Ren froze for a moment.
He had imagined this conversation many times. He had even considered several ways to persuade Tsunade once the six-month deadline arrived.
What he hadn't expected was for her to bring it up herself.
The teasing smile disappeared from Ren's face. He straightened his posture and met Tsunade's amber eyes without hesitation.
"Yes. I was completely serious."
His answer came so quickly that Tsunade's gaze flickered.
She had expected him to joke, flatter her, or turn the question into another ridiculous negotiation. Instead, the conviction in his voice left no room for doubt.
A faint evening breeze drifted through the courtyard.
Tsunade slowly removed her arm from his shoulders. Her gaze passed over Rin and Kana, who had paused their conversation and were now watching from a short distance away.
Then she looked beyond the Senju compound, toward the rows of rooftops stretching across Konoha beneath the setting sun.
"To be honest, my strength may not be comparable to Jiraiya or Orochimaru anymore."
Her voice was calm, almost indifferent, but Ren sensed something heavier hidden beneath those words.
"Depending on how you judge combat strength, I might even be inferior to that brat Minato."
Ren said nothing.
Tsunade continued, her expression unreadable.
"Many people in the village call me Princess Tsunade. It sounds impressive, but most of that reputation comes from my grandfather and the Senju name."
"I have no interest in politics, no faction of my own, and no intention of fighting for authority. I'm little more than an idle woman who spends her time drinking, gambling, and wandering wherever she pleases."
She glanced at Ren from the corner of her eye.
"If you become my disciple, I cannot promise that your career will suddenly soar. I don't have the resources to place you in an important position, nor do I have the patience to carefully arrange every step of your future."
"With your talent, you have better options."
Hiruzen clearly valued Ren. Minato had also begun teaching him increasingly valuable techniques. If Ren wanted political influence, resources, and a clear path into Konoha's upper ranks, either of them would be a safer choice.
Even Orochimaru would make more sense from a purely practical perspective.
That man was cold and dangerous, but no one could deny his knowledge. His mastery of ninjutsu was vast, and his obsession with research had allowed him to explore areas most shinobi could never touch.
Tsunade, meanwhile, had withdrawn from nearly everything.
She had no ambition, no patience for village politics, and no interest in building a powerful faction around herself.
Choosing her seemed almost wasteful.
"It doesn't matter."
Ren's voice cut through the quiet courtyard.
Tsunade turned toward him.
A relaxed smile appeared on his face, but his eyes remained sincere.
"Who can say what will happen in the future?"
"Perhaps one day, I'll become the Former Hokage. When that happens, I can respectfully invite you to become the Retired Hokage and rule the village from behind the curtain."
Ren spread his hands as if presenting the most reasonable plan in the world.
"You handle the important decisions, while I stand in front and accept all the criticism. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
"Pfft—cough! Cough!"
Tsunade nearly choked on her own saliva.
She struck her chest twice and stared at Ren in disbelief.
"Wh-what did you just say?"
"The Retired Hokage."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"The former Hokage's teacher, who controls the village from behind the scenes."
Tsunade's expression turned increasingly strange.
"Then what are you?"
"The Former Hokage."
"You haven't even become Hokage yet, and you're already planning your retirement?!"
"I believe in preparing for the future."
"Preparing for—"
Tsunade stopped halfway through the sentence and pressed two fingers against her forehead.
"And where did you learn phrases like 'Retired Hokage' and 'ruling from behind the curtain'?"
"I invented them."
Ren answered without the slightest shame.
The noble families of the shinobi world had systems in which retired lords continued influencing their successors from behind the scenes. There simply wasn't a commonly used title like Retired Hokage.
Tsunade had grown up as Konoha's princess and understood immediately what Ren meant.
That only made the idea more absurd.
She had been worried that becoming her disciple might restrict his future, yet this brat was already imagining a situation where he retired from the Hokage's position and pushed all his responsibilities onto her.
Tsunade rubbed her forehead again, caught between amusement and exasperation.
Eventually, she released a helpless sigh.
When she looked at Ren again, something in her gaze had changed.
The hesitation was gone.
"All right. Enough of your nonsense."
She lightly knocked her knuckles against the top of his head.
"Come to my residence later tonight."
Ren blinked.
Tsunade turned away slightly, as though what she was about to say wasn't important.
"I'm clearly going to lose our bet, so there's no reason to wait until the six-month deadline. We might as well settle it early."
"Besides, I've already accepted Shizune as my disciple. Adding one more troublesome brat won't make much difference."
From Tsunade's perspective, she was merely bringing forward the inevitable.
Ren had fulfilled every condition she had placed before him. He had demonstrated exceptional medical talent, survived dangerous missions, earned the village's recognition, and even helped turn Raw Cola into a business that brought her hundreds of thousands of ryo in monthly dividends.
She was going to lose the bet sooner or later.
There was no point pretending otherwise.
But to Ren, those casual words carried far greater significance.
Tsunade had agreed to accept him as her disciple.
For a moment, Ren wondered whether she intended to hold some mysterious initiation ceremony beneath the stars. Perhaps she would give him three taps on the head and expect him to understand a hidden message like one of those eccentric sages from ancient stories.
Naturally, none of those ridiculous thoughts appeared on his face.
A bright smile spread across it instead.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
"Don't look so pleased."
Tsunade folded her arms beneath her chest and snorted.
"I haven't officially accepted you yet. If you come over and fail whatever test I decide to give you, I may still throw you out."
"Then I'll climb back through the window."
"I'll break your legs."
"You're the greatest medical ninja alive. You can heal them afterward."
"You really do need someone to discipline you."
Despite her words, Tsunade couldn't completely hide the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
The heavy atmosphere from moments earlier disappeared.
Tsunade didn't discuss the apprenticeship any further. She walked toward Kana to speak about the siblings' future arrangements.
Although Konoha would never use Kana as a living source of medicine the way Kusagakure had, her unusual healing ability could not simply be ignored.
Allowing another person to recover by biting her was an extraordinary ability, even among the Uzumaki clan. Konoha's medical division would inevitably want to examine it and determine whether it could be replicated through medical ninjutsu.
Some level of research would be unavoidable.
The difference was that Kana would be treated as a person rather than a disposable resource.
Any examination would require her agreement, and Tsunade intended to personally oversee the process. She wouldn't allow anyone to harm Kana under the excuse of studying her bloodline.
Kana also needed work.
The Senju compound could provide food and shelter temporarily, but Tsunade didn't want her to feel like a dependent who survived only through charity. A stable position would help her become part of Konoha and regain control over her life.
Naoto's situation also required consideration.
However, he lacked Kana's rare healing ability and was still recovering from everything that had happened in Kusagakure. His arrangements were less urgent and could be discussed once he had properly settled in.
Tsunade and Kana needed privacy for the conversation.
Recognizing this, Ren and Rin said goodbye to everyone and left the Senju compound.
The last rays of sunlight spilled across Konoha's streets, painting the rooftops orange and gold. Lanterns were beginning to light outside shops, and the smell of grilled meat drifted from a nearby restaurant.
For several minutes, Rin walked quietly beside Ren.
She repeatedly glanced at him, clearly trying to suppress her curiosity.
Eventually, she leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"Ren, what were you and Lady Tsunade talking about?"
Ren looked at her.
"Why do you ask?"
"Your expressions suddenly became very serious. Even Lady Tsunade stopped teasing you."
"Ah, it wasn't anything bad."
Ren spoke as casually as if he were discussing the weather.
"Lady Tsunade wants to accept me as her disciple. She was asking whether I was still interested."
Rin stopped walking.
"What?"
Ren took two more steps before noticing she was no longer beside him. He turned and found her staring at him with wide eyes.
"Lady Tsunade is taking you as her disciple?"
"Most likely."
"That's incredible!"
Rin hurried after him, her face bright with genuine happiness.
"She is the greatest medical ninja in the world. If she teaches you personally, your medical ninjutsu will improve faster than ever!"
Ren nodded.
"That's the idea."
The excitement in Rin's eyes lasted only a few seconds before uncertainty crept into her expression.
She lowered her gaze and gently pressed her fingers together.
"But if you become Lady Tsunade's disciple, you'll probably become even busier."
Ren noticed the change in her mood.
"Don't worry. I'll ask Lady Tsunade to accept you as well."
Rin's head snapped up.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Would she really agree?"
Rin's eyes lit up, but almost immediately, she hesitated again.
"Lady Tsunade's standards must be extremely high. You're talented in ordinary ninjutsu and medical ninjutsu, and you've already accomplished so much. Of course she would be willing to teach you."
"But I'm different."
Her voice grew quieter.
"My talent is limited. If Lady Tsunade refuses…"
"It doesn't matter."
Ren stopped in the middle of the street.
Rin nearly walked into him before hurriedly stopping as well.
He turned and looked directly into her eyes.
"If she refuses, I'll teach you privately."
"Ren…"
"And your talent isn't limited."
His tone carried none of its usual teasing.
"You've always been excellent at chakra control, and your progress in medical ninjutsu is faster than most chunin. Stop belittling yourself."
"I've simply been a little luckier than you."
In a sense, Ren was telling the truth.
Without the system, the original Ren's natural talent might have been inferior to Rin's.
Even in the original course of history, Rin had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique before turning twelve. She had also been capable of performing a complicated eye transplant in the middle of a battlefield.
That was not something an ordinary medical ninja could accomplish.
Her aptitude had never been poor.
She simply lacked the confidence to recognize it.
Rin stared at him for a few seconds before a soft smile gradually appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Ren."
"There's no need to thank me yet. Once training begins, I won't go easy on you."
"I'm not afraid."
"We'll see."
Ren resumed walking, then suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, how is your practice with the Wild Water Wave progressing?"
"I can use it consistently now, but the amount of water I create is still far below yours."
"That's normal. My chakra reserves are larger."
Ren considered it briefly before continuing.
"If you have time over the next few days, come train with me. I'll teach you the Water Formation Wall and Water Dragon Bullet."
"Really?"
This time, the joy on Rin's face was impossible to hide.
"Of course."
"Then I'm free tomorrow!"
"You answered too quickly."
"I just happen to have nothing planned!"
Rin turned her face away, though the faint redness spreading across her cheeks betrayed her.
Tsunade was an idol she had admired from a distance for years. Her strength, reputation, and achievements made her seem almost unreachable.
Ren was different.
He was her childhood friend, her teammate, and someone who had trained beside her since their Academy days.
Ever since returning to Konoha for the Chunin Exams, they had barely spent any time alone. Either Ren was training, or he had been sent outside the village on a mission.
If an opportunity finally appeared, Rin had no intention of letting it slip away.
The two continued chatting as they walked home.
They discussed Water Release, medical ninjutsu, and the places Kana might enjoy visiting once she became familiar with Konoha. Their laughter followed them through the evening streets until they finally separated outside their respective homes.
When Ren stepped inside, his mother, Aoi, had already prepared dinner.
The familiar aroma filling the house reminded him how hungry an entire day of physical labor had made him.
He ate quickly, intending to visit Tsunade as soon as he finished.
Unfortunately, before he could leave, someone knocked on the front door.
"Ren, are you home?"
The voice was soft and familiar.
Ren paused, then walked over and opened the door.
"Kurenai?"
Kurenai Yuhi stood beneath the light outside the entrance.
She had clearly put some thought into her appearance. Her dark hair was neatly arranged, and her fair face carried a faint blush. Her distinctive ruby-red eyes met Ren's for an instant before shifting nervously to the side.
"Good evening, Ren."
Her hands were hidden behind her back.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kurenai seemed to gather her courage. She brought forward a beautifully wrapped box and held it out with both hands.
"Congratulations on becoming a special jonin!"
"This is for you."
Ren blinked, genuinely surprised.
"You came all this way just to give me a present?"
"I-it wasn't that far."
Kurenai's blush deepened.
"Besides, your promotion is important. I couldn't ignore it."
Ren accepted the box carefully.
"Thank you, Kurenai. May I open it?"
"Of course!"
With her permission, Ren untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside, resting on dark red velvet, was a pair of finely crafted black wrist guards.
They appeared to be made from the hide of a resilient ninja beast. The material was flexible, yet tough enough to resist ordinary blades. Every seam had been stitched with remarkable precision, and the inner lining was clearly designed to prevent chafing during prolonged combat.
It was the kind of equipment that looked expensive at first glance.
Ren ran his fingers across one of the guards before looking back at her.
"They're excellent."
A trace of relief appeared in Kurenai's eyes.
"You like them?"
"Very much. You must have spent quite a lot."
"That doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
Ren smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Kurenai."
Her nervous expression softened.
Ren glanced into the house before stepping aside.
"Would you like to come in? You can sit for a while and have some water."
Kurenai instinctively looked past him.
For a brief moment, temptation appeared in her ruby eyes.
Then she remembered how late it was and quickly shook her head.
"N-no, it's better not to!"
Her answer came with enough urgency to make Ren raise an eyebrow.
Kurenai immediately realized how strange she sounded.
"I mean, it's already late. I shouldn't disturb your family."
"Another day, perhaps."
She took half a step backward, then added in a quieter voice:
"When we both have time, we could train together."
"Of course."
Kurenai smiled, but before leaving, she seemed to remember something.
"My father has mentioned you several times over the past two days."
"Shinku has?"
"Yes."
Kurenai's expression became slightly complicated.
"He said that if an opportunity arises, he wants to spar with you again."
Ren's eyes narrowed with interest.
Shinku Yuhi was famous for genjutsu, but his swordsmanship was equally dangerous. Their last exchange had been brief, yet Ren had already recognized the man as a genuine master.
Kurenai looked at the black wrist guards in Ren's hands.
"My father wants to see how far your swordsmanship has progressed…"
She paused before delivering the real reason for Shinku's interest.
"More specifically, he wants to know how much of the White Fang's skill you have truly inherited."
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