"Danzō, it's been so long since we last met—did you miss me?"
Shimura Danzō was cooking in the kitchen. The moment he heard movement behind him, he knew his intuition yesterday had been correct.
That troublesome guy was here again to bring him trouble.
"Renya, what brings you here?"
With an apron tied around his waist and a spatula in hand, Danzō turned around, feigning surprise.
If this guy came looking for him, it was definitely nothing good.
Ever since getting brutally beaten by Tobirama-sensei, he no longer dared to fool around with his good friend.
After all, Tobirama-sensei really hits hard!
"I came to bask in the sun with you." Renya said with a smile. "Looks like I came at just the right time."
He didn't tell his good friend that he had actually run out because he couldn't stand Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna arguing all day. So he secretly slipped out to find Danzō and enjoy some rare leisure time in the sun.
Izuna had come early in the morning just to argue with Tobirama.
The two had been debating endlessly in the courtyard. Renya's head was about to explode just listening to them.
No matter how much he tried to mediate, it was useless. So he simply slipped away.
"The food will be ready soon. Go sit in the living room."
The kitchen was filled with smoke and grease. Danzō didn't want Renya staying too long, nor did he intend to let him cook—
Even if his cooking skills were better...
Soon, Danzō brought the finished dishes to the table.
"Time to eat."
He hadn't expected Renya to show up and freeload a meal, so lunch wasn't particularly lavish.
Just a simple three dishes and one soup.
Originally it was only two dishes and one soup, but because of someone's arrival, he specially made an extra dish.
"Didn't expect your cooking to be this good."
To be fair, Danzō's cooking was quite decent—better than some restaurant chefs.
But that made sense. Living alone for a long time, he had no choice but to cook for himself. Naturally, his skills improved over time.
"If you like it, eat more."
Shimura Danzō was curious about his good friend's purpose in coming, but seeing that Renya hadn't brought it up himself, he wisely chose not to ask.
Usually, when Renya came looking for him, it meant he was about to stir up some trouble.
At this moment, at Senju Hashirama's residence—
"Where's Renya?"
It was already mealtime, and suddenly they realized the cook was missing!
None of them had any cooking skills whatsoever.
Especially Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara—if they were any good at cooking, they wouldn't have spent their cave-dwelling days eating grilled fish all the time.
As for Uchiha Izuna, it went without saying.
Born in the Warring States period, he had either been fighting or on the way to a battlefield since childhood.
Cooking was something far removed from him. He usually survived on soldier pills just to fill his stomach—he simply didn't know how to cook.
The three of them simultaneously turned their gaze to the last person.
Senju Tobirama: "…"
That brat isn't home, so now I have to be the cook?
Although extremely unwilling—especially having to cook for Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna—under everyone's gaze, he could only reluctantly head to the kitchen.
His cooking was passable, at least far better than the other three.
"Big brother, do you think that guy might poison our food?"
Uchiha Izuna asked worriedly.
Who knows what someone inherently evil like Senju Tobirama might do?
Maybe he'd take this chance to eliminate the two of them in one go.
"Don't worry, Izuna." Senju Hashirama said with a smile. "I'm his brother. He wouldn't poison me along with you."
Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna: "…"
....
Meanwhile, at the Shimura residence—
"Ah, eating your fill and basking in the sun—this is truly comfortable!"
Renya lay on a chair, squinting contentedly.
Ever since Uchiha Izuna was revived, the two had argued nonstop. He hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.
"Here."
Shimura Danzō brought over a glass of freshly squeezed juice and lay down on a chair beside him.
"Alright, tell me—what did you come to me for?"
He was convinced his good friend must have come up with another reckless idea and was here to rope him into it.
Unfortunately, he was overthinking it.
This time was different...
Renya explained the miserable experiences he had gone through these past few days.
After listening, Shimura Danzō showed a look of sympathy.
"You really have had it rough."
Tobirama-sensei and Izuna had never gotten along, and now they were together arguing all day.
It was truly hard on Renya. No wonder he ran over here.
"I really can't imagine what the future's going to be like."
Renya sighed helplessly, then joked half-seriously:
"If it really comes down to it, I'll just move in with you."
As long as he didn't stay at home, he wouldn't have to hear their endless bickering.
He could just have his good friend cook for him while he enjoyed life.
Tsk, that actually didn't sound so bad!
This way, he wouldn't even have to suffer through cooking himself.
Shimura Danzō was stunned and instinctively glanced at his sunbathing friend.
"That's not impossible."
"If you can convince Tobirama-sensei..."
He didn't even need to think—Tobirama-sensei would definitely never agree.
Sneaking out once or twice was fine, but actually moving in? Absolutely not.
"Forget it. That old man definitely wouldn't agree."
Renya was just joking anyway. The two continued lying there, basking in the sun.
Doing nothing at all—this was the true good life.
...
Senju Hashirama's residence—
"What? I thought it'd be amazing, but this is it?"
Uchiha Izuna picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and said with a look of disdain.
"Your cooking is nowhere near Renya-kun's."
Senju Tobirama: "…"
"Alright, alright, let's just make do for now."
Senju Hashirama smiled, trying to smooth things over, not realizing Tobirama's face had grown even darker.
Clearly, even his big brother thought his cooking wasn't very good.
But that brat Renya had never once said his cooking tasted bad!
It must be Uchiha Izuna deliberately stirring trouble—and his brother just didn't understand good food.
Uchiha Madara said nothing and simply ate quietly.
Having something to eat was already good enough—as long as it wasn't poisoned.
Who knew where that brat had run off to? It was already mealtime, and he still hadn't come back to cook.
Looks like he'd need a reminder when he returned.
...
Laboratory—
Orochimaru, who was researching how to cultivate the Rinnegan, had his stomach rumble in protest.
He had no choice but to stop his experiment and pull out a soldier pill from his pocket.
"Renya-sensei hasn't brought me food for several days."
He had already figured it out.
Renya-sensei didn't bring food out of concern for his disciple—it was because of Lord Tobirama.
As long as Lord Tobirama didn't come to the lab, Renya-sensei wouldn't come to deliver food either.
How realistic...
Ever since Uchiha Izuna was revived, Lord Tobirama rarely came to the lab anymore.
The only time he came was to replace Izuna's eyes...
Forget it. Research is more important.
Swallowing the awful-tasting soldier pill, Orochimaru pushed those thoughts aside and continued his research.
Even without Lord Tobirama, he had to keep working hard!