The conventional path to becoming Hokage was a dead end under Tobirama Senju.
For Uchiha Ren, there was only one option left.
Wait.
Wait until Tobirama dies.
It wasn't as if Ren lacked the means to fight back. He still held a trump card—the Mangekyō Sharingan experience cards.
But so what?Ren
Tobirama Senju wasn't some unknown opponent. He had personally killed Uchiha Izuna, a true Mangekyō wielder.
Relying on borrowed eyes to challenge a man like that?
Suicide.
As for rallying the Uchiha clan to stage a coup…
Ren snorted.
That was even less reliable than crawling into some cave to pledge allegiance to Uchiha Madara.
At least Madara didn't discriminate by clan—he treated everyone who wasn't Hashirama equally poorly.
The Mangekyō experience cards were treasures Ren had preserved through countless life-and-death moments.
Wasting them on Tobirama?
Not worth it.
No one knew how many forbidden techniques Tobirama had developed specifically to counter the Uchiha. If Ren wanted answers, he'd have to become Hokage and read the Scroll of Seals himself.
But now…
His time had finally come.
By tomorrow morning, Tobirama Senju's corpse would be cold.
The frustration from his failed draw earlier vanished instantly.
A grin spread across Ren's face—unrestrained, almost feral.
"Heh… hahaha…"
"HAHAHAHA—!"
"Geh—!"
He choked mid-laugh, coughing violently.
"...Of course. Swallowed my spit."
At that moment, a soft meow came from the window.
A pitch-black cat slipped gracefully into the room, landing soundlessly before hopping onto the bed. Its tail swished lazily before it settled down.
"Ren, I got the information."
The cat spoke.
"The negotiations between Konoha and the Raikage were indeed ambushed. Just like you predicted—the Second Hokage lured away the enemy alone."
It paused, licking its paw.
"His chances aren't looking good."
Ren walked over and sat beside it, his hand instinctively reaching out to stroke its fur.
The cat stretched, exposing its belly comfortably.
"I got this intel from Kiki," it added. "It took quite some effort to pry it out."
"Well done, Kuro."
Kuro was Ren's summoning beast.
Kiki belonged to Uchiha Kagami.
The Uchiha clan had long maintained a close relationship with the ninja cats under the Cat Granny. Contracts between them were common.
Small, agile, and elusive, ninja cats were exceptional intelligence gatherers, with their own information networks across the shinobi world.
Ren had been introduced to Kuro after demonstrating his talent in the academy. Back then, it had just been a tiny kitten.
Over the years, they had fought side by side on multiple missions.
Ren trusted it completely.
"So," Kuro purred, clearly enjoying the attention, "how are you going to reward me?"
"Three bottles of catnip."
"No. Double it."
Its tail flicked in dissatisfaction.
"Deal."
Ren, in high spirits, opened a drawer and tossed it a can.
"The other five tomorrow."
Kuro immediately popped the lid open, grabbed a handful, and took a deep sniff.
"Ah… this is the good stuff."
"AA+ quality."
Its face melted into bliss.
Soon, it had poured the entire can onto the bed, rolling around wildly, limbs sprawled as it rubbed itself against the catnip.
"Kuro, tell your contacts to stay in Konoha for the next few days," Ren said casually. "I'll need constant updates."
"Kuro?"
"…Kuro?"
The cat's eyes were unfocused. Its tongue lolled out slightly as its paws mechanically shoved more catnip into its mouth.
It was completely gone.
Ren clicked his tongue.
"Useless at critical moments…"
Still, there was no rush.
Hiruzen and the others hadn't returned yet.
Tobirama's death hadn't been officially confirmed.
Let things play out a little longer.
He lay back.
Time to sleep.
—
Several days later.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and his group returned to Konoha in a hurry.
But they did not bring news of peace.
They brought something far worse.
The negotiations between Konoha and the Raikage had collapsed.
The Raikage had been assassinated by his own subordinates—Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
And the Second Hokage…
Tobirama Senju…
Had fallen in battle.
—
Senju Clan Compound.
"He's dead?"
Mito Uzumaki stood frozen.
"Tobirama… is dead?"
She stood there, momentarily blank., as if her mind refused to process the words.
It didn't make sense.
How could he die?
In her memory, Tobirama had always been composed, calculating, and endlessly resourceful.
After Hashirama's death, he shouldered the burden of Konoha and governed it flawlessly.
His strength stood at the peak of the shinobi world.
He had survived the chaos of the Warring States era—
Only to fall during peace negotiations?
It was absurd.
Her gaze slowly shifted to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
There was hope in her eyes.
Hope that he would say something—anything—to deny it.
But reality remained unmoved.
Hiruzen stayed silent.
He didn't dare speak.
Didn't dare provoke her further.
Tears welled at the corners of Mito's eyes.
But in the next instant, she wiped them away.
When she looked up again—
Her gaze hardened, turning cold.
"Explain everything."
Her voice dropped, cold and firm.
"From beginning to end."
"Not a single word omitted."
Her chakra surged with her emotions.
The Uzumaki clan was known for their vast reserves—and Mito was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
The pressure that flooded the room was suffocating.
Even Hiruzen and the others struggled to breathe.
Konoha had just endured eight long years of war.
Eight years.
Even a village as powerful as Konoha had been severely weakened.
And now—
At such a critical moment—
The Hokage was dead.
If mishandled, the village could collapse from within.
"Yes… Lady Mito."
Hiruzen lowered his head and began recounting everything.
From the negotiations…
To the sudden ambush by Kinkaku and Ginkaku…
To the relentless pursuit by their elite force…
And finally—
Tobirama's decision to sacrifice himself as a decoy, ensuring their escape.
He told it all.
Without omission.
And at the end, he spoke of one more thing.
Tobirama's final order—
Appointing him as the Third Hokage.
Mito interrupted multiple times.
Questioned details.
Forced him to repeat certain parts.
Then had the others recount it as well.
Again.
And again.
Using the Nine-Tails' unique sensitivity to emotions, she verified every word.
In the end—
They were telling the truth.
No one spoke. Even breathing felt too loud.
Mito Uzumaki looked at Hiruzen, her expression unreadable.
For the first time—
She doubted Tobirama's judgment.
These children…
Were they truly worth his life?
And this man—
Sarutobi Hiruzen—
Did he truly deserve to sit in the seat of Hokage?
The question lingered.
Unanswered.
And dangerously alive.
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