Chapter 576: Chapter 576: You Didn’t Die
"I didn’t expect Renya to call us over for a meal."
At the entrance of Senju Tobirama’s mansion, Koharu said with a look of surprise.
Since the end of the war, Renya hadn’t invited them to his home for a long time.
Usually, gatherings took place at the restaurants under Renya’s name; he never cooked personally.
"Koharu, you’re here too." Uchiha Kagami said with a smile. "I didn’t expect Renya to be so generous today, inviting us over for a meal."
They had all been busy with their own matters and didn’t know about the group that went to the moon to retrieve Hyūga Muki.
"Being nice for no reason is either trickery or theft." Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses. "If he’s inviting us without cause, there’s definitely something fishy!"
Renya spent all day lounging at home in the sun or traveling across the ninja world.
Besides Tobirama-sensei and Orochimaru being busy with research, no one else—even Danzo—ever got to taste Renya’s cooking, let alone their former comrades.
"What are you standing at the door for?" Nara Motoha looked at the three gathered at the entrance and asked curiously, "Since you’re already here, why not go in?"
"Motoha-kun, you’re here too." Koharu explained. "We’re just wondering why Renya invited us for a meal."
Motoha himself didn’t know the reason either, but thought it must be related to Hyūga Muki.
He just didn’t say it aloud.
"What’s there to guess? We’ll know once we go inside."
"That’s true."
Without further hesitation, they pushed the door open and went in.
"You’re here."
As soon as they entered the yard, they saw Danzo Shimura lying in the sun, and sounds came from the kitchen—it was obvious that Renya was busy inside.
Koharu glanced at the kitchen and then at the relaxed Danzo, her eyes lighting up as if she had thought of something amusing.
"Danzo learned some bad habits from Renya." Uchiha Kagami laughed.
He knew that Danzo had made Hiruzen the acting Hokage while he and Renya went traveling.
Hiruzen had complained to him about it a lot during that period.
"Sunbathing is healthy anyway," Danzo Shimura stretched. She had arrived early this morning.
To be honest, Renya’s cooking wasn’t as fast as before; he had really become more lax over the years.
He considered whether, when he returned to the office to handle official duties, he should have Renya deliver a meal to him too.
Given their relationship, if Danzo asked, Renya probably wouldn’t refuse.
After all, he already delivered meals to Senju Tobirama and Orochimaru, so sending one to him wouldn’t be a big deal.
But Danzo didn’t want his good friend to overexert himself.
That guy spent all day lying in the sun—having him make another trip would surely exhaust him...
"Where’s Hiruzen? Renya didn’t invite him?"
Mitokado Homura looked around but didn’t see Sarutobi Hiruzen, asking in confusion.
"He should be arriving soon." Danzo Shimura didn’t want Hiruzen to follow them on their travels, but he wouldn’t prevent anyone from coming to eat here.
He wasn’t that domineering...
The fact that he hadn’t arrived yet only meant his administrative duties weren’t finished.
After a while of talking in the yard, Sarutobi Hiruzen dragged his tired body into the yard.
Since becoming acting Hokage, the high-intensity work seemed to have aged him several years.
"Sorry, I’m late."
He said, glancing resentfully at Danzo Shimura, still lying in the sun on a chair.
Damn it, he got up early to handle official duties, and this guy was just lying here sunbathing.
"Come inside and sit. Why are you all standing in the yard?"
Hearing the conversation in the yard, Renya peeked his head out and spoke to them.
He was busy enough that his spatula was practically smoking; he had no energy to chat with them.
Danzo Shimura got up first, and the others followed suit.
As they entered the house, they froze when they saw someone inside.
"You are... Hyūga Muki?"
Facing their shocked gazes, Hyūga Muki smiled and nodded.
"Long time no see, everyone."
"You didn’t die?!" Uchiha Kagami’s eyes widened—they had always thought Muki had died on the battlefield.
And yet today, they saw him in Renya’s house.
Wait, why is he in Renya’s house?!
Koharu immediately noticed something.
Could it be that Muki had been hidden by Renya all these years?
If that were the case, wouldn’t Danzo be angry?
Thinking this, she instinctively looked at Danzo Shimura and saw no sign of displeasure or anger on his profile.
Tsk, it seems he already knew.
Hyūga Muki noticed a strange gaze on him. Looking up, he met Koharu’s excited eyes.
Hyūga Muki: "???"
What’s happening? Why is she looking at me like that?
Fortunately, Koharu realized her mistake and quickly averted her gaze, smiling apologetically.
Hyūga Muki didn’t know what had happened, but still smiled.
"Food’s ready."
Soon, Master Renya, busy all morning in the kitchen, brought out the prepared dishes.
"You’ve been lying in the sun long enough—why are you just standing there? Help me serve the food."
Renya looked at the idle Danzo, speaking irritably.
When did this guy become so lazy? Looks like I spoiled him; at his age, he’s still so childish.
Danzo Shimura: "..."
My good friend has really changed—now he’s bossing me around.
He never did this before...
"Renya, I’ll help you." Koharu spoke up in time to smooth things over.
It seemed Hyūga Muki’s presence had affected the dynamics among them.
Well, I’ll help smooth things over—everyone has it hard.
Can’t let it affect their friendship.
The three of them went to the kitchen to bring the dishes, and soon the table was full.
At first, Renya had only intended to invite Hyūga Muki, not even considering inviting his good friend Danzo.
After all, who made him the lab subject in the first place?
Making some food to compensate wasn’t unreasonable.
But Muki thought the two of them would be too lonely, so he had Renya invite their former classmates.
It had been many years since they had last seen them.
At the table, they learned from Renya about Hyūga Muki’s experiences over the years, each feeling deeply moved.
They hadn’t expected their old classmate to have this hidden identity.
Hyūga Muki sat to Renya’s left, Danzo Shimura sat to his right, and Koharu occasionally cast unusual glances at the three.
The three involved felt inexplicably awkward.
Why is she looking at me like that...
