Chapter 125 - Renji: Have You Ever Seen My Peak Strength?

Chapter 125 - Renji: Have You Ever Seen My Peak Strength?

"You're insane—why did you start a war with them directly?"

As soon as the envoys from the other three ninja villages left, Genshir immediately approached Konoha.

He had assumed Konoha would negotiate first, but to his shock, Renji had chosen to go straight to war.

He must have gone mad.

"We're two against three. The advantage is ours!"

Judging from Kirigakure's earlier attitude, his plan seemed to be working well. At this point, Kirigakure was somewhat dependent on Konoha. They needed Konoha to recover their economy and had also benefited quite a bit from trading with them.

Losing Konoha now would greatly slow their recovery.

Right now, Kirigakure needed to rely on them, so they would naturally choose to stand with Konoha.

"Two against three? The advantage is ours?"

Are you kidding me?!

Genshir grumbled inwardly. Kirigakure had almost no fighting strength left. After enduring the Blood Mist Policy, they still hadn't recovered. How could they possibly go to war alongside Konoha?

Even if they wanted to, they'd need funds and ninja first. And right now, they had neither.

How could they possibly fight?

It's more like one against three.

"Kirigakure has no way to join the war."

"In that case, we'll stop supplying you with goods. After all, Konoha also needs to prepare for war. And if we lose, we won't be able to provide you anything anyway.

Also… this war was initiated by the other three villages. If Kirigakure doesn't participate, who knows whether you'll be targeted for retribution afterward? So you'd best think it through."

Renji wanted to see which side Kirigakure would choose.

If they stood on the other side, then he'd deal with Kirigakure together with them.

The two continued discussing afterward. No one knew what was said, but Genshir's face was grim when he left.

He immediately departed Konoha, preparing to return to Kirigakure and report to Terumi Mei.

"Lord Hokage, how will the battlefronts be divided if we go to war?"

Shikaku had long suspected Renji was preparing for war, but the current battle situation wasn't optimistic.

Renji could oversee one front, and as for Kirigakure, that was still uncertain. If they were willing to fight and pin down Sunagakure, then Konoha wouldn't struggle too much against Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

Iwagakure could be handled by the Uchiha, and Kumogakure by the Hyuga. Add in the other Konoha clans, and with Renji in the village, Jiraiya could be recalled.

Renji could take one front, Jiraiya another. But the issue was the enemy's jinchuriki. Konoha's own jinchuriki was still too young to be an effective deterrent.

"Can we gather them all in one place? I'd like to wipe them out in one go."

"…"

Insane.

Shikaku's mouth twitched. He was stunned by Renji's logic. He had been thinking of ways to reduce Renji's burden, but Renji was already planning to eliminate all of them at once.

"You're going to take on all those villages alone? Who do you think you are—Uchiha Madara?"

Tsunade curled her lips. This brat Renji had left her speechless. Did he seriously think he was Madara reincarnated?

And now he'd declared war on so many villages?

He had said earlier that Konoha wouldn't be destroyed under his watch. But the way he was going, he might really end up being the one who buried it.

Listening to her, Renji was somewhat understanding. In this era, most ninja couldn't even imagine one person fighting multiple villages.

After all, barely anyone in history had done it.

"Have you ever seen me at my peak?"

"So smug!"

Tsunade cursed inwardly. She had a strong urge to beat Renji up. How could he be this arrogant? "Have you seen my peak strength"? What kind of line was that?

But she really hadn't seen it. Judging from how Renji had single-handedly taken down so many enemies, maybe he really was stronger than they thought.

"Fighting three villages is tough right now. If Kirigakure joins us, it would indeed be a major advantage."

Hiashi Hyuga gave the most appropriate analysis. Kirigakure needed to join the battle to ease their pressure.

"Our elite jonin and above can match theirs. The only issue is that we're short on mid- and lower-ranked ninja compared to their combined numbers."

Konoha was indeed a cradle of geniuses. The number of top-tier ninja wasn't far behind the other villages combined.

But when it came to chunin and genin, they couldn't close the gap.

"So Shikaku, I need you to find a way to bring them all together. If they're gathered in one place, I can eliminate most of them."

Renji's Perfect Susanoo was unbeatable when it came to clearing out fodder.

For now, handling a ninja alliance wasn't hard for him. None of them put real pressure on him—unless the Akatsuki joined the war.

But that was highly unlikely. The Akatsuki wanted chaos. They wouldn't jump into a war to stop it.

"Are you serious?"

Shikaku rubbed his forehead in frustration. From Renji's look, he wasn't joking at all.

He really meant it?

"That's right. Gather them in one spot. Makes it easier for me to finish them in one go."

"I understand." Shikaku nodded, then pulled out a map and laid it out in front of everyone.

Pointing to the Land of the Waterfalls north of Konoha, he said, "If we want them to converge in one location, this is ideal. Kumogakure can pass through the Land of Fields to get here. Iwagakure can come directly. Sunagakure would pass through the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass to arrive.

All we need to do is send out a formal challenge, inviting the three Kage for a decisive battle here. They'll definitely come!"

Shikaku was certain the other side wouldn't pass up this opportunity. Attacking together was better than being picked off individually.

Of course, it wasn't completely realistic either, since Kumogakure and Sunagakure needed to cross other territories.

Their supply lines would be stretched thin. If they scattered their forces, they might not be able to corner the Hokage quickly, but they could force Konoha to fight on multiple fronts.

Both options were viable.

"Then send them a letter saying a real man is ready to take on a 1v3 showdown!"

"…"

Shikaku rolled his eyes, but still nodded. It sounded strange, but somehow coming from Renji, it felt perfectly normal.

"So… should we recall Lord Jiraiya?"

That was the next question. Though phrased as a suggestion, Shikaku clearly thought it necessary.

"Recall him. As a Konoha ninja, if he stays out there now, he's likely to be captured by enemy ninja."

One more powerful fighter brought home.

Once Renji said that, Shikaku nodded, then looked over to Tsunade.

This setup looked good—Renji overseeing one front, Jiraiya another, and Tsunade the third.

Jiraiya had experience against Iwagakure, so he could take that front. Tsunade's medical skills countered Sunagakure's poison. Renji would take on Kumogakure.

This distribution was ideal.

"Don't look at me. I—"

The words reached Tsunade's lips, but she couldn't bring herself to finish.

She understood her condition all too well. She had hemophobia—she couldn't engage in combat or even perform medical duties.

And yet, as a Konoha shinobi, the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama and grandniece of Senju Tobirama—both former Hokage—how could she, of all people, say she wouldn't participate in the war? The damage it would do to the Senju clan's reputation would be immeasurable.

That was why Tsunade had held her tongue earlier.

Her departure from Konoha had, in part, stemmed from this very issue. One reason was the village's darkness, which left her hopeless. The other—her own inability to fight. Once her hemophobia was exposed, the consequences would be devastating.

"We'll discuss Tsunade's situation later. I've already assigned someone more suitable to the Sunagakure front."

"Someone more suitable?"

A flicker of confusion appeared in Shikaku's eyes. Wasn't Tsunade the most logical choice?

Could it be Uchiha Shisui?

But Shisui likely couldn't handle poison effectively.

So who was it?

Compared to Shikaku's speculation, Tsunade was clearly relieved. At least this guy was somewhat dependable. If he said she wouldn't be deployed, then he meant it.

Otherwise, her condition would've been exposed for sure.

"I can go."

Hiashi Hyuga, unaware of Tsunade's condition, was actually more inclined to go to the Kumogakure front. Still, with no one currently assigned to Sunagakure, he offered to take it.

"No, no. None of you are the right fit. Pakura, this front is yours."

"Pakura!?"

The moment they heard the name, everyone instinctively recalled the image of Pakura, the famed hero of Sunagakure.

Then came the disbelief. Why would a hero of Sunagakure be in Konoha—much less helping Konoha fight her own village?

But as that very figure emerged from the shadows, everyone's thoughts were promptly overturned.

What was going on?

Pakura—Sunagakure's hero—was here?

Her fighting alongside Konoha against Sunagakure was absurd. It was like Namikaze Minato helping Sunagakure to destroy Konoha.

"Lord Hokage, just what did you do during your last mission?"

First Kirigakure, now Pakura—what exactly had he been up to?

Shikaku was screaming internally. Was this man some kind of seduction demon of the shinobi world?

He went to Kirigakure, got them to open their markets, let Konoha dominate their economy, and then even brought over Sunagakure's hero?

"As expected of Lord Hokage!"

Might Guy stared at Renji, mouth agape, and gave a firm thumbs-up.

In his eyes, there was only one explanation for Renji bringing back Pakura.

He must have used his charm!

"Idiot. As if Lord Hokage would stoop to that."

Kakashi, with his usual dead-fish eyes, muttered quietly. But even he felt it was barely possible—Icha Icha Paradise had a tactic like that, after all.

Once Renji explained Pakura's circumstances, the room fell silent in mixed emotion.

It turned out Pakura had been betrayed by Rasa. Renji had saved her back then, and now she was seeking revenge on Sunagakure.

"Pakura, you're okay taking the Sunagakure front?"

"Yes. Leave Rasa to me."

Pakura nodded, a trace of coldness in her eyes.

She had no ties to Konoha. This was just a cooperation. But she owed Renji a life—and this was how she'd repay it.

She would handle Rasa. He was the one who had betrayed her.

"Good. Then that's the plan. Everyone, begin preparations. Shikaku will deliver the detailed strategy to each of you later. Dismissed. Tsunade, stay behind."

Renji dismissed the others. Pakura was still present, and based on canon, she did still have feelings for Sunagakure. There were things Renji wouldn't say in front of her—he wasn't a fool.

Once everyone else had left, Renji looked Tsunade up and down. She scowled and muttered, "Hey, are you asking to get punched? Where exactly are you looking?"

She swung her fist lightly, eyes full of threat. His stare made her deeply uncomfortable. She really wanted to clock him—though she kept that desire to herself.

"We still need you on the Sunagakure front."

"You bastard! Don't forget our agreement!"

There had been too many people around earlier, but now that they were alone, Tsunade had no reason to hold back.

"Pakura is still a Sunagakure kunoichi. And your abilities counter their poison. You're the best choice for that battlefield. Want me to help cure your hemophobia?"

Renji bluntly named her condition. Tsunade's eyes flickered with surprise, but she said nothing. She stared at him and asked coldly, "You know I have hemophobia and you still want me on the front lines?"

A faint self-mocking smile tugged at her lips. At this point, wasn't she basically useless?

A medic who couldn't treat wounds. A fighter who couldn't face blood. It was laughable.

"Because in my eyes, you're not supposed to be like this. The Senju who once stood toe-to-toe with the Uchiha shouldn't be reduced to someone who can't even look at blood. Being Hokage isn't a curse. Not every Hokage—or would-be Hokage—dies a tragic death."

"Heh. So in the end, you just want someone to ease your pressure."

Tsunade scoffed. It was easy for him to talk. None of the people who had died were his loved ones. Of course he could act so righteous.

But what about when you watch people die right before your eyes, and as a medic, you can do nothing to stop it?

What then?

People who haven't suffered don't understand suffering.

"You speak so nobly. But Tsunade—don't forget. Whether it's eight hundred or a thousand, people have died by your hands. They all had friends. Families. Your hands have long been stained with guilt."

[End of Chapter]

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