The nobles and high officials from different countries, after hearing Shamrock's words, quickly understood that asking anything further from him was meaningless. If they wanted that potion—the one Shamrock had used on Neji—then Renji was the one they needed to approach.
So no more questions were directed at Shamrock. One by one, the officials settled back into their seats, expressions controlled but thoughts clearly restless beneath the surface. Quiet orders had already been passed down—subordinates dispatched to gather information, locate Renji, and secure an opportunity to speak with him.
That potion… no matter the cost.
As for the final round of the Chunin Exam, it continued as it should have.
Uta's match came next. Once again, her opponent was from Kumogakure. The moment the fight began, it was clear how it would end.
She won—easily.
Unlike Shamrock, she had no interest in prolonging the fight or enjoying the process. There was no unnecessary movement, no wasted effort. Every action was precise, efficient, and decisive. Within moments, the battle was over.
Her strength was undeniable—already comparable to a Jonin, perhaps even beyond. Even some elite Jonin would find it difficult to face her head-on.
And she wasn't holding back.
Then came one of the most anticipated matches of the round.
Naruto vs. Sasuke.
From the very start, the arena seemed to tighten under the pressure of their clash. Neither of them held anything back. Blow after blow, technique against technique, their fight escalated rapidly, drawing the full attention of everyone watching.
It was fierce—relentless.
In the end, both of them stood battered, breathing heavily, their bodies pushed far beyond their limits. Injuries covered them, and neither had the strength left to continue.
They had defeated each other.
The decision came swiftly—they were both deemed unfit to continue in the exam.
Both were eliminated.
A heavy silence lingered for a moment after their match ended, as if the arena itself needed time to settle.
As for Gaara… he would have been a great opponent for Shamrock.
Shamrock had been looking forward to it.
But for reasons unknown, Gaara forfeited his match.
That decision surprised Shamrock.
The first time they had met, their brief clash had left a strong impression. Gaara had been filled with killing intent—a suffocating, almost tangible aura that made one thing clear: he was not someone who let things go.
Someone who would take revenge.
Their previous fight had been cut short by the sudden interference of an ANBU ninja, leaving things unfinished. And now, this exam should have been the perfect opportunity to settle it.
Shamrock had fully expected Gaara to seize that chance.
But he didn't.
Strange…
He had only just learned from his uncle, Renji, that it was the Kazekage who had forfeited on Gaara's behalf, citing some kind of issue with him.
Shamrock gave a small nod, his gaze lowering slightly as he thought it over.
So it's not fear… then it must be something internal.
His mind drifted back to Gaara's unstable presence.
Maybe something's wrong with his sealing…
If that were the case, then the Kazekage stepping in made sense.
The final battle soon arrived.
Shamrock vs. Uta.
But the moment it was announced, before even stepping forward, Uta calmly forfeited.
She didn't fight.
There was no hesitation—only quiet acceptance.
After all, he was her elder brother.
And just like that, without a single clash, the final match came to an end.
The Chunin Exam concluded.
Shamrock stood as the winner—first place.
Uta followed as second.
The rest were ranked accordingly.
The next day, they left Konoha.
But the day before their departure had been anything but quiet.
Renji had been summoned repeatedly—meeting with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, other Daimyo, and high-ranking officials. All of them wanted the same thing.
The green healing potion.
Behind closed doors, negotiations unfolded carefully. Offers were made, weighed, and refined. Renji handled everything with calm precision.
Deals were made.
This entire outcome had been planned.
Shamrock had executed Shanks' plan perfectly. Shanks had intended for Shamrock to injure one of his opponents during a match and then heal them. After severely injuring Neji, Shamrock gave him the potion—and in full view of everyone, Neji was completely healed.
That moment had changed everything.
Every noble had seen it.
Every official had understood its value.
Such a potion was more than useful—it was a lifeline.
And no one would dare to take it by force.
Not from Uzushiogakure.
Not from the Uzumaki clan.
So they had only one option—
To buy.
And when that moment came, Shanks would set the price.
And no one would refuse.
…
After leaving Konoha, they traveled the same way they had come—using their car.
By the time Renji and both Uzushiogakure teams reached the shore of the Land of Fire and boarded their boat, everything seemed calm.
But as they neared their homeland—
Something felt wrong.
Then they saw it.
Smoke.
Thick, dark smoke rising from Uzushiogakure.
Shock hit instantly.
Without a word, they leaped from the boat, chakra flaring beneath their feet as they sprinted across the water.
Faster.
Closer.
The air grew heavier with each step.
They reached the shore and rushed forward without stopping.
When they arrived—
The sky above Uzushiogakure was dark.
High above—
A white-skinned man with white hair, clad entirely in white, wielding an axe-like weapon formed from chakra—
Was fighting Shanks.
Mid-air.
Each collision sent massive shockwaves across the whole Uzushiogakure, the force reaching even where they stood.
Elsewhere in the sky, more battles raged.
Guy and Antares were fighting at full strength.
Antares, in his Red Dragon form, clashed against another similar-looking figure wielding a chakra-forged sword.
When Shamrock and Uta saw those figures, they froze.
Then looked at each other.
"Are they from the Otsutsuki clan? Have they arrived so early?"
They had heard the stories.
A clan beyond this world.
Overwhelming.
The greatest threat.
Their enemy.
Shanks had clearly informed everyone in the Uzumaki clan about the Otsutsuki clan and the threat they posed to the world. He made it clear that they were the greatest enemy of Uzushigakure and the Uzumaki clan—far more important than any conflict with the nations of this world.
…
Renji didn't hesitate.
"Both of you—go to the Uzumaki clan compound immediately. Do not stop. Ignore the others."
He pointed ahead.
Only then did they fully see them.
White, lizard-like humanoid creatures.
Clawed. Monstrous.
They were attacking civilians.
Tearing them apart.
Some… were eating them.
Blood splattered the streets.
Screams echoed everywhere.
Uta froze for a fraction of a second.
Then her eyes turned red.
Her Sharingan activated instinctively.
Grief.
Rage.
I'll kill them.
Beside her, Shamrock's expression darkened, cold and steady.
Renji stepped forward.
His grip tightened on his sword.
Without hesitation—
"Bankai."
----
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