On the platform of the barbican, a heavy silence followed Yahiko's arrogant declaration.
Everyone present frowned.
God? What kind of person can truly be called a God?
Just a day ago, in Unming Inner City, Ren Uchiha had faced seven Kage-level experts simultaneously. He had killed two, scared off two, and heavily wounded two, with the young A only retreating under the combined threat of the reinforcements. In the history of the shinobi world, no one had achieved such a terrifying feat at his age.
But to call him the strongest?
That would be overestimating him. The Third Raikage with the ultimate spear and shield, Onoki of the dual-element Dust Release, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the "Professor" and "God of Shinobi"—and the enigmatic Third Mizukage... these were the true peaks of the Kage level.
Furthermore, in the battle at Hell Valley, Ren had technically lost. Regardless of the context, in the eyes of the world, he had been struck down and sent falling into an abyss.
The consensus of those present was clear: If the title of "Strongest Ninja" is still up for debate, how can you presume to call him a God?
"Hmph!"
Kakuzu, the oldest and most experienced among them, was the first to sneer. He looked at Yahiko with disdain. "God? Brat, have you ever even seen what a real god looks like?"
He turned to Ren, intending to belittle him, but stopped when his eyes met that face—so hauntingly similar to Madara Uchiha's. Kakuzu fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Even if he has the potential, he's far from it. You don't understand how powerful a true 'God' is."
Sasori, Mei, and Hozuki didn't speak, but their eyes told the same story. Ghost Hozuki, in particular, looked at Ren with a competitive fire that practically screamed, I can hold my own against him; what kind of joke is this?
En Oyashiro, meanwhile, stood at the edge with a blank expression. Being from an era nearly a century ago, he had no idea what they were talking about, nor did he care for Yahiko's emotional appeals. To maintain his "strongman" persona, he simply folded his arms and stared resolutely at Unming City, though his toes were curling in awkwardness.
Can we just go kill the Daimyo already? he thought, his face turning slightly red from the suppressed urge to skip the dialogue.
Yahiko, unbothered by the rejection, shared a firm look with Nagato and Konan. Reading the resolve in Nagato's eyes, Yahiko took a deep breath.
"Everyone! I understand your concerns! But the core of my plan isn't about Ren actually being a deity right now. It is about Deification."
"The focus is Deterrence, not open war. From a long-term perspective, Ren's assassination of the Daimyo is beneficial to the world's structure. But the immediate cost is a war that will dwarf all previous Great Ninja Wars. The wrath of five monarchs will be unleashed on him, on Akatsuki, and on all of you."
Yahiko raised his arms high, his eyes burning with resolve. "We cannot sit and wait! For us, who will bear the first wave of the world's fury, this is a golden opportunity! We will meet their sharpness with our own! Before the eyes of the entire world, we will use our strength to create an invincible God! We will deter the nations and force everyone to look up at his breath!"
Konan nudged Ren forward. He stumbled two steps, standing before the group.
"Fighting seven Kage-level experts alone... killing a Jinchuriki while battling the Third Raikage... bearing the name 'Asura' and rewriting the war in the Land of Rain... Ren Uchiha, you are a person who shocks the world every few months," Yahiko stated firmly. "You are the most suitable person to Play the Part of God!"
The others fell into thought. Every person here had come for Ren. He was the absolute core of this makeshift group. Whether for money, art, past bonds, or a shared path of destiny, they were now all in the same boat.
Playing... God?
Ren frowned. He watched the exchange between Yahiko and Nagato and pieced together their plan.
Deification, not reality. Deterrence, not war.
They wanted to take the collective power of Akatsuki and channel it through Ren, staging a performance of divine power to scare the Five Great Nations into a peaceful transition.
The core of this performance had to be Nagato's Rinnegan.
Ren realized that if he entered his Susanoo, summoned a giant snake from Ryuchi Cave, and stood atop the Gedo Mazo while Nagato secretly performed a "Shinra Tensei" or "Chakra Dragon" in the shadows... to the world, it would look like Ren Uchiha had single-handedly obliterated an entire nation's army.
Such a feat would be undeniably "divine."
However, Ren let out a long sigh. Fake is fake. This plan relied on Nagato's sacrifice and Yahiko's desperate vision. At fifteen, Yahiko saw the impending war and feared for the Land of Rain. He was abandoning his slow-paced diplomacy with Hanzo to gamble everything on Ren.
Fear had driven them here.
"I understand what you mean. But..."
Ren looked at them—at Yahiko's foresight, Nagato's willingness to sacrifice, and Konan's worry. He hated being a vessel for other people's expectations. He hated being "carried" by the sacrifices of those around him.
Moreover, in Ren's eyes, the Daimyo system was a mere skin irritation—a minor ailment. He had never truly considered them the real enemy. To waste Nagato's power on such politics was an extravagance he couldn't accept.
The true enemies of this world were, and always had been, the Otsutsuki Clan.
From Toneri to Shibai, the scale of the true threat made political reform seem trivial. What use was a "beautiful home" if it could be wiped out by an Infinite Tsukuyomi or a divine Shinjutsu that rewrote reality?
Ren had enough motivation of his own. His desire to change the world was already a blazing fire. He had been pushed forward by the deaths and sacrifices of others for too long.
Enough.
The path of following others' wills was wrong. Ren had reached the peak of the Kage level; from here on, there was no reference for him to follow. Not Yahiko, not Nagato, not even Madara.
He needed to transcend. He had six nature transformations, a body capable of Bloodline Limits, and a glimpse into the true Sage transformation beyond mere animal arts.
He didn't need to play God. He would become one.
Just as he was about to reject the proposal, he felt a sudden tug—like a contract being signed. Ren turned his head toward the corner of the barbican. There, a small white snake flickered its tongue, watching him with an eerie, knowing gaze.
"If I may be blunt—" Terumi Mei interrupted, staring at Yahiko. "Your plan is reckless! You push Ren onto a pedestal, but then what? A bridge between nations? Greed is not something power can suppress. I have a much more reliable plan—"
"Enough!"
Ren pushed off Nagato's support, swaying slightly as he looked at the group. His eyes were calm, but deeply tired.
"I'm exhausted... Please, everyone... give me some time to think."
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