Underground laboratory.
At a glance—
The entire place was filled with Senju Tobirama.
Every single Tobirama was working with complete devotion, contributing bricks and tiles to Konoha's development.
Uchiha Ren nodded in satisfaction.
Tobirama was truly one of Konoha's model workers.
Even a top-ten employee like Kakuzu couldn't compare to him.
After all, Kakuzu still needed to eat and sleep.
Tobirama needed nothing.
All he had to do was work hard and create value for Ren.
Truly eating grass and producing milk.
A man who had transcended vulgar pleasures.
Uchiha Ren passed through the outermost laboratory and arrived at the innermost section, searching for Senju Tobirama's main body.
Before he even entered the room, he heard angry shouting from inside.
"You dead bastard! What are you so proud of?! It's just a lousy game! So what if you beat me? I'm your ancestor!"
"Oh, oh, are you mad?"
"Someone who never felt a mother's love isn't about to cry little pearls, is he?"
"Go die! I'm fighting you!"
"Hmph, come then. I've disliked you for a long time. You and that naturally evil Uchiha brat are both rotten things."
"Gold, you're nothing but Uchiha Ren's dog!"
"Ahhhh! I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Black Zetsu lunged at Senju Tobirama in rage.
Unfortunately, Black Zetsu's talent points were not invested in combat.
Tobirama quickly suppressed him.
But Black Zetsu wasn't exactly weak either.
At the very least, he could take a beating.
He found an opportunity to hit Tobirama fiercely, only to be pinned to the ground again moments later.
The moment Uchiha Ren entered, he saw Tobirama beating Lucky—
Cough.
Beating Black Zetsu.
"Elder Brother, look at him! This unfilial descendant is attacking his ancestor!"
"Uchiha Ren, stay out of this. Today, I'm not doing this for anything else. I'm suppressing Black Zetsu's arrogance!"
"Black Zetsu, don't think you can show off in front of me just because you attached yourself to Uchiha Ren!"
"I'm telling you, in terms of closeness, my relationship with Uchiha Ren is not something a pitch-black thing like you can interfere with!"
"And in terms of contributions to Konoha, I'm even stronger than you!"
"Fine! Once Mother is rescued, I'll make you kneel on the ground and kowtow to me!"
"As if you're worthy. You're just Uchiha Ren's dog!"
"Hmph! Then whose dog are you?!"
The two of them started fighting again.
Uchiha Ren felt a headache coming on.
Why could these two even fight?
Uchiha Ren formed a seal with one hand and controlled Senju Tobirama.
His cheap little brother, Black Zetsu, had already been beaten beyond recognition by Tobirama. He had turned into a lump of black mud, yet he was still trying to fight back.
"Enough, enough. Stop fighting!"
Taking advantage of the opening, Uchiha Ren walked between them and separated the two by some distance.
"Elder Brother, this dead bastard bullied me openly while you weren't here! Teach him a harsh lesson for me!"
"I know. I'll punish Tobirama severely and make him work twenty-four hours a day without stopping for even a moment."
"Good! Elder Brother should do exactly that! Rotten people like him should be used like livestock!"
Uchiha Ren's expression froze.
Black Zetsu…
You're making it very difficult for me to respond.
Although that was exactly what he was doing.
But why say the truth out loud?
"Alright, stop crying."
"The Konoha border hasn't been peaceful lately. This time, you'll personally lead a team to scout the situation."
"Pay especially close attention to the movements of the Sky Ninja Village."
"Rescuing Mother will depend on you."
"…"
Uchiha Ren stroked Black Zetsu's bald, unusually slick head like he was petting a cat.
With just a few words, he soothed Black Zetsu's emotions, then brought out Otsutsuki Kaguya's golden signboard to make Black Zetsu work hard for him.
"Elder Brother, you're so good to me!"
Black Zetsu enjoyed Uchiha Ren's touch, making soft purring sounds.
"I'll set off right away!"
"Otouto, be careful. If you're discovered while scouting, return to Konoha immediately."
"Your safety comes first."
"Elder Brother…"
Warmth flowed through Black Zetsu's heart.
For more than a thousand years, only Elder Brother had cared for him like this.
Only Elder Brother cared about his safety.
"Don't worry, Elder Brother. In this world, no one can discover my hiding technique!"
Black Zetsu revealed a confident expression.
After speaking, he left Senju Tobirama's underground laboratory.
One problem solved.
Only one remained.
Tobirama was now staring at Ren like a resentful wife.
Uchiha Ren released Senju Tobirama from his control.
Tobirama said nothing, merely glaring at him.
Uchiha Ren didn't care.
He casually sat down on the sofa.
This situation had already happened many times.
Senju Tobirama would figure it out himself.
"Tobirama, why are you still acting like a child and arguing with Black Zetsu?"
"If you have that much free time, you might as well devote your time and energy to scientific research."
"Hmph. You just want to use me like livestock."
"Shut up. Livestock aren't as useful as you—cough, cough."
"What I mean is, as Hokage, one should work like livestock and devote oneself to Konoha!"
"As the saying goes, face a thousand accusing fingers with a cold brow, and bow your head as a willing ox for the children."
"Hmph."
Senju Tobirama looked at Uchiha Ren with contempt.
This naturally evil Uchiha brat was still as shameless as ever.
He had even grown used to Ren's face by now.
"Say it. Why did you come to the laboratory this time?"
"You don't usually come at this hour."
Senju Tobirama found a chair and sat down, speaking impatiently.
Whenever Uchiha Ren came at this time, nothing good followed.
"It's like this."
"Recently, the employees in the Hokage Building have developed a very serious habit of slacking off during work hours."
"This unhealthy trend must be corrected!"
"Hmph, hmph."
Senju Tobirama snorted coldly.
He could already guess the truth.
The employees in the Hokage Building were probably buried under heavy, tightly packed work every day.
Even stealing a moment of rest amid that busyness was being squeezed dry by this bastard Uchiha Ren.
"Then what do you want?"
"I want to ask you to make a batch of cameras for me."
"They should monitor the movements inside rooms at any time. The central screen will be placed in my office."
"That way, I can watch at any time and see whether they're working properly."
"With your ability, producing this batch of equipment should be very quick."
Beast.
Senju Tobirama cursed inwardly.
"Of course, cough, cough… you know this isn't the main reason."
"Cameras can also solve public security problems and help gather intelligence."
Uchiha Ren noticed the contempt in Tobirama's gaze and hurriedly tried to justify himself.
"Hmph. One day, you'll be hung from a lamppost."
Senju Tobirama snorted coldly, but still agreed.
He did not reject Uchiha Ren's request.
In his view, even he, the Second Hokage, was being squeezed by Uchiha Ren into working twenty-four hours a day.
So why should Ren's employees outside be spared?
Human nature was ugly.
Senju Tobirama's heart was even darker.
Rather than suffering alone—
Better for everyone to suffer together.
"Don't think so badly of me."
"I've always been seeking benefits for Konoha's villagers."
"Recently, I've been considering establishing an insurance company."
"As long as Konoha villagers pay their insurance fees on time, whether they become disabled or die in action, their families can receive a subsidy."
"Combat-type shinobi are high-risk professionals. For that category of shinobi, this expense definitely won't be profitable. Konoha will have to subsidize it."
"This is a special welfare policy for Konoha."
"The rough plan has already been decided. The specific details are still being drafted."
Uchiha Ren tried to improve his reputation in Senju Tobirama's heart.
Although he exploited Konoha's employees, Uchiha Ren never believed he was a black-hearted boss.
"Hmph. At least you still have some conscience."
"Did you bring the rough plan? Let me see it."
Senju Tobirama nodded.
He felt Uchiha Ren had handled this matter properly.
This meant he truly had Konoha's shinobi in mind.
"I'll look for it. I remember putting it in a sealing scroll."
Uchiha Ren took out the sealing scroll he carried with him.
It contained Konoha's important materials.
Unlike Senju Tobirama, he didn't casually place important documents in his office, then get caught red-handed with evidence of corruption.
"Found it."
Uchiha Ren took out the rough insurance proposal and handed it to Senju Tobirama.
Tobirama opened the plan and read through the clauses from beginning to end.
The insurance roughly involved three groups.
Konoha's ordinary civilians.
Konoha's functional shinobi.
Konoha's combat-type shinobi.
Ordinary civilians and functional shinobi mostly performed low-risk work.
What danger could there be living deep inside Konoha's hinterland?
As long as they weren't extremely unlucky, they could live peacefully until old age.
Buying this insurance was mainly for peace of mind.
They would be the main source of income for the insurance company.
As for Konoha's combat-type shinobi—
They would have to purchase this insurance.
The premium was quite high.
However, when Senju Tobirama saw the enormous compensation amount, he also felt this insurance was worth the price.
Expensive was expensive.
After all, it was protection.
"Calculated this way, the insurance company's best-case scenario is breaking even."
"Most likely, it will lose money."
After reading most of the insurance clauses, Senju Tobirama judged that the insurance company would most likely operate at a loss.
"I know."
"I never planned to make money from it."
"My foundation is Konoha's shinobi."
"This time, it's basically spending money to win hearts."
"Looking at the long term, it can strengthen Konoha shinobi's cohesion."
"The benefits to Konoha are obvious."
"This money definitely won't be wasted."
"Not bad. Not bad."
"Uchiha Ren, I see you in a new light."
"I didn't expect a naturally evil Uchiha brat like you to have this kind of awareness."
Senju Tobirama continued reading the remaining clauses while praising Uchiha Ren.
"Wait…"
"Why is this line placed in the middle?"
"And why is it written so small?"
Senju Tobirama suddenly saw a tiny line of text hidden between the clauses and frowned in confusion.
"Enough, enough. Stop reading. Stop reading."
Uchiha Ren suddenly remembered something and tried to snatch the draft back from Senju Tobirama's hand.
"Any shinobi who purchases this insurance and receives compensation—or whose beneficiary receives compensation—shall have their soul belong to Konoha after death."
Senju Tobirama sensed something was wrong and immediately dodged.
Then he read the small clause aloud.
In that instant, Senju Tobirama discovered the loophole in this insurance policy—
And Uchiha Ren's sinister intentions.
Uchiha Ren, you damn bastard!
This was utterly unconscionable!
Beast!
Bastard!
"Bastard! As expected, you're a naturally evil Uchiha brat!"
"So this was your plan!"
"You actually want Konoha's shinobi to sell their souls to you!"
"Cough, cough. Not to me. To Konoha."
Uchiha Ren immediately argued.
How could this be called selling their souls to him?
They were clearly selling them to Konoha.
Besides, it wasn't as if he wasn't paying.
If they didn't agree, they could simply not buy the insurance.
"Is there any difference?!"
"Isn't Konoha currently your one-man dictatorship?"
Senju Tobirama refused to listen to Uchiha Ren's excuses.
He kept condemning Uchiha Ren's conscience.
He had actually thought Uchiha Ren had discovered his conscience.
In the end, he was still as evil as ever.
Konoha's future…
It was hard to describe.
Although everything looked prosperous now—
In the future…
"Tobirama, you know this."
"A qualified enterprise must reduce costs and increase efficiency."
"Impure World Reincarnation is simply the perfect ninjutsu. It can solve Konoha's labor cost problem."
"However, considering moral concerns, I've always maintained reverence toward this technique."
"I can't be like you and invite heavenly punishment, becoming ominous even after death."
Uchiha Ren spoke righteously.
Although his bottom line for integrity was rather low, low did not mean nonexistent.
One had to avoid doing too many conscience-destroying things.
Otherwise, it might lead to ominousness in old age—
And even after death.
"I***"
"You're the one who invited heavenly punishment!"
"You're the one ominous after death!"
"So now you have no morality at all, is that it?"
Senju Tobirama was furious.
Why could everything somehow be dragged back onto him?
If not for this naturally evil Uchiha brat, would he be ominous after death?
"Of course not."
"My moral standards have always been higher than yours."
"When the time comes, I'll use Impure World Reincarnation to summon a batch of Konoha shinobi."
"Even if I disturb their post-death peace, I can still show them the insurance policy they personally signed."
"They'll be fully convinced and willingly contribute to Konoha."
"Everything will be so fair and just."
"Of course, they won't be working for free."
"Their labor will be calculated according to Konoha's standard wages."
"Those compensation payments will be treated as their labor income."
"Everything is completely fair."
"Konoha has always advocated distribution according to work."
"Those who do not work do not eat."
"Of course, even after they repay the compensation, they'll still need to keep working."
"After all, one matter is one matter."
"They sold their souls to Konoha."
"Tobirama, don't worry."
"I'll give them holidays."
"They just have to stay inside the underground factory and cannot interfere with the world of the living."
"The boundary between life and death must never be broken!"
Uchiha Ren spoke with absolute righteousness.
"Uchiha Ren, you****!"
"One day, you'll face retribution!"
"The heavens cycle, and no one escapes!"
"I have never seen someone so shameless!"
After hearing Uchiha Ren's twisted logic, Senju Tobirama immediately cursed loudly.
He had never seen a bastard like Uchiha Ren.
So this was where the Mangekyō Sharingan's mental stimulation came from!
"Tobirama, you're too emotional."
"At the very least, you'll have colleagues in the future."
"You won't have to work alone anymore."
Uchiha Ren tried to soothe Senju Tobirama's emotions.
Then he brought out his trump card.
"Hiss…"
"This… doesn't seem very good…"
"Then, then, then…"
"Can you summon Uchiha Izuna?"
"I want him to be my subordinate!"
Senju Tobirama hesitated for a long time before finally stating his wish.
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