"Lastly, Lord Kakuzu has accepted the eight-million-ryō bounty as instructed. He will soon attack the Kumogakure forces. All traces will point to Konoha."
As Kasumi finished her report, Ren absentmindedly stroked her soft, silken fur.
At the same time, he could feel Maru's gaze—
A mix of envy and jealousy—
Lingering nearby.
He calmly sorted through the intelligence.
Mito Homura's purpose was obvious.
Nothing more than going to the Daimyo's court—
Begging for war funds and supplies.
A shinobi village that held the strongest military power in the land—
Yet still had to rely on the whims of nobles.
A twisted structure.
A deeply rooted system of dependence.
There was no better explanation than a broken tradition—
And a mindset long beyond reform.
Compared to that—
What truly caught Ren's attention was the Land of Rain.
A nation trapped between three great powers.
Its fate—
Doomed by geography.
The organization that would one day shake the entire world—
Akatsuki—
Was still insignificant.
At present, nothing more than a handful of scattered figures.
The only uncertainty—
Was whether those eyes…
Madara's Rinnegan—
Had already been transplanted into Nagato.
If so—
They would be quietly maturing within the Uzumaki bloodline.
"…Perhaps once Madara finally dies…"
A faint glint appeared in Ren's eyes.
"…it'll be time to go to the Land of Rain and take them early."
The temptation was undeniable.
The Rinnegan—
Whether for himself—
Or as a power source for the stone gate—
Or even as leverage against Black Zetsu—
Was invaluable.
As for locating the Uzumaki survivors—
It was not purely strategic.
There was also something personal.
A lingering regret from another life.
"…I wonder if Karin has been born yet."
A fleeting thought passed.
"…Hopefully she has nothing to do with those beasts in Kusagakure."
His mind settled.
Ren gently scratched Kasumi's chin.
Her soft purring made his mood noticeably lighter.
"Keep monitoring Mito Homura. Just track when he leaves the Daimyo's court."
If the opportunity arose—
Ren would not hesitate to eliminate him midway.
In his eyes—
Every member of Konoha's leadership…
Was expendable.
"The Land of Rain—continue surveillance. Prioritize safety. If anything goes wrong, summon yourselves out immediately."
"After Kakuzu completes the operation, assign him a new task."
"Kusagakure. Rescue Uzumaki survivors."
"Two hundred thousand per living one."
"Dead ones are worth nothing."
"Understood, Young Master!" Kasumi responded with a cheerful flick of her tail.
"Ah—there's one more thing."
Ren's expression shifted slightly.
A thought resurfaced.
A task long set in motion.
He turned to Kasumi.
"At the beginning of Konoha's founding… during the Warring States era—before even Madara was born—there was an Uchiha sealed away by the Senju alliance."
"Any progress?"
Kasumi's ears twitched slightly.
Her whiskers quivered.
A hint of difficulty showed in her eyes.
"That period is far too ancient. Many records were lost in war."
"We've been conducting a ground search based on historical battle zones."
Then—
Her tail lifted slightly.
"But we've made progress."
"The western and northern areas of the Naka Shrine have already been ruled out."
"Only the eastern and southern regions remain."
"If all goes well… another two and a half years should complete the search."
Maru, who had just finished cleaning up, perked up immediately.
This was the first time he had heard of this mission.
Curiosity filled his round face.
"Young Master… why search for someone from the Warring States era?"
"That was so long ago…"
"Even if we find them, wouldn't it just be bones?"
He tilted his head.
"Or… do they carry some powerful Uchiha weapon?"
Kasumi said nothing.
She had once asked the same question.
But back then—
Ren had only brushed it off.
Ren smiled faintly.
His hand rested gently on Kasumi's head.
"When the time comes…"
"You'll understand."
What he sought—
Was someone who had yet to appear in this era.
Uchiha Hikari.
A child of war.
Orphaned by conflict.
Driven by grief—
She awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Her ability—
Yachihoko.
A terrifying power.
As long as a mark was placed—
Distance meant nothing.
She could control minds.
Drain chakra.
Discovered by her clan—
She was reduced to a weapon.
Even her name was taken.
To them—
A weapon did not need one.
Her eyes were further modified—
Strength forced upon her.
A tragic prodigy.
One who came to hate both shinobi and the world itself.
And wished to destroy it.
A familiar pattern.
Ren's thoughts deepened.
"If Yachihoko can absorb Sharingan power as well…"
"…then every awakened Uchiha could become a rechargeable source."
For the stone gate.
A cycle of power.
Efficient.
Endless.
And with it—
The gate's development would accelerate dramatically.
If the worlds beyond connected to other dimensions—
Ones within their capability—
Yet rich with unique systems—
Then the Uchiha's future…
Would expand beyond imagination.
As for becoming Hokage?
Ren's lips curved faintly.
A meaningless pursuit.
Unless one had some absurd advantage—
Or happened to inherit the position—
It was not worth the effort.
In this world—
Bloodline was everything.
Power was everything.
If one possessed overwhelming strength—
Why bother with politics?
When absolute power was achieved—
A new order would rise naturally.
And the old world—
Would be cast aside.
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