Renji walked into the lobby, stopping before the casualty board. The list stretched long, filled with names he didn't recognize. Most were strangers to him—but a few stood out.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Kushina Uzumaki. Biwako Sarutobi, the Third's wife.
His eyes lingered on another. Shinku Yuhi.
'Kurenai's father…'
He thought back to the slim girl who had pulled him from the rubble. 'I wonder how she's handling this. I should find a chance to properly thank her.'
With a sigh, he shook his head and turned away from the board.
Finding a seat, he settled down to wait for Teuchi's arrival. Closing his eyes, he activated his new sense. Instantly, countless hairstyles appeared in his mind, looking like pieces of art.
His focus settled on a single black braid close by. Holding it with his perception, he traced the flow of its energy.
'I can feel the texture of the hair… the energy inside it… even the emotions of the owner. She feels happy… though there's a hint of physical pain. A patient, maybe, talking with her family?'
Curious, he followed the sensation into another hall. There, a woman in a wheelchair sat with a small boy, smiling through tears as she held his hands. From their conversation, Renji pieced it together—she had thought she'd lost her son, but a rescuer had brought him back to her.
Quietly, he returned to his seat, his mind still buzzing.
'This is amazing… it feels almost like the Kyūbi's emotion perception in the anime. If I use this right, it could help me understand the intentions of women I meet in the future.'
Refocusing on the braid, he brushed against it with his perception and willed the Demonic Energy to flow. But this time, nothing happened.
Renji leaned back in his chair, mulling over his discovery.
'So for now… I have to physically touch the hair to absorb its energy. I'll need to find a way to come into contact with as much of it as possible. This energy is the core of my abilities—the key to unlocking more skills. I'll think about this later.'
The minutes slipped by as he lingered in his mind-space, drifting between the countless hairstyles around him, brushing against them and feeling traces of emotion. Some happy, some grieving, some numb with exhaustion.
A sudden pat on his shoulder snapped him out of it. His eyes flew open—Teuchi stood in front of him.
"Good morning, Renji-kun," the man said with a kind smile. "How are you feeling today? And why are you in the lobby?"
Renji blinked, then answered quickly, "Teuchi-san, good morning! I'm feeling much better. I thought I should walk around a bit, see if something would jog my memory. But… nothing came to me yet."
"I see," Teuchi replied, nodding. "It's good that you're recovering fast. Don't worry about your memories. Take your time and relax. I'm sure they'll come back sooner or later."
Renji nodded along.
"Are you ready to go home?" Teuchi asked.
"Yes," Renji said.
Together, they walked to the reception, where Teuchi handled the discharge process.
Meanwhile, Renji's mind churned.
'I didn't sense him at all… Teuchi was standing right in front of me, and I had no idea. Demonic Energy Sense is good, but it's useless against male opponents. I need to figure out a way to detect everyone—not just women's hair. Maybe I can attach demonic energy to others. But I haven't been able to control the energy itself until now, only the hair.'
He tucked the thought away on his growing mental to-do list.
Renji and Teuchi left the hospital together, the crisp morning air carrying the faint sounds of hammers and saws as villagers worked to repair the damage left by the Kyūbi's rampage.
As they walked, Renji's gaze was drawn upward. There, carved into the great mountain overlooking the village, loomed the Hokage Rock. Four massive faces stared down at Konoha—Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato.
For the first time, the reality of it all truly sank in. This was the world of Naruto. A world brimming with shinobi, tailed beasts, bloodline clans, and danger at every turn.
Renji clenched his fists.
'I need to get stronger. I need trump cards, fallback plans—anything to survive what's coming. By the time of the Uchiha massacre… I should be strong enough to intervene, if necessary.'
He exhaled slowly, resolve burning in his chest.
'As for whether I'll try to save them… that decision can wait. But at the very least, I won't be powerless when that time comes.'
Fixing that goal in his mind, Renji's determination hardened.
Before long, they arrived at the ramen shop. Renji paused at the entrance, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
'So many scenes from the anime happened here… so many characters sat at these very seats.'
A stray thought crossed his mind—would working here give him a reliable source of Demonic Energy? But he quickly shook his head.
'No, that's not feasible. Forget it.'
He stepped inside alongside Teuchi. The moment they entered, Ayame came charging at him like a cannonball.
"Renji!"
She leapt with all her might, knocking him flat onto his back.
Renji groaned inwardly. 'I'm so weak… this little kitten actually toppled me over! My goal looks so far away now!'
Ayame laughed victoriously, standing on his chest puffing herself. He could only stare at her, utterly speechless.
Teuchi hurried over, pulling him up while gently chiding his daughter. "Ayame, what did I tell you? Renji is still hurt. You need to be more careful."
Ayame stuck her tongue out at her father, then grabbed Renji's hand and tugged him toward the backyard. Teuchi gave Renji a helpless look but let them go.
In the yard, Ayame spun dramatically, her eyes sparkling. "Renji, let's play! This time, I'll be Lady Tsunade, and you'll be the evil ninja!"
Before he could even respond, she threw herself into the role, charging after him with tiny fists raised for a punch.
Renji had no choice but to dodge clumsily and play along. Despite the chaos, he found himself smiling faintly.
'This peace… it isn't so bad.'