Naruto: The Rise of an Unknown Chunin

Takemaru Rensu opened his eyes and felt something deeply wrong. The body he was in felt strange, heavy, as if carrying an invisible burden. He tried to take a deep breath, but the air seemed thick with smoke, ashes, and a suffocating sadness. It wasn't him who should be here, and yet, here he was.

He didn't know how or why, but his soul had been dragged into a new cycle of life, thrust into a world of ninjas, wars, and jutsus. The memories of Rensu, the man whose body he now occupied, came like an uncontrollable river, flooding his mind. He saw images of a hidden village, dangerous missions, and endless training with fire jutsus. And, above all, he saw Yuzuriha Akemi.

She was a young girl, full of potential, and also Rensu's fiancée. To him, Akemi was a promise of happiness in the midst of a cruel world. But that promise had been broken so devastatingly that, even as a stranger in this body, he could feel the pain burning inside him.

Takemaru Rensu lived in a time of tension. It was just before the Second Ninja War, a period when the villages were in constant alert. Small conflicts arose everywhere, rogue ninjas grew bolder, and infiltration missions into enemy territories were both dangerous and frequent.

It was on one of these missions that Akemi was sent, alongside a team led by the jonin Kaizen Aratake. Kaizen was an experienced ninja, known for his strength, composure, and leadership. With him by her side, Akemi seemed safe—but fate had other plans.

While Rensu remained in the village, awaiting the return of his fiancée, Akemi faced the horrors of the ninja world. During the mission, the team fell into a brutal ambush. Akemi, injured and separated from her teammates, was saved at the last moment by Kaizen. He protected her, fighting against an overwhelming number of enemies, and ensured her survival.

The rescue had unexpected consequences. Akemi, just a sixteen-year-old girl, was overwhelmed by a wave of conflicting emotions. The fear of death, the relief of being saved, the adrenaline, and her admiration for Kaizen all blended into something she couldn't control.

During the mission, in a rare moment of calm before the next confrontation, she approached Kaizen. Her defenses crumbled, and what began as a search for comfort quickly escalated into something more. Akemi gave herself to him, driven by the intensity of the moment and the strength she saw in the jonin.

When Akemi returned to the village, she was a different person. She avoided Rensu, her eyes darting away from his, and her posture was heavy with guilt. To the soul now inhabiting Rensu's body, it was a warning: something terrible had happened.

Days later, she finally told the truth. Akemi confessed everything: the intensity of the mission, how Kaizen had saved her, and, ultimately, the moment they shared. She said she could no longer stay with Rensu, that it would be unfair to him and to herself.

Rensu's reaction was so intense it seemed to reverberate through the very fibers of his being. The reincarnated soul felt the weight of that betrayal as if it were his own burden, something that burned inside him, visceral and inescapable. The love he... or rather, the Rensu of this life... had felt for Akemi did not dissolve immediately; it twisted, withered, and then was reborn as hatred.

— Damn it... They must think I'm dead by now.— He sighed, his voice low and hoarse, as he looked around. The bodies of his comrades lay scattered on the ground, lifeless, and the stench of fresh blood hung heavy in the air.

Rensu had been sent on a mission to Takigakure, the Village Hidden by Waterfall, a territory supposedly allied. Since Akemi's betrayal, he had thrown himself into missions that bordered on suicide. His official justification was to gain recognition, rise from chunin to jonin, perhaps even attract Akemi's attention again and make her reconsider. But deep down, he knew the truth: death was also an acceptable answer.

What he desired most was silence. Not just the silence of a completed mission or an empty battlefield, but inner silence—the end of the pain that hammered at his mind and heart. And in that mission, that's exactly what happened.

Takemaru Rensu, the original, found his death there in Takigakure. Perhaps he had surrendered to fate, perhaps he simply wasn't fast enough to avoid the fatal blow. But at the moment his life extinguished, it also made room for a new story.

The reincarnated soul, now inhabiting that body, looked at the blood-red horizon and made a decision: it wouldn't just be a footnote in this world, a smaller story among greater wars. If there was one thing fate had given him by ripping away his life and throwing him into the body of a shinobi, it was the opportunity to shape a new destiny.

To hell with the canon. To hell with Madara and the Black Zetsu. To hell even with Akemi. He would make that bitch pay.

Rensu knew he had the chance to desert Konoha. He no longer felt any loyalty, the fool he once was had disappeared. Besides, a chunin deserting wouldn't cause much of a stir. Hiruzen and the high command had much bigger concerns, like Hanzo the Salamander's audacious actions. The leader of the Rain Country was crossing all boundaries, taking territories and resources from neighboring countries bit by bit.

After reflecting for some time, Rensu decided to return to Konoha. Having the backing of a village would be safer than trying to act alone. What he needed now was time to organize his thoughts, gather resources, and adapt to this new reality.

He knew he would have to cross several natural barriers: mountains, rivers, and dense forests. But as he leapt from branch to branch, he felt stronger than he had ever imagined. Although he was still a chunin, the body of a shinobi was no longer that of an ordinary man.

By the standards of his previous life, on Earth, even genins would be seen as superhuman. The feeling of running at high speed, with the wind cutting across his face, was intoxicating.

When he arrived at the village, he was greeted by the guards who checked his identification and allowed him entry. As he walked through the streets, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. Konoha looked exactly as he remembered, just like in the memories and even in the scenes from the anime. Nothing seemed to have changed, but he knew that, for him, everything would be different now.

The first step was to head to the mission hall. He needed to report the mission's failure and the unfortunate casualties. After the interrogation session he had been subjected to, his body and mind, exhausted, were begging for a well-deserved rest.

When he finally reached his small apartment in the eastern district, Rensu breathed a sigh of relief. The feeling of having a roof over his head, of no longer being in dangerous jungles or fleeing from danger, brought him a temporary comfort. The apartment was simple, but cozy enough for his current situation. The bed, though small and somewhat uncomfortable, was a relief after days of travel and combat.

He sat at the wooden table and opened the small pantry. He found rice, some dried meat, and vegetables. He prepared a modest but tasty meal, something that, at that moment, seemed like the best dish in the world. He ate slowly, savoring each bite, the temporary peace it provided.

The wound on his rib had been treated at the hospital earlier, allowing Rensu a brief period of rest. For the first time in a long while, he was able to sleep without the constant pressure of missions or fear.

The next day, he was summoned by the Hokage. Hiruzen was waiting in his office, maintaining his usual calm but alert posture.

— Rensu, right? I want you to tell me what happened during the mission. Don't leave out any details.

Rensu took a deep breath, knowing that his response needed to sound as sincere as possible. He had to sell his pain, convince the Hokage that he was truly shaken.

— The mission seemed simple at first. We were sent to investigate a series of attacks on villages near the borders of Takigakure, which appeared to be caused by common bandits. However, when we arrived, we discovered they were well-trained ninjas. They ambushed us quickly, and although we fought, we were ultimately defeated. I was the only one who returned.

Hiruzen listened attentively, without interrupting.

— So, you believe they were deserters from Kirigakure?

— Yes — Rensu replied, with a hint of feigned guilt. — The symbols on their headbands and their techniques don't lie. They were far from just common criminals. My squad didn't deserve to die, and that weighs on me. But there was nothing more I could do.

Hiruzen paused for a moment.

Rensu took a break, as if carefully considering his next words, his tone becoming more serious.

— Hokage-sama... I know the village is in a tough spot. And I know that every resource counts. It's not easy to ask this, but... I would like to take some time off. I can't continue without time to reorganize. The mission was a failure, but I feel responsible for the death of my comrades.

Hiruzen observed him with an impassive expression and used a diplomatic tone.

— Konoha needs every shinobi in the field. The coffers are empty, and times are tough. We can't just allow any shinobi who fails a mission to be absent. I'm sorry for your pain, but I hope you understand my point.

Rensu lowered his head, his expression marked by a mixture of carefully calculated exhaustion and desperation. He knew he needed to put the Hokage in a position where refusing his request would be nearly impossible.

— I understand, Hokage-sama. But, with all due respect, if I don't get the chance to rest, I won't have the strength to continue. The weight of losing my comrades isn't something easy to carry. I can't keep going on missions with a mind and body this exhausted. And... I know Konoha needs every shinobi. But I can't continue like this... I'll end up becoming a burden.

He paused, lowering his voice as if opening a wound he'd rather keep hidden.

— I... I'm not just carrying the weight of the mission on my shoulders. I've lost a lot before that. My... my fiancée... You must know my story, right? I know this isn't an excuse. I've always believed in the ideals of the Will of Fire: in loyalty and camaraderie... I still believe, but everything feels so confusing.

Hiruzen remained silent for a few moments, his gaze full of pity as he watched the young man. He knew exactly what Rensu was talking about. Not only because of his position as Hokage, which kept him informed about practically everything in the village, but also because stories like that had the unfortunate habit of spreading. It was human nature to be interested in scandals and intrigues, especially when they involved betrayal. Even someone like Rensu, a nameless shinobi, couldn't escape the gossip that circulated in the background of Konoha.

Hiruzen cleared his throat, briefly looking away before meeting Rensu's gaze again.

— I understand how difficult this must be for you. Not just because of the mission, but because of everything you've faced before it. The loss of comrades is something no one should carry alone, and I deeply regret that you've had to go through that.

The Hokage sighed, adopting a conciliatory tone.

— I'll grant you two months of rest. Use this time to recover your strength and find the balance you need. Also, as a reward for your faithful service to the village, I am willing to grant you a request, as long as it is within my abilities.

Although he expected Rensu to refuse, aware of the young man's pride and his aversion to being treated with pity, Hiruzen was surprised.

— Hokage-sama, I would like to learn medical ninjutsu.

For a moment, Hiruzen's expression became stiff. As a sensor, he had already assessed Rensu's chakra flow and knew that the young man lacked the necessary control to pursue this path. Moreover, the Hokage's experience as the "Teacher" told him that Rensu did not possess a natural talent for such an art. However, he couldn't simply say this outright.

Hiruzen cleared his throat uncomfortably before speaking, carefully choosing his words.

— Well, Rensu, I understand your interest. However, learning medical ninjutsu requires extremely precise chakra control, something that takes years to perfect. Furthermore, our medical resources are currently overstretched due to the increasing tensions between the villages. It might be more productive to focus on areas where your potential has already been proven.

Rensu, though irritated, didn't let it show. Fighting the urge to make a grimace, he slightly tilted his head.

— Understood, Hokage-sama. In that case, I would like access to readings on fire-based jutsus.

The Hokage smiled, relieved by the change in request.

— That can be arranged. I will have the materials sent to your apartment. I hope you find something useful for your growth in them.

With the meeting concluded, Rensu left the office with firm steps, his mind already occupied with plans for the next two months. It was a short break, but he knew he would need to make every day count. After all, he couldn't afford to rely on any extraordinary talent or "divine shortcuts" in this brutal world.

How far could someone go without exceptional skills, without a special blessing, only with determination and strategy?

That was the question fate would soon put to the test and Rensu was determined to be the answer.