"Guy-sensei, Rock Lee... and Neji, don't rush back. I'll treat everyone to a meal." After the intense sparring session, as the group turned to leave the ravaged Forest of Death, Ren preemptively extended an invitation.
"Hahaha, okay!" Might Guy, ever the straightforward spirit with a strong bond with Ren, accepted without hesitation. "It's very late; most restaurants are closing, or I'll just come to your house to eat!"
"It just so happens that I can have a couple of drinks, and I'll rest at your house for the night when I'm drunk!" Might Guy... truly didn't treat himself as an outsider.
Ren was also happy: "Okay, if Rock Lee and Neji are too lazy to go back, they can also stay at my house." Ren's house had recently been renovated, expanding to over a thousand square meters, so it could naturally accommodate a few more people from Might Guy's team.
Rock Lee, much like Might Guy, was a person who followed his instincts to the end, uncomplicated by complex thoughts. "Really, Ren-aniki?!"
"Okay, then I'm staying at Ren-aniki's house today!"
And Hyūga Neji... He was a clan disciple of the Hyūga clan, bound by relatively many etiquette rules. And Hyūga Neji had always had some things he did his own way. Of course, he wouldn't typically stay in someone else's house.Even before today, Hyūga Neji wouldn't even have gone to Ren's house for dinner at this time. But having just witnessed the raw power of Ren and Might Guy... he still couldn't refuse to dine with these two powerhouses who had shattered his worldview.
On the way home, passing by some restaurants that hadn't closed yet, Ren ordered a few dishes and packed them to take home.
Arrived at home, the group happily held a small banquet together.
"Hahaha, this wine is really strong! Come, come, Ren, drink with me, otherwise I'll be so lonely drinking alone!" In Ren's house, in the spacious banquet hall, Might Guy was slightly drunk and in a very good mood. With his face flushed from drink, he urged Ren to raise a glass with him.
At the table, except for Might Guy, no one was an adult... well... Although Ren was also underage, in Might Guy's eyes, Ren was no longer a child.
"No, no, Guy-sensei, I'm still a child! Is it appropriate for you to persuade me to drink like this?" Ren vetoed. As a craftsman, drinking too much would cause the craftsman's nerves to be paralyzed. After a long time, the body would feel slightly numb, which was not good for forging. Especially for me, whose high-tech blueprints from the forging system require ultra-high precision. If there was a slight difference... that would lead to a vastly different result.
Of course, this did not mean that I couldn't drink. I also had a few drinks every now and then, which wouldn't affect my body. But... Might Guy... Drinking with Might Guy, the kind of person who drank until he passed out... Guy-sensei would kill me. So Ren simply used the excuse of "being a child" to shirk.
Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food. Might Guy and Rock Lee enjoyed their meal very much. As for Rock Lee... his face was also bright red — Might Guy saw that drunk Ren couldn't do it, so he asked Rock Lee to accompany him to drink.
During the meal, Hyūga Neji also gathered up his courage and asked Ren, "Ren... Senior, can I ask how you became so strong in such a short period of time? Can you teach me this secret?" Hyūga Neji wasn't familiar with Ren, so it was obviously presumptuous to ask such a question. But Ren didn't blame him.
He smiled and said, "If you want to become stronger, it's easy! You learn from Rock Lee, and if you practice more, you will naturally become stronger."
Hyūga Neji frowned, clearly not satisfied with Ren's answer.
"Heaven places a great responsibility on the people of this land; they must first suffer in their will, labor their muscles and bones, and starve their bodies and skin..." Ren recited a famous proverb from a previous life.
Hyūga Neji was startled, and carefully savored Ren's words. Heaven has come to do great things for the people... great individuals...Neji Hyūga indeed had a great task! He was dissatisfied that the members of the Hyūga branch family were cursed with the Caged Bird Seal by the main family. He wanted to overthrow this system of the Hyūga clan! Wasn't this a great task?!
"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance!" Hyūga Neji thanked Ren respectfully.
After a while, Hyūga Neji said to the already drunk Might Guy: "Teacher, I also want to learn the Eight Gates Formation (Hachimon Tonkō), can Teacher Guy teach it to me?"
At this time, Might Guy was already thoroughly drunk. His hearing had decreased, and he didn't notice that Hyūga Neji was talking to him.
"Guy-sensei..." Hyūga Neji spoke again.
"This technique won't be taught to you." Ren answered Hyūga Neji for Might Guy.
"Why?"
"The Eight Gates Formation technique... It's a forbidden technique, and it's not a good thing to say. The Eight Gates Formation is a forbidden technique that is considered to be overdrawn at the cost of vitality..."
"I'm not afraid!" Hyūga Neji hurriedly replied.
"It's not a question of whether you're afraid or not, it's that you simply can't bear the backlash from the Eight Gates Formation!"
"Then what about Rock Lee..."
Ren rolled his eyes angrily: "Rock Lee maintains high-intensity exercise every day, and his physical fitness is already very strong, so he can use the Eight Gates Formation."
Hyūga Neji lowered his head to think for a moment, and said, "Is that so... But I can also exercise!"
Ren chuckled softly, "Let me tell you this: apart from me and Guy-sensei in Konoha... Rock Lee should be the one with the strongest physique in Konoha." He paused a little, then Ren added: "Even Lord Hokage may not be as strong as Rock Lee!"
Hyūga Neji was stunned. He had thought that it was eccentric that Might Guy only taught Rock Lee and not him... It turns out...
"Rock Lee..." Hyūga Neji whispered in a low voice.
"Yo, looking at your posture, are you ready to drink all night?" At this time, a crisp, regal-sounding voice came from the door. A blonde with a curvaceous, explosive figure stood at the door and appeared in everyone's field of vision.
"Tsun... Tsunade, Lady Tsunade!" Might Guy immediately sobered up, his posture straightening. As a ninja from an earlier era, Might Guy had immense respect for Lady Tsunade, one of the Three Legendary Sannin.
"Lady Tsunade, why are you here?!" Might Guy immediately gave Tsunade a subordinate's salute and asked.
"You are..." Tsunade frowned; she didn't seem to know this person very well.
"He's my teacher, Might Guy." Ren introduced him to Tsunade.
"Oh? Your teacher?" Tsunade looked Might Guy up and down, then explained to him: "Why am I here... I will live in Ren's house during my time in Konoha. Well, is that answer okay?"
Might Guy's mouth opened wide in shock, revealing his white teeth. At the same time, he looked at Ren in disbelief... This kid... has such a good relationship with Lady Tsunade?!
"Lady Tsunade, are you looking for me for something?" Ren ignored Might Guy's reaction and turned to look at Tsunade.
Tsunade glanced at Might Guy.
Might Guy immediately said: "We should withdraw!"
"Forget it, don't avoid it, it's not a big deal." Tsunade nodded: "I was going to talk to you after you finished your gathering, but looking at your posture, you were going to drink all night, so I came to you."
Ren tilted his head and listened quietly.
"The transfer order has officially come down, and your current position has officially been transferred to Anbu Captain." (Translator note: Ren's current rank is Team Captain, promoted into Anbu Captain of one of many departments of Anbu.)
"Old Sarutobi also asked me to inform you, to have you, a promising graduate of the ninja academy, go back to the ninja academy, cheer up the younger generation, and encourage the new generation of Konoha."
"An... Anbu... Captain?!" Might Guy was startled again. Anbu squad leader... I could still say that I was on an equal footing with Ren... But the captain of an Anbu department... This position in the village was even higher than me who was a Jōnin!
Although it was said that status didn't always mean strength, at this age, with such strength, and having also entered the core of Anbu in Konoha and served as the Anbu Captain... This disciple of his, Ren... was truly too promising! How long had it taken him to surpass me as a teacher? It was just that the "blue was better than the blue" (meaning the student surpassed the master), huh?! Might Guy was a little emotional. But more in his heart was his blessing for his excellent disciple.
"Ren, congratulations!" Rock Lee: "Wow, Big Brother Ren, you are amazing!" Hyūga Neji: "That... congratulations."
"Okay, the matter has been communicated to you; you drink slowly, I'm going back to sleep." As for Tsunade, after she notified Ren of the news, she bid farewell to everyone.