. Didn't we agree to take the Chunin Exams together? I'll protect you all."
Tears welled in Sakura's eyes. She wiped them fiercely and declared, "Renji! Don't look down on me! Train me properly! I… I want to protect everyone too!"
"Sakura!" Naruto leaned on Renji's shoulder, sobbing dramatically. "Everyone… everyone's so kind…"
From a tree branch in the distance, Kakashi watched, shaking his head. Renji's got the most Hokage potential. Gentle, strong, caring for his comrades… He reminded him of someone long gone.
...
"So… so hard!" Naruto panted, drenched in sweat, struggling to pop a balloon with his Rasengan. Renji, channeling Jiraiya's teaching method, guided him step-by-step, though Naruto's progress was predictably chaotic.
Sasuke, meanwhile, pushed through his Chidori training with relentless focus. Sweat soaked his shirt, but he never paused his taijutsu drills. Chidori demanded high physical prowess, and his obsessive drive—fueled by his fixation on Uchiha Itachi—propelled him forward. His progress was striking, the electric arcs in his hand growing sharper each attempt.
Sakura, lacking a kekkei genkai or large chakra reserves, leaned on her sharp mind and precise chakra control. Renji taught her ninjutsu from a scroll Cat Mask had procured from Danzo, its detailed instructions posing no challenge for him. Sakura absorbed the lessons eagerly, her determination shining through.
Renji watched them train, his smile eerie yet subtle. To anyone else, it was warm encouragement—but beneath it lay a predator's anticipation. The Chunin Exams… their Malice Value will be a feast. He could almost taste the harvest, his predator's cunning thrumming with excitement at the chaos to come.