"Don't miss out! Last day of the clearance sale!" "Barbecue weekend dining, 20% off! Limited spots, first come, first served!" Renzou strolled through Konoha's bustling commercial district, observing the lively shouts of shopkeepers trying to draw in customers. The avenue teemed with people, a vibrant hum of activity emanating from every storefront. This is truly Konoha's most prosperous area. It was the weekend, and Renzou, who had dedicated the previous night to studying Ice Release, understood the importance of balance. Proper rest aided the recovery of a weary mind. The human body and cultivation followed certain rhythms. So, Renzou had granted himself a day off.
"Huh? Renzou, what are you doing here?" A surprised voice came from behind him. Renzou turned instinctively, finding himself face-to-face with a pair of wide, crimson eyes.
"Kurenai? What brings you here?"
Kurenai shook the vegetable basket in her hand, looked at Renzou with a hint of surprise, then smiled sweetly. "I'm out doing some grocery shopping. What about you, Renzou, our training maniac? You actually have time for shopping?"
Renzou felt a slight flush of embarrassment. He and Kai had earned the nickname "training maniacs" at the ninja school due to their intense training with Might Dai and Guy over the past two years. It was a friendly jab from their classmates. Guy, ever enthusiastic, took it as a badge of honor. Kai, usually arrogant, was more subdued in class. Combined with Renzou's thick skin, the joke had mostly faded.
Kurenai's red eyes sparkled as she looked at him. "Say, Renzou, if you're free this afternoon, why don't you come over for lunch? You haven't visited in ages. My father keeps asking me to invite you whenever I have the chance."
"Um…" Renzou agreed without much hesitation. Since he was too lazy to cook anyway, a meal at Kurenai's sounded good. Besides, he knew Kurenai had a bit of a crush on him, but he figured that could wait a couple of years. (ˉ︶ˉ) "Okay, tell your Father I'll come by this afternoon. If I have anything else to do, I'll head out now. See you later." Snapping out of his momentary musings, Renzou gave Kurenai a quick reply and turned to leave.
"Renzou is so aloof sometimes," Kurenai muttered, puffing out her cheeks as she watched him walk away, shaking her head with a mix of annoyance and fondness. She then continued her grocery shopping.
Renzou bid Kurenai farewell and continued towards his own destination. He noticed the lack of recent rumors surrounding the White Fang incident. Looks like Uncle Sakumo has already begun to take action. Interesting. The thought flickered through his mind, and he shook his head, pressing on.
Leaving the bustling commercial area behind, he bypassed the Hokage Building and began to ascend the rock face beside it. A bit of casual outdoor activity. Ten minutes later, Renzou reached the top of Hokage Rock, his short climb complete. Standing on the carved visage of the Second Hokage, he took in the unobstructed panoramic view of Konoha Village. An occasional eagle soared through the sky, adding to the majestic scene. Only by reaching the summit can you truly understand "standing tall and seeing all the mountains below."
Renzou sat cross-legged on the Hokage Rock, his gaze sweeping over the village. He spotted Kurenai haggling with a vegetable vendor, and Might Dai and Guy striding energetically through the streets. Obito and Rin were also wandering nearby. Everyone was living their lives, a tapestry of different experiences.
"I'm fortunate to have been born in such a peaceful village," Renzou sighed softly, though he knew this peace was, in part, due to the often self-serving and sometimes callous decisions of the Third Hokage and the Konoha leadership. Their actions had led to numerous tragedies: the Uchiha Clan (In future), Senju clan, and Uzushiogakure, the hidden village of the Uzumaki clan's destruction, Danzo and Orochimaru's horrific experiments, Sakumo's suicide after the relentless whisper campaign, and the Hyuga clan's internal strife caused by the village's powerlessness. Despite the darkness lurking beneath the surface, the average Konoha citizen enjoyed a relatively happy life, with strong family bonds. Children born in the era following the First Hokage didn't have to face the battlefield at a young age. Ninjas could choose missions based on their difficulty. A village where freedom and equality were ideals, if not always realities.
"Yeah, it's quite a prosperous village," a cold, hoarse voice echoed from beside him.
Every hair on Renzou's body stood on end. He instantly shifted several feet to the side. For someone whose strength surpassed that of an average Chūnin, being approached unnoticed was alarming. Steadying himself, Renzou took a closer look. Long, black hair cascaded down the figure's back, with striking purple markings on either side of their nose. Golden, serpentine pupils stared out emotionlessly, and two dragon-tooth pendants adorned their ears. They wore pristine white robes, the wide sleeves billowing in the gentle breeze. Suppressing the urge to flee, Renzou bowed low. "Lord Orochimaru."
It was indeed one of Konoha's Sannin, the foremost scientist of the ninja world: Orochimaru! His achievements were beyond the grasp of most. Born in Konoha, Orochimaru's fascination with the meaning of life had been sparked by the death of his parents and the subsequent discovery of a white snake's remains at their memorial – an event that had given him a new direction. He, Jiraiya, and Tsunade had been students of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. During the Second Great Ninja War, the three had famously fought the demigod Hanzō of the Salamander in Amegakure. Though ultimately defeated, Hanzo had acknowledged their strength, bestowing upon them the title of "Konoha's Sannin." Later, during the Third War, Orochimaru began experimenting with human subjects, his actions spiraling out of control after collaborating with Danzo. He captured villagers for his extensive research. Discovered by the Third Hokage, Orochimaru was confronted by Anbu, but Hiruzen's sentimentality allowed him to escape. Years later, he orchestrated the "Konoha Crush" as an act of revenge, only to be repelled by the Third at the cost of Hiruzen's life, his arms sealed. Initially a clear antagonist, he later returned to Konoha to pursue his research, his contributions during the Fourth Great Ninja War earning him a degree of acceptance.
Unbelievable luck. I come to climb a rock and enjoy the view, and I run into one of the most dangerous people in Konoha. No one else could be this fortunate. Renzou's mind raced, calculating his chances of escape. Wait… wasn't Orochimaru's research base located in the forest behind Hokage Rock in the original timeline?
Orochimaru, perhaps lacking inspiration for his experiments, had likely emerged from his underground lab for a brief respite. While looking around, he had sensed a chakra signature atop Hokage Rock, his curiosity drawing him over. Thus, this fateful encounter.
The golden, serpentine pupils narrowed slightly. "Boy, shouldn't you introduce yourself when you meet someone?"
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End of Chapter 12