"Lord Hokage… hmm? Assistant Hokage—Ren-sama, you're here too?"
The moment the Hokage office door opened, Kakashi walked in with Naruto and Asuma.
But the instant Kakashi saw Ren, he froze.
It had been quite some time since he'd last seen him.
Of course, he had no idea what Ren had been up to—but seeing both him and Tsunade here together, his first instinct was that they must be discussing something important.
Only…
Why did Ren look slightly dissatisfied?
And why did the Hokage—
Look like she had just escaped death?
Kakashi couldn't make sense of it.
But he did know one thing—
This was not a good time to be here.
"…Um, Hokage-sama, Assistant Hokage-sama, I'll come back later."
"Eh? Kakashi-sensei, you—"
Naruto blinked in confusion, immediately grabbing Kakashi's sleeve, wanting to say something.
But Kakashi pressed Naruto's head down and shook his own.
Even Asuma, who looked anxious, forced himself to stay calm.
"Forget it, no need."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
Now you want to leave? Then why come in the first place?
"You're already here. Say what you need to say. That way I can understand what you're planning."
"That's right. Just speak."
Tsunade responded immediately.
She was secretly relieved that Kakashi had shown up.
Otherwise—
Who knew what might have happened in this sacred place called the Hokage office…
Right now, she just wanted an excuse to leave.
Even if she knew she'd still get caught later—
Better than here.
"Ren—ugh!"
Naruto started eagerly—
Only to get smacked on the head by Kakashi.
"I'll explain."
Kakashi sighed and glanced at Naruto.
He knew Ren could be petty.
So he didn't let Naruto speak and instead went straight to the point.
"Hokage-sama, Assistant Hokage-sama—Sasuke has accepted a solo mission and left the village. This—"
"And what's the problem?"
Ren cut him off directly.
Arms crossed, head tilted, he looked at Kakashi calmly.
"Sasuke may still be in your squad, but in reality, he's already capable of leading missions alone."
"He's simply acting independently now. Why are you making such a fuss?"
"But—"
Naruto opened his mouth again.
Kakashi pressed his head down once more and shook his own slightly before continuing.
"He can handle missions alone, yes. But operating as a team is more reliable."
"And although Sasuke has grown, he still has more experience working in a team, so—"
"He has his own mission."
Ren's tone was flat.
"And it's a mission only he can carry out."
He already knew what this was about the moment he saw Naruto's reaction.
This mission was meant for Sasuke alone.
There was no way Kakashi's team could be involved.
Especially not with Shisui and the other Uchiha secretly following.
If others interfered—
Their identities would be exposed.
Of course, that would happen sooner or later anyway.
Ren's influence in Konoha was already massive.
He didn't need to hide much anymore.
But—
Uchiha revenge?
That was something best left untouched by outsiders.
"Sasuke's matter ends here."
"He has his own mission. Stay out of it."
"But—"
"Naruto, enough."
Kakashi finally spoke more firmly.
"I think I understand. This really is something only Sasuke can do…"
Naruto clenched his teeth, clearly unconvinced—but didn't argue further.
Kakashi, however, still looked concerned.
"Assistant Hokage-sama… is Sasuke truly ready for this?"
"Relax."
Ren waved it off.
"I sent him on a mission—not to die."
"Stop worrying."
With Shisui and a group of Uchiha watching him, Sasuke's situation couldn't be safer.
If something still went wrong—
Then Shisui and the others might as well kill themselves.
And worst case?
The old man of the Six Paths might even intervene.
Honestly, Ren himself wasn't entirely sure what state that old man existed in.
On the moon, he had sensed Hamura's chakra will.
Weak.
Waiting.
Strange.
And yet—
Ren himself had already stepped into that level.
He knew exactly how absurdly tenacious life was at that stage.
The Sage of Six Paths and Hamura had reached it a thousand years ago.
There was no way they were simply gone.
Especially since the Sage could still "grant power-ups" and even "revoke titles."
That didn't look like someone dead.
"…Did their souls enter the Pure Land?"
That was the only explanation Ren could think of.
Still—
They hadn't interfered with him at all.
Whether they chose not to…
Or whether his system blocked them…
He didn't know.
He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
Then he looked at Asuma.
"Asuma—what's your business here?"
"Asuma Sarutobi reporting."
Asuma straightened instantly.
"The Fire Temple has been attacked. The entire temple has been slaughtered."
"I request permission to investigate."
"The Fire Temple…"
Tsunade frowned slightly, then seemed to recall something.
"You had a friend there, right?"
"Yes."
"Chiriku. We once served together as guardian ninja."
"He returned to the temple… I never imagined…"
Asuma clenched his fists.
"I request permission to investigate thoroughly."
Tsunade didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she glanced at Ren.
"…That kid is there too, right?"
"Yeah."
Ren nodded.
She was referring to Sora—the pseudo Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
"Tch… Akatsuki?"
"…Akatsuki?!"
Asuma froze.
Kakashi and Naruto also looked over sharply.
"You'll get details later."
Ren rubbed his chin, then smiled.
"This mission will be yours."
"But before that—there's something else."
He paused.
Then looked straight at Naruto.
"…Kid."
"Do you want to know who your father is?"
"…Eh?!"
Land of Whirlpools – Battlefield
"Troublesome…"
Jūzō exhaled as he looked at the unconscious Yagura.
Stronger than expected.
Even after years of peace, his combat ability hadn't declined.
And there had been hidden Mist ANBU—
And even Root agents protecting him.
Without Itachi's Mangekyō—
They wouldn't have succeeded.
But now—
Yagura was burning under Amaterasu.
"…Put out the flames."
"Or he'll die—and we lose the mission."
"…Mm."
Itachi hesitated.
But ultimately—
He extinguished the black flames.
Just then—
Both of them turned sharply.
A figure rushed toward them.
"Uchiha Itachi! I finally found you!"
"…Sasuke."
Itachi's voice was calm.
"Long time no see."
"…Yeah."
Sasuke's voice was cold.
"I've waited a long time for this."
In an instant—
His blade flashed.
Lightning surged.
"You die here!"
Clang!
Weapons collided.
The battle erupted instantly.
Fast.
Too fast to follow.
Sasuke's foundation was solid.
Relentless training.
Guidance from Shisui.
Occasional instruction from Ren and Hikari.
And the awakening Indra chakra within him.
He was strong.
Very strong.
But—
Itachi was still Itachi.
Even exhausted—
Even without full use of Mangekyō—
He was overwhelming.
Bang!
With a precise opening—
He knocked Sasuke's sword away.
"Chidori Stream!"
Electricity exploded outward.
Itachi dodged—
But Sasuke reappeared instantly behind him—
Slash!
Blood flew—
But—
Crows scattered.
Genjutsu.
"…You think that works on me?"
Sasuke turned calmly.
Itachi stood untouched.
"…Not bad."
Itachi nodded.
"You're still not enough."
"But…"
"…You're enough to become my new eyes."
Root Base – Father and Son
Naruto stood frozen.
"My… father…?"
His mind was blank.
He had never known.
Never been told.
All his life—
He had been alone.
Hated.
Rejected.
Until—
Ren.
Iruka.
Ramen Guy.
Friends.
He had stopped caring.
But now—
Suddenly—
"You want to know who your father is?"
Everything shattered.
Soon—
Ren placed the Shinigami mask on a prisoner.
"Proceed."
The ritual began.
A terrifying presence emerged.
Cold.
Oppressive.
Otherworldly.
"…That's… the Shinigami."
Ren observed calmly.
No will.
No consciousness.
Just—
A system.
A rule.
Then—
The prisoner cut open his own stomach.
The Shinigami mirrored the act.
And from within—
A blue light emerged.
"Now."
Hand seals flashed.
Another body—
Reconstructed.
Changed.
Formed.
Until—
A familiar face appeared.
"…Teacher…"
"…Fourth Hokage…"
Naruto froze.
Blonde hair.
Kind eyes.
The same face carved into the Hokage Monument.
"W-what…?"
"That's not—"
"That's the Fourth Hokage…!"
And then—
The man opened his eyes.
"…Kakashi?"
"…Tsunade-sama?"
"…Asuma?"
"…Where… am I?"
"…This is the world of the living?"
"…Impossible… I used the Reaper Death Seal…"
Ren smiled lightly.
"Jutsu can be broken."
"Even that one."
"…Incredible…"
Then—
Watergate froze.
"…Naruto…?"
"Where is Naruto?!"
Ren glanced aside.
"…Right here."
Everyone turned.
Naruto stood there.
Shaking.
Eyes wide.
"…No way…"
He laughed weakly.
"Don't joke…"
Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"…He's your father."
"…The Fourth Hokage."
"…He sealed the Nine-Tails into you to save the village."
"…I said—STOP JOKING!"
Naruto slapped his hand away.
His voice cracked.
"Do you know what that means?!"
"Do you know what I went through?!"
"Everyone hated me!"
"Everyone avoided me!"
"They called me a monster!"
"All because of that thing inside me!"
"And now you're telling me—"
"…HE did that?!"
Silence filled the room.
And for the first time—
The distance between father and son—
Felt impossibly vast.
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