Mito Uzumaki

Just after dawn.

Renye jolted awake from his dream, cold sweat soaking his back.

His chest heaved violently, fear and confusion still lingering in his eyes.

"That dream again..." Renye murmured, unsettled. "What place is that, anyway?"

In that bizarre dream, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place.

A pungent medicinal smell filled the air. He lay on a cold experimental table, his limbs bound by strange instruments, unable to move.

The lab walls flickered with eerie red light, and odd-shaped specimens lined the surroundings, faintly exuding a nauseating aura.

A figure in a white coat kept circling him, scribbling in a notebook—Renye couldn't make out his face no matter how he tried.

Every move the guy made left Renye deeply uncomfortable, as if he were a lamb awaiting slaughter, at someone's mercy for study and manipulation.

"Is this really my golden finger?" Renye wondered, puzzled.

In the many novels he'd read before transmigrating, some protagonists did have dream-related golden fingers.

For instance, one protagonist dreamed of being chased by different monsters for over a decade, only to learn later that it was his golden finger!

Thinking this, Renye decided to check if anything had changed in himself.

But after looking for a while, he found nothing.

"Could it be... I need to act within the dream?" Renye frowned in thought.

He resolved to see if he could discover something in tonight's dream.

With that in mind, Renye left his room, ate breakfast, and began his morning training.

The morning training was the same as yesterday—first Chakra refinement, then Physical Training.

Just as Renye was focused on refining Chakra in the yard, a voice suddenly rang out from the gate.

"Working so hard, little one?"

Hearing the sound, Renye opened his eyes and looked over curiously.

A red-haired woman stood at the entrance. Her long crimson hair was tied into two bun-like knots, adorned with talisman-like ornaments.

A purple diamond-shaped mark on her forehead stood out, and her gaze was gentle.

A white qipao outlined her graceful figure.

Every movement exuded an elegant aura.

Renye recognized her at once—wasn't this Hashirama Senju's wife, Mito Uzumaki?

Why was she here?

Though Renye knew her identity, he pretended not to, asking with confusion, "Who are you?"

Mito Uzumaki smiled softly, stepped lightly over to Renye, crouched down to meet his eyes, and said gently, "I'm Tobirama's Sister-in-law. I heard he adopted an Uchiha child, so I came to see... You're the one he adopted, right?"

For some reason, Renye felt Mito Uzumaki could see right through him, and that made him uncomfortable.

He instinctively stepped back, putting distance between them. "That's right. I'm the Uchiha the White-haired Uncle adopted."

Mito Uzumaki paused at that, then covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Why do you call Tobirama 'White-haired Uncle'?"

Renye pursed his lips and explained, "That guy doesn't like me... and guess what? I don't like him either... It's lucky I don't just call him White Hair."

Mito Uzumaki was amused by Renye's words. She shook her head with a smile. "You really are a tsundere little brat."

Truth be told, she didn't understand what Hashirama was thinking either... Why was he so insistent on having Tobirama adopt an Uchiha child?

Everyone knew Tobirama Senju hated the Uchiha Clan.

Because of this, Tobirama had come crying to her more than once, complaining endlessly about how infuriating Renye was.

Mito Uzumaki grew curious and decided to come see just how infuriating this little brat Tobirama talked about really was.

After spending a little time with him, she realized Tobirama was exaggerating.

Renye was a bit tsundere, but not to the point of being infuriating.

It was probably Tobirama's bias against the Uchiha, done on purpose.

The goal was obvious—he just wanted to send Renye back.

Thinking this, Mito Uzumaki reached out to pat Renye's head, but he dodged.

She was a bit startled, not expecting him to avoid her.

"Auntie, don't just touch my head," Renye said. "Don't you know a man's head is off-limits?"

Mito Uzumaki blinked, caught off guard by his words.

She chuckled softly. "Alright, alright, Auntie won't touch you."

"That's more like it." Renye crossed his arms, looking smug.

As a proud Uchiha, how could he let an outsider pat his head?

If this got out, wouldn't he, Uchiha Renye, lose face?!

"By the way, I haven't asked your name yet." Mito Uzumaki only then remembered she hadn't asked Renye's name.

"I'm Uchiha Renye." Renye looked at Mito. "Auntie, what about you?"

Mito Uzumaki gave a slight smile. "Little Renye, I'm Mito Uzumaki."

Renye nodded, indicating he understood.

"Aunt Mito, I still need to train."

Renye started shooing her away—he had no time to waste with her right now; he needed to get stronger as fast as possible.

With that, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began refining Chakra.

Seeing this, Mito Uzumaki's pretty face was full of shock. She hadn't expected Renye to chase her off.

"What an interesting little brat." Mito Uzumaki said with intrigue.

Now she understood why Tobirama had come running to complain—this child Renye was indeed different from ordinary kids.

At this rate, Tobirama was in for a rough time.

Watching Renye train seriously, she slowly stood up and left the courtyard.

After Mito Uzumaki left, Renye opened his eyes and stared thoughtfully in the direction she'd disappeared.

At Hashirama Senju's residence.

"Elder Brother, I'm begging you—can you please send that kid away!" Tobirama Senju pleaded.

Tobirama Senju, known for his calm and composed demeanor, was actually showing such a pathetic side.

If anyone familiar with him saw this, they'd be absolutely stunned.

Lately, just knowing there was an Uchiha brat in the house made everything he did feel off.

"Tobirama, you need to learn tolerance and acceptance." Hashirama Senju said earnestly.

He truly hoped his brother could get along with Renye, and ideally build Bonds with him.

That way, maybe it would stop Tobirama from hating the Uchiha.

Tobirama Senju: "..."

He'd come straight here after waking up, hoping his Elder Brother would reverse the decision, but no matter how much he argued, his brother wouldn't budge.

Just then, Mito Uzumaki walked into the room.

Seeing her, Tobirama Senju immediately looked to Mito for help:

"Sister-in-law, please talk some sense into my Elder Brother!"

Since persuading his brother was useless, he'd turn to his Sister-in-law.

When it came to family hierarchy, it all rested on the Sister-in-law.

If she gave the word, his Elder Brother was nothing—he'd have no choice but to obediently agree!

But Mito's next words left Tobirama Senju completely dumbfounded.

"Tobirama, I've met that child Renye. I think your brother is right—get along well with him."

"Haha, Mito's right!" Hashirama Senju laughed.

Tobirama Senju: "???"

He hadn't expected this outcome.

For a moment, he felt like the sky was falling.

Tobirama Senju didn't remember how he left.

His Elder Brother and Sister-in-law were a united front, both insisting he take in Renye until the boy came of age.

Thinking about his life from now on, Tobirama Senju felt darkness closing in.

"What a joke!"