"Hey, hey… it's rare to see you in the Root base, yet you look completely lifeless. What's wrong with you?"
The next morning was bright and sunny.
Unfortunately, sunlight rarely reached the underground Root headquarters, much like Ren's current mood.
Standing nearby, Shisui scratched his head curiously while looking at Ren's sluggish expression.
Then a thought seemed to occur to him.
"…Don't tell me you got caught by Yūgao?"
"…."
Ren slowly raised his head and stared at him.
What kind of nonsense was that?
"Caught? Why would I be afraid of getting caught?"
"I'm not you."
"The entire village wants my bloodline to continue."
"…."
Shisui suddenly found himself speechless.
When he thought about it carefully—
It actually made sense.
Wood Release was Konoha's iconic power.
Anyone would want that ability passed down.
Especially since Ren's Wood Release now seemed comparable to the First Hokage's.
In other words—
Ren really had nothing to fear.
"…Then why do you look like that?"
Ren sighed deeply.
"You wouldn't understand."
He leaned his head on his hand again and stopped talking.
Last night's events were still painfully vivid.
Originally, he planned to spend a quiet evening with Yūgao.
Instead—
Hikari suddenly appeared.
Ren had imagined situations like this before.
But reality always proved harsher than fantasy.
In the end—
Yūgao pretended to be an ostrich burying her head.
And Ren ended up sleeping between the two of them all night.
Thinking about it now made him sigh again.
He suddenly glanced at Shisui.
"…Tell me something."
"Are Uchiha people naturally competitive?"
"…?"
Shisui blinked.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
"…Yeah. I guess so."
"Why?"
"…Nothing."
Ren sighed again and quickly changed the subject.
"Where's Kabuto today?"
"I haven't seen him."
"He took a day off," Shisui replied.
"Something about visiting the orphanage."
Ren rolled his eyes.
"That guy really chose today to take a vacation?"
Shisui almost laughed.
If anyone had more time off than Kabuto—
It was definitely Ren.
But Ren obviously had no idea what Shisui was thinking.
He tilted his head.
"What about Sasuke?"
"I heard he arrived last night."
"Has he started training?"
Shisui nodded.
"He started this morning."
"That kid works unbelievably hard."
"I've never seen someone his age train like that."
Then Shisui suddenly looked amused.
"But seriously—"
"How did you come up with that line?"
"Konoha at four in the morning?"
Ren grinned mischievously.
"Oh, I've seen it many times."
Of course—
His version of "four in the morning" was completely different from Sasuke's interpretation.
But technically—
It was still four in the morning.
If Sasuke misunderstood—
That wasn't Ren's fault.
After all—
He was the Hokage Advisor.
How could such a misunderstanding be blamed on him?
Shisui shook his head.
"You should go see him."
Ren rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"…I will."
"I'm actually curious about that kid."
"And I want to examine his eyes."
He smiled slightly.
"I know quite a bit about the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Shisui nodded.
That much was true.
Ren probably understood Mangekyō abilities better than many Uchiha.
But what interested Ren even more—
Was something else entirely.
Indra's chakra.
Meanwhile—
Inside the Akatsuki headquarters in the Land of Rain.
Nagato, acting through Pain, stood atop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Around him, the members of Akatsuki appeared as spectral projections.
Most of them had already left the Land of Rain.
Despite the alliance with Konoha—
Rain Village still wasn't entirely safe for them.
"Everyone's here."
Nagato spoke calmly.
"Let's begin."
"This operation was a failure."
"But we've learned valuable information."
"Konoha's strength far exceeded expectations."
He paused.
"For now…"
"We must remain low-profile."
No one objected.
Ren and the mysterious Uchiha woman had shocked them all.
Facing opponents like that—
Caution was necessary.
Then Kakuzu spoke.
"Something puzzles me."
"We have Hashirama's Edo Tensei, two Uchiha, and the Demonic Statue."
"So why can't we replicate the same synergy Konoha showed?"
He glanced between Itachi and Obito.
"…Can't you two cooperate like that?"
Both Uchiha remained silent.
But their killing intent toward Kakuzu was unmistakable.
Kakuzu continued smiling.
"Or perhaps that surviving Uchiha in Konoha is simply better?"
Obito finally snapped.
"Shut up."
Kakuzu shrugged.
"I'm just curious."
Then he turned toward Itachi.
"After all—"
"You killed your entire clan to obtain your brother's eyes."
"Once you take them, maybe you'll reach that level."
Itachi's fists tightened.
If this continued—
He might truly kill Kakuzu.
But Nagato interrupted them.
"Enough."
"No fighting within Akatsuki."
Then he continued.
"Another issue."
"Hidan is gone."
"Whether he's truly dead or not doesn't matter."
"We need replacements."
Black Zetsu spoke.
"We've identified two candidates."
"A medical ninja named Shinnō."
"And a Konoha missing-nin—Hiruko."
Both possessed dangerous abilities.
Nagato nodded.
"Recruit them."
Scattered murmurs followed.
Then Sasori spoke coldly.
"I also have a request."
"My puppets struggled against Wood Release."
"I need stronger materials."
"Bloodline limits would be ideal."
Jūzō Biwa added:
"I need a better sword."
Kakuzu smirked.
"I'd like some high-quality hearts."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"And I need more corpses."
"Especially former Kage."
"If we cannot surpass Ren in quality—"
"Then we overwhelm him with quantity."
The room fell silent.
Then several members nodded.
It was a brutal but logical strategy.
Nagato considered everything.
"Fine."
"For now—"
"Focus on strengthening yourselves."
"And avoid provoking Konoha."
He paused.
"Rain Village will maintain close ties with them."
"That will give us intelligence."
Surprisingly—
Even Obito didn't object.
After all—
He had personally experienced Ren's power.
Meanwhile—
Back in Konoha.
Ren sat in his room deep in thought.
"So…"
"…this is Indra's chakra."
He had already completed his examination of Sasuke.
But the result surprised him.
If he hadn't mastered Yin–Yang Release—
He might never have detected it.
What he discovered was surprisingly simple.
"…Extremely pure Yin Release chakra."
Pure to an absurd degree.
Even Ren's Level 10 Yin Release seemed slightly inferior in purity.
Yet something felt wrong.
"Is that really all?"
Indra's chakra shouldn't be that simple.
After all—
It allowed reincarnation across centuries.
Could pure Yin chakra alone accomplish that?
Ren frowned.
"…Am I missing something?"
Just then—
Tsunade entered.
"What are you doing sitting here?"
She glared at him.
"You've been hiding in Root all week."
"That's how a Hokage advisor behaves?"
"And you forced Yūgao to take leave!"
"You're unbelievable!"
Ren laughed awkwardly.
"She worked hard."
"She deserves rest."
Tsunade snorted.
"…So what are you researching?"
Ren handed her a scroll.
"Take a look."
Tsunade opened it.
Her expression quickly turned serious.
"…Hyūga?"
"What are you implying?"
Ren leaned back calmly.
"Most bloodline limits come from chakra fusion."
"But Senju and Uchiha are different."
"Our powers originate from the body itself."
"Sharingan."
"Senju vitality."
"These are inherited transformations."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"You're suggesting the Hyūga clan might have a similar origin?"
Ren nodded.
"And possibly the Kaguya clan as well."
Tsunade thought carefully.
"…You're right."
"The Hyūga and Kaguya clans do resemble mirror images of Senju and Uchiha."
Ren smiled.
"Exactly."
He then explained his theory.
Perhaps—
These clans once shared a deeper connection.
Perhaps—
Their ancestors came from the same source.
Tsunade slowly nodded.
"…Investigate it."
"I'll support you."
Ren smiled faintly.
But internally—
He already knew the answer.
The Hyūga clan descended from Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
The younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths.
That meant—
Their bloodline originated directly from Kaguya herself.
And suddenly—
Ren realized something.
"…The God Tree's power."
Could it be—
That Indra's chakra carried traces of the God Tree's influence?
If so—
Then the key to understanding it might not be on Earth at all.
Ren looked up toward the night sky.
Toward the moon.
Later that evening.
Inside a quiet izakaya in Konoha.
Ren sat across from Konan.
A small table separated them.
Sake and snacks were neatly arranged.
Konan had removed her usual disguise.
Her purple-blue hair flowed freely.
The soft lantern light made her normally cold expression appear unexpectedly gentle.
"I thought you might not come," she said quietly.
Ren smiled.
"You invited me."
"How could I refuse?"
"After all…"
"Rain and Konoha are allies now."
Konan hummed softly.
"…Allies."
She swirled her sake.
"I've always wondered something."
"Why cooperate with us?"
"You clearly despise Akatsuki."
Ren chuckled.
"I don't hate Akatsuki."
"I hate people who ignore right and wrong."
He explained calmly.
Originally—
He planned to simply use them.
But over time—
He realized something.
Nagato and Konan still believed in peace.
Even if their methods were flawed.
"They want to become the world's enemy," Ren said.
"So the world unites against them."
"It's a foolish idea."
"But also…"
"…a very courageous one."
Konan remained silent.
But her eyes softened.
Finally she whispered:
"…You helped us a lot."
"Jiraiya-sensei once taught us something."
"Always repay kindness."
Ren blinked.
"…Repay kindness?"
Konan slowly stood.
She loosened her hair.
Her long violet hair flowed gently in the lantern light.
Then she stepped closer.
Her voice lowered.
"…Do you remember the 'sincerity' you mentioned the first time we met?"
"I've never forgotten it."
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
The candlelight flickered.
Then—
Quietly—
The room fell into darkness.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL