Starting From Being Adopted by the Second Hokage!

The final exams had ended.

The students of the Ninja Academy welcomed a full month of summer vacation.

Everyone chattered loudly about their holiday plans.

"Finally, vacation!" Renya was in high spirits.

With no need to wake up early for school, he'd have more time for training.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Kagami, and Shimura Danzō came to find him.

"Renya-kun, come have a meal with us!" said Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"It's finally vacation—are you really not going to come out and eat with us?" Uchiha Kagami chimed in.

"Yeah, training is dull. You need to relax once in a while."

"Exactly, balance between work and rest..."

The two tried to persuade him in tandem.

They had invited Renya many times before, but he always claimed he had no time. Surely this time, he would?

Shimura Danzō, meanwhile, looked like he'd swallowed a fly.

Did they really have to invite this arrogant guy?

Renya felt they had a point.

He had spent the entire year doing nothing but training—it really was getting tedious. Maybe it was time to relax for a bit...

"Alright," Renya nodded in agreement.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also invited Hyūga Muki and Nara Motoha.

To Renya's surprise, Hyūga Muki actually agreed!

Renya wasn't surprised for no reason.

Over the past year, he had found that Hyūga Muki was an absolute training fanatic—even more intense and hardworking than he was.

A group of six left the academy.

"King of Smug, why are you here too?" Renya asked curiously.

Hyūga Muki was already used to Renya's nickname for him. He said,

"Uchiha Kagami's right—balance is important..."

Ever since he could remember, his father had made him train.

"You are the Hyūga clan's main branch. The future of the family depends on you!"

Under the expectations of his father and the elders, Hyūga Muki trained tirelessly.

He awakened the Byakugan at the age of five, and his reputation as a prodigy spread through the Hyūga clan.

Carrying the burden of his family's future, he could not afford to slack off for even a moment.

But when faced with the others' invitation, Hyūga Muki, for once, didn't refuse.

With finals over, he decided to give himself a half-day break.

"Tomorrow... I'll double my training," Hyūga Muki muttered quietly.

"King of Smug, what did you just say?"

"Nothing."

Walking ahead, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around.

"What does everyone want to eat?"

"I'm good with anything," Renya and Hyūga Muki said in unison.

"Making choices is the most annoying part—I'll leave it to you guys," Nara Motoha said.

"Hiruzen, I'll go with your pick," Uchiha Kagami smiled.

Only Shimura Danzō didn't speak. Everyone looked at him.

Feeling their stares, Danzō awkwardly turned his head.

"Whatever's fine with me."

"In that case, how about barbecue?" suggested Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"No problem." x5

...

The barbecue shop owner spotted them from afar and shouted out:

"Hey Sarutobi kid, we just got a fresh delivery of beef tongue today! Sure you don't want to try it?"

Clearly, Sarutobi Hiruzen was a regular here.

"This place has great barbecue—I come here a lot," Hiruzen explained.

He rubbed his hands together in excitement, his nose already captivated by the aroma of charcoal and sizzling fat, and led the way inside.

At the barbecue restaurant, the six of them gathered around a table.

The meat sizzled on the grill, little sparks from the splattering oil lighting up their faces.

Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up a wooden fan and gently waved it, intensifying the meat's savory aroma and making everyone swallow their saliva.

Renya stared at the barbecue, his eyes glowing.

It had been a while since he last had grilled meat.

The smell was absolutely mouthwatering!

Even before tasting it, he knew it had to be good.

"Behold, my secret sauce!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen mysteriously pulled out a small porcelain bottle and added a few drops of green liquid to his dipping sauce.

"I made this from herbs I found in the forest—guaranteed delicious! Want to try it?"

"Is that... actually edible?" Renya looked doubtful.

It was so green. Could it really taste good?

"Of course it's good! It's the Sarutobi family's secret recipe!" Hiruzen patted his chest confidently.

That got everyone curious. They wanted to know what this secret recipe tasted like.

Shimura Danzō's eyelid twitched wildly.

"Not another one of your weird experiments. Last time, your cursed cooking gave me the runs for a whole day."

He had said the same thing last time.

And afterward, they couldn't stop running to the bathroom...

"Yeah, no thanks." Renya smiled awkwardly.

The others nodded in agreement—they didn't want to get diarrhea either.

"Don't listen to Danzō! Last time was just a fluke... This time it's definitely good!" Hiruzen quickly tried to defend himself.

Unfortunately, no one was willing to give it a shot.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and gave Danzō a wounded look.

If Danzō hadn't blabbed, they could've all enjoyed his special sauce.

"Fine, guess you guys have no taste." Hiruzen picked up a piece of grilled meat, dipped it generously into the sauce, and popped it into his mouth, closing his eyes in bliss.

"Mmm, it's so good. Are you sure you don't want any?"

"If it's that good, then you eat more." Renya picked up a piece of meat and ate it.

The ingredients at this place were very fresh, and the taste was excellent.

Everyone began to dig in with gusto.

Halfway through the meal, Nara Motoha suddenly lowered his voice and said,

"Did you guys hear? I heard that Tōbirama-sama is going to take on students from the Academy!"

Clatter—

The sound of chopsticks falling to the floor echoed.

Renya froze as everything clicked into place. So that's why Senju Tōbirama said the exams were so important.

Turns out, he was planning to take on disciples.

It was likely he'd choose from the top students in Class A.

Renya remembered from the original story—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Uchiha Kagami, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu had all been Tōbirama's disciples.

And the top performers in this year's exams, aside from Hyūga Muki, were...

If nothing changed, Tōbirama's disciples would still be these people.

It seemed the history of the ninja world had not been altered by his arrival.

"Motoha-kun, is that true?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked excitedly.

Shimura Danzō was breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on Nara Motoha.

Uchiha Kagami's face lit up with longing.

"If only I could become Tōbirama-sama's student..."

Hyūga Muki remained calm, still quietly eating his barbecue, seemingly uninterested.

Nara Motoha nodded. "The Hokage-sama told my father himself—the information is absolutely accurate."

"What are Tōbirama-sama's selection criteria?" Danzō asked, no longer his usual calm self.

If he could become Tōbirama-sama's disciple, he could definitely become stronger—stronger than Hiruzen, Hyūga Muki, Uchiha Renya, and Kagami!

"I don't know the specifics," Nara Motoha shook his head.

At that moment, everyone's gaze unconsciously shifted to Renya.

If they remembered correctly... didn't Renya live with Tōbirama-sama?

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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