(Unfolding the letter)
"Greetings, it is early spring:
Big Brother, how have you been since we parted?
What I want to say is this—
I... was wrong! You idiot!!!
After the war between the Stone and the Mist began, the survivors of the Hot Water Village and I evacuated. We've been hiding in a stone cave near the Valley of Hell.
When I wake up in the morning, all I hear in my ears is the endless sound of explosions. It seems to be the Explosion Corps from the Stone? (Footnote: They aren't wearing headbands. There's a big dark-skinned brute and a smaller one, and a very pretty blonde girl about my age.)
Birds startle and take flight, buildings crumble and collapse. Time and again I crawl out of ruins, time and again I flee from a downpour of ninjutsu. The plains, the sea, the cities, the wild paths—everywhere you look, shinobi are slaughtering each other.
No one will let us go.
I am no longer lost. The places where one could cry have been trampled into rubble. Crying won't save the Land of Hot Water.
Anyway, Big Brother, thank you for the courage you gave me. From now on—no, from that day on—I understood what I truly wanted.
Now, many people have gathered around me. We are called the 'Undying Zealots.' (Footnote: Actually, I'm the only one dying, you bastard!)
Now, this Great Me is setting out on a journey—we are going to do something big that will shock the entire Shinobi world!
I hesitated for a long time before writing this, but I decided to tell you my decision. I really hope I survive this... so I can see the day your grand dream comes true.
This Great Me is heading out first!
Sincerely,
April 6th, Ninja Calendar.
Hidan.
To: Ren Uchiha-sama."
Standing in place with the letter in hand, Ren Uchiha fell into a long silence.
His "promise"—the one made without a shred of sincerity, the "scam" meant only to keep himself safe, the empty, grand words that would make anyone laugh—Hidan had actually believed them.
And more than that, he was putting his life on the line to act on them! That idiot little brother really believed Ren Uchiha could sweep the Five Great Nations, unite the world, and bring true peace.
Damn it!
Ren's fist tightened, crumpling the letter into a ball! Fugaku, noticing the sudden shift in his expression, grew serious.
"Ren, what happened? Why did you say the war is about to break out?"
Ren shook his head, his face pale. He didn't know how to explain it.
Hidan mentioned a group of ninjas near the Valley of Hell without headbands. The description was vague, but Ren could piece it together instantly. Yugito Nii was born in Year 39; she was about 8 years old now, four years younger than Ren. Combined with the "big and small dark-skinned brutes," there was only one group that fit.
The A-B Combo and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Yugito Nii!
This was a conclusion based on his knowledge of the original series, but how could he justify it? Jinchūriki movements were top-secret. He couldn't just say: "Hey, Kumo sent two Tailed Beasts and the future Raikage to the Valley of Hell. Also, the Two-Tails host is an 8-year-old girl. This is a total guess, but I'm definitely right, trust me bro!"
No one would believe him.
If Kumo was there, they weren't just after the Chinoike Clan in the Valley of Hell. It meant the Stone was likely retreating! Once the Stone-Mist war ended, Kumo's surprise attack force would be hungry for the Land of Fire.
Unlike the original history where Kumo bypassed the Hot Water and Frost nations to invade from the Land of Sound, this time they seemed intent on the Valley of Hell.
Ren had studied the maps. In the path from the Land of Lightning down through Hot Water and into Fire, the Valley of Hell was a vital natural pass. If Kumo recruited the Chinoike Clan to guide them, they could bypass the major defenses and strike straight at Konoha's doorstep through the flat plains!
Ren's face went dark. Not just because Konoha was in danger, but because his clan was currently guarding the Valley of Hell! Setsuna Uchiha, the Great Elder who had been so kind to him, was right in the crosshairs.
He had started this journey just wanting to "flee to safety," but along the way, he had picked up the dreams, hopes, and unconditional trust of so many people.
Now, the blade was at the throat of someone he cared about. He couldn't hesitate.
Ren took a deep breath and looked at Fugaku. "Fugaku-san... can I trust you?"
Fugaku raised an eyebrow at the respectful address. "What do you want to do?"
"There's no time for training. I'm leaving the village right now! I have to get to the Valley of Hell!"
Fugaku shook his head immediately. "That's impossible. You're the village's second Jinchūriki. Even with the Uchiha Clan's petition, they won't let you leave in this sensitive climate." He paused, frowning. "Unless..."
"Unless what?" Ren asked urgently.
Fugaku didn't answer directly. "Tell me exactly what you think is going to happen."
Ren decided to be blunt. "I suspect the Stone-Mist war is ending. Kumo has always wanted to seize the Chinoike Clan from us. Now they've moved. They've sent two Jinchūriki and the heir to the Raikage! If we don't act, the clansmen at the Valley of Hell—including the Great Elder—will all die!"
Fugaku's face didn't change at the shocking intelligence, though his brow furrowed. "Do you have proof?"
Ren shook his head. "No. But it is happening!"
"That makes things difficult..." Fugaku hesitated.
Ren's temper flared. Hidan was off doing something stupid, and Setsuna was about to be double-elbowed by the A-B combo. The Great Elder, who had already used Izanagi once, wouldn't stand a chance.
Seeing Fugaku start to retreat into his usual "deliberate hesitation," Ren snapped. He reached out, grabbed Fugaku by the collar, and barked:
"If it's difficult, do it anyway! Fugaku-san, I'm the Clan Head now!"
Fugaku was stunned to be grabbed like that, but the words seemed to snap him out of his "Leader of the Clan" mindset. He started thinking like an Uchiha again. His expression calmed. After a moment, he patted Ren's hands and said:
"Go to Orochimaru. Tell him everything. He will know what to do." He gritted his teeth. "The rest... I'll handle."
Ren looked at the sudden shift in Fugaku's demeanor. It was as if he'd finally found the "Instruction Manual for Fugaku Uchiha."
A bright, genuine smile broke across Ren's face. He straightened Fugaku's collar and gave the man's chest a friendly thump with his fist. "I'm counting on you!"
Ren turned and vanished, leaping onto the roof. Under the moonlit sky, he summoned a small white snake to lead the way to Orochimaru.
Inside the room, Fugaku looked at his rumpled collar and thought of the boy's parting smile. He let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Being called 'Big Brother'... I haven't felt that in a long time."
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