Renya saw the fleeting flash of killing intent in Danzo's eyes and couldn't help but speak up to remind him.
"Before the Uchiha rebellion begins, I hope you don't go looking for trouble with them."
He was worried that Danzo, believing the Uchiha posed a threat to the safety of the village, would take it upon himself to provoke them—potentially causing the conflict between the village and the Uchiha to erupt ahead of schedule.
Renya knew Danzo's personality all too well; it was entirely possible he'd do something reckless like that.
Both the Uchiha and Danzo were like powder kegs—one spark and it would end in mutual destruction.
"No need to remind me," Danzo glanced at Renya. "Sensei already warned me about that back then."
It wasn't just Renya—even Senju Tobirama himself had worried that Danzo might take action against the Uchiha, and had repeatedly reminded him of the importance of the village's stability.
In other words, as long as the Uchiha didn't cross the line, Danzo had to turn a blind eye.
Although he was deeply dissatisfied with many of the Uchiha's actions, he still respected Tobirama-sensei's teachings.
"You've been idle for such a long time. Don't you plan to actually do something?" Danzo said in frustration, his tone full of disappointment.
Back in the day, Renya used to run missions tirelessly day and night. He was nothing like the lazy man before him now.
Every day, all he did was lounge around in his spacious courtyard basking in the sun, as if he had lost all the ambition and drive of a shinobi.
If this went on, Danzo thought, maybe he should just send him out on a mission!
"Danzo, you're just a busybody with too much free time," Renya sighed helplessly and spread his hands.
"Even the old man can't do anything about me. You've only been Hokage for a few days—don't tell me you think you can manage me? Don't be naïve!"
Being a ninja was just a job.
But taking it easy—that was life.
No one could stop him from living the good life.
Danzo's face darkened, but he didn't know how to argue back.
Even Tobirama-sensei had tried countless times to talk Renya out of his lazy lifestyle, all to no avail.
Danzo certainly didn't think he was more persuasive than his teacher...
"Danzo, you're almost thirty already. Don't you plan to find someone to marry?" Renya, afraid Danzo might continue pressing him, quickly changed the subject.
That question stunned Danzo for a moment.
All his life, he'd only focused on becoming Hokage. He'd never given a single thought to marriage or relationships.
Now that he had finally achieved his goal, perhaps it really was time to consider it.
First comes career, then family.
Since he'd already built his career, it was only natural to start thinking about family next.
After all, people his age were already married with children—some even had kids old enough to attend the Ninja Academy.
Of course, that didn't include a certain someone who preferred to spend his days lying around doing nothing.
"Then why aren't you married?" Danzo suddenly realized the guy in front of him was also single.
"I'm not like you. I'm just not interested in women," Renya said softly.
It wasn't that he had no interest at all—he just hadn't met anyone he liked.
So, he simply stayed single.
Honestly, he thought being single wasn't so bad.
Danzo's expression grew strange, as if he wanted to say something but decided against it.
Not interested in women? Then... interested in what, exactly?
Hard to guess.
But he didn't dare say it aloud—he feared Renya might beat him to death in embarrassment.
He'd only been Hokage for a few days. It would be a real tragedy to die already.
He had vowed to serve as Hokage for thirty years before retiring!
"You're right. I should think about settling down," Danzo finally admitted.
He was in good shape, his limbs intact, and his face—without that future scar—was actually rather handsome.
And since he was now the Hokage of Konohagakure, if he so much as announced that he was looking to marry, countless women would flock to him immediately.
Renya watched Danzo fall silent in thought, then pulled over a chair and sat down, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"So, do you have anyone in mind?"
He didn't have many hobbies, but gossiping about his friends' love lives was definitely one of them.
"None," Danzo replied irritably, shooting him a glare. Oh, so this topic suddenly caught your interest, huh?
"No problem. I've got some connections around the village. I'll introduce you to a few beautiful girls—you'll definitely find one you like," Renya said with a grin.
"No need. You don't even have a partner yourself, yet you're worrying about me?" Danzo refused flatly.
He was certain Renya was up to no good.
"Tsk. So much for trying to be nice," Renya sighed.
He had just tried to play matchmaker, only to be shot down.
"If you really have nothing to do, I have a few S-rank missions you could take care of," Danzo said, pulling several mission scrolls from a drawer.
"No thanks. The old man's waiting for me to cook," Renya stood up immediately and left the office without a hint of hesitation.
The pay from those missions couldn't even compare to a few days' worth of interest from his investments.
Why bother, when he could just relax at home?
Danzo watched Renya leave in a hurry, sighing quietly to himself.
That guy really had gone soft.
Still, it was fine. As long as the Hokage was here to hold up the village, Renya could keep living his laid-back life.
"As long as I'm here, he can stay lazy forever," Danzo muttered.
"Lord Hokage, here's the intel you asked for."
An Anbu operative appeared in the office, presenting a scroll of intelligence.
Danzo opened it and murmured to himself, "The Uchiha have indeed been unusually quiet lately."
It seemed Uchiha Kagami hadn't lied—he really had managed to temporarily suppress the clan's hawkish faction.
That meant, at least for now, Danzo didn't need to worry about the Uchiha issue and could focus entirely on his work.
...
Within the Uchiha compound.
"Kagami, you're back?"
As Uchiha Kagami walked down the main street of the clan grounds, clan members greeted him warmly with smiles. Before he became Hokage's advisor, he had often faced disdain and exclusion from his own people.
Now, it was completely different—no matter where he went, he was warmly welcomed.
So this is what power feels like?
No wonder Danzo had always dreamed of becoming Hokage. Kagami was starting to understand why—he almost wanted the position himself.
Unfortunately, he knew his limits all too well.
For the Uchiha clan, there was only one way to reach the Hokage's seat—through a coup.
Their nature made them ill-suited to the role, and the rest of the village would never allow an Uchiha to become Hokage anyway. Their reputation said it all.
Both the Uchiha and the Hyūga were difficult to get along with in the village.
The former, because of their temperament.
The latter, because of their rigid traditions.
And though neither clan was easy to deal with, the Hyūga still had a far better reputation than the Uchiha.
...
At the clan leader's residence.
"Is the clan leader home?" Uchiha Kagami called from outside.
"Kagami, what do you want with my father?"
"I came to discuss the clan's future plans with the leader," Kagami explained.
In the past, he never would've had the right to speak on such matters—but things were different now.
As Hokage's advisor, his position in the clan was now nearly equal to that of the clan head.
"Alright, come in."
"Is that your child?"
"Yeah."
"What's his name?"
"Fugaku."