Darkness. A bone-chilling, all-consuming black...
Yamanaka Harano had invaded Amano Ren's mind—but what he encountered was far from what he expected. He hovered midair, surrounded by an impenetrable void. The only visible thing in this vast expanse of darkness was his own body.
This wasn't the first time Harano had entered a mental world, but something was off. There were no doors, no windows—no recognizable entry points. In any mind, even the most closed-off, there were always mental "gateways." But in Amano Ren's case, there was nothing—just endless, suffocating blackness.
Harano couldn't confirm exactly who Amano Ren was, but one thing was certain: this boy was no ordinary child.
"…Looks like I'll have to take a more forceful approach. Not something I enjoy."
Floating in the void of Ren's mindscape, Harano began forming hand seals with practiced speed, his expression sharpening.
The human brain is fragile—especially a child's. One misstep and the mind could be left permanently broken.
"Forgive me…"
The seals completed.
Boom—
Suddenly, flames erupted within the void, spreading rapidly into a blazing inferno. Through the firelight, a row of small houses became visible—shaking, burning, struggling helplessly against the consuming flames.
Harano said nothing. He simply watched the scene unfold—one that clearly belonged to a memory Ren would rather forget.
Riiiip—
A faint tearing sound echoed through the darkness, yet it struck like thunder. Harano's expression shifted sharply as he turned toward the source.
A crack had opened in the black. From within it poured a blinding white light.
"…He's coming."
In the hospital room, Amano Ren sat motionless, holding the icy hand of a girl named Ren Rui. Her eyes were tightly shut, her expression peaceful in sleep—or perhaps something worse.
Behind him, a young nurse let out a soft sigh. Her gaze toward Ren Rui was tinged with sympathy. But in a hospital, such sights were far too common.
"Mr. Amano… my condolences."
Ren's hand clenched slightly, then quickly loosened—as if afraid to hurt her.
"I paid everything without delay… So why did it end like this?" His voice was calm, but beneath the surface lay a volcano ready to erupt.
The nurse fell silent. Despite Ren's composed tone, a chill crept up her spine.
"…Why?"
Ren slowly closed his eyes.
"What did we do wrong…?"
Crack.
The sound was sharp and sudden.
Ren's eyes snapped open. Tears, long held back, streamed down his face. Everything before him seemed painted on a pane of glass—and now, a fracture had split it right across Rui's face.
"No—!"
His scream tore through the silence.
Then… darkness swallowed the world.
"Release!"
Yamanaka Harano stumbled back in shock, his face drenched in cold sweat. His wide eyes stared at Ren, who sat motionless, tears still falling from closed eyes.
"What happened?" asked a masked ANBU operative, appearing beside him and gripping his shoulder to steady him.
Harano wiped his forehead and muttered, "It's… hard to explain."
The ANBU agent said nothing, the mask betraying no emotion. Then, coldly, he asked, "Is he a threat?"
He didn't care what had happened inside Ren's mind. All he wanted to know was whether the boy should be eliminated.
Harano hesitated. He glanced at Ren, whose tears hadn't stopped even in unconsciousness. Words stuck in his throat.
He was about to say, Yes, he qualifies… But when he remembered that final scene, he just couldn't bring himself to say it.
"No," he said after a pause. "He doesn't."
"You're sure?" the ANBU agent asked, eyes narrowing beneath his mask.
Harano didn't waver. "I'm sure."
The operative gave a curt nod. "I'll report to the Hokage. Someone will come to escort the boy. Be ready to file your report."
With that, the ANBU vanished.
Left alone, Harano looked at Ren's tear-streaked face, his expression conflicted.
"Just who… are you?" he murmured—then paused. Something was wrong.
Ren was stirring.
"…No way."
Harano's eyes widened as he watched Ren slowly open his eyes.
How was this possible? That genjutsu should've been more than enough—especially on a child without chakra.
As Harano stood frozen in confusion, Ren's voice broke the silence.
"So… it wasn't real…"
Ren scanned the room, eyes filled with the raw memory of pain—as if the nightmare still clung to his skin.
He didn't know why the vision had felt so real, but he knew exactly who had caused it.
"…Should I thank you… or hate you?"
He tried to wipe his tears but forgot his hands were bound.
Harano remained silent, unsure how to respond. Ren remembered everything, and that was a problem.
"What will you do with me?" Ren asked calmly, as though asking about the weather.
Harano studied him. "It's clear you don't understand our intentions… and maybe even resent us for it."
Ren said nothing. His face was blank.
"I'd like to explain, but I doubt it would help. Maybe one day you'll understand why we had to do it. For now, at least, you'll be in a safe place. That's what matters. Someone will come to escort you, but before that—"
Harano's words trailed off. Ren had noticed the subtle shift in his eyes—the flicker of apology.
"…Before that, you'll need to stay unconscious a little longer. For your own good."
Ren blinked, confused.
Then Harano blurred behind him—and a sharp pain struck his neck.
"I—"
He didn't even have time to curse. The words died before they reached his lips.
Harano caught Ren as he slumped, unconscious.
"I hope I'm doing the right thing…"
Hokage's Office
Yamanaka Harano stood respectfully before the desk.
Hiruzen Sarutobi read the report carefully, murmuring as he processed the details. Finally, he looked up, eyes sharp and piercing—like needles, or the weight of a mountain.
The report was thorough. Too thorough. If he hadn't made Harano give a verbal summary first, he might have missed the omissions.
"Harano, I can tell you left some things out."
Harano's heart skipped a beat—but he kept his composure. He was ready for consequences.
Sarutobi studied him and sighed.
"I know you had your reasons. I've always trusted your judgment. Your abilities are exceptional, but you lack a true shinobi's heart. That's why I hesitate to push you into more demanding roles. It wouldn't be fair to you."
"Lord Hokage…" Harano looked up, eyes shimmering with emotion.
Sarutobi shook his head. "This child… Amano Ren… shows remarkable talent for genjutsu. But as you said, he may already view Konoha as an enemy. That could be dangerous."
"If possible, I'd like to request guardianship," Harano said firmly.
Sarutobi considered, then shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Ren will be placed under Orochimaru's care."
"…I see," Harano replied quietly.
"I won't punish you for withholding information. But let this be the last time. You may go."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Harano bowed and left the office. Once outside, he couldn't help but sigh.
Back inside, Hiruzen stared at the door, his thoughts racing.
Harano was a capable ninja—but he lacked the ruthless decisiveness required of a true shinobi. That's why he was kept in interrogation, not on missions.
Still, Hiruzen trusted him.
And that made the situation with Amano Ren a double-edged sword.
This boy had frightening potential.
Would he become Konoha's strength… or its downfall?
The Third Hokage rubbed his temples, weary.
If only Harano were the one raising him…
"Sigh…"
But then again—there was Orochimaru.
And that changed everything.