The next morning, the dazzling sunlight streamed through the window into the room, illuminating the teenager still sound asleep on the bed.
"Hmm."
Suddenly, the teenager's eyes twitched, then slowly opened a crack, and then slowly widened, his unfocused pupils only gaining clarity after a few seconds.
"It's morning?"
Ren yawned and sat up, then put on his slippers and went to the balcony to open the window.
A cool breeze instantly swirled in through the open window, and the slight chill on his body instantly sobered him up a lot.
"Hiss!"
Ren shivered subconsciously, then quickly closed the window, turned around, went to the bed to put on his clothes, and walked downstairs.
But when he went down, he did not see Kana Maiko.
On the table was a still-steaming breakfast, and next to it was a note.
"Oh, there's breakfast."
Ren came to the table and sat down, picking up the note beside it.
The words on it immediately caught his eye.
"Little Ren, Auntie Maiko went to work.
Remember to eat breakfast.
It's best if you can eat it hot.
If it's cold, just warm it up.
Bye-bye."
Signature: Your dearest Auntie Maiko.
...What the heck is "Little Ren"?
Ren's mouth twitched twice, then he took a sip of the milk beside him, and his expression returned to normal.
What should I do today?
Ren ate breakfast while thinking about what to do today.
For Ninja who had just returned like them, the Village gave them a day off, and they would resume their normal routine the day after tomorrow.
Time on the battlefield was pressing; there was always something to do every moment, and the pace was very fast.
Suddenly returning to the Village, the pace instantly slowed down, and this change made Ren feel a bit uncomfortable.
Even after finishing breakfast, he still hadn't figured out what to do, so he simply went out and wandered wherever he pleased.
Walking on the somewhat unfamiliar streets, looking at the shops lining both sides and the bustling crowds, Ren suddenly felt as if he had been separated from the world for ages.
The last time this happened was a year ago, when he and Ryufeng had just returned from a mission and were taking a stroll, they were called away by the Anbu, who said that the Third Hokage wanted to see them.
After going there, it was announced that they would be promoted to Chunin, then Hayama joined their squad, and then the war began.
Who would have thought that this departure would last for hundreds of days and nights?
"Look, Third Hokage-sama is there!"
"The two beside him must be Advisor Koharu and Advisor Mitokado, right?
Looking at them, they must have just returned from the capital."
"I wonder who the Fourth Hokage will be."
The clamor from behind instantly jolted Ren out of his memories.
He subconsciously looked back and saw three figures walking side by side, slowly approaching, while several figures were lurking on the rafters on both sides.
Although he couldn't see their figures, in Ren's perception, the positions of the few people were clearly revealed.
At this moment, the three people who had come closer also noticed Ren.
There was no other way; earlier, when he was lost in thought, he had inadvertently walked into the middle of the road, and as the three passed, people scattered, leaving Ren standing alone, looking particularly conspicuous.
"Ren!"
"Uh…"
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Ren turned around, scratched his head, and bowed slightly to the old man who had approached, smiling.
"Long time no see, Third Hokage old man!"
"Hehe, when did you come back, kid?"
A benevolent smile appeared on the Third Hokage's usually calm face, and he raised his hand to stroke his beard, saying.
"Hahaha, I just came back yesterday."
As Ren spoke, his gaze fell upon the two people beside him, and under their surprised gazes, he bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Advisor Koharu and Advisor Mitokado."
The two were stunned for a moment and looked at each other.
They had thought that after becoming a Perfect Jinchuriki, the other party would become arrogant and conceited due to this powerful strength, but they did not expect him to still be as polite as before.
"Hahaha, let's talk as we walk."
Seeing this scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately burst into laughter, a look of relief appearing on his face.
He was very happy that this child had not changed his temperament due to the powerful strength brought by the Tailed Beast.
Although Minato and Kosuke had told him before, he still couldn't rest assured without seeing the other party's situation with his own eyes.
Now, after seeing him with his own eyes, his hanging heart immediately settled.
Ren was still that Ren, that kind-hearted, polite good child.
His sorrowful mood due to the disappearance of his old friend instantly lightened considerably.
The four walked on the road, with Anbu lurking around, slowly following, forming a protective encirclement around them.
"Old man, you just returned from the Land of Fire's capital, right?"
Ren followed behind the three, looking at their travel-worn appearance, and couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, we went to decide on the Fourth Hokage candidate with the Daimyo."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his hands clasped behind his back, then looked at Ren, nodding slightly.
"Ren, have you fulfilled your duty as a Jonin instructor to the three members assigned to you?"
Tsukiakari, Mutsuki Rin, and Natsume Yao were personally selected by him from the Genin list for Ren.
Both their talent and strength were top-notch; with proper guidance, they would at least become Jonin in the future.
"Of course."
Ren raised his head and said confidently.
"I can guarantee that each of them now has the strength to defeat a Chunin, and together, even a Jonin can be defeated!"
"Oh?"
As soon as these words came out, the three simultaneously stopped in their tracks, turning their heads in unison, looking at Ren with surprise.
Huh?
Seeing the three stop, Ren could only stop as well.
Looking at their expressions, Ren suddenly felt a bit confused.
What's going on?
Did I ruin the three of them?
Or was the fact that I let them run wild for a while exposed?
Just as Ren was wondering, the three also noticed their Gaffe and quickly regained their composure.
Utatane Koharu pondered for a moment, then said with some uncertainty.
"Are you sure they can all defeat Chunin and, combined, defeat a Jonin?"
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Homura Mitokado beside her were looking at him with an inquisitive expression; obviously, they also had some doubts about the truthfulness of this matter.
It wasn't their fault, after all, this matter was too outrageous.
The three had only been on the battlefield and under Ren's leadership for a little over two months.
For their strength to improve so much in such a short period of time truly made them feel like it was a fantasy.
After listening, Ren immediately understood what the three meant, and he straightened his back, saying with certainty.
"I'm sure!"
What a joke, what if it was only two months?
He took them out every day to fight opponents of the same level, plus constantly supplied them with various secret techniques and diligently taught them.
It could be said that in those two months, he poured all his energy into the three of them, so he was not at all surprised by the current results.