The so-called "point farming battle" ended just as abruptly as expected once Ren became even slightly serious.
As for Uchiha Obito—Ren couldn't fairly evaluate all of his abilities.
But there was one thing he fully acknowledged.
"That guy really runs fast…"
Not only fast—his survival instincts were absurd.
Still, against Ren in the current era and "patch version," Obito was nothing more than a walking score dispenser.
At present, aside from a fully unleashed, life-burning Nagato, Ren doubted anyone could genuinely threaten him.
And—
"Nagato's technically on our side right now."
Beyond Nagato, only two types of enemies truly warranted caution.
Enemies from above.
Enemies from below.
The ones from above needed no explanation.
They were the true calamity of the shinobi world.
When they would descend, Ren didn't know.
But he knew one thing—
Their power defied logic.
The Rinnegan, something countless reincarnators desperately pursued, was practically standard equipment among them.
The tailed beasts that could overturn the world? Merely tools to cultivate a God Tree fruit.
"As for enemies from below…"
Ren was confident—but not arrogant.
Hashirama Senju.
Madara Uchiha.
Those two could never be underestimated.
They belonged to the previous "version," yes.
But their combat instincts, willpower, and experience were monsters in their own right.
"Especially Madara…"
A man who could self-update and iterate his own build.
Ren vividly remembered Six Paths Madara.
One moment of carelessness—
One flicker of overconfidence—
And you were finished.
"That guy's boring. They ran too fast."
Hikari walked up beside him, tone indifferent.
"Especially that one. Mediocre abilities. His eyes are close to collapse."
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Ren blinked.
First time he'd heard someone call Itachi mediocre.
Then he looked at Hikari—and nodded.
"His Mangekyō won't last long. Though if he conserves it carefully, he could stretch it a few more years."
Coming from anyone else, that statement would be absurd.
From a woman born in the Warring States era, who clawed through mountains of corpses?
It was simply factual.
Hikari suppressed Itachi on every front.
Same dōjutsu lineage.
Superior control.
Her Amaterasu fused naturally with Kagutsuchi manipulation.
Her taijutsu was pure Uchiha killing form—efficient, fatal, perfected for single combat.
Itachi had run into the worst possible matchup.
Unlucky didn't begin to describe it.
"Looks like you're all fine."
Kakashi approached, brushing dust off his flak jacket.
"Not bad for a first mission. Facing Obito… and still holding formation."
Kakashi twitched.
This had all been arranged beforehand.
The only thing he hadn't known—
Was the scale of the enemy lineup.
"A bit excessive, don't you think?"
"Better this way," Ren shrugged. "We'll face them again. May as well get used to it."
His eyes drifted toward the Hidden Mist shinobi.
"And it's useful to evaluate future competitors… and collaborators."
Kakashi glanced around.
Understood immediately.
"Alright," Ren said lightly. "Take them back. We've got more to do."
Naruto lit up.
"Can't we stay?!"
Kakashi pressed his head down instantly.
"No. Bridge construction awaits."
They left.
Sasuke lingered a moment longer.
His gaze fixed on Hikari.
Too many questions.
Too much confusion.
Another Uchiha.
A Mangekyō.
She could have killed Itachi.
Easily.
Was she awakened that night?
Was she a survivor?
What did that mean for him?
His fists tightened.
Can I really… avenge anything?
Back in the Land of Rice Fields.
Inside Otogakure.
Space warped.
Obito staggered out, sleeve empty where his arm had been severed.
Orochimaru followed, pale but smiling.
Itachi walked silently, blood staining his cheek.
Behind them—
Tobirama stood under control, lips still moving.
"Pathetic failure!"
His red eyes gleamed.
"You fools accomplish nothing!"
His mood was excellent.
The summoners had suffered.
The Senju lineage had not ended.
And that boy—
That terrifying boy—
Perfect Flying Thunder God.
Perfect Wood Release.
He had seen echoes of Hashirama.
Even if he himself had been beaten around—
It was worth it.
Obito turned slightly.
"Can you shut him up?"
"Research opportunity," Orochimaru replied smoothly. "His current state is ideal."
Tobirama sneered.
"You lack control precision. You don't dare summon me at full strength."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Oh? Speaking of legacies… you do know the Senju are practically gone, yes?"
Silence.
"And Uchiha? Nearly extinct as well."
Tobirama's expression shifted.
"Lies."
"Not at all. Only a few seedlings remain."
Orochimaru continued casually.
"Danzo? Dead. Ordered by your student Hiruzen."
"Impossible."
"Ah, and the Uchiha massacre? Internal politics. Trade agreements. Necessary sacrifices."
Itachi's jaw tightened.
Obito remained silent.
Orochimaru layered truths carefully—omitting context.
Each statement technically accurate.
Each implication poisonous.
By the time Tobirama was resealed into a coffin, his earlier satisfaction had completely evaporated.
What had the village become?
And worse—
Senju and Uchiha standing together?
Was history looping?
Kamui Dimension.
Obito slammed his fist into stone.
Cracks spidered outward.
"Damn it!"
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This was just reconnaissance.
Just probing.
His battlefield wasn't now.
It was the future.
Ten-Tails.
Six Paths.
A new world.
Ren wouldn't stop that world.
He wouldn't.
"…Just a test."
He steadied his breathing.
White Zetsu.
Black Zetsu.
Resources would be allocated.
He would push further.
He would find Ren's limit.
He had to.
Back in Konoha.
Senju estate.
Tsunade stood in a towel, drying her hair.
"You made a trade with the Mist behind my back?"
Ren rolled his eyes.
"I haven't gone on a real mission in three years. I bring reinforcements once and suddenly I'm the villain?"
She snorted.
"You've done enough in the past to earn suspicion."
Then she paused.
"…You saw Grandfather."
"I did."
"I expected it."
She exhaled slowly.
"Orochimaru wouldn't waste that opportunity."
Ren nodded.
"No issues."
She stopped at the doorway, glanced back.
"And behave yourself. I don't need rumors about you and half the village."
Ren smirked faintly.
As if that was the only rumor floating around.
When she left, he turned inward.
Time to review.
[Mission Complete: Investigate Akatsuki Activity in Land of Waves]
[Evaluation: S]
[Reward: 15 Free Points]
[Special Bonus: Points Doubled]
[Current Free Points: 50]
Fifty.
His Body Comprehensive Level stood at LV14.
He had prioritized abilities for years.
But LV14 was a threshold.
LV15—
A major step.
Cloud's Storm Release still eluded him.
Perhaps the upcoming Chūnin Exams would change that.
After all—
History had already diverged.
He hadn't expected Tobirama this early either.
"…Let's try."
He exhaled.
Committed.
[Body Comprehensive Quality Increased]
[Current Level: LV15]
No pain.
No tearing.
Only—
A heartbeat.
Steady.
Heavy.
And something else.
An overwhelming sense of control.
Ren closed his eyes.
Strange imagery flickered in his mind.
His chakra circulation felt… different.
Denser.
Sharper.
And at his forehead—
A subtle protrusion began to form.
Barely noticeable.
Like a swelling.
Or—
Like something trying to emerge.
"…Did I just grow a horn?"
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL