Underground laboratory.
Uchiha Ren stepped into the underground laboratory, where the same relentlessly busy scene greeted him.
How wonderful.
So many Senju Tobiramas were hard at work in the laboratory for him—
Ahem.
For Konoha!
Uchiha Ren felt deeply gratified.
Senju Tobirama truly was an exceptional beast of burden.
The Technology Department was no longer supported by Tobirama alone. Over the years, Uchiha Ren had recruited many researchers from across the ninja world.
Every one of them was outstanding—a genius chosen from among ten thousand.
Uchiha Ren had provided them with research environments no worse than Tobirama's, and over the years, they had made remarkable contributions to Konoha.
But ultimately—
None of them could compare to Senju Tobirama, the ultimate research workhorse.
Whether in working hours or efficiency, Tobirama was unquestionably number one in Konoha.
Especially when comparing research funding against actual results—
Tobirama left everyone else choking on his dust.
As everyone knew, scientific research burned through money.
No.
That wasn't quite right.
Even setting money on fire wasn't as fast as spending it on research.
A seemingly astronomical sum—enough for someone to indulge themselves for several lifetimes—could vanish in the blink of an eye once poured into research.
But Senju Tobirama was different.
Given the same enormous research budget, Tobirama often produced several times the results of other research groups.
And in fields he specialized in—
Such as ninjutsu development and human experimentation—
Senju Tobirama was nothing short of a monster.
His talent and insight were simply unmatched.
In those fields, being called a genius merely qualified someone to stand at Tobirama's doorstep.
A discovery that took other geniuses months, years, or even an entire lifetime to make might only save Tobirama a single afternoon.
The gap between them was a vast, impassable chasm.
Therefore, in pursuit of the highest possible return on research investment, Uchiha Ren never wasted precious resources by assigning those fields to anyone else.
He handed everything directly to Tobirama.
The truth was cruel.
But reality was reality.
Now, however, the situation had changed slightly.
The previous data was no longer entirely accurate—
Because Senju Tobirama had concealed some of his research results.
Tobirama…
You really gave me one hell of a surprise.
It felt like pulling an old coat from the wardrobe after years of neglect, reaching into the pocket—
And finding five hundred ryō inside.
Thinking this, Uchiha Ren passed through the outer laboratory and entered the innermost room.
Senju Tobirama and Orochimaru were completely absorbed in their work at the experiment table, selectively ignoring Uchiha Ren's arrival.
"Tobirama!"
"Orochimaru, you're here too?"
Uchiha Ren entered the room and discovered that Orochimaru was also present.
It seemed Tobirama had already begun exposing Orochimaru to human experimentation.
That was fast.
Uchiha Ren sighed inwardly.
In the end, Orochimaru had still embarked upon this path.
Who knew whether he would still be able to turn back in the future?
Uchiha Ren casually sat down on the sofa.
He intended to wait for a while and made no attempt to disturb Tobirama and Orochimaru's experiment.
Time passed slowly.
"Orochimaru, what is wrong with you?"
"The next time I bring you along for an experiment, remember to close the door!"
"You actually allowed an irrelevant outsider to wander in!"
After finally acknowledging Uchiha Ren's presence, Tobirama's expression instantly darkened.
He immediately began reprimanding Orochimaru, loudly criticizing the mulberry tree while clearly cursing the locust beside it.
Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Ren with an innocent, aggrieved expression.
Uchiha Ren waved his hand.
"Orochimaru, you can leave for now."
"This naturally evil Senju old bastard has been asking for a beating lately."
Orochimaru felt as though he had received a royal pardon.
His feet practically grew wings as he fled the laboratory at once.
Under normal circumstances, his teacher was about to suffer another defeat.
He definitely couldn't come tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow—
Forget it.
He wouldn't come then either.
The railway project had recently entered a new planning phase, and he still needed to oversee its progress.
"You brat, what are you doing here again?"
"Hmph! Still wearing the Hokage robe, I see. Dressing yourself up so flamboyantly?"
Senju Tobirama looked at the neatly dressed Uchiha Ren, clad in the Hokage's ceremonial robe, and an inexplicable fury immediately rose within him.
His voice dripped with resentment.
If only he could still wear the Hokage robe and appear openly in Konoha…
How wonderful would that be?!
"I just finished interviewing Uchiha Madara."
"He's become quite impressive in Konoha. Before long, his name will be known throughout the village."
Uchiha Ren spoke casually about Madara, but inwardly, lingering unease remained.
Tobirama had been right!
Uchiha Madara truly was a dangerous and unpredictable variable.
"Uchiha Madara?"
"He is going to become famous in Konoha?"
Tobirama's voice immediately rose.
Uchiha Ren was clearly speaking ordinary words—
So why couldn't he understand a single one of them?!
"That's right."
"Uchiha Madara has been quietly dedicating himself to Konoha. He became a model factory director—a perfectly ordinary worker who rose through the social hierarchy through his own efforts."
"It aligns perfectly with Konoha's promotion of the Konoha Dream, so I arranged an exclusive interview for him."
"…"
After hearing Uchiha Ren's explanation, Tobirama learned that Madara had recently been experiencing life among Konoha's people.
He had started working in one of Konoha's factories, climbed step by step to the highest position, became its director, and earned the admiration of his fellow workers.
Of course—
None of that mattered.
Tobirama didn't care.
Madara was a beast of burden in a factory.
He was a beast of burden in a laboratory.
There was no real difference.
However, the moment Tobirama heard that Madara had received an exclusive interview and would appear on television, a powerful sense of injustice immediately surged within him.
Why was that rogue shinobi Uchiha Madara allowed to become famous throughout Konoha?
"This is unfair!"
"I refuse to believe Konoha doesn't have other factory directors like him!"
"Why should that naturally evil Uchiha Madara be allowed on television?"
"You're trying to whitewash him!"
"Not at all."
"Uchiha Madara is currently using the alias Madabashira, and even his appearance has been altered with the Transformation Technique."
"Besides, the workers genuinely admire him. He has consistently been one of Konoha's model factory directors."
"As for selecting the interview subject, I personally made the decision."
"The entire process was fair, impartial, and transparent."
Uchiha Ren defended himself.
He merely possessed a single deciding vote.
He had directly appointed Madara himself.
How could that count as backroom manipulation?
There wasn't even a back room involved.
"You really are shameless!"
Tobirama sneered.
"Tobirama, you should look at the positive side."
"This is a perfect wave of publicity. In the future, it will attract more and more people to Konoha's factories, where they can realize the value of their lives."
Uchiha Ren patiently guided him.
"Realize the value of their lives…"
"In a factory?"
Tobirama repeated Uchiha Ren's words, suspicion written across his face.
"Exactly!"
"Madara became a worker, you became a research beast of burden, and I became Konoha's Hokage."
"We merely have different divisions of labor."
"We're all serving Konoha."
"You still don't understand dialectics!"
Uchiha Ren spoke slowly, a smile hanging on his face.
"You black-hearted bastard!"
"I'm telling you now—you won't meet a good end!"
"Sooner or later, someone will hang you from a lamppost!"
"Just wait and see!"
Tobirama became visibly agitated.
Uchiha Ren was still as shameless as ever.
He perfectly matched every stereotype Tobirama held about him.
"Tch. Worrying over nothing."
Uchiha Ren waved dismissively, appearing completely unconcerned.
Although—
Deep down, he was still slightly worried.
But he feared nothing.
My heart and actions are as clear as a polished mirror.
Everything I do is justice!
As long as I remain Hokage, Konoha will never descend into chaos!
Still—
To guard against the slightest possibility, preparations had to be made early.
He could not leave any hidden dangers for himself or the next Hokage.
Senju Toma and Nara Shikato should jointly establish a new program called Konoha BBC.
Its purpose would be to travel to other countries and document the living conditions of their local populations.
After all—
Without comparison, there could be no suffering.
Konoha already possessed the finest living conditions in the ninja world!
Even the lowest factory worker in Konoha would proudly puff out their chest whenever they imagined their future in the village.
"Hey, brat. What are you thinking about?"
"What did you come to the laboratory for today?"
While Uchiha Ren was lost in thought, Tobirama interrupted him, attempting to change the subject.
If they continued discussing this topic, Tobirama feared he might lose control and punch Uchiha Ren in the face.
"I came to check on your research progress."
A smile appeared on Uchiha Ren's face.
He finally remembered why he had come to the laboratory and began considering whether he should immediately throw the evidence in Tobirama's face.
"Hmph. Then don't come next time."
"Whenever you appear, my mood worsens."
"When my mood worsens, my research progress slows down."
Tobirama snorted coldly, refusing to show Uchiha Ren even the slightest courtesy.
"If I don't come, you'll definitely slack off behind my back!"
"Are you even speaking like a human being?"
"I have dozens of clones working day and night without rest, and you still have the nerve to accuse me of slacking off?"
Tobirama pointed directly at Uchiha Ren's nose and cursed him.
That shameless expression of his was just as infuriating as ever!
"Hmph."
"You might not slack off, but you might secretly conceal research results from me!"
Uchiha Ren finally revealed the dagger hidden behind the map.
His words made Tobirama's heart tremble.
However, Tobirama was an old schemer.
His control over his expression was impeccable.
Not even the slightest trace of panic appeared on his face.
"Nonsense!"
"How dare you falsely accuse an innocent man without evidence?"
"Do I look like that kind of person?"
"I am Konoha's Second Hokage!"
"Even if I have been trapped in this laboratory by a naturally evil Uchiha brat and forced to work like a beast of burden…"
"My love for Konoha can be witnessed by heaven and earth!"
Tobirama praised his own righteousness while refusing to admit anything.
"Are you finished?"
"If you are, get out of my laboratory."
"I still have work to do!"
Tobirama immediately ordered him to leave.
He had no desire to continue discussing this matter with Uchiha Ren.
After all—
He truly had concealed some research results.
That bastard Uchiha Ren only knew how to demand more and more.
If Tobirama produced three research breakthroughs, Ren would manipulate him into producing four next time.
Then five.
Then seven or eight.
Eventually, even more.
He really did intend to work Tobirama like livestock!
Tobirama had to secretly hide away a few research results for emergencies.
"Hmph. You're still refusing to admit it?"
"I have evidence!"
Uchiha Ren shouted as he pulled the research-resource ledgers from recent years and the investigation report from a sealing scroll.
The likelihood that Tobirama had concealed research results—
Ninety-eight percent!
Looking at the mountain of experimental records and the investigation report, Tobirama finally felt panic rise inside him.
It was over!
Uchiha Ren had actually brought evidence!
"What kind of garbage is this?!"
"This is complete nonsense!"
"Do those third-rate researchers outside even understand what scientific research is?"
Tobirama became visibly agitated and slammed the investigation report onto the table.
Then he began rattling off an endless stream of specialized terminology, leaving anyone listening only half able to understand him.
Tobirama was blatantly taking advantage of Uchiha Ren's lack of scientific knowledge!
"You truly didn't conceal any research results?"
Uchiha Ren sneered.
"I didn't."
"If I say I didn't, then I didn't!"
Tobirama refused to yield even an inch.
From childhood, Senju Tobirama had understood one principle.
Either never tell a lie—
Or once you did, deny it until death.
Besides, he was already dead.
Why should he fear Uchiha Ren?
"Fine!"
"You've got nerve!"
Uchiha Ren raised a thumb toward him.
The evidence had practically been slapped across Tobirama's face, yet the man still denied everything as if nothing had happened.
That level of shamelessness—
Uchiha Ren needed to learn from it.
Even he had not yet reached such heights!
"Tobirama, I'll give you one final chance."
"You had better admit that you concealed research results, hand over everything you hid, and guarantee that all future findings will be submitted on time."
"Considering how hard you work every day, I can overlook this matter and let bygones be bygones."
"Otherwise…"
"You will bear the consequences yourself!"
After speaking, Uchiha Ren let out a sinister chuckle.
He had already given Tobirama one final opportunity.
If Tobirama still refused to cherish it—
Then he could not blame Uchiha Ren for what happened next.
"I didn't."
"If I say I didn't, then I didn't!"
Tobirama felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
If he continued denying it, something horrifying would definitely happen.
But matters had already reached this point.
If he lowered his head now and admitted that he had lied—
Then what had those last ten minutes of arguing been for?
Wouldn't that make him look like a complete clown?
"Just you wait!"
Uchiha Ren sneered at Tobirama before turning and leaving the laboratory without looking back.
Watching his departing figure, Tobirama felt unease envelop his entire body.
Based on his understanding of Uchiha Ren, that naturally evil Uchiha brat would never let the matter end so easily.
He definitely had another move prepared!
But…
What could it be?
Surely he wouldn't—
Tobirama thought of one terrifying possibility and involuntarily shuddered.
If Uchiha Ren truly dared to do that—
Then Tobirama would absolutely go on strike!
—
Uchiha Ren arrived at the edge of the Uchiha compound.
This was where the Uchiha ancestors had been buried.
"Senior Izuna, forgive the disturbance."
"I feel somewhat embarrassed about digging up your grave without permission."
"But very soon, you'll be reunited with that evil white-haired Senju bastard."
"Rest assured."
"As a proud Uchiha, I will stand firmly on your side."
Uchiha Ren rambled sincerely in front of Uchiha Izuna's grave.
Then he sank underground, opened Izuna's coffin, and removed a small fragment of bone.
Afterward, he traveled to the ANBU's death-row prison and selected a criminal guilty of the most heinous crimes.
After knocking the prisoner unconscious and taking him away, Uchiha Ren hurried back to the laboratory.
Dragging the unconscious condemned prisoner behind him, Uchiha Ren entered the room.
"Uchiha Ren, why are you back again?"
Uchiha Ren grinned.
"To let you meet an old friend!"
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