"Renya, are you serious?"
Danzo Shimura looked at Renya with a complicated expression as he listened to him endlessly describe the "Eye of the Moon" plan.
"Of course I'm serious. This world has long since rotted away. Only Madara-sama can change it."
Renya looked extremely excited, speaking as if it were all true.
If these words had come from anyone else, Danzo might have believed them.
But Renya would never say something like this.
This only further confirmed Danzo's suspicion—Renya was being threatened by Madara Uchiha.
"Do you realize that what you're doing is making an enemy of the entire ninja world?"
Although Danzo didn't know why Renya was putting on this performance in front of them, he still followed along and continued the conversation.
Perhaps Renya was constantly under Madara's surveillance, which was why he deliberately pretended to be loyal.
If that was the case, then he would play along with him.
"So what?"
Renya said confidently,
"In the face of peace for the ninja world, what does it matter if I become the enemy of the entire ninja world?"
"As long as I successfully collect all nine tailed beasts, war in the ninja world will cease to exist!"
Danzo Shimura: "…"
This guy's acting was getting better and better. No wonder he was always fooled by him.
Lying without even blinking.
Honestly, Danzo was starting to have trouble keeping up with the act.
Fortunately, Hiruzen reacted in time and hurriedly spoke up to dissuade him.
"Renya, you can't do this. A genjutsu world is ultimately false!"
"Why is a genjutsu world bad?"
Renya countered.
"Everyone can live in a perfect world. In the genjutsu world, you can become the Hokage you've always dreamed of, and Danzo can only be your assistant, running errands for you every day…"
When Hiruzen heard this, a trace of anticipation flashed through his eyes.
If that were really the case… it actually didn't sound so bad!
No—genjutsu is still genjutsu. It can never replace reality.
He quickly dispelled this unrealistic thought and continued his intense debate with Renya.
Several White Zetsu responsible for monitoring Renya took everything in.
One of the White Zetsu turned around and left without hesitation.
...
Dozens of meters underground, in a vast subterranean space.
"Madara-sama, something terrible has happened!"
White Zetsu's anxious voice echoed through the silent space.
Madara Uchiha slowly opened his eyes and calmly looked at the White Zetsu before him.
"What happened?"
"Madara-sama, Renya-sama's secret capture of the tailed beasts has been discovered!"
White Zetsu truthfully relayed everything he had seen.
Including the envoys from various nations coming to question him, Danzo Shimura's interrogation, and Renya's loyalty toward Madara…
A change finally appeared on Madara Uchiha's calm face.
"Did that kid really say all that?"
In his view, Renya had never been as loyal as he appeared on the surface. He must have been hiding something from him.
But those words clearly showed that he was indeed very loyal, and that he genuinely approved of the "Eye of the Moon" plan.
Madara Uchiha couldn't help but fall into self-doubt.
Could it be that I really misunderstood him?
Perhaps Renya had never intended to betray him—it was simply that he had never trusted Renya in the first place.
Now it seemed that Renya truly accepted the "Eye of the Moon" plan.
As long as three more tailed beasts were captured, the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" could be fully implemented, allowing the ninja world to achieve true peace!
If he didn't need to preserve his strength, he would have personally gone to capture the tailed beasts himself.
"Hashirama… I believe you'll soon witness the day when peace comes to the ninja world."
Madara Uchiha murmured softly, never forgetting the promise he had made to his closest friend.
He had said that he would let Hashirama live to see the day when peace was realized in the ninja world.
A promise made to a dear friend was something he would never break.
...
The Hokage Office.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
Senju Tobirama, who had rushed over after hearing the news, stared at Renya—who was speaking eloquently—with a dark expression.
So this kid really had been secretly meeting Madara behind their backs.
Not only that—he'd been completely brainwashed.
Tobirama couldn't understand what kind of sweet poison Madara Uchiha had poured into him to make him carry out such an extreme plan like the "Eye of the Moon" with such devotion.
Renya felt a little guilty when he saw Senju Tobirama, but he still insisted on his stance.
"I think Madara-sama's plan has no problems at all!"
As long as he gained Madara's full trust, he could then openly delay the capture of the tailed beasts.
First, delay the capture of the Six-Tails by two months, then wait for the Three-Tails—currently dead—to revive.
Back and forth, that alone could stall things for another half year.
As for capturing the Nine-Tails?
That wasn't even within his consideration.
As soon as the Three-Tails revived, he would immediately turn on Madara-sama and tell him the truth.
Then he would bring him back to the village to retire peacefully and smoothly inherit the legacy.
To stop Madara-sama's world-destroying plan, he had endured and lain low for decades.
Now was the most critical moment—absolutely no accidents could be allowed!
That meant he could only wrong Senju Tobirama for now.
At worst, once Madara-sama was dealt with, he would explain everything to the old man.
But when Renya's words reached Senju Tobirama's ears, they became—
You old fossil, you don't understand anything. Only Madara-sama can bring peace to the ninja world.
A child he had raised from a young age had suddenly become a heartless ingrate.
Senju Tobirama felt absolutely awful.
That damned Madara Uchiha—this old man is not done with you!
He forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and looked at Renya with an iron-blue expression.
"I'll give you one more chance to choose your words carefully!"
He felt that Renya had been completely led astray by Madara Uchiha and needed a thorough beating to wake him up.
If this kid continued to be stubborn, he would really teach him a lesson.
Anyone with eyes could see that Senju Tobirama was truly angry.
Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen subconsciously looked at Renya, hoping he would rein it in a little.
An angry Tobirama-sensei was terrifying!
"Although you're very angry right now, time will prove everything for me. Please believe in my choice. Sometimes, what you see with your eyes isn't the truth."
Afraid they wouldn't understand, Renya added a subtle hint.
"Give me one year, and you'll know."
As soon as he said this, a trace of confusion flashed through Senju Tobirama's eyes.
This kid's words had something hidden in them!
Being sharp-minded, he quickly understood that agreeing to Madara's plan was only a temporary measure.
And Renya had already found a solution.
Since when did this kid become so smart?
Senju Tobirama couldn't help but wonder if he was overthinking it.
Maybe Renya hadn't found any solution at all and was simply completely fooled by Madara Uchiha.
Sometimes, cleverness backfires.
What exactly was going on in this kid's head—probably only he himself knew.
Seeing that Senju Tobirama seemed to have taken it in, Renya couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Talking to smart people really was easier.
Since that was the case, the plan could proceed to its final stage.
That was—temporarily leaving Konoha and gaining Madara-sama's complete trust!
"Those who walk different paths cannot work together. Just wait for the day I succeed."
Renya untied the forehead protector from his head and casually tossed it onto the desk.
Before the three of them could react, his figure vanished from the office.
Hiruzen stared at the forehead protector on the desk, subconsciously rubbing his eyes as he asked in disbelief,
"Did Renya… defect?!"
Senju Tobirama and Danzo Shimura said nothing, sinking into deep thought.
Were Renya's earlier words really what they thought they meant?
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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