Chapter 20 – Hokage's Inner Circle
"Hmm… this kid's good looks are almost on par with mine," Jiraiya said with an exaggerated air of seriousness, as if he truly meant it.
Minamoto Ren didn't bother replying. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't know what to say to that. He simply stood there, maintaining a polite, professional smile.
After all, four people were seated while he was the only one standing. Right now, he felt like a piece of merchandise being inspected… which wasn't surprising, given the vast difference in status between them.
"Orochimaru, I heard this boy killed a jōnin from the Rain with a sword. Was that kenjutsu taught by you?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked casually, though his eyes were sharp.
Orochimaru shook his head. "The training I give to the Tenth Squad is the same for everyone, and it doesn't include kenjutsu. I only observe their progress from time to time—I don't stay with them constantly… he learned it on his own."
That wasn't the answer Hiruzen was hoping for. His interest in digging into Minamoto Ren's background hadn't waned in the slightest. In his experience, no matter how well a person hid their secrets, time and repeated probing would always reveal cracks. It was a shinobi's instinct to keep pressing until the truth surfaced—one he couldn't suppress.
Ren inwardly wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. This version of Sarutobi Hiruzen was impossible to fool. He was the Hokage in the truest sense now—the emperor of Konoha. A far cry from the more easygoing man he would become by the 55th year of the village's founding.
Time changes people. Age changes them even more.
"All right, enough idle chatter. I have a question to ask… Minamoto Ren." Hiruzen's tone suddenly became serious.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Ren bowed his head, feigning humble nervousness.
"Raise your head. Look at my three students here… which one do you prefer?" Hiruzen gestured at the trio.
That was an easy question—or rather, it only had one real answer. Tsunade, of course. She was only in her twenties now, brimming with youthful energy and beauty, with a figure that could put models to shame. Her lover, Dan Katō must not have met Tsunade yet in this timeline...
I can't just let her spend her life alone.
Ahem. That was something he could only think to himself, never say aloud in front of the Third Hokage.
If Ren was reading Hiruzen's intent correctly, this wasn't a simple question—it was a test. The Hokage was giving him the chance to choose a teacher, effectively drawing him directly into the Hokage's personal faction. Accepting a master here was the equivalent of pledging allegiance.
Ren had weighed his options carefully before. Studying under Jiraiya would actually benefit him the least. His current focus was kenjutsu, and his future growth path leaned toward something like Sakumo Hatake's style—not exactly compatible with Jiraiya's expertise.
Following Orochimaru had its temptations—free access to a vast library of forbidden techniques and ninjutsu—but also great risks. Orochimaru himself was far from stable, and Ren had plenty of secrets he'd rather keep hidden. Putting two mystery-laden shinobi together was just asking for trouble.
Which left Tsunade as the only real choice. Her political background would grant him strong protection, her monstrous strength could complement his kenjutsu, her brother Nawaki would likely befriend him, and the Senju clan's political credibility would act as an invisible shield.
And, of course, there was his personal bias—Ren cared about appearances, and he had a weakness for beautiful women. Tsunade fit his aesthetic perfectly.
"Hokage-sama, I feel a sense of closeness to all three of these esteemed shinobi," Ren said smoothly. "They are like elder brothers and sisters to me. So it is not a matter of whom I like more, but rather… how they see me."
"Hahaha! You little rascal. Fine, let the three of them decide," Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled, reading the unspoken meaning behind Ren's words. In his heart, he became even more determined to pull this so-called civilian prodigy into the Hokage's inner circle.
The Three Sannin exchanged glances. Orochimaru, who disliked taking on disciples, kept silent. Jiraiya enjoyed teaching students, but someone as smooth and calculating as Ren wasn't to his taste. Which left only Tsunade—she owed Ren a personal debt, and her younger brother Nawaki needed him as well. Taking Ren as her student would be a win-win.
"I'll take him," Tsunade declared, speaking with her usual bluntness. "From now on, Minamoto Ren, you're my disciple. If you need me, come straight to the Senju compound. Whether it's learning a jutsu or getting supplies, just ask me. If I don't have it, go bug the old man." She spoke with the same straightforward, almost boisterous tone that reminded people of Hashirama Senju himself.
Hiruzen gave his tacit approval, and Ren quickly nodded. Joining the Hokage's direct line meant things would be very different—what once could only be earned through battlefield achievements or ANBU merit could now be obtained through connections.
This was the golden weight of the establishment, the value of holding public authority.
"Come with me later," Tsunade added. "I'll introduce you to the Senju estate, and we'll have a meal. You can move in if you want—there are plenty of empty rooms gathering dust."
Ren nodded vaguely.
After that, the four—Hiruzen and his three students—discussed many matters concerning the village. Ren could feel how difficult things were for Konoha right now. The Land of Fire's territory was vast, like Germany in the last world war, caught between multiple fronts. The borders were porous, manpower was stretched thin, and the great clans were inclined to preserve their strength rather than spend it recklessly.
Ren also heard the names of many shinobi that had never appeared in the original tale—ninjas who were just as famous in their time, just as gifted. It made sense: if the Hokage's faction were truly so weak, the Uchiha would have rebelled long ago instead of waiting until the old generation had died off.
The meeting lasted over an hour before Hiruzen waved them off. The Sannin had no current missions, but he still had piles of paperwork to handle—there was no way he could chat all day.
"Let's go," Tsunade said, patting Ren twice on the shoulder before carrying Nawaki out.
"Lord Hokage, about Kuren's mission…" Ren suddenly remembered that Kuren was still waiting for him and quickly requested permission.
"Don't worry about it. Go eat with Tsunade. It's just an interrogation—Kuren's genjutsu will work faster than your torture methods." Hiruzen replied casually, eyes still on his documents.
Relieved, Ren formed a hand seal and left.
On the street, the sight of a masked ANBU walking alongside Tsunade and Nawaki drew curious looks from villagers—and also from members of the Uchiha Police Force patrolling the area.
"Tsunade's back in the village?" one Uchiha asked his partner.
"Returned today. Sounds like she lost a battle—brought back quite a few bodies. Hah, the Senju clan is useless as ever…"
"Useless or not, she's Hiruzen's student. She could lose an entire platoon and nothing would happen. But if we lost just one battle? Forget it—completely unfair."
"Quiet—she's looking over here!"
Whispered words meant nothing to a ninja's ears. Tsunade shot them a fierce glare but said nothing and kept walking.
Ren also glanced at the Uchihas, sighing inwardly. Uchiha Kagami had died far too young. As the only Uchiha ever accepted by the village's high command, his survival—regardless of whether he was a loyalist or not—would have meant more to the clan than anything else.
Now, the Uchiha were adrift, caught in a period of confusion and a dangerous power vacuum. Blind action was sure to follow.