Chapter 11

Ren chuckled. "Thank you, Sensei!"

Then Ren looked at Kushina Uzumaki and Reiko. "I'll take you two out to have some fun!"

Ignoring Kushina Uzumaki's slight shyness, he grabbed her little hand and ran out of the principal's office.

Reiko Uzumaki followed close behind, a smile in her eyes.

Yamaki, who remained behind, looked somewhat desolate. Only after watching Ren leave completely did he say, "Someone from the Uzumaki Clan, recommended by Jiraiya... It seems this batch of students will produce someone extraordinary."

His quiet words carried faint traces of contemplation.

Through the window, Yamaki watched the backs of the three as they left, a barely discernible smile on his face.

In the blink of an eye, night fell.

Ren watched Kushina Uzumaki leave and said, "See you tomorrow!"

"Mm... see you tomorrow!"

As the words fell, Kushina Uzumaki and Reiko left together.

Ren turned and headed home, inwardly letting out a sigh of relief. It's finally gone. That feeling of being watched just now... someone was probably monitoring us!

Ren muttered to himself, irritation filling his heart. After leaving the principal's office, he had taken Kushina Uzumaki and Reiko around Konoha to have fun. After all, they had only just arrived in Konoha and were unfamiliar with everything. With Ren leading them around, they got to try quite a few things. Not to mention that his family owned many businesses, many of which catered to children.

Yet throughout their outing, Ren had constantly felt a faint, almost imperceptible gaze upon him. Perhaps because he had lived two lives, his mental strength was somewhat greater, granting him this sort of perception.

Ren sensed the surveillance, but he also knew it was probably Konoha's protection. After all, Kushina Uzumaki and Reiko were no ordinary children. According to the plot, Kushina Uzumaki's arrival in Konoha meant that Mito Uzumaki, the First Hokage's wife, was nearing the end of her life, and the Nine-Tails' seal was gradually weakening. In the original story, Kushina Uzumaki replaced Mito Uzumaki and became Konoha's second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Ren knew all this, but he still had doubts. Kushina Uzumaki appearing makes sense, but what is Reiko Uzumaki's connection to all this? Did the two of them come together as a precaution?

Ren shook his head. Though he had some questions, the matter of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was beyond his reach. In Konoha, it was a secret among secrets. Even if he knew through the plot, was he supposed to announce it to everyone?

As several guards appeared, Ren said, "Let's go home!"

His family's guards had arrived, and since it was getting dark, Ren naturally chose to return home.

Not long afterward, Ren returned home and went straight into his bedroom.

He slowly took out the jade box, removed the red strand of hair inside, and placed it in a picture frame for safekeeping. After all, it counted as a memento.

He then reached into his pocket, intending to put the Qilin Resin back into the jade box.

The reason he carried the Qilin Resin with him was entirely because he feared suffering some severe injury. After all, at the hot springs last time, Tsunade had nearly hurt Ren by accident. Carrying the Qilin Resin was a way to preserve his life.

But the moment he reached into his pocket, Ren's eyes widened. "How is this possible... I clearly put them away properly. Why are some missing?"

Chapter 16: Tsunade's Teasing

"Ah... what happened to my Qilin Resin?!"

Ren's eyes burned with fury. The three Qilin Resin pellets had been safely stored in his pocket, yet now only one remained!

Ren turned his pockets inside out, but still could not find the other two Qilin Resin pellets.

"Hah..." Ren exhaled angrily and said unhappily, "How is that possible? My clothes have specially made pockets. There's no way anything could have fallen out. How could this happen? Did I drop them while we were out? But that's impossible. The shops we visited this afternoon were all my family's businesses. If I had dropped anything, the people in charge would have sent it to me already. Could I have lost them in the principal's office?"

Ren pondered for a moment, closing his eyes as he carefully recalled everything that had happened that day.

His mental strength was powerful, and so was his memory.

Very soon, a strange look appeared in Ren's eyes as he slowly said, "Tsunade... so it was you!"

Ren had replayed everything that happened in the principal's office. Tsunade had worn a strange smile, and before leaving, she had approached him before hurriedly dragging Jiraiya away. That was clearly the guilty conscience of a thief. It seemed the First Hokage's teachings had included more than eating, whoring, and gambling—they also included trickery and theft.

Ren roared, "Ah... Tsunade, just you wait!"

Ren practically wanted to cry without tears. This was Qilin Resin—Qilin Resin! Although he did not know whether it was as miraculous as the Qilin Resin in The Lost Tomb, capable of healing countless injuries, it definitely possessed healing properties, and its effects had to be excellent.

If Jiraiya had not taken him to the academy today, and if Ren had not feared Jiraiya might provoke Tsunade, he would not have carried the Qilin Resin with him. Now Tsunade had stolen two more pellets from him. Ren truly wanted to cry without tears!

As Ren's fury blazed here, he silently cursed Tsunade in his heart.

Elsewhere, Tsunade sipped her wine and chuckled. "Good stuff. Really good stuff. That brat has quite a stockpile!"

Jiraiya sat beside her and said, "Isn't that a bit improper? That little Ren treasures this stuff. You stole two of them just like that. If Ren finds out, won't he hate you to death?"

Tsunade played with the Qilin Resin and said, "So what if he finds out? At worst, I'll teach him a few ninjutsu later to compensate him! But where did Ren get this medicinal herb? It looks like it's at least three thousand years old! I don't know what herb it is, but a medicinal herb passed down for three thousand years, with such restrained potency... it's definitely something good!"

A pale man in the distance said, "A medicinal herb preserved for three thousand years... truly unbelievable. The power of time failed to destroy it. It seems this herb is rather special. It should be the kind of herb whose medicinal effects improve the longer it ages. And it appears completely ordinary, with all its medicinal power concealed within. Only after consuming it can its effects erupt. Three thousand years of accumulated potency should be comparable to an extra life. Moreover, this herb looks somewhat like wood. Herbs with the appearance of wood often possess special effects. If consumed, it might produce some other unusual effect as well."

His calm words had guessed the effects of the Qilin Resin almost perfectly.

If Ren had known, he would definitely have praised him. Orochimaru really is Orochimaru. His brain is something else!

Tsunade merely chuckled. "It's such a good thing. Keeping it with Ren is too wasteful. This time, we're heading to the Land of Earth for a secret mission. We might end up surrounded by Earth ninja. Having two chances to save our lives will definitely help with the mission. As for that brat, we can compensate him after we return!"

With a cheerful smile, she unceremoniously requisitioned Ren's two Qilin Resin pellets.

Jiraiya sighed. "All right... then it's decided. Even if Ren guesses that you took them, we're leaving tomorrow. He won't be able to find us even if he wants to. We'll compensate him after we return. Besides, the Senju Clan has so many good things. Just teach him something or give him something."

Tsunade nodded, took another sip of her wine, and smiled, though no one knew what she was thinking.

The future Sannin chatted among themselves and simply embezzled Ren's two Qilin Resin pellets. Even Jiraiya agreed to it. If Ren had seen this scene, he would have been furious to death!

In his bedroom, Ren sat cross-legged, fury blazing in his eyes. "Tsunade... just wait. My things aren't so easy to take. Everything of mine comes with interest. Since you took them, prepare to repay me for the rest of your life!"

Ren exhaled angrily and put the one remaining Qilin Resin pellet into the jade box.

At that moment, Ren desperately wanted new trash from another plane to appear—preferably a storage ring or Kong ring. Only a Kong ring could put his mind at ease. Now he truly had to guard against fire, theft, and Tsunade.

Only if a Kong ring appeared would he be able to use his things without hindrance or worry about anyone else stealing them.

Letting out a breath, Ren prepared to rest.

Just as he was about to enter his bedroom, he saw an elderly figure approaching.

"Cough, cough... cough, cough..."

The old man coughed as he slowly entered Ren's room.

Ren looked at the visitor and said, "Grandfather... why are you here?"