Renji sat on a rock, took out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.
With a faint smile, he said, "Our enjoyable etiquette lesson ends here. Now you may start asking your questions."
The corners of Team 7's mouths twitched.
Enjoyable etiquette lesson?
Only Renji had been enjoying himself.
Sasuke forced himself to speak politely. "R-Renji-sensei, may I ask… do you know Uchiha Itachi?"
"I know him. The beast who slaughtered his entire clan? Of course I know him." Renji sucked on his lollipop and said casually.
"His strength is just so-so. Only Tsukuyomi is somewhat interesting."
"Uchiha Itachi? Who's that?" Naruto scratched his head in confusion.
It was the first time he had heard the name, but judging from Sasuke's reaction, it had to be someone important.
"Uchiha…?" Sakura looked at Sasuke strangely. If she remembered correctly, the Uchiha clan had been annihilated, and Sasuke was the sole survivor.
"Uchiha Itachi… where is he?!" Sasuke's emotions surged as the night of the massacre flashed in his mind.
His eyes transformed into a two-tomoe Sharingan under the strain.
He had to find Itachi.
He had to avenge his clan.
"Sasuke…" Naruto and Sakura both looked at him worriedly.
Sakura recalled Renji's earlier words—the beast who slaughtered his entire clan. Could it be that man was still alive?
And Sasuke intended to seek revenge.
"Calm down, stinky brat." Renji pointed the lollipop at Sasuke's chest.
"With your current weak strength, even if you find Itachi, it'll be meaningless. Use your brain and think carefully about what you should be doing right now."
To Renji, Team 7 were mission reward generators.
In simple terms, they were his cash cows.
If the Uchiha brat ran off to die, he would lose a large source of benefits.
Though realistically, even if Sasuke found Itachi now, he'd just get beaten half to death.
"I understand." Sasuke sat back down and forcefully suppressed the killing intent in his heart. "I will obtain power. Power sufficient to achieve my ambition."
After a pause, he asked, "Renji-sensei… who is stronger? You, or Uchiha Itachi?"
Renji stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Who's stronger, huh? We haven't fought. That little beast Itachi's eye power is somewhat troublesome."
Sasuke frowned. "Would you lose?"
"I'll win." Renji smiled faintly, confidence hidden within that smile.
Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu were troublesome.
But Renji would definitely win.
Sasuke suddenly grabbed Renji's clothes, hatred burning in his eyes. "Give me power. Give me power sufficient to achieve my ambition!"
If Renji truly was stronger than Itachi, then following him was the fastest path to revenge.
"I just taught you about politeness, didn't I?" Renji slowly raised his hand.
Sasuke saw the gesture and immediately changed his tone. "Renji-sensei, please help me train and grant me enough power for revenge."
Naruto, who hadn't understood much earlier, suddenly caught on.
"Wahhh—Sasuke, you're so despicable! You actually asked Renji-sensei to train you first! Damn it, I want to get stronger too!"
Naruto bowed slightly. "Renji-sensei, please train me too! I must defeat that bastard Sasuke!"
Sakura also stepped forward. "Renji-sensei, please guide me as well."
Being surpassed by Sasuke was one thing.
Being surpassed by an idiot like Naruto?
Unacceptable.
Renji sucked on his lollipop and deliberately put on a troubled expression. "Determination is a good thing. But what should I do?
As an excellent adult, I also need to work hard and earn money to eat. I don't have time to help stinky brats train."
"After all, money is very important."
Though he looked troubled, he had already decided to train them.
Even if they refused, he would use violence to subdue them and train them anyway.
They needed to grow stronger.
Only then could he harvest more mission rewards.
"Alright…" Sakura lowered her head in disappointment.
Sasuke clenched his fists, saying nothing. He understood the principle—help was kindness, not obligation.
Naruto suddenly remembered something Renji had said before.
[When you encounter a difficult problem, think about what's in your pocket.]
He froze.
Then he quickly took out his frog wallet. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and handed it over.
"Renji-sensei… this is the money I've saved for a long time."
There was something in his pocket.
Renji took the frog wallet, weighed it, and opened it.
Seeing the contents, he smiled faintly. "Let me teach you another lesson. The adult world is very dirty. Giving benefits can solve many problems. Naruto, you're quite clever."
"My little frog…" Naruto looked like he was about to cry. He had saved that money to eat ramen for days after becoming a Genin.
"I'll accept this tuition fee." Renji tucked the wallet away.
He had no interest in stealing from children.
But tuition?
That was different.
Teachers had to eat.
"My tuition." Sasuke pulled out a black wallet and tossed it over without hesitation.
Revenge was the only thing he cared about.
Renji opened it and raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Uchiha brat had serious savings.
It was nearly comparable to the reward of an S-rank mission.
"You don't need to be so polite. Even if you didn't pay, as a teacher, I have the obligation to guide you to grow stronger." Renji pocketed the wallet smoothly.
"But I also have the obligation to teach you that asking for help is never free."
"Renji-sensei… this is mine." Sakura reluctantly handed over her wallet as well.
What kind of teacher charged students?
She had never heard of a Jonin sensei demanding tuition.
After all, Hokage-sama paid them generously.
"Don't worry. I'll guide you to become stronger. After all, you are all my very important tools—cough cough." Renji cleared his throat. "Very important students."
Team 7 were his mission tools.
Cute tools.
Naruto immediately pointed at him. "Hey! I clearly heard that! You were about to say tools!"
Renji sneered. "Men who nitpick too much are disliked by girls, you know. No wonder Flat-chested Girl always looks down on you."
"Renji-sensei!" Sakura's face flushed as she glared at him.
So annoying!
"D-Disliked by Sakura-chan…?" Naruto deflated instantly and collapsed to the ground like a popped balloon, sitting there lifelessly.
...
Author's Note:
Naruto: Awakening the Tenseigan, Becoming Team 7's Mentor — Part 1 is now fully completed, with more than 80+ chapters available on my Patreon!
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