Chapter 32: Sasuke's Your Little Brother, Right?
Sunlight sliced through the heavy clouds, bathing Renji in a golden glow as he stood solemnly at the funeral. Every eye turned toward him, squinting against the radiant light. Something about the boy stirred trust and hope deep within those watching—a spark of Konoha's future rising like new sprouts from the village's mighty tree.
The funeral ended, and Konoha turned its focus to rebuilding. Orochimaru's summoned serpents had left scars across the village, their destruction a lingering reminder of the battle's toll.
On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, Jiraiya stood alone, the breeze ruffling his wild white hair. From this vantage point at Konoha's heart, he could see the entire village sprawling beneath him—bustling, resilient, unbroken. He hadn't attended the funeral, but word of Renji's presence there had reached him. The boy's talent, his unshakable character, and the trust he inspired among his peers reminded Jiraiya of a young Minato Namikaze. He'd make a fine Hokage someday, Jiraiya mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Jiraiya."
The voice broke his reverie. He turned slightly to see Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, the village elders, standing behind him. His grin widened, casual and teasing. "Well, well, if it isn't the two esteemed elders."
Homura's expression was grim, his tone heavy with purpose. "Jiraiya, with the Third Hokage gone, Konoha needs a new leader. A new Hokage."
Koharu exchanged a glance with Homura before adding, "We nominate you."
She knew Jiraiya's tendencies all too well and pressed on quickly. "There's no one better suited. As the Third's disciple, the Fourth's mentor, and one of the Legendary Sannin, this responsibility falls to you. For the village."
Jiraiya chuckled, his mind racing to dodge the burden. "Hokage, huh? Isn't there someone more suitable than me?" He didn't name her, but the elders caught his meaning instantly.
Koharu hesitated. "The First Hokage's granddaughter—one of the Sannin—she would be ideal."
Homura cut in, pointing out the obvious flaw. "We don't even know where Tsunade is right now."
Jiraiya's thoughts flickered to Renji. The boy had been searching for Tsunade too, hadn't he? Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya made his pitch. "I'll find Tsunade. But I'll need to take two genin with me."
Homura nodded. "Fine. Name them."
"Uzumaki Naruto… and Renji."
Koharu's expression tightened, her voice measured. "Naruto can go. But Renji… you'll need to clear that with ROOT."
Homura sighed, his tone heavy with resignation. "Renji is Danzo's son, after all. And you know how that old man gets…"
Silence hung between them, thick with unspoken tension.
Jiraiya scratched his head, already dreading the confrontation with Danzo. Ugh, that guy's a headache. After the elders departed, he paced the rooftop, muttering to himself. A minute later, a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. Screw it. I'll just kidnap Renji. By the time Danzo noticed, they'd be long gone from Konoha. Jiraiya let out a cackle that would've made a demon proud.
…
At Ichiraku Ramen, Renji sat wedged between Naruto and Sasuke, slurping noodles with gusto. Sakura, seated beside Sasuke, wasn't eating. Her gaze lingered on Renji, relief flooding her as she saw the life returning to his eyes. The sparkle in her emerald eyes betrayed her quiet joy—Renji was back, vibrant and whole.
Naruto and Renji were mid-slurp when a shadow loomed over them. They froze, slowly looking up. Jiraiya's grin stretched ear to ear, his hands reaching out like a villain in a play.
Swish!
In a blur of motion, Jiraiya swept Naruto and Renji out of the shop like a whirlwind, leaving a stunned Sakura blinking in their wake. She jolted to her feet. "Renji! Naruto! They've been kidnapped!"
Sasuke, unfazed, set down his chopsticks, paid for their meals, and strolled out. "That was Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. They're fine."
He didn't wait for Sakura's response, leaving her standing in the ramen shop, watching his retreating figure with a pang of sadness. Sasuke had changed—subtly at first, in the Forest of Death, and more noticeably after his fight with Gaara. She didn't know how to reach him anymore. If Renji were here, he'd know what to do, she thought, lowering her eyes. She'd talk to him about Sasuke when he returned.
Sasuke stepped onto Konoha's bustling streets. Despite Orochimaru's attack, the village thrummed with life, undeterred. Yet standing amid the crowd, Sasuke felt a flicker of disorientation. Am I falling behind? Renji's prodigious talent and Naruto's victory over Gaara gnawed at him, fueling a torment he couldn't shake. He carried the weight of vengeance—yet he felt like a weakling drifting aimlessly. If I stay like this, I'll never kill him.
"Kakashi…" Sasuke's eyes caught his sensei lingering at a food stall's entrance, not eating, just… standing there. Suspicious. Sasuke approached, frowning. "What's Kakashi doing here?"
Kakashi glanced into the stall, then waved him off casually. "Oh, just picking up some food."
Sasuke followed his gaze. The stall was empty, but a teacup steamed on the table, and a bento box sat half-eaten—natto, of all things. Sasuke's nose wrinkled in disgust. "I hate natto."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, straightening. "Sasuke, no training today—I've got something to handle." Before Sasuke could respond, Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke.
Sasuke's frown deepened, an uneasy feeling settling in his chest. His gaze drifted back to the natto, and for reasons he couldn't name, it left him unsettled.
…
"Wow! This place is amazing!" Naruto's voice echoed through the unfamiliar streets of Tanzaku Town, his eyes wide with wonder. He dragged Renji from stall to stall, lingering at each one with childlike glee. "Goldfish! Look at those—aren't they beautiful?!"
Naruto practically pressed his face against the water, gripping the pond's railing. He shook Renji's arm excitedly. "Renji! Wanna play?"
Renji sighed internally. Not really. But Naruto's face screamed I'm doing this! with such intensity that Renji relented. "Go for it."
Naruto fished a coin from his frog wallet, handed it to the vendor, and grabbed two flimsy paper nets. He dipped his net carefully into the water, targeting a tiny goldfish. It flicked its tail—splash! Water hit Naruto's cheek, the net tore, and the fish slipped away. He turned to Renji with a pitiful pout.
Renji crouched, dipped his own net, and deftly scooped a red-and-gold fish. The vendor bagged it with some fish food and handed it over. Renji passed it to Naruto, who beamed like he'd won a war, giggling at the fish the entire way back.
Jiraiya, being Jiraiya, had no interest in "kids' games." After booking their inn, he slipped off to pursue his adult hobbies, leaving Renji and Naruto to their own devices.
Renji plopped cross-legged onto his bed, a sudden realization hitting him. Uchiha Itachi. If his memory served, Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki were due to show up today. He lay back, legs crossed, plotting. A minute later, he sprang up, opened the door, and called out, "Naruto, I'm heading out to grab something. Stay here."
Naruto, engrossed in his goldfish, glanced up as Renji was already closing the door. He nodded absently. The door clicked shut, and Naruto jolted. "Wait—no! Renji, hold up! I wanna come!" He flung the door open, but Renji was gone. Defeated, Naruto slunk back to his fish.
Renji hadn't gone far—just a hundred meters from the inn—when he spotted two unmistakable figures. The Akatsuki's black-and-red cloaks were impossible to miss, and Kisame's shark-like features drew every eye. Renji sauntered back and forth in front of them, deliberately conspicuous.
Itachi: "…"
Kisame: "…"
The Konoha headband gleaming on Renji's forehead was like a neon sign. Kisame crouched down, flashing a toothy grin that showed off his shark-like teeth. "You a Konoha ninja, kid?"
Itachi stood silently behind him, observing as Kisame toyed with the boy.
Renji sized Kisame up with brazen arrogance. "Who're you?"
Kisame's grin widened. "My buddy here's a Konoha ninja too. We're looking for someone."
Renji flicked his gaze to Itachi, who stood like a statue, eyes cold and unreadable. "He doesn't look like a Konoha ninja," Renji scoffed. He wandered to a nearby stall, picked up some darts, and began tossing them—hitting the bullseye every time. The stall owner's face soured with each perfect throw.
Kisame let out a grating chuckle. "Heh heh heh…"
Renji shot him a look. "Shut up, that laugh's annoying."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (105,630 / 100,000,000)]
Renji blinked, surprised. Kisame's that sensitive about his laugh? Five hundred points for one jab? Not bad.
A spark of mischief lit in his mind. "You're here for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, aren't you?"
Kisame's pupils dilated slightly. Itachi's calm, mirror-like eyes rippled faintly.
"I could take you to him," Renji said, stroking his chin as he glanced between them. "You're Akatsuki, right?"
Kisame's eyes gleamed with amusement. This kid's bold—calling us out like it's nothing. First he annoys us, then drops this bombshell without flinching. Fun.
Itachi's heart sank, suspicion coiling tighter.
"I wouldn't go after the Nine-Tails right now, though," Renji added, his tone mock-serious. "Odds of success are pretty low."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3,500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3,500!]
[Chakra (109,130 / 100,000,000)]
Well, damn, Itachi's quick on the draw, Renji thought, delighted. "But since you're here, might as well try your luck." He started walking, then paused when they didn't follow. "What're you standing there for? Come on!"
He beckoned them like they were old teammates, his tone so natural it threw them off.
Kisame: "…"
Itachi: "…"
Something felt… off. Kisame found it oddly entertaining, trailing behind Renji. "Who are you, kid?"
Renji glanced back, flashing a sly smile before giving Itachi a pointed look. He mouthed a single word: Madara.
Kisame's jaw dropped, his grin stretching wider. A mole in Konoha? After what they'd pulled in Kirigakure, it wasn't shocking, but still—this kid?
Itachi's expression didn't change, but his mind churned.
Renji's plan? There was no plan. He was just screwing around, milking the moment for all it was worth. What others thought or saw? None of his business. He was just a humble Ninja World worker, grinding Malice Value like it was his day job.
"Oh, by the way," Renji said, turning to Itachi with a wicked grin. "Sasuke's your little brother, right?"
Itachi's silence was deafening, but Renji could practically feel the Malice Value rolling in.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (119,130 / 100,000,000)]
Jackpot! Brother complexes are something else.
"Don't worry, I'll help you break him," Renji continued, his eyes curving into smug crescents. "We're on the same side, aren't we?"
No chime this time. Renji frowned inwardly. What, did I miss the mark?
Itachi finally spoke, his voice cold as a winter gale. "As I understand it, he's your friend."
"Friend?" Renji snorted. "Never said that. And because he trusts me, it'll be easier to hit him where it hurts. More suffering, right? Just like when you wiped out the Uchiha Clan."
Each word was a dagger, aimed straight at Itachi's heart. Inside, Renji's inner villain cackled, gleefully shredding Itachi's composure into ribbons.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (219,130 / 100,000,000)]
Cha-ching!
A hundred thousand chakra—just for running his mouth! Itachi was the gift that kept on giving. Hiruzen had only coughed up fifty thousand when Renji taunted him about Konoha's doom. Clearly, Sasuke was Itachi's ultimate weak spot—more precious even than the village he'd sacrificed everything for.
Oh, this is too good. Renji could milk this brotherly drama for days. High risk? Sure. But the rewards? Insane. This was his kind of hustle.
He punched his palm lightly, already scheming his next move.