"I'm just going to meet someone. You don't need to follow me."
"I'm your personal guard. Of course I need to follow you."
"But this is Konoha. You know my strength. And if you trail me around every day, how are you supposed to make friends?"
"Aren't you my friend?"
Ren glanced back at Hikari, then gave up and shrugged.
He had said versions of this many times before. The results were always the same.
It was mostly a formality at this point.
Besides—
Hikari was nothing like she used to be.
At seventeen or eighteen, she had shed the last traces of childishness. Even wrapped in a black cloak, her graceful figure was impossible to conceal. Her delicate Uchiha features—where softness and aloofness blended into something uniquely captivating—drew more than a few glances from passersby.
Having her walk behind him wasn't exactly unpleasant.
Time moved faster than people realized.
Ren himself was nearly nineteen now.
Aside from being taller and carrying a completely different aura, he didn't look drastically changed.
But aura was an elusive thing.
His presence felt natural, almost harmonious with the world itself—calming to those around him.
At the same time, as the leader of Root, holding real power over life and death, he radiated quiet authority.
The blend of those two qualities made him… striking.
He and Hikari walking side by side drew attention without effort.
"And the person you're meeting is from another village," Hikari continued. "Even if you don't want me to say it, I feel something's off."
She paused, then added flatly:
"And Yugao asked me to look after you. I can't break my word."
Ren laughed helplessly.
"Isn't it supposed to be me looking after you? Don't flip the world upside down."
"Oh."
She glanced at him.
"The person you're meeting… is a woman, right?"
Ren pressed his lips together.
Women's instincts could rival legendary detectives.
Whether they wanted to uncover the truth, however, was another matter entirely.
Yugao, for example, clearly belonged to the "don't ask too many questions" camp.
"…Luckily."
Thinking back to that night years ago, Ren silently thanked fate—and his earlier preparation.
The Senju bloodline awakened through Wood Release had proven more useful than expected.
"As it happens, yes. It's a woman," he admitted. "But you know her. It's Pakura."
"I know," Hikari replied evenly. "That's why I need to be more careful."
She glanced at him again.
"She's from Sunagakure. And Yugao told me you two are… close."
Ren rubbed his forehead.
Yugao and Hikari had grown unexpectedly close over the years. Hikari had an intense curiosity about Ren's past—especially his ANBU missions. Yugao had shared more than a few stories.
"Yes, we worked together often," Ren replied. "But what about you? How are your eyes now?"
"Tch. Changing the subject."
Still, she answered.
"They're fine. Thanks to you. My vision's fully restored. And… my ocular power seems to be regenerating."
"That's good. Means my judgment was right."
Ren smiled.
Hikari's improvement was nothing but good news for him.
In the past three years, he'd accomplished a great deal.
Restoring her eyesight was only one result.
He had also been helping Tsunade reshape her bloodline.
The results there were… promising.
"Hm?"
Up ahead, near the Ninja Academy, a long line had formed.
Aside from a few independent children and orphans, most stood with parents at their side.
"So many people," Hikari murmured.
"Graduation season," Ren said lightly. "Don't forget, Karin graduated last year. We were there."
The post-war baby boom had produced a massive graduating class this year.
Neji Hyuga had graduated the previous year, same class as Karin.
But this year—
"Quite the batch."
Konoha Year Sixty.
A year that marked the beginning of the story Ren remembered.
The most familiar—and yet, now, the most unfamiliar.
"Let's move," he said. "We shouldn't keep our guest waiting."
Hikari nodded.
Then she suddenly grabbed his hand.
Ren blinked.
"What are you doing?"
"You're that close with her. She probably has your Flying Thunder God mark. Just teleport."
Ren paused.
"…Why are you so certain?"
"I heard from Yugao that you treated her injury back in the Land of Water. Her lower abdomen. The way she dresses…"
Ren cut her off immediately.
"Stop. Why does Yugao even know that?"
"She didn't say directly. But based on the wound location and her clothing habits…"
Ren exhaled.
Sherlock Holmes had competition.
Without another word, he activated Flying Thunder God.
In an instant, they vanished, leaving only startled gasps behind.
Rain fell steadily over the Land of Rain.
Konan stood by the window, faint smile softening her usually cold features.
Across from her, Nagato examined a scroll and nodded in satisfaction.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"I'm wondering how Yahiko would feel seeing Amegakure now."
She looked back at him.
"It still rains every day. But everything has changed."
Nagato followed her gaze.
"Yes. It truly has."
Three years earlier, under Ren's coordination, the water diversion project between Sunagakure and Amegakure had begun.
Sunagakure gained relief.
Amegakure gained prosperity beyond imagination.
Funds poured in.
Konoha granted preferential terms.
Employment opportunities multiplied.
Infrastructure projects provided income to ordinary citizens.
For the first time—
The rain no longer felt like sorrow.
"It's interesting," Nagato mused. "Konoha invested even more heavily in those small nations it took from Sunagakure."
Konan smiled faintly.
"They're not doing it out of charity. They've fully inserted themselves and aren't leaving."
"And we've learned from watching them."
Nagato nodded.
Still, he felt a twinge of envy.
"Those small nations are developing even faster than we are."
"They're backed by Konoha. Of course they are," Konan said calmly. "We shouldn't chase them. We've already achieved more than we once thought possible."
Full stomachs.
Stable lives.
Those weren't small accomplishments.
Nagato looked at the rain.
"And it all started with Ren."
He paused.
"Konoha's Chūnin Exams are coming. Should I appear as Hanzo?"
"And expose yourself?" Konan shook her head. "I'll go."
She smiled slightly.
"And besides… we haven't seen him properly in years."
In the Land of Rice Fields, inside Otogakure's laboratory—
"Is it ready?" Obito asked quietly.
"Patience," Orochimaru replied with a grin. "You promised me Sasuke's eyes. I'll deliver my end."
Beside them, Itachi stood in silence, fists clenched within his sleeves.
The test subject—an implanted drifter infused with Hashirama cells—convulsed as Orochimaru formed hand seals.
"Ninja Art: Impure World Reincarnation."
The ground glowed.
Paper-like ash swirled.
The body transformed.
Moments later—
A man in red armor stood before them.
Long dark hair.
Eyes closed.
The First Hokage.
Hashirama Senju.
"…Is it successful?" Obito asked.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"Partially. Too strong and I can't control him. Too weak and he's useless. We need adjustments."
Obito nodded.
The Raikage.
The Tsuchikage.
Even Sunagakure.
All had quietly aligned.
Ren had forced the shinobi world into cooperation.
Against him.
"…We need to test their limits," Obito said softly. "Especially Ren's."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"And I need more materials."
He glanced at Itachi.
And thought of Sasuke.
In a forest outside Konoha—
"You're late," Pakura said, arms folded.
She noticed Hikari and smirked.
"What's wrong, Minister Ren? Afraid to meet me alone?"
"I'm a department head. Having a guard is normal," Ren replied.
"And you? Choosing such a secluded place?"
She brushed wind-blown hair aside.
"I'm technically seeking refuge in Konoha."
Her situation in Sunagakure had grown precarious.
Rasa's standing had crumbled.
Pakura's had soared.
Now—
There were whispers of a Fifth Kazekage.
"Rasa plans to attend the Chūnin Exams," she said. "He may bring his son."
"The One-Tail jinchūriki?" Ren asked calmly.
She nodded.
"And there are… external contacts."
Ren wasn't surprised.
Orochimaru.
Akatsuki.
Iwa.
Kumo.
"They've been forced into alliance," he murmured.
He glanced at his system panel.
Zhihara Ren
Physical: LV14
Chakra: LV13
Wood Release: LV10
Flying Thunder God: LV10
Yin Release: LV10
Yang Release: LV10
Free Points: 20
He had been waiting.
Waiting for something big.
Perhaps—
The time was coming.
Pakura smiled faintly.
"This counts as sincerity. Are you satisfied?"
Ren's smile widened.
"My sincerity is greater."
She raised an eyebrow.
"If Rasa dares move… you'll become the Fifth Kazekage."
He paused deliberately.
"You can do better than this."
Back in the Hokage office—
"So Rasa might actually try something?" Tsunade asked lazily, legs crossed on the sofa.
"Don't underestimate them," Ren replied lightly. "Especially if Akatsuki is involved."
She snorted.
"With your Wood Release? I doubt they'll cause much trouble."
Ren smirked.
"With your Wood Release, Sensei?"
She shot him a glare.
She had changed over the years.
Not just in power.
In vitality.
Thanks to him.
The Yin Seal was no longer necessary.
She felt young again.
Alive again.
"…Don't call me Sensei so much."
He blinked.
"Why not?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she changed the topic.
"The Third has decided. During the Chūnin Exams, he'll announce my succession."
Ren smiled.
"Congratulations, Fifth Hokage."
She scoffed.
Then remembered something he once said.
"I want to become the man of the Hokage."
Her expression turned strangely complicated.
…Was that what he meant all along?
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