"So—you've already mastered this technique?"
Uzumaki Mito spoke with a faintly sour tone, clearly unable to hide her surprise.
"I didn't expect your talent in fuinjutsu to be this high…"
Ever since Uchiha Ren obtained the extremely difficult sealing technique developed by Senju Tobirama, he had immediately sought Mito out.
After all, he had never studied fuinjutsu before. Without a true master guiding him, learning such a technique would have taken an absurd amount of time.
And there was no way he was going to lower himself to ask Tobirama—that naturally evil white-haired old man—for help.
"Still, I should thank you for your guidance during this time."
"Hmph. Rare to hear gratitude from you."
Mito's expression remained cold, but the slight curve of her lips betrayed her good mood.
Ren glanced at her.
This lonely old woman… why did she suddenly feel a bit tsundere?
He didn't bother dwelling on it.
He hadn't come here just for fuinjutsu.
There was something more important.
"Mito, next year, the Uzumaki students will be leaving Konoha."
"…Time really flies."
Her expression dimmed instantly.
"In the blink of an eye, two years have passed… When the time comes, let me know. I'll personally see them off…"
She continued murmuring softly.
Ren let her finish before calmly shifting the topic.
"But the situation is a bit complicated."
"Some of them… might not be going back."
"…What do you mean?"
Mito's voice rose sharply as she stared at him.
She could already sense it—
This man was plotting something again.
"That would be because of love."
"Nearly one-third of the Uzumaki students are in relationships with Konoha shinobi."
"If they leave, those relationships become long-distance."
"So…"
"They submitted a petition requesting to stay in Konoha."
Ren handed her a sheet of paper.
It was filled with emotional appeals—
And at the bottom—
Dense rows of red fingerprints.
"…How could this happen?"
Mito frowned deeply.
In an instant, she connected the dots—
Ren's earlier plan about intermarriage between bloodline clans.
"This is your doing, isn't it?"
"You've already targeted the Senju—now you're moving on to the Uzumaki?"
"Careful," Ren said lazily, sitting down and crossing his legs.
"They signed that voluntarily."
"I didn't force anyone."
"I support freedom in love."
"Young people wanting to stay with the ones they love—what's wrong with that?"
"Konoha offers them a better life."
"Wanting happiness—is that a crime?"
He looked at her with a faint smile.
"Mito… you wouldn't want to break them apart, would you?"
Silence.
She couldn't refute a single word.
Because—
On paper—
Everything he said was perfectly reasonable.
But somehow—
It all felt wrong.
"…I can't argue with you."
She exhaled.
"So what do you want to do?"
Ren smiled slightly.
"If they want to stay, Konoha naturally welcomes them."
"The only issue is whether Uzumaki Ashina will agree."
"Your position makes you better suited to negotiate this."
"Otherwise, it'll look like I'm scheming against the Uzumaki."
"You are scheming," Mito shot back.
"I'll say it again," Ren replied calmly.
"They chose this themselves."
"I'm just supporting their pursuit of love, freedom, and a better life."
"…So?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Mito… can you complete this task?"
"…I'll try."
Ren's expression instantly turned serious.
"Mito."
"Your loyalty to Konoha isn't enough."
"…Fine!"
She gritted her teeth.
"I guarantee I'll complete it!"
Inside, she cursed him countless times.
This man—
Had no shame whatsoever.
"Tell me your plan," Ren said.
"Appeal to emotion. Appeal to reason," Mito replied.
"Ashina isn't rigid."
"For the future of the clan, he's already been pushing for alliances."
She paused.
"Honestly… he'll probably agree."
Ren nodded thoughtfully.
"…True."
Then—
He almost said something he shouldn't.
"Ayame is quite nice… very—"
He stopped mid-sentence under Mito's deadly glare.
"Hmph."
"Ren, you'd better treat Ayame—and Tsunade—properly."
"Or I won't forgive you."
Ren coughed lightly.
"We're discussing official matters. Show some respect for the Hokage."
"…Tch."
Mito rolled her eyes.
"If persuasion fails—just use money."
"You're good at that."
Ren chuckled.
"Money isn't the issue."
"But Konoha's funds don't fall from the sky."
"I want Ashina to come to me."
"To request that the Uzumaki stay."
"After all…"
"A deal you chase isn't a good deal."
Mito stared at him.
"…You really are shameless."
Ren spread his hands.
"They want to stay."
"I'm the Hokage."
"You expect me to beg them?"
"My dignity is Konoha's dignity."
"…Go to hell."
That night—
Ren visited the underground laboratory.
"...You actually learned it?"
Tobirama looked genuinely surprised.
Then quickly returned to his usual cold demeanor.
"Too slow."
"Your talent is mediocre at best."
"The Sharingan isn't that impressive."
Ren ignored the jab.
"How's the progress with Mōryō's puppet army?"
"It's been over a month."
"You're not slacking, are you?"
"Tch. All you do is rush me."
Tobirama produced a crystal sphere.
Inside—
A faint purple glow swirled.
Mōryō's soul fragment floated within, curled up in a dormant state.
"You can feel it, right?"
"The priestess's chakra."
"I used it, along with my sealing formula—and your Mangekyō Sharingan's power—to suppress Mōryō and extract its energy."
"But this is only a fragment."
"If you want full control…"
"You'll need the complete Mōryō."
Ren's eyes lit up.
Finally—
Free labor.
"Getting the full Mōryō won't be easy," Tobirama continued.
"The priestesses guard it generation after generation."
Ren waved it off.
"I'll handle it."
"If she cooperates—good."
"If not…"
He smiled faintly.
"I'll persuade her with my Sharingan."
"…Don't overdo it."
"I know what I'm doing."
Then—
They moved on to another matter.
Capturing Black Zetsu.
This required precision.
Absolute certainty.
Tobirama, experienced in ambush tactics since the Warring States Period, began outlining a plan in detail.
"You'll need modified concealment techniques."
"Location is critical."
"And when the time comes—"
"Strike fast."
"No hesitation."
"No unnecessary words."
Ren listened carefully.
Then—
Clapped.
Perfect.
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