Chapter 61: The Malice Value from all of Sunagakure…
Renji knew his limits, but he pushed them anyway. Might Guy lay battered but clinging to life, his chest rising faintly. Leaping down from the torii gate, Renji knelt beside him, his hands glowing with the steady pulse of Medical Ninjutsu. The healing was slow, deliberate, but it carried a quiet intensity, as if the air itself held its breath.
Team Guy hovered around, their tension palpable, not daring to break the silence. Tenten's eyes glistened with unshed tears, while Lee's fists clenched, his gaze fixed on his sensei's pale face.
After what felt like an eternity, Guy's wounds began to close, the jagged gashes knitting together under Renji's careful touch. Though still pale from blood loss, Guy's breathing steadied, yet he remained unconscious. Exhaustion carved deep lines into Renji's face, his own energy drained. Choking back a sob, he stood, his vision swimming, his steps faltering. Lee and Neji reached out, but Renji steadied himself, flashing a weary smile. "I'm okay. Look after Guy-sensei for now, alright?"
Lee nodded, his expression fierce with determination, his eyes reflecting unwavering loyalty.
Renji moved to Kakashi, his hands trembling slightly as he began healing the gaping wound where his arm had been severed. While the flesh could be mended, the arm was lost forever. Tears fell from Renji's eyes, splashing onto the water's surface, sending ripples through the tense silence.
Kakashi met Renji's gaze, his single visible eye calm and reassuring. "It's alright," he said softly, reaching out with his remaining hand to wipe the tears from Renji's cheek, a gesture of quiet strength.
"Renji…" Neji's voice came from behind, hesitant but resolute. He approached, glancing at Kakashi's stump, then touched his own arm, a flicker of memory in his eyes. Renji turned, tears clinging to his lashes, his expression so pitiful it tugged at Neji's heart.
Neji crouched beside him, his resolve hardening. The secret they'd vowed to keep from Renji could no longer be hidden—not after Kakashi's loss. "Before we got here, we encountered Hasumi Maki," he said, his voice low but steady.
Renji's pupils dilated, his grip tightening on Neji's arm. "Then you all…"
Neji clasped Renji's arm in return, his touch grounding. "My arm was broken, and Lee was badly hurt. But before Maki left, he touched me again. Blue flames enveloped me, and my arm… it just healed, instantly." Such regeneration was unheard of—a secret technique or Kekkei Genkai. "You're his brother, Renji. Maybe you can do it too. You just haven't tried."
Renji's eyes widened, a spark of realization igniting. He stared at Kakashi's severed arm, muttering with fervent determination, "I share his Kekkei Genkai. If he can do it, so can I!" His hand reached for Kakashi but froze, doubt flickering. "Kakashi-sensei, do you trust me?"
Kakashi's gaze softened, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. He guided Renji's hand to his neck, feeling the pulse beneath. "You're my proudest student. Of course I trust you."
Renji's hand rested on Kakashi's neck, the strong heartbeat steadying him. He fought the instinctive urge to use Idle Transfiguration, closing his eyes to feign exploring his Kekkei Genkai. In truth, he studied Kakashi's Sharingan, weighing it against Shisui's. Shisui's is safer. Obito's would risk the plan. When the moment felt right, blue flames erupted from Renji's hands, enveloping Kakashi. Before Neji's stunned eyes, Kakashi's arm regenerated, flesh and bone reforming at a visible pace. Kakashi flexed his new hand, astonishment flickering in his gaze.
Sakura clambered from the rubble, coughing, her body bruised but defiant. Seeing Renji approach, she forced a smile. "I patched myself up. It's not bad."
Renji didn't buy it. Sakura's chakra was nearly depleted from battling Sasori, and Maki's final attack—fusing Chiyo and Sasori's souls—had hit her directly. Her "healing" was superficial; internal injuries still ravaged her. Taking her arm, Renji confirmed his suspicions. It was a miracle she was standing. His hands glowed, channeling Medical Ninjutsu to mend her deeper wounds.
Kakashi watched Renji's back, his brow furrowing. That regeneration technique had to consume massive chakra—why else would Renji fall back to slower Medical Ninjutsu? More than physical strain, Kakashi worried about Renji's heart. He'd lived that pain—killing a loved one, facing impossible choices. It was a wound deeper than any blade.
Heavy footsteps echoed, rapid and numerous. Sunagakure shinobi poured into the cave, their faces alight with hope—until they saw Gaara's rigid, bluish-white corpse. Temari and Kankuro froze, their joy snuffed out.
"Lord Kazekage…" Sobs rippled through the shinobi. Once, they'd feared Gaara as a monster, but his sacrifice as Kazekage had erased their hatred. Now, he was gone forever. They gathered around his body, heads bowed in silent grief.
"Gaara! Hey, Gaara!" Naruto shook his friend's shoulder, his voice desperate, refusing to accept the truth.
Renji placed a hand on Gaara's chest, exchanging a glance with Sakura. They both understood—no ordinary technique could help. He shook his head at Naruto, whose tears spilled freely. "He's the Kazekage! He just became Kazekage…"
"Naruto, calm down," Temari said, her voice heavy with her own grief.
Her words ignited Naruto's fury. "If you hadn't sealed that monster in him, this wouldn't have happened!" he shouted, tears streaming. "No one ever asked what Gaara wanted, how he felt!"
Renji's thoughts drifted. No one asked Gekkō Hayate either. He'd killed Hayate himself, but even without his hand, Hayate was doomed by Baki or Gaara.
"Don't act like you're righteous!" Naruto's voice broke. "How can I calm down?!"
Renji stepped in front of Temari, gently wiping Naruto's tears. "I know you're hurting, Naruto, but Temari's Gaara's sister. She's grieving too. Don't take it out on her, okay?" His voice was soft, almost coaxing, as if soothing a child. Naruto collapsed against his shoulder, his tears soaking Renji's jacket.
"I couldn't save Sasuke… I can't help Gaara either…" Naruto's voice cracked, raw with despair. "Three years of training, and I'm still useless!"
"Wait." Renji's eyes lit up with a sudden idea. He lifted Naruto's face, kneeling beside Gaara's corpse. "Let me try something."
Sakura grabbed his hand, her voice sharp. "Renji, you can't…" She knew revival often demanded a life in exchange.
Renji met her gaze, his eyes gleaming with conviction. "Trust me, Sakura." His sincerity was disarming. Reluctantly, she released him, but her resolve was firm—if this was a life-for-life jutsu, she'd stop him.
Naruto's eyes sparked with hope. "Really? Renji, you're amazing!" But his joy faded as blood poured from Renji's wrist, flowing into Gaara's mouth.
"Renji!" Sakura's eyes reddened, her voice fierce. He'd lied to her again.
"I'm just trying—it might not work!" Renji flashed a weak smile at Sakura and Naruto. "I've already lost this much blood. Stopping now would waste it, right?" he said to Kakashi and the others, who looked ready to intervene.
The Sunagakure shinobi watched Renji with complex emotions, stunned that a Konoha ninja would go so far for their Kazekage.
"It's no use!" Sakura cried, tears falling. "You're losing too much!" Renji's skin was ghostly pale, almost translucent, as if he might dissolve. If this continued, he'd die.
Suddenly, Gaara's eyelids twitched. Sakura yanked Renji back. Gaara's eyes opened, his gaze unfocused but alive. Renji's lips curled into a faint smile, his wrist wound closing. His blood wasn't the key—microscopic clones, infused with Idle Transfiguration, had rebuilt Gaara's body without altering his form. The process was complete.
Gaara was no longer Gaara —
Gaara's eyes focused on Naruto, a trace of blood still on his lips. "Naruto… why are you here?" he asked, his voice dazed.
"Gaara!" Naruto grabbed his shoulders, joy overtaking his grief.
"Renji!" Sakura caught Renji as he collapsed, unconscious, into her arms.
Sakura sniffled, checking his pulse. "Too much blood loss," she said, her voice trembling. "His brain's oxygen-starved—temporary coma. He's ten times weaker than normal."
Naruto stared, guilt washing over him. Once again, he'd leaned on Renji.
"Lord Kazekage!" The Sunagakure shinobi erupted in cheers, their voices echoing.
"He's alive!"
"Thank you, shinobi of Konoha!"
Gaara's gaze silenced the crowd. He looked at Renji, then at Kakashi. "Thank you. Renji needs rest. Sunagakure will care for him."
Temari nodded, her eyes soft with concern. "He needs proper recovery."
Kankuro, stunned by Renji's sacrifice, added, "We have herbs for blood replenishment. Traveling to Konoha now could kill him."
The shinobi agreed, vowing to protect Renji's secret. His ability to revive the dead with blood was too dangerous to leak—coveted by those desperate to resurrect loved ones, it would make him a target. As Sunagakure's benefactor, they'd guard his secret to their graves.
Sakura sighed, looking at Kakashi. "Renji needs rest."
Lee glanced at Guy, still unconscious. "Guy-sensei hasn't woken either."
Kakashi nodded. Sunagakure was their only option.
…
At Sunagakure's main gate, Ebizo stood waiting. "Are they here yet?"
"They're coming!" a shinobi called from a lookout post.
The village's shinobi lined the walls, their eyes eager. In the distance, under a rising red sun, the Konoha group approached. Naruto supported Gaara, while Kakashi carried Renji on his back, Sakura and Temari flanking them.
"Lord Gaara!" The shinobi's eyes welled with tears, their voices rising in a wave.
"So many people!" Lee, carrying Guy, grinned with relief. They'd survived, and now they could rest.
"He's the Kazekage," Neji said, his tone calm but proud.
The crowd surged toward Gaara, their cheers deafening. Ebizo stepped forward, his voice solemn. "Welcome back."
Gaara nodded, unaccustomed to such warmth. "Thanks to them," he said, glancing at the Konoha team.
Ebizo turned to them, bowing deeply. "Thank you."
Naruto scratched his head, sheepish. "It was all Renji. We didn't do much."
Ebizo's gaze shifted to Renji, still unconscious. "He's injured?"
"He lost too much blood saving me," Gaara said, his voice heavy.
Ebizo's eyes widened. "Get him inside for treatment."
The shinobi parted, clearing a path to the village.
Renji stirred in a soft bed, his eyes fluttering open. A familiar yellow head rested beside him. Sensing movement, Naruto shot up like a spring. "Renji! You're awake!" He tackled Renji in a hug, nearly knocking him back.
Renji, bored from feigning sleep, patted Naruto's back. "We need to get back to Konoha. The intel on Hasumi Maki, Akatsuki, and the reanimations—it's urgent for Lady Hokage."
…
At the Kazekage Building, Kankuro tried to stall them. "Leaving already? Stay a couple more days."
Temari nodded, worry creasing her brow. "At least one more day, Renji. You need rest."
For three days, Temari and Sakura had force-fed Renji nourishing meals, causing daily nosebleeds. He couldn't take it anymore. "We'd love to stay, but this intel is critical," he said, dodging Temari's intense stare.
Kankuro sighed. "Understood. It's too important."
"Akatsuki's already hit Sunagakure," Kakashi added. "We're worried about Konoha."
The village gathered at the gate to see them off. Gaara met their eyes. "You're always welcome in Sunagakure."
Naruto grinned brightly. Kankuro and Temari nodded, while Renji smiled faintly. Always welcome? Next time might not be so friendly.
"I'm sorry," a shinobi said, stepping forward, guilt in his eyes. "We thought you were Hasumi Maki from Akatsuki…"
"You're nothing like him," another added. "We were wrong to judge you."
A third bowed deeply. "Thank you for saving Lord Gaara!" The crowd echoed, their gratitude resounding.
Renji smiled gently. "Konoha and Sunagakure are allies. Our shinobi are friends."
As they walked away, Gaara glanced back, a subtle smirk curling his lips—an expression that didn't suit him. The Malice Value from all of Sunagakure… how exciting.
Might Guy, fully recovered, sprinted through the desert, kicking up dust with Kakashi on his back, their rivalry reignited. Lee squatted before Neji. "Get on! We'll race too!" Neji's face paled, his refusal vehement. "No way!"
Naruto glanced at Renji, who covered his mouth. "We'll just walk."
…
At ROOT's hidden base, Danzō Shimura stared down at Sai, who knelt before him. "It's arranged. You'll join Team Kakashi."
"Thank you, Lord Danzo," Sai said, his smile practiced and hollow. "I'll monitor Renji closely and report anything suspicious."
Danzō's eyes narrowed, irritated by the boy's mask-like expression, as fake as a porcelain facade.
----
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