Inside the Uchiha Clan Compound—
Uchiha Ren didn't even wait for noon.
He rushed straight into the lab.
"Tobirama! Your beloved Third Hokage is here!"
The lab was in full swing.
Dozens of shadow clones of Tobirama Senju were running experiments.
And—
One extra figure.
"…Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru froze.
Then awkwardly tried to hide.
Too late.
Caught red-handed.
"You're supposed to be in class."
Ren crossed his arms.
"And what's with the all-nighters? Trying to die early?"
"Fire—Hokage-sama… I can explain… I have a clone in class…"
"Not listening."
Ren waved him off.
"I'm doing this for your own good."
"You're not Tobirama. You don't get to skip sleep and live."
Tobirama, nearby, snapped.
"I'm right here."
"And Orochimaru is my student."
"You don't get to lecture him."
He turned sharply.
"Orochimaru—show him your results."
Instantly energized, Orochimaru stepped forward.
"My research focused on increasing crop yields…"
He launched into a long explanation.
Genetics.
Trait selection.
Segregation laws.
Ren's head started hurting.
"Skip to the point."
"…Yes."
Orochimaru nodded.
"We've identified three substances—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium."
"They significantly increase crop output."
He held up a tray.
Granular.
White and pale yellow.
Ren's eyes lit up.
Fertilizer.
Actual fertilizer.
"…Good."
Very good.
This—
Was a cornerstone of civilization.
Seeds alone weren't enough.
Soil had limits.
Without replenishment—
Everything collapsed.
But fertilizer?
That changed everything.
Food security.
Population stability.
Future expansion.
Even—
A peaceful world.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"Excellent work."
"You can spend more time in the lab."
"But you still attend ideological classes."
"And read my books."
Orochimaru paused.
Then nodded.
He understood one thing clearly:
Research—
Costs money.
And Ren—
Was the source.
"Alright. Go."
Ren waved him off.
Then turned to Tobirama.
Now—
The real issue.
"Bad news first."
"Uchiha Madara wants to meet me."
Tobirama didn't react.
As expected.
"And the good news?"
"He's hiding his identity."
"Which means—he doesn't want to fight."
Silence.
Tobirama frowned.
Thinking.
Long.
Hard.
"…So what's your plan?"
"You're actually going to meet him?"
"Of course."
Ren shrugged slightly.
"If he wanted to fight, he'd already be here with Susanoo."
Tobirama leaned forward.
Eyes sharp.
"Then we kill him."
Ren: "…"
Tobirama continued—
Calm.
Cold.
Efficient.
"We gather Konoha's elites."
"Use Hashirama Senju's Edo Tensei—30–40% power is enough."
"You, your Mangekyō."
"The Nine-Tails."
"I use Flying Thunder God."
"We ambush."
"Decapitation strike."
He wasn't done.
Not even close.
"Seal arrays at the meeting site."
"Multiple barrier teams."
"Explosive tags—hundreds of thousands."
"Poison the tea."
"Neurotoxins. Chakra suppressants."
"Mark him with Flying Thunder God during conversation."
"Signal—"
"Stop."
Ren raised a hand.
"…Stop."
He stared at Tobirama.
Slowly.
Deeply.
"…You're insane."
Tobirama blinked.
"I'm what?"
"You're worse than a gambler."
Ren rubbed his temples.
"You're playing all-in with Konoha's future."
Win or lose—
They'd be crippled.
And if they lost?
Gone.
Everything gone.
"Tobirama…"
Ren sighed.
"…your inner Danzō is showing."
Tobirama slammed the table.
"I'm protecting Konoha!"
"He's a threat!"
"If we don't act now, we'll regret it!"
Ren shook his head.
"No."
"We talk first."
"He's choosing not to fight."
"So we don't escalate."
"If negotiations fail—"
"Then we think about it."
Tobirama's expression darkened.
"You're too soft."
"And you're too extreme."
Ren shot back immediately.
Silence.
Heavy.
Finally—
Ren spoke again.
"I'm taking insurance."
"Hashirama cells."
"I'll inject them."
"If things go bad—I stall him."
"Buy time."
Tobirama snorted.
"That's worse than ambushing him."
"Enough."
Ren cut him off.
"I'm the Hokage."
"My call."
Tobirama looked away.
Unhappy.
But silent.
Ren exhaled.
Head slightly aching.
"…Great."
"Tobirama thinks like Danzō."
"And I just sounded like Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"…This is getting out of hand."
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