"Phew!"
Ren put down his teacup, slowly exhaled a warm breath, a faint expression of comfort appearing on his face, and couldn't help but exclaim.
"This is truly wonderful."
Afternoon tea should be spent this leisurely and contentedly.
Seeing Ren's mature and calm demeanor, Minato and Fugaku couldn't help but twitch their mouths; he was still a child, yet he had such a mature and experienced tone.
"Honestly."
Kushina, who had just walked out of the room, happened to hear Ren's words, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she said displeasedly.
"He's still a brat, yet he talks like the Third Hokage Old Man."
"Pfft!"
Mikoto, who was accompanying her, immediately covered her mouth and chuckled, then, seemingly realizing it was inappropriate, quickly turned and walked towards the kitchen.
"I'll go get some more desserts."
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Ren swallowed the dumpling in his mouth, looked up at her, and protested.
"How many times have I told you? I am a pillar of Konoha, a high disciple of the Sannin, a friend of Tailed Beasts, and a Kekkei Genkai wielder, not some brat."
After a long string of declarations, the only response he received was an eye roll.
"A brat is a brat. Move aside quickly; don't interfere with me eating my snacks."
"…"
Watching Kushina take away the untouched dessert from his table, Ren twitched his mouth, looked up at Minato on the other side, and gestured with his eyes.
Minato could only offer an apologetic smile; he already doted on Kushina, and after she became pregnant, he doted on her even more.
As for brothers or anything, sorry, how could they be as important as his beloved wife?
"Sigh!"
Ren sighed softly, mumbling.
"A henpecked husband…"
"Brother Ren, what did you say?"
Itachi, who was nearby, leaned closer and asked curiously.
"Nothing, I have bronchitis."
Ren raised his hand and rubbed Itachi's small face, saying distractedly.
"Bronchitis? Did you see a doctor?"
But Itachi took him seriously, grabbing his sleeve and asking with some concern.
"It's nothing, a minor issue."
Ren waved his hand, then turned his gaze to Itachi, saying with a teasing expression.
"Hey, Itachi, tell your brother, are there any girls chasing you at school?"
At these words, everyone immediately became interested, turning their gazes towards Itachi.
"Eh?"
Itachi was momentarily stunned. Noticing that Hokage-sama and his father were both looking at him, he, who was usually calm, also became somewhat flustered. After a moment of hesitation, he said somewhat uncertainly.
"It seems… there are."
He wasn't really sure about this, but it did seem like many girls often sat or stood around him and kept looking at him.
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
Ren leaned closer, a mischievous smile on his face.
This time, Itachi decisively shook his head. He wasn't interested in such things; he still had to focus on getting stronger and taking care of Sasuke.
"Itachi, you can't be like this."
Ren hooked Itachi's shoulder, looking at him with a serious expression.
"Training and getting stronger are important, but you shouldn't overdo it. Appropriate social interaction is very necessary. Try to make a few good friends."
"Social interaction, huh…"
Itachi blinked his eyes, mumbling to himself.
For him, he preferred to quietly train alone rather than play with other children, but since Brother Ren said so, he would give it a try.
"Of course, you don't have to force it."
Ren drained the hot tea in his cup and chuckled softly.
"Finding friends among your peers might be a bit difficult for you."
Both were six years old, but Itachi was already fighting on the battlefield, while his peers were still learning to refine Chakra. With such vastly different lives, it was normal for them not to interact.
"Honestly, he's still a brat himself."
Kushina mumbled while eating her dessert, looking at Ren.
Hearing this, Ren's face immediately darkened. He turned to look at her, gritting his teeth.
"Kushina-nee, if you keep this up, I'll…"
"You'll what?"
Kushina took a sip of hot tea, turned to glance at Ren, and said calmly.
"I…"
At these words, Ren instantly deflated, angrily swallowing the dessert in front of him.
He really couldn't do anything. Even though Kushina was still pregnant, her strength was no less than anyone else present.
The Uzumaki Clan's physique allowed her to suppress the Nine-Tailed inside her very well, and she could even extract some Tailed Beast Chakra as 'rent,' coupled with powerful Sealing Jutsu.
If it really came to a fight, Ren was genuinely a bit panicked.
Although strictly speaking, it was two versus three, Ren was certain that even if he and the Three Beasts were tied together, they would absolutely not be a match for that tsundere Nine-Tailed. So for now, it was better to keep a low profile.
"Kushina, don't bully Ren anymore."
Minato placed the snacks in front of him in front of Ren, also giving him an apologetic look.
"Hmph, who's bullying him?"
Kushina stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
"I'm going to find Mikoto."
As the door closed, Minato immediately turned to Ren and said apologetically.
"Ren, Kushina is just like that; don't mind her."
"It's alright, I wouldn't mind such things."
Ren placed his empty teacup in front of Itachi, who immediately refilled it. Ren took a small sip, then put the cup down, looked at the two in front of him, and grinned.
"Hey, I have a very good idea that can enhance the strength of the Village's Ninja. Uncle Fugaku and Minato, would you like to hear it?"
"Hmm?"
The two were startled at first. After exchanging glances, they turned their attention to Ren, saying nothing, quietly awaiting his explanation.
"The Three Great Sage Regions."
At these words, the two were immediately stunned. After a moment of thought, they seemed to realize something. Minato opened his mouth and said with some confusion.
"Are you talking about summoning contracts?"
There was no other way. When the Three Great Sage Regions were mentioned, the first thing that came to mind was the summoning beasts, and then the Sannin who gained fame in the Ninja World through them.
"Not exactly."
Ren shook his head, denying it.
Although the summoning beasts of the Three Great Sage Regions were very strong, one needed matching strength to control them. If one forcefully summoned them without enough power, and happened to encounter a master like Manda, it was not impossible for the summoner to be eaten instead.
Minato's expression suddenly changed. He looked at Ren with some surprise and exclaimed.
"Wait, Ren, you're not talking about Sage Mode, are you?"
"Congratulations, you got it right."
Ren spread his hands, saying cheerfully.
"But there's no prize."
Minato's expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice.
"This is no joke, Ren."
Sage Mode was indeed powerful and could effectively and quickly enhance one's strength, but gaining such great power also came with a corresponding price.
To successfully cultivate it, one had to risk one's life. A slight mistake, and one could absorb too much natural energy, turning into a toad stone statue and losing one's life.