The Uchiha compound felt eerily empty now.
Not long ago, its expansive courtyards had buzzed with laughter, the sounds of kunai clashing during training, and the proud voices of clan elders assuring the kids they were the hope of tomorrow. But now those very courtyards were silent, stained with ash and blood. Flames consumed the wooden beams, collapsing roofs into shattered fragments. Thick, bitter smoke rose high enough to taint the Hokage Monument.
Ren walked through the devastation, his steps stable—almost unnaturally so for someone his age. His body was shaking, but his eyes, unnervingly sharp and cold, remained steady. I knew this would happen. I was ready for it. But knowing doesn't make it any easier.
His kin lay lifeless in pools of their own blood, their Sharingan eyes dulling to gray. He forced himself not to search for familiar faces—not yet. If he paused, if he hesitated, he might break down.
Behind him, Gojo Satoru strolled nonchalantly, hands in his pockets and his blindfold askew, speaking in that same teasing tone he used to annoy foes.
"Yikes," Gojo remarked, glancing at a burning house. "This is some terrible hospitality. Fire everywhere, no snacks, no tunes. What a dull party."
Ren halted mid-step, finally turning to face him. His small fists clenched, his voice trembling yet controlled. "You don't seem bothered."
Gojo smirked. "Oh, I am. I just prefer not to do the whole screaming and crying thing. Kinda tacky, don't you think?" He crouched down, bringing his blindfolded gaze level with Ren's. "Besides, you're still alive. That's already a twist worth celebrating."
Ren's voice was quiet, but steady despite his youth. "Alive, but for what? To watch everything burn?"
Gojo's grin widened, his tone shifting to something sharper beneath the playfulness. "Nah. You're alive to do something about it. That's the difference between being a victim and being a Boss."
Ren took a deep breath, feeling the tightness in his chest, and spoke words that felt heavy for a child. "I won't die in someone else's story. From now on, I'll write my own."
Gojo tilted his head, then burst into a laugh—a warm, amused sound that cut through the smoke. "Ooooh, chills. There it is. The Boss finally speaks." He clapped once, sharp and teasing but also approving. "I like this side of you. Keep it."
Ren ignored the mockery. He turned to the Hokage Monument looming in the distance, firelight painting its carved faces with a warm orange hue. "This world is broken. Clans fighting clans. Nations at each other's throats. Every generation just repeats the same wars. If I stay under Konoha's thumb, I'll just be another piece on their chessboard."
"And?" Gojo pressed, leaning in closer, his smirk still intact.
"I won't be a pawn." Ren's voice grew firmer. His small fists tightened. "I'll be the one controlling the board. I'll unify this world—even if it takes war."
Gojo stood straighter, letting out a low whistle. "Man… you're already like ten times scarier than most Kage. It kinda makes me proud. And maybe a little nervous." He chuckled. "But hey, if you're aiming for world domination, at least you've got style."
Meanwhile, in Konoha
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the glow on the horizon. The smoke rising from the Uchiha compound felt like an accusing finger pointed right at him.
"ANBU reports?" the old man asked, his grip on the pipe trembling.
A masked agent knelt before him. "Confirmed: the Uchiha compound has been eliminated. Attacker identified—Uchiha Itachi. No survivors reported."
Hiruzen closed his eyes, grief etching deeper lines on his face. Another clan, wiped out. Another scar on this village's soul.
On the rooftops, ANBU teams moved quickly between shadows, ensuring no civilians got too close. But the whispers were already spreading. Curtains pulled back, frightened eyes peering out from behind them. Parents hushed their kids: The Uchiha are gone. Stay quiet. Don't ask questions.
Fear ate at Konoha's heart.
But nobody knew that one Uchiha child still lived, walking away from the flames with a man whose power the world had yet to grasp.
Back to the Ashes
A chime echoed softly in Ren's mind, overlaying the crackling fire.
[Major Event Cleared: Uchiha Massacre.]
[Summon Authorization Granted.]
[Available Summon: Escanor — The Lion's Sin of Pride.]
Ren's breath caught at the name. Escanor. Just hearing it radiated power. The embodiment of the sun, unbeatable during the day. With him, even nations would bow. But…
He closed his eyes. Not yet. If I summon him now, his pride, his very presence will draw every eye in the world. The shadows I need will vanish. His time will come. But not tonight.
Gojo tilted his head, a sly grin on his face. "Oho? You've got that plotting look. What's the Boss thinking? Planning on adding another weirdo to the mix?"
Ren allowed himself a slight smile. "When the time is right, the world won't be prepared."
"Good answer," Gojo said, satisfied. He stood, brushing ash from his sleeve, stretching like he had all the time in the world. "Man, I love this job. Strong Boss, dramatic speeches, mysterious future allies? Way better than babysitting brats back home."
They moved deeper into the forest, the glow of the compound fading into the background. For a while, silence loomed between them, occasionally interrupted by nighttime insects chirping. Then Ren spoke again, his voice low but resolute.
"We'll create something new. Our own family. Not bound by blood, but by loyalty."
Gojo chuckled. "Cute. But come on, every good secret club needs a name. Otherwise, we're just… two good-looking guys wandering around."
Ren gazed up at the moon, pale against the smoke-stained sky. "Then we'll call it the Eclipse Order. We'll move in shadows, unseen. And when the time comes…" His eyes sparkled. "…we'll outshine them all."
Gojo burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "Dramatic! I love it. Honestly, ten out of ten for branding. Akatsuki's gonna be jealous."
Ren's expression didn't change, but his thoughts sharpened. The Akatsuki seek power through fear. The Eclipse Order will forge unity through strength. Where they sow chaos, I'll build an empire.
Though he still had a child's voice and frame, in that moment, he no longer felt like a kid. He felt like a ruler waiting for his crown.
Gojo walked beside him, humming a tune, now tied to this world as the strongest sorcerer from another. Behind them, the Uchiha were reduced to ashes. Ahead, destiny lay out like an unwritten scroll.
And beyond the veil, the Lion of Pride awaited—his wish concealed, his sun dormant, his fate intertwined with Ren's.