Chapter 94: Orochimaru is Dead
A soaring eagle circled in the blue sky above Konoha Village.
Nara Shikaku's expression changed several times upon receiving the news. He frowned deeply, looking into the distance.
There, Shikamaru and Ino sat together, discussing something. Nara Shikaku walked towards them.
"Dad..." Shikamaru saw his father approaching, noticing his serious expression.
Shikaku waved to him.
Shikamaru jumped down from the timber. "What's wrong?"
Nara Shikaku handed Shikamaru the letter.
Shikamaru scanned it quickly, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with shock.
Shikaku nodded at him, patted his son's shoulder, and left.
"Shikamaru, what happened? You look terrible," Ino stepped forward.
Although Shikamaru's expression hadn't been good since Kurenai's death, he looked particularly grim now.
Shikamaru looked at Ino, organized his thoughts, and briefly told her what had happened at the Five Kage Summit.
"How could this be? Sasuke attacked the Five Kage Summit?" Ino's eyes widened in disbelief.
She took a deep breath. "How could so many things have happened? Renji even killed... killed the Mizukage's guard..."
Given the gravity of the situation, Ino instinctively worried about Renji.
After realizing what she had said, Ino looked at Shikamaru hesitantly. Among everyone, Shikamaru's feelings towards Renji were the most negative.
No one in the village dared to mention Renji's name in front of Shikamaru anymore. He had once exploded in anger when someone repeatedly asked about him.
Renji's name had become a forbidden word for Shikamaru.
"Things have gotten troublesome," Shikamaru said expressionlessly, as if he hadn't heard what Ino said.
Ino sighed with relief, yet felt sad for him. She knew how much Shikamaru blamed himself for failing to protect Kurenai.
Ino forced a smile. "I hope Naruto and Sakura come back soon, so we can find out about Sasuke."
As it happened, soon after, several familiar figures appeared at Konoha's main gate.
Ino's eyes lit up, and she instantly rushed towards them.
"Sakura! Naruto!" Ino held Sakura's hand.
A familiar figure suddenly flashed across her vision. Renji stood between Sakura and Naruto, smiling at her.
Ino froze, staring blankly at Renji.
Not long ago, Renji had looked at her with a cold, mocking expression. Seeing his gentle smiling face again gave Ino a sense of unreality.
"I'm back!" Sakura said, in a very good mood. Tiny specks of light shimmered in her green eyes.
Ino realized many changes had occurred. She looked at Naruto; he was embracing Renji's neck, as he always did, looking like he wanted to be a conjoined twin.
'But not long ago, Renji locked Naruto up...' Ino's mind was a mess.
She looked at Shikamaru, who was walking over.
Shikamaru deliberately ignored Renji, as if the person didn't exist. He said to Naruto, somewhat coldly, "I got news from my dad. Sasuke attacked the Five Kage Summit?"
When Sasuke was mentioned, Naruto became serious. He nodded. "Yes, and we've already seen Sasuke. Anyway, a lot has happened. Let's gather everyone, and we'll explain!"
Towards the end, Naruto became excited, his shining eyes occasionally glancing at Renji.
Shikamaru tightened his hands. He forced himself not to look at Renji, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to resist attacking him.
...
The reconstruction of Konoha was in full swing, and simple teahouses had been set up.
Renji and his group, a large crowd, occupied almost all the seats. Naruto and Sakura still surrounded Renji in the center.
On their left, right, and opposite sat Shikamaru, Ino, Lee, Tenten, Neji, Kiba, Hinata, and Shino.
All the Konoha 11 who had known each other were gathered. The last time they had gathered like this was during the Chunin Exams.
Of course, only Naruto remained a steadfast Genin.
Everyone's gazes subtly focused on Renji. With scrutiny, curiosity, caution...
Except for Shikamaru. It was as if Renji didn't exist.
"Sasuke did attack the Five Kage Summit, and Sasuke also killed Danzo..." Naruto wasn't a good storyteller. He stated the results quickly.
The others were too surprised to speak. Especially after hearing Danzo was dead, everyone's gaze turned to Renji. After all, Danzo was his father.
Renji explained, his voice low and gentle, "I was adopted by Danzo when I was ten. He adopted me only to have me join Team 7, to become his spy to monitor Naruto and Sasuke..."
Everyone knew this; Renji had mentioned it in the tent a few days prior. It was just that the tone then and now was completely different.
"Oh, there's one more most important thing!" Naruto's high-pitched voice drew everyone's attention.
Only after everyone was looking at him did Naruto solemnly say, "Renji was controlled by Danzo before!"
Lee suddenly jumped up. "I knew it! Renji wasn't like Renji at all back then!"
Lee's face showed an excited smile. "Actually, I felt a bit strange at the time!"
Tenten nodded. "That certainly explains why Renji acted so strangely..." She looked at Naruto. "Was it a genjutsu?"
Naruto nodded gravely. "Kakashi-sensei had already figured it out."
"What?" Kiba complained. "Then why didn't Kakashi-sensei tell us sooner?"
"To make Danzo lose his position as Hokage!" Naruto explained. "And to break the genjutsu, Danzo had to be killed!"
"What kind of genjutsu is that strong?" Shikamaru suddenly asked.
His demeanor hadn't changed. Even after hearing this, he didn't accept it as easily as the others.
"It was the Sharingan!" Naruto clenched his fists. "Danzo's right eye had the eye of a genius from the Uchiha Clan transplanted into it. That eye had the ability to manipulate others' will without them noticing!"
Naruto scratched his head and looked at Renji. "Renji, do you remember who the owner of that eye was?"
"Uchiha Shisui," Renji replied.
"I think I've heard that name," Hinata said softly. "Father said he was a genius ninja."
"Now that Danzo is dead, Renji won't be controlled anymore!" Naruto said gleefully.
"Why didn't Renji die then?" Shikamaru asked sharply. "His body... we collected it."
"Shikamaru!" Naruto's brows furrowed. He could clearly feel Shikamaru targeting Renji.
'Why be so aggressive? Things have clearly started to move in a good direction. Why bring up bad memories?'
"Because Lord Danzo needed me to fake my death and return to ROOT to help him carry out some missions," Renji slowly lowered his head, clenching his hands.
His guilt was visible to everyone.
"What missions?" If Shikamaru was unwilling to look at Renji before, now he stared intently.
"Shikamaru," Ino reminded him.
Shikamaru ignored her, pressing Renji, "What missions did he make you carry out?"
"To find Orochimaru." Renji looked up. "I said Danzo had a Sharingan, but he had more than one. His right arm had ten Sharingan implanted in it. Implanting too many would burden his body..."
"He had to maintain contact with Orochimaru, because Orochimaru helped him implant the Sharingan and the First Hokage's cells. Only when these two were balanced..."
"Danzo wouldn't die... So, he couldn't do without Orochimaru."
Renji revealed a top-secret secret. Even Shikamaru was speechless for a minute.
"Orochimaru is dead!" Shikamaru stared at Renji. "You're lying!"
"I'm not lying, Shikamaru." Renji looked at him helplessly. "Orochimaru isn't dead. As long as someone has his Cursed Seal, he can resurrect in that person's body. Sasuke can't kill him either..."
When it came to escaping and eternal life, Orochimaru was a professional.
"In that case, wouldn't he truly achieve immortality..." Sakura's expression was grave.
Up to this point, no one doubted Renji anymore, except for Shikamaru.
"What about Hasumi Maki? Is he dead?" Shikamaru stared at Renji.
"He's not dead, but he's hiding," Renji said. "If I can fake my death, so can he. And to kill him, I must also be killed at the same time. Since I'm not dead, he naturally can't die either."
"Moreover, he can now disguise himself as me. Sometimes even I can't tell the difference..."
"So, if I ever attack you, don't hold back, because that would definitely not be me!"
Naruto hugged Renji's shoulders. "Of course I know! Renji would never hurt me!"
'Good boy. The Fourth Great Ninja War will teach you a lesson.'
Renji gently stroked Naruto's head.
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