Renji shrugged lazily. "Is that so? I'm not interested.
In short, after you spread the news, when everyone started detesting Naruto, your so-called Will of Fire became his only light in that bleak world.
The Will of Fire started with good intentions—uniting people who once hated each other. But take anything to the extreme, and it backfires. You old foxes already put the cart before the horse."
He looked directly at Hiruzen.
"Is your Will of Fire meant to protect the Village itself? Or the people living inside it?"
He waved dismissively.
"Of course, I'm not interested in your mess anyway. What keeps me here has never been the Village. It's the big tits in the Village that I can't abandon."
He gestured shamelessly in front of his chest.
He had never claimed to be noble.
Enjoy yourself first. Who cares about everyone else?
"You foul-mouthed stinky brat." Hiruzen took a slow puff of his pipe.
"I'm entrusting Team 7 to you. Your personality may be unbearable, but I trust your strength."
He exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"If you dare to harm the Village, I will do everything in my power to stop you."
Renji smiled faintly, his sky-blue eyes turning sharp.
"Want to try?" He tilted his head slightly.
"But I advise you, old bag of bones, to live one day at a time."
The air grew heavy for a moment.
Kakashi felt his heart tremble. "Renji…"
Even after knowing him for years, Kakashi still couldn't tell what Renji truly thought.
Renji suddenly laughed and slapped Hiruzen's shoulder.
"Relax. I'm kidding." He said solemnly, "After all, I respect the elderly and cherish the young."
Silence.
Everyone present was speechless.
Respect the elderly and cherish the young?
Bullshit.
At fifteen, Renji had burned Hiruzen's beard.
At eighteen, he made multiple Academy students cry from bullying.
Was that respecting the elderly and cherishing the young?
When he was in a good mood, he was tolerable.
When he wasn't?
Old, young—it didn't matter.
On missions, he once made a beautiful kunoichi from another village cry hysterically.
His explanation? "She was too arrogant."
"You stinky brat, talk less in the future," Hiruzen said irritably before turning and leaving the rooftop.
Renji watched him go, then turned to Kakashi with a faint smile.
"The annoying one's gone. Now we can do something secret. Just the two of us."
Kakashi sighed. "That way of speaking…"
He hesitated.
"So… should I take it off?"
"Take it off," Renji said immediately.
Kakashi awkwardly removed his mask.
Renji stroked his chin and examined his face carefully.
"Wow." He nodded in satisfaction.
"My curiosity is finally satisfied."
Before agreeing to take over Team 7, he had made a deal with Kakashi.
He wanted to see what was under that damn mask.
Kakashi put the mask back on and bowed slightly.
"I'm entrusting Team 7 to you."
Renji suddenly looked serious.
"You've begged me for months. I had to give you some face. I'm only taking the role of Team 7's sensei entirely because of you."
[No, Master is lying. Master accepted solely because of the system mission reward.]
The system's female voice rang out in his mind.
Renji replied mentally, Shut up. I'm building goodwill. Might be useful later.
Kakashi felt warmth rise in his chest.
"Thank you. I'll remember this."
He truly cared about Uzumaki Naruto.
After all, Naruto was the only legacy left by his most respected sensei.
"Relax," Renji said casually. "Three little brats who haven't even fully matured? That's easy. I can train women thoroughly, let alone them."
He waved lazily.
"Anyway, boring topic over. Little Hinata is looking for me. I'm off."
In the next instant—
He vanished.
"Oh! Kakashi! To think I'd meet you here! You truly are my one and only rival! Let's continue our competition!"
Kakashi's eye twitched.
Not him again.
Hokage Office
"Hyuga Renji… troublesome child."
Hiruzen slowly exhaled smoke while reviewing Renji's intelligence file.
He had searched countless records.
There was no documentation about those jewel-like sky-blue eyes.
The only confirmed fact—
They were an evolved form of the Byakugan.
The Sharingan could evolve into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
That alone had once posed a threat to the Village.
If the Byakugan could also evolve—
And if another Renji appeared in the Hyuga Clan—
What then?
Fortunately, the Hyuga Clan had always been loyal.
Unlike the Uchiha.
Though, Hiruzen admitted privately, constant suppression had pushed many Uchiha toward extremism.
Creak—
The office door opened.
An elderly man wrapped in bandages, leaning on a cane, entered.
Shimura Danzo.
Danzo's single visible eye stared coldly at Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen. Why did you entrust the Nine-Tails' container to Hyuga Renji? Renji's personality is dangerous. He could threaten the Village in the future."
His voice was low and sharp.
"The Nine-Tails' container should be managed by my Root."
In Danzo's view, the Nine-Tails was both a threat and a weapon.
And weapons required control.
Strict control.
Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat and spoke firmly.
"Danzo. I am the Hokage. This decision was made in the Hokage's name. Uzumaki Naruto must grow. And Renji is strong. If Naruto were placed under your control, many would be dissatisfied."
He knew how many connections Naruto had—
Kakashi.
Jiraiya of the Sannin.
And countless ninja who once followed the Fourth Hokage.
"Let's not discuss this again."
Danzo's voice hardened.
"From the beginning, both Renji and the Nine-Tails' container should have been under my authority. Allowing a willful ninja like Renji to act freely will create future danger."
What he truly wanted—
Was the Tenseigan.
For the Village's "safety."
Hiruzen's tone sharpened.
"Leave. And do not scheme against Renji again. That brat… his personality and strength are both extremely dangerous."
Hiruzen knew very well.
Renji was not as simple as he appeared.
He was the kind of ninja who smiled while watching his enemies struggle in despair.
Danzo turned toward the door.
"Hiruzen. You will regret this."
He paused briefly.
One day—
When I become Hokage—
I will prove through my actions that I am the true Hokage who can protect the Village.