The slacking monsters had exposed themselves!
Senju Toma was one.
And now, Nara Shikato too!
Even Senju Tobirama had joined in!
Nara Shikato, guilty and self-exposed, stood there in silence, wondering where exactly he had slipped up and allowed the Hokage to discover he had been slacking off during work hours.
Could there be an insider reporting on him?
"Hmph. Are you the only one slacking off?"
"This is definitely organized crime!"
"Who else slacked off with you?"
Uchiha Ren snorted coldly, interrupting Nara Shikato's thoughts.
There was no way Nara Shikato was the only slacker in the Hokage Building.
When one cockroach was found in the sunlight, the dark and damp corners were definitely crawling with cockroaches.
"Hokage-sama, I really don't know about that."
"When I slack off, I'm always in my own office. I didn't notice any other colleagues."
Nara Shikato chose to bear everything alone and did not betray the other slacking monsters.
Even his answer was vague.
He only admitted that he himself had slacked off.
His main strategy was not letting the pot stick to anyone else.
"This month's overtime pay is deducted completely."
Following the employee handbook, Uchiha Ren deducted all of Nara Shikato's overtime pay for the month.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Nara Shikato quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was only overtime pay.
He didn't rely on fixed wages to eat.
But his heart still hurt badly.
"However, Nara Shikato…"
"If you still have time to slack off, then your workload clearly isn't saturated enough."
"Looks like I need to add a little burden for you."
After speaking, Uchiha Ren casually added a little bit of extra work to Nara Shikato.
Not much.
Only twice the usual amount.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Nara Shikato left Uchiha Ren's office on the verge of tears.
He would have to spend several more nights in his office.
After dealing with Nara Shikato, the slacking monster, Uchiha Ren began considering how to handle Senju Tobirama, the number-one slacking monster.
He had long suspected Tobirama's evil behavior.
Hiding research results and failing to report them.
Every month, the number of research achievements Tobirama submitted was astonishingly consistent.
Although such work efficiency was not poor, and could even be described as explosive—
Uchiha Ren still wanted to see where the limit of Senju Tobirama, this nuclear-powered donkey operating at full output, truly lay.
Konoha's future would surely become even more prosperous.
Everything he did was for Konoha.
Uchiha Izuna's grave should be buried in the clan grounds, right?
Uchiha Ren considered whether he should revive Uchiha Izuna through Impure World Reincarnation and give Senju Tobirama a surprise.
After all, old friends had not met in so long.
Senju Tobirama probably missed him very much.
They could reminisce together.
And at the same time, Uchiha Izuna could fiercely whip Senju Tobirama and improve his work efficiency.
"Take me to see the Nine-Tails."
"I haven't met it in a long time."
The Two-Tails, which had been sunbathing, suddenly opened its eyes and made a request.
It wanted to meet the Nine-Tails, whom it had not seen in a long time.
"You want to see the Nine-Tails?"
"Speaking of which, you tailed beasts were always sealed in the past. Occasionally, you would chat in your mental spaces, but it's been a long time since you met in reality."
"Then let's go see it."
Uchiha Ren nodded and agreed to the Two-Tails cat's request.
Matatabi hurriedly jumped from the desk onto the sofa, then climbed onto Uchiha Ren's shoulder.
"You're this eager to see the Nine-Tails?"
"Do you have a good relationship?"
"Hmph. I don't like the Nine-Tails' personality."
The Two-Tails cat snorted coldly.
Uchiha Ren sensed something interesting and began asking about the amusing affairs between the tailed beasts.
Soon, Uchiha Ren learned what had happened.
The Nine-Tails had always been arrogant.
It loved using the number of tails to mock the other tailed beasts, believing its status was higher than theirs.
For example, Shukaku only had one tail.
So in the Nine-Tails' eyes, its position among the tailed beasts was that of an inferior horse.
It was the Nine-Tails' main target.
And Matatabi had only two tails.
It wasn't much stronger than Shukaku.
It was often struck by the Nine-Tails' map-wide artillery.
So, like the One-Tail, Matatabi also disliked the Nine-Tails.
The Three-Tails, Isobu.
The Four-Tails, Son Goku.
The Five-Tails, Kokuo.
The Six-Tails, Saiken.
The Seven-Tails, Chomei.
The Eight-Tails, Gyuki.
All of them disliked the Nine-Tails' personality.
The Sage of Six Paths was a biased old ghost!
However, due to the gap in strength, the tailed beast siblings could not argue with the Nine-Tails.
There was no helping it.
Having more tails truly meant one could do whatever one wanted.
But Shukaku disliked the Nine-Tails' arrogant tone most of all and refused to indulge it.
Even if it couldn't win, it would still charge forward and scratch the Nine-Tails a couple of times.
And verbally, it would never admit defeat.
"Looks like the Nine-Tails' relationship with the other eight tailed beasts isn't very good."
As Uchiha Ren walked, he responded to Matatabi's words.
Meanwhile, Matatabi was thinking about how to greet the Nine-Tails.
Dear Nine-Tails, I have taken refuge under Konoha's big brother and obtained Konoha's protection.
Now I can move freely in Konoha.
I no longer need to fear bad people capturing me.
You have always called yourself the boss of the tailed beasts and loved measuring strength by tail count.
I wonder how you're doing now.
I heard from Boss that you've been living poorly.
Now that I've seen it, it really is true.
Nine-Tails, didn't you claim the Sage of Six Paths was first, and you were second?
How did your life become like this?
Thinking this, Matatabi looked forward to meeting the Nine-Tails even more.
Soon, Uchiha Ren arrived at the Senju Clan compound.
When the Senju clansmen saw Konoha's Benevolent Father visiting the Senju Clan, they rushed out of their rooms one after another and instinctively raised their hands to welcome Uchiha Ren.
But the moment they approached Uchiha Ren, they were stunned by the Two-Tails cat on his shoulder.
That abyss-like chakra wave was truly terrifying.
"Don't worry. This is an adorable cat."
"It just has a little more chakra than usual."
Uchiha Ren greeted the Senju clansmen, then hurriedly left.
The power of a tailed beast was still too strong.
Soon, he arrived at Uzumaki Mito's small courtyard.
At this time, Uzumaki Mito was comfortably basking in the sun in the courtyard.
Now that Konoha was thriving, even if the ninja world was turbulent enough to suggest the Second Great Ninja War was about to erupt, Konoha itself remained as peaceful and stable as ever.
Regarding Konoha, she no longer had much to worry about.
"Mito, long time no see."
Uchiha Ren greeted Uzumaki Mito with a smile.
Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes.
When she saw it was Uchiha Ren, her expression immediately collapsed.
The only person in Konoha who could still trouble her had arrived!
So annoying.
He stole Tsunade.
He stole Yōgetsu too!
"There's no need to make that expression when seeing me, right?"
"No matter what, I'm still Konoha's Third Hokage."
Uchiha Ren continued smiling as he casually moved a small stool over and sat down.
His grudge with Uzumaki Mito had started back during the Hokage election.
Wasn't it just that he had beaten her face into a pig head and later tricked her into signing a contract?
That contract didn't even involve much money.
Converted yearly, it was only ten digits.
Later, there were things like filming movies, using Hashirama cells to force Uzumaki Mito into signing an "unequal" contract, hinting at people to land a few black-handed blows on her during high-level boxing matches…
Those small matters didn't count for much.
The remaining issues were Tsunade and Yōgetsu.
That wasn't even his initiative.
Could Uzumaki Mito still blame him for that?
As the saying went, enemies should be reconciled, not deepened.
Uchiha Ren had never taken these things to heart.
It was just Uzumaki Mito who kept remembering them.
"Well, isn't this Konoha's Hokage-sama?"
"What wind has blown you all the way to my place?"
Uzumaki Mito spoke in a strange yin-yang tone.
Then, in the next moment, she noticed the Two-Tails cat on Uchiha Ren's shoulder.
"What is that thing?"
"A tailed beast?"
Uzumaki Mito was somewhat shocked.
It was clearly a house cat, yet its body released chakra waves like a tailed beast.
"Correct. This is the Two-Tails cat."
"I picked it up outside."
"I'm preparing to raise it in Konoha."
Uchiha Ren patted the Two-Tails cat's little head and scratched its chin along the way.
"Kumogakure has already deployed the Two-Tails?"
"And you captured it?"
Uzumaki Mito's expression became worried.
It seemed the ninja world situation was worse than she had imagined.
She had already retreated to the second line and rarely asked about village affairs anymore.
During jonin meetings, she mostly served as decoration, sitting there and watching the show.
After all, the high-level boxing matches were extremely entertaining.
If not for considering the dignity of Konoha's upper leadership, Uchiha Ren would have arranged for Konoha's television station to record and broadcast the boxing matches while making money from them.
"Relax. With me here, Konoha can handle any challenge in the ninja world."
"You're already old. Don't worry so much."
Uchiha Ren waved his hand, signaling Uzumaki Mito not to worry and to honestly enjoy retirement in her courtyard.
"Mm."
Uzumaki Mito's brows relaxed, and she answered softly.
She did not refute Uchiha Ren's words.
Although Uchiha Ren's personality and behavior had always been terrible, he could indeed be called an extremely outstanding Hokage.
One could even say he had surpassed Hashirama.
Hashirama did not have anywhere near as many tricks in his stomach as Uchiha Ren.
With Uchiha Ren in Konoha, there was nothing to worry about.
"Then did you bring the Two-Tails here because you want to find a jinchūriki from the Uzumaki Clan?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at the Two-Tails cat standing on Uchiha Ren's shoulder and spoke slowly.
Tailed beasts were still too dangerous compared to ordinary people.
Just standing beside one was enough to feel pressure.
Their enormous chakra mixed with their powerful will could easily disturb ordinary people's minds.
After all, not everyone could treat tailed beasts like pets the way Hashirama had.
"Of course not."
"The life of a jinchūriki isn't easy. As Konoha's first jinchūriki, you know that clearly."
"Do you want the members of the Uzumaki Clan to bear such a heavy responsibility?"
Uchiha Ren asked Uzumaki Mito in return.
"Konoha needs tailed beast jinchūriki."
"How stubborn."
Uchiha Ren shook his head.
He did not intend to continue discussing this issue with Uzumaki Mito in depth.
If they kept talking, the topic would inevitably turn to the value of shinobi.
Uchiha Ren's viewpoints were sharp and radical, and more than once, he had argued Uzumaki Mito into a red-hot state.
"Then why did you come here?"
"The Two-Tails wants to see the Nine-Tails, so I brought it over."
"I won't chat with you for too long."
"It just so happens that I haven't spoken with the Nine-Tails in quite some time."
"I'll meet the Nine-Tails together with the Two-Tails cat."
After speaking, Uchiha Ren placed his hand on Uzumaki Mito and injected a stream of chakra into her body.
A blue chakra cluster emerged from Matatabi and floated into Uzumaki Mito's body.
—
Nine-Tails' sealed space.
The sealed space was filled with dim yellow light.
An iron gate locked the Nine-Tails inside.
Nine chains firmly bound its nine tails.
It seemed the Nine-Tails and Uzumaki Mito had been getting along fairly well lately.
At least the Nine-Tails had not been tied into an S-shape.
"Kurama, long time no see."
The Nine-Tails was sleeping with its eyes closed.
In the sealed space, it passed time mostly through sleep.
Aside from that, it had no other entertainment.
"Naturally evil Uchiha brat, what do you want now?!"
Kurama was awakened by Uchiha Ren's voice.
The moment it opened its eyes and saw Uchiha Ren, anger surged up immediately.
Even its greeting was exactly the same as Senju Tobirama's.
"What a rude fox."
"No wonder the other tailed beasts don't like you."
"Forget it. Considering you contribute chakra every month, I won't argue with you."
"Come meet an old friend."
As soon as Uchiha Ren finished speaking, Matatabi appeared from behind him.
"Kurama."
"Two-Tails? Why are you here?"
The Nine-Tails revealed a shocked expression.
It had actually seen the Two-Tails in Konoha.
Shouldn't it have been sealed in Kumogakure?
"Kumogakure released the Two-Tails to attack Iwagakure's forces."
"The two sides fought fiercely, and the Two-Tails took the opportunity to escape."
"I happened to run into the Two-Tails while outside."
"So I invited it to settle in Konoha."
"And it came voluntarily."
Uchiha Ren slightly embellished the story and explained it to Kurama.
"Impossible!"
"You bastard don't speak a single honest word!"
"The Two-Tails would never voluntarily follow you back to Konoha!"
"You must have forcibly captured it and brought it here!"
"Your Mangekyō Sharingan is the natural enemy of tailed beasts."
"You definitely want to seal the Two-Tails, then find one of that undying old woman Uzumaki Mito's clansmen and seal the Two-Tails into their body to create a Two-Tails jinchūriki!"
"Afterward, you'll force the Two-Tails to be like me, squeezed for chakra every month!"
Kurama rambled on for a long time.
It didn't believe a single word from Uchiha Ren.
Could Uchiha Ren let the Two-Tails go?
Voluntarily?
Could the Two-Tails voluntarily do anything?
Did the Two-Tails even have a chance to be voluntary?
Even Kurama, the boss among tailed beasts, was powerless before Uchiha Ren's Mangekyō Sharingan.
What right did a mere Two-Tails have to defy Uchiha Ren's will?
"Cough, cough."
Uchiha Ren coughed, trying to salvage his dignity.
Kurama understood him far too well.
The Two-Tails had indeed been caught by him, then coerced and tempted before obediently following him back to Konoha.
He also did indeed plan to squeeze the Two-Tails for chakra every month.
But this was an equal exchange.
He gave the Two-Tails protection.
He gave the Two-Tails a forest to live in.
And endless catnip to eat.
If the Two-Tails continued wandering through the ninja world, it would sooner or later be captured by Kumogakure again, sealed away, and turned into a jinchūriki's power source.
In conclusion—
He was a good person.
The Two-Tails had profited greatly!
As Uchiha Ren coughed, he signaled Matatabi with his eyes.
Cat, why are you still standing there?
Say something for your boss!
⚡ Support the Story & Unlock More Chapters!
◇ 60+ Advance Chapters Available Now
◇ Read Ahead on Patreon: patreon.com/MythArcStudio