"Go and bring that brat Renya here."
Inside the Hokage's office, Senju Tobirama listened to the report from the academy recruiter and immediately issued an order to the ANBU.
This kid was getting more and more out of hand… He actually went and told Tsunade something like that?
Teaching a kid that sleeping in class was fine? Was he serious?
He didn't even dare imagine what would happen if Tsunade actually listened to him. If she started scoring five points on cultural exams just like Renya… The scene was too horrifying to picture.
If that really happened, he'd definitely peel Renya's skin off!
Having one academic failure in the family was already enough of a headache.
If there was another one, he'd die of anger.
No, he had to properly talk to Tsunade when he got home. He couldn't let her walk down Renya's path at such a young age…
This brat really had too much time on his hands. Looks like it's about time he gave him something useful to do.
Tobirama picked up a document from his desk and sank into thought.
[Ninja Academy Teacher Recruitment Plan]
After a moment of consideration, he dismissed the idea of assigning Renya as a teacher.
That idea was just far too ridiculous.
If he actually sent him to teach at the academy, wouldn't all the kids in his class be doomed?
Tobirama could already picture it — Renya sleeping on the podium, the students sleeping on their desks.
If that happened, Konoha was doomed sooner or later!
Forget it. Better keep this kid at home cooking.
As long as he delivered three meals a day on time, that was enough.
...
After dropping Tsunade off at the academy, Renya began wandering around the streets of Konoha.
He was planning to take advantage of Danzo and the others being absent to swing by the new dessert shop and buy some sweets for Tsunade.
That little girl spent the whole day at school; she deserved some snacks to lift her mood when she got home.
Renya planned to bring her a small cake. As for the rest… those would be for him to enjoy slowly.
Hmm, maybe this time he could send Tsunade two pieces.
The last time he bought three huge bags of sweets, he originally wanted to deliver some to her at night… but somehow, without even realizing it, he ate them all.
This time, giving her two pieces would make up for it.
…Or maybe just one.
Not because he couldn't bear to share, but because kids shouldn't eat too many sweets — it'd be bad for her teeth.
He was only thinking of Tsunade's well-being, after all.
She'd understand his good intentions one day.
Renya looked around and, seeing no familiar faces like Sarutobi Hiruzen's, immediately made his way toward the dessert shop.
"Renya-jōnin, Hokage-sama wants to see you."
Just then, an ANBU wearing an animal mask appeared in front of him.
"Looking for me?" Renya looked confused. What was that old man Tobirama calling him for?
It wasn't even mealtime yet. Don't tell him the old man was hungry again?!
He had just arrived at the dessert shop and hadn't even bought anything yet.
Renya glanced longingly at the sweets on display, then reluctantly followed the ANBU toward the Hokage's office.
He'd just have to come back later to buy them.
Hopefully, Tobirama really did have something important to discuss!
On the way there, Renya kept staring at the ANBU's back. For some reason, this guy looked familiar…
But after all these years, he still didn't know the man's identity.
...
Hokage's office.
"Hey, old man, what do you need me for?"
Renya pushed the door open without knocking.
He was in a foul mood — he had been this close to buying some sweets when the old man called him over.
Hopefully, Tobirama actually had something important for him. Otherwise, he'd be pissed.
Tobirama raised his eyes and gave him a glance, then flipped through the document on his desk, speaking casually.
"I heard you told little Tsuna she should sleep in class?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Renya's arrogant energy vanished in an instant.
"Hahaha, where'd you hear that from?" Renya awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Old man, who's feeding you nonsense?"
He didn't even have to think to know it was that recruiter who ratted him out.
Damn it! That guy had been calling him "Renya-sama" all politely, and then he stabbed him in the back!
Renya's reputation still couldn't compare to the Hokage's.
"Brat, you'd better pray Tsunade doesn't start sleeping in class. Otherwise…" Tobirama's eyes narrowed dangerously.
If Tsunade actually followed Renya's advice and slept through lessons, he'd reward this brat with a one-night tour of the laboratory.
"I get it, old man," Renya said, swallowing nervously. There was no way this guy was planning anything good.
Tsunade wouldn't really sleep in class… right?
"You can leave," Tobirama said after scaring him enough, waving him off.
This brat wasn't helping him with paperwork, and it wasn't lunchtime yet, so keeping him here was just an eyesore.
To this day, Tobirama still hadn't figured out how to trick Renya into becoming Hokage.
If Renya didn't take the position, Tobirama would have to keep working forever — no chance of retiring peacefully.
Among the younger generation in the village, Renya was the one he had the highest hopes for.
Strength, prestige, reputation — Renya had it all. He was practically the perfect candidate to inherit the Hokage's seat.
Not bad for a kid he'd personally raised.
The problem was, this brat seemed completely uninterested in the Hokage position.
Probably because he hadn't studied properly back then and didn't understand the importance of the Will of Fire.
In other words, he hadn't been properly "brainwashed."
Tobirama decided he'd give it a few more years. If Renya still refused to become Hokage, he'd just have to choose from his other students.
He couldn't exactly force the kid to do something he didn't want, could he?
That would only backfire.
When Renya figured it out one day, he could take the position then. Besides, barring any accidents, the brat would live for a very long time…
Hearing that, Renya immediately turned to leave.
"Old man, I'll bring your lunch later."
Right now, he was in a rush to get to the dessert shop. If he didn't hurry, all the good stuff would be sold out.
Watching Renya's retreating back, Tobirama sighed and shook his head.
"That kid never closes the door…"
"I'll get it, Hokage-sama," said the ANBU from earlier, quickly shutting the door before Tobirama even stood up.
"Tell me," Tobirama asked, frowning slightly, "why do you think that kid refuses to become Hokage?"
"…"
The ANBU stayed silent.
After all these years in ANBU, he'd lost count of how many times he'd been asked this same question.
"I do not know, Hokage-sama," he replied as always.
When a superior asks a dangerous question, the safest strategy is to play dumb.
Some things are better left unanswered — say the wrong thing, and you're in trouble no matter what.
So every time Tobirama asked, he gave the same response. That way, the Hokage would drop the topic.
One simple trick that works every time.
Tobirama's lips twitched in irritation.
"Yūsuke, why is it that every single time I ask you, you say you don't know?"
Over the years, whenever he had doubts, he'd always turned to this ANBU. And every single time, the guy gave the same answer.
The ANBU paused, then reminded him calmly,
"Hokage-sama, please use my codename while I'm on duty."
"…"
Tobirama was speechless.
This guy was deliberately dodging the question again.
If Renya had been here, he would've immediately recognized who this ANBU really was.
But unfortunately for Tobirama, at this very moment, Renya was standing in line at the dessert shop.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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