"Agree?"
"How could I possibly agree?"
"You naturally evil Senju old ghost, stop adding to your sins. I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen."
Uchiha Ren rejected Senju Tobirama's request without even thinking.
This evil Senju old ghost definitely had ill intentions toward Uchiha Izuna.
He had "luckily" won one move against Izuna while they were alive, and even after death, he still wanted to show off in front of Izuna's soul.
Too evil.
No matter what, Ren was the clan head of the Uchiha.
Uchiha Izuna was also his predecessor.
How could he possibly let Senju Tobirama's wish come true?
"You naturally evil Uchiha brat!"
"I've done so much for you, yet you won't even agree to this tiny little request?"
Senju Tobirama's expression turned ugly as he shouted in anger.
He had already imagined how he would show off in front of Uchiha Izuna.
"You naturally evil Uchiha Izuna! You lost to me while you were alive, and even after death, you're still beneath me!"
"I, Senju Tobirama, am stronger than you!"
"Uchiha Madara couldn't beat my elder brother, and you couldn't beat me. You Uchiha brothers are simply inferior!"
"…"
Unfortunately—
Senju Tobirama's fantasy would not come true.
"Let me clarify one thing."
"You are not working for me. You are contributing to Konoha!"
"You are Konoha's Second Hokage. Isn't it perfectly natural for you to continue serving Konoha even after death?"
"Even if the First Hokage knew, he would stand on my side!"
"Don't you want Konoha to become more prosperous and powerful?"
Uchiha Ren skillfully dodged Senju Tobirama's condemnation and smoothly cast a PUA Technique on him.
However, Senju Tobirama clearly no longer fell for that trick.
In the past, he had often used the same method on his own subordinates, painting grand futures for them.
Using this technique on him had very little effect.
"Bastard! Then why do all the glory and cheers belong to you?!"
"Isn't that simple?"
"Because I am Konoha's Third Hokage. The current Hokage of Konoha."
"Those honors and cheers naturally belong to me!"
"Your Third Hokage position was usurped! I don't acknowledge it!"
"Bastard!!"
"You're infuriating me!!!"
Senju Tobirama pointed at Uchiha Ren and shouted furiously.
Half of Konoha's current prosperity and glory belonged to him.
Yet all the credit had been scraped away by Uchiha Ren.
Now he had merely made one small request, and Uchiha Ren had actually refused him.
Even a horse needed grass to run!
Was Ren really planning to make him work for nothing?
"Hmph. Why are you bringing up ancient history again?"
"If you want to settle old accounts, then I'll settle them with you."
"Your own backside isn't clean either."
Uchiha Ren snorted coldly and spoke slowly, completely unconcerned with Senju Tobirama's unreasonable tantrum.
"Fine. Uchiha Ren, you're ruthless!"
"Then you can wait for the degraded mass-produced version of Hashirama cell solution."
"I'm not in a hurry anyway."
"Scientific inspiration can't be rushed."
"I'll need three to five years to research it properly."
Senju Tobirama used the research progress of the degraded mass-produced Hashirama cells to threaten Uchiha Ren.
If Ren wanted him to work hard, then Ren had to satisfy his request.
Otherwise, Uchiha Ren could wait.
So what if he had money?
Tobirama simply wouldn't work for him!
"Oh?"
"Fine, Tobirama. Your market value has risen."
"You actually dare threaten me now?"
Uchiha Ren sneered.
This evil white-haired old ghost actually dared threaten him.
"Fine."
"I'll agree to your request."
Uchiha Ren sighed softly, looking as if he had been forced into submission.
"That's more like it, Uchiha Ren!"
"No matter what, I am contributing to Konoha."
"As long as it makes Konoha more prosperous, what is one mere Uchiha Izuna?"
Senju Tobirama grinned.
This was the first time he had forced Uchiha Ren to "submit" and agree to his request.
At last, he had raised his head proudly.
Once there was a first time, there would be a second.
His road might be winding, but the future was bright.
Perhaps one day, he would even have the chance to reverse heaven and earth completely and seize the initiative from Uchiha Ren.
Then he would make both Uchiha Ren and Uchiha Izuna work like livestock for him!
"Hmph. Then I'll revive Uchiha Izuna through Impure World Reincarnation and make him your superior."
"He'll constantly supervise you and push your scientific inspiration to explode faster."
Senju Tobirama was still feeling smug when Uchiha Ren's faint words dragged him from paradise straight into the deepest hell.
"What did you say?"
"Make Uchiha Izuna my superior?"
Senju Tobirama's face filled with horror.
He suspected he had misheard.
"That's right."
"Since you want to see Uchiha Izuna so badly, I'll fulfill your wish."
"When the time comes, I'll tell Uchiha Izuna that as long as he can make you complete the degraded mass-produced version of Hashirama cells in the shortest possible time, I'll pretend not to see whatever methods he uses."
"He can do whatever makes him happy."
As Uchiha Ren spoke, he smiled coldly.
That forty-five-degree smile made Senju Tobirama's heart go cold.
"Uchiha Ren, you're burning the bridge after crossing it!"
"I bled for Konoha!"
"I made contributions to Konoha!"
"How can you treat me like this?!"
Senju Tobirama had not expected Uchiha Ren to pull such a move.
This naturally evil Uchiha brat truly showed no mercy.
Uchiha Izuna was his defeated opponent.
If Izuna were revived through Impure World Reincarnation and became his direct superior, he would definitely climb onto Tobirama's head and throw his weight around.
Who knew how Izuna would humiliate him?
"Tobirama, isn't this what you requested?"
"You wanted Uchiha Izuna to work with you."
"So I'm fulfilling your wish!"
"Maybe under Uchiha Izuna's supervision, your research speed will increase by a huge margin."
Seeing Senju Tobirama's panicked expression, Uchiha Ren felt secretly delighted.
This naturally evil Senju old ghost had actually dared use research progress to threaten him.
In that case, there was no need for Ren to be polite.
He would have Uchiha Izuna personally punish him.
My Uchiha predecessor whom I have never met—
In life, you lost by a single move to Senju Tobirama, then died of your wounds in bitterness.
Surely you must have had many words to say to Senju Tobirama.
Many things to do to Senju Tobirama.
Unfortunately, you never had the chance.
You must have regretted it in the Pure Land all this time.
If Senju Tobirama hadn't suddenly mentioned this matter, Ren would never have thought of it.
Why not take this opportunity to properly fulfill Uchiha Izuna's wish?
That could also be considered a sincere gesture from a junior.
"How can that be the same?!"
"I wanted Uchiha Izuna to be my subordinate!"
"Why should he become my direct superior the moment he arrives?"
"He isn't even part of Konoha!"
"I, at least, am Konoha's Second Hokage!"
"This is unfair!"
Senju Tobirama muttered angrily.
But Uchiha Ren was already tired of listening.
Senju Tobirama dared threaten him this time.
Who knew what trouble he might stir up next time?
This was no longer ordinary evil.
It had to be struck down with an iron fist.
Attack, Izuna!
Eight punches per second was the limit of fists—
Not the limit of Uchiha Izuna!
"Fair?"
"I don't care about that."
"I only care about the research progress of my degraded mass-produced Hashirama cells."
"What did you say earlier?"
"Three to five years?"
"Tobirama, you can now reconsider the research progress."
"Then reorganize your wording and tell me how long it will take to complete the degraded mass-produced Hashirama cell project."
Uchiha Ren didn't care about Senju Tobirama's complaints.
He only cared about the experimental progress of his degraded mass-produced Hashirama cells.
Of course, Uchiha Ren could not accept being coerced by Tobirama and forced into compromise.
Once compromise happened once, there would be a second time.
So he could only change his thinking.
Let Uchiha Izuna whip Senju Tobirama with a small leather whip and accelerate Tobirama's scientific progress.
Still, Uchiha Ren remained merciful.
He gave Senju Tobirama one final chance to reorganize his words.
He had always wanted to coexist peacefully with Senju Tobirama.
Ren would be the lofty Hokage of Konoha.
Tobirama would be Konoha's hardworking, silently devoted tree root.
The two would cooperate and make Konoha greater.
Unfortunately, Senju Tobirama had always been restless, delusionally trying to reverse heaven and earth.
"Tobirama, you should thank me."
"I'm still willing to give you one final chance."
"Uchiha Izuna would not."
Facing Uchiha Ren's naked threat, Senju Tobirama clenched his fists.
A few seconds later—
He loosened them again.
This naturally evil Uchiha brat had truly grasped his weakness.
Letting Uchiha Izuna ride over his head and throw his weight around—
Senju Tobirama would never allow such a thing to happen.
As the saying went, take one step back and the sea and sky broaden.
I endure.
It wasn't the first time anyway.
One day.
One day…
Uchiha Ren, one day you will regret this!
"I'll try to complete it within one year."
"At most, it'll take a little over a year."
"Are you satisfied now?"
Senju Tobirama spoke resentfully, glaring at Uchiha Ren with eyes full of grievance.
But—
It had no effect.
Uchiha Ren would not care about mere eye attacks.
"Excellent."
"Looks like I won't need to disturb Uchiha Izuna's soul after all."
After hearing Senju Tobirama's guarantee, Uchiha Ren's face revealed a satisfied smile.
"Also, remember to put effort into the camera project."
"Speed matters."
"Those slacking monsters in the office are the most annoying."
"It's fine if I freeload other people's money, but if others freeload my money, that's absolutely unacceptable!"
"Of course, the progress of other research projects can't be relaxed either."
"Work more overtime. Do more research."
"Konoha can't go without you, its Second Hokage, for even a moment."
"Were you playing games with Black Zetsu earlier?"
"If—I'm only saying if—your research progress slows down…"
"Then I may have no choice but to disturb Uchiha Izuna's soul."
Uchiha Ren did not forget the progress of other research projects, especially the camera project.
He could not allow everything else to fall behind just because Tobirama was researching the degraded mass-produced Hashirama cells.
As he finished speaking, he still lightly "threatened" Senju Tobirama with Uchiha Izuna.
Senju Tobirama's face turned a deep purplish-red.
"Bastard!!"
"You beast!!!"
"You naturally evil Uchiha brat!"
"I'll fight you!"
Uchiha Ren's shameless escalation once again broke Senju Tobirama's emotions.
But it was useless.
Uchiha Ren easily controlled Senju Tobirama, then left his laboratory.
"AHHHHH!!!"
"Why did I mention that bastard Uchiha Izuna?!"
Senju Tobirama stood frozen in place, his body still not released from control.
His heart was filled with regret.
How had he been blinded by lard and proposed such a request?
That black-hearted bastard Uchiha Ren would definitely use this matter to disgust and threaten him in the future.
And the worst part—
It would work.
Senju Tobirama had already grown used to being "oppressed" by Uchiha Ren.
Afterward, he could even self-PUA with "this is all for Konoha."
But if another Uchiha Izuna appeared…
That defeated opponent he had personally killed in life—
Senju Tobirama didn't even know how to face that hellish scene.
"Yo, yo, yo. Isn't this Senju Tobirama?"
"Haven't seen you for a while. How did you become this pathetic?"
"You even became a prisoner of the Uchiha!"
"So you were just a small fry after all!"
Too hellish!
Senju Tobirama couldn't help imagining that scene.
After less than three seconds, he immediately stopped the fantasy.
It was too humiliating!
A moment later, Uchiha Ren released Senju Tobirama's control.
Senju Tobirama helplessly returned to his workstation and began his research.
He did not doubt Uchiha Ren's words in the slightest.
If he passively slacked off, Uchiha Ren would truly revive Uchiha Izuna through Impure World Reincarnation.
That naturally evil Uchiha brat definitely could do such a thing.
But when one lived under someone else's roof, one had no choice but to lower one's head.
Why did I invent Impure World Reincarnation in the first place?
Senju Tobirama really wanted to slap his past self to death.
"Teacher, just now Hokage-sama left the laboratory with a smile on his face."
"Did something happy happen?"
Orochimaru entered the laboratory at an extremely unfortunate time.
This time, he had come to flatter his teacher.
Some time ago, Uchiha Ren had dispatched Uchiha Tomita personally, along with an ANBU squad formed from elite Uchiha clan members possessing three-tomoe Sharingan.
Together, they had headed to the Land of Demons to explain Konoha's intentions to the current shrine maiden.
From now on, Konoha would take over all matters related to Moryo.
After a round of warm and friendly negotiations, the shrine maiden "willingly" agreed to Konoha's request.
Konoha's ANBU squad worked together to perform the special sealing technique designed by Senju Tobirama, combined with the shrine maiden's power, and successfully sealed the complete Moryo into a crystal ball.
Finally, they transported those puppet soldiers back to Konoha in batches.
Those puppet soldiers couldn't handle delicate work.
But when used as laborers, they were a perfect match.
Uchiha Ren handed them over to Orochimaru and had the puppet soldiers shine on the railway construction sites.
Orochimaru's train project progressed rapidly.
This time, Orochimaru had specifically come to the laboratory to thank his teacher for his scientific invention.
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