Ren's past life.(EDITED).
A Glimpse Before Rebirth
Before I was Ren Senju—before chakra, jutsu, and the weight of a legendary bloodline—I was just… me.
A 22-year-old guy.
Nothing special. Nothing extraordinary. No cursed blood. No secret powers. No war-torn past. Just another quiet soul living a regular life in a modern world.
I had a part-time job, watched too much anime, and wasted time scrolling through screens hoping for something exciting. That excitement never came—not until the end.
Death wasn't painful. It was sudden. Clean. One careless moment, and everything faded to black.
But instead of nothingness, I found… something. Or someone.
A voice. A presence. A being that offered me a second chance.
Five wishes.
And a new life in a world I once only watched from behind a screen—the Naruto world.
It was a no-brainer.
**Wish one:** Power.
**Wish two:** Protection from things beyond my control.
**Wish three:** Talent, but with the price of effort.
**Wish four:** A chance to revive the Senju legacy.
**Wish five…** Tsunade.
Yes, her.
The strongest kunoichi. A woman admired by many but truly loved by none. In my old life, Tsunade wasn't just a fictional character. She was my favorite—flawed, brilliant, and painfully human. She laughed, bled, broke, and rose again. And somehow, I always felt… maybe she deserved someone who could see past the title of "Sannin." Someone who understood the woman beneath the name.
So I made that my final wish—not to possess her, but to **earn her**. To be reborn in a way that would let me grow beside her—not beneath her shadow.
And here I am.
Reborn into the Senju clan.
Technically six years younger than her in body. I'm six. She's twenty-two. But mentally? I'm twenty-eight. I've lived another life. We're equals in mind and spirit, even if the world doesn't see it yet.
I know what some might think—about age, about appearances—but here's the truth: I'm not a child inside. I've made adult decisions. Carried regrets. Felt heartbreak. Shouldered responsibilities. I know pain. I know loneliness. I know what it means to fall and stand again.
And more importantly… I'm not forcing anything.
This isn't a fairytale. Tsunade doesn't even realize her feelings yet. She treats me with subtle respect, a quiet fondness growing between us. There's an unspoken connection forming—slow, cautious, and honest. I'm not rushing it. I'm not pushing. I'm building trust, one moment at a time.
When I'm older—when I stand beside her as an equal in strength, age, and spirit—I'll tell her everything.
Until then, I train. I learn. I grow.
And I wait.
Not just for power. Not just for strength.
But for the right time.
Because love isn't about claiming someone—it's about **earning** them.
And I will earn her.
Not as a boy chasing a woman…
But as a man walking beside her.
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**Author's Clarification (From Dreaming\_Dragon97):**
This chapter gives a glimpse into Ren's past life and explains the mental age dynamic between him and Tsunade. Ren is currently six years old physically, while Tsunade is twenty-two. However, Ren retains the soul and mind of a 28-year-old man. The bond between them is built slowly, respectfully, and over time. There is **nothing forced or inappropriate**. Their emotional connection is subtle, meaningful, and part of a long-term arc.
While I've hinted that Tsunade is fated to be Ren's wife, this is something that will happen **far in the future**. They won't marry anytime soon. The story will explore several ways Ren may naturally close the age gap, both physically and situationally.
💬 **Spoiler for readers still concerned:**
I promise that at the actual time of their marriage, **Ren will be physically younger than Tsunade by only five years**, preserving both narrative logic and emotional comfort. I'll be shortening the Ren timeline through my own in-universe reasoning that won't disappoint readers or break the story's internal consistency.
So don't worry. This is a slow-burn story of growth, respect, and eventual romance. Thank you for your support—and please keep reading to see how their journey unfolds.