"Kakashi's eye has already been replaced with the Sharingan," Seeing that Rengoku was currently in thought, Sota added.
"There's actually still a Sharingan," A dangerous light flashed through Rengoku's eyes.
'Looks like Danzo still has a stockpile, or… is it pried from his hands?'
"Elder Rengoku, I haven't had the time to report this piece of intelligence to our clan leader."
Hearing this sentence, Rengoku was a bit surprised and looked at Sota, "Why?"
Sota said calmly, "Our clan leader doesn't need this kind of information. Only Elder Rengoku does."
Rengoku's expression showed some amusement, "Fine, I'll remember this favor, let's get a bit closer in the future."
"Then I'll take my leave," Sota gave Rengoku a salute, then straightforwardly retreated.
Rengoku's fingers tapped on the tabletop, letting out a continuous knocking sound.
Those last two sentences from Sota clearly carried deeper meaning, given his identity.
'It seems like he has some thoughts of his own.'
'Is it purely to curry favor?'
'Or is there some dissatisfaction with the main family?'
Rengoku didn't ponder too long, after all, it wasn't too related to him.
On the contrary, if Sota wanted to cooperate with him, then it would make Rengoku's gaze focus even more.
He could probe more in the future, if Sota wanted to work with him... Then he could make use of him.
'At this critical juncture, sending Kakashi out after restoring his eye, it must be an important matter.'
After thinking it through, Rengoku decided to have someone follow.
The shadow under his feet moved and slipped out along the window ledge, following the direction Kakashi had left.
———
Ding~ Ding~ Ding~…
The school bell rang.
Rengoku also quickly arrived at the class Sasuke was in.
The students in the class had just finished their ninja tool throwing class and returned to the classroom to grab their lunch boxes.
"Good afternoon, Principal."
"Good afternoon, Principal…"
The little carrot-heads in the classroom greeted Rengoku one after another, and Rengoku nodded and returned the salute one by one.
"Shishou," Karin had already packed her things, and when she saw Rengoku arrive, she immediately ran to his side.
Rengoku smiled and reached out to rub Karin's red hair, "From now on, I'll come pick you up from school."
Karin was extremely happy and shook Rengoku's arm, "That's great, Shishou."
To Karin, a life without fear or anxiety was her biggest dream.
There was nothing more blissful than her mother no longer being treated like a blood bag and being able to eat her fill.
This change, all started from the day she met Rengoku.
So every time she saw Rengoku, she felt lucky and happy.
Rengoku's gaze went past Karin and looked toward Sasuke in the classroom. Sasuke had just finished packing his things.
Behind him were Gaara and Naruto.
Gaara didn't have a lunchbox, but he had subconsciously followed Naruto and the others in.
Naruto was chattering nonstop, saying a lot, but Gaara spoke very little.
It was just that his face clearly looked softer.
Being captured by Naruto was only a matter of time.
Gaara's sand-controlling ability was actually dependent on the chakra inside his body.
When his chakra was sealed, he couldn't control sand at all.
After sealing Gaara's chakra, Gaara's offensive power was immediately reduced by ninety-nine percent.
Combined with his special identity, there was actually no one in the class who dared provoke him.
The teachers didn't even know what it meant for a jinchuriki to be attending class.
However, since Gaara was rather quiet, they just pretended he wasn't there.
Gaara sat silently for the whole day in school.
But this environment and experience made Gaara feel quite curious.
And having Naruto beside him talking the whole time made the time pass quickly.
The few of them walked together to the school gate.
Rengoku didn't deliberately greet Naruto, 'Now isn't the time.'
"Let's go, Gaara. Time to head back."
Gaara turned his face and stiffly said to Naruto, "I'm leaving."
Hearing Gaara take the initiative to speak to him, Naruto's face bloomed with a bright smile, "Okay, see you tomorrow."
Saying that, Naruto ran off in the direction of his home.
Rengoku observed briefly, 'Sure enough, the Anbu have all withdrawn.'
The Hyuga clan members weren't standing as close as the Anbu.
Rengoku couldn't even see the Hyuga clan members with the naked eye.
After all, they had the Byakugan, so they were watching from very far away.
Rengoku only sensed that some line of sight was focused on Naruto.
He withdrew his gaze and said to Sasuke beside him, "Sasuke, want to ride up here?"
He said while pointing at his neck.
Sasuke noticed Karin was watching him and coughed once, "Shishou, I'm already grown up."
Karin tugged Rengoku's hand, "Shishou, what are you two talking about?"
"Like this."
Rengoku pulled with one hand and had already picked up Karin and placed her on one of his shoulders.
Karin let out a surprised cry, her entire perspective changed.
This was a brand new experience for Karin.
"So high, hehe…"
"If Sasuke doesn't want to ride, then I'll let Karin ride every day."
"Karin, do you like it?"
Karin laughed happily, "I like it, Shishou."
Since childhood, she had depended on her mother, drifting from place to place, never experiencing this kind of affection. Her eyes were full of happiness.
Sasuke looked at the happy Karin and felt warm in his heart, but stubbornly said, "I don't want to ride anyway."
Rengoku reached out and ruffled Sasuke's hair, "Let's go. Your brother is waiting at home."
Thinking of how his brother was no longer a missing-nin, Sasuke instantly beamed and walked ahead cheerfully.
Gaara, walking behind them, stared blankly at this warm scene.
Since Yashamaru's death, he hadn't felt love again.
Yet Karin and Sasuke could so easily obtain it.
A trace of envy appeared in Gaara's eyes. These things were things he could never have.
"Let's go, Gaara," Rengoku saw Gaara wasn't moving and called to him.
Gaara pulled himself out of that emotion and silently followed Rengoku forward.
After walking a few steps, seeing Karin on Rengoku's shoulder with a joyful face, Gaara stopped in his tracks.
"When will you let me go?"
This place was too different from the environment he used to live in, he felt it wasn't real.
Rengoku turned his head, "You're a very promising person. I don't want to let you go."
Gaara was silent for a few seconds, "Because of Shukaku?"
Rengoku chuckled lightly, "What's Shukaku worth? You're much stronger than Shukaku."
Gaara heard the meaning in Rengoku's words and instead found it hard to believe, "But I… can't control Shukaku."
Rengoku rolled his eyes, "That's because Sunagakure's sealing is bad."
"Rasa only knows how to squeeze you. If it were him, he still couldn't suppress Shukaku."
"He couldn't handle it himself but insisted on forcing you to."
"Clearly you're more useful than Shukaku, yet he only sees Shukaku."
Gaara's expression was complicated, "Really?"
Rengoku stepped up and patted Gaara's shoulder, "Let's go. When I become Uchiha clan head, your village will send someone to ransom you."
Gaara grunted in a muffled tone, then followed Rengoku forward.
The corners of Rengoku's mouth curled slightly. If he couldn't even handle a kid this young, what was the point of talking about dominating the ninja world?
Back at home, there were still Kurotsuchi and Deidara. Though Kurotsuchi was just a bargaining chip, useful as a tradeable item.
But Deidara was tied to one of his experimental plans.
However, how to discuss art with Deidara was something Rengoku would need to put some thought into.
[T/N: So, I may have changed '—Sensei' to '—Shishou' because it fits better according to the raw. But if you all think I should change back to '—Sensei', let me know.]
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