Chapter 33: Older Renji
The izakaya's faded sign creaked in the sunlight. Renji leaned casually against the doorframe, his heterochromatic eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and calculation. He glanced at Kisame Hoshigaki, then at Uchiha Itachi, whose cold, unreadable gaze seemed to pierce the air itself.
"This is the place," Renji said, his voice light but laced with intent.
Kisame tilted his head, his shark-like grin faltering as he eyed the izakaya's worn signboard. "You sure Uzumaki Naruto's in there, kid?"
Renji smirked, folding his arms. "Alcohol's one of the three ninja taboos, right? No way Naruto would come here on his own." His tone dripped with mockery as he shifted his gaze to Itachi. "But you two know who he's with, don't you? Jiraiya, the Legendary Sannin, can't exactly resist his… hobbies."
Itachi's killing intent was a subtle, icy thread, undetectable even to Kisame standing beside him. But Renji felt it—like a blade pressed against his spine. He relished it, his system pinging faintly in the back of his mind. Oh, Itachi, you're too easy.
Before Kisame could lift the izakaya's curtain, a large hand beat him to it. Jiraiya stepped out, his wild white hair catching the lantern light. His eyes flicked from Kisame's shark-like features to Itachi's slashed Konoha headband. "A rogue ninja," Jiraiya muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Renji raised his hand like a kid snitching in class. "They're after Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I led them here."
Jiraiya's serious expression cracked into a grin. "Not bad, Renji! Pretty clever!" He gave a thumbs-up, then ruffled Renji's blue hair with an affectionate pat. Way more reliable than Naruto, Jiraiya thought, chuckling.
Renji darted behind Jiraiya, shooting Kisame a cheeky wink. Kisame's grin twitched, his confusion palpable. Who is this kid? The Akatsuki member's mind churned. Renji had dropped the name "Uchiha Madara" earlier, a bold move that screamed insider knowledge. Was this brat playing Konoha to gain their trust? Kisame's eyes narrowed, intrigued.
Itachi, ever the enigma, offered Jiraiya a polite nod, as if they were old comrades meeting at a festival. Renji couldn't help but admire it—the sheer audacity of Itachi's composure. The village despised him, branded him a traitor, yet here he was, calm as a still pond. That's the Uchiha Itachi charm, Renji thought, smirking inwardly.
Kisame unsheathed Samehada, the massive blade slicing through the air with a whoosh, kicking up a cloud of dust. The bustling Tanzaku street fell silent. Merchants slammed shutters, and civilians slipped out back exits like ghosts.
"You're Lord Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, one of the Legendary Sannin, right?" Kisame's voice carried a hungry edge, his eyes gleaming with battle lust.
"Yosh!" Jiraiya twirled a lock of his hair, striking a dramatic pose with hands on hips. "The one and only Toad Sage, known far and wide!"
Renji peeked out from behind him, deadpanning, "Stop showing off."
Jiraiya's grin froze. The system chimed in Renji's head.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10!]
[Chakra (219,140 / 100,000,000)]
He's grumbling about me in his head, isn't he? Renji suppressed a laugh.
Itachi's voice cut through the banter, calm and cold. "Capturing Uzumaki Naruto is the Akatsuki's highest priority. We will take him today."
Kisame glanced at Itachi, sensing a flicker of something off, but said nothing.
Jiraiya's expression hardened, his usual playfulness gone. "You're not taking Naruto. Not from here. And since you're so eager, I'll deal with you myself." His voice carried the weight of a man who'd seen too many wars. The Nine-Tails was Konoha's lifeline—no Akatsuki thug would touch it.
A shout shattered the tension. "Don't interfere!"
Sasuke charged down the street, his black eyes blazing with hatred. Renji's heart skipped a beat, excitement surging. Perfect timing, Sasuke. You're making this too easy.
"I'm the one who'll kill him!" Sasuke's voice trembled, his slender frame quaking with rage or fear—or both. He stood behind Itachi, fists clenched, the flames of vengeance consuming him.
Itachi's gaze shifted to his younger brother, his breathing uneven for a fleeting moment. Jiraiya, aware of the Uchiha Clan's tragedy, watched without surprise. Sasuke's pain was an open wound.
"I'm not interested in you right now," Itachi said, his tone infuriatingly calm.
Sasuke's composure snapped. "What did you say?!" He lunged, fists swinging, only to be effortlessly kicked aside by Itachi. His body slammed into a wall, rubble cascading around him as he coughed, choking on dust.
"Sasuke!" Renji flashed to his side, feigning worry as he helped him up. But when Itachi's gaze met his, Renji flashed a sly smile.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (221,140 / 100,000,000)]
Sasuke shoved Renji's hand away, standing shakily. "Renji, this is my fight. You get it, don't you? I live for this day."
His eyes stayed locked on Itachi, the Sharingan spinning in his pupils, haunted by memories of that blood-soaked night.
"Of course, I get it," Renji said, stepping back but keeping his gaze on Sasuke's profile. "But as your comrade, I can't just watch you get hurt. You live for this day, and I live to protect my team." He tilted his head, his blue hair brushing his cheek, his heterochromatic eyes catching the light with a warm, unshakable resolve. "You understand me too, right?"
Sasuke's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't argue. Renji's presence was a lifeline—a warmth he hadn't felt in years. The hatred that once tore him apart now rested on softer ground. Someone was there, anchoring him.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (231,140 / 100,000,000)]
Itachi's voice sliced through the moment. "Your hatred isn't deep enough yet." His eyes bore into Sasuke, unyielding.
In a flash, Itachi appeared behind Renji. Sasuke's pupils dilated, his Sharingan flaring. He sprinted forward, but too late—a kunai plunged through Renji's back, blood spraying from his chest. His body staggered, crimson soaking his clothes.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (233,140 / 100,000,000)]
Sasuke's Sharingan spun faster, three tomoe swirling. Renji's wounds vanished in an instant, his body healing as if untouched. With a roar, he unleashed the Eight Gates, the fifth Gate of Limit surging through him. A torrent of chakra enveloped his body, his speed and strength skyrocketing.
Bang!
His fist rocketed toward Itachi's face, the air crackling with heat. Itachi caught it effortlessly, his expression unchanged. A true genius, Renji thought, undeterred. In a split second, his fist pulsed with a disintegrating force—a black light warping the space around it. The blow grazed Itachi's shoulder, sending a ripple through the air.
Renji landed lightly, his beast-like grin untamed, his eyes blazing. Itachi's eyes narrowed, a faint cough escaping his lips as he swallowed blood. Kisame, locked in combat with Jiraiya, broke off and rushed to Itachi's side. "You okay, Itachi?"
Itachi shook his head, stifling another cough, his gaze flicking to Sasuke's evolved Sharingan.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000!]
[Chakra (238,140 / 100,000,000)]
Renji's lips curved. Is he pissed because Sasuke's Sharingan leveled up because of me? Itachi's killing intent was palpable now—Renji had hit a nerve. Sasuke's trust in him was a weapon, one that could shatter his mind if betrayed. Itachi, ever the protector, saw Renji as a threat to eliminate.
Itachi moved like lightning, his target shifting to Sasuke. He grabbed his brother's neck, the Mangekyo Sharingan flashing. Sasuke froze, trapped in a nightmare only Itachi could weave.
Renji struck, his palm slicing through the air like a blade toward Itachi's neck. The air split, two waves of force colliding. But Itachi's Sharingan gleamed, and with a swift kick, he sent Renji flying.
Naruto, arriving just in time, dove forward, cushioning Renji's fall. The two skidded across the ground, dust billowing. Jiraiya, meanwhile, sent Kisame sprawling with a powerful kick. Kisame landed beside Itachi, grinning at Sasuke's crumpled form. "As expected of Itachi."
In that moment a new figure appeared, stepping out of the shadows. Long blue hair braided to his knees, heterochromatic eyes mirroring Renji's, and a smile that screamed chaos. He was an older, taller Renji—an uncanny doppelgänger.
"Renji, long time no see. Miss me?" the older Renji said, waving playfully.
Jiraiya's brow furrowed, glancing between the two Renjis. Naruto's jaw dropped, his eyes darting back and forth. Renji's technique—splitting himself and reshaping his form—was flawless. Two of me means double the Malice Value, Renji thought, grinning inwardly.
He didn't hesitate. His fists crackled with black and red lightning, and he lunged at his older self. The older Renji mirrored his movements perfectly, but with far greater power. Renji's body slammed into a wall, blood trickling from his mouth, though his wounds healed instantly.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +5,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +5,000!]
[Chakra (243,140 / 100,000,000)]
Renji wiped the blood away, chuckling inside. Naruto's pissed at… me? He glanced at his friend, who was glaring at the older Renji, red chakra flickering around him. Oh, this is too good.
Kisame, watching the chaos, laughed. "What's going on now?"
The older Renji placed a finger to his lips, smirking at Itachi and Kisame. "Pardon the interruption. Just a little family matter. Hope I'm not bothering you."
Despite their identical faces, the older Renji's aura was unhinged, a stark contrast to Renji's calculated mischief. Itachi's gaze lingered on the doppelgänger, suspicion etched in his eyes. Renji, dusting himself off, grinned wider. This is my game now.