Chapter 50: Lord Kazekage
Boom!
The ground erupted in a violent explosion, chunks of earth and debris spraying in every direction, a thick cloud of dust choking the air.
Renji's figure danced through the chaos, dodging Sakura's earth-shattering punch mid-air with effortless grace, a calm smile playing on his lips like he was enjoying a casual stroll.
Perched on a distant tree branch, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi observed the trio's spar with sharp focus. To test Naruto and Sakura's growth after three years of grueling training, Kakashi had proposed a three-way battle. But the moment the fight kicked off, Naruto and Sakura, sensing the overwhelming aura Renji radiated, teamed up against him without hesitation.
Both Renji and Sakura had trained in Ninjutsu under Tsunade, but Renji's combat style was far from straightforward brute force. His arsenal was a labyrinth of techniques, unpredictable and deadly.
From the moment the spar began, Renji hadn't even bothered to counterattack. Dodging Naruto and Sakura's relentless onslaught was child's play for him, his movements fluid and precise, like a shadow slipping through cracks.
"Renji still hasn't shown his real strength," Jiraiya said, stroking his chin, his eyes glinting with admiration.
"Hmph!" Tsunade snorted, her eyebrow arched proudly. "Even I can't pin down how strong he's gotten."
Kakashi nodded, his voice steady but tinged with awe. "Renji's a shinobi who thrives in battle. His natural talent is off the charts, and his growth rate? Easily ten times faster than most."
Suddenly, movement stirred in the rubble from Sakura's punch. Unseen by Renji, Naruto had burrowed underground, his fist rocketing upward in a sneak attack.
A playful smirk curled Renji's lips. He sidestepped with ease, one hand snatching Naruto's wrist while the other darted toward his chest.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked, expecting pain but feeling nothing. Renji's hand had barely grazed him.
Then, his body locked up. He couldn't move a muscle.
Glancing down, Naruto saw a thick layer of ice spreading from his chest, creeping inch by inch, encasing everything but his neck. He was a living ice sculpture, frozen solid.
"Awesome, Renji! This is way too cool!" Naruto shouted, his eyes sparkling with awe despite his predicament.
Jiraiya slapped his forehead, groaning. "It's a fight, you idiot! Stop fanboying over the guy kicking your butt!"
Sakura, watching from the sidelines, felt a vein pulse on her temple. Naruto, you're so useless!
She crept silently behind Renji, her fist glowing with terrifying power, the air around it cracking like glass under pressure.
Bang!
Her punch slammed into Renji's open palm.
Sakura's eyes widened in shock.
"Whoa, whoa, Sakura! That's too much!" Naruto yelped, his heart lurching. Would Renji be okay?
Kakashi tensed, but Tsunade's hand landed on his shoulder. "Don't underestimate him," she said, a confident smirk tugging at her lips.
Kakashi focused, his Sharingan catching the faint shimmer of ice coating Renji's palm. Sakura's earth-crushing force hadn't even scratched it. Instead, the ice began crawling up Sakura's arm, freezing her from the inside out.
Unlike Naruto, frozen externally, Sakura's body was icing over from within. The human body's 60-70% water content was Renji's playground, and with his Idle Transfiguration ability, he'd turned it into a deadly weapon. Over three years, his mastery of Ice Release had evolved into something terrifying. At first, he needed direct contact to manipulate internal water molecules. Now, a mere touch of his conjured ice triggered the process.
"The match is over," Jiraiya said, arms crossed, completely unsurprised. Naruto and Sakura winning would've been the real shocker.
Tsunade's eyes gleamed with pride. "Over already? I want to see just how far Renji's come!"
She and Jiraiya locked eyes, a spark of mischief passing between them. Then, they both turned to Kakashi.
A chill ran down Kakashi's spine. No way… they wouldn't…
Before he could protest, Tsunade and Jiraiya hoisted him by the arms, dragging him to face Renji.
"Alright, Renji, let's have a friendly little spar!" Jiraiya said, winking like it was all fun and games.
"What?! All three of you ganging up on him? That's bullying!" Naruto shouted, his head the only part still mobile.
Jiraiya patted Naruto's frozen head, then, with Tsunade, hauled the two ice sculptures to a safe distance.
Kakashi had zero enthusiasm. He wanted no part of this. Tsunade and Jiraiya might be itching to test Renji, but he wasn't. He still remembered Renji's Black Flash from years ago, strong enough to make him cough blood. And now? Renji was a whole different beast.
"Renji, give it everything you've got!" Tsunade roared, her fighting spirit blazing like a wildfire.
Everything? Renji thought, amused. Flying Thunder God plus Wood Release? This fight would be over in a heartbeat, with Tsunade and Jiraiya barely getting a move in.
Tsunade's fist tore through the air, a straight punch that could level a building. As Sakura's mentor, their styles were similar, but Tsunade's combat experience from the Warring States era made her strikes leagues deadlier.
Renji dodged, but Tsunade was relentless—a hook, a whip kick, a side kick, each move a blur of destruction. The ground around him cratered, pulverized by her onslaught.
Renji's speed surged, a green mist of chakra swirling around him. The air rippled, a faint sonic boom forming as he crossed ten meters in a split second. His fist met Tsunade's head-on, unleashing Black Flash 2.0—a technique refined with her own monstrous strength principles.
The space between them warped, crumpling like thin paper.
Tsunade bit her thumb, blood welling. "Summoning Jutsu!"
Two human-sized Katsuyu slugs appeared, absorbing the brunt of Renji's attack. They whimpered, dispersing into liquid as they retreated.
Tsunade's elbow, packed with bone-crushing force, aimed for Renji's head.
Bang!
Renji didn't dodge. An ice mirror materialized at his side, blocking the strike. Tsunade's eyes widened as the mirror not only held but began pulling her arm in, a powerful suction force trapping her.
Renji had mastered Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, realizing Haku had barely scratched its potential. Beyond movement, the mirrors could imprison enemies, locking them in icy cages.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Bullet!"
The air turned scorching, flames roaring with Wind Release chakra amplifying their reach. The attack engulfed Renji, his mirror, and Tsunade.
Ice was no match for fire. Though the mirror withstood physical blows, the heat would melt it.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
A spinning torrent of water surrounded Renji, clashing with the flames. The elements canceled out, white steam exploding across the battlefield, blinding everyone.
In the mist, Renji caught the crackle of lightning—Kakashi's Lightning Cutter.
Wind counters lightning, Renji thought, reacting instantly.
"Massive Rasengan!"
A giant Rasengan roared to life, unleashing a hurricane-force wind. Unlike Kakashi's Lightning Cutter, which needed charging, Renji's Rasengan was instant and relentless.
Kakashi cursed inwardly as the shockwave hurled him backward like a ragdoll, tumbling through the air.
The fight stalled, a tense standoff. Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade encircled Renji from three sides.
From his safe spot, Naruto wouldn't shut up. "Renji! Crush 'em! Go, Renji!"
"I should've taped his mouth shut," Jiraiya muttered, rubbing his temples.
Tsunade's eyes locked on Renji, pride and anticipation burning. A sixteen-year-old holding his own against three of Konoha's strongest? Renji's future was limitless.
...
Hidden Sand Village.
The desert night howled with fierce winds, the starry sky so close it felt tangible, like you could pluck a star from the heavens.
A little girl by a window pointed upward, eyes wide. "Mommy, a big bird!"
Her drowsy mother rubbed her eyes, brushing it off. "Alright, sweetie, bedtime."
Carried to bed, the girl's mind lingered on the massive bird—and the figure riding it.
High above, Hasumi Maki stood on a giant white clay bird, surveying Sunagakure. He leaned toward Deidara, grinning, and stretched out his hand. "Make me one! I wanna toss bombs too!"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (28,551,000 / 100,000,000)]
Deidara squinted at Hasumi Maki, irritation bubbling. This was his and Sasori's mission. Why was this guy tagging along? The Leader was way too soft!
"Dei-chan? Dei-chan? What's wrong? Don't speak human?" Hasumi Maki teased, tugging Deidara's hair with mock concern.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2000!]
[Chakra (28,553,000 / 100,000,000)]
Deidara's teeth ground, a vein pulsing on his forehead.
Seeing Deidara's stinginess, Hasumi Maki reached for the explosive clay pouch. If he wouldn't share, Maki would just take it.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2000!]
[Chakra (28,555,000 / 100,000,000)]
Deidara glared. "Stop messing with me, un!"
Hasumi Maki blinked innocently. "Your explosions are just so cool! I wanna try."
Flattered, Deidara's scowl softened. He handed over the pouch. "Fine, take it, un!" Maybe he'd misjudged Maki. The guy clearly appreciated the art of explosions.
Maki molded the clay and hurled bombs at Sunagakure.
Boom!
Flames erupted, mushroom clouds blooming faster than the village could react.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2000!]
[Chakra (28,557,000 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (28,557,500 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +200!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +200!]
[Chakra (28,557,700 / 100,000,000)]
...
Sunagakure plunged into chaos, Cursed Energy trickling to Maki from the panic below.
A red figure shot up from a central rooftop, sand swirling around him. Maki's bombs were swallowed by a vast wave of yellow sand, neutralized before they could strike.
"Lord Kazekage!"
"Lord Gaara's here!"
"We're saved!"
Gaara, once feared, now stood as Sunagakure's protector.
His cold gaze swept the intruders, landing on Hasumi Maki—whose face mirrored Renji's.
"Who are you?" Gaara demanded.
No one answered.
Deidara unleashed a swarm of clay birds.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the desert, flames threatening to swallow the village. Gaara couldn't shield such a wide area alone; Sunagakure's forces were too thin.
"Cover the Kazekage!" Kankuro barked, rallying the ninja.
Weapons flew—kunai, shuriken, a dense rain of projectiles aimed at Maki and his allies. Gaara's sand surged, a tidal wave chasing them.
"Don't interfere, un!" Deidara shouted, grinning wildly. "I've got this, un!"
The sky filled with his clay creations.
Boom!
A massive mushroom cloud bloomed, shaking the desert.
Yet Sunagakure stood, unscathed. Gaara's Absolute Defense lay shattered, blood dripping from his mouth as he knelt, having shielded the village with his own power.
Trapped by his duty to protect, Gaara was a caged bird, unable to unleash his full strength.
A spark lit in Hasumi Maki's mind.
Got it.
----
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