"You're right—I was getting ahead of myself," Tsunade admitted, taking a breath to steady herself. "Alright then—let me handle setting up the lab and purchasing the equipment."
"You just get the funds ready."
"If you don't mind, we can build the research facility on Senju land," she added, then quickly clarified, "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not about control or anything like that—just practicality. The Senju compound has lots of unused space. You'd save a ton on rent."
"In fact, I'll even transfer the land title to you if that makes it easier."
"Plus, once we start producing results, you know Hiruzen, Danzo, and half the village's old guard will be circling like vultures."
"Placing the facility under my grandmother's watch means none of them will dare make a move."
Not even the Third Hokage or Danzo Shimura wanted to provoke Mito Uzumaki's wrath. That was how you ended up dead.
"Of course," Tsunade added, "if you'd rather have it inside the Uchiha compound…"
"No thanks."
Ren immediately shook his head. "Let's go with the Senju compound—and put it as close to Grandma Mito's courtyard as possible."
"As for placing it within Uchiha territory?"
He snorted. "Let's be honest—our clan is a mess. Factional infighting, spies planted by Danzo and Hiruzen… until my father finishes reforming and unifying the clan, I wouldn't trust them with anything important."
"Oh?" Tsunade raised a brow, amused. "Didn't expect you to be that blunt about your own clan."
Ren rolled his eyes. "Confidence? In them? Not likely."
"Fair enough," Tsunade chuckled. "Still, you're helping your father plan reforms too? Why am I not surprised?"
"My dad's supportive," Ren replied. "Let's just leave it at that."
"Anyway, you get started on the facility. I'll bring in my share—one million ryō—tomorrow."
"And remember—don't even think about gambling with it."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Seriously? Do you really not trust me that much?"
Ren gave a helpless shrug. "Can you blame me? You're fine when it comes to most things, but the moment money's involved… all bets are off."
"Relax. I'm not that reckless," she sighed. "This time it's different. This is about my grandmother's life—and a serious business venture. I won't screw it up."
"Good." Ren gave her a firm nod. "Then we're set."
By the time evening came, Ren's shadow clone dispelled itself, transferring its memories back to the original.
Ren, just returning home from training, paused as the flood of information hit him.
He sat down and closed his eyes, absorbing it all.
Moments later, he rubbed his temples and muttered to himself, "Everything's coming together. The lab, Tsunade, even the funding shouldn't be a problem."
"And extending Mito Uzumaki's life… it's worth it. The longer she's around, the more time I get to develop in peace."
With that, he headed into the living room, where his father and older brother were seated.
"Yo! My dumb big brother's home!" Ren grinned as he flopped down on the couch across from them. "How was the mission, oh noble oniisan?"
Fugaku twitched. A visible pound mark formed on his forehead. "Would it kill you to call me properly just once?"
If not for the fact that Ren could absolutely kick his ass now, he might've taken a swing at him.
He regretted not establishing dominance back when Ren was still weak.
The moment Ren began training, it only took a month before Fugaku found himself hopelessly outmatched.
Genius was so damn unfair.
"Tch," Ren scoffed, ignoring him. He turned to their father. "Dad, I need to borrow a million ryō for the research lab. I'll pay you back later."
"Hah?" Fugaku immediately snorted. "A million? That's insane! There's no way Dad would—"
"I'll cover it," Uchiha Nobuhiko cut in calmly.
Ren blinked.
Fugaku's face froze.
"I trust you," Nobuhiko added. "And if that's not enough, I can get you more. Tens of millions, if needed."
Fugaku: "…"
"Wait, hold on—how is that fair?! You can't just hand him that kind of money!"
Nobuhiko shot him a sharp look. "Fugaku. Your brother's doing something important. Instead of dragging him down, maybe try supporting him for once."
"Hehe. Thanks, Dad," Ren said with a smirk—then turned to wink at Fugaku, who looked like he might rupture a blood vessel.
Ren's rise had clearly thrown off the family power balance, and Fugaku knew it.
Nobuhiko got up and walked to the family vault, returning with a scroll sealed with a space-storage tag.
"Here. One million ryō. Handle it wisely."
Ren accepted the scroll with a huge grin. "You got it."
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Every day, Ren added one more task to his already packed schedule—splitting off another clone to study fuinjutsu under Mito Uzumaki.
Thanks to his terrifying learning ability and his prior fuinjutsu foundation, he tore through every basic and intermediate seal she gave him.
One week in, and he'd already mastered everything she had in the beginner tier—and most of the mid-tier too.
"…You're an absolute monster," Mito muttered one afternoon, watching Ren flawlessly replicate another mid-level seal.
"I thought I was underestimating you before. Turns out I still wasn't giving you enough credit."
"At this rate, in two or three months, I won't have anything left to teach you."
Ren simply smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.