A terrifying surge of chakra erupted from the Land of Grass.
The shockwave didn't just rattle the battlefield—it rippled across the entire shinobi world almost instantly.
The Five Great Nations were the first to react.
Because their Kage had personally moved.
And when Kage move, nations tremble.
If something went wrong—if one of them fell—the political consequences would be catastrophic. Worse still, ambitious factions within each village would seize the chaos to rise.
But none of that had anything to do with Ren.
He was already on the road back to Konoha.
The sun shone brightly over the Land of Grass, as though the land itself had forgotten the devastating clash that had taken place.
The warmth of the light mirrored Ren's mood perfectly.
He was smiling.
Behind him—
Onoki and the Fourth Raikage looked as if they had swallowed poison.
"Come on, smile a little," Ren said cheerfully. "You're alive, aren't you? Lord Tsuchikage, your precious son Kitsuchi survived. Shouldn't you be thrilled?"
"And Lord Raikage, we rescued your brother. The way you're frowning, people might think Killer B died."
"Bastard—"
"Damn you—"
Both men's fists clenched so tightly their knuckles whitened.
If looks could kill, Ren would've died twice over.
The Fourth Raikage in particular was on the brink of exploding.
Captured again.
On his way to Konoha again.
At this point, it was practically a vacation package.
"Enough, Ren," Yugao said quietly, nudging him. "The Rain shinobi and Pakura are looking for you. Seems they want to discuss something."
"Got it, senpai."
He winked and stopped teasing.
Mockery was fine—but too much, and one of these Kage might decide to go out in a blaze of glory.
That would be inconvenient.
After all—
This operation had gone flawlessly.
Shimura Danzo was dead.
Completely dead.
Konan's fury. Nagato's hatred. Kabuto's simmering inferno.
Danzo never stood a chance.
Even with the Four Symbols Seal.
Even with Izanagi.
Just as Ren had promised—
As long as he watched, Danzo would never activate it.
Surrounded and overwhelmed, the man had been torn apart so thoroughly that if Ren hadn't stepped in, "Lord Danzo" might've ended up as minced meat.
"…Stitching that corpse back together is going to be annoying."
Ren sighed.
Then he noticed Kabuto walking ahead in a daze.
Without warning—
He smacked the back of Kabuto's head.
"Ow—! That hurts!"
Kabuto snapped back to reality and turned to see Ren grinning.
"Feeling better?" Ren asked warmly. "If not, I can hit you again. Harder this time."
Kabuto rubbed his head and sighed.
"Why do you always ruin happy moments?"
"I didn't see you looking happy."
Ren smiled lightly, fingers brushing the pouch at his waist.
"I promised Danzo would die. I just kept my word."
His grin widened.
Kabuto twitched.
Sure. Just fulfilling a promise.
Not enjoying it at all.
After a moment, Kabuto gave up resisting.
"…His body was pulverized. Why keep it? Don't tell me you're turning it in?"
He lowered his voice and glanced toward the Rain shinobi.
Konan was disguised as one of them.
Pain—Nagato—was masked as ANBU.
Kabuto had not forgotten who he was.
"…Why are you connected to Akatsuki?" he whispered.
"They're Jiraiya's students," Ren replied calmly. "I traded Danzo's life for information on Akatsuki."
He kept his voice steady.
Obito had come.
Which meant Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were nearby.
Every word mattered.
"Only we know about this," Ren continued quietly. "It protects them—and us."
Kabuto sighed.
"…Worry more about that Uchiha."
He glanced toward Hikari.
She stood among Root shinobi, watching over the captives, lost in thought. The other Uchiha stared at her but dared not approach.
Even Shisui kept his distance.
"Relax," Ren said. "She won't talk. She lives with me."
Kabuto froze.
"…What?"
"She's a good person."
Kabuto chose silence.
Some things were safer not knowing.
"As for Danzo's body—" Kabuto began again.
"What body?" Ren said flatly. "He's meat paste. Danzo colluded with Orochimaru and defected. He's dead. Nothing left. Understood?"
Kabuto pinched the bridge of his nose.
He understood something else entirely.
Ren's ambition.
He let the matter drop.
Later, Ren met Konan and Pakura.
Chiyo and Ebizo stood nearby.
After brief thanks from Pakura, Ren spoke calmly.
"The Land of Wind lacks water. The Land of Rain has too much. What if we connect them?"
Silence.
He continued.
"Sunagakure funds it. We construct underground pipelines. Rain gets capital. Sand gets water. Mutual benefit."
Konan and Nagato exchanged looks.
They had never once considered their endless rain a resource.
Chiyo and Ebizo were more cautious.
"We lack funds," Konan admitted.
"You won't," Ren replied. "Konoha will partially support the financing—in exchange for the small nations under Sand's control."
Faces darkened.
But it was a clean trade.
A way down from political disaster.
And Ren added, softly:
"Pakura, I support you."
The implication was clear.
The Fourth Kazekage's recklessness would cost him.
Pakura's star would rise.
The deal was accepted.
Later, Kabuto finally exploded.
"You're strengthening Rain and Sand indirectly! Konoha will lose resources! The Hokage won't agree!"
Ren tilted his head.
"Why are small nations poor?"
Kabuto answered mechanically.
"No protection. No influence. No funds."
"So we give them those things."
Ren laid it out calmly.
Investments.
Infrastructure.
Task subsidies.
Medical systems.
Economic integration.
Arms trade.
Tariff control.
Soft power.
Kabuto felt cold.
"You're building satellite villages…"
Ren smiled.
"We invest. They grow. We profit. Influence, wealth, legitimacy. Why would the Hokage refuse?"
Kabuto had no answer.
Back in Konoha.
The Hokage's Office was quiet.
"Danzo is dead?" Hiruzen asked without turning.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Ren bowed slightly.
"He was struck by my True Several Thousand Hands. Orochimaru escaped."
He paused.
"He left a message."
Hiruzen froze.
"…What did he say?"
Ren delivered it perfectly.
"He said he lost his whole life because he hesitated for one second. That second made him your shadow forever. Even roots buried underground long for the sun."
Silence.
Hiruzen's reflection trembled faintly in the window glass.
"…Did I make him this way?"
"Lord Hokage, I have no right to judge."
Meanwhile—
Ren's system refreshed.
[Mission Complete]
[Eliminate Shimura Danzo]
[Evaluation: SS]
[Reward: 15 Free Points]
[Current Free Points: 25]
Then—
New entries flooded in.
[Special Circumstances Detected]
[Fourth Raikage mobilized with Eight-Tails]
[Third Tsuchikage mobilized with forces]
[Sunagakure and Akatsuki intervened]
[Impact exceeds projections]
[Special Rewards Granted:]
Insight into Truth-Seeking OrbsPath of Balance (Onoki)Spatial Insight (Uchiha Obito)Free Points Doubled
[Current Free Points: 50]
Ren's breath hitched.
Truth-Seeking Orbs.
The ultimate weapon.
A technique beyond Bloodline Limits. Beyond Bloodline Selection.
A realm approaching Six Paths.
It required mastery of all chakra natures.
Absolute balance.
Precise control.
And now—
He had the insight.
He didn't need an explanation.
This was Zetsu's knowledge.
High-level farming always paid best.
Last time he'd gained Yin–Yang theory refinements.
Now—
He'd looted Black Zetsu's memory.
Ren clenched his fist.
All attributes.
Balanced levels.
Free Points.
This was a new goal.
The Path of Balance allowed advanced elemental fusion.
The Spatial Insight hinted at improving Flying Thunder God.
Simulating advanced space-time techniques using his Ninjutsu Scientist framework.
He felt the pieces aligning.
"…Careful," he muttered to himself. "Never say invincible."
He glanced upward.
Then downward.
Heaven and earth both held threats.
Hiruzen sighed behind him.
"You are cautious to a fault."
He paused.
"I may be old, Ren. Perhaps it's time for the next generation."
Ren said nothing.
The old man was tired.
Danzo's death weighed heavily.
But then Hiruzen shifted topics.
"You didn't kill the Kage. That was wise."
"…About that," Ren hesitated.
Hiruzen's breathing stalled.
"You let them go… right?"
Silence.
"…You—"
Ren swiftly handed over a scroll.
"My proposed arrangements for Sunagakure and the Land of Rain."
Hiruzen read the first lines.
His face drained of color.
"Exchange small nations… finance pipelines… invest in minor villages… infrastructure expansion—"
He didn't finish.
His body swayed.
And collapsed face-first onto the desk.
Thud.
"Lord Hokage?" Ren blinked. "Sleeping on duty is for the young. You're too responsible for that."
No response.
"Lord Hokage?"
Silence.
"…Medical unit! The Hokage is dying!"
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