Hearing Tobirama Senju's words, Ren looked around, his eyes filled with playful amusement.
He gestured with his hand toward Tobirama and voiced his deduction.
"I can probably guess the conditions you are about to set. It must concern the living beings of the shinobi world and the souls of the Pure Land."
"Indeed."
Tobirama Senju nodded heavily, his expression grave.
"You are a god from beyond this world—a Reaper. Since you can tear through space to descend upon this world, you can naturally descend upon others as well."
"You must already possess one, or perhaps several, netherworlds under your complete control. The Pure Land of the shinobi world is likely just your current target."
"Given our strength, we would never stand a chance against a force accumulated across multiple worlds."
Beside him, Hashirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi were about to say something, but Tobirama silenced them with a sharp glance.
"Brother, Monkey, shut your mouths for a moment."
His crimson eyes returned to the Reaper, his voice filled with rational choice.
"My brother is powerful, but his mind is too simple. He would not think of this, nor did he pre-calculate the outcome of a battle, which is why he intended to move against you."
"Monkey has a natural antagonism toward you. Your indulgence of the Uchiha led to his grandson's death, and he himself is trapped in a cycle of hatred with them."
"As for the Fourth, I believe he has already realized this. However, he is still young—young and proud—and is not willing to simply surrender."
"I hope you can forgive their earlier words."
Ren asked, "Is that your condition?"
"No."
Tobirama Senju shook his head, his voice ringing with certainty.
"Reaper, I can sense that your appreciation for my brother and the Fourth is no less than your appreciation for me. Otherwise, you would not have remained so indifferent when they spoke so arrogantly."
"Even if I did not speak up, I doubt you would have done anything to them."
"You have a keen eye, Tobirama," Ren said with a slight nod.
Tobirama was right. Ren truly did like the First and the Fourth, and he was not the type to hold a grudge over the reckless words of Hashirama or Minato.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and then back at Tobirama. Before he could speak, Tobirama preemptively shook his head.
"I will not waste an opportunity concerning the safety of the entire shinobi world for the sake of a single individual."
"Reaper, please answer me one question."
Tobirama paused, his gaze turning sharp as he stared into the Reaper's eyes, as if trying to peer through them to see his true intent.
"You mentioned that the administrator of the Pure Land is the legendary Sage of the Six Paths. As a figure of legend, his power is likely greater than even my brother's."
"If you truly defeat the Sage of the Six Paths, what do you plan to do with the Pure Land? Will you disrupt the order between life and death?"
Ren looked him in the eye, returning the Second Hokage's gaze.
"You have seen my purpose with Shisui and the others. It is nothing more than collecting the souls of powerful warriors to serve as my subordinates."
"I also intend to build a city in the Pure Land to better garrison the area. It will not have a negative impact on the shinobi world, nor will it break the order of life and death."
"Does that answer satisfy you?"
As Ren spoke, Tobirama carefully observed his micro-expressions.
Based on his past experience, he saw no indication that the man was lying.
There was a very high probability he was speaking sincerely.
Yet, he could not rule out the possibility that the other party was simply too good at masking his intentions.
This was a god, after all. Who knew how long he had lived? Deceiving an ordinary human would be child's play.
For him and for everyone in the shinobi world, this was a high-stakes gamble.
A wrong bet could cause immeasurable damage to their world.
After a moment of silence, Tobirama's peripheral vision caught the three Uchiha standing behind the Reaper. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded solemnly.
"Fine, I believe you!"
He did not know the Reaper's background, but he understood the Uchiha.
The overall character of the Uchiha clan tended toward a sort of spiritual perfectionism.
After awakening the Sharingan, these Uchiha often became excessively powerful and took great pride in it. This made them arrogant and solitary, but it also fostered a certain spiritual nobility.
This manifested as an arrogance that looked down on petty or despicable acts against those weaker than them.
They felt such actions would be an insult to their strength and a stain on the Uchiha honor.
Since such a clan followed this Reaper with unwavering loyalty, the Reaper could not be a truly evil being.
Furthermore, by joining the Reaper's ranks, he could better observe his true nature.
Even if he misjudged him today, once he became a subordinate, he could conduct espionage or correct any mistakes in real-time.
Ren did not know Tobirama had considered so much in such a short span of time.
Seeing that Tobirama had agreed to join him, his expression softened, and he pointed at the First and Fourth Hokage.
"Since you are now my subordinate, I will give you your first mission."
"Persuade your brother and the others. Make sure they make the right decision."
Tobirama nodded, his expression growing respectful as he immediately stepped into his role.
"Understood, My Lord."
Satisfied, Ren turned to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, release the restraints on the four Hokage."
Orochimaru froze, looking warily at Hashirama. He hesitated, advising, "My Lord, you mean all of them? If they all try to escape, then..."
"It does not matter. Even if they run, they cannot escape my palm."
Ren's tone was flat, almost like casual conversation, conveying a sense of easy indifference.
Yet, it was precisely this attitude that steadied Orochimaru's heart.
He had supreme confidence—the ability to resolve it at any time—which was why he sounded so unconcerned.
"As you wish."
Orochimaru slowly released his hands, removing the bindings on the four Hokage.
Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi, temporarily freed, immediately began to argue with Tobirama.
Ren ignored the dispute among the Hokage and turned his gaze to Orochimaru. "And you? Do you wish to kill yourself, or shall I assist you?"
"Sui—"
Orochimaru was choked by the words, quickly swallowing his shock.
Understanding Ren's meaning, he dared to test the waters. "My Lord, might I remain in the shinobi world for a while longer?"
"As you wish."
"Thank you for your generosity, My Lord."
Orochimaru looked at the Reaper with humble respect, the tension in his heart easing slightly.
From the moment the Reaper appeared until now, their brief contact allowed him to form a rough profile.
Whether it was the conversation with Sasuke, the negotiations with the Hokage, or the response to his own inquiry, everything suggested this Reaper was quite magnanimous and easygoing.
Beneath this gentle demeanor lay absolute confidence in his own strength and total control over the situation.
Therefore, he maintained such a casual attitude.
Seeing that Ren's business was concluding, Shisui stepped forward, pulled a cloth bag from his robes, and handed it to Ren.
The bag was bulging with round lumps. As Shisui pulled it out, it made a crisp, glass-like clinking sound.
"My Lord, these are the souls we have collected recently."
Ren casually tore through space and reached into the rift with the bag.
"Newgate, keep these souls safe for me."
An answer came that the living could not hear. Ren felt the weight leave his hand as the person hidden in the space took the bag.
Watching this, Orochimaru's pupils constricted.
Although he had seen the celestial phenomena earlier, seeing Ren shatter space so simply at close range was still incredible.
Any ninjutsu involving time and space was essentially a forbidden technique.
Yet this Reaper toyed with space so easily. With just a casual strike—hardly any effort at all—he broke through the incredibly stable fabric of reality.
Such power was too profound to fathom.
To be called a god by the strength-worshipping Uchiha meant his power was surely on a scale beyond human imagination.
He wondered what kind of height the Reaper could reach if he unleashed his full divine power.
Orochimaru instinctively licked his dry lips, quickly suppressing the thought.
"My Lord, there is also this."
Shisui pulled out a fist-sized wooden box from his robes.
Ren took the box. When he opened it, a single bead lay quietly inside.
The character for 'Madara' was written on the surface. A soul was sealed within, trapped in a deep slumber.
Seeing the black script, Ren felt a stir of excitement. He pinched the bead between two fingers and held it up to the moonlight, carefully observing the soul inside.
He looked at Shisui, his eyes revealing a hint of pleasant surprise.
"Shisui, is this... that ancestor of your Uchiha clan?"
"Yes, My Lord."
Shisui looked up, his face brimming with joy.
He knew Ren would be satisfied with this soul. It was worth the effort he had spent to secure it.
"The soul inside is indeed Uchiha Madara!"
Ren looked back at the bead, his eyes shimmering.
"I did not think you would manage to collect even him. Well done."
He was naturally familiar with the name Uchiha Madara—the mastermind behind the entire shinobi world who painstakingly crafted layer upon layer of plans to return from the dead and trap humanity in a dream world.
Unfortunately, in the final battle, he was backstabbed by Black Zetsu and lost everything, ultimately serving as nothing more than a pawn to resurrect Kaguya-hime.
Looking at the soul, Ren suddenly paused.
Now that Madara's soul was in his hands, there would be no sign of him in this Ninja War from the start.
Didn't that mean that Black Zetsu, who was so devoted to saving his mother, had just reached the final stages only to find the crucial Madara was suddenly gone?
He must be fuming right now.
As soon as Shisui spoke the name Uchiha Madara, it immediately caught someone's attention.
Hashirama Senju's ears perked up. He immediately abandoned his brother, who was analyzing the situation, and appeared instantly by Ren's side, staring fixedly at Ren's hand.
Ren glanced at the suddenly appearing Hashirama and smiled inwardly, closing his hand around the bead.
"Hashirama, are you quite interested in Madara's soul?"
Hashirama's eyes remained fixed on the clenched fist, as if trying to peer through the skin to see the soul in the Reaper's hand.
"Reaper, is that truly Madara's soul in your hand?"
He could not see souls, nor could he see the bead, but he had overheard their conversation and rushed over.
When it came to Uchiha Madara, he could not help but care.
"Indeed."
Ren placed Madara's soul back into the box.
"As someone who was like a brother to him, you should be more familiar with him than I am."
Hashirama clenched his fists, his brow furrowed. He asked solemnly, "Reaper, what do you plan to do with Madara's soul?"
"The same as the others," Ren said softly.
"I see..."
Hashirama murmured, reminiscing about the past, his expression turning wistful.
"Brother, I am talking to you. Do not let others distract you."
Seeing his brother's expression, Tobirama spoke up with an unfriendly tone.
He had heard Ren and Shisui's conversation as well.
Because of that, he became increasingly annoyed by Hashirama's reaction.
Damned Uchiha Madara. What kind of spell had he cast on his brother to keep him so obsessed even after being dead for all these years?
Tobirama stepped forward and forcibly pulled Hashirama back.
Hashirama was dragged away, full of reluctance, looking back over his shoulder repeatedly at Ren's hand.
Ren saw this display and could not help but shake his head.
He did not want to comment on the complex, love-hate relationship between Hashirama and Madara.
He tucked the wooden box into his robes, glanced at Sasuke, and then looked at Fugaku behind him.
"Fugaku, is Naruto the same toward the boy Sasuke as Hashirama is toward Madara?"
Fugaku had always heard rumors about the history between the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara.
Seeing Hashirama's behavior for himself, and hearing Ren's question, he recalled Naruto and Sasuke's previous words. His face darkened.
"To answer you, My Lord... it is about the same."
Minato Namikaze's ears perked up at the mention of his son's name. He glanced at the Reaper, a flicker of wariness in his heart.
He then refocused on the Second Hokage, who was dragging the First Hokage back.
Suddenly hearing the Reaper mention himself and Naruto, Sasuke stepped forward, his gaze moving between his father and the Reaper.
"Father, and Reaper... what about me and Naruto?"
Fugaku's expression became complicated. Looking at his son's cool exterior that clearly masked deep concern, he let out a helpless sigh.
"Sasuke, I know you and Naruto have a deep bond, but do not go down the wrong path."
"Otherwise, your mother, I, and everyone in the Uchiha clan will be very disappointed."
"Father, what do you mean by that?" Sasuke looked confused.
"Nothing..."
Fugaku replied, speechless. How could he, as a father, say such things out loud?
Watching this rather cold interaction between father and son, Ren rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
He suddenly looked up and asked, "Fugaku, you must have been in contact with Sasuke and Naruto for a while. Have you noticed anything unusual about them?"
"No," Fugaku said softly. "Why do you ask, My Lord? Is there something special about my son and Naruto?"
"Naturally, there is something special. Just like Hashirama and Uchiha Madara over there..."
Ren turned his head and gestured toward Hashirama.
The group looked puzzled. Before they could ask for clarification, Ren suddenly let out a sneer.
"That old man, the Sage of Six Paths, really has some patience."
"I have sent people to contact both of his sons, and he is still hiding, refusing to show himself. What is he thinking?"
"Does the old fellow really want me to storm the Pure Land before he will finally come out?"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]