So even though Danzo was seething with fury, he ultimately didn't dare lash out at Ren Takashi. With a face like thunder, he turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and growled,
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this. Hmph!"
With that, he spun on his heel and stormed out of the Hokage's office.
As he passed Ren, the old schemer gave him a cold, venomous glare.
Ren responded by feigning fear—stepping back slightly and clutching tightly onto Tsunade's hand.
Tsunade: "…"
That was some Oscar-level acting.
She couldn't find a single flaw in his expression. Absolutely seamless. The kid was born to be a manipulator.
"Danzo! I'm the Hokage!"
Just as Danzo reached the hallway, Hiruzen shouted after him in frustration.
Danzo paused for half a second—then marched off even faster.
His footsteps thudded heavily down the corridor, the fury and frustration in his heart made clear by the weight of each step.
Ren almost wanted to give Hiruzen a thumbs up.
Now that was a heart-stab. Ruthless and efficient—he really made the most of the opportunity to disgust Danzo.
"Ahem."
Once Danzo had fully left, Hiruzen collected himself, cleared his throat, and turned to Ren and Tsunade with a sheepish smile.
"Forgive that scene. Danzo is… Danzo. Don't take what he said to heart. He's just jealous."
"Now then, Ren—let's have a proper talk."
He proceeded to chat with Ren for nearly half an hour, until Tsunade grew visibly impatient. Only then did Hiruzen reluctantly let them go.
"Well, that's all for today."
"Be sure to stop by more often, alright? Grandpa Hokage always enjoys seeing you."
After this conversation, Hiruzen was even more certain: Ren Takashi was deeply aligned with the Will of Fire, held great admiration for him, and loved the village.
A moldable talent.
That was all Hiruzen needed.
He would invite Ren regularly—gradually guiding and "mentoring" him until he became exactly the kind of tool the Hokage could control.
After all, what could a five-year-old boy possibly do to resist?
"Mhm!"
Ren nodded eagerly, though inside he was screaming.
This old fox isn't even trying to hide it anymore!
Does he seriously think I'm just some innocent little kid?
Still, keeping Hiruzen in the dark was necessary for now.
The time to confront him directly… hadn't come yet.
"Alright, we're leaving."
Tsunade had already run out of patience. She tossed a few parting words over her shoulder, grabbed Ren, and strode out of the office.
Hiruzen just smiled and shook his head, unconcerned.
Soon, Tsunade brought Ren to her office at the Konoha Ninja Hospital.
She pointed to a towering bookshelf stacked full of medical texts.
"Alright. Your job is to finish reading everything on that shelf—understand it thoroughly."
"If anything's unclear, ask me anytime."
"Once you're done, we'll move to the next stage."
"Also, I'll occasionally bring you along to assist in minor surgeries so you can build practical experience."
As for teaching new medical ninjutsu? Ren already had access to Chakra Scalpel, Healing Jutsu, and Mystic Palm—there was no need to rush more techniques.
What he needed now… was deep medical theory.
"Got it!"
This was exactly what Ren wanted.
Access to these texts was a treasure trove.
Healing? Surgery? Medical ninjutsu? Those could come later.
[Wish: What happens if I reveal some of my talent to Tsunade?]
A moment later, a stream of feedback entered his mind.
The wish system confirmed: safe. Tsunade was trustworthy.
Ren relaxed.
Without hesitation, he pulled a foundational medical text off the shelf, sat on the nearby couch, and began flipping through it at an incredible speed.
Pages turned so fast they blurred.
Tsunade twitched.
She watched him for several seconds, then finally couldn't help but speak.
"Is this… how you normally read? You sure that pace works? Are you actually absorbing anything?"
Was this kid just pretending?
"Of course it works."
Ren didn't stop flipping pages. His eyes stayed locked on the book as he answered casually.
"I forgot to mention—I have photographic memory and high-speed learning capabilities."
"My comprehension's also quite good."
"This is the pace I've tested and found most effective."
"Otherwise, how do you think I managed to finish and internalize everything in our clan's archives in just over a month?"
"Even if a lot of our records were lost, we still had plenty."
"…Huh?"
Tsunade blinked, stunned. "Wait, seriously? You're not making this up?"
"Let me test you."
She stepped over, took the book from Ren's hands, flipped to a section he'd already read, and started quizzing him.
No surprises—Ren answered every question smoothly, even offering insight into the concepts.
"…Hisss."
Tsunade drew in a sharp breath and stared at Ren like she was seeing a monster.
"We really, really underestimated you, huh?"
"I knew you were gifted—but this is absurd."
"With talent like this, fine—use whatever study pace works for you."
"But—"
Her tone shifted. She fixed Ren with a solemn expression.
"Don't let the Third know about this."
"Actually, don't even let your classmates find out."
"And when you're reading here, be careful not to let anyone else see how you study."
"Because if the Third Hokage learns just how extraordinary your gift is, he won't treat you the same."
"He doesn't like things he can't control."
"Understand?"
Tsunade felt Ren's talent might even surpass that of her great-uncle Tobirama.
And talent wasn't just about learning medical ninjutsu—it translated to everything. Combat. Growth. Potential.
Given a few years, she could already foresee it:
Ren Takashi… might one day stand at the very peak of the ninja world.
He could surpass even her grandfather.
And she didn't want that kind of potential snuffed out before it could bloom.
She was looking out for him.
And for Konoha.
Though she had only been with him for two days, she'd already gained a clear understanding of his character.
Ren was brilliant, perceptive, emotionally intelligent, and—most importantly—grateful.
If guided well, he could become a pillar of the village. A true legacy.
But if his gifts became known too soon?
If Hiruzen and Danzo moved to suppress him?
The results could be catastrophic.
Maybe even fatal—for the village itself.
Sure, the Uchiha clan could shield him for a time.
But if cornered, Ren would simply disappear into the shadows, bide his time, and one day… strike back.
That wasn't a future Tsunade wanted to see.