"Hashirama and Uchiha Madara together… would it still be like ants against a mountain?"
Senju Tobirama's expression changed drastically.
He had seen it with his own eyes—
The clash between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
Endless forests blotting out the sky.
Colossal Buddha statues towering hundreds of meters high.
Susanoo clashing with divine constructs.
Even the aftershocks alone—
Could reshape the land.
If those two had truly joined forces—
Susanoo clad upon the Thousand-Armed Buddha—
There would be no opponent in the shinobi world.
And yet—
Ren had just said—
Even that wouldn't be enough.
"…Mm."
Uchiha Ren nodded calmly.
His mind drifted briefly—
To fragments of future battles.
Susanoo shattered in a single strike.
Overwhelming power.
Absolute disparity.
Against that kind of existence—
Whether it was Hashirama's Wood Release—
Or Madara's Susanoo—
It didn't matter.
Without reaching that level—
They were nothing.
"…Then why?"
Tobirama pressed.
"If they're that powerful—why invade the shinobi world?"
"What do we have… that they want?"
Ren leaned back on the sofa.
"…Classified."
"…"
Tobirama's veins bulged.
"Damn it!"
"You know how dangerous they are, and you're still hiding things?!"
"Do you want this world to be destroyed?!"
Ren waved him off lazily.
"Even if I told you—it wouldn't help."
"I already said it."
"Compared to them—your strength is negligible."
"But fine."
"I'm in a good mood today."
"I'll tell you one thing."
"They won't come anytime soon."
"Decades at least."
"Forty… maybe fifty years."
He stretched slightly.
"By then—I'll be over sixty."
"I'll have enjoyed everything."
"Wealth. Power. Women."
"A full life."
He smiled faintly.
"And after that?"
"We leave it to the next generation."
"Trust in their wisdom."
"I trust your—"
Tobirama cut himself off—
And then snapped completely.
"Are you serious?!"
"You plan to enjoy your life and dump everything on future generations?!"
"And you call that responsibility?!"
"I've completely misjudged you!"
His voice rose.
"Then what am I even doing here?!"
"Working myself to death for your comfort?!"
"I'm done!!"
Ren's smile instantly disappeared.
That—
It was not acceptable.
"Tobirama, why are you acting like this over a joke?"
"I'm Hokage."
"You think I'd ignore Konoha's future?"
"Relax."
"Everything is under control."
"…Hmph."
Tobirama snorted.
But he calmed down.
Barely.
"Then tell me," he said seriously.
"How do you plan to deal with them?"
Ren froze.
"…Uh…"
Good question.
He had no answer.
None.
The path forward was simple—
Get stronger.
Much stronger.
But how?
Even he wasn't sure.
"Didn't you just say everything was under control?!"
Tobirama exploded again.
Ren raised his hands.
"That was to calm you down."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"They're that strong."
"Even Hashirama and Madara together wouldn't stand a chance."
"I'm already doing what I can."
His tone steadied.
"I'm strengthening Konoha."
"Expanding our population."
"Training talent—like Orochimaru."
"And the Hashirama Cells project—"
"I completed that," Tobirama cut in immediately.
"…We completed it," Ren corrected.
"You handled the research."
"I handled the resources."
"Especially the Uchiha cells… and the Sharingan."
"…Hmph."
Tobirama didn't argue further.
—
"I'm also promoting intermarriage between bloodline clans."
"Uchiha and Senju."
"Descendants of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Maybe we can produce someone beyond even them."
"Uchiha with Uzumaki."
"With Hyūga."
"Combine the best traits—generation after generation."
"Eventually…"
Ren trailed off.
"…Hold on."
Tobirama frowned.
"Why is everything centered around the Uchiha?"
Ren grinned.
"Because the Sharingan is unmatched."
"…You—"
"Relax, I'm joking."
"I'll balance it."
Tobirama exhaled slowly.
—
"In the end," Ren said, lying back down, "we do what we can."
"The rest… depends on fate."
"If even that fails—"
"Then we trust the next generation."
This time—
Tobirama didn't argue.
Because now—
He heard something different.
Not indifference—
But intent.
"…What exactly are they after?"
He tried again.
"No."
Ren didn't budge.
"Still classified."
"…You really don't treat me as one of your own."
Tobirama's tone turned cold.
"I work around the clock for you."
"And you still hide things."
Ren glanced at him.
"That's because you're Senju Tobirama."
"I know you too well."
"Give you the slightest leverage—and you'll try to overthrow me."
"So of course I'm cautious."
"…Hmph."
Tobirama didn't deny it.
Because—
It was true.
—
"Enough about them," Ren said.
"Focus on what's in front of us."
"Mōryō's puppets."
"I'll handle it," Tobirama replied.
"Good."
Ren smiled.
"And don't forget—this saves us a lot of money."
"Money I'll invest into your research."
"…Thanks a lot."
Tobirama rolled his eyes.
The funding was great.
But the results—
Always belonged to Ren.
Ren leaned back, relaxed.
That problem—
Deflected.
For now.
"Now," he said, "about the conflict between clans and civilian shinobi."
Tobirama frowned.
"…You really know how to create problems."
"This isn't simple."
"With bloodline integration, clans will only grow stronger."
"How do you balance that with civilians?"
Ren nodded.
"That's true."
"But this is for the future."
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"At least for now, Konoha is still growing."
"The cake is getting bigger."
"And I plan to take the nobles' share as well."
"That'll feed us for a long time."
Tobirama's expression eased.
"…That's true."
No need to worry too early.
"Next year," Ren continued, "the first batch of four-year graduates will leave the academy."
"Combat-type shinobi will continue as before."
"Mostly from clans."
"They need real combat experience."
"But civilian shinobi…"
"I'll assign them to Konoha's industries."
"Managers."
"Engineers."
"Researchers."
"Or lower-level supervisors."
"They can climb from there."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
"You're separating systems."
"Military and civil."
"Exactly."
Ren nodded.
"Like Hashirama's original structure—but expanded."
"Orochimaru is the perfect example."
"He didn't rise through missions."
"He rose through projects."
"That needs to be promoted."
"And his background?"
Ren smiled.
"Perfect."
"A civilian shinobi."
He leaned forward slightly.
"We need a symbol."
"A model."
"For everyone to see."
His voice carried quiet certainty.
"As long as you work hard…"
"You can succeed."
"This—"
"Is the Konoha Dream."
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