"I wonder how things are going in the Land of Hot Water…"
On Konoha's streets, Ren strolled casually with Yūgao, a quiet thought drifting through his mind.
To be honest, it was impossible not to be curious. After all, the pit he'd dug for Danzo was anything but shallow.
Even if things hadn't exploded yet, the Hokage was the type who valued old ties deeply.
But Ren had intended to dig a pit.
The deeper it was, the harder it would be to climb out.
Of course, there might be some unexpected gains along the way—but that depended on how things developed.
"What are you thinking about?" Yūgao asked, noticing how quiet he'd been.
"You look worried. Are you feeling unwell? Should we head back?"
"I'm fine," Ren said, snapping back to attention and shaking his head—then instantly regretted answering so fast.
"Oh? Then why are you still on leave?" Yūgao blinked, curious.
Ren sighed.
"I'm mostly better, but if I can rest, I should. Otherwise our teacher wouldn't have written me a leave slip."
Yūgao pressed her lips together.
Since when did Tsunade's leave slips actually count…?
Ren had somehow produced a massive sum of money and handed it to Tsunade. She was overjoyed—which meant Yūgao and Shizune suffered.
Dragging Tsunade back from taverns and casinos took time. And they kept hearing—
"Don't stop me! I'm rich now!"
Under those circumstances, Tsunade barely cared about paperwork. If Ren wanted leave, it was one sentence away.
Yūgao was helpless.
Ren, meanwhile, felt great.
These lazy days were bliss.
He'd basically recovered already, but had no intention of returning to work yet.
After grinding nonstop, couldn't he rest a little?
He hadn't even said "let the music play and the dance continue." That alone was restraint.
Besides, the Hokage wasn't even in the village. Why rush back?
If you can slack, you slack.
That was the creed of a seasoned veteran.
"Enough thinking," Ren said, smiling as he tugged Yūgao toward the crowded streets.
"Resting is normal. You're on leave today too, aren't you? Relax."
Yūgao sighed, but followed.
Konoha was lively as ever. Vendors shouted, crowds flowed, and Ren—who hadn't visited other villages much—felt Konoha really was a good place.
Suddenly—
"Damn it! Where did that brat run off to?!"
"Check over there—don't let that little demon escape!"
"Why would the village let that kid become a ninja?!"
"Enough talk—find him!"
A group of furious villagers rushed past them, curses flying.
"Huh?" Yūgao looked puzzled. "What's going on?"
Ren's gaze locked onto a nearby wall. His mouth twitched.
"Probably… someone pulling a prank."
The wall looked subtly wrong—camouflage. Easy to miss for civilians.
Ren waited until the crowd passed, then walked over and sighed.
"Come out, kid. They're gone."
Yūgao studied the spot more closely and realized it too.
"…I got found out," a familiar childish voice muttered.
The wall peeled away like shed skin, revealing a blond boy.
"Naruto?" Yūgao frowned. "Why aren't you in school today?"
"Obvious," Ren shrugged. "He skipped class."
He grinned.
"And those people were chasing you, right? What did you do this time?"
"Um… big brother, big sister…" Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed.
He'd been in the academy for a while now and made some friends—but the people he thought about most were Ren and Yūgao.
Aside from the Hokage, they'd treated him the best.
Ramen, gifts, kindness—he remembered all of it.
Sure, they'd tricked him once—like telling him he wasn't a ninja—but that didn't matter to him.
Meeting them like this made him happy… and awkward.
"I just… played a prank. I didn't expect—"
"A prank?" Yūgao didn't believe it. "Pranks don't get chased by that many people."
"More like vandalism," Ren added helpfully.
Naruto wilted.
"I heard there's a kid on leave lately who keeps pulling pranks—dumping paint and the like. That you?"
Naruto looked down.
"…Yeah."
Ren didn't press him further. He ruffled Naruto's hair instead.
"Forget it. Since we ran into you, walk with us."
"Huh?"
Naruto stared, stunned. He'd expected a lecture.
"Ren, aren't you being too lenient?" Yūgao asked quietly. "If this keeps up—"
"What, you want me to beat him up?" Ren tilted his head.
Naruto stiffened—but didn't run.
"At least not from you two," his instincts said.
"And besides," Ren continued, "he's probably just trying to get attention. Some kind of messed-up validation."
"…Huh?"
Yūgao blinked.
Naruto's eyes lit up, as if someone finally understood him.
"But that's stupid, isn't it?" Yūgao said after thinking.
"It annoys people and makes them hate you more."
Naruto shrank, unable to argue.
"It is stupid," Ren agreed, smiling gently at Naruto.
"Pranks get attention, sure—but they'll never earn you approval. People only get angry, especially with bigger pranks."
"Approval comes from doing things that matter. Things with value."
Naruto listened, conflicted.
Ren continued, "You think getting noticed means being acknowledged, right?"
Naruto nodded.
"Then let me ask you—if someone dropped cockroaches in your ramen, how would you feel? Or hid your noodles so they overcooked? Or bought the last bowl right in front of you at Ichiraku?"
"Stop!" Naruto cried, fists clenched. "That's too cruel!"
Ren chuckled.
"Exactly. You'd hate it. So how do you think others feel?"
Naruto froze.
"…Yeah."
Then he hesitated.
"But I've seen people prank their families and get praised."
"Because they're family," Yūgao said softly.
Ren understood immediately.
Family pranks get laughter. Lonely pranks get hate.
Naruto had no family.
He probably saw that warmth and thought, If I do it too, I'll get the same reaction.
"…You idiot," Ren muttered, not unkindly.
He bought three candied hawthorns, handing one to Naruto.
"Eat. And stop doing dumb things."
Then he spoke seriously.
"People already don't like you. Pranks only make it worse. You'll escalate, chasing approval—and that's a vicious cycle."
"Make friends. Your classmates are more likely to accept you than angry adults."
Naruto chewed slowly, thinking.
"And remember what I told you before—mushrooms are good for old folks. Bring some to the Hokage next time. He already acknowledges you. Treasure people like that."
"…You still remember I owe you ramen money?" Yūgao protested.
Ren shuddered, recalling Naruto's rainbow-colored mushrooms.
"Minor detail."
Then, more gently:
"Be yourself. You'll realize the world isn't as hostile as you think."
Naruto looked up at them—and at memories of Ichiraku and the Hokage—and nodded.
"…Yeah."
Yūgao smiled at Ren.
"Didn't know you were so good with kids. Who taught you?"
"I grew up an orphan," Ren said lightly. "I know what he's missing."
They walked on, bickering playfully.
Naruto followed, warmth filling his chest.
I'll listen to them, he decided, biting into the sweet-sour hawthorn.
Elsewhere, in the Land of Grass, another round of negotiations ended.
Hiruzen rubbed his temples, exhausted.
Ōnoki was tougher than expected—and oddly less impatient.
Then Ōnoki approached him directly.
"Care for a private talk?"
They walked into the forest.
After some probing words, Ōnoki tossed Hiruzen a scroll.
Inside were clues pointing toward Sunagakure, Ebizō, and—indirectly—Danzo.
Hiruzen burned the scroll, sighing.
"…Danzo."
Meanwhile, Ōnoki smiled faintly.
"Shimura Danzo… you're more interesting than I thought."
Back in Konoha, Ren reviewed scrolls Tsunade had given him—records of the Senju, notes from Hashirama and Tobirama.
He searched for clues about an ancient sealed Uchiha, an "ultimate weapon" who'd survived a century underground.
Older than Madara… but how much older?
A knock interrupted him.
Shizune. Dinner would be late. Tsunade was drunk again.
Ren returned to his reading—then felt a scroll stir in his pouch.
Kabuto.
I think I've seen her.
Ren replied cautiously.
985?
.211
Confirmed.
Kabuto had found her—but she didn't recognize him.
Ren warned him to stay low, gather information, and wait.
This was dangerous territory.
Orochimaru will be the key, Ren thought.
Another task. Another push.
Danzo's about to get even more famous.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL