The wind had calmed, and the only sounds that could be heard were the faint rustling of leaves and the steady breathing of Renjiro.
Duy shifted slightly, stretching his legs as he continued to keep watch. He didn't know how long it would take for Renjiro to wake up, but he wasn't about to leave him alone out here.
Despite the fact that they had only just met a few hours ago, Duy felt a responsibility to ensure that Renjiro was safe.
After all, he had pushed Renjiro by helping him open two more gates, and it was only right that he be there to help him recover.
Yet, despite his concern, Duy found himself in a bit of a dilemma. He didn't actually know where Renjiro lived, and taking him to his own home didn't seem like a good idea.
Renjiro was still technically a stranger to him, and bringing him into his personal space felt too intimate, too soon. Duy sighed, as he glanced around the empty and destroyed training ground.
'I guess I'll just have to wait it out,' Duy thought, his eyes returning to Renjiro. He couldn't very well carry Renjiro through the village, especially not in his current state. The sight of an unconscious Uchiha would undoubtedly raise questions—questions that neither of them were prepared to answer.
So, Duy waited.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Renjiro stirred. Duy leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he watched the younger man slowly come to.
Renjiro's eyelids fluttered, and he let out a soft groan as he shifted on the ground, his body still wracked with the aftereffects of the third gate.
"Renjiro?" Duy called out softly, his voice low and soothing as he reached out to gently shake the younger man's shoulder.
"Hey, you awake?"
Renjiro's eyes slowly opened, blinking against the harshness of the moonlight as he tried to focus.
For a moment, he was disoriented, his mind foggy as he struggled to remember where he was and what had happened.
But as his vision cleared, the memories of their spar came rushing back, and he winced as he felt the soreness in his muscles.
"My body..." Renjiro muttered, his voice hoarse as he slowly sat up, wincing at the pain that shot through his limbs.
"It's still sore."
Duy offered a sympathetic smile, his hand still resting on Renjiro's shoulder. "That's to be expected," he said, his tone gentle.
"You pushed yourself pretty hard out there. It's only natural that your body would feel the strain."
Renjiro nodded, though the pain in his body was more than he had anticipated. Every muscle felt like it had been stretched to its limit, and even the act of sitting up was a challenge.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he glanced around, taking in their surroundings.
'I wonder how it will be when I open the fourth gate if just the third gate has me this sore,' Renjiro thought.
'It will most likely be worse.'
The third gate had been a struggle, and the idea of pushing himself even further was both daunting and exhilarating.
"Thanks for staying with me, Duy," Renjiro said, his voice a bit stronger now.
"I appreciate it. Your guidance really helped."
Duy waved off the gratitude with a modest chuckle. "Don't mention it," he said, standing up and offering Renjiro a hand to help him to his feet.
"Even if you have the power of youth, you have to remember to pace yourself."
Renjiro accepted the hand, pulling himself up with a grunt as he stood on shaky legs.
"I'll be more careful next time."
Duy watched him for a moment, making sure that Renjiro was steady on his feet before stepping back.
"You should head home and get some rest," he suggested, his tone light but firm.
"You'll need it after today."
Renjiro nodded again, grateful for the advice. "I will," he said, offering a small smile. "Thanks again, Duy. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, Renjiro turned and began to make his way home, his movements slow and deliberate as he navigated the empty streets of the village.
When he finally reached his home, the first thing Renjiro did was head to the mirror.
He needed to see for himself—needed to confirm what he had suspected during their spar.
Standing in front of the mirror, Renjiro took a deep breath and activated his Sharingan.
The familiar crimson glow filled his vision as the three tomoe spun lazily in his eyes.
Renjiro stared at his reflection, his gaze intense as he searched for any sign of the fourth tomoe.
But it wasn't there.
His Sharingan was the same as it had always been—powerful, but still limited to the three tomoe.
"It seems like the fourth tomoe only appears when I open the third gate," Renjiro muttered to himself, his voice tinged with both disappointment and curiosity.
He continued to stare at his reflection, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what this meant.
The fourth tomoe had enhanced his abilities to a level he hadn't experienced before. But now, with the gates closed, it was gone, leaving Renjiro with more questions than answers.
'For now, it seems like the fourth tomoe only improves my eyes further,' Renjiro thought, his mind turning over the possibilities.
The additional tomoe had undoubtedly made his Sharingan more powerful, allowing him to see and predict Duy's movements with incredible precision.
But even with this enhancement, it hadn't reached the level of the Mangekyo Sharingan—not like Renjiro has seen its effects first-hand.
Moreover, Renjiro had a deep feeling that improving his eyes further was just scratching the surface of what his fourth tomoe could do.
There was something more to it—something that he hadn't yet discovered. The potential was there, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to be unlocked.
This realization left Renjiro with a sense of both excitement and frustration. He had tapped into something powerful, but he didn't fully understand it.
And until he did, he knew he couldn't fully rely on it in battle.
"Disappointing," Renjiro muttered, his gaze dropping from the mirror as he let out a small sigh.
"But I'll figure it out."
He shook his head, a determined expression settling on his face as he resolved to continue his training.
"I just need to keep on training to ensure I have access to it and the three gates longer than I can compared to now."
The fact that the fourth tomoe only appeared during the third gate was both a blessing and a curse.
On the one hand, it meant that he didn't have to worry about explaining its sudden appearance to the rest of the clan.
But on the other hand, it meant that he couldn't fully use it—not yet, at least.
"Besides," Renjiro muttered, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips,
"It has saved me the trouble of explaining how I got it to the rest of the clan."
With that thought in mind, Renjiro decided to call it a day. He had pushed his body to its limits, and now it was time to rest and recover.
Over the next few days, Renjiro fell back into his usual routine. The missions and responsibilities of the force took up most of his time, but he always made sure to set aside time for his personal training.
He continued to work on his efficiency with the three gates he had access to, pushing himself to master their power and control.
The training was gruelling, but Renjiro welcomed the challenge. Each session brought him closer to understanding the limits of his abilities and how to push beyond them.
The soreness in his muscles eventually faded, replaced by a growing confidence in his strength.
And so, Renjiro trained, day after day, honing his skills and pushing his limits. The days turned into weeks, and slowly, a month passed
Yet, despite his progress, Renjiro knew that there was still more to be done.
The other five gates loomed on the horizon—a challenge that he would face when the time was right.
But for now, he was content with the progress he had made.
"I think it's time for my squad to take up another mission," Renjiro said to himself.
=====
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With this new role as squad leader, Renjiro received a full quota of missions that he was expected to complete within a certain timeframe.
But with his impending exit from the force, Renjiro wanted to finish his squad's quota before then, ensuring that they got enough field experience that his exit wouldn't affect them.
But something about today's mission felt different, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to be just another routine assignment.
As they approached Fugaku's office, Renjiro's thoughts drifted to the conversation he'd had earlier with his immediate superior, Iwata.
Usually, when a mission came up, it was Iwata who briefed Renjiro and his squad. They would receive a selection of missions that had been carefully chosen by Iwata himself, and Renjiro, as the squad leader, would pick the one that suited their skills and availability. However, today had deviated from that norm.
So, when Renjiro had voiced his intentions to Iwata earlier that day, he had expected the usual routine—a quick briefing and a mission selected from Iwata's list.
But instead, Iwata had given him a different set of instructions.
"You'll need to go to Fugaku's office for your next mission," Iwata had told him, his tone unusually formal.
"He'll brief you directly."
Renjiro had been surprised, to say the least. Fugaku was a senior figure within the force, someone who rarely dealt directly with squad leaders like Renjiro when it came to issues regarding the force.
The fact that Fugaku was personally involved in this mission briefing suggested that this was something more significant than the usual assignments they undertook.
As Renjiro led his team down the final corridor toward Fugaku's office, he couldn't help but wonder why things were different this time.
What made this mission special? Why had Fugaku decided to take a direct hand in it?
Finally, they reached Fugaku's office. Renjiro paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he knocked on the door.
There was a brief silence, and then a deep voice called out from within, "Enter."
Renjiro pushed the door open and stepped inside, followed closely by his squad.
The room was spacious but sparsely decorated, with a large wooden desk dominating the center where Fugaku was currently sitting behind.
"Thank you for coming, Renjiro," Fugaku said, his voice even and controlled. "I understand Iwata sent you for a mission brief."
Renjiro straightened and met Fugaku's gaze. "Yes, Fugaku-sama. We're here to receive our next mission."
Fugaku nodded, his expression unreadable as he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a scroll.
Without hesitation, he handed it to Renjiro, who accepted it with both hands. Fugaku then turned his attention to the rest of the squad, his eyes sweeping over them as he began to explain the mission.
"You are to travel to Shimogakure, a village in the Land of Frost," Fugaku began,
"The village has received intel that there might be attacks on various village leaders by shinobi from Kirigakure."
Renjiro's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he listened.
'But why are we getting involved? Isn't the village closer to Kirigakure than it is to us?'
The question buzzed in his mind, but he kept his expression neutral, not wanting to interrupt Fugaku's briefing.
As if sensing Renjiro's unspoken question, Fugaku continued,
"Kirigakure has been making a few suspicious moves recently. Konoha plans to fortify its standing and to do so, we must ensure that Shimogakure allies with us. If Kirigakure makes a move on them, we can limit the paths they could use to attack Konoha."
Renjiro's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed this information.
'I'm not sure if that's a smart move since the Land of Frost does not border the Land of Fire, but I'm sure Hiruzen and the rest have already thought this through,' he surmised, trusting that the village's leadership had considered all possible outcomes.
Fugaku continued, "Shimogakure has been playing neutral for the last couple of years. However, if Kirigakure is indeed planning an attack, it is only fair that Konoha takes advantage of this situation. We need to secure their alliance before Kirigakure does."
The senior Uchiha's gaze turned more intense as he explained the strategic importance of the mission.
"The scroll I handed you contains the names of clans within Shimogakure that favor Konoha. If you get the opportunity, reach out to them. Outwardly, this will be Konoha sharing information and shinobi as a gesture of goodwill to gain Shimogakure's favor. However, your primary objective is to thwart any attacks from Kirigakure and, if possible, bring the attackers back to Konoha, whether alive or dead."
Renjiro nodded, absorbing the weight of their task. It was clear that this mission was not just a simple information-sharing exercise; it was a crucial strategic move in the delicate balance of power between the villages.
"Do we have any intel on how strong the attackers might be?" Renjiro asked, his tone serious as he sought to prepare his squad for what they might face.
Fugaku shook his head slightly, a small frown creasing his forehead.
"Unfortunately, the intel we have doesn't provide specifics on their strength. However, since this would be the first round of attacks, it's likely that they will be probing attacks—tests to gauge Shimogakure's defenses and reactions."
Renjiro acknowledged the response with a thoughtful nod.
"Understood. When are we to leave for Shimogakure?"
"As soon as possible," Fugaku replied, his tone final.
"Time is of the essence. You are dismissed."
Renjiro and his squad bowed once more before turning to leave the office. As they walked out into the corridor, Renjiro's mind was already racing, planning the logistics of their journey.
Once they were back in the main part of the base, Renjiro turned to his team.
"You have one hour to prepare," he instructed, his voice firm but calm.
"Meet me at the village gate. We'll depart from there."
The squad members nodded in unison before dispersing to gather their gear and make any final preparations.
Renjiro then made his way to the village gate, arriving there ahead of his team since he had already prepared ahead of time. He stood there, waiting patiently, his thoughts focused on the mission ahead.
One by one, his squad members arrived, each of them fully equipped and ready for the journey. They gathered around Renjiro, their expressions serious and determined.
However, before they could start, Renjiro cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "I have an announcement to make," he began, his tone measured.
"I will not be the one leading this mission."
The statement hung in the air for a moment, the squad members exchanging surprised glances.
This was not something they had expected, and it was clear from their expressions that they were struggling to process the news.
Before they could voice their confusion, Renjiro continued, "Kudo will be leading the mission."
Kudo looked up in surprise. The other members of the squad turned to him, their eyes wide with shock.
'What?' The chunin wondered.
"But, Renjiro-sama," Shoda, one of the squad members began, his voice tinged with confusion,
"Why wouldn't you be leading us?"
=====
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