"Renya, where have you been these past few days?"
In the Konoha camp, Sarutobi Hiruzen questioned Renya, who had just returned.
A few days ago, Renya said he needed to leave camp for a while. They had assumed he would be back soon, but he ended up being gone for more than ten days.
During that time, they worried he might have run into danger. They even went out searching for him several times but found nothing.
They'd been worried sick, fearing something terrible had happened to Renya...
They were just about ready to report the matter to Tobirama-sensei.
Fortunately, on the eleventh day, Renya finally returned to the camp.
As soon as he arrived, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others surrounded him, their eyes filled with concern.
He smiled and explained, "I was researching something. That's why it took so long."
Renya didn't tell them that he had developed a powder capable of neutralizing brutes—he wanted to surprise them later.
Saying it now would ruin the effect.
"Renya-kun, are you okay?" Koharu Utatane noticed Renya's pale face and the heavy dark circles under his eyes and asked softly.
"I'm fine, just haven't had much rest." Renya waved his hand. "I'm going to my tent to sleep. We'll talk later."
These past days, he'd been constantly refining the powder, trying to get the best possible results.
However, the powder had a serious drawback—it didn't distinguish between friend and foe!
As long as it got on someone, it would interfere with their chakra flow. Even Renya himself wasn't exempt, let alone others.
In those ten days, aside from improving the powder's potency, he was also working on developing an antidote.
Since he didn't know when Kumogakure would launch their attack, Renya had to create the antidote in the shortest time possible.
The schedule was tight, and the task was heavy.
He barely had time to rest. If he wasn't catching "lab rats," he was tweaking the powder or brewing antidotes.
Ten days without sleep!
If it weren't for the brute being such a threat, Renya wouldn't have pushed himself this hard.
If he kept this up long-term, living to fifty would already be considered a full life.
Renya didn't continue chatting with the others. Exhausted, he dragged himself away to get some proper rest.
The group watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"What do you guys think... Renya-kun's really been doing all this time?" Uchiha Kagami couldn't help but ask curiously.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his chin.
"Something's off. Renya is definitely hiding something from us."
"I think so too. But what is he hiding exactly?" Mitokado Homura said, clearly confused.
"Heh, I think I've got a pretty good guess," Shimura Danzō said with narrowed eyes, as if he'd seen through the whole thing.
"What is it?!" Everyone leaned forward eagerly.
"I've known Renya for years. I know him well..." Danzō's lips curled into a smirk. "He's hiding it because—he got himself a girlfriend."
"A girlfriend?!" The group's eyes went wide, their expressions like they'd just seen a ghost.
"Come on, what else would Renya hide from us?" Danzō countered.
Hearing this, they all fell into deep thought.
When they thought about it, it kind of made sense...
If it weren't something personal, Renya—who grew up with them—would have no reason to keep it from them.
"There's actually another possibility. Maybe Renya met a girl he likes and has been spending all this time with her," Homura added, following Danzō's train of thought.
"You know, that actually sounds plausible!" Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed.
"The girl Renya-kun likes probably isn't a Konoha kunoichi, otherwise he wouldn't have left for so many days," Koharu said, her face full of gossip. "What do you guys think?"
"Good point. Where could she be from?"
"Don't tell me... from Kumogakure?!"
"It's not entirely impossible..."
Watching the group analyze things so seriously, Uchiha Kagami's mouth twitched.
They were getting more and more ridiculous.
He felt like they were just spouting nonsense—but had no evidence to refute them.
Based on what he knew of Renya... Renya didn't seem like the type who even liked women.
Wait—could it be that Renya-kun likes men?!
Uchiha Kagami was so shocked by his own wild train of thought that he hurriedly threw the ridiculous idea out of his head.
If Renya-kun ever found out, he definitely wouldn't let him off easy!
"Keep it down, don't let Renya-kun hear you guys," Kagami whispered a reminder.
...
Inside the tent, Renya had already collapsed into deep sleep, completely unaware of the gossip behind his back.
If he found out, he'd be so mad he wouldn't be able to sleep.
He'd worked his butt off for ten days straight, only for people to start rumors that he was off looking for a girlfriend.
Who wouldn't lose it?!
When Renya finally woke up, it was already dark.
He stepped out of the tent and saw Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others gathered around the campfire, whispering about something.
"What are you guys talking about?"
He walked over curiously and sat down next to Shimura Danzō, ready to join in.
As soon as Renya arrived, the once-lively atmosphere fell into dead silence. Everyone glanced at each other but no one said a word.
Renya was instantly confused.
What's going on here?!
He looked around the group. The moment anyone met his gaze, they immediately looked down, like they were hiding something.
"What's with you guys?" Renya asked, puzzled.
"Why are you ignoring me?!"
He began wondering if he'd done something horrible to make everyone act like this.
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure it out...
The group exchanged nervous looks.
Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen broke the awkward silence with a laugh.
"We were just wondering what you've been up to. You've been gone so long."
Renya suddenly understood—they were trying to dig for information.
As if he'd tell them that easily.
He was planning to surprise them later.
If they found out now, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore!
Renya started thinking up a random excuse to brush them off.
He could already imagine their reactions when they saw the surprise.
Just thinking about it made him smile.
To Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, Renya's smile looked way too happy!
It only confirmed their suspicions.
Even Uchiha Kagami started to doubt himself.
Could it be... that Renya-kun really did find someone?!
"Actually..." Renya had just opened his mouth when Sarutobi Hiruzen cut him off.
"Renya, you don't have to explain. We understand!"
"That's right, we totally get it!" The others quickly chimed in.
Renya: "???"
I haven't said anything yet—how do you already know?!
He was just about to say he'd been out sightseeing...
Although he wasn't sure what they were talking about, Renya nodded along anyway.
"If you already know, then I won't explain."
Seeing that Renya didn't deny it, the group looked even more convinced.
"We knew it!"
"Haha, as long as you know we know!" Renya replied with a smile.
At that moment, he still had no idea how bad the misunderstanding had become...