Renya had been too busy watching Jiraiya get beaten up earlier and completely forgot about the important matter at hand.
"I'm going to leave the village for a while. You three continue to team up and carry out missions."
"Huh? Renya-sensei, how long will you be gone?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
It couldn't possibly be like a few years ago when he disappeared for half a year, right?
"I'm not sure. You'll know when I get back," Renya shook his head.
Anyway, now that he was leaving the village, that old guy Senju Tobirama wouldn't dare to stop him. He could stay away as long as he pleased.
He could spend some time with the duo pretending to be dead and take the opportunity to travel around the Shinobi World—call it a vacation.
Back then, with Madara and Hashirama tagging along, he hadn't enjoyed many days of a proper trip.
This time, he could make up for all of it.
Renya thought about it and went to find Orochimaru, explaining the situation to him.
"I understand, Renya-sensei."
Orochimaru didn't show much reaction to his teacher's sudden departure. He was just a student, after all; he had no right to interfere in his teacher's decisions.
Renya then went to greet Uchiha Kagami, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu before finally heading to the Senju compound.
Senju Hashirama's residence.
"Renya, what were you and your uncle arguing about this morning?" Uzumaki Mito asked curiously.
Early in the morning, she had heard Renya's angry shouting. She didn't even need to guess to know that the two had quarreled.
It made her quite curious—after decades of getting along, it seemed to be their first argument ever.
Just what had happened between them?
"Nothing serious. It's already resolved, Mito-san," Renya replied without explaining.
This kind of matter was better left unknown to others—it would be good for both him and Tobirama.
Seeing Renya unwilling to talk, Mito didn't press further.
"You're here to see Tsunade, aren't you?" she said helplessly. "That girl isn't home. She's probably at the gambling hall."
Tsunade's bad habit of gambling was completely Hashirama's fault.
When she was little, Hashirama would drag her along to play dice games, and she picked up gambling from a young age.
Mito could do nothing about it and could only let the girl be.
"It's fine. I can tell you as well..."
Renya told Mito about his plan to leave.
"You're going to see them again, aren't you?" Mito asked expectantly.
"Something like that," Renya nodded. "I plan to visit them first."
"Renya..." Mito hesitated.
"Mito-san, what is it?" Renya looked puzzled.
After a moment of silence, Mito finally spoke—and what she said was like a bombshell.
"Can you take me with you?"
Over the years, Hashirama had occasionally sneaked back into the village to stay with her for a few days.
But she had never once gone to see him herself.
Renya's jaw dropped in disbelief, as if he'd just seen a ghost.
"Mito-san, do you realize what you're saying?"
He had to remind her—she was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki! Under normal circumstances, it was extremely difficult for her to leave the village.
The Uzumaki clan, her powerful sealing techniques, the Nine-Tails—all these buffs stacked together... If other villages learned that such a being had left Konoha, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"I know," Mito said seriously. "I want to see Hashirama."
She had protected Konoha in Hashirama's stead for over ten years. Now, she just wanted to leave this place and find her husband somewhere in the ninja world.
"Tobirama won't agree," Renya said softly.
That old guy would never allow his sister-in-law to leave the village.
Once the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki left the village, every other hidden village would have their eyes on her.
She was indeed powerful, but still—one can never be too careful.
From what Renya knew of that old man, he would never agree to this.
"I'll make Tobirama agree," Mito said with a faint smile. "Go and call him here now."
For the first time, Renya found Mito-san's smile downright terrifying, and he hurriedly turned and ran back home.
Soon, Tobirama, having heard the news, arrived in person.
"Sister-in-law, you want to leave the village?"
"Yes. I plan to travel with Renya," Mito said softly. "Ever since your brother passed away, I've stayed here all this time. It's about time I went out and cleared my mind."
"But your identity..."
"Tobirama, do you still recognize me as your sister-in-law?" Mito interrupted him. "I'm already sixty years old. If I don't go now, I won't have another chance."
She looked gently at the conflicted Tobirama and said, "Let your sister-in-law go and see the world outside, alright?"
Renya could already tell—this was settled.
As expected of Mito-san! Tobirama didn't stand a chance.
"...I understand."
Tobirama sighed helplessly and finally nodded in agreement.
Since Mito had said this much, what reason did he have left to refuse?
He was worried about her safety, of course—but what else could he do?
It's not like he could still say no.
Besides, with Renya accompanying her, there was practically no danger to worry about.
"Renya, take good care of Mito-san," Tobirama instructed before turning to leave.
"Got it," Renya nodded.
Once Tobirama's figure disappeared from sight, Mito smiled and asked,
"Renya, Tobirama has agreed. You won't refuse me now, will you?"
"Of course not. I'll take you to see Hashirama-sama right away..."
Now that he thought about it, it had been a year or two since he'd last seen Hashirama and Madara.
He wondered which cave they were living in these days.
Two men who had once shaken the entire shinobi world—now living like cavemen.
What a sigh-worthy thought.
"Grandma, Renya-san, where are you going?"
Just after school, Nawaki saw the two of them walking away and shouted.
"Nawaki, Renya-san and I are leaving the village for a while. If anything happens, go to your second grandfather," Mito said softly. "And make sure to tell Tsunade..."
She had been so focused on seeing Hashirama that she'd almost forgotten to tell her grandchildren.
Nawaki: "???"
He'd only been at the Academy for one day—how was Grandma suddenly leaving?
If Grandma was gone, who would cook for him?!
Surely not his gambling-addicted sister or his second grandfather who treated soldier pills like meals?!
For a moment, Nawaki felt like the sky was falling.
"Mito-san, are you sure leaving Nawaki alone is okay?" Renya couldn't help asking.
In his opinion, that girl Tsunade was completely unreliable—Nawaki would have to fend for himself.
"It's fine. Isn't Tobirama-sama retired?" Mito said carefreely.
Nawaki was old enough to take care of himself.
Renya nodded.
If even his grandmother didn't care, why should he?
The two quickly left the village and arrived at an uninhabited place.
Renya formed a hand sign and summoned Scar to lead the way.
"Come out, fat cat!"