Renye Is Mine!

In the afternoon, Ninja Academy let out.

There was no happier moment in the day than this.

Renye packed his things, ready to go home for dinner.

Just then, a group of people appeared and blocked Renye's path.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kagami Uchiha, Danzō Shimura, and the others approached Renye.

They looked like they were here to cause trouble...

Renye frowned slightly at the sight.

These guys aren't planning to beat me up, are they?

Without drawing attention to it, Renye put some distance between himself and them.

If they made even the slightest suspicious move, Renye would run away immediately.

Faced with all of them ganging up on him, there was really nothing he could do.

If he did not run away, he could only take the beating...

Renye had overthought it. They simply wanted to invite him out for a meal, nothing more.

"Renye, want to go eat barbecue together?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

Only then did Renye realize what was going on.

So they weren't here to pick a fight...

"Renye, I know a barbecue place that tastes really good," Kagami Uchiha added.

Faced with their invitation, Renye shook his head. "Sorry, I still have to go home and cook. I don't have time to eat out with you."

He did not need to think to know that Tobirama Senju, that old man, was definitely waiting at home for him to cook.

Renye was helpless about that.

He had completely become Tobirama Senju's cook.

Hearing this, they did not insist. After saying goodbye to Renye at the school gate, they left together.

Tobirama Senju Residence.

"Uncle, did you buy the ingredients?" Renye asked.

Tobirama Senju put down the documents in his hands and said, "You don't need to cook today. We're eating at Elder Brother's house."

"Got it."

Renye was happy to have it easy. Today's training had indeed been exhausting, so it was even better that he did not need to cook.

After taking a bath, he followed Tobirama Senju to Hashirama Senju's Residence.

One tall and one small figure walked side by side through the Senju Clan Compound.

"Brat, how was your performance at school today?" Tobirama Senju suddenly asked.

"In practical training, I fought Hiruzen Sarutobi to a draw," Renye answered honestly.

As the founder of the Ninja Academy, that old man certainly could not be kept in the dark about Renye's every move at school.

Wasn't even Class A's Homeroom Teacher from the Senju Clan?

Renye guessed that there were two possibilities behind Tobirama Senju's question...

The first was that he was simply making conversation because he had nothing better to do.

The second was that he wanted to test whether Renye would hide the truth.

The former would be fine, but the latter was rather terrifying when he thought about it.

It would mean that even after living together for a year, Tobirama Senju was still deeply wary of him...

Tobirama Senju nodded in understanding and did not ask anything further.

Renye looked at Tobirama Senju, wanting to glean something from his face, but found nothing.

Tobirama Senju had always been cautious and rarely showed his true thoughts.

If Renye could easily read his mind, then he would not be Tobirama Senju.

Before long, the two arrived at their destination.

Hashirama Senju's Residence.

"Uncle Hashirama."

Renye greeted Hashirama Senju in the courtyard.

"Elder Brother," Tobirama Senju greeted as well.

"Haha, Little Renye, you're finally here."

Hashirama Senju eagerly came over to Renye, not even glancing at Tobirama Senju beside him. "It's been so long since I last tasted your cooking. Could you show off your skills today?"

Left standing to one side by his Elder Brother, Tobirama Senju's face darkened.

"Elder Brother, you called us over just for this?"

So that was why his Elder Brother had suddenly invited them for dinner. This had been his plan all along...

"Haha, Little Renye's cooking is just too good. I haven't had it in a while, and I've been craving it so badly," Hashirama Senju said cheerfully.

Renye looked at Tobirama Senju, his expression seeming to say: Didn't you say I wouldn't be cooking today?

Tobirama Senju turned his head away, pretending not to see Renye's expression.

"Little Renye, can you do it? Please!" Hashirama Senju clasped his hands together and begged.

"Elder Brother, you're being too rude!" Tobirama Senju rebuked him.

He was the Hokage of Konoha Village, yet he had stooped to this extent over a single meal. It was truly embarrassing!

Hashirama Senju ignored Tobirama and looked at Renye with pleading eyes.

Renye could not stand Hashirama Senju's gaze any longer. "All right, Uncle Hashirama."

Hashirama Senju immediately beamed. "Haha, sorry to trouble you, Little Renye."

There was no helping it. Renye's cooking was simply too good.

After eating it once before, Hashirama Senju had been unable to forget it for a long time.

So every few days, he would find an excuse to have Renye come over and cook.

Renye headed for the kitchen. This was not his first or second time here, so he knew the way well.

Once Renye had left, Tobirama Senju could no longer hold it in.

"Elder Brother, you... how could you do this?!"

He truly had not expected his Elder Brother to abandon even his dignity for a meal.

"Tobirama, that's not right," Hashirama Senju said resentfully. "Mito and I aren't like you. We can't eat meals made by Little Renye every day."

At that, Tobirama Senju's lips curled up slightly. He crossed his arms, looking smug.

Even though Renye was an Uchiha brat, his cooking was truly beyond reproach.

A major reason Tobirama Senju could tolerate living with Renye was that he had been conquered by his superb cooking.

"Tobirama, how about this? Let Little Renye stay with me for a few days?" Hashirama Senju asked expectantly.

"No, Elder Brother!" Tobirama Senju refused without hesitation.

"Tobirama, how can you be like this..." Hashirama Senju looked deeply hurt.

Tobirama Senju knew his Elder Brother too well to fall for that act. He said coldly, "Elder Brother, stop thinking about it. Uchiha Renye is mine!"

The moment he said that, Tobirama Senju froze.

What did I just say?!

It was hard to imagine such an outrageous statement coming from Tobirama Senju's mouth.

"Elder Brother, don't misunderstand..."

He hurriedly tried to explain, but his mind was blank. He stammered for a long while without managing to say anything coherent.

That sentence kept echoing in his mind: Renye is mine...

Seeing Tobirama's flustered appearance, Hashirama Senju wore a knowing smile.

"Tobirama, you don't need to explain. I understand..."

Just as he had expected, Tobirama and Little Renye had formed bonds.

In a few years, Renye would surely be able to change Tobirama's view of the Uchiha.

"Elder Brother, you don't understand! And... wipe that disgusting expression off your face!" Tobirama Senju snapped, his face red.

Who knew whether he was blushing from embarrassment or anger?

"Haha, I understand, I understand..."

"Shut up, you don't understand at all!"

"Tobirama, you're being mean to me again..."

"..."

The kitchen.

"Little Renye, you're finally here." Mito Uzumaki smiled and pointed at the ingredients on the table. "I've already washed the vegetables."

"Aunt Mito, thank you for your hard work."

With that, Renye began cooking.

Mito Uzumaki helped out at the side, carefully learning Renye's stir-frying techniques.

Since Renye came here to cook from time to time, she had learned quite a lot from him, and her cooking had improved greatly.