"Pu… chuu?"
The small black creature let out a soft, muddled sound.
It blinked—
Wide yellow eyes locking onto the only person before it—
Uchiha Ren.
Their gazes met.
The little thing wobbled slightly, as if confirming something.
Then—
It bounced.
"Pu-chuu~!"
Clearer this time.
Brighter.
Filled with attachment.
Before Ren could react—
It moved.
A round black blur—
Like a living obsidian bead.
It rolled up along his leg—
Climbing.
Fast.
Leaving behind only faint creases in the fabric and a fleeting chill.
Then—
It reached his shoulder.
Settling there proudly.
Its smooth, cool body pressing gently against his cheek.
Soft.
Silky.
Cold like polished jade wrapped in velvet.
"Pu-chuu~"
A whisper by his ear.
Warm breath.
Pure dependence.
Pure joy.
It rubbed against him again.
Eyes narrowing in contentment.
Every part of it radiating one simple message—
"I like being with you."
Ren turned slightly.
Meeting those bright, unguarded eyes.
And something in him… softened.
He lifted it gently.
Held it in his palm.
Then—
Without hesitation—
Pressed his face into it.
Deep.
Slow.
Satisfied.
No scent.
Only a texture—
Like sunlight-warmed clouds.
Soft.
Clean.
Comforting.
"Pu-chuu! Pu-chuu!"
The creature bounced happily.
Not frightened—
But delighted.
It nudged his nose in return.
At that exact moment—
A puff of summoning smoke burst nearby.
Space rippled.
A black cat stepped out.
Graceful.
Composed.
Its sharp eyes instinctively searched for its master—
Then I froze.
Because what it saw—
Was Uchiha Ren—
The same man who summoned thunder dragons—
Now holding a round black blob—
And burying his face into it with visible enjoyment.
'…Why are you not inhaling us ninja cats instead?!'
The cat screamed internally.
Ren calmly lifted his head.
No embarrassment.
None.
He placed the creature back on his shoulder.
The little black being settled instantly.
Snuggling into his neck.
Then turned—
Looking curiously at the cat.
"This is Kuramon."
"New member."
The cat's whiskers twitched.
Its gaze shifted between Ren and the creature.
"…Is it a summoning beast? Or… some new technique?"
No answer.
Ren simply tapped Kuramon lightly.
"Pu-chuu~"
It leaned into his finger.
Content.
"…Understood."
The cat lowered its head.
Then peeked again.
"Pu-chuu?"
Kuramon greeted it.
"…Meow."
The cat replied stiffly.
An awkward silence followed.
Ren sat down.
Returning to business.
"How is the cleanup?"
The cat straightened.
Focus restored.
"All Mist prisoners secured."
"Noble assets accounted for."
"City stabilized."
"Awaiting reactions from Mist and other villages."
Ren nodded.
"I'll see Fuguki Suikazan and Kisame Hoshigaki later."
"Keep them alive."
"Monitor the Inabi squad outside the city."
"No mistakes."
"And begin reconstruction of the western underground."
"That will be our foundation."
"Yes, young master."
The cat vanished in smoke.
Silence returned.
Ren's gaze lingered on the fading ripple.
His thoughts drifted.
Summoning…
At its core—
A space-time technique.
Simple to use.
Difficult to truly understand.
He had studied it deeply.
Tried to unlock its principles—
Coordinates.
Anchors.
Space folding.
Progress came—
But never the core truth.
Only after gaining dimensional movement magic—
Had he begun forming something greater.
A true teleportation network.
The underground structure beneath the western district—
Would be its first node.
A hidden passage.
A secure anchor.
One that could relocate every Uchiha from Konoha—
Safely.
Permanently.
No more dependence.
No more risk.
Even if Konoha fell—
Even if everything burned—
The clan would survive.
"…Pu-chuu?"
A soft nudge interrupted his thoughts.
Kuramon pressed gently against his neck.
Concerned.
Ren smiled faintly.
Patting it.
His Sharingan's power flowing into it.
"Pu-chuu…"
Its eyes curved into happy crescents.
Body relaxing.
Then—
It fell asleep.
Nestled against him.
A new burden.
Another consumer of his ocular power.
But…
He didn't mind.
His consciousness shifted inward.
Into the Sharingan space.
Before the stone gate—
Yesterday's reward hovered.
[Item: Safety Helmet]
[Evaluation: Ordinary. Slight protection. Maybe useful for fishing.]
Discardable.
He pushed chakra into the gate.
Light deepened.
A new bubble formed.
Inside—
A sword.
Worn.
Practical.
Battle-tested.
[Item: Mercenary Longsword]
[Evaluation: Reliable weapon. Used to slay beasts, goblins, and dark elves.]
Ren stared at the origin.
Expression… subtle.
Then withdrew.
Both items—
Would be sent to the Ginza group.
For analysis.
Meanwhile—
Far from the city—
Jūzō Biwa stood alone on a hill.
Facing Infinite City.
Waiting.
No one returned.
Silence answered him.
"…A trap."
He understood.
He turned—
Looking toward the trapped Konoha forces.
Exhausted.
Cornered.
Unlike Fuguki—
He was not blinded by greed.
He made his choice.
He descended.
Returned to command.
No speech.
No hesitation.
Blade raised.
Pointing forward.
"Advance."
"No survivors."
Mist surged again.
And the eastern Konoha forces—
Were erased.
Step by step—
Jūzō walked through corpses.
Blade dripping.
Finishing the last struggling hand.
Expression unchanged.
Then—
He spoke.
"Messenger."
A shinobi appeared instantly.
"Report to the village."
"Fuguki Suikazan's unit—likely annihilated."
"Our mission is complete."
"Request reinforcements and instructions."
The message crossed the sea.
Reaching the desk of the Third Mizukage.
Behind him—
Shadows moved.
Twisted.
Formed—
Into a black figure.
Black Zetsu.
After a brief exchange—
Orders were issued.
Four thousand Mist shinobi mobilized.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
And the Six-Tails Jinchūriki.
War—
Was far from over.
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