(T/N: I know we used to have a Senju Tanaka, but this Uchiha has the same name.)
Land of Fire, somewhere in a forest.
After traveling for some time, the three of them decided to rest here.
Renya leaned against a tree, looking at the mission scroll in his hand.
Shimura Danzō and Koharu Utatane sat not far away.
"Renya-kun, why is this mission location so far away?" Koharu asked with a puzzled expression.
Shimura Danzō turned his head when he heard that.
Indeed, this mission was unusually far—just getting there would take three days.
It didn't fit their usual mission preferences at all:
"High pay, low risk, close to home."
Renya explained, "This mission pays quite a bit more."
He couldn't exactly tell them that he took on this long-distance mission just to avoid Senju Tobirama for a while, could he?
The two nodded instinctively when they heard that.
They accepted Renya's explanation.
The reward for this mission really was much higher than normal.
They were to serve as bodyguards for a wealthy merchant for a period of time.
Naturally, someone rich and concerned about their life would be generous with payment.
Seeing that they didn't question further, Renya let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Including the round trip and guarding the merchant, this mission would take at least two weeks.
By the time he returned, that old man Senju Tobirama should've returned to normal, right?
Suddenly sensing something, Renya stood up abruptly and looked toward a certain spot.
"What's wrong, Renya-kun?"
The other two followed his gaze instinctively.
There stood a middle-aged man not far away. Before they could react, they were caught by the man's scarlet Sharingan and froze on the spot.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The middle-aged man clapped his hands, praising:
"Renya-kun, truly worthy of being a genius of the Uchiha clan—you noticed me so quickly."
"And you are?" Renya gripped the hilt of the blade at his waist.
Even when facing a fellow clansman, he wouldn't let his guard down.
After all, the man had appeared in such a remote place and immediately used genjutsu to control his teammates. That kind of move was hard not to be suspicious of...
The man was stunned, seemingly not expecting Renya not to recognize him.
Frowning, he said with displeasure, "Renya-kun, as a member of the Uchiha clan, you don't even recognize me, the clan head?"
So this brat really doesn't care about the clan at all...
Renya was surprised—he truly didn't know about this.
"Sorry, I wasn't aware you were the clan head."
"In that case, let me introduce myself. I am Uchiha Tanaka, the newly appointed head of the Uchiha clan," the man said.
"Tanaka-sama, what business do you have with me?" Renya asked.
He didn't completely believe the man's claim and stayed vigilant.
Uchiha Tanaka noticed Renya's subtle movements but didn't care—or rather, didn't mind.
"Renya-kun, I came to ask you..." Uchiha Tanaka narrowed his eyes. "Are you still a member of the Uchiha clan?"
Renya froze. "Tanaka-sama, what do you mean by that?"
Uchiha Tanaka sneered.
"Nothing much. It's just that the people in the clan are saying... you're not worthy of the Uchiha name."
Hearing that, Renya immediately understood. So the clan had started to take issue with his actions...
The thought made him laugh.
These guys were ridiculous. They deliberately distanced themselves from him back then.
Now that his power had grown, they wanted to extend an olive branch.
And if he refused, they'd accuse him of being ungrateful.
"Tanaka-sama, and how do you see me?"
Renya asked flatly.
Uchiha Tanaka looked at him but didn't respond right away.
Neither of them spoke for a long while.
"Of course I see you as a member of the Uchiha clan." Uchiha Tanaka suddenly smiled. "What about you, Renya-kun?"
"Haha." Renya laughed too, but quickly withdrew his smile. "What you all think of me—what does that have to do with me?"
Tanaka's smile froze. He frowned and stared at Renya.
"Uchiha Renya, are you really going to betray the clan?"
"Tanaka-sama, are you trying to accuse me?" Renya's eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of scarlet flashing within them as three black tomoe appeared in his pupils.
Seeing the three-tomoe Sharingan in Renya's eyes, a flicker of shock passed across Uchiha Tanaka's face.
"You're calling me a traitor?" Renya sneered. "Back when Senju Hashirama took me in, none of you dared to utter a word. And now you dare to point fingers at me?"
"Uchiha Renya, do you even know what you're saying?" Tanaka's expression turned ugly, clearly enraged by Renya's words.
"You people think that because I was taken in by the Senju, I'm a disgrace to the Uchiha?" Renya smiled. "Wrong. The real disgrace isn't me—it's you arrogant idiots."
"Shut up!" Uchiha Tanaka cut him off.
"Tsk tsk, I've only said a few words and you're already upset?" Renya sneered.
"Uchiha Renya, I'll ask you one more time. Are you unwilling to return to the clan?" Tanaka's face was livid.
"Heh, and you call me the fool."
"What makes you think I'd want to return to the Uchiha?"
"Even if I did—do you dare let me back in?"
"Would the Hokage allow it? Can you convince the Hokage?"
Renya had rarely interacted with the Uchiha clan in the past, so he never thought much of it.
But after this conversation with Uchiha Tanaka, he came to a realization: some Uchiha were the definition of arrogance and stupidity.
Forget whether or not he wanted to return.
Could they even convince Senju Tobirama?
No need to even think about it—Tobirama would never agree to this.
They hadn't planned a thing and yet they came rushing over just to ask him if he still considered himself a Uchiha.
Based on what? Just because he had Uchiha blood?
Absolutely laughable...
No wonder Senju Tobirama always kept his guard up against the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Tanaka was left dumbfounded by Renya's questions, and it took him a while to come back to his senses, glaring at Renya furiously.
"You traitor! You're not worthy of the Uchiha name!"
"Whether or not I'm worthy of the Uchiha name is not for you to decide." Renya laughed coldly.
"Just because I call you clan head a couple times, you think you're some big shot?"
The Uchiha clan had far too many fools who couldn't see the bigger picture—no wonder they were doomed to destruction...
"Fine, fine, fine!" Uchiha Tanaka burst out laughing. "Then today, I'll wipe out a traitor of the Uchiha clan!"
With that, he drew the blade at his waist.
"I've put up with your crap long enough, you bastard!"
Clang—
Renya unsheathed his own blade. His three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly in his eyes.
His blade was laced with deadly poison. If they were to exchange blows, Renya would absolutely win.
Just as the two were about to clash—
A white-haired figure suddenly appeared between them.
"Tanaka-sama, what exactly are you trying to do?"
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