"Kid, don't take naps so often."
In the Hokage's office, Senju Tobirama spoke to Renya, who had come to deliver lunch.
Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen were helping to review documents. Hearing this, they instinctively looked toward their teacher.
Tobirama-sensei was finally going to discipline Renya, that lazy brat who loved to nap!
That guy did nothing but sleep all day—he didn't look like a powerful shinobi at all.
"Old man, are you serious?" Renya looked baffled. "If I don't nap, what am I supposed to do to pass the time?"
Why was this old man so nosy? Now he was even banning afternoon naps.
If he didn't nap, what else could he do at noon?
He couldn't possibly sit in the office handling documents like Hiruzen and Danzō, right?
"You're still young, but all you know is how to lie around. Keep that up and you'll waste your potential," Senju Tobirama said in a low, serious tone. "If you really have nothing to do, come here and help process some documents."
That "thing" often appeared when Renya was asleep. Tobirama wanted to know if it would still emerge if Renya stopped taking naps.
If staying awake reduced the frequency of that entity's appearance, then forbidding naps was a good way to buy time—until he found a way to eliminate it completely.
"Yeah, Renya," Hiruzen agreed. "You can come and help us with paperwork."
"That's right. It's better than wasting your time napping," Danzō echoed, nodding in support.
He had long found Renya's lazy attitude annoying. When he became Hokage, he'd make sure to assign Renya dangerous missions.
Otherwise, if he kept loafing around in the village all day, his body would start developing problems.
When people have too much free time, they start thinking unnecessary thoughts—only a busy life keeps the mind focused.
"No way," Renya refused without hesitation. "Even if I stop taking naps, there's no chance I'm coming here to review documents."
It wasn't even a question of whether he could read them—he just had no idea how to make decisions or write proposals.
It wasn't like he could just put a checkmark on them; he actually had to come up with opinions and plans.
He was completely clueless about that kind of thing. He'd rather go on a mission than sit and review papers.
"Hmph, fine. Just don't nap so much—find something productive to do," Senju Tobirama said without pressing further. "You're still young; don't waste your time lying around."
He worried that the longer Renya slept, the more frequently that entity would appear.
Until it was completely destroyed, Renya absolutely needed to break his habit of afternoon naps.
"Alright," Renya nodded in agreement.
He had no idea why the old man was suddenly making such a big deal out of this, but fine—he could skip a nap or two. He'd just find something else to do.
Seeing Renya agree, Senju Tobirama nodded in satisfaction.
This kid, raised by his own hands, was far more reliable than that other one that sometimes appeared!
"Let's eat, old man," Renya said as he unpacked the meal.
The aroma drifted through the office, and Danzō and Hiruzen, still reviewing documents, couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
Tobirama-sensei's meals always looked way too good!
Both of them glanced enviously at the spread on the table, losing all focus on their paperwork.
It was lunchtime, and neither of them had eaten yet—they were starving.
"Renya's too cruel, not even bringing us lunch," Hiruzen muttered quietly.
Danzō nodded in agreement. That bastard Renya—how could he leave them out?
Even if he didn't bring any for Hiruzen, he could've at least made some for him!
But no—he only brought food for Tobirama-sensei and didn't care whether the two of them lived or died.
Senju Tobirama noticed the two boys repeatedly swallowing their saliva and said calmly,
"Go eat first. You can finish the paperwork afterward."
"Understood, sensei."
Danzō and Hiruzen set the documents aside and left, both throwing Renya a bitter look before heading out.
They silently vowed that once they became Hokage, they too would make Renya deliver their meals every day.
...
Renya turned his face away, pretending not to notice their resentful stares.
Cooking for that old man Tobirama was already troublesome enough. Those two freeloaders could forget it—they could eat out for all he cared.
Senju Tobirama soon finished his meal and reminded Renya, who was cleaning up the dishes,
"When you get home, don't take a nap. Find something to do."
"Got it, old man," Renya said helplessly.
What kind of world was this, where even taking an afternoon nap was forbidden? Konoha might as well collapse already!
"Next month, the academy students will be graduating," Tobirama suddenly said. "You can serve as a jōnin instructor for one of the new genin teams."
"Tsunade's graduating already?" Renya mused. "Time really flies… feels like it was just yesterday she was a kid."
He'd long been interested in taking Orochimaru and Jiraiya as his students. Being their team leader, along with Tsunade, would be perfect.
"I want to be the teacher for Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade," Renya said. "Old man, make the arrangements."
After living so long, this would be his first time as a teacher—it actually sounded fun.
He'd have to make sure to guide them properly this time, so they didn't end up following the same tragic paths from the original timeline.
Especially that kid Orochimaru—Renya was determined to fix his "kill your teacher" habit.
"Fine," Senju Tobirama agreed without hesitation. Giving this kid something to do was the best way to keep him from lazing around and napping all day.
Besides, Tsunade was getting more rebellious with age. Sometimes, even Tobirama's words as her great-uncle didn't carry much weight anymore.
He adored both Tsunade and Nawaki and never once got angry at them.
"Go to the academy next month to meet your new students," Tobirama said. "You'll be officially assigned as their jōnin instructor."
"No problem. I'm heading out then," Renya said, tidying up before leaving.
Senju Tobirama rubbed his temples. He still had no idea how to deal with Renya's situation, but hopefully skipping naps would at least reduce that entity's appearances.
...
Back home, Renya washed the dishes and then stretched out on his chair under the sunlight.
He was too used to taking it easy every day—it wasn't like he could just change that overnight.
Usually, he'd nap for an entire afternoon, so cutting it down to half an hour was already progress.
"Half an hour today," he murmured. "Take it slow, step by step…"
And with that, Renya drifted into sleep.
...
"That Renya's too damn much—not even bringing us lunch!" Sarutobi Hiruzen complained bitterly.
"Yeah, next time we'll make him cook for us too," Danzō agreed.
The two grumbled as they walked toward the Hokage building.
"You want to eat my cooking?"
"You two think you're worthy?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Renya? What are you doing here?" Hiruzen froze, embarrassed at being caught gossiping.
Danzō frowned, staring at the suddenly-appearing Renya. His instincts screamed that this wasn't the same Renya they knew.
"What are you staring at? Keep it up and I'll gouge your eyes out."
Hiruzen and Danzō: "???"
What the hell? Did Renya eat something weird today?
Renya ignored their confused expressions and strode straight toward the Hokage's office.
BANG!
The office door was kicked open violently.
Senju Tobirama looked up and immediately knew—this wasn't the Renya who had just left.
"Old bastard, I'm back again!"
Senju Tobirama: "…"