Uchiha Ren looked Tobirama Senju up and down with undisguised interest—
Like a farmer inspecting a field ready for harvest.
In this world—
What was the most valuable resource?
Talent.
Take Tsunade, for example.
How could she rack up enormous debts and still live freely?
Because she possessed something irreplaceable—
Top-tier medical ninjutsu.
No creditor would ever push her too hard.
After all—
Who didn't fear illness?
As long as Tsunade existed—
It was like having an extra life.
Those powerful backers behind the gambling dens?
They practically wanted her to owe more.
The deeper the debt—
The stronger the leverage.
Money could wait.
But life?
You only got one.
And Tobirama—
Was worth even more.
Nearly every major forbidden technique in the shinobi world bore his mark.
The Flying Thunder God Technique.
Edo Tensei.
The Shadow Clone system.
Even techniques that would shape future wars—
All traced back to him.
And the terrifying part?
Those were side projects.
His main job had always been Hokage.
Which meant—
If given full focus…
What could he achieve?
Ren's eyes gleamed.
He had already decided.
Lock Tobirama in a lab—
And let him research day and night.
"What are you planning to do?!"
Tobirama's instincts flared.
That gaze—
Something about it was wrong.
Very wrong.
"What do I want to do?"
Ren grinned.
"Lord Tobirama… you're my prisoner."
"I control your body completely."
"So naturally—"
"I can do whatever I want."
"Heh… heh heh…"
That smile—
Disturbing.
"I'm warning you—don't try anything strange!"
Tobirama felt a rare hint of unease.
This situation…
Felt oddly familiar.
Back when he experimented on captives—
They had said similar things.
But this Uchiha brat—
What did he know about research?
The Uchiha specialized in combat.
Not this.
"Lord Tobirama…"
Ren's tone softened.
Almost coaxing.
"You might as well give in."
"Everything I'm doing… is for Konoha."
"…Stop talking nonsense."
Tobirama frowned.
"If you want something, say it plainly."
"I don't have the patience for this."
"Simple."
Ren's smile sharpened.
"I want you to work for me."
"Devote yourself entirely to research."
A pause.
Then—
"Honestly, Lord Tobirama…"
"Every day you spent as Hokage was a waste of your life."
"You should've been in a lab."
"Your talent—"
"Left unused like that…"
"Is a loss to the entire shinobi world."
Silence.
Then—
Tobirama's eyes lit up slightly.
"…You truly think so?"
The praise—
Blunt.
Unfiltered.
It struck directly at something deep inside him.
For a brief moment—
A strange feeling surfaced.
Recognition.
From an Uchiha.
Of all people.
"…Of course."
Ren nodded without hesitation.
"You are the greatest scientist in the shinobi world."
"And especially your work against the Uchiha—"
"Every technique is lethal."
"The Sharingan excels at perception and genjutsu—so you created techniques to blind vision."
"It sees through clones—so you refined the Shadow Clone system."
"The Mangekyō manifests overwhelming power—so you created Edo Tensei and explosive tag chains for attrition warfare."
Ren spoke calmly.
But every word—
Was precise.
"You adapt your research to match the Uchiha's evolution."
"You counter them at every stage."
"In this entire world—"
"Who could match that level of innovation?"
For a moment—
Tobirama was silent.
Then—
"…Hmph."
"I'll take that as praise."
But inside—
His thoughts were already shifting.
If it was just research—
Then cooperating wasn't impossible.
In fact—
It might be beneficial.
As long as he remained in this world through Edo Tensei—
He would have opportunities.
Opportunities to escape.
Opportunities to act.
And his research—
Would still strengthen Konoha.
No matter how one looked at it—
There was no loss.
"…You want me to conduct research for you?"
Tobirama's gaze sharpened again.
"I am the Second Hokage."
"I have created countless techniques."
"And you—"
"Usurped the Hokage's position."
"We are enemies."
He paused deliberately.
Then—
A faint smirk.
"So if you want me to work for you…"
"My price—"
"Will be very high."
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