Naruto: Reborn With An AI Chip

As the first sliver of dawn stretched across the blood-soaked battlefield, its golden light cast long shadows on a land left in ruin. And with it came the long-awaited end of a brutal war.

The relentless conflict between Konoha and Kirigakure had finally come to a close. Unexpectedly, victory belonged to Konoha—but it hadn't come without cost. It was earned through sacrifice, unwavering determination, and fierce resistance—and, most importantly, by the timely arrival of reinforcements that ultimately sealed their victory.

Even the fierce duel between Orochimaru and the Mist's frontline commander, Fuguki, had ended in Orochimaru's favor.

After his crushing defeat—and faced with the threat of capture or death at the hands of Konoha—Fuguki cast aside his pride and fled the battlefield, his arrogance trampled in the dust behind him.

Fuguki had truly underestimated his opponent's strength. Despite his long-standing reputation and renown within the Mist, he was no match for Orochimaru.

He not only lost to Orochimaru, but also suffered severe injuries in the process. That defeat planted the seed of his eventual demise—cut down later by none other than his own subordinate, Kisame, in a deadly act of betrayal.

Konoha may have won the battle—and won it decisively—but the cost of that victory was devastating.

According to post-battle statistics, one-third of Konoha's forces stationed in the Land of Waves had perished in the conflict. Another third were critically injured—either permanently disabled or too gravely wounded to ever return to active duty as shinobi.

As for the rest, even those who survived unbroken in body bore the scars of battle—every single one of them wounded in some way.

More than half the force had been either killed or seriously injured in a single engagement. Yes, it was a victory—but one stained in blood and sorrow.

Still, this immense sacrifice yielded more than just a single win. With their earlier victory at Kikyo Pass against the Land of Wind, Konoha had now dealt major blows to two great nations.

Orochimaru's arrival in the Land of Waves could only mean one thing—the battle at Kikyo Pass had already ended, and Konoha had emerged victorious.

Yes, the Battle of Kikyo Pass had taken place some time ago, and—just like in the anime—Konoha's forces, led by Orochimaru, had triumphed over Iwagakure's army.

The Battle of Kikyo Pass became one of the most iconic turning points of the Third Great Ninja War.

Konoha's forces, led by the brilliant yet still-young Orochimaru, faced off against Iwagakure's army—possibly under the direct or strategic command of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.

Though outmatched in both age and experience, Orochimaru managed to lead Konoha to a stunning victory—a feat that cemented his reputation as one of the most formidable shinobi of his generation.

Konoha's consecutive victories over Iwagakure and Kirigakure were more than enough to send a clear message—one that deterred the remaining great nations and made them think twice before acting rashly again.

Among all the great nations, the Hidden Mist Village suffered the most.

Defeated in two consecutive battles, Kirigakure emerged as the most unstable of the current Five Great Nations. Its geographic isolation in the Land of Water and its limited resources meant that its overall strength was significantly weaker than Konoha's.

In truth, the only reason Kirigakure dared to wage war against Konoha was because the other villages had also joined the offensive.

Iwagakure and Kirigakure launched direct assaults, while Sunagakure initially aligned with Iwagakure—but withdrew early from the conflict after suffering heavy losses.

In the end, all four great nations had turned their blades toward the Land of Fire—yet even then, they failed to bring Konoha to its knees. That alone speaks volumes about the terrifying strength Konoha possessed during this era.

In short, after a long and bitter struggle, the dawn of peace had at last arrived. At least, that's what everyone believed. Even someone as sharp as Shikaku allowed himself to indulge in that fleeting hope.

But there was one person who knew better—Renjiro. He understood all too well… peace hadn't truly arrived.

He knew the shadowed hand behind the curtain would never allow this peace to last. Not while its plans remained incomplete.

A storm—far more brutal than anything the world had faced so far—was already forming on the horizon.

The Fourth Great Ninja War... was yet to come!

---

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

The Konoha encampment—once devastated by Kirigakure's sneak attack—had been rebuilt.

A ninja's power wasn't limited to destruction. When applied to reconstruction, their chakra techniques yielded near-miraculous results.

Before long, the newly erected camp was alive with activity—clean, orderly, and untouched by the scars of war. For a moment, it almost felt as if the war had never reached this place at all.

Though the dead were many, the arrival of reinforcements had swelled their numbers. The camp now hummed with a vibrant, almost festive energy.

---

"Nine hundred and ninety-seven… nine hundred and ninety-eight… nine hundred and ninety-nine…"

In the small training yard behind his quarters, Renjiro—shirtless and soaked in sweat—swung his ninja blade with machine-like precision. He hadn't eased up in the slightest since the war ended.

Because deep down, he understood: this wasn't peace. It was simply a pause... the breath before chaos returned.

Unfortunately, he couldn't tell anyone—not without evidence. He had no solid proof that Black Zetsu was plotting behind the scenes.

All he could do was prepare.

Maemon stood nearby, watching Renjiro's relentless training with growing confusion.

"The war's over. Why the hell is he still pushing so hard? Isn't this the time to rest?" Maemon wondered.

He finally broke the silence, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer: "The war is over… shouldn't we be resting?"

Renjiro glanced at Maemon and replied calmly: "We're shinobi. Even if the war ends, the missions don't. There will always be danger—and the stronger we are, the safer it becomes to face it. Besides…"

He paused, his gaze drifted toward the horizon, then spoke with a spirited voice: "Without power, how could I ever become a squad leader? A captain? How could I hope to command a battlefield like Lord Orochimaru?"

Renjiro couldn't bring himself to tell Maemon the whole truth. So, he blended it—masking the terrifying reality beneath a mixture of truth and carefully chosen lies. Whatever he said, it was enough. The moment Maemon heard his explanation, he fell silent.

Maemon, too, dreamed of becoming a powerful shinobi like Orochimaru. With renewed passion, he tossed his laziness aside and resumed his training.

Renjiro smiled inwardly, pleased to see Maemon working so diligently. After all, the stronger his comrades became, the greater their chances of surviving what was yet to come.

As for Meri, Renjiro didn't need to worry about her at all.

Ever since the battle ended, she had barely rested. Whether it was seeking medical ninjutsu training in the field hospital or practicing swordsmanship in private, something had lit a fire in her. Renjiro didn't know what—but whatever it was, it drove her forward without pause.

As for the others? Renjiro could only hope they would follow suit.

---

Another week passed.

A hawk arrived from Konoha bearing the Hokage's seal. It carried a formal order from the Third Hokage himself.

As expected, the beginning of the letter followed the usual formula: heartfelt condolences for the fallen, recognition of the injured, joy at the victory, and praise for those who had contributed.

But the true message lay beyond the platitudes. The Third Hokage's official directive was thus:

"The reinforcements shall take full control of the Land of Waves encampment.

All Uchiha, Hyūga, Orochimaru, the heavily wounded, and all Genin graduates are to return to the village."

Renjiro frowned the moment he finished hearing the new orders: "These reeks of political scheming."

He wasn't sure if it was the handiwork of the two advisors, or Danzo's poison-ink fingerprints—but probably both.

It was laughably transparent: use them to win the war, then kick them aside before the victory could translate into political capital. The oldest, dirtiest trick in the book.

"No wonder both Orochimaru and the Uchiha eventually turned against Konoha." Renjiro thought, shaking his head in quiet reflection.

How could they not? You let them bleed for you—then steal their reward and stab them in the back? Even Renjiro felt rage on their behalf.

Especially for Orochimaru. The war had been a stepping stone toward his long-held ambition of becoming Hokage. But just as he finally claimed victory through relentless effort—before he even had time to consolidate the results or build on his rising reputation—it was all swept away by a simple transfer order.

For a man as proud as Orochimaru, this wasn't just a setback. It was a betrayal and humiliation. It would've been strange if he hadn't been enraged.

It's no wonder they eventually rebelled against Konoha. From the very beginning, those in power had never treated them as they truly deserved. So how could they be expected to remain loyal?

That said, Orochimaru's actions in the end were undeniably extreme—and his nature, without question, was twisted and evil.

Compared to Orochimaru, the Uchiha Clan's fate was even more tragic.

They had been pushed into a political corner as far back as the Second Hokage's reign—assigned control over the Konoha Military Police Force. A position that, on the surface, appeared to be an honor, but in truth, served to isolate them from the village's true power structure.

For years, they were denied opportunities to earn merit or gain influence. It wasn't until this war—when Konoha found itself desperate for manpower—that the Uchiha were finally allowed onto the battlefield to prove themselves.

And prove themselves they did. They fought furiously, many to the brink of death. Countless clan members were lost.

But just when they thought they had earned recognition—and a moment to breathe—the blow came. A strike that shattered their hopes before they ever had the chance to savor the reward.

Even the most loyal of hounds will snap their chains when pushed far enough—especially when all they receive in return is pain and betrayal.

But in the end—neither side was blameless.

Konoha's leadership was manipulative and callous.

Orochimaru was brilliant, but detached. And the Uchiha, for all their power, were never political creatures. They played by emotion—not by schemes.

"I think the most terrifying thing in this world isn't their superhuman strength or jutsu." Renjiro sighed: "It's their ability to scheme."

Of all the directives in the Hokage's letter, only one rang true to Renjiro's heart: the return of the Genin graduates.

During the war, Sarutobi had ordered them to fight—because Konoha had been in dire straits and needed every capable hand.

But now, with peace finally within reach, the old Hokage's true nature emerged once more.

The Will of Fire burned steadily in him. He would not let children continue to die in a war that no longer demanded their sacrifice.

---

The very next morning, the departing group assembled at the camp's front gate.

A heavy silence hung over them. Parting was never easy—even after something like war.

In Zeri Squad, the sentiment was strongest. Their instructor, Zeri, was staying behind.

Meri clung to his sleeve, crying without restraint.

"You may be assigned a new squad captain once you return." Zeri said with a smile: "But no matter what happens, you'll always be my Zeri Squad."

"I… I'll never forget your lessons… Sensei…" Meri choked through her tears.

"You'll always be in my heart." Maemon said solemnly.

Renjiro gave a short nod: "Farewell, Sensei."

"…Hey! Don't kill me off just yet!" Zeri retorted with a helpless laugh.

After a bit of lighthearted joking, the heaviness of parting began to lift. Just as Zeri opened his mouth to say something more, Orochimaru—leading at the front—cut him off with an impatient command to move out.

He had no interest in sentiment. Perhaps that's why, as Danzo once said, he could never become Hokage.

And just like that, Zeri had no time left to say what he truly wanted. In the end, all his feelings were condensed into a few simple words: "Be careful on your way back!"

"Take care of yourself, Zeri-sensei!"

The trio called out in unison, their voices ringing with reluctant warmth.

They walked away, one by one, each casting a glance back—eyes filled with complex emotion that lingered long after their footsteps had faded.

---

Once the camp disappeared behind them, Renjiro took a deep breath and composed himself. He fixed his gaze forward, his eyes were gleaming like starlight.

"Konoha… the village of my past—and the place where my future begins." A quiet smile appeared on his face: "I, Takane Renjiro… have returned."

---

[A/N: The reason I wrapped up the Third Great Ninja War this quickly is because, narratively, the war was already nearing its conclusion.

More importantly, the protagonist—Renjiro—didn't have many realistic opportunities to significantly increase his strength during this phase.

With Chūnin-level abilities at best, it would have been difficult to give him a meaningful role in large-scale battles without breaking logic.

Gaining sudden, unexplained power—like in many poorly written stories—would only ruin the pacing and integrity of the plot.

That's why I believe the best approach was to bring the war to a close and return to Konoha, where Renjiro's true journey can begin.

Thanks for understanding—and stay tuned for what's coming next!]

---

Author's Note:

If you'd like to support my work or read up to 10 chapters ahead, feel free to check out:

👉 Patreon.com/NarutoAI

And if not, no worries at all—I'm just glad you're here.

I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoy writing it.

Have a great day! 😊