"Hey, Hikari… you seem a little different today?"
Inside the Senju ancestral estate in Konoha, Yugao and Hikari were washing dishes together.
Tsunade had been leaving early and returning late these days, so the housework had fallen to them.
Fortunately, Yugao had ANBU training—she could handle just about anything. Hikari, on the other hand, never seemed to care much about taste or culinary finesse in the first place. As for Ren, he certainly wasn't picky.
Still, Yugao noticed something.
Even though Hikari's expression remained cool and detached as ever, there was a subtle liveliness about her today.
Ren helped her uncover pieces of her past.
That alone had shifted something inside her.
"Ren helped me understand some things," Hikari replied bluntly. "So I'm in a good mood today."
She paused, then added matter-of-factly:
"Maybe I'll be in an even better mood later. Though… he seems to prefer it when I look cold."
Yugao tilted her head, confused.
"What's good about looking cold? You should smile more. Didn't he help you? That's worth being happy about."
Hikari studied her for a moment before quietly shaking her head.
"I'm not you."
Yugao blinked.
What did that even mean?
Meanwhile, Ren sat in the living room reviewing Karin's homework.
"Ren-nii… can you even understand that?"
Karin looked at him suspiciously.
After all, Ren had skipped the normal shinobi education route entirely. He had gone straight from training to battlefield.
Advanced combat tactics? Sure.
Academic math involving calculating projectile angles? Not so much.
Ren stared at the problem calculating the optimal angle for a kunai strike and felt his head throb.
"In real combat, you just throw," he muttered. "Who sits there doing trigonometry?"
He scratched his chin.
"Honestly, why does the Academy teach so many flashy but impractical things? Instead of analyzing angles, you'd be better off throwing ten thousand shuriken a day."
Karin went pale.
Ten thousand?!
She'd lose her arms before lunchtime!
Ren shook his head gravely.
"No wonder I hear people say modern shinobi are getting weaker. This is the problem."
"…"
"What's going on with the Academy? Bunch of fools."
"…"
"Honestly, a bunch of insects trying to run a school!"
Karin panicked and grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't say that! The Academy principal is the Hokage!"
Ren froze.
Ah.
Right.
He had forgotten that detail.
So that explains it.
"…You didn't hear anything, did you?"
"I didn't hear anything at all!"
He nodded approvingly.
Karin sighed in relief—only to groan a moment later.
"I should've waited for Sister Shizune to check my homework…"
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"You implying I'm not capable?"
Karin nearly combusted.
"N-No! Ren-nii is amazing! Just—specialization! Everyone has their specialization!"
Before Ren could press further, Yugao walked out.
"What's going on?"
"Sister Yugao!"
Karin sprinted over like she'd found salvation.
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Just check her homework."
Yugao laughed softly.
"You trained in Root. There are gaps in formal education. Leave this to me. Karin, go back to your room—I'll come in a bit."
Karin stuck her tongue out at Ren and ran.
Ren folded his arms.
"You spoil her too much."
"And you don't?" Yugao smiled knowingly.
Then her tone softened.
"Instead of teasing her… maybe think about what's happening around you."
Ren raised a brow.
"I always take care of my people."
That much was true.
Shisui was alive.
Kabuto hadn't been strangled—yet.
Hikari had regained her memories.
Ren did take care of his own.
Yugao hesitated before continuing.
"Tsunade-sensei hasn't been herself lately. She keeps avoiding you."
Ren paused.
That was true.
Tsunade had been strange.
Was it something he did?
Impossible.
He didn't drink.
He adhered strictly to the Three Shinobi Taboos.
What could he have done?
"…I'll talk to her."
That evening, Tsunade exited the Hokage Tower under a crimson sunset.
"Lady Tsunade, wait!"
Shizune hurried after her, clutching Tonton.
"You're heading the wrong way…"
Tsunade didn't slow down.
"I'm getting a drink."
"Isn't that a bit much lately?"
Tsunade clicked her tongue.
The old man's words echoed in her mind.
The succession.
The responsibility.
Ren.
The burden wasn't small.
And it wasn't simple.
She entered a private room in a quiet izakaya and ordered sake.
Shizune had barely stepped inside before—
A familiar voice echoed.
"Sensei, I sent Shizune back. Why are you drinking alone?"
Tsunade stiffened.
"Ren…"
She quickly straightened her posture.
"You're not even of age to be here."
"I've been here before. Kakashi treated."
He sat down casually.
"I'll drink juice."
The server brought sake and fruit juice.
Ren poured her a cup.
The soft sound of liquid filled the quiet room.
"Let's celebrate," he said.
"Celebrate what?"
"I heard the Hokage values you highly."
Her hand trembled.
He knew.
"Sensei… he wants you to become the Fifth Hokage, doesn't he?"
Silence.
Ren smiled gently.
"You're the only one who can both tolerate and restrain me."
Tsunade scoffed, but didn't deny it.
Ren continued.
"Danzo was too extreme. The Third is too cautious. Jiraiya… too idealistic."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"And my grandfather?"
Ren didn't hesitate.
"The First Hokage created a new order. But he stopped too early."
She stared at him.
"He had the power to unify everything. Instead, he let fragmentation grow."
Tsunade let out a long breath.
"…You sound like Tobirama."
Ren chuckled.
"As for Jiraiya—placing peace in prophecy is irresponsible. Peace is forged, not foretold."
She couldn't argue.
His words were sharp—but grounded.
By the time the moon rose high, Tsunade was lightly flushed.
Ren finished his juice and smiled.
"You look better like this."
She rolled her eyes.
Then—
He added casually:
"Wood Release can't be carried by me alone."
The phrasing hit wrong.
Carried alone?
Her mind flashed back to Hiruzen's implications.
She stood abruptly—
—and lost her balance.
Her knee struck the table.
Her body tipped forward—
—and landed squarely on Ren.
They froze.
Her chest rose and fell against him.
He instinctively held her waist.
The room fell silent.
"…Sensei, are you okay?"
"You—get up…"
"You're the one on top."
Her face burned.
His hands were still around her waist.
In a flare of emotion, she leaned down—
—and bit his shoulder.
"Ah—! Sensei, let go—!"
She didn't.
She had been suppressing frustration for days.
And he—
The cause of half her turmoil—
Was right here.
After several long seconds, she tasted blood.
She slowly released him.
"…Does it hurt?"
He shook his head.
"Then why are you still holding me?"
"…Oh."
He let go.
She straightened herself, flustered.
He remained smiling.
"Whatever's troubling you… I'll help carry it."
Her heart skipped.
He continued lightly.
"Next time, skip the drinking. Sugar's better."
She scoffed—but remembered that sunset long ago.
They left together.
Outside, the night was quiet.
Later—
Ren slipped into Yugao's room.
She stirred as he lay beside her.
"You're back?"
"Mm."
"How's Lady Tsunade?"
"She's fine."
She snuggled closer.
"You didn't drink, right?"
"Of course not. Three Shinobi Taboos."
She laughed.
Then paused.
"…Why does your shoulder feel strange?"
Ren froze.
"…Medical ninja instincts?"
Her fingers traced faint marks.
"This isn't from training."
Silence.
Ren stared at the ceiling.
Moonlight filtered in quietly.
He had absolutely no idea how to answer that.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL