With a chorus of enthusiastic farewells from the proprietress and several lingering attendants, Ren and Kurenai Yuhi finally made their exit from the hot spring inn.
It was just past one in the afternoon.
Their original plan had been to linger until evening. Soaking in the hot springs as dusk fell, the sky painted with twilight, held a certain romantic appeal and was reportedly the most comfortable time.
However, the combined force of the overly affectionate proprietress and the bold attendants had created an environment Kurenai Yuhi deemed unsafe for Ren's moral development. She was terrified he'd be led astray.
These grown women were a world apart from the girls in their class. The girls at the academy might find excuses to get close and chat shyly. These women, however, took direct action. They loved ruffling Ren's hair—something she herself hadn't even done yet! And if it were just that, fine. But some had the audacity to try and hug him! It was utterly detestable.
Fueled by a simmering, protective annoyance, Kurenai Yuhi had insisted on leaving after a quick lunch, practically dragging Ren out the door.
As they walked, she was still fuming. "Hmph! Ren, you are absolutely, positively not allowed to go back to that hot spring inn, understand?"
"Uh… alright, alright!" Ren offered a wry chuckle but nodded in agreement. The little sister was in full protective mode, and it was best to appease her. To be honest, he had been a bit overwhelmed.
"So, where to now? Head home?" he asked. The occasional soak was quite pleasant; he felt his muscles thoroughly relaxed. It was just the… enthusiastic customer service that had been problematic. Otherwise, staying until evening would have been ideal.
Kurenai thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know. It doesn't seem like there's anywhere else to go."
Ren couldn't think of another destination either and suggested casually, "Let's just wander around then. We'll head back when we feel like it."
Kurenai had no objections. "Alright."
Their aimless stroll eventually led them near Training Ground Three. The training grounds in Konoha were public, but Ground Three, situated close to the ominous Forest of Death, was rarely frequented. Most shinobi preferred Grounds One or Two.
Whoosh-BOOM!
As they approached, Ren's sharp ears picked up a significant commotion—the distinct sound of powerful chakra manipulation and impact. Curiosity piqued, he glanced toward the source.
Two figures were engaged in intensive ninjutsu practice. One had brilliant, sun-kissed blonde hair. The other sported long, unruly white hair that flowed past his waist.
It was Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya.
'Are they working on the Rasengan?' Ren wondered internally.
Since his initial, somewhat orchestrated meetings with Minato and Uzumaki Kushina—a natural consequence of his "confirmed" Uzumaki lineage—he'd run into the pair a few more times, their relationship growing casually familiar.
During one conversation, Minato had mentioned he was developing a new, chakra-form ninjutsu. It could only be the Rasengan. He hadn't expected to stumble upon their training session here.
Kurenai Yuhi heard the noise too and looked over. "Oh, it's Jonin Minato. Is he practicing a new technique?"
She was familiar with Minato, having met him a few times with Ren. He was a respected Konoha jōnin and, in terms of looks, could certainly give Ren a run for his money—though in her opinion, Ren would be even more handsome when he grew up.
But that other person with the white hair… Kurenai blinked, a nagging sense of recognition tugging at her. "Ren, doesn't that white-haired person seem… familiar? I feel like I've seen him somewhere before." She just couldn't place it.
"No," Ren replied flatly, opting to spare the man some dignity. After all, he was one of the Sannin. "Let's go. Jonin Minato is practicing. That's a private matter; we shouldn't be watching."
He was indeed curious about the Rasengan's development, but it was inappropriate to intrude. A shinobi's personal training was sacrosanct. There would be other opportunities. Besides, Ren knew the Rasengan's training methodology clearer than he knew the fictional Lightning Release: Kirin. If he wanted to, replicating it through research wouldn't be impossible. But timing was everything. His relationship with Minato and Kushina was good; the chance would come.
"Oh." Kurenai understood the principle, but her mind was still stuck on the white-haired figure. Where had she seen him?
Just as she took a step to follow Ren, a flash of memory connected. Her eyes widened, and she couldn't contain a sudden exclamation. "That's it! I remember now! It's that Peeping Tom!"
She had it. Why did he look familiar? Because she'd seen him just that morning! Wasn't he the pervert from the hot spring inn?! His attire was slightly different, but that head of white hair was far too distinctive. And on closer look… his eyes, while not bruised, did seem slightly puffy!
Ren: "..."
How did her brain choose now to be so sharp? Wasn't she usually a bit of a scatterbrain? His internal apology was immediate. Sorry, Pervy Sage. It seems you won't need the protagonist to expose you; your legacy is about to be cemented by Kurenai Yuhi.
Kurenai's not-so-subtle exclamation naturally reached the ears of the two powerful shinobi on the training ground. Both Minato and Jiraiya maintained constant situational awareness, even within Konoha's borders. A young girl's loud accusation of "Peeping Tom!" was impossible to ignore.
Jiraiya turned his head. Upon seeing Ren and Kurenai, he froze. "Uh…"
Isn't that the red-haired brat who punched me this morning? Peeping Tom…? Oh, crap. I've been made!
Minato also looked over, surprise on his gentle features. "Oh? Ren and Kurenai?"
Hearing this, Jiraiya glanced at his disciple, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. "Minato, you know them?"
To be honest, Jiraiya's impression of Ren was… vivid. His carelessness aside, he had been punched by the kid. His eye socket still throbbed faintly, requiring a bit of cosmetic genjutsu to mask the discoloration. More importantly, the kid had used a technique suspiciously similar to Lady Tsunade's Chakra-enhanced Fist!
Minato nodded. "That's Shinku Yuhi-senpai's daughter, and… well, his foster son, I suppose. Kurenai Yuhi and Ren."
He added, "Oh, and Ren is a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, just like Kushina."
Naturally, Minato shared all he knew with his teacher. Ren's status as an Uzumaki survivor had been all but formally confirmed by the Third Hokage's office.
"Shinku… oh, him." Jiraiya initially didn't react much; he had a vague recollection of the genjutsu specialist jōnin.
"Hmm?" But the latter part caught his attention. "You're saying that red-haired kid is Uzumaki?"
He was no stranger to the Uzumaki. Lady Tsunade, his fellow Sannin, carried their blood. His own student's girlfriend, Kushina, was one. And his former/future student, Nagato… all were connected to the scattered clan. He hadn't expected the kid who'd given him a black eye to also carry that lineage.
Wait. If he's Uzumaki, could the Chakra-enhanced Fist actually have been taught by Tsunade? Jiraiya had been traveling outside the village and only returned today. Had Tsunade taken on a student in his absence without telling him?
He voiced the suspicion. "Is he… Lady Tsunade's disciple? When did she take a student?"
Minato found the question odd.
"Ren isn't Lady Tsunade's disciple. She hasn't returned to the village in a long time, sensei. Why do you ask?" From his teacher's tone, he shouldn't have known Ren or Kurenai. Yet he clearly recognized them.
Wait. Minato's sharp mind connected the dots. Kurenai's exclamation just now… 'Peeping Tom'… Could it be that sensei…?
He suppressed a sigh. Having such a legendary yet profoundly troublesome teacher was a unique burden.