Ren Takashi rolled his eyes at Tsunade. "Teacher, why are you swearing?"
"Boom!"
Uzumaki Mito tapped Tsunade on the head. "Girls shouldn't use such language," she chided. "Even if Ren Takashi is indeed a bit inhuman."
Tsunade was speechless.
Uzumaki Mito turned to Ren Takashi. "Your steelmaking technology will revolutionize weapons production. The village won't ignore that—this is even more strategic than the nutritional pills. The Hokage's office will intervene. Have you considered how to handle that?"
"Of course," Ren Takashi said confidently. "The steel industry will be led by Uchiha, with some village weapons dealers and clans joining. If Senju is interested, they're welcome to invest. Most importantly, the village must be included, so I'll invite them to hold shares."
Both Mito and Tsunade were surprised.
"You're letting the Third take a cut of the profits?" Tsunade asked, baffled.
"Not him—'the village'," Mito realized. "You're making it official property."
"Exactly," Ren Takashi confirmed. "The Third can't claim it as personal property. Sure, he'll siphon profits now, but when you become Hokage, we'll take it back."
"Huh? Me? Fourth Hokage?" Tsunade grabbed Ren Takashi's ear. "When did I agree to this?!"
"Ouch! Teacher, wait!" Ren Takashi explained how Mito, Kushina, Shikaku, and Minato had all agreed. "You're the only one who can do this for Senju, for Konoha—and for me. Once I'm of age, I'll take over."
Tsunade hesitated. Then, with a sigh, she nodded. "Fine. But only until you're ready. Not a day more."
Ren Takashi breathed a sigh of relief.
Then Tsunade frowned. "Wait—you're six. You want me Hokage for ten years?! Absolutely not. Three, max."
"Six or seven at most," Ren Takashi promised. "We'll reform the Hokage office—delegate duties, create departments. You'll only need to handle key decisions."
Tsunade looked skeptical, but intrigued.
"The Third insists on controlling everything," Ren Takashi added. "Even missing cats. No wonder he's exhausted."
Mito chuckled. "Tsunade, if others heard you scorn the Hokage position, they'd cry."
"Let them," Tsunade said with a shrug.
Mito redirected the conversation. "Senju will invest in the steel industry—10% shares, land, and capital. It supports you and keeps Uchiha from being isolated."
Ren Takashi nodded. "I'll have Father visit tomorrow to finalize details."
The support of Senju would provide prestige and help Konoha ninjas buy into the effort. Alone, Uchiha might be isolated.
"Leave the follow-up to us," Mito said. "Your focus is to become stronger. Do your research, but don't let it get in the way of cultivating power."
"Understood," Ren Takashi replied gratefully.
"Also, I broke through to Dark Power."
"What?!" Ren Takashi was stunned. "Already?!"
He hadn't even attempted that yet. He was still building physical foundations carefully—there was no rushing body cultivation.
"Maybe my body's still strong enough," Mito said. "Despite my declining vitality, I had the mental control and internal strength. Now, the loss of life force has slowed. I'm even recovering a little."
Her lifespan wouldn't increase dramatically, but the decline was halted. Reaching Dan Jin could extend her life even more.
"That's amazing!" Ren Takashi, Tsunade, and the others were overjoyed.
"It's thanks to you," Mito smiled.
She truly felt Ren Takashi's Huxia martial arts was something beyond even the Sage of Six Paths.
Author's Note: As power stirs in the shadows, reforms rise under the light. Hokage politics, industry, and martial breakthroughs—Ren Takashi continues shaping the fate of the ninja world.