Uchiha Ren sized up the monk before him.
Xuankong's upper body was bare, his bronze-toned skin gleaming under the sunlight. What stood out most, however, were his bulging muscles—his physique towering a full head taller than Ren's.
A powerful man.
"Xuankong of the Fire Temple greets the Hokage."
The monk performed a Buddhist salute, his tone respectful—but his eyes betrayed him, flicking repeatedly over Ren's body.
This… is the Hokage?
No mistake?
Sunken eyes. Heavy dark circles. Unsteady footing.
A textbook case of overindulgence.
Xuankong had seen countless young nobles like this in the Fire Temple.
Calling all of them weak might be unfair—
But if you lined them up and accused every other one of being drained, you'd still hit the mark more often than not.
"Hokage… are you unwell today?"
A trace of disdain surfaced on Xuankong's face.
So this was Konoha now?
Had the First Shinobi War drained them so thoroughly that someone like this could become Hokage?
He felt a surge of excitement.
Heaven favors the Fire Temple!
Their monks were far from detached ascetics.
They wanted influence.
Power.
Funding.
If Konoha faltered—
The Fire Temple could rise.
They could serve the Daimyō.
They could "love the nation" just as well.
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired from yesterday."
Ren waved his hand dismissively.
"You wanted to spar, didn't you?"
"Let's begin."
Xuankong's expression hardened slightly.
This Hokage…
Was ignoring him completely.
"Very well."
"I won't hold back."
The moment his words fell—
The air turned sharp.
Tense.
The Daimyō, standing off to the side, watched with visible delight.
This was exactly what he wanted.
Conflict.
Division.
These forces could not be allowed to unite.
"Since that's the case—"
"Do keep it friendly. No need to harm relations."
His words were perfunctory.
Then he quickly withdrew from the training ground.
A wise man never stood too close to danger.
Soon—
Only the two remained.
Facing each other.
—
"Hah!"
Xuankong let out a powerful shout.
His body shifted into a strange stance—one hand forming a mudra, the other pressed downward.
Chakra surged violently.
Behind him—
A phantom appeared.
A Bodhisattva.
Radiant.
Majestic.
And yet—
Filled with suppressed fury.
No hand seals?
So this was the so-called "Sage Talent" of the Fire Temple.
Under normal circumstances, Ren might have tested it.
Studied it.
Analyzed this unfamiliar system.
But not today.
His gaze flicked briefly toward the Daimyō watching from outside.
This wasn't just a spar.
It was a probe.
If Konoha appeared weak—
Funding would shrink.
Support would shift.
Perhaps even a new shinobi force would be cultivated.
Ren's eyes sharpened.
Then—
He made his decision.
Total domination.
Nothing less.
—
Xuankong saw it.
Ren wasn't even looking at him.
He was… distracted?
Anger surged.
Still daring to split his focus?
Fool!
Xuankong's legs exploded with force.
In an instant—
He closed the distance.
The Bodhisattva behind him shifted—
Its expression turning wrathful.
Multiple phantom fists descended toward Ren.
"Curse your fate—"
"For lacking the Sharingan!"
Ren's voice was low.
Calm.
Cold.
Xuankong heard it—
And instinctively met his gaze.
For just a fraction of a second—
Their eyes locked.
Then—
The world shattered.
"Tsukuyomi."
—
Darkness.
A blood-red moon hung in the sky.
Below—
An endless sea of crimson.
Xuankong found himself bound—
Crucified upon a cross.
His mind reeling.
"What… is this?"
"A genjutsu?!"
"When did you—?!"
He struggled.
Fought against the restraints.
Useless.
Completely useless.
Ren's voice echoed.
Light.
Almost amused.
"Facing an Uchiha… and you dared to look into my eyes at point-blank range?"
"Brave?"
"Or just stupid?"
Xuankong's face flushed with rage.
"Bastard—!"
Ren laughed.
Sharp.
Cutting.
Then—
He raised his hand.
A blade appeared.
Without warning—
It pierced through Xuankong's arm.
"AHHH—!"
The scream tore through the space.
Another strike.
Then another.
Again.
And again.
Endless.
"I control time here."
Ren spoke softly.
"Outside… one second."
"Inside… months. Years."
"I'll keep stabbing you."
"Until you break."
A gentle tone.
Paired with merciless execution.
To Xuankong—
It was hell.
True hell.
Was this—
The abyss spoken of in scriptures?
Was this—
The power of the Hokage?
Terror consumed him.
This was no ordinary technique.
A glance—
And he was dragged into damnation.
His mind trembled.
His will faltered.
Then—
Pain swallowed everything.
—
One day passed.
Inside the illusion.
Xuankong's mind collapsed.
Shattered.
Reduced to nothing but chaos.
Ren watched.
"…Not bad."
"To last a full day."
A small nod.
Then—
He released the technique.
—
Reality.
Xuankong's fists were still mid-strike—
Then suddenly—
His body went limp.
He collapsed.
Unconscious.
Ren stood there calmly.
Unmoved.
As if nothing had happened.
—
"What…?"
The Daimyō stared in disbelief.
Xuankong's strength—
He knew it well.
Ordinary jonin stood no chance.
And yet—
This?
No clash.
No exchange.
No battle at all.
Just—
Over.
His expression slowly turned serious.
Not because Xuankong was weak.
But because—
The Hokage was too strong.
Overwhelmingly so.
So Konoha…
Was still this powerful?
His earlier hopes—
That the war had weakened them—
Faded instantly.
Whatever thoughts he had entertained—
Vanished.
Just like that.
Then—
A smile returned to his face.
Bright.
Warm.
He stepped forward, clapping his hands.
"As expected of Konoha's Hokage!"
"Truly… extraordinary."
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