"The power of a Bloodline Limit? Such terrifying chakra…" Kurenai's pupils trembled as she stared at the black sphere hovering in Renji's palm.
It felt like chakra. Yet not chakra. It was closer to something primal—something that embodied all things in nature.
"Watch carefully. You won't often see this kind of power," Renji said casually.
His wrist flicked.
The black sphere shot forward at a speed impossible to track with the naked eye.
Rumble—
The distant hill trembled violently.
Then—
It vanished.
Not exploded.
Not shattered.
Vanished.
As if erased from existence.
"Hiss—" Kurenai inhaled sharply. Her red eyes widened in disbelief.
No sound.
No debris.
No shockwave.
The entire hill simply ceased to exist.
Spatial ability?
No.
Something far more absurd.
Renji's strength was still monstrous.
After a long silence, Kurenai hesitated. "Renji… did you just eliminate Root?"
Unauthorized action against Root ANBU was punishable by death.
Renji scratched his cheek, feigning innocence.
"My bad. I saw people monitoring so diligently and thought they were spies from another Village. What if the Nine-Tails brat got captured? That would be troublesome."
He smiled faintly, but there was coldness behind it. "Besides, Konaha's Ninja wouldn't waste time spying on three Genin all day, right? That would be laughable."
Kurenai sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You really are impossible. They'll come after you."
Renji chuckled. "I'm very strong."
She couldn't argue with that.
Danzo wanted control over the Nine-Tails.
But with Renji around, Naruto was untouchable.
No one in the Village was more reliable in battle than this so-called hooligan.
He might be reckless. But as a teammate? Unshakable.
"Team 7 is making a move," Kurenai said, glancing toward the forest.
Renji stretched lazily. "Already?"
She turned to leave. "Team 8 is going for barbecue later."
"Bring me takeout. Only top-grade meat. You're paying."
She rolled her eyes. "Such arrogance. And I haven't run missions in ages. Where would I get that kind of money?"
One barbecue with Renji could drain two months of savings.
He only ate the best.
"Work harder. If you treat me a few more times, I might be tempted."
"Who wants a Stinking Rogue like you tempted?" she snapped.
Renji tossed her a small amulet. "Keep this. If you or Hinata are in danger, shout my name loudly. A hero will appear."
Kurenai caught it and turned away. "Who needs you to save them?"
Yet as she walked off, her lips curved slightly.
"Hooligan."
Renji stretched again. "Stinky Brats, done planning yet? Your teacher's getting sleepy."
Right then—
A figure appeared behind him silently.
"Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger."
Sasuke formed hand seals rapidly.
"Great Fireball again? Too slow," Renji said calmly, hands still in his pockets. "By the time you finish forming seals, I could've beaten you several times."
Through the Tenseigan, he had seen everything.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The massive fireball roared forward like a meteor.
"Naruto, if you're any slower, I'll actually have to defend," Renji muttered, glancing at the ground beneath him.
Crack.
The earth split.
Several Shadow Clones burst upward and latched onto his limbs like koalas.
Renji sighed. "Petty tricks."
He had already deduced their entire strategy the moment he sensed Naruto underground.
Rumble—!
The Great Fireball engulfed him completely.
Naruto's clones turned to smoke instantly.
Sasuke panted heavily, chakra nearly depleted. "Hmph. Slow or not—if it hits, it hits!"
"Did… did it work?" Naruto and Sakura stared nervously from cover.
Flames crackled.
Black smoke filled the air.
A silhouette stood unmoving within the smoke.
The flames died down.
Renji waved his hand, dispersing the smoke and coughing lightly. "Cough. Bit smoky."
He brushed dust off his clothes.
"It hit. And?" Sasuke's face went pale.
Through his one-tomoe Sharingan, he had clearly seen it—
Renji hadn't defended.
Hadn't dodged.
Hadn't countered.
He had taken it directly.
And remained completely unharmed.
Impossible.
Unacceptable.
Is this the level of a Jōnin?
"Don't get cocky! It's not over!" Sasuke shouted.
He yanked sharply.
A hidden steel wire sprang from underground, coiling tightly around Renji's legs like a serpent.
"Got you!"
Sasuke's lips curled with confidence.
Renji widened his eyes slightly, feigning surprise. "Oh? A trap planted while using the Great Fireball?"
He had noticed the wires long ago.
He had stepped into them on purpose.
After all—
He had to let them struggle a little.
Sasuke pulled with all his strength.
The wire tightened.
But Renji didn't move.
Not even a millimeter.
Sasuke's confidence slowly cracked.
No matter how hard he pulled—
Renji stood there.
Immovable.
Like a mountain.
...
Author's Update 18+ 📢
The fanfic Naruto: Raised by Kushina, Took His Brother's Wife – Part 1 is now officially fully completed!
It is now available on Patreon for all tiers, including the lowest Tier 1.
The complete Part 1 has been uploaded on Patreon.
📚 Category: Naruto 18+
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous love, support, and patience for this story 💙