Time flowed like a river—unceasing, unstoppable.
For most people living in this world, each day felt the same. They didn't consciously perceive the passage of time.
Yet time never paused.
Only at certain moments would they suddenly realize—
and sigh at how much had already passed.
At the border of the Land of Rain, inside a small town.
Heavy rain poured endlessly, shrouding everything in mist.
Inside an inn—
Ren held Konan in his arms.
Her face was flushed, her eyes half-closed.
They both looked exhausted…
but for people like them, a short rest was enough to recover completely.
"…Time really flies," Konan murmured softly after a while.
She shifted slightly and looked up at Ren.
"You're heading back to Konoha soon, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
Ren adjusted his posture slightly and nodded.
"I've been away long enough."
"And besides… you said Obito and the others are about to make a move."
"…Three years," Konan said quietly.
"They're ready now."
She studied him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"But you… you haven't changed at all."
Ren chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Neither have you."
"You look exactly the same as when I first met you."
Three years had passed.
Ren was now well into his twenties.
Yet—
he still looked eighteen.
Ren glanced at his system panel.
[Ren]
[Physical Attributes: LV15]
[Chakra: LV15]
[Abilities: Wood Release LV12, Storm Release LV12, Yin-Yang Release LV12, Scorch Release LV12, Yang Release Chakra Mode LV12…]
[Free Points: 3]
He nodded slightly.
At this point—
he had already stepped beyond the realm of ordinary humans.
If measured in combat power—
he could now stand at the peak of the shinobi world.
Even compared to the strongest figures in memory—
aside from Naruto and Sasuke in Six Paths form, and Madara as the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki—
he feared no one.
Even Obito in his Six Paths state—
was not enough.
"…After all, I'm basically a stat monster now."
Ren exhaled slowly.
He was just one step away.
One final step—
to transcend.
To ascend beyond humanity.
To become something closer to a higher lifeform.
Not a "god" in the mythical sense—
but something beyond human limits.
And that step—
was the Kekkei Mōra.
"Going back is good," Konan said as she sat up slightly, unconcerned about her exposed skin.
"You should start preparing."
"In these three years… Obito's group has already made their arrangements."
"The Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud won't hand over their Jinchūriki…"
"…but they've provided massive amounts of chakra."
"Even if it's not at the level of a Tailed Beast…"
"…the Demonic Statue has grown stronger."
"And the Akatsuki…"
"…has completed its roster."
Her gaze sharpened.
"A team is already heading toward the Hidden Sand."
"Their target—"
"…the One-Tail."
Ren simply held her closer.
"You've told me this before."
"…Why repeat it?"
Konan looked at him calmly.
"Because it's about to happen."
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"…You're still asking me to go to Konoha?"
Ren sighed.
"…I've asked more than once."
"Things are about to get dangerous."
Konan shook her head.
"Don't treat me like I need protection."
"I'm not weak."
"We're allies."
"…Even if our relationship is a bit more complicated than that."
She looked at him seriously.
"I'm staying."
"Nagato still needs me."
"And the Rain Village needs me."
"If I leave…"
"…everything we've built could collapse."
Ren fell silent.
He understood.
The alliance between Konoha, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Rain—
had transformed the region.
With water resources from Rain, financial support from Konoha, and trade with the Mist—
even the once-barren Land of Wind had begun to flourish.
This fragile balance—
had to be protected.
"…What about later?" Ren asked suddenly.
"After everything is over?"
Konan looked out at the rain.
"…Who knows?"
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe by then…"
"…Nagato will come after you."
Ren rubbed his forehead.
"…That sounds about right."
Then—
Konan wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
Soft warmth pressed against him.
"…So," she whispered,
"…should we make better use of the time we have left?"
"…."
Konoha.
Hokage's Office.
Tsunade stared at the mountain of documents in front of her.
Her face twitched.
"…This is unbearable."
SLAM!
She threw the papers aside, leaned back, and covered her face with a book.
"I'm taking a break!"
"Everything was already running smoothly—why are you still bothering me?!"
"Give it to Shikaku!"
"I'm not dealing with this!"
Hiruzen sighed helplessly.
"…What kind of Hokage are you?"
"Dumping everything on your subordinates?"
Tsunade shot back instantly.
"He taught me that!"
"…You mean Ren?!"
"Exactly!"
Hiruzen rubbed his temples.
"…Where is that kid, anyway?"
Tsunade lowered the book slightly.
"…No idea."
"Probably on the moon."
Hiruzen froze.
"…The moon?"
Three years ago—
Ren had done the unthinkable.
He had opened a path to the moon.
And now—
Konoha controlled it.
Even now, Hiruzen still felt it was unreal.
A whole world—
under their control.
"…That place…" he muttered.
"…is invaluable."
Tsunade nodded lazily.
"He's the only one who can control its energy anyway."
"So let him handle it."
Then she glared at Hiruzen.
"But why are you nagging me instead?!"
"…You're the Hokage!"
"I regret it."
"…You—!"
"…If you're done, leave," Tsunade said flatly.
"I'm in charge here."
Hiruzen sighed.
"…Fine."
Then he paused.
"…What about the Akatsuki?"
Tsunade shrugged.
"Ask Ren."
"Still… he did say something."
"…Three years."
"…They'd stay quiet for three years."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"…Then it's time."
Meanwhile—
Land of Rice Fields.
Inside Orochimaru's hideout.
"…Success."
Orochimaru licked his lips, staring at the coffin before him.
Beside him—
Black Zetsu watched silently.
The coffin opened.
And inside—
a figure lay.
"…Uchiha Madara…"
Black Zetsu clenched his fists.
"…Finally."
After all these years—
everything was moving forward again.
"…But how much of his power remains?" he asked cautiously.
Orochimaru smiled.
"…We'll find out."
"…Perhaps…"
"…we should test him."
Black Zetsu thought for a moment.
"…The Hidden Sand."
"Orochimaru nodded slowly.
"…A suitable battlefield."
Land of Wind.
Under the blazing sun—
two figures walked across the land.
Black cloaks.
Red clouds.
"Kakuzu glanced around.
"…The Land of Wind has changed."
Sasori's hoarse voice replied coldly.
"…It's unrecognizable."
Kakuzu smirked.
"…Feeling nostalgic?"
"…No."
They continued walking.
Ahead—
the Hidden Sand Village awaited.
At the same time—
outside Konoha.
Naruto stretched excitedly.
"Finally back!"
"Ichiraaaaku ramen, here I come!"
"…Idiot," Sasuke muttered.
"Can't you act normal?"
"Like you would understand ramen!"
They glared at each other.
"…You two," Kakashi sighed.
"…Seriously."
Three years had changed them—
but also not at all.
Naruto had grown stronger.
Mastered Rasengan.
Even learned Sage Mode.
Sasuke—
had become a powerful Uchiha under Root's influence.
And Karin—
was now the backbone of the team.
A sensory ninja.
A medical ninja.
An elite jonin.
"…You two shut up."
BAM! BAM!
She punched both of them.
"…Behave."
"…Yes…"
Kakashi sighed deeply.
"…This team is exhausting."
Land of Wind.
A lush oasis.
"Summoning Jutsu — Impure World Reincarnation!"
The coffin rose.
Then—
BOOM!
It shattered.
A figure stepped out.
An overwhelming pressure filled the air.
Even Orochimaru froze.
"…So this is Uchiha Madara…"
Madara glanced around.
"…So… I've returned."
Then—
his expression changed.
"…This isn't Rinne Rebirth."
"…This is…"
"…Impure World Reincarnation?"
His Sharingan turned cold.
He looked at Orochimaru.
"…Explain."
Orochimaru swallowed.
"…You were summoned."
"…This is the Land of Wind."
Madara fell silent.
Then—
he pointed at the lush green oasis around them.
"…You're telling me…"
"…this is the Land of Wind?"
"…?"
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