Naruto: Reborn With An AI Chip

"Who are you?" Renjiro asked, drawing his ninja blade with solemn expression, his eyes fixed on the approaching figure.

Even though this was their own village, wartime conditions left no room for carelessness. A stranger showing up unannounced in their vicinity was enough to raise every alarm.

"Don't panic, don't panic!" The young man called out, quickly raising both hands in a pacifying gesture.

Judging by his outfit and the large dog trotting beside him, he was clearly a member of the famed Inuzuka Clan of Konoha.

The massive brown bulldog at his side even raised its front paws in sync, clumsily mimicking its master with comical coordination as it padded forward.

"State your identity and purpose." Renjiro said in a serious voice, as he pointed his blade at the young shinobi.

"Here—look at this."

The shinobi didn't answer directly. Instead, he pulled a scroll from inside his flak jacket and tossed it toward Renjiro.

Immediately, Renjiro activated his full perception suite—Observation Haki Mode, Heart Net, and Combat Vision Assistant all came online in a flash. After a quick scan confirmed no threats, he wrapped a cautious layer of chakra around his hand and caught the scroll.

Rather than being offended, the young shinobi's eyes lit up with admiration, as if he genuinely respected Renjiro's vigilance.

After unsealing the scroll and scanning its contents, Renjiro's tense expression softened. Only then did Meri and Maemon lower their guard.

Renjiro looked at the newcomer, and said in a calm voice: "Inuzuka Tsugami, and your ninken, Domaru—you're late."

Tsugami scratched his head, clearly embarrassed: "About that, Captain… I actually arrived earlier."

Renjiro frowned and asked: "Then why didn't you come out?"

Tsugami smiled sheepishly: "Well... you weren't here yet, so I didn't feel comfortable showing myself. I figured I'd wait until the squad leader arrived. But I didn't expect…"

Renjiro didn't need him to finish. His own lateness had caused the awkward situation.

He coughed lightly to deflect the tension: "Ahem… well, now that you're here, let's get on with it. Tsugami, go ahead and introduce yourself."

Tsugami perked up and gave a friendly smile as the others turned their attention to him: "Hey, everyone! I'm Inuzuka Tsugami. I'm 15 years old. As you can probably tell, I'm from the Inuzuka Clan. My specialties are tracking and medical ninjutsu. My dream is to always stay with Domaru—he's my best friend."

He paused as Domaru bounded over, tail wagging, and began licking his face enthusiastically.

"Hehe—Domaru, stop it already!" Tsugami laughed, trying to fend him off: "Anyway, uh… dislikes? Hmm… I guess I hate war?"

In the shinobi world, ninken weren't ordinary animals—they possessed intelligence comparable to humans. So, when Tsugami voiced his desire to always stay with Domaru, the big bulldog leapt up and tackled him with affectionate licks, perfectly expressing the bond they shared.

Once introductions were complete, Renjiro stepped up to share his own. Then Maemon and Meri followed, repeating what they had said when the team was first formed—basic info, specialties, and just a hint of personal flavor.

---

That evening, to mark the official formation of Team Renjiro, Renjiro had no choice but to painfully dip into his personal savings and treat everyone to a barbecue feast.

The energy from earlier carried over to the dinner table. Conversation flowed easily, and they quickly warmed up to their new teammate.

And Tsugami… turned out to be a very different kind of Inuzuka.

The Inuzuka Clan was known for their wild nature—hot-blooded tempers, bold spirits, and impulsive loyalty. Their bonds with their ninken were sacred, and they often fought like wild animals alongside their partners.

But Tsugami? He was the complete opposite.

Despite being a full-blooded Inuzuka, raised among them, Tsugami was soft-spoken, thoughtful, and cautious. There wasn't a hint of recklessness in him—it was as if the clan's fiery traits had completely skipped over him.

What he did have, however, was something incredibly rare: a supernatural instinct for sensing danger.

It wasn't just good intuition. It was a survival sense—an uncanny, almost precognitive awareness of threats. Since graduating from the Academy at age twelve, this ability had saved his life countless times.

In fact, the reason Tsugami had been transferred to Team Renjiro was because his former team had fallen during a deadly mission. Every other member had perished. He was the sole survivor.

Simply put, Tsugami was an experienced shinobi with an extraordinary survival ability.

---

Looking back now, it was clear just how much thought the Third Hokage had put into assembling this team.

Why had Renjiro been chosen as the leader?

Because Hiruzen believed in his potential—not just in his fighting abilities and his capability to create his own Jutsu, but also in his leadership skills.

Renjiro was young and lacked field experience, yes. But what he did have was vision—and the instincts to lead others, not just himself.

Still, no leader stands alone, and that's where Tsugami came in.

With three years of real combat experience and a naturally cautious temperament, Tsugami was the perfect complement to Renjiro's inexperience. He could catch what Renjiro might miss, and help prevent avoidable mistakes.

But Tsugami wasn't just a backup plan—he was the missing piece that Team Renjiro needed.

Renjiro, with his elite sensory abilities and adaptable skillset, served as the team's backbone—its heart and eyes. He could shift roles depending on the mission and support from any angle.

Maemon, with his analytical mind and control-type jutsu, was the team's tactician—second-in-command when needed.

Meri, the team's spearhead, was a frontline powerhouse. Her mastery of swordsmanship made her the natural choice for close-quarters combat.

What the team lacked was a tracker and a medic—a specialist who could follow trails and keep everyone alive.

Tsugami filled that gap perfectly.

With his arrival, the team was finally complete—a well-rounded unit, balanced and versatile, capable of tackling any mission across any terrain.

---

Early the next morning, the newly formed Team Renjiro gathered in front of the Hokage building.

Maemon looked utterly unenthusiastic. He shot a sour look at Renjiro and muttered: "Why are we even doing missions during vacation?"

The village had, in fact, granted them a week of leave. It was a gesture of goodwill toward shinobi who had just returned from the battlefield.

Konoha had granted them a full week of leave—a gesture of gratitude for returning shinobi from the battlefield. Even in this time of dire manpower shortage, Konoha still offered them a break.

But Renjiro had canceled their break. The team was freshly rebuilt, and coordination was key. With a new member onboard, they needed to mesh as soon as possible.

Missions were the fastest way to build chemistry—and Renjiro wasn't about to let his team get rusty under his command.

Renjiro intended to use the opportunity to not only improve group coordination through missions but also keep everyone in shape.

Shinobi had to remain prepared at all times. If they were caught off guard—dulled by the comfort of vacation and out of practice—it could prove fatal. There was no room for rust in their line of work. He also had another goal: to strengthen his teammates while he had the time.

"Shouldn't there be a balance between rest, work, and training?" Maemon whined, dragging his feet: "At this rate, I'm going to die from exhaustion…"

Smack!

Renjiro couldn't hold back. One look at Maemon's exaggerated expression was all it took. With a swift motion, he smacked him on the head: "You lazy bastard."

"Phew—"

That shut Maemon up instantly. Blessed silence followed, and both Meri and Tsugami exhaled in quiet relief.

"Let's go in." Renjiro said simply.

The others lined up behind him, and together they entered the Hokage Residence and made their way to the mission hall.

Unlike the peacetime fantasy shown in the anime, the Hokage wasn't lounging around handing out errands. In times of war, Hiruzen had far more urgent matters to deal with.

Renjiro stepped up to the mission desk and scanned the available assignments carefully. After sifting through several, he picked one: clear debris from a hazardous river channel.

It wasn't glamorous, but it was perfect.

It required precise coordination and physical effort—ideal for testing group dynamics.

Due to the war, many low-ranking missions had piled up. This one had been too risky for academy trainees but too minor for elite teams to bother with, for Team Renjiro, it was just right.

---

Mission Site: Whitewater Rapids

Meri, Maemon, Tsugami, and even Domaru waded through the rushing waters, hauling out debris with teamwork and effort, soaked and cold but focused.

Meanwhile, Renjiro was sprawled out comfortably on the grassy bank, arms behind his head, basking in the morning sunlight like a lazy cat.

Even Meri's patience began to fray. She glanced over, her cheeks puffed out with annoyance.

"Seriously...?!" Maemon finally snapped, glaring.

Renjiro didn't even open his eyes: "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not slacking off—I'm thinking."

Tsugami looked over and asked curiously: "Thinking about what?"

Renjiro suddenly sat up, his expression became very sharp and serious, as he said: "The future of our team, of course."

Tsugami nodded solemnly: "That does sound serious."

Maemon scoffed and said: "You actually believe this bastard? He's obviously just slacking!"

Renjiro turned to him with fake heartbreak: "Maemon… I thought you of all people would understand me. But no. I'm still alone in this cruel world…"

"Beat it."

Maemon raised his pinky and started picking his nose with a deadpan expression, refusing to dignify the drama with anything more.

Renjiro turned to Meri and said in a wronged voice: "Meri? You believe me, right?"

"Hmff!"

She huffed and turned away, chin lifted in elegant contempt.

"…Fine." Renjiro said, waving his hand dismissively: "If you all think I'm in the way, then I'll go somewhere else to think. I'll leave you to work hard in peace—no distractions."

"Wait—" Maemon started, recognizing the smug glint in Renjiro's eyes.

Whoosh!

But Maemon reacted too late. Renjiro vanished in a flash—Soru leaving only disturbed grass in his wake.

All three remaining teammates stared at the empty spot, then Maemon furiously:

"RENJIRO, YOU DAMN BASTARD!"

---

Elsewhere, Renjiro perched on a thick tree branch, arms crossed as he stared off into the distance.

He hadn't lied—he really was thinking about how to strengthen the team, and himself.

He already had some ideas. Step one: teach them all Soru.

The high-speed movement technique wasn't just useful in combat—it was a lifeline. If his teammates could master it, their chances of survival would rise dramatically, along with their tactical flexibility.

But beyond that, Renjiro didn't have many advanced techniques to teach them. His own arsenal was still limited.

What he did have, however, was one invaluable asset: Arkain.

With it, he could analyze his teammates' performance in detail—identify inefficiencies, refine their techniques, and even uncover hidden potential they hadn't yet realized. In a way, that insight was more powerful than any Jutsu he could teach.

As for himself? The same principle applied. Until Arkain finished processing the newly acquired knowledge, the best use of his time was to continue training the way he always had—through relentless, focused repetition.

Of course, there were other ways to increase his strength. Take hand seals, for example.

Seal speed was a critical factor in combat. The faster one could complete them, the faster a Jutsu could be cast. For a shinobi like Renjiro, who favored swift, decisive strikes, shaving even a fraction of a second off his casting time could mean the difference between life and death.

Even small improvements in seal speed could yield massive combat advantages.

Renjiro took a deep breath and spoke inwardly with calm resolve: "Arkain, establish mission: 'Hand Seals.' Pull all relevant memory records and analyze them. Eliminate unnecessary movements. Your primary objective—optimize seal speed."

[Beep! Mission Established! Accessing Database... Compiling Data! Beginning Simulations…]

"How long will this take?" Renjiro asked calmly: "And how much improvement can I expect?"

[Beep! Estimated Time: 10 minutes. Projected Improvement: 33% Faster Seal Execution.]

Renjiro's eyes lit up: "That's not bad."

It was more than just "not bad"—it was significant.

Renjiro had never been particularly fast with hand seals—averaging roughly one seal per second. But a 33% boost? That meant going from three seals in three seconds to four in the same amount of time. In a real battle, that kind of gain was enormous.

He nodded to himself and continued, his tone becoming more serious: "Arkain, make this a long-term task. Grant it error-correction permissions—track and flag any mistakes in my hand seal execution. Give it full access to all training simulations, and use my personal data as the baseline model. Your job is to figure out how I can make seals even faster."

[Beep! Mission Status Updated... Long-term Monitoring Enabled! Simulation Access Granted... Optimization in Progress…]

Renjiro began setting up three additional task frameworks—each tailored to one of his teammates.

"Arkain." He said inwardly: "Establish new missions. One for Meri, one for Maemon, and one for Tsugami. Objective: monitor and analyze their hand seal execution during team training. Flag inefficiencies. Compare against my optimized model. Generate correction suggestions."

[Beep! Missions Established... Assigning Targets: Meri, Maemon, Tsugami. Activating Observation Protocols... Cross-referencing Optimized Data... Correction Modules Enabled!]

"When we train together." Renjiro continued: "I'll handle the feedback myself. Just keep the data flowing."

[Beep! Real-time Analysis Activated! Error Reports Will Be Compiled and Delivered During Training Sessions.]

---

Author's Note:

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