"Old man… were you a ninja before?"
The team leader cautiously asked Uchiha Madara.
There was no way an elderly man could maintain that level of efficiency—
Unless he had chakra.
"…Mm."
Madara admitted it lightly, enjoying the attention.
"That explains it."
The leader nodded.
Everything made sense now.
In an instant—
The workers in Madara's group were overjoyed.
A powerhouse had dropped into their team out of nowhere.
Their wages this month?
Definitely going up!
Even their meals would improve—
They'd get actual meat.
"Old man! Can I transfer to your group?!"
"Me too! I work fast—I won't slow you down!"
"Get lost! Teams are assigned!"
"Come on, old man—let's celebrate tonight! We'll pool money, buy meat and drinks!"
Everyone wanted to cling to a strong thigh.
Madara's performance had stunned them all.
He had single-handedly dragged an average team to "Excellent."
That meant money.
"…Let's go."
Madara smirked faintly.
As expected—
He excelled in any field.
—
In the shadows, something watched.
Black Zetsu.
Its patience was crumbling.
Madara—
The man who betrayed Konoha.
Fought Senju Hashirama to the death.
Spent years obtaining Hashirama's cells.
Struggled for a decade to awaken the Rinnegan—
And now?
Working in a factory?
Selling labor like this?
…Has he lost his mind?
Black Zetsu couldn't understand.
Perhaps—
It was time to cultivate a new candidate.
This one…
Might already be ruined.
—
Days passed.
Uchiha Ren continued his routine.
Slacking at work.
Training Jiraiya in Summoning Technique.
Using a clone to spar with Orochimaru.
Personally training Tsunade.
He also saw off Chiyo and the Sunagakure delegation.
An alliance had been finalized.
Still—
No matter how good Konoha was—
It wasn't their home.
"I hope Sunagakure can one day become like this…"
Chiyo sighed.
—
"Hokage-sama… these articles…"
Nara Shikaku wiped sweat from his forehead.
Titles spread across the desk:
"Kirigakure Bloodline Human Rights Report"
"Kill That Kaguya Clan Member"
"Twenty Years as a Slave"
"Mizuto's First Love"
"Why Mizuto Hates Bloodline Clans"
"…."
Ren leaned back, unconcerned.
"What's the problem? I'm just stating facts."
These weren't random articles.
This was strategy.
Fueling internal conflict in Kirigakure.
The conflict between the Mizukage and bloodline clans—
A perfect weakness.
"What about this… 'Mizuto hates bloodline clans because his first love was stolen by the Hozuki Clan'?"
"…That's for sales."
Ren coughed.
"Half truth, half fiction—that's what sells."
"Information warfare costs money."
"Gotta make it back somehow."
Shikaku was speechless.
"And these… adult films and magazines?"
"Also for sales."
Ren's face reddened slightly.
"Konoha has shares in that industry."
"High profit margins."
"Don't underestimate it."
Shikaku nodded slowly.
It was true.
The profits were… terrifying.
"And remember—intelligence work isn't just gathering information."
"It's writing."
"Provoking division."
"Amplifying conflict."
"Most villages are poor."
"When resources are scarce, conflict is inevitable."
"You don't even need to lie."
"Just tell the truth."
Shikaku's eyes widened.
He was learning something new again.
"But that's just step one."
"The real key is elevating ourselves."
Ren leaned forward.
"Take Sunagakure as an example."
"Here's how you write it."
He began reciting:
"Konoha is a prosperous, kind, and harmonious village."
"A friend of mine returned from Konoha…"
"If children run away from home, they can eat freely at any shop."
"Cakes. Sushi. Ice cream."
"All because the villagers follow the Will of Fire…"
"Everyone lives happily."
"…."
Shikaku froze.
"That's… fake."
"Doesn't matter."
Ren waved it off.
"Spread it."
"Exaggerate it."
"We're allies now."
"They've seen Konoha's prosperity firsthand."
"What's wrong with embellishing it?"
"…I understand."
Shikaku nodded slowly.
His perspective—
Had expanded again.
"If ninja aren't good at writing, outsource it."
"Find writers from the Land of Fire."
"You handle distribution."
"Control the channels."
Ren added calmly.
"And bring Kakuzu along."
"He knows how to cut costs."
"Understood."
Shikaku sighed.
Convincing Kakuzu would be difficult.
—
Knock. Knock.
"Hokage-sama!"
"We're here again!"
The door burst open.
Tsunade entered without hesitation.
Like it was her own home.
"Oh, Tsunade."
"Mm!"
"Shikaku-uncle!"
"…Tsunade."
Shikaku greeted her—
Then paused.
Something felt off.
The way she looked at Ren—
That gaze.
Admiration.
Familiar.
He had seen it many times before.
Across Konoha.
Young girls.
Noble daughters.
Even kunoichi.
Ren's brilliance—
Was blinding.
Even with rumors about his private life—
It didn't matter.
Power.
Status.
Accomplishment.
All overwhelming.
And now—
Even Tsunade?
…This is bad.
If Mito Uzumaki finds out—
That would be terrifying.
Shikaku turned quietly.
Time to leave.
Immediately.
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