This… this…
Orochimaru was practically born to be worked like a beast of burden.
Uchiha Ren suddenly recalled a discussion from his previous life—people debating why Orochimaru defected from Konoha. One guy had even posted Orochimaru's mission record before he left:
16 D-rank missions, 332 C-rank, 521 B-rank, 491 A-rank, 108 S-rank.
Even Namikaze Minato didn't have a third of Orochimaru's S-rank count. His A-rank missions were only about two-thirds, and his B and C ranks didn't even reach half. Total missions? Around 1,500.
Assuming Orochimaru started at twelve and worked until thirty-seven—that was twenty-five years. An average of sixty missions a year. More than one per week. And that didn't even account for the two wars he fought in.
Worked to the bone like that—and Sarutobi Hiruzen still didn't make him Hokage?
Anyone would've defected.
Now, Orochimaru perfectly embodied that same personality. Uchiha Ren didn't even need to push him—he was already adapting himself to insane workloads. At this point, Orochimaru's pale, exhausted face could rival Senju Tobirama's deadpan expression.
But Orochimaru was still just a child.
No matter what, child labor wasn't an option. If something happened to his health, that would be a massive loss.
A losing deal.
Not worth it.
So, facing Orochimaru's stubborn insistence, Uchiha Ren decisively kicked him out of the lab.
After sending him away, Uchiha Ren turned toward Senju Tobirama, who was still busy at the experiment table.
Tobirama kept his head down, acting as if Uchiha Ren didn't exist—not even sparing him a glance.
Experience had taught him one thing: if he spoke to Uchiha Ren, he would inevitably get mocked, provoked, lose his temper… and then get suppressed by the Impure World Reincarnation.
Better to ignore him and focus on research.
"Tobirama, want to go out for a walk?"
That single sentence made Tobirama snap his head up instantly.
He absolutely did.
"You suddenly got a conscience?"
Suspicion filled his voice. In Tobirama's eyes, Uchiha Ren was shameless to the core—there was no way he'd be this kind.
"Of course. I'm a boss with a conscience. Think of it as giving you a break."
"Besides, you're still the Second Hokage of Konoha."
Uchiha Ren genuinely wanted to drag him out for some fresh air. Staying cooped up in the lab nonstop—what if he fried his brain? Even prisoners got time outside.
"Hmph. At least you still have some decency."
Tobirama snorted but accepted.
Even in death, he still cared deeply about Konoha's future—especially now that an Uchiha was Hokage. That concern never left him.
Trapped in this underground lab, he had no real information. Everything came from Uchiha Ren's occasional bragging.
Recently, it had gotten slightly better—Orochimaru had told him about Konoha's current state.
Apparently, it was thriving.
But hearing wasn't enough.
He needed to see it with his own eyes.
"Of course, the experiments don't stop. The original body comes with me—your clones keep working."
…Beast.
As expected—Uchiha Ren never wasted a single chance to exploit him.
Tobirama cursed internally, shot him a glare, then said nothing.
He was too used to this by now.
With a Transformation Technique disguise, Tobirama followed Uchiha Ren out of the underground lab—
And saw the moon again.
The sun had just set. Night had fallen.
And the streets…
"…Is this really Konoha?"
"So bright… those lights… they're even colored…"
"Since when did Konoha have this many people?"
In the past, at this hour, only a few vendors would be packing up.
Electric lights were sparse—mostly within ninja clans. Once night fell, civilians stayed home.
But now—
The road beneath his feet was smooth concrete, widened several times over. No bumps, no uneven stones.
Streetlights lined both sides, every few meters, illuminating the night like day.
The streets were alive.
Decorations everywhere. Crowds moving nonstop. Vendors shouting. Laughter, noise—endless life.
It felt like a bustling night market.
The festival organized by Nara Shikaku was in full swing. Businesses ran promotions. Villagers spent freely.
After a year of hard work… this was their moment to indulge.
More importantly—
Konoha had money.
The people had money.
They believed in the future.
From a single corner, one could see the whole picture.
Tobirama, once Hokage, knew Konoha inside and out.
And yet—
This Konoha…
Was completely unrecognizable.
"…How good."
The village had climbed out of war—and in just one year, transformed entirely.
Even he felt like a stranger here.
His eyes moved constantly, greedily taking everything in.
Then—
He turned.
And saw Uchiha Ren smiling at him.
…Damn it.
This guy was definitely up to something.
Right.
Uchiha Ren was the Third Hokage now.
Everything here—
Belonged to him.
Tobirama felt a surge of frustration.
Why him?
Why Uchiha Ren?!
Konoha had developed better under him than it ever had under Tobirama.
Utter humiliation.
Pain.
Wait—
No.
At least half the credit belonged to him!
Without his nonstop 24/7 work, developing all these technologies, how could Uchiha Ren have done any of this?
The streetlights.
The roads.
All core technology—
His.
Tobirama unconsciously straightened his back.
Then—
He noticed the banners.
"Without Lord Uchiha Ren, there would be no better tomorrow!"
"Lord Uchiha Ren is our sun!"
"Konoha's greatest Hokage!"
…
Tobirama's eyes widened.
Jealousy. Rage. Bitterness.
He did all the dirty work—and all the glory went to Uchiha Ren.
Did anyone in Konoha even know?
That their former Hokage was being controlled by an evil Uchiha—
Working endlessly in a dark lab?
This had to be corrected.
"Hey, Tobirama. What do you think of me as Hokage?"
"Better than you, right?"
"Look at Konoha now—such a rich nightlife."
Uchiha Ren grinned.
"I've done a pretty good job, haven't I? At least admit it a little."
"Remember our agreement?"
"Do you acknowledge me as the Third Hokage?"
"I acknowledge your ass!"
Tobirama snapped, glaring fiercely.
Truly a naturally evil Uchiha!
Boasting in front of outsiders was one thing—but doing it in front of him?
Shameless beyond belief!
"You're getting worked up again?"
Uchiha Ren shot back.
"Get lost!"
Tobirama turned and walked off, refusing to let this idiot ruin his mood.
Uchiha Ren followed closely.
They soon stopped in front of a massive poster.
On it—
Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara stood facing each other.
A New Year premiere: "The Birth of the Ninja Village."
It had been promoted for a month. The cinema was packed, with long lines outside.
With Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama as protagonists, it naturally drew massive attention.
Especially in Konoha—where people now had both money and the desire for entertainment.
"Want to watch?"
Uchiha Ren invited.
Tobirama didn't refuse.
He had watched one of Uchiha Ren's films before.
It had been… surprisingly good.
A rare source of entertainment in the lab.
So this one should be worth it.
They entered the theater.
Lights dimmed.
The screen lit up.
The film began—
War.
Brutal battle.
Two forces clashed—Senju and Uchiha.
The narration told of their thousand-year feud.
Then—
Uchiha Madara.
Senju Hashirama.
Their meeting by the river.
Skipping stones.
Friendship.
Dreams of peace.
Then tragedy.
Only Uchiha Izuna remained.
Only Tobirama remained.
Their identities revealed—
Their friendship shattered.
Enemies.
The story surged forward—
Battles, blood, death.
Then—
The highlight.
Tobirama killing Uchiha Izuna.
"Yes… that's right!"
Tobirama's face flushed with excitement.
"That's exactly how it happened!"
But soon—
Something felt off.
The story changed.
Madara confronted Hashirama.
Spoke of Izuna's death.
Hashirama tried to atone.
Even prepared to stab himself.
They reconciled.
Madara forgave Tobirama.
…
Tobirama sat there.
Watching.
"…Wait."
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
But he couldn't quite pinpoint it.
Just—
A strange, uncomfortable feeling lingered.
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