Naruto: Reborn With An AI Chip

After confirming that the reports about Renjiro's talent were indeed accurate—and witnessing firsthand the remarkable potential of his Taijutsu technique—Hiruzen returned to the Hokage's office, accompanied by the Anbu guard and Renjiro himself.

Settling back into the Hokage's chair, a symbol of the village's highest authority, the Third Hokage fixed his gaze on the young shinobi before him. To speak plainly, he was deeply impressed.

Renjiro came from a clean civilian background—free of any controversial lineage or burdensome affiliations. Intelligence gathered from multiple independent sources consistently portrayed him as a shinobi of outstanding character, discipline, and acute perception.

Not only had he inherited his mother's sensory abilities, but he had elevated them even further—displaying sensory prowess far beyond the standard of typical sensor-type shinobi.

More impressively, Renjiro had independently developed a high-speed Taijutsu movement technique, Soru—a feat that demonstrated both creativity and an advanced understanding of physical combat mechanics.

Hiruzen recognized the brilliance behind this technique and immediately understood that it wasn't just physical aptitude Renjiro possessed, but intellectual depth as well. Renjiro's strategic thinking and battlefield awareness were so advanced that Hiruzen could almost mistake him for a member of the Nara Clan.

Furthermore, Renjiro exhibited natural leadership ability. He had successfully commanded a team of over fifty shinobi—including individuals from noble clan backgrounds—and had earned their respect and cooperation despite being only thirteen years old. That alone spoke volumes about his charisma, discipline, and capacity to inspire trust in others.

Most importantly, he was still young. Just thirteen. With this much potential already, the possibilities for his growth were nearly limitless.

In Hiruzen's eyes, Renjiro was no longer just a promising talent—he was a future cornerstone of the village. An elite prospect born of civilian roots—a natural supporter of the Hokage faction. Renjiro was already someone worth nurturing.

Having made his decision, Hiruzen paused to collect his thoughts, then solemnly said: "Genin Renjiro Takane."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Renjiro immediately straightened, sensing the shift in atmosphere.

The Third looked at him seriously for a long moment—then suddenly smiled and said: "Congratulations. As of today, you are a Chunin of the Hidden Leaf Village."

"Chunin… me?" Renjiro blinked. He pointed at himself, dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.

"Did I just get promoted? Just like that?!" Renjiro was stunned.

"Yes." Hiruzen said with a gentle smile: "Renjiro, from this moment on, you are a Chunin of Konohagakure. I hope you will serve the village and the Land of Fire with distinction."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I won't let you down!"

He hadn't even processed the shock yet, but his instincts kicked in. Becoming a Chunin was undeniably a good thing.

With the promotion came the right to undertake higher-ranked missions, greater pay, and a rise in social standing. He had officially stepped into the leadership structure of the shinobi system. Even if it was only the lowest tier of leadership, it was still a significant rise.

Hiruzen was satisfied with Renjiro's quick response. This was what a Konoha shinobi should be—always prepared to shoulder responsibility.

Hiruzen nodded slightly, and a shadow stirred.

From the corner of the room, an Anbu operative appeared and presented Renjiro with a standard Chunin uniform.

"I didn't expect… to become a Chunin just like this." Renjiro thought to himself.

Though the promotion had come swiftly—and earlier than he'd anticipated—he didn't question the decision. Instead, he accepted the uniform respectfully.

Fuuu!

After taking a long draw from his pipe and exhaling a few smoke rings, Hiruzen spoke in a serious tone: "Now then… Renjiro, I have a task I'd like to assign to you. The only question is: do you have the confidence to accept it?"

"Huh? I get a choice?" Renjiro tilted his head slightly: "May I ask what the task is, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen wasted no time and said: "Your team's original captain remained behind in the Land of Waves, correct?"

"Yes." Renjiro confirmed with a nod.

"That means your squad currently has no acting team leader." The Third continued, leaning forward slightly: "Therefore, I would like to appoint you as the squad's Chunin field leader."

"…Nani?!" Renjiro's mind went blank again. First, a sudden promotion—now he was being appointed squad leader?

"You're telling me I'm going to lead a team now?" Renjiro thought, stunned.

Don't underestimate the role of team leader. It might sound like the lowest position in the command chain, but in reality, only elite Chunin or Special Jonin were ever trusted with it.

Shinobi didn't operate like a traditional military—they worked in small units, and the success or failure of missions, even the survival of comrades, often rested on the team leader's shoulders.

In times of peace, only Special Jonin or full-fledged Jonin were permitted to serve as squad leaders. It was only during the chaos of war that Chunin could be temporarily entrusted with such a role—and even then, only the most exceptional among them were considered worthy.

Seeing Renjiro's stunned expression, Hiruzen asked: "Well? Do you have the confidence to accept this assignment?"

"Of course not!" Renjiro gave a strained smile and shook his head: "Hokage-sama, I don't think I'm qualified to be a squad leader…"

The Third Hokage's expression grew slightly solemn. A gifted shinobi like Renjiro—someone he had personally chosen to nurture—could not afford to lack resolve. Yet Hiruzen wasn't angry. After all, Renjiro was still young, and for someone his age to become a team leader was nearly unheard of.

Even Kakashi—who at the same age was already far stronger than Renjiro—had not been granted the authority to lead a squad. Instead, he had been placed under the command of Minato Namikaze, a Jonin with exceptional experience and judgment.

Leadership was never just about strength. While raw power was important, it was only one piece of the puzzle. True squad leaders required more—clear judgment, calm under pressure, the ability to command loyalty and make critical decisions. These were traits born not only from training, but from temperament and character.

The village was filled with shinobi who held the rank of Special Jonin, or even full Jonin, yet only a select few were ever entrusted with leading a team. Because leadership required more than just rank—it demanded the ability to make the right decisions in the darkest, most uncertain moments.

"Renjiro Takane." Hiruzen said in a low, stern voice: "You are now a Chunin of this village. If the village has chosen you for this position, it is because we believe you are qualified. The question now is not whether you're worthy—it is whether you have the courage to shoulder the burden."

"Tell me now—Chunin Renjiro Takane—do you have the confidence to take on this task?"

Hiruzen didn't want Renjiro to become hesitant or timid simply because of his age. No matter how strict the system was, there were always exceptions—and Renjiro was one of them.

It might seem harsh, even a little cruel, but Hiruzen believed that pushing him now would help him grow faster. Because in time, Renjiro would need to shoulder far greater responsibilities.

Renjiro felt the weight behind Hiruzen's gaze. He didn't completely understand why the Hokage had given him such a significant responsibility, but one thing was clear: Backing down now wasn't an option.

He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and said with quiet determination: "I do."

"Good." Hiruzen's expression softened, and a gentle smile appeared on his face as he continued: "Then as of this moment, Team Renjiro is officially established. You, Chunin Renjiro Takane, will serve as its field commander. I'll arrange for someone else to take over your previous position."

"Wait a second…" Renjiro blinked, momentarily confused. Then, in an unsure voice, he asked: "You mean I'm going to lead my original team?"

"That's right." Hiruzen nodded: "You're a new captain. It's best to lead a squad you're already familiar with."

"Oh boy…" Renjiro could only smile bitterly. He could already picture the looks on Meri's and Maemon's faces when they learned he'd gone from squadmate to squad leader—overnight.

"Any questions, Renjiro?" Hiruzen asked slowly.

Renjiro shook his head and said: "None, Hokage-sama."

"Then it's settled." Hiruzen gave a final nod.

And just when Renjiro thought the meeting was over and was about to take his leave—Hiruzen stopped him and said in a serious voice: "One more thing… let's discuss your Taijutsu technique, Soru, in a bit more detail—shall we?"

Renjiro stopped in his tracks and gave a gentle nod.

"The village would like the training method for your Taijutsu technique—Soru. Are you willing to donate it?" Hiruzen didn't waste time with explanations. He went straight to the point.

"My Taijutsu technique?" Renjiro blinked, confused.

"Yes." Hiruzen said in a serious voice: "The technique you created has already reached the standard of a high B-rank jutsu. So—what do you think?"

"I'm willing to donate it to the village." Renjiro answered without hesitation. His voice was calm and firm.

Hiruzen's eyes softened, and a satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his lips: "That's good. But don't worry—Konoha doesn't take from its shinobi without offering something in return."

The fact that Renjiro hadn't asked for anything—hadn't even paused to consider a price—only confirmed what Hiruzen had already sensed: this boy had a strong sense of loyalty and belonging to the village. His willingness to give away something he created, simply to strengthen the shinobi of Konoha, was proof of that.

And it wasn't flattery or a show of obedience. Renjiro meant every word.

He truly wanted to help—especially those shinobi who, like himself, came from civilian backgrounds.

That was the brilliance of Soru: it didn't require a bloodline or exceptional talent. Just a strong body and a solid foundation in Taijutsu. If trained properly, even a low-born shinobi could master it—and close the gap between themselves and the elites.

Hiruzen took a deep pull from his pipe, then asked simply: "Tell me—what do you need?"

No bargaining. No hidden agendas. Just the confidence of a Hokage—and the resources to back it up.

Renjiro looked at the aging shinobi before him, smiling gently behind a cloud of smoke: "As expected of the Third Hokage… the most generous and wealthiest man in the village."

With that thought, Renjiro felt even more certain—he had made the right decision.

…

Half an hour later, Renjiro finally left the Hokage's office.

Unlike when he entered, he now held a brand-new Chunin uniform in his arms—along with four thick scrolls.

As for how he had obtained those scrolls? It was simple—he had donated Soru to the village. In return, as compensation, Hiruzen—on behalf of the Hidden Leaf—granted him access to four valuable scrolls.

Technically speaking, the village didn't need him to hand it over. The principle behind the technique was already understood. With a Taijutsu specialist and some careful observation, they could likely reverse-engineer it.

Worst case? They could've taken it by force. If they truly wanted, a bit of "enhanced interrogation" would've broken a young Chūnin like Renjiro in under an hour.

But that wasn't the kind of village Konoha aspired to be.

And Hiruzen—despite his flaws—would never stoop to something as short-sighted or disgraceful as stealing a technique from a promising shinobi who had created it with his own hands.

Renjiro was gifted. For someone like him, the smart approach was to nurture his loyalty, to invest in his future, and to offer him the kind of support that would ensure he remained not just useful—but committed.

As for any future techniques he might develop? The village could always negotiate fair compensation.

Konoha didn't lack for Jutsu—be it Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or even Taijutsu. The archive of knowledge left behind by the Second Hokage alone was more than enough to offer in exchange for anything Renjiro might create—assuming, of course, he was willing to trade.

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