Chapter 23: There's Hope
Renji's soul seemed to hover above his physical form, as if standing in a higher dimension, gazing down at the intricate network of chakra within. The Eight Gates glowed like beacons in his mind's eye, and the first—the Gate of Opening, nestled in the right brain—called to him. With a surge of will, he unlocked it.
Chakra roared through his body like a raging river, flooding every muscle with raw power. "Front Lotus!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the forest air. A nearby tree exploded into splinters, the force of his kick sending a shockwave through the clearing. The sensation was exhilarating—his body felt weightless, every fiber brimming with untamed energy.
Renji didn't need Might Guy's prompting. He was already lost in the thrill, his senses sharpened to a razor's edge. His mind shifted to the next gate—the Gate of Healing, located in the left brain. "Gate of Healing! Open!"
The gate unleashed a wave of stamina, washing away the fatigue from the Gate of Opening's overload. His body thrummed with renewed vigor, as if he could fight for days. But Renji wasn't done. He wanted to test his limits, to see how far his Cursed Spirit physiology could go.
"Gate of Life! Open!"
Situated near the trachea, the third gate erupted, amplifying his speed and strength to dizzying heights. His skin flushed red, blood vessels swelling as a green aura flared around him, crackling with energy. "Reverse Lotus!"
His movements became a blur, a storm of kicks tearing through the air with sonic booms. Another tree disintegrated into fine sawdust, the forest trembling under the sheer force. The Reverse Lotus was faster than the Front Lotus, its motions so rapid even Renji's trained eyes struggled to track them.
"Renji! Stop!" Might Guy's voice cut through the haze, urgent and sharp. "You'll hurt yourself if you keep going!"
The energy within Renji subsided, like a tide retreating from the shore. His legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the grass, his chest heaving. The green aura faded, leaving only the faint hum of his chakra.
Guy rushed to his side, his face a mix of awe and concern. "Opening the Gate of Life on your first try? That's incredible, Renji! You're already ahead of me and Lee when we started. But the later gates—Pain, Limit, View, Wonder—they're dangerous. They'll boost your power, but the damage to your body will be severe. The Eight Gates unleash your ultimate potential, but no matter how strong you are, the backlash can't be fully avoided."
Renji nodded, catching his breath. His body, drenched in sweat, showed no signs of fatigue despite the immense strain. A Cursed Spirit's limits are… different. He glanced at Guy, whose solemn expression reminded him of Lee, still unconscious in the hospital.
Lee's condition weighed heavily on Guy's mind. During the Chunin Exams, Lee had forced open the Gate of Limit, tearing muscles and meridians. The medical-nin's verdict was grim: even if he woke, he'd likely never be a ninja again. Guy's heart ached at the thought of Renji meeting the same fate.
"Hey, it's noon already!" Guy said, pushing aside his heavy thoughts with a bright grin. "Enough training for today, Renji. Let's grab some barbecue—I'm treating!"
"Sounds good!" Renji sprang to his feet, his sweat-soaked black top glistening in the sunlight. His bright smile showed no trace of exhaustion, his spirit as unyielding as ever. Guy marveled silently. This kid's stamina is bottomless. Opening the Gate of Life and recovering in minutes? Terrifying.
"After lunch, let's visit Lee at the hospital," Renji suggested, his tone warm but determined.
Guy nodded, his heart swelling with pride. This kid's got the soul of a true ninja.
...
After a hearty meal of sizzling barbecue, Renji bought a bouquet of vibrant lilies and headed to the hospital with Guy. As they neared Lee's ward, a rhythmic counting echoed down the hallway.
"139… 140… 141…"
They opened the door to find Lee, bandaged from head to toe except for his right arm, doing one-handed push-ups on the floor. The nurse leading them paled. "Lee! You can't train in your condition! Stop this instant!"
Lee ignored her, his sweat-drenched face breaking into a strained smile as he spotted his visitors. "Guy-sensei! Renji! Good to see you! Sorry, I can't chat—I've got to hit my training goal. No slacking, even in the hospital!"
"152… 153… 15—"
Thud.
Lee collapsed, his body giving out mid-push-up. The nurse rushed forward, lifting him gently onto the bed. "Lee!" she scolded, her voice laced with worry.
Guy's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. The nurse sighed, her tone heavy. "Lee's body can't handle being a ninja anymore. When he wakes, please talk to him. If he keeps pushing like this, he won't last."
Guy nodded silently. "Thank you."
The nurse shook her head and left the ward, her footsteps fading down the hall.
Moments later, Neji and Tenten arrived, their faces somber as they greeted Guy and Renji. Guy turned to them, his voice low. "Does Lee know about his condition?"
Tenten nodded, her eyes downcast. "He heard the nurses, but… he doesn't want to believe it."
Neji's jaw tightened, his Byakugan-veiled eyes betraying a flicker of pain. Guy's heart ached, remembering Lee's relentless determination since childhood.
Renji broke the silence. "Guy-sensei, what's wrong with Lee's body?"
"Gaara shattered his left arm and leg," Guy said heavily. "The medical-nin say he'll never fully recover. He can't be a ninja anymore."
Renji's mind raced. No one's mentioned Tsunade yet. In the original timeline, she was the only one who could heal Lee. If I don't act, Lee's done for. He saw Lee not just as a friend but as a future source of Cursed Energy—a leek to nurture for a bountiful harvest.
"There's hope," Renji said suddenly, his voice firm. "Lee could recover completely."
Guy, Tenten, and Neji froze, their eyes snapping to him. On the bed, Lee's eyelids twitched, a faint sign of awareness.
"What?!" Guy's voice cracked with emotion, his eyes wide with hope.
Tenten and Neji leaned forward, their faces alight with anticipation. Renji met their gazes, his resolve unshakable. "The greatest medical-nin in the ninja world is Konoha's Lady Tsunade. She might be able to heal Lee."
Guy's heart surged, but a shadow of doubt crept in. "Tsunade's been missing for years."
"I know where Lord Jiraiya is," Renji countered, his voice steady. "After the Chunin Exams, I'll ask him to help me find her. Guy-sensei, Lee's my friend. I'll do whatever it takes to get Tsunade to treat him. Trust me."
Guy's eyes softened, tears welling up. "Renji… I believe you. And Lee does too."
They left the ward, leaving the bouquet of lilies by Lee's bedside. Though his eyes remained closed, tears streaked down his cheeks, pooling on the pillow.
Outside, Tenten's voice trembled with gratitude. "Thank you, Renji. For going this far for Lee."
Renji smiled warmly. "He's my friend too."
Neji studied him, his usual stoicism softening. "Let's train together sometime."
"Deal," Renji nodded, his grin infectious.
After parting ways, Renji set off to find Naruto and Jiraiya. His search led him to a low waterfall, its gentle roar mingling with the chatter of a nearby stream. He spotted two figures—and a pair of eyes peeking from the grass. A group of women in bikinis splashed in the water, their laughter echoing. No doubt who's lurking, Renji thought, smirking. Konoha's number one perv—Ero-sennin.
"Hey, what a cute little ninja!" one woman called, spotting Renji.
"Why aren't you on a mission, kid?" another teased. "What brings you here?"
"Wait, is he another little perv?" a third giggled, winking.
Before Renji could respond, a soft hand grabbed his arm, pulling him into a warm, fragrant embrace. The women surrounded him, their hands brushing his face and shoulders.
"Look at those little fangs! So pointy—wanna bite big sister?" one cooed, pinching his cheek.
"Can't believe you're so young and already this built!" another marveled, poking his abs.
Renji's physique was no accident—part natural training, part self-optimization through his kekkei genkai. He stood frozen, a lamb among wolves, as a woman planted a kiss on his cheek.
Renji covered his face, his expression a mix of shock and embarrassment. The women giggled, their excitement growing.
"Renji!" A figure burst from the grass, striking a righteous pose. Jiraiya, his face marked with a fresh slap print, declared, "As your father, I can't stand by! Go train, kid—I'll handle things here."
Renji, still surrounded, blinked. Father? Does he ever look in a mirror?
The woman holding Renji tilted her head. "You're his dad?"
"Absolutely," Jiraiya said with a straight face.
"With that face? You made this handsome kid?" she scoffed.
"No way!" another laughed. "You're totally lying!"
The women debated loudly, ignoring Jiraiya's growing embarrassment. Renji flashed a peace sign, his smirk barely hidden.
Jiraiya, red-faced and fuming, grabbed Renji by the collar and tossed him toward the grass. "Outta the way! You don't know how to charm ladies, kid!"
Renji landed lightly, finding himself face-to-face with Naruto. "Hey, Naruto."
His eyes drifted to a colorful tadpole hopping on a nearby stone slab. Summoning Jutsu… and it's a tadpole?
"Ahhh!" Naruto flailed, trying to cover Renji's eyes with one hand and the tadpole with the other. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he dispelled the jutsu, the tadpole vanishing in a puff of smoke. "That was an accident!" he blurted, his face flushed with guilt.
Renji raised an eyebrow, his voice calm. "An accident, huh?"
Naruto squirmed under his gaze, guilt mounting. "Y-yeah, totally!"
Renji let it slide, his lips twitching into a smile. Naruto, desperate to change the subject, noticed Renji's sweat-dampened shirt. "Man, Renji, you look beat from training! Let's hit the hot springs!"
He took a deep breath and bellowed, "Ero-sennin!!!"
Jiraiya appeared instantly, rubbing the fresh slap mark on his cheek. He shot Renji a jealous glare. This kid's got all the luck with women. Two slaps just for tossing him aside? Unfair!
"Ero-sennin, hot springs! Let's go!" Naruto urged.
"No way!" Jiraiya snapped, crossing his arms.
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From now on, here's the deal:
💀 Special first-time bonus: If we reach 50 Power Stones, I'll drop +1 extra chapter after this one.
💀 After that: Every 100 Power Stones = +1 extra chapter.
In short:
50 Stones = +1 Chapter (first-time bonus)
100 Stones = +1 Chapter
200 Stones = +2 Chapters
...