Ren walked beside Tsunade through the halls of the Hokage Tower. The morning sun shone through the tall windows, casting long shadows along the wooden floor. Despite the calm atmosphere, Ren could already feel the quiet anticipation of his first official mission.
"So," Ren asked casually, slipping his hands into his pockets, "which mission are we going to take?"
Tsunade didn't even look up from the scroll she was reading. "Bandit clearing."
Ren nodded without hesitation. "Fine by me."
They stepped into the mission office where a few shinobi were organizing paperwork. Tsunade handed in the request scroll and signed the confirmation.
"This will be the only mission I come with you on," Tsunade said firmly as they stepped back outside.
Ren tilted his head slightly. "Only one?"
Tsunade glanced at him with a confident smirk. "After that, you'll handle your missions yourself."
Ren shrugged casually. "Yeah, I can handle most missions alone."
He added with a small grin, "And if needed, I can also team up with the others."
Tsunade folded her arms and studied him carefully. "Don't get overconfident, brat."
Ren chuckled. "I'm just being realistic."
Once the paperwork was completed, they took a bandit elimination mission that had been troubling a nearby trade route.
After leaving Konohagakure, Ren quickly placed his hand seal.
"Ready?" he asked.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Show me."
In the next instant, space distorted and the two of them vanished using Ren's Flying Thunder God technique.
Moments later, they appeared deep within the forest near the suspected hideout. The wind rustled through the trees while the distant sounds of careless laughter echoed from an abandoned structure nearby.
Ren crouched slightly and scanned the area.
"Looks like we found them," he said quietly.
Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "Your move."
Ren smiled faintly.
"Alright then."
Within minutes, the bandit hideout fell into chaos. Ren moved like a blur through the building, his movements precise and effortless. The bandits barely had time to react before they were taken down one after another.
From the outside, Tsunade watched calmly with her arms crossed.
"Well," she muttered, "that was fast."
When Ren walked back out, brushing dust from his clothes, Tsunade smirked.
"You didn't even break a sweat."
Ren shrugged. "They were just bandits."
Tsunade shook her head in amusement. "You're ridiculous."
With the mission completed, they decided to stop at a small town nearby before returning to the village.
The two of them sat inside a modest hotel restaurant, enjoying a warm meal while the afternoon sun filtered through the windows.
Ren leaned back in his chair. "You know, missions are a lot less dramatic than people imagine."
Tsunade snorted softly. "That's because you finished it in five minutes."
Ren grinned. "Efficiency."
After finishing their meal, they walked back toward the village together, talking casually along the way. Their conversation shifted between training, village matters, and occasional teasing remarks.
That day marked the true beginning of Ren's life as an active ninja.
After that mission, Ren began accepting more combat-related assignments. Most of them involved clearing threats, escorting important figures, or investigating suspicious activity.
At the same time, his Wood Clones were quietly gathering information about the mysterious organization known as the Akatsuki.
Ren's daily life settled into a strange rhythm.
He woke up early in the mornings and often had breakfast with Tsunade. Sometimes he helped Shizune with medical work or assisted Karin and her mother with sealing and research.
Other days were spent completing missions outside the village.
Whenever he had free time, he would meet up with Ino Yamanaka, Sakura Haruno, and Hinata Hyuga.
Sometimes it was training.
Other times… it was just harmless flirting that left the girls blushing and complaining.
Truthfully, he took missions not just because he had to…
…but because he had nothing else he truly needed to do.
For now, maintaining peace and preparing for the future was enough.
And until the shadows of the Akatsuki made their move—
Ren intended to enjoy the quiet days while they lasted.