บท 231: 230-Child Of Luck
As the last of the guests slowly filtered out of the house, the festive sounds of the evening faded, leaving behind a quiet hum of the night.
Renjiro stood at the entrance, watching the distant figures of his friends disappear into the dark, the distant chatter and laughter fading like the remnants of a dream.
Inside, the remnants of the celebration were scattered around the room—plates with half-eaten food, crumpled chopsticks, and empty cups strewn across the table.
Renjiro turned back into the room and found Miwa already hard at work, quietly stacking plates and clearing away the leftover food.
"Let me help," Renjiro offered, moving toward her with quick strides.
Miwa looked up, her tired eyes meeting his. She smiled softly, a faint trace of weariness etched into her features. "You should be resting, Renjiro," she said, her voice gentle yet firm.
"It's your big day, after all. You deserve a break."
Renjiro waved off her concerns, grabbing a stack of plates from the table. "I've had enough rest for one day," he replied, his tone light. "Besides, it's the least I can do after you went through all this trouble for me."
Miwa gave a small chuckle, shaking her head as she wiped down the table.
The two of them worked in companionable silence for a while, the quiet sounds of cleaning filling the room. The soft clink of plates being stacked, the swish of the dishcloth against the wooden table, the occasional thud of an empty cup being set aside. It was peaceful, a contrast to the earlier festivities.
As they worked, Miwa's gaze kept drifting toward Renjiro. She had something on her mind, something she had been holding back all evening. Finally, as they began to pack away the last of the dishes, she spoke.
"Renjiro..." Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "I know you. Now that you're a Jounin, you'll want to start going on solo missions, won't you?"
Renjiro paused, glancing over at her. He had known this conversation was coming, but he hadn't expected it to come tonight. He set the plate down and turned fully to face her, his expression neutral but attentive.
Miwa's hands stilled on the cloth she was holding, her brow furrowing slightly. "I just want to say... I know there's no use in trying to talk you out of getting a team. You've always been independent, but please..." She met his gaze, her dark eyes filled with quiet concern.
"Just be careful."
Renjiro smiled faintly, leaning against the table. "Why should I be more careful than usual?" he asked, though he already had an idea of what she would say.
Miwa sighed softly, setting the dishcloth aside and crossing her arms over her chest. "Because, Renjiro, the fact that no one has come after you because of your bounty is... surprising, to say the least. You've made a name for yourself, not just in Konoha, but in the shinobi world. You're a target now, whether you like it or not."
Renjiro's smile faded slightly, his gaze lowering as he listened.
Miwa continued, her voice soft but firm. "I joke about it sometimes, calling you a child of luck... but it's more than that. The political landscape between the five major shinobi villages is more volatile than ever. War is looming, Renjiro. It's only a matter of time before it breaks out. And when it does, shinobi like you will be in the crosshairs since eliminating you will be weakening your respective village. They will come after you, using your bounty as an excuse. Once word gets out that you've been promoted to Jounin, you'll be an even bigger target."
Renjiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had heard rumours of the tension between the villages, but hearing Miwa say it out loud made it feel more real.
"I'll be careful, Miwa," he said softly. "I promise."
She studied him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face for any sign of insincerity. Finally, she nodded. "Good. I trust you, Renjiro. But remember... you're not invincible."
Renjiro chuckled softly, though there was a hint of bitterness in the sound. "Believe me, I know."
As they finished cleaning up, the weight of their conversation lingered in the air, unspoken but heavy. After the last dish was placed in the cupboard and the table was wiped clean, Renjiro bid Miwa goodnight and stepped out into the cool night air.
Without another thought, Renjiro made his way to the floating islands. As he appeared, the familiar gust of wind greeted him, and the sight of the islands floating above the mist brought a sense of calm to his racing mind.
He spotted Momo and Tenjin perched on a high ledge, Tenjin's massive forms silhouetted against the glowing trees that dotted the island.
"Have they been here all this time?" Renjiro muttered to himself as he approached the two eagles.
Momo was the first to notice his presence. She let out a low, welcoming caw, her golden eyes gleaming in the dim light.
"Back so soon, Renjiro?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement.
"I thought you'd be gone longer. Have you already solved your Senjutsu problem?"
Renjiro rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Not exactly. As I said, I was just attending a promotion ceremony. I'm officially a Jounin now."
Momo tilted her head slightly, her feathers ruffling in the breeze. "Ah, a ceremony. And now you're back, ready to resume your training?"
Renjiro nodded, stepping closer to the ledge. "Yeah. I don't have much time, though. The Jounin Commander will probably call for me soon, so I need to finish what we started here."
Tenjin, who had remained silent until now, shifted his massive wings and fixed Renjiro with a steady gaze. "So, you're here for the training we discussed?"
"Yes," Renjiro said, his tone firm. "I'm ready."
Momo stretched her wings lazily, letting out a soft caw. "I'll leave that to Tenjin. He's the one who will guide you through it."
Renjiro blinked, surprised. "Tenjin? But you're the leader of the eagles. Wouldn't it make more sense for you to teach me?"
Momo let out a low, melodic laugh. "Trust me, Renjiro. Tenjin is more than capable. You'll understand soon enough why I'm not the one guiding you."
Renjiro frowned but didn't press the issue. He turned to Tenjin, who was now watching him with a glint of challenge in his eyes.
"Then let's begin," Renjiro said, his voice steady.
Tenjin rose to his full height, spreading his massive wings wide. "You seek to learn our Lightning Release, but I warn you—it won't be easy. Lightning isn't one of your natural affinities. You'll have to push beyond your limits."
Renjiro smirked, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'm not one to back down from a challenge."
"Good, I was a bit offended by the question you just asked. So if you truly do not realize the privilege you have, let me just show you."
With a sharp cry, Tenjin took to the air, his wings beating powerfully as he hovered above the ground. The air around them seemed to shift, crackling with static energy. Renjiro's eyes widened as he felt the sharp hum of electricity in the air, the wind picking up around them.
Suddenly, Tenjin's wings sparked with lightning, crackling arcs of energy dancing between his feathers. But as Renjiro watched closely with his Sharingan, he saw something even more astonishing—wind chakra, swirling and intertwining with the lightning. The two forces merged together, creating a powerful storm of energy that surged through the air.
'What is this?' Renjiro thought, his Sharingan spinning as he analyzed the scene. His eyes widened in realization.
"This... this is lightning and wind chakra combined!" Renjiro could not help but say.
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