Chapter 56 - Six Months Later

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Lately, though, Renjiro hit a snag progress on developing Rankyaku had stalled completely.

The idea of unleashing a blade of compressed air with a kick like the Rankyaku technique seemed straightforward. But in the Shinobi World, replicating such a feat required more than raw physical speed.

It demanded a seamless fusion of Taijutsu precision and Ninjutsu mastery—specifically, the advanced skill of Chakra Transformation.

To shape chakra into a sharp, airborne slash through pure movement meant controlling both form and nature, refining it until the very air bent to your will.

It wasn't just about strength or speed—it was about sculpting chakra into a weapon with every strike.

Take Meri's Sword Technique: Crescent Slash, for example. It wasn't just about channeling chakra into the sword. After the chakra was applied to the blade, it had to undergo shape transformation, becoming razor-sharp. Only then, when combined with high-speed slashes, could it unleash that terrifying power.

Renjiro understood Chakra Shape Transformation—barely. His studies in that field had always been focused on improving Lightning Release and Body Stimulation. He'd never looked beyond those areas.

That's why the development of Rankyaku had remained stagnant for so long, despite the task being in progress for weeks.

But today, after countless hours of research, he finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Standing still in the quiet forest, sword in hand, Renjiro suddenly opened his eyes.

Whoosh!

He swung his blade forward, and a crescent-shaped wave of energy shot out from the blade. It shined like moonlight as it flew through the air and slammed into the massive tree ahead.

BOOM!

Wood splinters flew everywhere.

The glowing arc slammed into the trunk of a tree so thick it would take four grown men to wrap their arms around it—and cleaved it clean in half.

Kenjutsu: Crescent Slash!

This was Renjiro's newly developed Jutsu.

Unlike Meri's version, Kenjutsu: Crescent Slash, Renjiro's technique no longer needed him to draw the blade to increase its power.

By using a more precise, science-based slashing motion—and relying on his naturally stronger body—he could now unleash a cutting wave just by swinging his sword!

He was quite satisfied with the result. The damage was easily on par with a C-rank and even B-rank offensive Jutsu. And since it didn't require hand signs, it offered a decisive edge in fast-paced combat.

Even though he had developed a powerful new sword technique, it didn't really help him make progress with Rankyaku.

The problem was that Rankyaku didn't require a sword at all—it was about generating a cutting force using only the leg. And that made things much harder.

A blade could handle the pressure and deliver the technique without breaking, but using his leg instead meant all that force and precision would fall on his own body. One mistake, and he could seriously injure or even permanently damage his legs.

Renjiro rubbed his chin, thinking aloud: "What if I combine it with Tekkai... Maybe that could work."

After a moment, he gave Arkain a new order in his mind: "Change the research setup. Use Crescent Slash as the base, and simulate Rankyaku while I'm activating Tekkai. Let's test it."

[Beep! Parameters updated... Rerunning Simulation…]

Renjiro nodded in satisfaction. Unable to contain his excitement, he began testing Crescent Slash again—and soon, the surrounding forest trees were being sliced cleanly, as if they were ready-made logs for building houses.

---

Time flew by, and before anyone noticed, the war had dragged on for nearly six months.

A lot had happened in that time. For instance, Iwagakure had opened a new front in the Land of Grass—about four months ago.

When Renjiro received word that the Iwa-nin had moved through the Land of Grass, he immediately realized the infamous Battle of Kannabi Bridge was destained to happen.

Unfortunately, he couldn't take part in it.

First of all, he was still stationed in the Land of Waterfall. Onoki had gone all-in to trap Konoha's forces there, sending 500 elite reinforcements and ordering the new commander to hold the front no matter what—just to make sure Konoha couldn't send any help to the Land of Grass.

So, as soon as Iwa opened a new front, the fighting in the Land of Waterfall flared up again. As a high-ranking shinobi, Renjiro was immediately pulled back into battle. He didn't have the time or luxury to think about what was happening elsewhere.

Besides, the mission to destroy Kannabi Bridge was top secret—personally planned by the Third Hokage and his two advisors. Only the people directly involved in the mission knew about it. No one else had the clearance.

So, if Renjiro tried to interfere using that as an excuse, things would end badly for him. In wartime, the Third Hokage wouldn't hesitate to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to village security.

And since Renjiro clearly couldn't have gotten that kind of classified information through official channels, Hiruzen would definitely demand to know where he got it. If Renjiro couldn't give a solid explanation, he could easily be treated as a traitor.

Even worse—Renjiro didn't even know when the mission was supposed to take place. Without that critical detail, what could he possibly do to help?

In the end, he had no choice but to stay out of it—just a silent observer as history unfolded. All he could do in the face of the coming loss and sacrifice… was mourn in silence.

To put it simply—he just wasn't strong enough. His strength was still lacking. He could barely protect himself, let alone those around him.

There was no way he could take part in a battle that would shape the fate of the entire Shinobi World, especially with someone like Zetsu lurking in the shadows. Doing so would only draw Madara's attention to him.

Not long after, the news spread like wildfire: the Yellow Flash of Konoha had appeared on the battlefield in the Land of Grass. With godlike speed and power, he killed fifty enemy shinobi on his own and destroyed a vital supply bridge—crushing Iwagakure's strategy in a single move.

As for Uchiha Obito's death… it barely caused a ripple. He was just a Genin. One more casualty in a brutal war. No one could have imagined that the death of this so-called "nobody" would one day trigger a seismic shift in the entire Shinobi World.

Only one detail stirred any real controversy: the young prodigy Kakashi Hatake, the newest and youngest Jonin in Konoha—had somehow acquired a Sharingan, the prized dojutsu of the Uchiha clan.

However, with the protection of Minato and the Third Hokage, the matter was quickly hushed and swept under the rug.

In the end, Konoha achieved decisive victories on two major fronts against the Land of Earth.

When combined with earlier triumphs over the Lands of Wind and Water, the Hidden Leaf emerged as the dominant force in the Shinobi World—its momentum was unmatched and its influence grew greater than ever.

---

After the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, no one in the Shinobi World, regardless of nation or faction could have predicted what came next.

Despite securing major victories in both the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Grass, Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, made a surprising move: they offered a peace treaty to Iwagakure.

At first, the decision seemed baffling. But on closer reflection, it made perfect sense.

The Third Great Ninja War had dragged on for too long. Its scars ran deep, and even Konoha, the strongest of the Great Nations, was beginning to feel the weight.

Their battlefield success had been impressive, but the constant fighting had taken a toll. The village was running low on stamina and resources—they simply couldn't afford to keep bleeding.

Still, this peace offering wasn't an act of fear.

Konoha made sure the message was clear: this was not surrender, but responsibility. A decision born not of weakness, but of wisdom for the sake of the village's future.

If anything, it was Konoha showing strength through restraint. They wanted the world to understand: Konoha did not fear Iwagakure, far from it.

To preserve their honor during the diplomatic exchange, Konoha carefully selected its envoy.

They reformed the legendary Ino–Shika–Cho trio, dispatching Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza to the western front. Nara Shikaku would lead the mission.

And alongside them stood the village's rising star—the one now feared and admired across the battlefield as Konoha's Lightning Flash, Takane Renjiro.

The four of them made a strong team as they headed out to deliver the Third Hokage's letter to the border.

Even though they were powerful, they still made sure to arrive early at the meeting place. It wasn't about showing off—it was about showing respect. They wanted to make it clear: Konoha was looking for peace, not trying to scare anyone.

After all, Konoha was clearly winning the war. If they acted too proud, it might provoke Iwagakure, who had already lost badly twice. No one knew how a defeated but proud enemy might react.

As they waited for the Iwa delegation to arrive, the four Konoha shinobi—reunited after some time—greeted each other warmly. Soon, the talk turned to how quickly the war had changed.

Choza laughed and said: "It's crazy to think it's only been a year. You were just a nervous Academy graduate on your first mission in the Land of Water."

Inoichi smiled and nodded: "And now even enemy commanders know your name. You've come a long way, Renjiro."

Renjiro rubbed the back of his neck, looking modest: "Thanks… but honestly, I still have a long way to go. Compared to veteran shinobi like you three—or even those listed in the Bingo Book—I've still got a long road ahead of me."

Shikaku raised an eyebrow and said with a smile: "Maybe… but let's be honest. One-on-one, none of us could beat you anymore."

Choza nodded with a grin: "Yeah, I definitely wouldn't want to face your sword."

Inoichi added with a gentle smile and an approving look: "We're still active on the battlefield, but you've already proven yourself more than enough."

Renjiro smiled and scratched his head: "I think you're giving me too much credit."

Shikaku shook his head with a calm smile: "You don't have to be so modest. You've earned everything through your own hard work."

They all laughed softly. The mood was light and friendly. Time passed quickly as they chatted—until the sound of footsteps on the gravel path broke the moment.

Inoichi looked up seriously: "They're here!"

Shikaku's smile faded as he shifted into focus: "Alright. Let's move more carefully from here."