Chapter 34: +10,000,000 Malice Value!
The Tanzaku street was a battlefield. No one could process what had just happened. A second Renji—older, taller, with the same heterochromatic eyes and blue hair braided to his knees—had appeared out of nowhere, radiating a chaotic aura that set everyone on edge. Jiraiya's mind raced. Was this an Akatsuki trick? A transformation jutsu like Henge? No, this older Renji was no mere clone or illusion; his presence was too real, his power dwarfing the younger Renji's. How?! Jiraiya's instincts screamed for answers, but the battlefield offered none.
Itachi and Kisame stood frozen, their sharp minds analyzing the newcomer. This wasn't part of their plan. The older Renji's arrival felt like a wild card in a game they thought they controlled, pulling them into an unpredictable vortex. Kisame's shark-like grin faltered, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the doppelgänger. Itachi's gaze, cold and unreadable, betrayed a flicker of unease—something rare for the Uchiha prodigy.
Naruto, however, didn't waste time thinking. His best friend was hurt, and that was enough to ignite his fury. "You're not allowed to hurt Renji!" he roared, his blue eyes darkening with primal rage. A crimson glow pulsed around him, the Nine-Tails' chakra seeping out, wild and untamed. The air grew heavy with malice, a chilling savagery washing over the street like a tidal wave.
Renji clutched his chest, a sly smile flickering in his lowered eyes, unnoticed by the others. When he raised his gaze, his heterochromatic pupils—silver-gray and grayish-blue—shone with feigned concern for Naruto. "Naruto, don't be reckless!" he shouted, his voice laced with urgency, though his mind was elsewhere, calculating the Malice Value this chaos would yield.
Jiraiya's expression hardened, his playful demeanor gone. He bit his fingertip, blood welling up. "Ninjutsu: Summoning Technique!"
Bang!
A cloud of white smoke erupted, and a massive armored toad materialized, its eyes glinting with battle-ready resolve. It raised its head just in time to catch Kisame's Samehada mid-swing, the clash ringing out with a crisp clang that echoed through the street. Jiraiya's hands flashed through seals, undeterred. "Ninjutsu: Toad Mouth Bind Technique!"
A grotesque pink stomach wall surged from the ground, enveloping the battlefield in a sealed, fleshy prison. The space warped, swallowing everyone—Renji, Naruto, Sasuke, Itachi, Kisame, and the older Renji—into its suffocating embrace. Sasuke, caught in the sudden enclosure, vanished into the folds, shielded from further harm. Jiraiya's priority was clear: protect the young Uchiha at all costs.
Naruto, fueled by the Nine-Tails' chakra, condensed a Rasengan in his hand, its blue spiral humming with destructive force. In a blur, he appeared before the older Renji, his blood-red vertical pupils locked on his target. "Rasengan!" he bellowed, slamming the spinning orb toward the older Renji's chest.
The crimson chakra radiating from Naruto filled the stomach wall, its oppressive power distorting the air. The Rasengan's swirling currents tore at the space around the older Renji, kicking up a violent gust.
"Did it hit?" Jiraiya muttered, doubt creeping into his mind. He knew the gap in strength between Naruto and Renji—and this older Renji had overpowered the younger with ease. A shinobi capable of that shouldn't fall to a single Rasengan, no matter how fierce.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (245,140 / 100,000,000)]
Naruto's raw killing intent poured into Renji's system, a generous surge of Malice Value. Renji's lips twitched, his mind buzzing with delight. Keep it coming, Naruto.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya's shout cut through the chaos as he lunged toward his student. His sharp eyes caught the subtle distortion around the older Renji, a faint ripple in the air that wasn't the Rasengan's doing. Space-Time Ninjutsu?! Jiraiya's heart sank. Only one technique moved like that: the Flying Thunder God, his late student Minato's signature jutsu.
Swish!
A black shadow flashed across Naruto's vision. The older Renji, who had been less than a centimeter away, vanished into thin air. Naruto's pupils trembled, his gaze jerking backward. The older Renji reappeared behind him, casually brushing a strand of blue hair from his ear. "My brother and I are having a friendly exchange," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Why are you interfering?"
Between his slender fingers, he twirled a kunai marked with a special talisman—a Flying Thunder God seal. The older Renji raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk as he slashed the kunai toward Naruto's carotid artery, the blade a silver streak too fast for most to follow.
But Renji was already moving. His body shot forward, a blur of speed, intercepting the older Renji's attack.
Pfft!
The kunai plunged deep into Renji's palm, blood welling as he gripped the blade, encasing it in his flesh to stop its deadly arc.
"Naruto! Run!" Renji shouted, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His voice was raw, desperate, but his mind was calm.
Itachi and Kisame seized the moment, flashing in front of Jiraiya to block his path. Jiraiya gritted his teeth, his expression graver than ever. Two S-rank rogue ninja were bad enough, but now a shinobi wielding the Flying Thunder God? As Minato's mentor, Jiraiya knew better than anyone how terrifying that technique was. Who the hell is this guy?!
The older Renji chuckled, his eyes glinting with sadistic amusement. "Heh, you're too busy to even take care of yourself, brother." His other hand morphed, elongating into a grotesque blade that sliced through Renji's neck in one fluid motion. Blood sprayed, drenching Renji's body as the gash gaped wide.
Naruto's pupils shrank to pinpricks, his mind flooded with images of Renji's torture. Renji! He's being torn apart! Rage consumed him, his vision narrowing to the older Renji. I'll kill him!
The older Renji pulled the blade free, whispering into Renji's ear with a venomous grin. "I know you can heal physical wounds, but the pain still lingers, doesn't it? Just thinking about breaking your mind excites me."
Renji's neck wound closed instantly, his cursed spirit physique knitting the flesh together, but the pain was real, sharp, and searing. He staggered, his smile hidden behind a mask of agony. Worth it, he thought, the system chiming in his head.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (255,140 / 100,000,000)]
Naruto's losing it. Perfect. The Tailed Beast chakra was surging, and Renji had pushed his friend to the edge.
A guttural roar tore from Naruto's throat as a dark red Tailed Beast Cloak enveloped him, two fox tails of chakra whipping wildly. The stomach wall shuddered, gashes appearing as the Nine-Tails' power clawed at its confines. Naruto crouched, beast-like, his humanity fading as he lunged at the older Renji with feral speed.
Jiraiya broke away from Itachi and Kisame, his hands flashing through seals. "Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!" A torrent of flames roared toward the rogue ninja, forcing them to retreat. Jiraiya's eyes locked on Naruto, now in a partial Tailed Beast form, his humanity slipping further. This is bad.
The older Renji tossed Renji aside like garbage, his body slamming into the stomach wall and rolling to a stop. The soft, fleshy surface cushioned the fall, leaving him unharmed. Toad Sage positioned himself protectively in front of Renji, His eyes blazing. "That guy's too ruthless!" he growled, glaring at the older Renji.
Renji stood, touching his healed neck. "Thank you, but he's too strong. I can't let Naruto or you get hurt for me!" His voice was earnest, but his mind was gleeful. Ten thousand Malice Value for that? Naruto, you're my best friend!
The Toad Sage's hand rested on Renji's shoulder, his gaze resolute. "Kid, don't play tough!"
Renji turned to Jiraiya, flashing a bitter smile. "Time to get serious, Lord Jiraiya."
"Hmph. I already knew." Jiraiya's lips curved into a grim smile. Red markings spread across his face, Sage Mode activating as Shima and Fukasaku appeared on his shoulders.
"Little Jiraiya, what's going on?" Shima demanded.
"No time to explain!" Jiraiya clasped his hands, the toads syncing with him instantly. "Sage Art: Goemon!"
Oil, Wind Release, and Fire Release fused, unleashing a wave of searing heat that seemed to evaporate the air itself. Itachi and Kisame, sensing the attack's power, flashed backward, barely escaping the inferno. White steam filled the stomach wall, obscuring all vision.
In the chaos, the older Renji struck, his palm slicing through the steam toward Naruto's Tailed Beast Cloak. The attack was lightning-fast, cutting through the chakra shroud. Naruto's instincts, heightened by the Nine-Tails, kicked in. He dodged, his fangs bared, growling low as he circled his foe.
The steam cleared, revealing Itachi, blood seeping from his mouth. The stomach wall's rapid healing had trapped them, forcing Itachi to summon Susanoo's skeletal form to block Jiraiya's attack. The Mangekyo Sharingan's strain was evident—bloody tears streamed down his face as Susanoo faded.
Kisame glanced at Itachi, concern flickering. "You okay?"
Itachi shook his head, stifling a cough. Kisame's eyes darted to Jiraiya, and the two retreated toward the stomach wall's edge. But the fleshy prison seemed endless, stretching infinitely.
"Amaterasu!" Itachi's black flames burned a gaping hole in the wall, giving them an escape. Jiraiya had no time to pursue—the older Renji was still a threat.
Rip!
Naruto's Tailed Beast Cloak tore further, the older Renji's speed outpacing even the Nine-Tails' reflexes. A Flying Thunder God mark glowed faintly on Naruto's body, explaining the older Renji's untouchable agility. Each attack landed precisely, shredding the cloak's defenses.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +4,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +4,000!]
[Chakra (259,140 / 100,000,000)]
Jiraiya's frustration fueled the Malice Value. Renji's mind raced, recalling his own mastery of the Flying Thunder God, gleaned from Tobirama's memories during Orochimaru's attack. In just half a day, his heaven-defying comprehension and Tobirama's insights had unlocked the jutsu's secrets. Now, seeing it used against Naruto, he understood its terror—and its potential.
Naruto's cloak was in tatters, the Tailed Beast's healing unable to keep up with the relentless cuts. Jiraiya unleashed a storm of hair needles. "Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!" His fist, hidden among the senbon, surged with Sage Mode's power, aiming for the older Renji's chest.
Swish!
The attack missed. The older Renji reappeared three meters away, untouched, thanks to the Flying Thunder God. Jiraiya's expression darkened. This is why that jutsu's a nightmare.
Naruto's chakra surged, four tails now whipping behind him. Jiraiya's heart sank. Four tails?! His body can't handle this! If another tail formed, Naruto's muscles would tear, leaving him crippled.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (261,140 / 100,000,000)]
Naruto lunged, his beast-like claws slashing at the older Renji's chest. His sharp nails, capable of ripping through steel, tore three deep gashes. But the older Renji reappeared behind him, his chest smooth and unmarked, as if the wounds had never existed. His smile was smug, unruffled.
Swish!
A gust of wind heralded Jiraiya's next move. "Sage Art: Ultra Massive Rasengan!" The massive orb of chakra roared, its blue light illuminating the older Renji's face. At the same time, Naruto attacked, his tails and claws striking in unison.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (263,140 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (265,140 / 100,000,000)]
Power surged through Renji, his smile widening.
Swish!
The older Renji vanished, dodging both attacks. Jiraiya's Rasengan grazed Naruto, who barely avoided it, but three bloody scratches marked Jiraiya's chest from Naruto's tail. The force sent Jiraiya flying, Shima and Fukasaku crying out, "Little Jiraiya!"
The older Renji perched on a windowsill, legs crossed, chin propped on his hand. "Renji, do you see? They're no match for me." His voice was taunting, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight.
The Toad Sage stood protectively before Renji, glaring at the older Renji. "Don't listen to him, kid!"
The older Renji's voice echoed softly, laced with menace. "Do you feel nothing, watching your companions get hurt—or even die—to protect you?"
Renji stood frozen, his body trembling as if plunged into an icy abyss. His gaze swept over Jiraiya, bloodied and panting, and Naruto, lost to the Nine-Tails' rage. Perfect, he thought, his heart racing with excitement.
The older Renji stretched lazily, his tone deceptively casual. "How about this? If you kill yourself, I promise to let them go. Our Kekkei Genkai can heal most wounds, but a pierced heart? That's fatal." He tilted his head, his smile pure yet sinister. "So, make your move, and I'll let them walk away. Deal?"
Jiraiya's voice thundered, "Renji, don't believe him! He's lying!" His eyes were bloodshot, rage boiling in his usually calm heart.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +50,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +50,000!]
[Chakra (315,140 / 100,000,000)]
Renji's hand gripped a short sword, his movements deliberate. With a swift motion, he plunged it into his chest, blood spurting as he pulled it free. "The person you want to kill has always been me, right? Is this enough?" His voice was weak, his body trembling as blood poured from his mouth.
The older Renji's laughter echoed, manic and unrestrained. "Hahahaha! So cute!" The sound reverberated through the stomach wall, chilling the air.
Naruto's mind snapped. His tails surged to eight, the Tailed Beast Cloak erupting in a crimson inferno. The stomach wall cracked, its regenerative power failing under the Nine-Tails' onslaught.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000,000!]
[Chakra (10,315,140 / 100,000,000)]
Renji's eyes gleamed with triumph as the massive surge of chakra flooded his system.*Jackpot.* Naruto's berserk rage was a Malice Value motherlode. The stomach wall crumbled, and the battlefield opened to the sunny sky.