In the courtyard of the luxurious mansion, the three of them lay on lounge chairs basking in the sun.
Enjoying a rare, hard-earned moment of leisure.
"Kid, when are you planning to leave?" Uchiha Madara asked suddenly.
By all rights Senju Tobirama wouldn't let Renya stay outside the village for long — the kid had already been with them for nearly a month.
Counting the days, he should be heading back soon, right?
After all, Renya had only joined the "Moon Eye" plan; he hadn't chosen to defect from the village.
Otherwise that Tobirama fellow would be barking again!
"Not for a while, Madara-sama." Renya sipped his juice and wore an expression of enjoyment.
"Won't Tobirama complain if you don't return?" Senju Hashirama asked curiously.
They both knew that before, Renya could never be away from the village for long — the longest leave he'd ever taken was only half a year.
Normally, being able to leave the village for a month was already pretty good.
"That old man wouldn't dare say anything to me." Renya said proudly.
After dosing his milk and using him for experiments, he had Tobirama eating out of his hand for life!
Hashirama and Madara didn't know the exact details.
They looked at Renya with odd expressions — since when had this kid become so bold?
He's not even putting Tobirama in his sights...
Could it be that awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan made him float-headed?
Hmm, very likely!
"So when do you plan to go back?" Hashirama asked.
"Hmm, maybe I'll play around another month or two." Renya said. "I finally got out once — why go back so soon?"
Hashirama breathed a sigh of relief; as long as Renya still planned to return to the village, that was fine.
He worried Renya and Madara would carry out the "Moon Eye" plan and never intend to come back.
That would be the real disaster!
"In that case, stay with us a while longer." Uchiha Madara said softly.
He and Hashirama had spent decades together and did feel a bit bored.
Having the kid around would at least keep them entertained.
"Alright, Madara-sama." Renya agreed without hesitation.
As long as the Three-Tails hadn't revived, Madara couldn't implement the "Moon Eye" plan.
He was actually quite willing to hang out with the two of them.
He could often see the older generation showing off their deep friendship...
"You two keep sunning yourselves; I'm going to prepare lunch." Renya waved to them and headed for the kitchen.
Life in the Land of Iron was different from Konoha.
Renya didn't have to cook every day; most of the time he ate at restaurants, only occasionally getting the whim to cook for the two of them.
All in all, it was fairly easygoing.
"Hahaha, we get to eat delicious food again." Hashirama's hearty laughter rang out.
Madara's mouth curved slightly at the sight.
They were about to be fed again!
Top-tier restaurant food tasted good, but it still came up short compared to Renya's cooking.
Of course the two preferred Renya's homemade dishes.
...
By contrast, Senju Tobirama's mansion felt stifled.
At the dining table.
Senju Tobirama stared at the food on the table and sighed softly.
The food he made was far inferior to Renya's.
Tobirama looked at the variety of dishes and had no appetite at all.
Once he got used to Renya's cooking, other food simply wouldn't go down.
Even when he cooked himself, it made no difference...
"When will that kid come back?" Senju Tobirama murmured.
He looked every bit like an elderly empty-nester.
And in truth, that was the case.
An old father had done wrong and hurt his child.
He could only watch the child leave, unable to say anything to keep him.
He stood and approached the wall calendar, staring at the date and sighing again.
Today was the thirty-first day since Renya left the village — a month had already passed.
"Please don't make me wait another half year..."
Tobirama recalled the last time Renya left; every day he could only get by on rations.
It seemed that this life would repeat itself.
Well, half a year it is, then!
As long as Renya ultimately returned, that was enough.
But Tobirama didn't blame Renya for it — who could blame the kid when Tobirama himself was the one at fault?
The kid had only gone out to clear his head and hadn't cut ties.
That was already lucky.
Thinking that, Senju Tobirama picked up his chopsticks and began to eat alone.
In the past, Renya had watched him eat.
Without the kid around, even meals lost their taste.
He hoped Renya would come back soon!
...
Hokage's office.
"Danzo, don't you think your course of action is a bit extreme?" Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but say.
Hiruzen and Danzo were at odds over how to handle some documents.
Hiruzen felt Danzo was too radical and too presumptive — a conciliatory policy should be adopted.
Taking a softer approach would avoid unnecessary conflict for the village.
Danzo, meanwhile, thought Hiruzen was too indecisive and wishy-washy.
Those who dared to covet Konoha needed to be struck hard!
Only by crushing them completely could such incidents be prevented.
The specific matter involved several Sunagakure shinobi entering the borders of the Land of Fire and being captured by Konoha patrols.
The two were discussing how to deal with the Sand Village shinobi...
"The Sand people have crossed into our borders more than once. Only by killing them all will they learn their lesson!" Danzo said coldly.
He felt his approach was correct, but Hiruzen thought him extreme.
"Danzo, I think a warning would suffice. There's no need to kill them."
"Doing that will only escalate the contradiction between Konoha and Sunagakure!"
He worried Danzo's actions would sooner or later lead to war between the two countries.
"Wars kill many people."
"If war breaks out, then we will fight!" Danzo raised his voice. "Let the Sand Village know the price of provoking Konoha!"
"Danzo..." Hiruzen started to plead further, but Danzo cut him off.
"Don't speak anymore, Hiruzen. Remember: I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen clenched his fists in displeasure.
Rank and authority can crush people, indeed!
Danzo waved his hand and gave orders to the ANBU.
"Send the order down — kill those Sand shinobi!"
"Yes!" The ANBU accepted the command and left.
"Danzo, doing this will only deepen the conflict!" Hiruzen still argued, unwilling to give up.
"Enough, Hiruzen. You must remember: I am the Hokage!"
Danzo had grown irritated after being interrupted by Hiruzen several times.
"Danzo, you'll regret this!" Hiruzen left with a parting grim warning.
"Bang."