"Ugh, this is miserable. Newgate must have been serving bootleg liquor."
Waking up in the early morning, Ren sat propped up in bed, his expression slightly contorted.
His head felt foggy, and a dull ache throbbed rhythmically. Ren couldn't help but rub his temples; a hangover was truly unpleasant.
Knock, knock, knock!
"My Lord, I heard movement inside. May I enter?"
A knock sounded at the door, and Shisui's gentle voice reached the room.
After receiving Ren's permission, Shisui walked in carrying a tray with a teapot on it.
Ren straightened up, glanced at the teacup, and asked, "What is that?"
"I saw that you drank quite a bit last night, so I had some sobering soup prepared this morning. I thought it would help clear your head once you woke up."
Shisui placed the tray on the nightstand, poured a cup, and handed it to Ren.
Ren took it, and as he recalled the events of the previous day, his face twitched involuntarily.
"Kaido and Newgate were too wild last night. They kept pushing drinks on me. Even Sengoku and Garp were egging them on. Then there was Linlin, lurking and adding to the mess, insisting on sleeping with me... Sigh..."
Taking a small sip of the soup, Ren's eyes lit up.
"It's sweet."
It wasn't bitter as he had imagined. Ren drained the cup in one gulp.
Shisui took the empty cup, poured another, and said with a smile, "It was a rare victory banquet, after all. You successfully secured the Ninja World's Pure Land. Whether it's Whitebeard and his crew or our own people, everyone is sincerely happy for you."
"That still doesn't mean they had to keep drowning me in alcohol."
Ren grumbled, but he didn't actually feel any resentment toward Whitebeard and the others.
Ultimately, he had been in high spirits himself, which was why he let loose at the banquet and drank with Whitebeard and the rest until well past midnight.
The only thing he hadn't expected was that the wine Whitebeard provided was so potent; its aftereffects were quite something.
"Shisui, give me a massage."
Ren beckoned to Shisui.
Shisui set down the teapot, stepped forward to kneel at the head of the bed, and reached out to catch Ren as he leaned back. He began to gently massage Ren's head.
Ren closed his eyes, savoring the treatment.
Feeling the gentle pressure from Shisui's hands, he couldn't help but let out a comfortable moan and a sigh of appreciation.
"Shisui, I'm lucky to have you."
"If you hadn't helped me deflect those drinks last night, I might not have even woken up this morning, let alone had this soup ready... I'm finding it harder and harder to do without you."
Hearing this, the smile on Shisui's face became even more genuine, reflecting his true feelings.
"I am just glad to be of service, My Lord."
A warm breath brushed against his forehead. Ren opened his eyes a sliver and looked at Shisui's smooth profile, asking curiously, "Shisui, I saw you drinking quite a bit too. How come you aren't drunk? You look perfectly fine this morning."
"I am your ninja, so I must maintain constant vigilance to protect your safety," Shisui replied with a look of pride.
"Really?"
Ren reached out and gave Shisui's cheek a firm pinch, kneading it back and forth.
"This is the City of the Underworld, my city. You don't need to be so guarded here."
"Protecting you is my mission. I cannot let my guard down anywhere!"
Shisui let his head sway with the force of Ren's hand. His speech became slurred because of it, but his resolve remained unshakable.
Closing his eyes again, Ren asked, "It should be late by now, right?"
"Yes, it's ten minutes to nine," Shisui said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "As for breakfast, I've already notified the kitchen. It will be ready soon."
"Alcohol really does interfere with business. It's been a long time since I've slept this late."
Ren snapped his eyes open and turned toward the clock. It was exactly as Shisui said.
Just as he was about to get up, Shisui's hands pressed down on his shoulders, pulling him back.
"My Lord, today's schedule has nothing important on it."
"As for the souls harvested from the Ninja World... Lord Fugaku and the others are already recruiting and processing them. You only need to appear for the final review stage."
"In other words, you can rest for the entire morning."
Ren hearing this stopped moving and pulled the blanket back over himself.
"Tell Sengoku and the others to send people over as well to see if anything was missed."
"Understood."
Shisui called out to the door. A Marine soldier on duty walked to the entrance and offered a military salute.
After giving the order to the soldier, Shisui turned his attention back to Ren.
Ren took advantage of the free morning. After a simple breakfast, he let his lingering grogginess carry him back to sleep.
By the time he woke up again, it was noon.
"Hah... No wonder Yoruichi loves sleeping in so much. It really is comfortable."
Ren was awakened by Shisui. He yawned as he dressed with Shisui's help.
This time, the previous intoxication had vanished completely, leaving him feeling refreshed and energetic.
After a quick lunch in his room, Ren led Shisui to a wide hall.
Upon entering, he saw a flurry of busy figures.
Fugaku, Sengoku, and several others were at desks piled high with documents, writing furiously.
Seeing Ren arrive, the two stopped their work and bowed respectfully. Fugaku said, "My Lord, based on this morning's interactions, most of the powerhouses from the Ninja World have agreed to our recruitment and are willing to serve under you."
Sengoku handed over a stack of bound folders. "This is the information on those experts we just organized. Since we only just met them, this is all we have for now. Their personal profiles aren't yet comprehensive."
Ren took the folders, scanned them briefly, and then looked at Fugaku.
"Fugaku, I remember you gave me some materials before that contained information on the experts of the Ninja World. Have you cross-referenced them?"
"It has already been done," Fugaku replied solemnly.
He took a book from the desk and handed it to Ren.
Ren looked at the book, his thoughts drifting back. He remembered this was the gift the Uchiha clan had given him when he married Yoruichi Shihoin.
It recorded the identity information of every powerhouse that had emerged since Hashirama Senju established the hidden village system.
The Uchiha clan had seen that Ren coveted those experts from the Ninja World, so they had offered this intelligence as a token of their allegiance.
The intent was crystal clear: it catered to Ren's desires while further demonstrating their stance, cutting ties with the Ninja World completely.
Fugaku continued, "There is one more thing. Orochimaru intends to stay in the Ninja World for a while longer and hasn't come over yet. He said he wants to collect those separated souls."
"Then let him be. Let him live in the Ninja World a little longer."
Ren handed the documents to Shisui behind him and said to the group, "Come, accompany me to see these people."
Everyone followed Ren to a side hall of the main building.
Though called a side hall, the interior was incredibly spacious, with a ceiling twenty meters high and an area the size of a football field.
Defensive barriers had already been set up along the four walls and corners. A row of desks was neatly arranged against the front wall, while a simple set of tables and chairs stood in the center of the room.
Ren sat in the very center. To his right were Shisui and Fugaku, and to his left were Sengoku and Tsuru, whom Sengoku had called in to help.
A row of Marine soldiers on duty stood on either side of the desks.
Naturally, the first to see Ren were the Hokage of past generations.
Creak.
The door slowly opened, and three Hokage stepped forward together.
Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze.
Sengoku pointed to the chairs in the center of the room, and after the three were seated, he spoke slowly.
"You three learned enough this morning about the affairs of the Ninja World and the series of events that followed."
"This war was the Ninja World's defeat. The Pure Land is now under our control. The dust has settled, and it is time for you to fulfill your previous agreement."
Sengoku rested his hands on the desk, his glasses reflecting a stark white light. His slightly raspy voice carried an undeniable firmness.
The three Hokage looked up at the five people before them. Minato Namikaze thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom he hadn't seen all morning. His gaze fell on Ren in the center, his face showing concern.
"This morning, you didn't give a response regarding the treatment of the Third Hokage. I want to know what you will do to him..."
"Fourth, I have a plan for that matter."
Before Minato could finish, Tobirama Senju interrupted him.
He also looked at Ren and asked, "Lord Shinigami, you said before that you would hand the Monkey over to the Uchiha clan to handle and that you wouldn't interfere. I want to confirm once more if that is truly the case?"
"Naturally," Ren nodded slightly.
With Ren's confirmation, the severity on Tobirama's face eased slightly, and his tone softened.
"Good then." He looked at Fugaku. "Uchiha Fugaku, you are now the leader of the Uchiha clan. Along with Setsuna and Kakkaku, I would like to speak with you in detail about the Monkey after today's session."
Fugaku and Tobirama locked eyes for a moment. Many thoughts flashed through Fugaku's mind before he finally nodded slowly.
"Very well."
"Besides that, do you have any other questions?"
"I have something," Hashirama Senju said, immediately raising his hand high. "You also obtained Madara's soul earlier. How is he doing?"
Sengoku adjusted his glasses and said in a low voice, "After we explained his current situation, he still tried to cause trouble. He was suppressed by Whitebeard and is currently being held in a cell."
"What will you do to him? Will you hurt him?" Hashirama asked anxiously.
"He is, after all, a rare combat asset..."
Sengoku's eyes behind his glasses glanced at Ren beside him, and his attitude softened a bit.
"Furthermore, given our King's regard for him, we won't do anything to him for the time being."
"However, if he persists in this stubborn attitude, we will have to take more forceful measures."
He looked at Hashirama and said, "I heard that you two are rivals and friends, and were once very close. You should do your part to persuade him."
"Of course." Hashirama nodded with a serious expression. "Madara has a reserved and delicate personality, and he's quite sensitive. As long as you don't hurt him, I will talk to him."
Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze looked at Hashirama as if they were seeing a ghost, their faces twisting in disbelief.
Uchiha Madara? Delicate? Sensitive?
Brother, are you serious?
Even though Tobirama had long known his brother viewed Uchiha Madara through heavy filters, hearing him say it now still gave him a massive headache.
Minato Namikaze opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it and remained silent.
At the desk, Tsuru picked up three files and handed them to a nearby soldier, her gaze sweeping over the three Hokage one by one.
"If you have no objections, please sign these employment contracts."
"Given your current situation, you have already entered a pact with the King, so this isn't strictly necessary. However, we are following protocol to test the process."
The three took the contracts, opened them, and examined each clause carefully.
Ren watched Minato Namikaze biting the end of his pen and beckoned to Fugaku.
Fugaku leaned in while Shisui leaned back to give him space.
Ren whispered, "Have Minato and her met yet?"
"Not yet. This morning we were just giving the souls a brief introduction and recording identities. We didn't have time for that."
Fugaku glanced at Minato and then at the other Hokage. "Besides, they aren't fully trusted yet, so we haven't allowed them to see anyone freely."
Ren nodded. "Then call her over. Let her meet Minato. It will put them both at ease."
"Understood."
Fugaku gave a quiet order to a soldier nearby, and the soldier left through a side door.
After checking the contracts, the three found that there were no overly harsh conditions—certainly nothing stricter than the rules of the Konoha Anbu. After some discussion, they finally signed their names.
As the final stroke of the signatures was completed, the contracts before them glowed with a faint light, floating into the air. Thin threads extended from the paper and connected to the three men.
"This is..."
"I have a feeling of déjà vu..."
"Shinigami, what are you doing now?"
The three tried to pull at the threads and the contracts, but to no avail.
The paper of the contracts began to dissolve into the threads as they entered the three men's bodies, breaking down like a sweater being unraveled by a loose string.
Ren reassured them, "Don't panic. It is simply another layer of the pact."
This was a new application he had recently researched. Paper woven from the threads connected to him would establish a pact with him as soon as a name was signed on it.
Although the three Hokage had already been forcibly connected to him, this was a perfect opportunity to test it.
It seemed his innovation was flawless.
Hearing Ren's words, the three suppressed their emotions as the final bits of thread entered their bodies.
They felt no major difference from before.
However, as the threads entered, they felt as if an incredibly vast will was looming over their souls, silently watching them.
They immediately realized that this consciousness was none other than the Shinigami before them.
Earlier, when they were Reanimated in the Ninja World, this same will had flashed by.
It was just that too much was happening then—the Shinigami, the war—they hadn't had the chance to think about it.
Thinking back now, they had already been claimed by the other party at that time.
While the three were lost in thought, a clear voice called out in the hall, startling them.
"Minato, is it really you?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Minato Namikaze froze for a moment before instantly turning toward the source.
A figure in red stood at the doorway, clutching the massive door frame, looking at him with eyes full of tears.
Minato Namikaze stood up abruptly, his chair clattering loudly against the floor. All other thoughts vanished as his gaze fixed solely on the figure at the door.
"Kushina..."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]