The rain had passed.
The sky cleared.
Everything felt newly washed.
Early birds hopped along the beams beneath the eaves, chirping noisily.
The sky was just beginning to pale.
Yūgao stirred, pulled from deep exhaustion by the restless chorus outside. A slender pale arm slipped out from beneath the covers as she blinked sleepily at the ceiling.
"…This is…"
She shifted slightly—
And in that instant, everything came rushing back.
Last night.
Every moment.
Her eyes widened.
Her face burned.
The drowsy softness vanished, replaced by stiff, vivid awareness.
Then—
Her expression froze.
"…That lunatic was me?"
Her cheeks flushed even deeper.
Kissing anywhere. Not stopping even when she tried to push him away.
"I must've been influenced by him…"
She muttered inwardly, but the haze was completely gone now.
As a trained shinobi, the soreness across her body was already fading.
She lifted her head—
Just in time to see Ren walk in with a glass of milk.
"Senpai, you're awake?"
He blinked, smiling slightly at the sight of her flushed face.
A pillow immediately flew at him.
"You're still laughing? This is your fault!"
She half-wanted to bury herself in the blanket—but also didn't want the pillow to actually hit him.
Ren caught it effortlessly with one hand.
He crouched beside the bed and handed her the milk.
"Drink this. We woke up late. Shizune already took Karin to school. Sensei went to the medical department."
"Right now it's just Hikaru, you, and me at home."
"So please make do, senpai."
"Don't call me that!"
She nearly exploded.
Was he really obsessed with that word?
What kind of twisted preference was this?
"Alright, alright."
Ren suppressed a smile.
No need to push it.
There would be plenty of chances later.
Watching her already regain most of her strength, he inwardly clicked his tongue.
Shinobi physiques really were ridiculous.
Last night she had nearly rolled her eyes back—
And now she looked completely functional.
"Good thing I raised my physical stats to LV13…"
Otherwise—
"I wouldn't survive Yūgao plus her Shadow Clones in the future…"
As she drank the milk, she tilted her head slightly.
"…How did Sensei react?"
Ren sat down casually.
"Instead of worrying about that, you should think about something else."
He looked her over leisurely.
She didn't blush.
Perhaps because of last night. Perhaps because she had already accepted him.
She simply looked back curiously.
"If nothing unexpected happens, Hokage-sama will formally appoint me today."
"I'll officially return to Root."
"Root…"
She nodded.
It wasn't a secret.
Though she disliked that place, she respected his choice.
"I've already discussed my reform plan with Sensei," Ren said calmly. "She supports it."
Then he added:
"I want help. I don't know if you'd be willing to come with me."
"To Root?"
She thought about it.
Technically, Root fell under Hokage authority. It wasn't that different from ANBU structurally.
But she shook her head.
"I'll pass."
"I'm used to ANBU. My friends are there. If I transfer, it might cause unnecessary rumors."
Ren nodded.
"Pity. I was hoping to share an office with senpai."
"Stop calling me that!"
She glared.
Then sighed.
"You're definitely thinking something inappropriate."
"Probably."
He didn't deny it.
"But if not you… maybe Hikaru."
"Hikaru?"
"She stays home all the time. She says nothing, but she doesn't feel rooted here."
"She needs something to do. Somewhere to belong."
Ren paused.
That… actually made sense.
This girl really was—
Too thoughtful.
Hard not to like.
Hokage's Office
"Shihara Ren."
Hiruzen looked at him seriously.
"All votes are unanimous. From today onward, you are officially Minister of Root."
Ren bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I will do my utmost for Konoha."
Hiruzen rubbed his temple.
"…You don't need to do too much."
"…?"
"For now, focus on auditing Root's archives. Investigate Konoha's missing-nin. Leave everything else alone."
"…"
"Please."
"Clean the inside before dealing with the outside."
Ren stared.
Wait.
So the first blade after landing shore…
Should cut down the former boss?
Even without Hiruzen saying so—
His first strike was always going to Danzō.
Promotion logic was simple:
If your superior can't rise—
Then he must ascend elsewhere.
Preferably heaven.
"…Understood."
Hiruzen continued carefully.
"I cannot confirm the full authenticity of the Rain intelligence."
"But people want answers."
"And frankly—so do I."
He paused.
"Danzō… has gone too far."
Even Hiruzen couldn't ignore it anymore.
One scandal was manageable.
But when the scale reached the entire shinobi world—
The weight became unbearable.
"Investigate thoroughly."
Ren nodded.
Then asked:
"I'll need personnel adjustments."
"Approved."
"Anyone you dismiss or recruit is your decision."
He fixed Ren with a sharp gaze.
"This is your test, Minister Ren."
Ren saluted.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Oh—and Suna is sending an envoy."
"You know her."
"…I see."
Root Base
"So we're back."
Kabuto looked around with complicated emotion.
Nearly ten years had passed.
Now—
They weren't pawns here.
They were masters.
Ren walked calmly.
"I asked you before—live forever working for scraps to support the orphanage…"
"Or take control and change more lives?"
Kabuto snorted.
"You don't even pretend anymore."
Ren grinned.
Root had funding.
Lots of it.
Even without Danzō's manipulation, the infrastructure itself was a money sink.
But Kabuto frowned.
"External operations require endless resources. The village won't fund that much."
"Of course not."
Ren shrugged.
"But who said we can't diversify?"
Kabuto froze.
"…What?"
"Surplus materials."
"Sell weapons discreetly."
"Accept selective contracts."
"Wipe out bounty hunter hubs and take over the board."
Kabuto stared.
"…You're turning Root into a terrorist organization."
"Fire and rescue," Ren replied smoothly.
"No money means no orphanage funding."
Kabuto went silent.
He was beginning to regret this career choice.
They assembled the remaining Root members.
Most didn't resist.
The truly loyal ones had died on Uchiha Night.
Ren addressed them calmly.
"I am your new leader."
"Do not disturb Danzō-sama's retirement."
"Follow me—and I will remove your seals."
"Disobey…"
He smiled faintly.
"I know this place better than anyone."
Silence.
Compliance.
Hidden Laboratory — Uchiha Survivors
"So it's official?" Shisui asked.
Ren nodded.
Cheers erupted.
Finally.
They could move.
"Prepare yourselves," Ren said. "You'll enter Root in batches."
"You cannot leave freely."
"Any violation may result in sealing."
No one protested.
They knew their status was fragile.
Uchiha Izumi stepped forward.
"When can we deal with Itachi?"
The name froze the room.
Ren smiled slightly.
"Hokage-sama assigned me to investigate Akatsuki."
"Itachi won't escape."
"Nor will Uchiha Obito."
The name sparked fresh rage.
"Become my personal guard," Ren offered Izumi.
"See everything firsthand."
She glanced at Shisui.
"Accept it," Shisui said quietly.
She bowed.
"I will serve."
Later, Shisui asked:
"How do we deal with Danzō?"
Ren walked slowly.
"Difficult inside Konoha."
"Hokage won't execute him."
"…Even after he attempted assassination."
"…He what?"
"Ask Kakashi."
They were stunned.
"So?"
"Defection."
Ren's eyes darkened.
"If Danzō leaves the village—he's finished."
"And Suna's envoy…"
"Pakura," Shisui realized.
"Exactly."
Pressure.
Coordination.
Push him outward.
"And then," Ren said lightly—
"We can hold a grand funeral."
Senju Estate
Hikaru sat lazily beneath the eaves.
Life here was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Her goal was achieved.
Now—
She felt adrift.
"Bored?"
Ren appeared behind her.
"You're supposed to be busy."
"I delegated."
He sat beside her.
"I have someone to meet later."
"Woman?"
"…Man."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're plotting something."
"Not plotting. Removing a plague."
He leaned back.
"I won't hurt innocents."
"I'll strip him of everything."
She studied him.
"No emptiness?"
"Not even slightly."
She smirked.
"You're not kind."
He sighed.
"Stop using my logic against me."
She laughed faintly.
Then he stood.
"Come to Root."
"Find purpose."
"We don't need your strength."
"We want you because you're family."
He left her there, thinking.
Family.
Uchiha.
Senju.
Perhaps—
Not enemies anymore.
Far from the village—
On a distant hill—
Pakura looked toward Konoha's gates.
Wind brushed her hair.
"It's been a while…"
"Shihara Ren."
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