Killing his way through the ninja world, starting from being adopted by the second generation!

Lianye opened her half-closed eyes.

"No," he said. "What's wrong?"

Uchiha Kagami did not answer immediately.

He looked down at his hands, seemingly considering his words.

"He's been closed for several days."

"Oh," Lian Ye responded calmly. "Maybe something's wrong."

“Nothing’s wrong.” Uchiha Kagami looked up at Renya. “He’s sick. I heard it’s quite serious…”

He was one of the few people who knew about the past relationship between Renya and Shun.

After becoming the head of the Uchiha clan, he learned some things about Renya's time in the orphanage.

Lianye remained silent.

He and Uchiha Shun didn't actually have much interaction; most of those things were the original owner's experiences...

The mirror fell silent.

He sat on the stone bench, looking at the flowers and plants in the yard, thinking about some things.

Uchiha Kagami wasn't very familiar with Uchiha Shun, but he knew of this person.

Within the Uchiha clan, Shun was an inconspicuous figure—his strength wasn't top-tier, his talent wasn't outstanding, and his personality wasn't flamboyant.

But many people in the clan could see his feelings for Lianye.

Jing knew about those years spent wandering around the vegetable market, though others might not.

He also knew that every time Shun waited for Lianye at the market, they wouldn't actually exchange more than a few words. They would just greet each other, ask "How have you been lately?", and then go their separate ways.

But he will still go next time.

For more than a decade, it has been the same.

Later, Renya started taking people to Shun's barbecue restaurant, and Kagami also went there a few times.

He noticed the way Shun looked at Lianye, a cautious look that seemed to say, "I dare not get close, yet I am reluctant to leave."

Even though you have a lot to say, in the end you always end up saying the same few polite words.

"You're here?"

"sit down."

What should we eat today?

that's it.

I didn't dare say another word.

"You said he's sick, what's wrong?"

After a moment of silence, Lian Ye asked.

"The hidden wounds left on the battlefield have never healed."

Uchiha Kagami explained.

The effects are minimal when you're young, but become increasingly fatal over time.

Most ninjas rarely live to see their natural death.

"I see."

Uchiha Shun's residence.

The boy who was once half a head taller than Lian Ye now huddled on the bed like a dry piece of firewood.

His hair had turned quite white; although he was not yet forty, he looked more than ten years older.

His face was pale, his lips were dry and chapped, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Uchiha Shun was stunned for a moment, and then subconsciously tried to sit up.

"...Why are you here?"

Lianye did not answer.

He moved a chair to sit on the edge of the bed, placed the fruit on the bedside table, and silently observed Shun's face.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

"Has the injury relapsed?" Lian Ye finally spoke.

Uchiha Shun forced a smile. "It's an old problem, nothing serious."

This situation was clearly a sign that he was about to die, but he said it was nothing serious.

Lian Ye naturally wouldn't believe such a lame excuse.

"Take good care of yourself, I'll come to see you often."

Medical ninjutsu is not a panacea; even with Tsunade's treatment, it can only barely maintain vital signs.

It cannot be completely cured.

"it is good."

In the days that followed, Renya frequently visited Uchiha Shun and brought Tsunade with her to help him with his treatment.

His condition has stabilized, but his life is still in danger at any time.

Uchiha Shun took it in stride; life and death were things everyone had to go through sooner or later.

He would occasionally think back to his days in the orphanage.

Two orphans squeezed into a narrow bed, sharing their hard-earned food.

They were all happy back then, unaware of concepts like stance, family, or drifting apart.

If only time could stand still.

But time is the cruelest thing in the world...

It took everyone away, turning everything that should and shouldn't have been kept into memories, leaving only a dying man who ran a barbecue restaurant and another idle fish hero who liked to bask in the sun.

They were all in the village, breathing the same air, looking at the same sky, but they could never be together again.

Uchiha Shun died in the end.

He died the day after Tsunade had performed countless treatments on him.

Uchiha Shun's funeral was held on a cloudy day.

The cemetery was chosen on a hillside east of the Uchiha clan's territory, a rather remote location.

The person in charge of the arrangements in the clan said that he was all alone and had no family, so he didn't need to take a good spot.

Not many people came.

A few old neighbors, regulars at the barbecue restaurant, and two teammates from back then.

Lianye stood at the very back of the crowd.

He wasn't wearing black clothes or flowers; he just stood there, a few steps away from everyone else.

After the funeral, the crowd slowly dispersed.

Only Lianye remained on the hillside.

He walked to the new grave and stood there for a long time.

The wind blew from the hillside, making the hem of his clothes flutter.

He took one last look at the grave, then turned and headed down the mountain.

As he walked out of the Uchiha clan compound, the guards at the gate saw him, their expressions changed, but they said nothing.

Lianye walked through them without stopping, all the way back to her home.

Lying in the chair, I felt that winter was colder than usual.

If there weren't various reasons, he and Shun would most likely have become good friends.

……

……

P.S.: Actually, in my initial conception, Shun was supposed to be the protagonist's friend, but later I felt that the protagonist being adopted by Tobirama yet associating with the Uchiha clan made him seem a bit ungrateful, so I changed it.

Chapter 55 If Renya were to become Hokage

The Hokage's office.

"Uncle, what do you want with us?"

Renya was enjoying a peaceful moment of sunshine at home when Tobirama Senju summoned her, along with Danzo Shimura and a few others.

Everyone looked curiously at Tobirama Senju, who was in the main seat, not understanding what had happened.

"I'm preparing to retire." Tobirama Senju looked at the group and said in a deep voice, "I called you here to discuss the successor to the Third Hokage."

Upon hearing this, the group's breathing quickened.

The Third Hokage!

It seems that Tobirama-sensei meant that he would choose from among them!

Thinking of this, they all looked at Lianye, who was almost putting her feet on the desk.

Although this guy is incredibly lazy, he's the best candidate for Hokage in every way.

Of course, we're leaving aside academic performance.

Danzo Shimura unconsciously clenched his fists.

I wish he could become Hokage...

With Renya around, he and Hiruzen had no chance at all and could only wait to compete for the Fourth Hokage in the future.

"Who among you wants to become Hokage?"

Tobirama Senju looked at the silent group, his gaze finally settling on Renya, who was yawning.

His lips twitched slightly. This kid was really unreliable, so undisciplined even in a situation like this.

Shimura Danzo and the others remained silent, glancing occasionally at Renya, who was picking her nose and yawning.

Why are you all looking at me like that?

Lianye belatedly realized that something was wrong.

Aren't these guys discussing who should be the Third Hokage?

Why are you all staring at him?!

"Boy, are you willing to become the Third Hokage?" Tobirama Senju coughed lightly.

Renya is universally recognized as the best successor to the Hokage, especially among the villagers and ninjas who are unaware of his academic performance.

This guy is definitely the village's hero and pride!

It is widely expected that he would become the Hokage.

Even Hiruzen and Danzo, who both desperately wanted to become Hokage, showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever...

"Make me Hokage?"

Lian Ye pointed to herself incredulously, her face showing an expression of familiarity.

"Uncle, are you alright?"

The Hokage gets up earlier than the chickens and goes to bed later than the dogs every day.

Only a fool would want to be Hokage, right? Isn't it better to stay home and sunbathe?

“Yes, what do you think?” Tobirama Senju nodded in agreement.

If this kid is willing, he'll be the Third Hokage tomorrow!