Uchiha: Strongest Shura

Renji ruffled his hair irritably, strolled into the courtyard, and let the biting cold wind calm his fevered brain. He scooped up a handful of snow, threw it out in frustration, and leaned against a wooden pillar to think. Since his chakra nature of fire and lightning couldn't provide sufficient defense, perhaps he could strengthen himself by practicing chakra of other attributes. Both earth and water release offered excellent defensive options.

After careful consideration, Renji dismissed the idea. Everyone's energy and time are limited. He hadn't even mastered the full potential of his fire and lightning chakra. Abandoning his natural strengths to pursue unfamiliar territory would be like chasing a mirage. He reflected on his progress with the Rasengan—the technique taught him the importance of knowing and pushing his limits. If he gave up on mastering fire and lightning techniques, what identity or specialty would he have left as a ninja?

If defense is out of the question, Renji thought, then the solution must be offense. A lesson from his studies of warfare surfaced in his mind: "Attack is the best defense." If he could increase the range and speed of his attacks, then perhaps defense wouldn't matter. After all, if his attacks reached the enemy before theirs could reach him, he wouldn't need to defend himself.

Yet, the path forward wasn't so simple. While lightning release offered speed, its range was generally shorter. Fire release had better range, but its attack speed was notoriously slow. Renji smirked bitterly as he remembered the infamous Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu, a technique that never seemed to hit its target in the stories he'd studied.

Neither offense nor defense seemed like an achievable short-term improvement. That left him with the need to improve his agility and evasion skills. But even this presented challenges. Taijutsu masters like Maito Gai and Rock Lee trained relentlessly for years to hone their physical capabilities, and improper training could easily lead to injury or worse.

Renji entertained the idea of space-time ninjutsu, like the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique developed by the Second Hokage. But he dismissed it almost immediately. Space-time ninjutsu required immense skill and effort. Even Uchiha Kagami, a prodigious ninja and a student of the Second Hokage, might know little about it. Renji doubted Kagami could even teach it if he asked.

Other space-time ninjutsu, like those tied to the Mangekyō Sharingan or Rinnegan, were simply out of reach. These powers were rare, burdensome, and entirely dependent on unique genetic traits. The Uchiha clan's supposed "gift" often felt more like a curse. Renji let out a humorless laugh. Nature is unforgiving, he thought. Weak creatures either band together or perish.

Exhausted by the endless loops in his thoughts, Renji decided to give up for the night and get some sleep. As he headed back inside, the cold wind stung his wounds, making him wince. Just as he was about to drift off, a commotion erupted outside.

A panicked voice shouted, "Sir, there's been an incident! Someone hung a severed head in front of the Chief Magistrate's mansion!"

Another voice, filled with fury, responded, "Who dares to provoke us like this? Lead me to the scene immediately!"

Renji sighed, recognizing Uchiha Kagami's handiwork. That man has both talent and guts, he thought. Pulling off such an audacious act immediately after the attack showed Kagami's cunning and confidence.

Just as the noise outside faded, Renji's door creaked open. Inuzuka Naoki and Inoue Marina tiptoed into the room. Naoki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh, sorry if we woke you up. Do you think those people know it was us?"

Renji groaned and sat up, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "With the way you look right now, anyone would be suspicious. Your face practically screams, 'I did it!'"

"No way!" Naoki turned to Marina for reassurance. When she nodded in agreement, he scratched his head in embarrassment. "Okay, maybe I was a little nervous. But come on! Someone put a severed head on their doorstep. That's intense! What do we do now? This isn't Konoha, after all."

Renji waved his hand dismissively. "Relax. They're just suspicious. Even if they had solid evidence, they wouldn't dare act against Konoha's envoys. At worst, they'll put us under house arrest and appeal to Konoha through official channels. Our fate ultimately depends on Konoha's response, not theirs. That's the sad reality for small countries like this."

Seeing the two still looked uneasy, Renji continued. "Even if they wanted to retaliate, they lack the manpower. This is a critical moment for them, and no one wants to risk spreading their forces too thin. Besides, Hojo's faction doesn't even know what our objective is. Even the daimyo's loyalists and the Amamiya clan are in the dark. So why are you so worried?"

Naoki's brow furrowed as he asked, "But doesn't the daimyo know what's happening?"

Marina rolled her eyes. "Naoki, seriously? The situation doesn't benefit the daimyo in any way. Why would he expose himself and risk losing support?"

Renji added, "Trust in Sensei's abilities. He's the Third Hokage's disciple, after all."

Marina smirked. "You two act so brave during battle, but now look at you."

Naoki puffed out his chest defensively. "What do you know? A man doesn't back down from a fight, but this is different! I'm just not used to sneaky political games. It's not guilt—it's… it's just nerves!"

Ignoring Naoki's rambling, Marina turned to Renji. "How's your wound? Leaning like that must hurt."

Renji smiled faintly. "It's fine. Sensei's healing skills are excellent. The injuries looked worse than they were. Nothing to worry about."

Naoki, feeling left out, wedged himself between the two. "Hey! Don't ignore me. What are you two whispering about?"

Renji and Marina exchanged glances before responding in unison. "That you're an idiot."

Naoki bristled. "Hey! Just because I'm a little slower doesn't mean you can call me stupid. And anyway, the stupid one is the one who calls others stupid!"

Renji chuckled, letting the banter wash over him. Despite the dire situation, moments like these reminded him of why he fought—to protect the bonds he had with his comrades.

End of the Chapter.

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