Ren hurried along and finally found Kaeru Kosuke and the Gamabunta brothers, whom he was looking for, in a rocky area.
"Hm? Ren, why are you here at Mount Myōboku?"
Gamabunta, upon seeing Ren, was momentarily puzzled and spoke with a pipe in his mouth.
"The two Sages asked me to call you back for dinner. I came over to find Kosuke as well."
"Hm?"
Kaeru Kosuke jumped down from Gama Hiro's head, landed in front of Ren, and looked up, asking Ren.
"What's wrong, Ren? Is there something you need me for?"
"Yes."
Ren nodded, then crouched down, looking at him and speaking softly.
"Thank you for making the trip. Please pass a message to Minato. Tell him I'm currently at the Konoha Camp in Cloud Village Battlefield, and he doesn't need to worry. I'll be back by tomorrow at the latest."
"Alright, I'll go now."
Kaeru Kosuke didn't delay. He clapped his hands, and a cloud of white mist exploded on the spot. When the mist dissipated, Kaeru Kosuke had already vanished.
"Let's go, you three. Don't let the two Sages wait too long."
Ren leaped several times onto Gamabunta's head, chuckling.
"Hey, can't you walk yourself, kid? Get down!"
Gamabunta roared, constantly shaking his head, trying to throw Ren off.
"Oh, come on, don't mind the details, alright? Sitting for a bit won't make you lose any flesh."
Ren used Chakra to firmly adhere himself to the spot. No matter how Gamabunta jumped and moved, Ren remained completely still.
"Bastard!"
Seeing that his efforts were in vain, Gamabunta could only grumble as he moved forward. The remaining Gama Ken and Gama Hiro were much calmer, quietly following once their elder brother stopped making a fuss.
"Gamabunta, can't you be more steady? I'm telling you, if you keep this up, I won't call you for the next fight."
Ren sat cross-legged on Gamabunta's back, propping his chin on his hand, speaking idly.
"Hmph, like I need a brat like you to tell me what to do. It's good if you don't call me; it saves me from being tricked by you and that scoundrel Jiraiya."
"Cough, cough."
Ren scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. After all, he and Jiraiya had indeed put Gamabunta through a lot.
Every fight involved either raiding enemy Konoha Camps or battling Tailed Beasts, plus Jiraiya's frequent summons on the battlefield, which was indeed a bit unfair to the toads.
As they spoke, the one person and three toads had already reached their destination.
Because the indoors were too small, Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima directly set up the tables and other items outside in the open space.
"Oh, you're back."
Sage Fukasaku had just walked out of the house when he spotted them, and immediately took his hand out from his cloak and waved at them.
"Dad, what are we eating today!"
Gamabunta sat down at the oversized wooden table outside and shouted to Sage Fukasaku. Ren, meanwhile, stood up, jumped off Gamabunta's head, and upon landing, sat down at another small round table.
Sage Fukasaku, after replying, shifted his gaze to Ren, smiling.
"It's all your favorites, little Ren. Come help me bring them out."
"Okay..."
Ren swallowed, stood up, and walked into the house. Upon seeing Sage Shima busy inside and the various dishes next to her, his face instantly turned green.
"Little Ren, you're just in time. Everything's ready, take it out."
Sage Shima turned around, picked up two platters of larva and walked towards the door. Ren instinctively moved aside to let her pass.
"Alright, Sage Shima."
Ren, with a bitter expression, picked up two bowls of insect ramen and walked out. Not long after, Ren placed the last dish on the table in front of him, then sat down amidst the enthusiastic greetings of the two Sages.
"Quick, try it, little Ren. I specially prepared this insect ramen for you."
Sage Shima extended her hand, pushing a bowl of something resembling earthworms towards Ren, urging him with an enthusiastic expression.
"Uh..."
Looking at the still wiggling "ramen" in front of him, Ren suddenly felt a wave of disgust. He was certain that if he ate it, he would definitely have nightmares that night.
Previously, when Ren came to Mount Myōboku to train in Sage Mode, he always managed to avoid meal times. Although it was protein, Ren still found it somewhat unpalatable.
But what if he didn't eat it...?
Ren looked at the two Sages beside him, who were watching him expectantly, and suddenly felt a dilemma.
What to do, what to do!
Ren's gaze wandered aimlessly across the dining table. When he saw a plate of roasted silkworm pupae, his eyes immediately lit up.
"Two Sages, I don't like ramen. I like to eat this."
Before Fukasaku and Shima could react, Ren put the ramen aside, then picked up two skewers of roasted silkworm pupae and smiled at them.
"Oh, little Ren likes roasted silkworm pupae? Then try some quickly. My wife's roasted silkworm pupae are also very delicious."
Sage Fukasaku stroked his beard, smiling at Ren. Shima watched him with an expectant look.
"Mmm..."
Looking at the roasted silkworm pupae in front of him, Ren instinctively swallowed. After a moment of hesitation, he steeled himself and took a bite.
Crunch!
"Huh?"
Ren opened his eyes, looking at the silkworm pupae in his hand with some surprise. A glimmer of light appeared in his eyes.
It seems... it's not bad at all.
Ren extended his left hand, took another skewer of silkworm pupae, and, under the satisfied gazes of Fukasaku and Shima, began to devour them.
"Burp~"
Half an hour later, Ren put down the last skewer and leaned back directly. The comfort provided by the huge leaves spread beneath him and the cool breeze blowing in the air made Ren feel a sense of satisfaction.
"It seems little Ren really likes roasted silkworm pupae."
Sage Shima, eating the insect ramen Ren had pushed aside earlier, noticed the empty skewers in front of Ren and said very happily.
"That's right, it's great, Sage Shima!"
Ren sat up and gave Sage Shima a thumbs-up. Just then, a voice came from behind him.
"Ren, you really are here."
Ren turned his head and saw Kaeru Kosuke, wearing goggles, appear before him. He immediately sobered up and quickly asked.
"Kosuke, was the message delivered?"
Kaeru Kosuke jumped onto Ren's shoulder and said, tilting his head.
"It was delivered. He told me to tell you not to come back, but to wait for him at the Konoha Camp over there. He's been transferred by the Village to the battlefield where you are."
"Huh??"
Ren was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses. Immediately, a solemn expression appeared on his face, and he stood up to look at Fukasaku and Shima.
"Two Sages, I must leave. There are some matters I need to attend to over there."
"Alright, be careful."
Fukasaku merely nodded, while Shima looked at Ren with some reluctance.
"Protect yourself, little Ren. Next time you come, I'll make you roasted silkworm pupae again."
"Alright!"
Ren waved goodbye cheerfully.
After the recent experience, although he still felt disgusted by eating insect ramen, eating silkworm pupae was no longer an issue for him.
In fact... he might even be getting addicted?