Rain poured relentlessly across the Land of Rain.
The night there was always cold.
Deep within an underground laboratory, Orochimaru was organizing his equipment when he suddenly paused.
"Oh? You're here."
"I thought you weren't planning to show yourself."
The ground rippled.
A Venus flytrap-like plant slowly rose from the soil.
It was Zetsu.
His black half-face looked toward Orochimaru as he spoke calmly.
"You're mistaken."
"It's not that I didn't want to appear."
"It's that Uchiha Obito didn't want me interfering."
Black Zetsu sounded indifferent—but inside he was furious.
Obito had been acting behind his back far too often lately.
That wasn't surprising.
Black Zetsu had never trusted Obito.
But this time—
Obito had crossed a line.
Attacking Konoha wasn't unusual.
But secretly giving White Zetsu to Orochimaru?
That was unacceptable.
White Zetsu wasn't particularly valuable to Zetsu himself.
But to other people—
It was priceless.
After all, White Zetsu's power originated from Hashirama Senju.
Giving it to Orochimaru meant enabling him to perform Edo Tensei and summon Hashirama.
That outcome made Black Zetsu extremely uneasy.
Especially with Ren and that mysterious Uchiha woman now appearing.
The variables were becoming unpredictable.
Because of Obito's "betrayal," Black Zetsu had made a decision.
He would jump ship.
Pretending to be Madara's will was easy enough.
After all—
He had lived for a thousand years.
His knowledge alone was convincing.
"Perhaps it's simply a young eagle spreading its wings."
Orochimaru didn't seem particularly concerned.
He licked his lips and chuckled hoarsely.
"After all, he possesses tremendous power now."
"And your plan isn't exactly ordinary."
"Perhaps."
Black Zetsu nodded.
"But your plan failed."
"And worse—"
"You've created more trouble."
"Ren is not someone easy to deal with."
"He resembles Hashirama…"
"…yet he is also completely different."
Orochimaru tilted his head.
"Is that so?"
After thinking for a moment, he asked:
"Then I have a question."
"About Hashirama and Tobirama disappearing, correct?"
Black Zetsu had already anticipated it.
Although he hadn't appeared during the battle—
He had observed it from afar.
And what he saw left a deep impression.
The combination of Ren and the mysterious Uchiha.
The power they created was shocking.
It confirmed his suspicions.
But one question remained.
Why was Ren so different?
"That was Yin–Yang Release."
Black Zetsu spoke calmly.
"You must have sensed it."
"That power can reshape life and death itself."
"It destroyed the Edo Tensei bodies."
"Even reincarnation cannot withstand Yin–Yang Release."
"Hashirama and Tobirama have returned to true death."
Orochimaru frowned.
Edo Tensei was essentially a transformation from death back to pseudo-life.
But Ren had forcibly rewritten that balance.
Returning them to pure death.
Even Orochimaru hadn't anticipated that.
"…Is there a way to counter Yin–Yang Release?" Orochimaru asked.
"And could Hashirama and Tobirama be summoned again?"
Black Zetsu nodded.
"To counter Yin–Yang Release—"
"You need Yin–Yang Release as well."
He continued smoothly.
"Yin–Yang Release isn't simply combining Yin and Yang."
"It's a fusion."
"Like a bloodline limit."
"Ren and that Uchiha woman combined their powers to reach that level."
"However—"
"Edo Tensei can still be used again."
"But you should act quickly."
"Before Konoha does."
Orochimaru immediately understood.
If Konoha summoned Hashirama first—
It would be disastrous.
"Then prepare samples from other Kage as well," Black Zetsu added.
"Future battles may require them."
"And remember—"
"The True Several Thousand Hands is Hashirama's real peak."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
The memory of that massive Buddha statue filled his mind.
"Interesting…"
Black Zetsu then changed the subject.
"You should study the histories of the Uchiha and Senju clans."
"Every few generations—"
"Two extraordinary figures emerge."
"They lead their clans."
"And shape the ninja world."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered.
"Like Hashirama and Madara?"
Black Zetsu nodded.
"And now…"
"…Ren and that Uchiha."
Internally, however—
Black Zetsu was exhausted.
He was certain they were the newest reincarnations of Asura and Indra.
But something had gone wrong.
Ren's power was far too strong.
Even stranger—
Indra's reincarnation had become a woman.
And worse—
Her clan had been massacred by Itachi and Obito.
Then Ren had saved her.
Black Zetsu nearly lost his mind thinking about it.
"Those two…"
"…might stick together for life."
He sighed inwardly.
Obito truly was the worst pawn he'd ever chosen.
Meanwhile—
Morning light began to spread across Konoha.
Inside an office at the Hokage Tower, Pakura sat quietly across from Ren.
"So…"
"Konoha plans to support me fully?"
Ren crossed his arms.
"You already knew this would happen."
"From the beginning, I thought you were the best candidate for Kazekage."
"Besides—"
"Rasa helped us."
Pakura smiled bitterly.
"Even though I hated him…"
"He still worked hard for the village."
"But now the burden falls to me."
Ren shook his head.
"You shouldn't see him as a great Kazekage."
Then he asked suddenly:
"Why do you think the Third Shinobi War happened?"
Pakura blinked.
"…To retrieve the Third Kazekage?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"Retrieve him… from Konoha?"
Pakura froze.
Ren continued calmly.
"What if Rasa started the war intentionally?"
"To secure his own position?"
Silence filled the room.
Then Pakura slowly spoke.
"…To unite the village through war?"
"Perhaps," Ren shrugged.
"War creates unity."
"And removes political opposition."
Pakura understood immediately.
"…Sending his critics to die on the battlefield."
Ren raised his hands innocently.
"You said it."
"Not me."
Pakura sighed.
"You really are terrible."
"But… thank you."
Ren stood up.
"You'll soon be recognized as the Fifth Kazekage."
"Prepare yourself."
Pakura smiled.
"…I hope our friendship lasts."
"Even if you're unreliable."
Ren rolled his eyes.
"I'm extremely reliable."
Later—
Ren returned home.
The village outside buzzed with excitement.
After the previous day's battle—
He had become Konoha's biggest topic.
Some people were even discussing the possibility of him becoming Hokage.
Ren shook his head.
"Let Tsunade keep the spotlight."
He checked the house.
Tsunade hadn't returned.
Neither had Yūgao.
Ren sat down in the living room.
"Time to examine the rewards."
He focused on the most important one.
Storm Release.
Water + Lightning.
The final missing piece.
He activated the reward.
[Storm Release Experience (Darui)]
Information flooded his mind.
Water and lightning intertwined.
Combining the speed of lightning with the control of water.
A powerful bloodline ability.
Even Madara in Six Paths Mode once used Storm Release.
Ren quickly replicated the chakra formula.
The system responded instantly.
[New Ability Acquired: Storm Release]
[Current Level: LV6]
Ren laughed.
"So easy."
Then his expression became serious.
He still had one more experiment.
The formula he obtained from Black Zetsu long ago.
The formula for Truth-Seeking Orbs.
With Storm Release now obtained—
He finally possessed all required chakra attributes.
Ren closed his eyes.
Chakra surged.
Five elements.
Yin.
Yang.
All merged together.
Moments later—
A strange white-gold aura erupted from his body.
Three black spheres slowly appeared behind him.
They floated silently in the air.
Upstairs—
Hikari woke up.
Sunlight streamed through the window.
She sat up slowly.
"…Morning already."
She remembered the previous night.
Her expression remained calm.
But her legs felt slightly weak.
"…That bastard."
After getting dressed, she walked downstairs.
Suddenly—
She sensed something.
A strange chakra.
"…Ren?"
She hurried toward the living room.
Then froze.
Ren stood there, glowing with pale golden light.
And behind him—
Three black spheres floated silently.
Their appearance was simple.
Yet they seemed to contain infinite power.
Hikari's eyes widened slightly.
"…Truth-Seeking Orbs?"
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