Calm.
Tobirama Senju drew in a slow breath, forcing his turbulent mind to steady.
Facing Uchiha Ren, his brilliant mind began racing at full speed.
His current condition was abysmal.
His strength wasn't even a tenth of what it once was. Forget using the Flying Thunder God Technique—he could barely sense spatial fluctuations at all.
His chakra flow was sluggish, obstructed.
The forbidden techniques he once wielded with ease?
Unavailable.
Defeating Uchiha Ren through his own power was nothing more than wishful thinking.
He needed allies.
And information.
"What about Mito?"
His voice turned cold.
"What did you do to Mito?!"
"She would never stand by and watch you kill Sarutobi Hiruzen!"
He had to confirm it.
If Mito Uzumaki had been killed as well—
Then eliminating Ren would become nearly impossible.
"Lord Tobirama… is that really how you see me?"
Ren's expression turned almost innocent.
"Do you think I would lay a hand on Lady Mito?"
He truly hadn't done anything excessive.
Well—
Aside from slapping her across the face.
But killing her?
Never.
If he had, the Senju would have gone to war with him immediately. Internal collapse would follow.
"Hmph. As if a wicked Uchiha brat like you would even dare."
Tobirama's expression eased slightly.
That possibility had genuinely worried him.
Even if it was unlikely—
This was an Uchiha.
And Uchiha logic… could not be judged by normal standards.
"Oh, and Lady Mito didn't stop me from killing Hiruzen either."
Ren spoke casually.
"She was right there. Watching."
Tobirama's face changed instantly.
"You insolent brat—what nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Mito would never stand by while you killed the Hokage I chose!"
His voice sharpened.
He trusted Mito.
Absolutely.
If something had gone wrong—
Then only one explanation remained.
"You interfered!"
"You've been stirring chaos inside Konoha from the start!"
"Mito would never go against my final will!"
His confidence in that was unwavering.
Ren tilted his head slightly.
"…That analogy is a bit unfortunate, don't you think?"
"If I'm the one stirring things… what does that make everyone else in Konoha?"
Tobirama's face darkened instantly.
"Silence!"
"To compare Konoha to such filth—!"
This Uchiha brat—
Even a simple metaphor, and he twisted it like this.
Unbearable.
"Enough of this nonsense!"
"Tell me everything!"
"What did you do to Mito… to make her watch as you killed Hiruzen?"
He didn't want to waste time arguing.
He needed answers.
Ren raised both hands lightly.
"I didn't do anything."
That—
Only made things worse.
"Impossible!"
Tobirama's composure cracked again.
The rationality he had just regained began to waver.
"Why is it impossible?"
Ren's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Are you really that certain Mito would support Hiruzen?"
"That she would insist on him becoming Hokage?"
"Don't forget—Lady Mito has a son."
"Senju Toma."
"His strength and capability aren't inferior to Hiruzen's."
The question hung in the air.
Simple.
Direct.
Tobirama froze.
"You…!"
"Mito wouldn't be so narrow-minded…"
But even as he spoke—
Doubt crept in.
If it involved her son…
Then her choice might not align with his expectations.
"Honestly, I'm curious too," Ren continued calmly.
"Why didn't you choose Senju Toma as Hokage?"
"Why Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
"If it had been Toma…"
He smiled faintly.
"I wouldn't have had such an easy time becoming Hokage."
"I might've needed a full coup to take the position from him."
And that—
Would have been far more troublesome.
A coup meant rebellion.
Senju Toma, backed by the Senju clan, could have mobilized ANBU and the entire village against the Uchiha.
Fighting Konoha with just the Uchiha?
Suicide.
Ren would never make such a foolish move.
At best—
He would lie low.
Wait.
Then remove Toma quietly.
But none of that had happened.
Because Tobirama—
Had chosen Hiruzen.
"Hmph."
Tobirama sneered.
"What would a wicked little Uchiha like you understand?"
"Everything I did… was for Konoha."
"For its future."
"You wouldn't comprehend it."
His tone was as harsh as ever.
Ren didn't get angry.
At this point, he was used to it.
If not for the restraints of Edo Tensei—
Tobirama would have already tried to kill him again.
A few insults?
That was nothing.
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