Renye is Mine!

In the afternoon, school let out at the Ninja Academy.

There was no happier moment in the whole day than this.

Renye packed his things, ready to head home for a meal.

Just then, a group of people appeared and blocked his path.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kagami Uchiha, Danzō Shimura, and the others came up to Renye.

Their stance looked like they were here to cause trouble...

Seeing this, Renye furrowed his brow slightly.

Were these guys planning to beat him up?

Renye subtly put some distance between himself and them.

If they made the slightest move, he'd Run Away at the first chance.

Against a group ganging up on him, he really had no way to handle it.

If he didn't Run Away, he'd just have to take the beating...

Renye was overthinking it. They just wanted to invite him out to eat together, nothing more.

"Renye-kun, want to go eat some grilled meat?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

Hearing this, Renye finally caught on.

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

"Renye-kun, I know a place with really good grilled meat," Kagami Uchiha chimed in.

Faced with their invitation, Renye shook his head and said, "Sorry, I still have to go home and cook. No time to eat out with you."

He didn't need to think twice to know that Old Man Tobirama was definitely at home waiting for him to come back and make dinner.

Renye felt helpless about it.

He'd completely become Tobirama's personal chef.

Hearing this, the group didn't press him. They said goodbye to Renye at the school gate and left together.

Tobirama Senju Residence.

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

At that, Tobirama put down the documents in his hand and said, "You don't need to cook today. We're eating at Elder Brother's place."

"Got it."

Renye was happy for the break. Today's training had really been tiring, so not having to cook was even better.

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

A big figure and a small one walked side by side through the Senju Clan Compound.

"Kid, how was school today?" Tobirama suddenly asked.

"In practical training, Hiruzen Sarutobi and I went fifty-fifty," Renye answered honestly.

This Old Man was the founder of the Ninja Academy—there was no way he didn't know every move Renye made at school.

Wasn't the Homeroom Teacher of Class A a member of the Senju Clan?

Renye guessed in his heart that Tobirama's question had two possibilities...

The first was just making conversation with no real purpose.

The second was testing whether Renye would hide the truth.

The former was fine, but the latter was a bit chilling to think about.

It meant that even after a year of living together, Tobirama was still on guard against him...

Tobirama nodded knowingly and didn't ask further.

Renye looked at Tobirama, trying to read something on his face, but found nothing.

Tobirama was always cautious, rarely showing his inner thoughts.

If Renye could easily figure out what he was thinking, then he wouldn't be Tobirama Senju.

Soon, the two arrived at their destination.

Hashirama Senju's residence.

"Uncle Hashirama."

Renye greeted Hashirama, who was in the yard.

"Elder Brother," Tobirama added his own greeting.

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

Hashirama warmly came up to Renye, not even glancing at Tobirama beside him. "It's been ages since I tasted your cooking. How about showing off your skills today?"

Tobirama, left out by his Elder Brother, had a face full of dark lines.

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

No wonder Elder Brother suddenly invited them to dinner—so this was his scheme...

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

Renye looked at Tobirama Senju, his expression as if to say: Didn't you say we weren't cooking today?

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

"Little Renye, is that okay? Please!" Hashirama Senju clasped his hands together, begging.

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

The Hokage of Konoha Village, stooping to this level for a meal—how disgraceful!

Hashirama Senju ignored Tobirama, looking at Renye with pitiful eyes.

Renye couldn't stand Hashirama Senju's gaze. "Fine, Uncle Hashirama."

At that, Hashirama Senju beamed. "Haha, thanks for the trouble, Little Renye."

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

He'd had it once before and couldn't forget it ever since.

So every now and then, he'd find an excuse to have Renye come cook.

Renye headed to the kitchen. He'd been here plenty of times and knew the way by heart.

Once Renye left, Tobirama Senju couldn't hold it in anymore.

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

He really hadn't expected his own brother to throw away all dignity just for a meal.

"Tobirama, that's not fair." Hashirama Senju said with a resentful look. "Mito and I aren't like you—you get to eat Little Renye's cooking every day."

Hearing this, Tobirama Senju's lips curled up slightly, and he crossed his arms smugly.

Sure, Renye was an Uchiha brat, but his cooking skills were undeniable.

A big reason Tobirama Senju could stand living with Renye was that he'd been won over by his superb culinary talent.

"Tobirama, how about this—let Little Renye stay at my place for a few days?" Hashirama Senju said eagerly.

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

"Tobirama, how can you be like this..." Hashirama Senju put on a pained expression.

Tobirama Senju knew his brother too well and wasn't falling for it. He said coldly, "Elder Brother, don't even think about it. Uchiha Renye is mine!"

As soon as he said that, Tobirama Senju froze.

What did he just say?!

It was hard to believe such an outrageous statement came out of Tobirama Senju's mouth.

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

He scrambled to explain, but his mind went blank. He stammered for a long time without managing to say anything coherent.

The phrase "Renye is mine" kept echoing in his head.

Hashirama Senju watched his flustered brother and broke into a knowing smile.

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

Just as he'd predicted, Tobirama and Little Renye had already formed Bonds.

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

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

Whether he was blushing from embarrassment or anger was anyone's guess.

"Haha, I get it, I get it..."

"Shut up, you don't get it at all!"

"Tobirama, you're bullying me again..."

"..."

Kitchen.

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

"Thanks, Aunt Mito."

With that, Renye started cooking.

Mito Uzumaki helped on the side, diligently learning Renye's stir-fry techniques.

Since Renye came to cook here from time to time, she'd picked up a lot and greatly improved her own cooking.