Ren woke slowly from Tsunade's crushing morning hug, carefully sliding out of her arms before she could tighten her grip again. The early sunlight spilled through the window, illuminating strands of golden hair across her pillow.
He stretched, yawned, and padded toward the washroom.
By the time he returned, Tsunade had also washed up, though her hair was still slightly damp and untied. She leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed, watching him with an amused expression.
"So, little Ren," she began, her voice warm but proud, "what do you want?"
She walked closer and crouched to his height.
"I promised you I'd give you something after you started refining chakra. Just tell big sis. We have all the jutsu you could ever want."
Ren didn't hesitate.
"Same thing I always ask. Teach me Fūinjutsu."
He launched his ultimate attack immediately—hugging her tightly and kissing both her cheeks.
Tsunade froze.
"You little schemer," she muttered, though there was no real anger in her voice. "You always go straight for my weak spot."
She grabbed both his cheeks firmly, her golden eyes locking onto his.
"Fine. I will teach you. But only basic theory for now. No practical sealing without me present. Do you understand?"
Ren's mouth twitched slightly.
Yes, Fūinjutsu was dangerous. One mistake could cause backlash, explosions, or worse. He almost believed she would hold her seriousness.
Almost.
Because while her eyes were stern, her hands were still gently pinching his cheeks.
"Fine," he sighed dramatically. "No making seals without you."
Tsunade's expression immediately melted.
"Ahhhh, who is the good boy Ren is?" she cooed, pulling him into another hug and showering his face with kisses.
Ren stared at the ceiling helplessly.
"Sigh… being cute is troublesome."
"Hey!" Tsunade flicked his forehead lightly. "Don't become a Nara."
"Ow! That hurts!"
"Your fault for being cute."
Before he could argue further, Shizune stepped forward, holding a neatly wrapped box.
"Well," she said gently, "now it's my turn."
Ren turned toward her.
"This is a ninja training set. Basic tools—practice kunai, shuriken, weighted bands. You can ask me to train you whenever you want."
Ren didn't take the gift immediately.
Instead, he walked forward and hugged her first, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
"Thanks, big sis Shizune."
Shizune froze briefly, then smiled as if she had just conquered a battlefield.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Oi. Don't steal my position."
Shizune smiled sweetly. "I'm simply accepting appreciation properly."
Ren wisely stayed silent.
---
After placing the training set carefully in his room, Ren rejoined Tsunade and Shizune outside.
"Ready?" Tsunade asked. "You wanted to go shopping today."
Ren nodded enthusiastically.
He had promised gifts to his friends.
And he could not leave his "brothers" out either—even if those bastards never once saved him from cheek harassment.
The market district of Konoha was lively and vibrant. Vendors called out cheerfully, children ran between stalls, and the smell of grilled skewers filled the air.
Tsunade walked casually, hands in her sleeves, though people instinctively gave her space.
Ren wandered thoughtfully between shops.
For Sakura, he selected a delicate silver bracelet shaped like a sakura blossom, crafted with careful detail and inlaid with faint pink enamel.
"She'll pretend not to care," Ren muttered, examining it closely, "but she'll treasure it."
"For Ino," he continued thoughtfully, "something elegant."
He chose a pendant shaped like bush clover, polished and framed in subtle gold.
"And for Hinata…"
He paused longer.
Finally, he selected a white lily pendant—simple, graceful, and pure.
Shizune smiled faintly as she watched him.
"You're very thoughtful."
Ren shrugged. "They'll poke me anyway. Might as well make it worth it."
"For Shikamaru," he added, walking toward another stall, "a soft pillow."
Tsunade laughed loudly.
"That's perfect."
"And for Choji…"
He purchased several rare and special-flavored chip packs.
Choji would probably cry from happiness.
After finishing with the children's gifts, Ren subtly returned to another stall while Tsunade argued with a merchant over sake quality.
For Tsunade and Shizune, he bought matching sakura-patterned kimonos.
He hid them carefully.
Those were surprises.
---
By the time they returned home, Ren was genuinely tired.
Shopping with Tsunade meant long detours, loud bargaining, and multiple snack stops.
He collapsed onto his bed.
The interface responded immediately.
[Ding! Second Draw Initiated…]
A pause.
Then—
[Congratulations! You have obtained — Sage Body.]
Information flooded into him.
Sage Body —
• Immense Life Force & Stamina
• Massive Chakra Reserves
• Rapid Regeneration
• Physical Durability
• Potent Yang Release
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
"Damn… that's perfect."
He sat up, thinking rapidly.
"With the Rikugan, I barely waste chakra. And Sage Body gives me massive reserves."
A grin slowly formed.
"I can spam jutsu all day."
The synergy was terrifying.
Atomic-level efficiency combined with monstrous reserves.
[Sage Body Integration Starting.]
[User will enter deep sleep.]
Ren exhaled calmly.
"Yeah… every integration needs time."
He lay back on his pillow.
"Note to self: always draw talents at night."
Darkness claimed him gently.
---
A few minutes later, Tsunade entered his room quietly.
She paused at the doorway, watching him sleep peacefully.
"Well," she murmured softly, "looks like little brother was tired from all that shopping."
She walked over and lay beside him without hesitation, wrapping an arm around his small body.
She closed her eyes.
Sleep came easily.
What neither of them noticed was the subtle change in the air.
A faint, pure Yang energy radiated from Ren's body during integration.
It was gentle, not explosive.
Warm.
Alive.
That energy seeped outward unconsciously.
Tsunade's body reacted instinctively.
Her Senju—and Uzumaki—blood responded to the pure Yang like parched soil absorbing rain.
Her cells, long strained from years of overusing medical ninjutsu and rapid regeneration in war, began to recover at a deeper level.
Microscopic damage accumulated over decades began to mend.
The constant subtle fatigue she carried lessened.
Her breathing deepened.
Her chakra stabilized more smoothly.
She unconsciously pulled Ren slightly closer in her sleep.
Somewhere within her, ancient bloodlines stirred.
Ren remained unaware.
The Sage Body continued integrating quietly.
Outside, Konoha rested peacefully beneath the stars.
And within a small house near the Hokage district, the foundation of something extraordinary continued to take shape.
[Guys suggest me 3rd talent. On his 9th bday]