"Don't say it like that! Honestly, you really agree with what he said, don't you? It struck a chord, right?"
The Third Hokage smiled and shook his head, but then his expression suddenly turned solemn.
"Tsunade, I want you to take him as your disciple. Teach him well. Guide him onto the right path... Let him inherit the Will of Fire... perhaps even become Konoha's future guardian."
"This child—Ren Takashi—has both talent and character. He's extraordinary."
"I hope that in the future, he can become a bridge between the village and the Uchiha."
"Through him, the Uchiha might finally integrate fully into Konoha... removing this lingering threat once and for all."
"Please... help me with this. Will you?"
"You know, this old man rarely asks anything of you..."
The Third Hokage knew Tsunade too well.
Forcefulness or high-handed demands never worked on her. In fact, they often had the opposite effect.
But playing the emotional card? That always had a chance.
He knew, deep down, Tsunade had never truly severed her feelings for the village... nor for him.
Sure enough, after a long silence, Tsunade slowly looked up and asked:
"Is this your own idea?"
"Of course." Hiruzen nodded seriously. "Ren Takashi is a rare seedling. He's not only a genius, but he also possesses the kind of emotional intelligence needed to navigate complex relationships. He can shoulder the weight of this village's future."
"Besides... I'm not getting any younger. Danzo is already eyeing the Hokage seat again, and I've run out of reasons to keep declining him."
"If things go on like this, I'm afraid that once I step down, the balance we've maintained until now will collapse."
"And if that happens, the village may truly be dragged into chaos..."
These words were heavy, serious enough to silence Tsunade for a long time.
"Ren Takashi, huh..."
She remembered that calm boy who, even in front of Jiraiya, remained completely composed. There was something in his eyes—a clarity and confidence beyond his years.
She hadn't paid much attention at the time, but now...
Tsunade suddenly realized she couldn't shake the image of that boy from her mind.
"I'll think about it."
She finally gave a vague response, but the Third Hokage smiled knowingly. With Tsunade's personality, the moment she said "I'll think about it" meant the door was already half open.
Now all that was left was for Ren Takashi to prove himself.
And Hiruzen believed... he absolutely would.
Just as the Third Hokage was thinking this, the door to the office suddenly burst open—
"Old man!!"
A loud, somewhat indignant voice echoed in the room.
Jiraiya strode in with exaggerated steps, his expression full of dissatisfaction. Behind him was a somewhat embarrassed-looking Ren Takashi, following in silence.
"..." Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya, then at Ren Takashi, and inwardly sighed.
"Jiraiya, you really—"
"What? Don't give me that look, old man!" Jiraiya barked before Hiruzen could finish. "You actually want to push that kid to Tsunade? What are you thinking?! You're clearly just trying to throw your problems at her!"
"..." Hiruzen's forehead twitched.
"You're slandering me, Jiraiya. I simply believe in your teammate's teaching ability."
"Hah! You think I don't know you?" Jiraiya sneered. "If you really believed in her that much, you'd have asked her to teach Naruto long ago!"
"This kid—Ren Takashi—he's definitely no ordinary person. I can see that much."
"But that's exactly why I'm warning you! You better not use him as some political pawn. Don't repeat the mistakes you made with the Uchiha in the past."
"..."
This time, Hiruzen didn't argue. He just lowered his eyes, his expression complex.
After a long moment of silence, he suddenly looked at Ren Takashi and said softly:
"Ren... tell me. If given the chance, would you be willing to take Tsunade as your master?"
Ren Takashi was silent for a while.
He had a deep impression of Tsunade. Not because of her legendary status, but because of the sharp, piercing gaze she had used to assess him the last time they met—one that seemed to see through everything.
That kind of woman... would definitely not be easy to deal with.
But then again—
A smile tugged at the corner of Ren Takashi's lips.
If she was truly difficult, it only made the challenge more worthwhile.
"Yes," he answered calmly, his voice firm. "If Lady Tsunade is willing to teach, I'll do everything I can to become her student."
"..."
Tsunade turned her head away, pretending not to care—but the slight upturn at the corner of her lips gave her away.