Hiruzen's Pov.
When I had found that he had gained a summoning clan. I was surprised and glad. This was something that would help Konoha. The discussion was going just as usual. Muddled accusations and negotiations, which, when calmly weighed, might not even make sense.
Sure, it was a headache that a new medium-sized clan had emerged. But at least he knew Ren. And could trust him to some extent.
But when Ren said that he could kill those kids with a snap. He was disappointed. He had thought that Ren was a model of the Will of Fire. What kind of Will of fire was this? He had never actually agreed with the Hyuga or Danzo regarding those methods and was actually one of the reasons he wanted to keep the two as far away from the Kage seat as possible.
In his annoyance, he had a small outburst and told Ren to go away. He already had so many power-hungry bastards near him. He didn't need another. He would make sure to keep him in check to just like he did for all the other clans. This incident had become too muddled to handle easily now. He could not send Ren to Root, for it would send a message that if a minor clan gains power, it will be ripped from them. But he also didn't want to deal with him today anymore.
But then, Ren offered oversight and tribute to the village. This made Hiruzen pause. He knew that Ren had noticed the change in his attitude, and this was his attempt to say that he was still the same and loyal.
So he decided to give him a chance to explain himself.
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Ren's Pov.
I stood in his office as the advisors left one by one. The silence that stretched into eternity made me nervous with each passing second. My back was drenched completely by the time he lit his pipe. For a few minutes, the silence screamed at me to run and hide. When I couldn't take it anymore, I spoke. "Lord Third.."
"Why?" he spoke. "Why did you choose such a path to ensure loyalty?"
Aah. That's what made him mad. Of course, how could I have been so stupid? Hiruzen's trust was entirely dependent on how much one aligned with the will of fire. The method of operation was one of the few things he disagreed with Danzo on. He was an indecisive and passive ruler. But he was a kind one. And my method was beyond cruel. It was basically slavery.
Nothing I could say was gonna wash this out completely. So I simply chose to tell the truth.
"The kids under me had absolutely no potential to become shinobis. They would have made a gain of twenty or thirty. But never chunin or jonin. I knew that. I know the shinobi protect the civilians, Lord Third. But the truth of this world is that only those with strength can choose their own destinies."
Hiruzen blew another puff.
"What I didn't tell the council was this." I took out the small blob again. "These Yami also give a one-time boost in potential. Making it so that the kids can truly become chunin. And one or two of them might even reach Tokubetsu Jonin."
Hiruzen raised his eyebrows. As an old player, he knew the bloodline factor very well.
I moved towards his window and opened the curtain fully. "You have created a beautiful place here, Lord Third. Your people are happy and at peace. But that's the thing, you know. They are at peace because you wish it to be so. If tomorrow you chose to, you could make their life hell. And most will have no choice but to lie down and take it. I wanted them to have a choice." The bloodmist era that will come was going to prove those words very well.
"I know that you might not agree with my methods, but I wanted my clan members to have that choice. Because if they are not strong enough, their lives aren't theirs anyway."
"I didn't force anyone to bond with the Yami. In fact, you can ask them and read their memories. I told them exactly what they were signing up for."
"I wish I could change that rule, Lord Third, but the death trigger is not a rule I have applied to them. It is an innate feature of the Yami I have contracted, for the yami that others have contracted are fragments of it. And Yamis bind for life. So, in essence, they have taken my potential to use for themselves." I had spent a lot of SS to generate those fragmented kid Yami. And that feature part was true. I didn't want that power, but I had no choice.
The hokage exhaled a deep puff. "A wise man once said, little ren, that it is the nature of power to corrupt. And such power as you now wield." His expression turned grave. "I'm afraid is not something that all men can resist."
"All men don't have to bear the burden of this sin. Only I do."
"And pray tell me, what is different about you?"
"I have you."
Hiruzen paused. "What do you mean?"
"I know, lord Hokage, that you saw something in me, and I know that the Will of Fire you preach is something real and not just propaganda. All I wanted was to feed a few hungry kids. You took it all and turned it into something way beyond anything I had ever imagined. A clan. A real shinobi clan." I spoke, my voice heavy with emotion. For it was true. It was his permission and his money. Or more than half of those kids would have been dead on the streets.
"So if in this world, there really is someone who can help create a clan using the power of the Yami without it turning into something distorted and evil. I believe it is you. I know I refused your support, Lord Third. But I never refused your guidance. Don't you think it would be wonderful to create an ideal clan, with the ideals and principles of peace and prosperity? And, more importantly, no chains. I had refused because I did not want chains to distort the actions and principles of the clan. And now my vision is nearly complete. We are now strong enough to have a voice. But we have no friends or enemies. no constricting rules or laws, and finally, no ideals or dreams. Lord Third, All we have is you."
I halted my passionate tirade. Letting out all that I had in me.
And that was it. My plea and my request. I had gambled.
Hiruzen smoked. And then smoked some more. But this time, I wasn't nervous. I wasn't afraid. Although I hadn't met him much. I knew the man that he was. And the man that he wanted bw.
For the first time in forever, I realized exactly why the transmigrators always found it so easy to lie and cheat, and manipulate people. The anime had told us all his deepest, darkest secrets. And his greatest ambitions.
I had asked the man who called himself The Professor to guide me in creating an ideal clan in the name of peace and prosperity. I knew his answer long before he said it.
"Little Ren, I feel hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
And scene.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL MY READERS
I have been told that interacting with fans and giving them interactive choices is the best way to express your gratefulness and respect their opinions.
So here's a question for you all.
In a major arc down the line. I have to kill off two of Ren's teammates, according to the plot I've thought so far. Please comment and write who should survive and why?
Also, please express your views on this approach of mine.
Thank you for your love and support.