268-Self-Inflicted

Renjiro's expression remained calm, almost casual, as he looked at his aunt, Miwa. The disbelief on her face still lingered from his earlier revelation about his immunity to genjutsu. Now, he was about to tell her something even more unbelievable.

"You see, my chakra seinou abilities... they didn't come naturally," Renjiro began, his voice steady but carrying a weight that made Miwa sit up straighter.

"I gained them through a ritual called the magatama, an ancient technique of the Uzumaki clan."

Miwa's eyebrows furrowed. "The magatama?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

She had heard whispers of ancient rituals performed by the Uzumaki clan, but most of those stories were lost to history when the clan was decimated during the fall of Uzushiogakure.

Renjiro nodded. "Yes. It's a ritual that uses our life force to manifest special chakra abilities called Chakra Seinou as I referred them as. It's incredibly dangerous, but the power it grants is... well, you've already seen part of it."

Miwa's mind raced, trying to connect the dots. "How did you even learn about this? How did you get access to such a special technique?" Her voice carried a hint of alarm.

Renjiro leaned back slightly, his gaze steady on Miwa's. "It was through Kushina."

Miwa's eyes widened in shock. "Kushina?" she repeated her voice barely above a whisper.

She was aware that she was behind most of Renjiro's Fuinjutsu but she was not aware they also dabbed in other extra activities such as these rituals her nephew was talking about.

"Kushina helped me," Renjiro continued, oblivious to Miwa's internal turmoil. "I asked her to tell me everything about the Uzumaki clan's history and techniques. She was reluctant at first, but eventually, she agreed to teach me."

Miwa remained silent, but the gears in her mind turned rapidly. Why would the Hokage permit such closeness? Could Renjiro be seen as a potential threat, just like Kushina? She didn't dare voice these thoughts aloud, though. Renjiro was family, and despite her reservations, she trusted him. But she knew Konoha wouldn't be so trusting.

Renjiro seemed to sense her unease, so he pushed forward, eager to explain. "One of the abilities I gained from the magatama is called chakra purification," he said. "My body immediately purifies any foreign chakra that enters it. That's why genjutsu doesn't work on me—at least, not so far."

Miwa blinked, still trying to process everything. "Chakra purification... So that's why you're immune to genjutsu." A pause. Then her brow furrowed in concern.

"But what about medical ninjutsu? Doesn't that involve foreign chakra entering your body too?"

Renjiro smiled ruefully, knowing that this question would come up sooner or later. "Yeah," he admitted. "I can't be healed by medical ninjutsu. But I heal faster than most people. So... I figured that was worth the tradeoff."

Miwa's expression shifted, concern etched into every line of her face. "So you can't be healed at all?"

Renjiro shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It's not ideal, but it's not as bad as it sounds."

As if to underscore his point, Renjiro held out his hand, and with a focused breath, he channelled his chakra. Then, from his torso, thick chains suddenly shot out, crackling with power. They shimmered in the dim light of Miwa's home, humming with a dangerous energy that made the air feel thick and heavy.

Miwa gasped, instinctively taking a step back, her eyes wide. "Adamantine chains," she whispered.

She knew of this legendary ability, one that had been passed down through the Uzumaki clan, but to see it manifested here, in her living room, by her nephew—it was overwhelming.

Renjiro gave her a soft smile, though there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. He retracted the chains with a quiet hum, letting the room return to its previous state. "I don't use them often," he said, his voice quieter now.

"But they're there when I need them."

Miwa stared at him, her emotions a whirlwind of pride, concern, and something else—something heavier. She was proud that Renjiro had become so strong, that he had the means to protect himself in a dangerous world. But the reality of his strength also terrified her.

She knew what the world did to powerful people, especially those with unique abilities.

Renjiro noticed the conflicted look on her face and understood. He had sworn to himself long ago that he would keep his true strength hidden from most, especially from those who might seek to exploit it. But this was Miwa—his only remaining family.

Miwa had also lost so much during the many wars that wrung the shinobi world. Miwa's parents, who were Renjiro's grandparents, had died in the first shinobi war, and her sister died during the Uzushiogakure Siege. So Renjiro was also Miwa's only remaining family.

Besides, after hearing her recount the true events of his parent's deaths, Renjiro felt that she had opened up old wounds for herself, reliving the painful memories of their escape from Uzushiogakure and the death of her sister.

He wanted to give her something to keep her mind off the pain, to show her that he was no longer the vulnerable child she had once protected. So, he decided to reveal some of his abilities.

"I know you want to protect me," Renjiro said, his voice soft, but resolute.

"But I'm not a child anymore. I can protect myself now."

Miwa's face softened, though the worry didn't completely leave her eyes. "I know, Renjiro," she said, her voice laced with emotion. "I know you're strong. Stronger than I could have ever imagined. But that strength comes with danger. The more powerful you become, the more you'll attract unwanted attention."

Renjiro's brow furrowed. "You mean... like from other villages?"

Miwa nodded solemnly. "Yes. You already have a bounty on your head. And with abilities like these... people will come after you, Renjiro. They'll want to capture you, use you, or worse."

'Even the village might come for you.' Miwa thought inwardly.

"I'll be careful," Renjiro said finally, meeting her gaze with a determined look.

"I promise."

Miwa smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just... don't get yourself killed out there, okay?"

Renjiro chuckled softly, standing up from his seat. "I'll do my best." He looked around the familiar room, filled with memories of his childhood.

"I should get going. It's been a long day."

Miwa stood up as well, walking him to the door. "Take care of yourself, Renjiro," she said, her voice soft but firm.

Renjiro nodded, giving her one last smile before stepping out into the night. The cool evening air brushed against his face, and for a moment, he just stood there, taking in the quiet stillness of the village around him.

His body was a bit tired from moving around during the mission, a dull ache settling into his muscles, but there was something else stirring within him—something that had been lingering in the back of his mind ever since his encounter with the Chinoike clan.

It was a plan he had been thinking about for some time, but now, after everything, he felt like he was finally ready.

The walk back to his home was short, and when he arrived, the familiar scent of the wood and tatami mats greeted him, giving him a sense of peace. He removed his sandals and stepped inside, the silence of his home a stark contrast to the chaos of his thoughts.

Renjiro sat down in the center of the room, closing his eyes for a brief moment. His heart beat steadily in his chest, his chakra flowing smoothly through his body. He could feel the tension, the anticipation building inside him.

'I think I can finally do it,' he thought.

Slowly, Renjiro opened his eyes and held out his right hand, focusing his chakra on it. A soft green glow enveloped his hand, flickering faintly in the dim light. His breath remained steady, his gaze unwavering as he carefully reached up to his face.

Without a second thought, Renjiro pressed his fingers around his right eye. With a sharp intake of breath, he channelled more chakra into his hand, feeling the surge of energy course through him.

And then, with one swift motion, he gouged out his right eye.

=====

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