Chapter 43: Are You Trying To Train Renji To Be The Next Hokage?
Operating room.
Cold white lights bore down from above, casting stark shadows. Tsunade wore a mask and medical ninja scrubs, her eyes calm and steady, her hands moving with the precision of someone who'd mastered their craft. Shizune and Renji stood beside her, assisting as instructed, their focus locked in the high-stakes dance of surgery, passing tools and monitoring chakra flows under the sterile glare.
Logically, Naruto and Lee's injuries could have been completely healed with his Idle Transfiguration. However, such a method would not only be too shocking but, more importantly, it would render the concept of injury meaningless. Renji didn't want to become a mere tool, a walking fix for every wound. It was enough that he alone in this world could achieve instant healing. For others, he'd stick to standard Medical Ninjutsu, keeping his true power under wraps to avoid raising too many eyebrows in Konoha.
Naruto's surgery took eight grueling hours to complete. As soon as it was done, Tsunade, without missing a beat, took Renji and Shizune straight into Lee's surgery. Another five-plus hours dragged on, each second a battle against the body's fragility, the room heavy with the hum of chakra and the faint tang of antiseptic.
When Renji stepped out, he was greeted by a crowd waiting outside, their faces a mix of hope and nervous anticipation.
Might Guy immediately surged forward. "Lady Hokage, was Lee's surgery successful?" Before the surgery, Tsunade had laid out the risks and success rates. Lee's chances were a mere fifty percent, a coin toss between recovery and ruin.
Tsunade nodded, peeling off her mask. "It was very successful. His body can fully recover, but you must ensure he heals completely first."
Might Guy bowed deeply, his voice thick with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Lady Hokage!"
Tsunade shook her head. "If you want to thank someone, thank Renji! This surgery almost failed, but he displayed his exceptional talent as a medical-nin."
Lee's condition had lingered longer than Naruto's, his body pushed to its limits. During the surgery, Renji noticed Lee's bones had atrophied, teetering on the edge of disconnection. He made subtle adjustments, weaving chakra in ways that went beyond standard techniques.
Tsunade, the world's top medical-nin, caught the faint irregularities in his work. Renji explained he'd used chakra to stimulate the vitality of Lee's cells, coaxing them back to life. The human body was a labyrinth of secrets, and even Tsunade hadn't unraveled them all, so she accepted his explanation with a reluctant nod, though her sharp eyes lingered on him, sensing there was more to his skill than he let on.
Unlike Renji, Tsunade and Shizune weren't tired at all. They left to rest immediately after the surgery, their stamina a testament to years of experience. Renji stayed behind to deal with the ninja worried about Naruto and Lee, bracing himself for the onslaught of questions.
"Guy-sensei, let me go over Lee's recovery precautions. First, regarding diet…"
Might Guy couldn't hear a word. His eyes shimmered with emotional tears, his usual fiery energy replaced by raw gratitude.
Renji had done it. He had truly brought Lady Tsunade back and healed Lee's body completely.
"Guy-sensei," Renji said softly, realizing Guy was lost in his emotions. He looked at the man, who seemed ready to scoop him up in a bear hug, and shook his head with a helpless smile. "Never mind, I'll keep an eye on Lee myself."
"And Naruto. Naruto has even more precautions. I'll handle him too." Renji knew instructing the currently spaced-out Kakashi wasn't reliable. Sakura, whose thoughts were consumed by Sasuke, wasn't much better. Jiraiya had vanished the moment they returned to the village, probably off chasing his next "inspiration." So, in the end, Renji had to rely on himself. But it didn't matter, as long as Naruto's eventual "reward" was worth it. From the start, Naruto had been a goldmine for Malice Value, his chaotic energy a gift that kept on giving.
"Sakura, Sasuke is under a special genjutsu of the Uchiha clan," Renji explained to the worried Sakura.
"We can't interfere. We can only wait for Sasuke to break out himself, or for the genjutsu to have a time limit." Renji didn't fully understand Uchiha Itachi yet. At most, he could nudge Sasuke, stoke his fire. Actually pushing him to kill his brother would likely spiral Sasuke into a world where only he existed, a dangerous edge Renji wasn't ready to cross.
Seeing Sakura's expression grow more worried, Renji sighed. "Sakura, trust Sasuke, okay? He's far stronger than you imagine." Sasuke might seem fragile, but his will was forged in steel, unbreakable even under Itachi's shadow.
Sakura nodded reluctantly, her worry still etched deep. She paused. "Renji, it must have been very hard on this journey."
Renji didn't deny it. "No matter how hard it was, the moment I saw everyone's smiles, all that was left was happiness."
Sakura bit her lower lip, lowered her head, and her eyes immediately turned red. She took a deep breath, forcing a casual tone. "Then I'll go back first! Tomorrow I'll make soup for you, Renji!" She turned quickly, tears streaming as she hurried away. She ached for the hardships he'd endured, yet he was happy just seeing their smiles.
Renji was tired. He still had to deal with Danzo, whose Hokage dream had been shattered.
…
ROOT.
The atmosphere was heavier than ever, a suffocating weight in the air. When Renji entered, Danzo, seated at the highest position, fixed his gaze on him, sharp and unyielding. Cat and Dog mask stood on either side, silent sentinels. Below, two rows of ROOT ninja stood neatly, their faces hidden behind masks. Renji even spotted an acquaintance.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3,000!]
[Chakra (10,379,800 / 100,000,000)]
Sai wasn't wearing a mask. Seeing Renji, the curve of his lips slightly upturned, a strange light flickering in his pupils, like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Jiraiya and Tsunade trust you very much," Danzo said abruptly, cutting straight to the point with no preamble.
Renji nodded. "I actively gained their trust." It wasn't some fluke. Danzo shouldn't dismiss his efforts with a few words. He'd worked hard to earn that trust, step by calculated step.
"You did very well." It was impossible to tell if Danzo's words were genuine praise or laced with sarcasm—his tone, as ever, unreadable.
After a pause, his gaze sharpened. "But apparently, you have a brother—and your brother doesn't trust you."
Renji didn't flinch. "I have no information about him, Lord Danzo. I don't remember the past—I thought he was sent by you. Maybe he really is my brother… or your son?"
He was done with coherent explanations. The seal on his tongue was gone, contrary to Danzo's assumptions, and it no longer bound him. The new Hokage trusted him completely; ROOT was no longer his leash. He didn't need it anymore.
Believe it or not, that was Danzo's problem now. But right now, Danzo's focus seemed locked on the Hokage position. He changed the subject.
"Being Hokage is not so easy," Danzo said at last.
Renji nodded. True. But why tell me? I'm not the Hokage.
Danzo continued, "Tsunade is too young and impulsive. She will make mistakes and mishandle Konoha's affairs. But when mistakes accumulate, it becomes dereliction of duty as Hokage."
Renji caught Danzo's signal loud and clear. Understood. It's finally time for me, a ROOT ninja, to exert my influence. As long as it aligns with my future plans, why not? I'm in.
"Uzumaki Naruto is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so he can't be touched for now. Let's start with Uchiha Sasuke." Danzo, as Orochimaru's former partner, knew some of his methods inside and out. "Doesn't Orochimaru want Uchiha Sasuke's body? Then let's give him a hand." Danzo's voice was cold, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
Uchiha Sasuke, the Uchiha orphan, defecting to follow Orochimaru, the rogue ninja who killed the Third Hokage, right as the Fifth Hokage took office… it was a scandal waiting to happen. Of course, this alone wouldn't topple Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage, but over time, piling up mistakes would breed gossip and erode public support. Konoha's people were quick to turn with the right nudge. Danzo was a master at killing with whispers.
"Good. I will make Uchiha Sasuke quickly develop the idea to defect and act on it." Renji framed the inevitable as his own plan, seizing the chance to meet Orochimaru. Another wave of Malice Value was waiting. The scheme in his mind sharpened, pieces falling into place.
"Don't expose your identity," Danzo reminded. Renji's standing with Tsunade and Team 7 was critical. After all these years, Renji was the most valuable pawn Danzo had ever planted. Now was the time for that pawn to move.
"Yes." It wasn't time to blow his cover yet, and Renji valued his hidden identity more than anyone.
"Also, you are already a Chunin," Danzo said.
Renji: "…Yes." No idea how that happened, but who complains about a promotion?
"Renji." As he emerged from the dark room, someone called. Sai stood in the shadows, staring intently. "Do you remember me, Renji?"
Renji: "…" It hasn't even been two years; I'm not senile. He couldn't be bothered with Sai's mind games.
"Renji, you are as hypocritical as ever," Sai whispered, his smile mask-like, his voice slithering like a venomous snake. "But it doesn't matter. We are all equally hypocritical. Only we are true companions."
"You're sick." Renji turned and left.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000!]
[Chakra (10,380,800 / 100,000,000)]
"Renji!" As he reached Konoha's bustling streets, Tsunade grabbed him.
"Lady Hokage." Renji flashed a warm smile.
Tsunade hooked an arm around his neck, steering him toward a barbecue restaurant, the smoky aroma already wafting over. "Where did you go? I turned the Hokage Building and hospital upside down looking for you!"
Renji was honest. "I went back to ROOT."
"…" Tsunade froze, her mind jolting as she remembered Renji was still Danzo's son. Could she really not pull him away from that shadow? And Danzo's ambitions…
"Lady Hokage, don't worry. I know my father isn't suitable to be Hokage. I only go back to deal with him each time." Renji's blunt honesty sent a chill through Tsunade.
She quickly covered his mouth. "Don't say stuff like that in front of Danzo."
Renji nodded obediently. "Mm-hmm."
Tsunade sat with him at the barbecue restaurant, the sizzle of meat filling the air. Watching Renji dive into his food, her heart tightened with worry. This kid is too trusting, and that's a weakness others will exploit. No, Renji is my chosen candidate for the next Hokage. I need to start training him now.
…
The next day, Renji, sporting his fresh Chunin vest, was assigned to ANBU by Tsunade for missions, all B-rank or higher. For a newly promoted Chunin, it was a rushed leap, but Renji exceeded expectations. His first solo B-rank mission was completed flawlessly, making Tsunade's recommendation look like a stroke of genius.
The day Renji submitted his mission report, Sakura found him to share news: Naruto and Sasuke had woken up. (Lee had stirred the day after his surgery but was stuck in bed, dutifully eating his nutritional meals.)
Renji went to see Naruto and Sasuke. He didn't know which genius decided to put Naruto, with severe physical damage, and Sasuke, with severe mental damage, in the same room. Before he even opened the door, he heard Naruto's shouting, loud enough to rattle the walls.
"Renji!" As he pushed the door open, everything went black. Naruto clung to him like an octopus, his grip relentless. As expected of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, his physical recovery was absurdly fast.
"Naruto! Get down!" Sakura was dizzy from Naruto's chaos. But then she saw his face, streaked with tears. What… happened? She glanced at Renji's usual gentle smile, a sinking feeling telling her something awful had gone down without her knowing.
"Waaah…" Naruto's tears flowed nonstop. Renji set him back on the bed, where he kept sobbing. "I knew it… Renji, you'll definitely be fine!" Naruto sniffled, wiping his face. If Renji died… Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Renji wouldn't die! Renji would stay with him forever!
Hearing this, Sakura felt like she'd plunged into an ice-cold void. Had Renji been in life-threatening danger?
"What happened?" Sasuke, silent until now, fixed his gaze on Renji, his voice sharp with its usual edge.
"Nothing." Renji deftly changed the subject, a hint of smugness in his tone. "Oh, by the way, I became a Chunin."
"What?!" Distracting Naruto was child's play. He pointed to himself, eyes wide with hope. "What about me? What about me, Renji?"
"Uh…" Renji's gaze flickered. "Congratulations, Naruto is still a Genin."
"…" Naruto deflated, his shoulders slumping. "What's to congratulate? I won't be able to go on missions with you anymore…" Renji's rank increase meant his missions would shift to a higher level. Naruto had learned a lot in two years, but the gap stung.
"It's okay," Renji said, looking at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura with a serious expression. "Aren't we all improving? We'll all become stronger and stronger. Slowly, no rush." He added the last bit to avoid poking Sasuke's raw nerves.
Sasuke, battered by Uchiha Itachi's latest assault, had no patience for slow progress. His only goal now: become stronger. Stronger, faster, endlessly stronger. Lingering on boring Genin missions in the village wouldn't cut it. Renji caught the way Sasuke's fists clenched, a spark of relief flickering inside. Good, the fire's still burning.
Elsewhere, Tsunade and Jiraiya were drinking at an izakaya, the clink of sake cups punctuating their talk.
Jiraiya had picked up on Tsunade's recent moves. "Are you trying to train Renji to be the next Hokage?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying. "He's very suitable, isn't he? He's got the ability."
Jiraiya knew that much. His concern was Renji's own desires. "I heard from Kakashi he doesn't seem to want to become Hokage." After Tsunade's return, Jiraiya had met Kakashi at the Memorial Stone. Kakashi asked about Renji, and Jiraiya spilled everything. They talked about Renji for a long time. Only then did Jiraiya learn Renji had no burning ambition to wear the Hokage's hat.
"I don't want to be Hokage either," Tsunade shrugged, her expression turning serious. "But entrusting Konoha to Renji would make me feel more at ease." Renji was an exceptional successor, one she'd seen prove himself time and again.
Since Tsunade had made her stance clear, Jiraiya let the topic drop, taking another sip of sake as the conversation drifted.