Morning sunlight spilled across the earth, bathing the Senju ancestral estate in warm gold.
Birds chirped endlessly in the trees, celebrating the arrival of a new day.
Until—
A window flew open.
Ren leaned out with a scowl.
"What's all that noise? Early birds don't get worms—especially the ones ruining people's sleep!"
"Are you insane? What are you doing?"
Before he could continue, a pale arm yanked him back inside and slammed the window shut.
The birds tilted their heads, thoroughly confused.
Inside the room, Yugao lazily pulled a robe over her shoulders and looked at him in disbelief.
"You're picking a fight with birds now?"
"They interrupted my rest," Ren muttered.
"Rest?" Yugao shot him a look. "You have the nerve to talk about rest?"
Ren immediately changed expression, grinning as he wrapped an arm around her.
"We just completed a major mission. Obviously I need recovery."
"Tell that to Lady Tsunade. Let's hope she doesn't scold you."
Ren pursed his lips.
"Who knew the Hokage had such weak tolerance? Passing out like that…"
Yesterday, after Ren delivered his full report, Hiruzen Sarutobi had fainted on the spot.
Ren still felt wronged.
All he did was bring back two Kage and two elders.
It wasn't even the first time something like that had happened.
Why so dramatic?
Still, when the Hokage collapsed, the entire village panicked. Tsunade was summoned immediately—and she hadn't returned all night.
For a fleeting moment, Ren had wondered:
Are we holding a funeral?
But whatever happened wasn't his problem.
He'd simply reported facts.
If the Hokage fainted, that wasn't his fault.
Yugao leaned back against him and sighed.
"You caused a major incident. Two Kage captured. The Land of Grass devastated. And you submitted that report."
"Who's spreading rumors?" Ren narrowed his eyes theatrically. "I demand a confrontation."
Yugao rolled her eyes.
"Sure. Totally not planning revenge."
Ren didn't deny it.
Instead, he smiled softly and tugged at her robe.
"Since senpai is protecting the culprit… she has to bear responsibility."
"Ren—!"
"Don't worry. We'll be quick."
"You said you needed rest!"
"I'll rest afterward."
"My teacher might come back!"
"Then we move faster."
Yugao was speechless.
At the Konoha Hospital, Tsunade looked down at Hiruzen lying in bed.
"You really are old."
Hiruzen twitched faintly.
"Passing out from that? This isn't even the first time someone dragged Kage back."
He wanted to protest.
But Tsunade continued.
"You didn't finish reading the report, did you?"
She handed him the scroll.
Hiruzen took a deep breath and read.
The first half still made his heart race—
Small nations.
Infrastructure.
Investment.
Resource integration.
But as he read further, his eyes sharpened.
"Satellite villages… expand Konoha's influence…"
"Economic development for future harvest…"
"Export surplus production…"
"Forward intelligence outposts…"
His expression slowly changed.
Ren wasn't throwing money away.
He was cultivating.
Raise them first.
Then harvest.
A poor nation offers no oil to extract.
But a developed one?
Profits.
Influence.
Security buffers.
Control.
Hiruzen slowly lowered the scroll.
"…He's thinking decades ahead."
Tsunade crossed her arms.
"You were too focused on immediate cost."
Hiruzen exhaled.
Perhaps he truly was old.
He had survived wars.
Lost comrades.
Lost his wife.
Lost Minato.
Lost Danzo.
Now even Danzo's final words weighed heavily on him.
"…Tsunade."
His voice grew serious.
"You should consider becoming Hokage."
She froze.
"Me? Go ask Jiraiya."
"No."
He shook his head.
"Jiraiya is excellent—but not suitable for the current climate."
The Hokage wasn't chosen purely by strength.
It required balance.
Acceptance.
Political alignment.
Ren would become Hokage one day.
But not yet.
He was too young.
Too sharp.
Too similar to Danzo in certain methods.
Jiraiya and Ren would clash.
Hiruzen didn't want another shadow war.
"You're the only one he respects fully," Hiruzen said quietly.
"And there's something else."
His eyes hardened.
"Ren has awakened Wood Release to the level of True Several Thousand Hands."
Tsunade remained silent.
"That power cannot vanish from history again."
Back at the estate, Ren finished washing and sat at the edge of the bed.
Yugao was asleep.
He wasn't tired.
Physically, he felt extraordinary.
That was the benefit of raw stats.
His status panel shimmered before him.
[Physical Attributes: LV13]
[Chakra: LV12]
[Wood Release: LV9]
[Flying Thunder God: LV7]
[Yin Release: LV9]
[Yang Release: Chakra Mode LV9]
[Free Points: 50]
"Time to upgrade."
He allocated points.
[Wood Release → LV10]
[Yang Release: Chakra Mode → LV10]
[Yin Release → LV10]
[Remaining Free Points: 5]
Power surged through his body.
Yang Release breakthrough strengthened his vitality further.
A new message appeared:
[Bloodline Mutation Detected — Minor Evolution]
Ren's lips curved.
This wasn't just improvement.
It was species-level ascension.
Then—
"Use Spatial Insight."
Instantly, fragments of Obito's spatial understanding flooded his mind.
Kamui mechanics.
Dimensional layering.
Space compression.
His Flying Thunder God evolved.
[Flying Thunder God → LV10]
"Use Ninjutsu Scientist. Develop advanced spatial technique."
[Analyzing… Researching…]
Ren smiled.
Obito really was generous.
And then—
He focused inward.
"Activate Path of Balance. Fuse Yin and Yang."
[Balancing… Fusing…]
Ancient chakra surged through him.
His golden cloak shifted.
It deepened into platinum white.
Black tomoe formed along the collar.
The aura became heavy.
Ancient.
Primordial.
He floated midair.
Yin–Yang Release had merged.
His chakra pulsed like a silent god-beast.
At that moment—
Hikari rushed upstairs.
She sensed it immediately.
Her Mangekyō activated involuntarily.
She burst into the room—
And froze.
Ren hovered in midair, cloaked in white-gold chakra.
Overwhelming.
Terrifying.
Yugao stirred under the blanket.
Hikari's face turned red instantly.
"…I came at the wrong time."
She stepped back.
"Wait! Don't leave!" Ren shouted.
"You came at the perfect time!"
Later, on the streets of Konoha—
Hikari walked silently beside him.
"Still thinking about earlier?" Ren asked.
"…Midday."
"Same thing."
"Not even close."
He sighed.
The fusion had nearly drained him dry.
He'd tested its limits—
And collapsed.
Yugao alone couldn't handle it.
Hikari had walked in.
Perfect timing.
She didn't appreciate it.
"…Evil man."
"Unfair accusation."
He changed the topic.
"How are your eyes?"
"Same."
He nodded.
"Yin balances Yang. Yang can replenish Yin. I can help you."
She didn't answer immediately.
But she didn't reject it either.
After a pause—
"You prefer older women?"
Ren blinked.
"…Yes?"
"Nothing."
She looked away.
At the Ninja Academy—
The dismissal bell rang.
Sasuke Uchiha walked out alone.
He hated going home.
Everything was gone.
His clan.
His family.
Only vengeance remained.
Then he saw Ren.
His steps slowed.
Memories resurfaced.
Years ago—
Ren had defeated Itachi.
Effortlessly.
Sasuke approached.
His voice trembled.
"You beat him once. Can you train me?"
Hikari frowned.
Ren smiled.
"I'm just ANBU. Ask the Hokage."
Then he added casually:
"Beating Itachi isn't hard. You just need to work harder."
"…Harder?"
Ren looked up at the sky.
"Have you seen Konoha at four in the morning? That scenery stays with you."
Sasuke stared.
He understood.
He must rise before dawn.
Train beyond limits.
That was the path.
Beside Ren, Hikari stared blankly.
"…Four in the morning?"
"I distinctly remember you being in Yugao's room."
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