"Lord Hokage… What happened? Why are you laughing so happily…?"
Orochimaru had just stepped into the laboratory when he saw Uchiha Ren laughing uncontrollably.
The question slipped out before he could stop himself.
…and instantly—
He regretted it.
Senju Tobirama stood nearby, his face dark and silent.
Like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Even the aftershock would be enough to bury Orochimaru.
Tobirama valued Orochimaru highly.
He had been personally guiding him.
Even considering passing on his legacy.
If Orochimaru had been born a decade earlier—
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen might have been pushed aside.
But—
A great teacher was also a harsh one.
Tobirama's methods?
Relentless.
Creative.
And cruel—mentally.
Every failed test didn't hurt the body—
It crushed the mind.
His words were poisonous.
Each failure left Orochimaru doubting his own existence.
It took days to recover—
And only seeing Jiraiya could slightly ease the damage.
"Orochimaru."
Tobirama suddenly smiled.
A terrifying, "kind" smile.
"I'll be checking your progress over the next few days."
"…Make sure you don't disappoint me."
"…Y-Yes…"
Orochimaru's face turned pale.
Why did I come back now?
Why did I open my mouth?
"Hmph. Bullying your own student—what kind of skill is that?"
Ren clicked his tongue.
"None of your business," Tobirama snapped. "How I teach my disciple is not your concern."
The argument—
It was about to explode again.
Orochimaru didn't hesitate.
Run.
He vanished instantly.
"Forget it."
Ren waved it off.
"Not worth wasting time arguing with you."
He shifted the topic back.
To something far more important.
Mōryō.
That endless army of stone puppets—
He wanted it.
Desperately.
The construction projects were starving for labor.
Building a single railway could temporarily rely on shinobi.
But Ren's ambition—
It was far greater.
Railways across the Land of Fire.
Eventually—
Across the entire shinobi world.
That required tens of thousands.
Maybe hundreds of thousands.
Ordinary workers?
Too slow.
Too fragile.
Too expensive.
Compensation.
Casualties.
Endless costs.
Ren didn't want to pay that price.
Edo Tensei?
Technically viable.
But—
Too many problems.
Even if he abandoned all morals—
Dug up graves—
Ignored ethics—
He'd still need sacrifices.
And Konoha's prisoners weren't enough.
What then?
Mass abduction?
Slaughter?
That wasn't "cost-saving."
That was tyranny.
Even Konoha's leadership wouldn't allow it.
Only one option remained.
Mōryō's puppets.
Perfect.
"You want to use Mōryō's army… as labor?"
Tobirama asked.
"Yes."
Ren answered simply.
"…That works."
Tobirama nodded.
Compared to the Zero-Tails idea—
This was practically humane.
Relatively.
Still—
He felt uneasy.
What kind of world…
Would Ren create?
"Don't give me that half-hearted answer."
Ren frowned.
"I need this done quickly."
"Orochimaru's project is short on manpower."
"Those puppets are perfect for construction."
"Orochimaru is in charge of the railway."
"If he succeeds—he'll secure his position in Konoha's leadership."
Ren's tone grew heavier.
"He's a civilian shinobi."
"Climbing into Konoha's core power structure isn't easy."
"You and I… we're from clans."
"You know how they treat outsiders."
Tobirama fell silent.
He understood.
Too well.
Years ago—
Ren had already begun breaking barriers.
Opening clan techniques.
Funding education.
Supporting civilian shinobi.
But—
That came at a cost.
Clans didn't oppose him directly.
They couldn't.
So they redirected pressure.
Onto the civilians.
Better missions?
Given to clans.
Hard tasks?
Too difficult for civilians.
The imbalance was growing.
And now—
The situation was changing.
Rapidly.
Civilian numbers were exploding.
In a few years—
They would rival—
Then surpass—
The clans.
Clans had talent.
Resources.
Heritage.
But civilians?
They had numbers.
And numbers—
Created geniuses.
Again and again.
"This conflict… is inevitable," Ren said quietly.
Tobirama nodded.
"…Hashirama and I considered this."
"Merge the clans with civilians."
"Intermarriage."
"Erase the distinction entirely."
He paused.
"…But the war came too soon."
"And then—"
His gaze sharpened.
"This is the Uchiha's fault."
"If Uchiha Madara hadn't fought my brother…"
"If that battle hadn't happened—"
Ren cut him off instantly.
"Don't push that onto me."
"Why did Madara leave Konoha?"
"Who pushed him out?"
"Was it not certain individuals… working behind the scenes?"
"Tobirama."
"Answer me."
Tobirama froze.
"…Let's not dwell on the past."
"Focus on the future."
Smooth.
Too smooth.
Ren snorted.
"Exactly."
"Then stop bringing up old nonsense."
"…Mm."
Tobirama nodded quickly.
"But your solution won't work," Ren continued.
"I won't allow bloodline clans to dilute themselves."
"That weakens their power."
Tobirama frowned.
"Then what's your plan?"
"Without integration—conflict is inevitable."
"Do you want a civil war?"
Ren paused.
"…Some clans can integrate."
"But not bloodline clans."
"Because in the future…"
He stopped.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
"…What are you hiding?"
"Nothing you can solve."
Ren waved him off.
That only made things worse.
"You think I can't solve it?!"
"I'm Senju Tobirama!"
"I hate that look on your face—"
"That arrogant—"
"AHHH!!"
"Tch."
Ren dug at his ear lazily.
"Tobirama."
"When you complain…"
"You sound like you're acting spoiled."
"…What?!"
"And listen carefully."
Ren's gaze sharpened.
"You can't handle what's coming."
"Even at their peak—"
"Madara and Hashirama together—"
"Wouldn't stand a chance."
Silence.
Then—
Ren leaned back.
"So stop talking."
"And follow my lead."
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