Ren's clean, decisive defeat of Takeuchi Ryosuke—and his public display of the Sharingan—sent shockwaves through the Konoha Ninja Academy and far beyond, rippling upward into the highest echelons of the village.
An unknown war orphan, with no clan ties or notable lineage, suddenly wielding the Uchiha's legendary bloodline limit? It was not just improbable—it was outright bizarre.
The news reached the Hokage's office with alarming speed.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, set his pipe down slowly, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Beside him, his longtime advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged uneasy glances, their faces etched with concern.
"A Sharingan?" Koharu's voice was sharp with disbelief, her wrinkled features twisting further. "In an ordinary orphan? Could he be a survivor of the Uchiha massacre?"
Homura adjusted his glasses, his tone measured but grim. "Unlikely. We've cross-referenced the Uchiha registry countless times. There is no record of anyone named Ren. And after the massacre, every known survivor was placed under strict surveillance. An oversight of this magnitude is impossible."
Hiruzen remained silent for a long moment before speaking, his voice calm but firm. "Regardless, this demands a thorough investigation. The Sharingan is not a power to be taken lightly. ANBU—look into this boy's origins. Leave no stone unturned."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." From the shadows, a masked ANBU operative bowed once and vanished without a sound.
But the Hokage's wasn't the only hand stirring in the dark.
Deep beneath Konoha, in the labyrinthine chambers of Root headquarters, a scarred man with a bandaged right eye received the same report. A cold, calculating aura clung to him like mist to stone.
Danzo Shimura—the so-called "Dark Will of Konoha"—leaned back in his chair, his single visible eye gleaming with avarice.
"Sharingan…" he murmured, his withered fingers tapping the armrest. "Another pair has surfaced… and in the body of a nameless orphan. Heh… the heavens favor me indeed."
To Danzo, the Sharingan was more than a kekkei genkai—it was a weapon, a resource, a cornerstone of his vision for Konoha's future. He'd already harvested many eyes during the Uchiha massacre, implanting them into his own flesh. Now, a new, unclaimed pair had appeared… and he would not let it slip away.
"Send word," he commanded, voice rasping like dry leaves. "Place the boy—Ren—under constant surveillance. Learn everything: how he awakened the Sharingan, his combat aptitude, his weaknesses. And do not—under any circumstances—alert the Hokage."
"Understood, Lord Danzo." Several Root operatives materialized from the gloom like wraiths, then dissolved into the shadows as quickly as they'd come.
Unseen currents now swirled around Ren, threatening to pull him into a storm far greater than he realized.
Yet Ren remained blissfully unaware.
He had just passed his makeup exam. After demonstrating his "talent"—the Sharingan and a flawless Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique—the proctor had barely hesitated before declaring him合格 and fastening the Konoha forehead protector around his head.
Now, fingers tracing the cool metal plate, Ren felt a surge of emotion. He was a shinobi. Officially. Despite the chaos, the danger, the impossible odds—this was his beginning. And with it came opportunity.
Infinite Eye Technique System… His thoughts turned inward, and the translucent interface materialized before his mind's eye.
[Host: Ren]
[Age: 12]
[Chakra Level: Genin (Beginner)]
[Awakened Eye Technique Bloodline: Sharingan (One Tomoe) – Temporary Copy (5:00 remaining)]
[Mastered Ninjutsu: Three Basic Techniques (Clone, Substitution, Transformation), Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (Beginner)]
[System Space: Mysterious Gift Pack ×1]
[Current Mission: None]
His gaze locked onto the countdown timer. Temporary copying won't cut it long-term. I need real power—mine, not borrowed.
"System," he commanded, "open the Mysterious Gift Pack."
[Ding! Mysterious Gift Pack opened!]
Congratulations! You have obtained:
1. Eye Technique Bloodline Activation Liquid (Beginner) ×1
Permanently awakens a latent eye technique bloodline within the host.
2. Chakra Refining Acceleration Card (7 days) ×1
Increases chakra refinement speed by 100% for seven days.
3. Basic Illusion Analysis ×1
Comprehensive guide to foundational genjutsu principles, seals, and applications.
Ren's eyes lit up. This was perfect.
The Activation Liquid was exactly what he needed—permanent access to the Sharingan. The Acceleration Card would address his weak chakra reserves. And the genjutsu manual? A brilliant bonus. The Sharingan excelled at illusion techniques; this would let him weaponize that strength immediately.
"System, use the Eye Technique Bloodline Activation Liquid—now."
[Activation in progress…]
[Multiple eye technique factors detected. Prioritizing highest-potential, soul-compatible bloodline…]
[Success! Host has permanently awakened: Sharingan (One Tomoe)!]
A wave of warmth flooded his eyes—gentler than the jarring surge of temporary copying, yet far more profound. It felt like coming home. The earlier sense of foreignness vanished, replaced by seamless control and an instinctive bond.
With a mere thought, his crimson eye flared to life, the single tomoe rotating slowly, radiating quiet power.
It's mine now. The realization sent a thrill through him.
"Next," he said, "activate the Chakra Refining Acceleration Card."
[Chakra Refining Acceleration Card (7 days) applied. Effect active.]
He sat cross-legged on the floor and began meditating, drawing on Academy-taught chakra flow techniques. Immediately, he sensed the difference—his cells converted ambient energy into chakra at double the usual rate.
At this pace, I'll surpass even the top genin in under a week.
Finally, he accessed Basic Illusion Analysis. Rather than a physical tome, a flood of knowledge poured directly into his consciousness—principles, hand seals, chakra modulation for techniques like Naraku Illusion, Mist Servant, and Other Shore Technique. Mastery came not through rote memorization, but intuitive understanding.
"The Sharingan sees through genjutsu… and casts it with precision," Ren murmured, a slow smile forming. "With this knowledge? I won't just see through illusions—I'll weave them myself."
Just as Ren was basking in the satisfaction of his newfound strength, the system chimed again.
[Ding! New Mission Issued: First Glimpse of Talent!]
[Mission Content: The activation of your Sharingan has drawn the attention of Konoha's higher-ups. Potential threats are closing in. You are to quickly master a basic Sharingan ability and demonstrate it at an opportune moment to establish initial deterrence. Recommended skill: Genjutsu: Mirror Flower, Water Moon (System-optimized basic genjutsu).]
[Mission Rewards: Slight increase in chakra capacity, improved Sharingan proficiency, Random Ninja Tool Pack ×1.]
[Failure Penalty: New missions suspended for one month.]
Genjutsu: Mirror Flower, Water Moon?
A system-optimized version?
Ren mentally reviewed the technique's description. It wasn't anything as overwhelming as Aizen Sōsuke's complete hypnosis—but rather a refined Sharingan-based illusion that manipulated light, shadow, and subtle chakra fluctuations to craft hyper-realistic sensory deceptions. Its effect resembled an advanced form of the Mist Servant Technique, yet far more insidious and harder to dispel.
"Establish deterrence, huh?" A cold glint flickered in Ren's eyes. He knew that revealing the Sharingan would inevitably attract scrutiny—possibly even hostility. Better to act first than wait passively. A controlled display of power would make the vultures think twice.
The next day, at the Ninja Academy.
Though they'd already graduated, the genin were required to complete final orientation before team assignments. Ren's arrival immediately drew eyes. Among the onlookers were shock, curiosity, jealousy… and fear.
Takeuchi Ryosuke—whom Ren had soundly defeated the day before—was conspicuously absent. But his lackeys were present, their gazes burning with resentment and barely concealed unease.
"Hey! What're you staring at?!" shouted one of them—a spiky-haired boy who'd helped shove Ren to the ground just yesterday. His voice boomed with false bravado, masking the guilt gnawing at him from within.
Ren's lips curled into a faint smirk. Perfect. You'll do nicely as my test subject.
A flicker of crimson flashed in his eyes—his Sharingan activating silently—and he unleashed Genjutsu: Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
Instantly, the trio froze.
To them, nothing around them had changed: students trained, the instructor gave commands—but Ren had transformed. Towering before them was a grotesque, three-headed, six-armed monster, its maw slick with drool, lurching closer with each thunderous step.
"Ah! A monster!"
"Help! Stay back!"
"It's a ghost!"
Screaming, they bolted in blind panic, tripping over each other in their haste. Their frantic flailing drew bursts of laughter from nearby students.
The jōnin instructor halted mid-sentence, stunned—then narrowed his eyes as he caught the fading red glow in Ren's irises and the unmistakable signs of genjutsu-induced hysteria in the boys. He studied Ren with renewed intensity.
This orphan not only awakened the Sharingan… he's already wielding genjutsu with frightening finesse.
Ren released the illusion at just the right moment. The boys snapped back to reality, faces burning with humiliation. They shot him one last venomous glance before slinking off to a far corner, unwilling to meet his eyes again.
The message was received. Any student who'd considered testing Ren held their tongue.
But Ren's senses, sharpened by both instinct and the Sharingan, caught something else—subtle, persistent gazes from multiple directions. Cold. Calculating. Assessing. And in some… a faint, chilling thread of killing intent.
ANBU? Or Root?
A shiver traced his spine. The real trouble had only just begun.
During a break, Ren sat alone in a quiet corner of the training grounds, refining his chakra control. Every ounce of strength would soon be needed.
"Hey! You're the Ren who beat up Takeuchi Ryosuke, right?"
A bright, energetic voice cut through his focus.
He opened his eyes to see a boy in a bright orange tracksuit, blond hair spiked wildly, blue eyes shining with curiosity. Six whisker-like marks adorned his cheeks, and his grin—though slightly goofy—radiated sincerity.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Konoha's so-called "Demon Fox brat." The future Seventh Hokage.
Right now, though, he was just a lonely prankster desperate for acknowledgment.
"It's me," Ren replied with a nod. He felt no hostility toward Naruto—in fact, a strange kinship stirred within him. Both were outcasts. Both mocked. Both driven to rise above their circumstances.
"You're awesome! Takeuchi's such a jerk—I've hated him forever!" Naruto pumped a fist, practically vibrating with excitement. "And they said you awakened something… the Sharingan? What's that? Is it strong?"
Ren met Naruto's earnest gaze and smiled faintly. "It's a dōjutsu. Pretty useful."
"Whoa! An eye technique? That's so cool!" Naruto's eyes sparkled. "I'm gonna awaken something epic too—one day I'll beat everyone who ever looked down on me!"
"I believe you," Ren said simply.
Encouraged, Naruto plopped down beside him and launched into a lively monologue about his struggles at the Academy and his grand dream of becoming Hokage.
Ren listened quietly, occasionally offering a word or two. Beneath Naruto's loud, clumsy exterior, he sensed an unshakable resilience—and a heart brighter than most gave him credit for.
"Hey, Ren," Naruto suddenly leaned closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Everyone calls you trash. They call me a loser. But I don't think you're trash at all. You're way better than those stuck-up jerks! So… wanna be friends?"
In Naruto's eyes, Ren saw not just eagerness—but vulnerability. The kind of hope that risked rejection.
Warmth bloomed in his chest. In this cold world, genuine connection was rare.
"Okay," Ren said, offering his fist.
Naruto blinked—then grinned, wide and radiant—and bumped his knuckles against Ren's.
"Great! From now on, I, Naruto, will protect you!"
Ren raised an eyebrow. Protect me?
Still… having Naruto as a friend might not be the worst idea.
But then—his Sharingan twitched.
From the shadows beneath a distant tree, a masked figure watched them. Faceless. Silent. And radiating palpable hostility.
Root.
They'd come sooner than expected. And if they were monitoring Naruto too… that meant Danzō wasn't just interested in Ren's Sharingan.
His association with the Jinchūriki had likely drawn even deeper suspicion.
Alarm blared in Ren's mind. Danzō's interest was far more dangerous than he'd anticipated—and the storm was already gathering.
He needed to grow stronger. Fast.