Just Daily Life

Konoha Forest, Training Ground.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been too excited to sleep a wink all night. He arrived at the training ground well before the agreed time.

The moon was veiled by clouds, visibility very low.

He could only grope his way toward the training ground from memory.

As he drew closer, he noticed a black shadow standing in the center of the training ground.

The darkness was too thick for him to make out the figure's identity.

Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared to step nearer for a look.

The moment his footsteps sounded, the person in the center of the training ground whipped around and barked coldly, "Who goes there?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up. Wasn't the owner of that voice his good friend Danzō?

He was about to announce himself when a shuriken grazed past his ear and embedded itself in a tree trunk.

Cold sweat immediately beaded on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. He swallowed hard.

If the darkness hadn't thrown off Danzō's aim, he'd be a corpse right now...

"D-Danzō, it's me, Hiruzen..."

Danzō Shimura stepped closer. Once he recognized the face before him, he frowned and sheathed his weapon. "Hiruzen? What are you doing here?"

What was Hiruzen doing in a place like this in the dead of night?

Could it be... that he too had become one of Lord Tobirama's disciples?

Sure enough, Hiruzen's next words confirmed his guess.

"Danzō, Lord Tobirama took me on as a disciple. He told me to gather here," Hiruzen Sarutobi explained.

On hearing this, Danzō wore an expression that said, "I knew it."

He should have guessed. If he, ranked fifth, could become Lord Tobirama's disciple, then Hiruzen, ranked first, naturally could too.

He unconsciously clenched his fist. Hiruzen being Lord Tobirama's disciple too—this was not good news for him.

He'd originally thought that with Lord Tobirama's guidance, he could widen the gap between himself and Hiruzen. But now that Hiruzen was also Lord Tobirama's disciple...

That wish of his was dashed.

Danzō's face grew darker. Hiruzen's talent surpassed his own, and with Lord Tobirama's personal instruction, the gap between them would only widen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't notice his friend's expression. He slung an arm around Danzō's shoulders and laughed. "Great, Danzō! I never thought we'd both become Lord Tobirama's disciples. From now on, we can train together."

The fact that Danzō had come here at this hour meant he too was Lord Tobirama's disciple.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was genuinely happy for his friend.

Danzō Shimura forced a thin smile. "Ha ha, you're right. Let's work hard and grow stronger together."

"Yeah, let's grow stronger together!"

"Oh my, you two are here too?"

Just then, a female voice came from behind them.

The two turned to see Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado walking over side by side.

Danzō frowned in displeasure and looked at Koharu Utatane. "You're also Teacher Tobirama's disciple?"

Were Lord Tobirama's disciples this cheap these days?

How could just any Tom, Dick, or Harry become Teacher Tobirama's disciple?

"Mm-hmm, Lord Tobirama said I have talent as a medical ninja, so he took me on," Koharu Utatane said with a smile.

"Ha ha, congratulations, congratulations!" Hiruzen Sarutobi beamed.

Before long, a figure emerged from the darkness and walked toward the training ground.

When he drew close, the others could finally make out his face.

"Kagami, I knew it was you!" Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed.

Kagami Uchiha smiled. "Hello, everyone."

Danzō Shimura saw that the newcomer was Kagami and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

At least it wasn't that bastard Uchiha Renye...

He'd developed a psychological shadow from Renye's beatings. As long as that bastard wasn't here, he was fine.

The moment he recalled the scene of Renye pummeling him, Danzō unconsciously clenched his fist, his face turning ashen.

He swore in his heart that once he grew strong, he would make Uchiha Renye pay!

"Hmph, Uchiha Renye, just you wait!"

Even now, there was still no sign of Renye.

It seemed he hadn't been taken on as Lord Tobirama's disciple.

How pathetic.

When Danzō brought up Renye, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly thought of something. "Do you think Renye was accepted as Teacher Tobirama's disciple?"

At that, everyone exchanged glances.

Renye's combat prowess went without saying, but his theoretical scores were a whole other story.

Kagami Uchiha said, "If Lord Tobirama only looks at practical results, Renye would definitely be taken as a disciple. But if it's overall scores..."

He didn't finish, but everyone knew what he meant.

"Ah, what a shame for Renye-kun." Hiruzen Sarutobi sounded a bit regretful.

"Hah, serves him right! Who told him not to study?" Danzō Shimura's face was full of schadenfreude.

He believed that with Teacher Tobirama's guidance, his strength would only grow, until he surpassed Uchiha Renye.

When that day came, he'd repay Renye double for all the humiliation he'd suffered.

He could almost see the scene of Renye beneath his heel.

That day wouldn't be far off...

"Hey hey hey, you're badmouthing me behind my back again?"

Renye's voice came from afar. Danzō's body stiffened as he turned his head with difficulty.

In the darkness, two figures—one big, one small—walked slowly toward them.

It was Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Renye.

"Greetings, Teacher!" The five bowed respectfully.

Tobirama Senju nodded in approval. "Good. No one's late."

Renye looked at the five and finally understood why Tobirama Senju had him train here.

So this Old Man had been secretly taking disciples behind his back...

"Warm up first."

With that, Tobirama Senju leaned against a tree and closed his eyes to rest.

The gazes of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others fell on Renye in unison.

"Renye-kun, did you also become Teacher's disciple?" Kagami Uchiha asked quietly.

"No," Renye said.

At most, Tobirama Senju guided his training; he couldn't be called his teacher.

"Hmph, since you're not, please leave. Teacher's about to guide our training soon," Danzō Shimura said coldly.

Renye started warming up as he spoke. "What you've always been looking forward to is just my daily routine."

He paused, holding up one finger. "Starting training at Tiger Hour every day—I've been at it for a year now."

At that, their pupils shrank.

So Renye had already been training with Teacher for a year?

Danzō Shimura only then remembered that Uchiha Renye had been taken in by Teacher long ago.

It was only natural for Teacher to guide his training now and then.

At that thought, his eyes burned with envy.

Why?

What dumb luck had this damned bastard stumbled into to be taken in by Teacher?

Seeing Danzō's jealous, hateful expression, Renye felt utterly satisfied.

Just thinking about how pathetic Danzō would look during training made him want to laugh.

Did he really think Tobirama Senju's training plan was easy?

"Warm-up's done. Kid, take them through the drills."

Renye: "???"

Wait, was this right?

The hell? This Old Man was using him as free labor?!