"Tobirama, against those of us with the Sharingan… you never stood a chance!"
"Hahahaha!!"
After winning more than twenty consecutive matches, Uchiha Ren finally grew bored and let Uchiha Hikaru take his place.
Hikaru was no longer the rookie she once was.
Countless sleepless nights of grinding, relentless practice, and the overwhelming boost of the Sharingan—
Against Senju Tobirama, she still maintained the Uchiha's winning streak.
Her combos weren't as refined as Ren's yet, and Tobirama occasionally managed to chip away a bit of her health—
But a win was a win.
After losing another twenty-plus matches, Tobirama's scalp was practically numb.
Ren could no longer hold back his grin.
"Tobirama… you really are hopeless."
"Another round!!"
Despite being thoroughly beaten, Tobirama refused to give up.
Damn it!
Two inherently evil Uchiha brats!
Using Three-Tomoe Sharingan… in a game?!
No shame at all!
"Hmph. Forget it," Ren waved him off. "You're too weak. Even after a hundred more rounds, you still wouldn't beat us."
"I'm done. I'm going home to sleep."
"Focus these next few days and figure out how to mass-produce this arcade machine. I need it to make money."
With that, Ren turned and left.
Hikaru cast one last longing glance at the machine.
She still wanted to play.
After all—
Effort paid off.
Training hard was for moments like this.
Showing off was in Uchiha blood.
And stomping weaker opponents?
Pure bliss.
Especially when the opponent was from the Senju Clan.
That made it even better.
Today, she had finally found her sense of achievement—from Tobirama.
Arcade machine… or Ren?
Hikaru didn't hesitate.
She followed Ren out.
"Get back here!!"
"You two bastards!!"
"Running after winning?! Come back and fight me again!!"
Tobirama fumed, trying to stop them.
He needed one win.
Just one.
Otherwise, it felt like ants were crawling under his skin.
But Ren ignored him completely and walked out of the lab.
—
Night.
The Uchiha compound was brightly lit, streetlights illuminating every stretch of road.
"Come on, Hikaru. I'll walk you home."
Ren planned to escort her first. The clan had already prepared a luxurious villa for her earlier that day.
"…Mm."
Hikaru's voice was barely audible.
She wanted to step forward—
To take his hand.
Back in the Land of Grass, when Ren had been building rapport with her, he would often hold her hand at night and walk under the moon.
"Let's go."
Ren naturally reached out and took her hand.
"…Mm!"
A smile bloomed across Hikaru's face as she followed him obediently.
After seeing her home, Ren pulled out a few oranges he had prepared, peeling them leisurely as he walked.
By the time he reached his own door, he had finished them all.
He rubbed the orange peels over himself.
A faint citrus scent spread across his body—
Masking everything else.
A must-have trick for scumbags.
After all, Ren had a family.
Proper cover was essential.
As for pursuing Hikaru—
Mostly for her combat power.
…Well, maybe a little for her body too.
If you could juggle multiple relationships without being discovered—
Your image remained flawless.
If you got caught—
Then it was simply because you were too outstanding.
Too irresistible.
With a generous heart, naturally attracting attention.
"I'm back!!"
Ren pushed open the door.
The lights were still on.
A short separation made reunion sweeter.
Tonight—
Another one-versus-two.
—
The next morning.
Ren arrived at the Hokage office, refreshed and energized.
The desk was piled high with documents awaiting the Hokage's signature.
Even with delegated authority, too many matters still required his approval.
The backlog had to be cleared.
"Lord Hokage, I've brought Hatake Sakumo."
The door slammed open.
Kakuzu stood there, dragging along a lifeless-looking Sakumo.
"Sakumo, are you sure you want to take this mission?" Ren asked.
"It's extremely dangerous."
"This time, you'll be deep inside the Land of Lightning. Even interacting with Kumogakure… spreading the Ponzi scheme."
"Konoha won't be able to protect you."
Sakumo wanted to refuse.
Immediately.
But Kakuzu's hand pressed firmly onto his shoulder.
"No problem, Lord Hokage," Kakuzu said calmly. "Sakumo is willing to sacrifice everything for Konoha."
"His speech at the futures hall was outstanding. No one is more suited for this."
"…Right, little white hair?"
Sakumo's face stiffened.
Kakuzu's beady eyes gleamed.
This was revenge.
Ten billion ryo—
Gone because of him.
Sakumo swallowed.
"…I agree. But I think I can't do it alone."
"Kakuzu-sama should accompany me."
Perfect.
Drag him down together.
Kakuzu didn't hesitate.
"I have no objections."
He had already planned to go personally.
This operation involved wealth on the scale of trillions.
Ren's promised cut—
Was enough to risk his life.
"Excellent," Ren nodded. "Konoha will prosper because of your efforts."
"Kakuzu, Nara Shikaku will assist with preparations. Then you and Sakumo can depart."
The two left.
One satisfied.
One dead inside.
"Exhausting…" Ren muttered.
He slipped out of the office for a routine inspection.
A Hokage could slack—
But employees could not.
Otherwise, how could the boss slack comfortably?
Everyone was working diligently.
Stacks of documents.
Thermoses filled with goji berries.
Clear evidence.
…Except one.
Senju Momoka.
"Momoka, your attitude seems problematic lately," Ren said.
"Don't you want to improve?"
"Improve?" Momoka shook his head.
Improve further?
That meant becoming Hokage.
No thanks.
"Konoha already has you, Lord Hokage," he said lazily. "Why would I need to improve?"
"I think you do," Ren smiled.
"I hereby appoint you as the first director of Konoha Television."
"…Television?"
Momoka blinked.
Ren handed over a thick proposal.
As he read—
His expression changed.
Shock.
Then disbelief.
Public opinion manipulation.
Selective reporting.
Narrative framing.
Emotional influence.
Distortion of truth.
"…What are you trying to do?" Momoka muttered.
"Control the voice of the entire ninja world?"
Ren smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
"In some cases, public opinion is more powerful than force."
Momoka swallowed.
The future—
Was terrifying.
"Understood… Lord Hokage."
He accepted.
The benefits were enormous.
Too big to refuse.
Ren watched him with satisfaction.
Work hard.
Nurture the seed.
When it bore fruit—
He would harvest it.
The Senju had been sidelined long enough.
Now—
It was time to bring them back into the game.
"Also," Ren added, "build the framework within three months."
"At the end of the year, we'll launch a program."
"If it works—we'll make it annual."
"Call it…"
"…Village Gala."
"Village Gala?"
"Invite performers from across the ninja world."
"Comedy, stage plays, skits—anything that makes people laugh."
"Let Konoha celebrate."
They talked until noon.
"Want lunch?" Ren asked.
"No need. My daughter is bringing me a bento."
Momoka smiled.
Ren felt slightly annoyed.
It's just a bento.
Feng and Ling make them too.
…They were probably still asleep.
His stamina, enhanced by Hashirama Cells, was simply too much.
The two walked out.
And then—
Ren saw her.
Blonde hair.
Bright.
Radiant.
Tsunade.
Momoka opened his arms.
Ready for a hug.
Tsunade ran straight past him—
And stopped in front of Ren.
"Lord Hokage!!"
"Where have you been?! You promised to train with me!"
Momoka froze.
"Being Hokage keeps me busy," Ren said casually. "But… I should have time soon."
"Same place."
"Really?!"
Tsunade beamed.
Ren reached out—
And gently patted her head.
Momoka's expression shattered.
"STOP!!!"
A roar echoed through the hallway.
In that instant—
He understood everything.
Uchiha Ren… you damn bastard…
So this was your plan all along.
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