The interior of the Uchiha family tent had been transformed into a high-speed production line.
Fifteen of Ren's Shadow Clones sat in two neat rows, their hands moving in a blur of synchronized efficiency. They were churning out Type 1: Bandage Tags.
Dip. Write. Pulse. Stack.
The rhythm was hypnotic.
Ren's main body sat apart from the clones, working on a separate table. The air around him was heavier, rippling with invisible pressure. He wasn't using ordinary chakra; he was weaving a Reishi Lattice.
He was crafting a Type 2: Restoration Tag.
"It doesn't make sense," Kaori Uchiha sighed, tossing a failed prototype onto the floor. She was sitting nearby, her Sharingan spinning as she tried to analyze one of Ren's completed Type 2 tags. "The chakra pathways... they don't connect. They just float there, suspended in the ink. How is the Yang Release not dissipating?"
"It's about the structural integrity of the medium, Mom," Ren said vaguely, not looking up as he finished the seal. "Think of it as a cage made of air pressure."
Kaori rubbed her temples. As an elite medic, not understanding the mechanics was frustrating, but as a mother, her pride was undeniable.
In the corner, Mikoto sat hugging her knees, watching Ren work. She wasn't looking at the tags. She was looking at Ren's focused face, the way a stray lock of black hair fell over his eyes, and the sheer command he held over the room. Every time Ren's main body wiped sweat from his brow, a faint blush dusted her cheeks.
Ren, noticing her stare, misread it completely.
'She must be amazed by the efficiency,' Ren thought, glancing at his stack of product. 'Don't worry, Mikoto. Once I sell these to the Hokage, I'll buy you a new kunai set. Or maybe a pony. Girls like ponies, right? Though a pony in a war zone seems like a logistical nightmare. Maybe just the kunai.'
Just as Ren finished his tenth Type 2 tag, the tent flap opened.
Satoshi stepped inside. He was fully armored, his face grave.
"Pack up," Satoshi ordered. "The Third Hokage has arrived."
Ren's clones instantly dispelled, poofing away in clouds of white smoke. Ren gathered the stacks of Type 1 tags—his first batch for sale—and sealed them into a scroll.
"Is he alone?" Kaori asked, standing up.
"No," Satoshi shook his head. "He brought reinforcements. Five hundred elite shinobi from the central clans. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio is here. The Hyuga Main Family is represented. And... Danzo Shimura has arrived as well."
"Tsunade has also returned from the village," Satoshi added. "She pushed the convoy hard to get back in time for the battle. We are summoned to the Command Tent in thirty minutes."
Ren stood up, adjusting his gloves. "Then let's not keep the customers waiting."
The walk to the Command Tent felt like walking through a different village.
The camp, usually filled with tired, dusty soldiers, was now bustling with fresh troops wearing pristine flak jackets. Ren spotted the distinct crests of the Hokage's faction. He saw Akimichi members eating rations, Nara clan members checking their shadows, and Yamanaka sensors establishing a perimeter.
'Hiruzen brought his loyalists,' Ren noted. 'This isn't just reinforcement; it's a show of force. To the enemy, and to the Uchiha.'
They reached the massive central marquee. Two Anbu guards opened the flaps, allowing the Uchiha family to enter.
The pressure inside was suffocating.
At the head of the table stood Hiruzen Sarutobi, the God of Shinobi. He had removed his helmet, looking like a weary grandfather, but his eyes were sharp as flint.
To his right stood his students, the soon to be the Sannin: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and a visibly exhausted but resolute Tsunade.
To his left was Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, nodding respectfully as Ren entered.
Deep in the shadows of the corner, leaning on his cane, was Danzo, watching Ren with a singular, cold eye.
But Ren's eyes were drawn to another figure standing near the map.
He was a man with stern features, short brown hair, and crossed arms. He wore the standard Jonin uniform with the Uchiha crest on the back, but his face was an impassive mask of stone.
Fugaku Uchiha. The heir to the clan.
Ren hadn't seen him since the war began. Fugaku looked at Ren, his expression unreadable. Not a smile, not a frown. Just a void.
'He looks like a statue,' Ren thought critically. 'Does his face even move? He looks so... cold.'
Then, Ren caught his own reflection in a polished metal map weight on the table. He saw his own face—impassive, calculating, emotionless.
'Ah,' Ren realized with a mental grimace. 'I have the same look. It must be a genetic defect. RBF: Resting Uchiha Face. We really need to work on our PR smile.'
Ren and his parents walked over to stand with the Uchiha contingent, flanking Fugaku.
Once everyone was assembled, Hiruzen nodded to Tsunade.
Tsunade stepped forward, placing her hands on the table. She looked tired, but her voice was strong.
"The casualty rate among our ninjas is too high," Tsunade began, looking around the room. "Some died on the battlefield simply because they couldn't receive emergency treatment in time. We would have saved hundreds of ninjas if we had enough medical specialists."
She took a deep breath.
"So, I suggest that the village shall incorporate one medical ninja into every four-man squad."
Silence descended on the tent.
It wasn't a silence of disagreement—everyone knew it was a good idea in theory. It was the silence of harsh reality. Everyone knew that they didn't have time to train medical ninjas. Tsunade knew this too; she was proposing it as a long-term goal for after the war.
The room murmured in agreement. It was a noble dream, but logistically impossible right now.
No one spoke. The tension grew awkward.
Then, a man with long blue hair raised his hand.
"I support Lady Tsunade!" Kato Dan announced, stepping forward with a righteous gleam in his eye. "This is a brilliant idea! It will save a lot of ninjas! We must find a way!"
Ren watched this display and nearly rolled his eyes.
'Look at him go,' Ren thought sarcastically. 'The white knight in shining armor. "I support Lady Tsunade!" Yeah, I bet you do, buddy. People will really say anything to impress a girl. It's a war council, not a date, Dan.'
Then, Ren stepped forward and raised his hand.
Everyone turned to look at him. Tsunade's eyes lit up. She gave him an appreciative look, thinking Ren was about to back her up with his medical genius.
"We don't have time to train medical ninjas in the middle of a war. Ren said calmly.
Tsunade's face fell. She looked betrayed. 'You too, Ren?'
Before she could explode, Ren continued.
"However," Ren reached into his pouch, "I have something which can solve our problem right away."
The majority of the room looked confused. But a select few—Hokage Hiruzen, Danzo, Kato Dan, and the Hyuga Elder—went grim. They had already received the report from Hyuga Ko about Ren using the healing tags.
"What is it?" Tsunade asked, her tone clipped.
"This," Ren placed a single strip of paper on the table. "The Type 1 Healing Tag."
"A tag?" The Hyuga Elder scoffed. "You intend to heal our soldiers with paper?"
"Not just paper," Ren said. "This is a stored medical jutsu. It releases a pre-programmed burst of Yang Chakra to close wounds instantly. No hand signs. No medical training required. Anyone can use it."
Every jaw in the room dropped.
The Jonin commanders looked at the tag like it was a holy relic. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio exchanged shocked glances.
But the most shocked was Tsunade. She snatched the tag from the table, examining the ink.
"This... this shouldn't be possible," she whispered. "The chakra should disperse."
"Test it," Ren said.
Tsunade didn't hesitate. She drew a kunai and sliced a shallow, bleeding cut across her own forearm. Blood dripped onto the map.
She slapped the tag onto the wound and pulsed her chakra.
HUMMM.
Green light flashed. In three seconds, the light faded. Tsunade wiped the ash away. The arm was pristine. Not even a scar.
The silence in the tent was absolute. It was shattered only by the sound of heavy breathing from the gathered commanders.
'Look at their faces,' Ren laughed internally, keeping his face deadpan. 'They look like they just saw a dog recite the alphabet. That's right, stare at the product. That's the face of a customer realizing they need to open their wallet.'
"It... it really works," Tsunade stammered, rubbing her arm.
"Of course it works," Ren said smoothly. "I have five hundred units prepared. Ready for deployment immediately."
'Cha-ching,' Ren thought. 'I can practically hear the coins dropping into my piggy bank. Danzo looks like he wants to eat me, and the Hokage looks like he wants to adopt me. Excellent.