"The rarest card is Uchiha Madara-sama's!"
"It barely appeared at all!"
"The last time… was about a week ago…"
"…An Uchiha ninja bought over a hundred packs before getting one!"
"I was so jealous…"
Ito Sosuke recalled that moment vividly.
The instant the card appeared—
The boy who pulled it became the center of attention.
Admired.
Envied.
Money—
It was terrifying.
Some wanted status.
Others wanted the full set—
Just to meet the Hokage and get his autograph.
Among ninja clan kids—
Money wasn't an issue.
Some even bought rare cards outright at high prices.
After all—
Who wouldn't admire the Third Hokage?
"…If only I could pull Madara-sama's card."
Sosuke sighed.
He wasn't dreaming of completing the collection.
Just one rare pull—
Could ease his mother's burden.
A single-parent household—
Was never easy.
The mortgage—
Was both hope…
And pressure.
But even so—
He never considered spending his own money on packs.
He knew—
Luck like that wasn't meant for him.
"…You want it that much?"
Madara asked.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"…Yes."
"If I sell it, Mom won't have to work so hard."
Madara already knew his situation.
Poor child.
…Time to act.
He didn't like owing favors—
Especially to kids.
"…Then I'll try."
"Grandpa… maybe don't…"
"It's really luck-based…"
"And expensive…"
Sosuke tried to stop him.
This was a trap.
A rich man's game.
"…Don't underestimate me."
"I was once—"
"…a very strong ninja."
Madara stepped forward.
Bought a pack.
"…Watch."
Tear—
"…First Hokage again."
"…As expected…"
Sosuke looked disappointed.
Still—
There was always that tiny hope.
"…Again."
Tear—
"First Hokage."
"Again!"
"Tch."
"First Hokage!"
"I don't believe this!"
Tear—
"Second Hokage."
"…Tobirama."
"…Disgusting."
"Again!"
"Tear—"
"First Hokage."
"One-Tail. First Hokage. Second Hokage."
In minutes—
Over twenty packs were gone.
Nothing valuable.
Hashirama.
Tobirama.
Over and over.
No rare cards.
No tailed beasts.
No Madara.
"…Grandpa, stop!"
"I'm scared!"
Sosuke panicked.
This was burning money.
Madara ignored him.
"…Again."
He was hooked.
Completely.
Money?
Didn't matter.
It wasn't even his.
His goal—
Was simple:
Pull his own card.
(And maybe help the kid… a little.)
Another dozen packs.
Still nothing.
Sosuke grew more anxious—
But then—
His break ended.
"…Grandpa, really, stop…"
"At your age, why are you so stubborn?!"
"…Stubborn?"
"I—"
"…Go back to class."
"I will pull it."
Madara's pride was on the line.
This felt worse than fighting Hashirama.
Even worse—
He was running out of money.
If this continued—
He'd have to send a clone to take bounty missions.
Or…
Work in a factory.
"…Fine."
"…All in."
Win or lose—
Didn't matter.
—
Afternoon.
Hokage Building.
Uchiha Ren yawned.
He looked… drained.
A whole night.
Another whole morning.
One versus two—
Even he felt it.
"…This world…"
"…Why are bodies built like this…"
He stretched.
"…I'll just show my face."
"…Then go rest."
—
Inside—
Konoha staff froze.
"…Hokage-sama… actually came?"
Nara Shikaku blinked.
"…You're surprised?"
Ren frowned.
"…No, no—of course not."
(Everyone knew.)
(Ren skipped work often.)
(For… reasons.)
Rumors spread fast.
Twin sisters.
Uzumaki.
Hyuga.
Even—
Wild rumors.
Shikaku quickly changed the topic.
"…Chiyo has been waiting."
"Kakuzu spoke with her."
"She seems… nervous."
Ren nodded.
"…That guy."
"…Too blunt."
"But it's fine."
"…We're not doing this for profit anyway."
Shikaku frowned.
"…We're losing money."
"…And still forming an alliance?"
"…Konoha doesn't need this."
Allies?
In the ninja world—
Were meaningless.
Weak allies—
Were just meat.
Ren smiled.
"…Your perspective is too narrow."
"Sunagakure lacks everything."
"Food. Medicine. Goods."
"Merchants hate going there."
"But if Konoha replaces them?"
"…Controls supply?"
"…Controls narrative?"
"…Controls economy?"
Shikaku froze.
Ren continued calmly:
"…And their elites will study here."
"…Future leaders."
"…Aligned with Konoha."
"…Maybe even a Fourth Kazekage… we choose."
Silence.
Cold sweat.
Shikaku felt it—
This wasn't trade.
This was…
Control.
A silent conquest.
"…Hokage-sama…"
"…Your vision…"
"…is terrifying."
Ren waved it off.
"…You handle execution."
"…I want results."
"…Yes!"
Shikaku bowed.
Excited.
Terrified.
Inspired.
This—
Was a new kind of war.
"Knock."
"Come in."
Ren entered.
Chiyo rushed forward.
"Hokage-sama!"
"…Sorry to keep you waiting."
"…Not at all!"
She smiled nervously.
"…The alliance…"
Her tone—
Was cautious.
Careful.
Because now—
She understood.
She wasn't negotiating with a Hokage.
She was standing before—
Something far more dangerous.
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