The ice and snow hadn't yet melted.
The ground was slick with frozen moisture, and the roads were slippery and treacherous.
Inside, Hayashi Ren, Naruko, and Sako sat quietly around the heater, the warm air wrapping around them in stark contrast to the freezing world outside.
Sako's expression was as calm and emotionless as always, as if nothing could stir her. But from the corner of her eye, her gaze lingered on Hayashi Ren.
Naruko, on the other hand, was far more expressive.
Her small hands propped up her chin, and she stared at Hayashi Ren with a dreamy smile, watching him sit in complete silence as if lost in thought.
"Even when you're zoning out, Ren-kun, you're still so handsome..."Naruko blushed slightly, fangirling in her heart.
But Hayashi Ren wasn't actually daydreaming. He was silently communicating with the spirit of the MOBA Battle System in his mind.
"When does the next MOBA match begin?"
"Ding. Answering the Administrator: The next match begins in one week."
"Can I choose the participants?"
"Yes. You may assign players freely."
"Perfect."
A small smirk curled at the edge of Hayashi Ren's lips as he quickly selected a few people to join the next round of the closed beta.
"Your randomness, my choice."
He chuckled inwardly.
So this was the joy of being the one in control.
The joy of being the one with power.
Just then—
Knock knock knock…
The sudden knock on the door startled both Naruko and Sako.
"Did either of you invite someone over?" Hayashi Ren asked, glancing at them in confusion.
"Nope." Naruko was just as puzzled.
The two girls barely had any friends. In fact, people avoiding them altogether was pretty much the norm. Inviting guests? That would be a miracle.
"I get it now," Hayashi Ren said as he stood up, heading for the door.
He already had a good idea.
Whoever had come wasn't here for Naruko or Sako. They were here for him.
"Now, the question is—was it Sarutobi's people… or Danzo's?"He sneered internally.
And he'd already made up his mind:If it was someone from Hiruzen Sarutobi, he could be civil.But if it was someone from Danzo?
He'd kill them on the spot.
He and that old snake Danzo were enemies from the start. There would be no truce.
Creak…
Hayashi Ren opened the door.
Standing before him was a tall, curvy woman dressed in standard ANBU attire. A purple mane of hair flowed behind her, and her face was covered with a cat-shaped mask.
"And you are…?" Hayashi Ren began to ask.
"Hayashi Ren?" the woman asked coldly before he could finish.
Her voice was like frost, even colder than Sako's usual tone.
"That's me," he replied.
"The Hokage wants to see you."With those icy words, she stepped aside, signaling for him to follow her.
"Got it."Ren turned to the girls and said, "I'll be going with this ANBU. You two stay here and wait."
"Okay," Naruko said sweetly.
Sako didn't say a word. She only gave a faint nod of acknowledgment.
Stepping carefully over the icy ground, Hayashi Ren followed the ANBU woman through the village and into the Hokage's office.
As they arrived, the ANBU spoke one last time.
"Lord Hokage, Hayashi Ren has been brought in. Mission complete."
Poof!With a puff of white smoke, she vanished into thin air.
"Ren? Come in," came Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice from inside the office.
Hayashi Ren pushed open the door—
—and the first thing he saw was Danzo, sitting there with his usual twisted, constipated-looking expression.
The very moment he laid eyes on that old rat, Hayashi Ren knew:
"Yep… this is going to be a disgusting day."
"Goddamn idiot," he cursed silently.
He squared his shoulders, ready to face off against Danzo, that mangy old dog.