That afternoon, Ren slept especially soundly.
It wasn't until four o'clock that Yūhi Kurenai finally woke up.
As she stirred, she felt something heavy pressing against her, making her slightly uncomfortable.
Looking down—
She saw the little troublemaker who had buried his head in the soft fullness of her chest.
That unbelievably handsome childish face carried a faint look of satisfaction.
Kurenai couldn't help laughing helplessly.
"This brat… he really treats me like a pillow."
Glancing at the time, she tapped someone's little head.
"Ren… time to wake up!"
"Sister Kurenai… morning…"
Pulled from his pleasant dream, Ren rubbed his eyes.
Looking at the beautiful face right in front of him, he yawned lazily.
Still hugging Kurenai's warm body, he instinctively leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
The motion was incredibly natural and practiced.
Clearly—
It wasn't the first time.
"It's not morning anymore. It's already four o'clock…"
Wiping the drool from her face, Kurenai didn't get angry at all.
Instead, she pinched Ren's handsome face.
Her ruby-like eyes sparkled with amusement and affection.
"Is that so?"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
But he didn't cling to her any longer.
Although he had always restrained himself and behaved reasonably—
Afraid of annoying Kurenai and losing that wonderful pillow—
Those restless little hands of his had still taken quite a few liberties.
"You brat, are you really not going back to school anymore?"
Kurenai stretched lazily.
Wearing a red sleeveless nightdress, she looked both languid and charming, radiating irresistible allure.
"Nope."
"To be honest, there's nothing left there that can teach me."
Admiring the breathtaking scenery before him, Ren smiled.
"Sister Tsunade said she'll take me to the Konoha Hospital in a couple of days to study."
He had long stopped wanting to attend the Ninja Academy.
The only reason he still went—
Was because of a certain old Hokage who loved spying on people with the Telescope Technique.
He couldn't exactly have a Shadow Clone attend class for him while he stayed home all day.
Especially since—
If Root ever noticed him, things would get troublesome.
He had no doubt that Danzō would gladly recruit a talented child and brainwash him into a tool.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had always supported the Sarutobi faction.
Yet even the Yamanaka clan couldn't refuse Danzō and had been forced to send their prodigy Yamanaka Fū into Root, where he was trained into an emotionless killing machine.
Part of that was their unwillingness to offend Danzō.
But it also showed just how far the Third Hokage had tolerated his so-called "advisor."
Under Kurenai's urging—
And worried about his grandmother—
Ren stopped lingering and quickly got up to wash.
"Well then, Sister Kurenai, I'll head back first."
"Alright. I'll come visit Granny Nao later."
"Okay."
Ren nodded in understanding.
After all—
Women needed time to get ready.
"Cough… cough…"
After saying goodbye to Kurenai—
He had just reached the front door of his house when he heard Chiya Nao's violent coughing from inside.
Clearly, she had already woken up.
"Ren… cough… you're back…"
"Grandma!"
Ren quickly entered the room and helped the old woman sit up.
A gentle green glow appeared in his palm.
He used his chakra to soothe and nourish her body, easing her discomfort as much as possible.
"Cough… what about Lady Tsunade?"
Nao asked.
"Sister Tsunade and Sister Shizune left earlier."
"They said they'll stay in the village for a while."
"And in a couple of days, she'll take me to intern at the Konoha Hospital."
Ren briefly explained.
"Mm… Lady Tsunade is a medical master renowned across the shinobi world."
"You must cherish the opportunity and learn humbly."
Nao didn't say much more.
Because she believed—
When it came to training related to Wood Release, Tsunade would arrange it properly.
"I know."
Ren couldn't help smiling wryly.
He had never once underestimated Tsunade.
She was one of the Legendary Sannin after all.
When it came to medical expertise alone, she had two or three decades of experience.
How could someone like him—who until recently had been studying in isolation—compare?
"Cough… good…"
Leaning on her cane, Nao pointed toward the bed.
"Ren… cough… help me take out the box under the bed."
Ren looked surprised.
But he still followed her instructions.
From beneath the bed, he pulled out a dusty, rust-covered iron box, locked shut.
Smiling, he said,
"I've never seen you open this before, Grandma. Could there be some kind of treasure inside?"
He had noticed the box before.
He had even been curious.
But since it was locked, he never opened it without permission.
Nao had once told him it was part of her dowry.
She said she would give it to him after he graduated from the Ninja Academy.
"This box…"
"Before I was married, my mother—your great-grandmother—gave it to me."
Nao held the rusty box in her arms.
Her cloudy eyes filled with memories.
"It has stayed with this old woman for decades."
"Great-grandmother?"
Ren looked surprised.
His grandmother had never mentioned her before.
In fact—
He had only recently learned that she came from the Senju clan.
"Cough… don't think your grandmother was only an ordinary chūnin with little fame…"
Nao took a key from around her neck.
As she stroked the box, she said with emotion,
"Your great-grandmother wasn't as famous as First Hokage Hashirama Senju or Second Hokage Tobirama Senju…"
"But she was still a renowned powerhouse of the Senju clan."
"She was Hashirama-sama's trusted aide."
"Even shinobi from other nations knew her strength."
"Her name was—"
Senju Tōka.
"Senju Tōka?"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
The name sounded familiar.
He vaguely remembered—
She was a powerful genjutsu specialist of the Senju clan.
In the original story, she had briefly appeared.
Because of her striking appearance, he remembered her a little.
She had once stood behind Hashirama alongside Tobirama.
Which clearly showed her status.
"Yes."
"She was a master of genjutsu."
"Even the three-tomoe Sharingan of the Uchiha clan couldn't easily break the illusions she cast."
Nao opened the long-sealed iron box.
Inside—
Besides several finely crafted gold and silver ornaments—
There was also a scroll.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly as he realized something.
"That couldn't be…"
"You're right."
Nao nodded without hesitation.
"This scroll was part of the dowry your great-grandmother gave me when I married."
"It records most of the genjutsu she mastered."
"There are even some advanced genjutsu, along with her training notes."
"But my talent was mediocre."
"I could only learn a few basic genjutsu."
"As for your father, Chiya Kawasuke, he had no talent for genjutsu."
"Instead, he excelled in medical ninjutsu."
"So this scroll has remained sealed all these years."
"I didn't give it to you before because you were still young."
"And you were already working so hard learning medical ninjutsu."
"I was afraid you would become distracted."
"But…"
"You are far more outstanding than I ever imagined."
"So now…"
Nao gently pushed the scroll toward him.
"It's time to give it to you."
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