Chapter 18 — As Expected
"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Orochimaru," Gekkō Ren said apologetically.
"I only make allowances for geniuses," Orochimaru replied with a smile. "I imagine your clansmen are already waiting anxiously outside. You haven't seen them in quite some time. Go catch up with them first. From now on, you will carry out missions together with your clan—the Gekkō Clan. With your main family looking after you, Ren-kun will surely grow quickly."
"Thank you for your consideration, Lord Orochimaru. I'll take my leave," Gekkō Ren said before stepping out of Orochimaru's command hut.
"You wanted to take him as your disciple too, didn't you, Minato?" After Gekkō Ren left, Orochimaru asked with a faint smile. The excitement in his eyes had yet to fade. Before Minato could respond, he continued, "It's only natural. No one can resist a genius like that—especially with abilities like his. It's almost as if they awakened solely for the sake of war."
"Lord Orochimaru," Namikaze Minato said quietly, "I would rather see him live in peace. I would rather see everyone live in peace. Awakening such an ability… is actually a tragedy."
"But this is wartime," Orochimaru replied. After that, he said nothing more.
——————————————
"Ren, are you alright?"
"What did Lord Orochimaru say to you? Don't be afraid—if there's trouble, we'll figure it out together."
As soon as Gekkō Ren stepped out of the wooden hut and walked a short distance away, the Gekkō clansmen who had been waiting anxiously outside immediately gathered around him, speaking all at once, their concern genuine and unmistakable.
So I still have a family…
Seeing their worried expressions and anxious gazes, something inside Gekkō Ren eased. The heavy pressure he had been carrying lightened slightly.
"Ren, say something! How did Lord Orochimaru punish you?" Gekkō Keiko asked urgently when he remained silent.
"Lord Orochimaru didn't punish me. He even recorded a great merit for me," Gekkō Ren said, feeling his tightly sealed heart relax just a little under their concern.
"What? A great merit?"
"Ren, did you really accomplish something major?"
"Ren, we know you're a sensible kid, but you don't need to lie to comfort us. We all watched you grow up—we know your strength. What kind of merit could you have earned? If you're in trouble, just say it. We'll help you together."
At first they were stunned. Then disbelief replaced it. They began speaking over one another.
In their eyes, Gekkō Ren was still just a recent academy graduate, lacking ninja talent, and this had been his first time on the battlefield. What great achievement could he possibly have made? They assumed he was simply trying to reassure them—or hide some danger.
"It's true," Gekkō Ren said firmly. "I awakened a bloodline limit that has never existed before. I killed many Suna shinobi—several Suna jōnin as well. Lord Orochimaru awarded me considerable merit. He summoned me because he wanted to understand my bloodline limit."
"What did you just say?"
"You awakened a never-before-seen bloodline limit?"
"The Gekkō Clan doesn't even have a bloodline limit!"
"You killed many Suna shinobi? Even several jōnin?"
The Gekkō clansmen stared at him in complete disbelief.
"It's true." Gekkō Ren knew they would not accept it so easily. He opened the cloth bundle he had been carrying.
Inside were Suna forehead protectors stained with blood—nearly two hundred of them.
"These are… Suna forehead protectors!"
Gekkō Hoshino and the others froze. Words died in their throats as they stared blankly at the pile of bloodstained forehead protectors—close to two hundred in number.
Two hundred Suna shinobi.
The entire Gekkō Clan had barely over sixty ninja in total. More than ten of them were genin. Only two were jōnin (excluding those still in the academy or retired due to age or injury).
Gekkō Ren had killed nearly two hundred Suna shinobi—equivalent to wiping out the Gekkō Clan three times over.
Since the start of this war, all Gekkō chūnin and above had been deployed to the battlefield. After more than half a year, they had not even killed one hundred Suna shinobi in total. Instead, over twenty of their own had already fallen.
Gekkō Ren's merit was undeniably immense.
"Ren… did you truly awaken a never-before-seen bloodline limit?" Gekkō Hoshino asked solemnly. The others stared unblinkingly at him.
They had heard strange sounds coming from Orochimaru's command hut earlier—but none of them had dared imagine this.
A brand-new bloodline limit?
If new bloodline limits were so easily awakened, there would not be so many clans without one. Nor would bloodline clans possess only a single inherited ability.
To awaken a new bloodline limit required luck, capacity, strength, talent, and opportunity—none could be lacking. Across the entire ninja world, years—even decades—might pass without a new bloodline limit appearing. That was how difficult it was.
Even with the undeniable proof of the forehead protectors before them, they still struggled to believe.
"Of course it's true. I'll demonstrate it for you, and you'll believe me," Gekkō Ren said.
Everyone watched him eagerly, desperate to see what kind of bloodline limit he had awakened.
"Wait. There are too many people here. Let's move somewhere quiet before you demonstrate," Gekkō Hoshino quickly interrupted when he saw that Ren wasn't joking.
"Yes, too many people here. Somewhere quiet," the others agreed immediately.
"Follow me," Gekkō Hoshino said, leading the way outside the camp.
——————————————
"This is wonderful! With Ren's bloodline limit, our Gekkō Clan will surely rise!"
"Even jōnin would struggle to dodge Ren's attacks. It's incredible!"
Outside the Konoha camp, Gekkō Hoshino and more than a dozen Gekkō clansmen surrounded Gekkō Ren as they returned, brimming with excitement and hope. Praise and grand visions of the clan's future filled the air.
"Yes! Ren's bloodline limit is unbelievably strong. Ordinary chūnin—and even jōnin—can't get close to him at all. Unless they know Earth Release—"
"Shut up!" Gekkō Hoshino barked immediately.
Two nearby clansmen swiftly grabbed the speaker, one locking an arm around his neck while the other clamped a hand over his mouth.
"No one is to speak of Ren's abilities again," Gekkō Hoshino ordered grimly. "Anyone who does will be treated as a traitor to the clan."
Gekkō Ren's bloodline limit was too powerful. Freshly awakened, yet already capable of effortlessly fighting above his level.
He was the Gekkō Clan's hope for resurgence.
But such power would attract not only enemy targeting—it would also provoke unease within their own village.
The enemy would never tolerate Konoha gaining another powerful shinobi—nor another powerful clan. Even within the same village, competitors would resent the Gekkō Clan rising into a major house. The pie of power and benefits was limited. Those who already held it would not welcome sharing.
Even in peacetime, Ren's situation would be dangerous.
On the battlefield, the environment was even more ideal for someone to arrange his "accidental" death.
"Ren, tomorrow I will petition Lord Orochimaru to send you back to the village. The battlefield is too dangerous," Gekkō Hoshino said gravely.
"Yes, Ren. You must return tomorrow. Even if we have to beg together, we'll make sure you go back."
"That's right!"
"And once you're back, we'll arrange your marriage immediately."
The others nodded fervently, looking at him as if he were the clan's only surviving heir—almost ready to tie him up and drag him home to safeguard him like livestock.
"No." Gekkō Ren shook his head.
He had come to the battlefield for revenge. How could he willingly return?
Of course, he would not voice his true, dangerous thoughts. If he did, his clansmen might literally tie him up and carry him back.
"In the village, our clan no longer has any powerful ninja. All our strongest members are here on the battlefield. Lord Orochimaru has already approved for me to operate alongside the clan. I may not be any safer in the village than I am here. And with my abilities, I can earn significant merit for the clan," Gekkō Ren said calmly.
He had anticipated this reaction the moment he revealed his bloodline limit. His reasoning had long been prepared.
"That… makes sense," Gekkō Hoshino admitted after some thought. Although this was the battlefield, most of the clan's strongest ninja were here—ironically making it safer.
But he also knew why Ren had volunteered for the frontlines. He would not allow him any reckless opportunities.
"Fine. But you must promise me one thing," Gekkō Hoshino said seriously. "No matter what happens, you are not to leave our side—not even within the camp."
"No problem," Gekkō Ren nodded.
Such a condition had been entirely within his expectations.