CHAPTER 4

"As expected of the Konoha Police Force."

"Yes, Lord Renn is as reliable as ever."

"Thanks to Lord Renn's protection, we can go about our business without worry."

"…"

Merchants in the bustling commercial district chatted amongst themselves, their gratitude evident. Among them, the weapons shop owner was especially thankful.

However, none of this concerned Renn for the time being. At this moment, he was already leading his team back to headquarters.

Konoha Police Force Headquarters – Interrogation Room

Renn sat with one leg crossed over the other, casually sipping the coffee handed to him by a subordinate. His gaze remained steady as he observed Mito Ido, who was bound before him.

Mito Ido.

A Hokage advisor.

Son of Mitokado Homura.

To some, his status was significant. But to Renn? It meant nothing. If Mitokado Homura himself had caused trouble at the weapons shop, he would have received the same treatment.

The Third Shinobi War

During the war, while the frontline forces fought desperately, the so-called "advisors" Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had found ways to enrich themselves. Konoha, battered by war, suffered greatly, yet these two profited.

Perhaps the Third Hokage was a competent shinobi. But the Second Hokage had left him with incompetent allies—short-sighted, self-serving, and more focused on internal politics than Konoha's true welfare. It was no wonder the village had become what it was.

Renn leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm.

"Tell me, why did you betray the village?"

Mito Ido's eyes widened in shock.

"When did I betray the village?!" he snapped. "You're making things up!"

Even with his father's influence, such an accusation could not be taken lightly. If labeled a traitor, not even Mitokado Homura would be able to protect him.

Renn shook his head in disappointment.

"Unprofessional."

With a simple wave of his hand, he signaled his subordinates. Then, without another glance, he stepped out of the interrogation room.

As the heavy door closed behind him, the muffled sound of screams began—shrieks that could make one's skin crawl.

Renn exhaled, looking out at the village.

The Konoha Police Force

He was the boss. Absolute authority.

Due process? Tricks? Those were unnecessary.

When he took control, he had ensured that all management regulations—whether for law enforcement or commerce—had been reviewed and signed off by the Third Hokage himself. So even if Mitokado Homura came knocking, he had nothing to fear. In fact, he welcomed it.

As for the accusation of treason?

It had been a bluff.

A simple strategy. Accuse first, pressure later. If the suspect resisted, force would be applied. If they broke quickly, their guilt could be leveraged against others—like Mitokado Homura himself.

Konoha was already riddled with corruption. Renn had no issue making it even darker.

Besides, Mitokado Homura's wealth was tainted anyway. Spending it came with no guilt.

"Captain! He confessed!"

Renn was in the middle of planning how to milk this situation for maximum gain when the screams suddenly stopped.

Uchiha Sanyo entered, his face serious.

"So soon?" Renn asked, raising an eyebrow. He hadn't even finished his cigarette.

Taking the confession, Renn scanned it briefly—then nearly burst out laughing.

"Well, well," he mused, a smirk forming. "Turns out, he really is a traitor."

He hadn't expected it to be this easy.

Shocking!

Konoha was approaching a crucial moment in its negotiations with the Hidden Cloud Village.

Friction between the two sides had persisted on the front lines, and after the Third Hokage deployed numerous Hyūga clan members for support, the Cloud Village forces found themselves facing significant challenges.

Naturally, the Hidden Cloud sought negotiations, but in diplomacy, securing an advantage required information. The easiest way to gain leverage was to understand Konoha's resources—how much funding they had left for the war, their weapon reserves, and overall military strength.

By chance, a ninja from the Hidden Cloud managed to get close to Mitokado Homura's son, Mito Ido, hoping to extract intelligence on Konoha's war expenditures and the Third Hokage's stance.

Upon seeing this unfold, Renn's eyes flickered with understanding.

No wonder, in the original timeline, the Cloud Village's diplomatic team had acted so brazenly upon arriving in Konoha. They had already gathered intelligence from within, allowing them to confidently pressure Konoha, knowing that the village couldn't afford prolonged conflict.

With a thorough grasp of their enemy's situation, the Hidden Cloud dared to escalate matters—even to the point of attempting to abduct Hinata Hyūga. When their plan failed, they instead pressured Konoha into handing over Hiashi Hyūga's twin brother, Hizashi, as a scapegoat.

Say what you will about the Fourth Raikage—he might appear reckless, but he certainly knew how to play the game.

After all, Renn could see that Konoha wasn't the only one suffering from the war's attrition. The Cloud Village wasn't in an ideal position either. Yet, the Fourth Raikage still dared to push Konoha into a corner.

Come to think of it, if Sarutobi Hiruzen had been more assertive during the negotiations, could Hizashi Hyūga's fate have been avoided?

Renn scoffed, unwilling to waste brain cells over the matter.

"Keep going. I don't think he's confessed everything yet."

With a casual wave of his hand, Renn issued his order.

"Yes, Captain."

"But… what should we do after the interrogation?" Vice-Captain Uchiha Sanyo scratched his head, waiting for Renn's instructions. He knew better than to disturb his captain after work hours.

"Make a copy and send it to the Hokage."

Yawning, Renn waved dismissively and turned to leave. He had dinner plans with Kurenai Yūhi tonight—he wasn't about to waste time on minor matters.

Clock out. Head home.

Ding!

"Congratulations, Host! Self-Discipline Guard Captain Patrol Mission completed!"

"Ding! Your ocular power has increased slightly!"

A surge of energy flooded into Renn's eyes. His three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, the tomoe shifting into a new shape—the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But it didn't stop there. The patterns solidified further, golden light mixed with blood-red flickering across his gaze.

Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!

"Hmm, not bad."

Sensing the newfound power, Renn nodded in satisfaction.

With just one more boost of Asura's chakra from a special mission reward, unlocking the Rinnegan would be within reach.

His long-term mission, [Self-Discipline Guard Captain], provided daily batch rewards, making it a pleasant little surprise each day.

Still, he wasn't particularly concerned about his eyes' evolution. Infinite Tsukuyomi wouldn't affect him—not with his level of genjutsu resistance.

Besides, Renn was a well-rounded warrior. He had no desperate need for the Rinnegan.

Not to mention… he wasn't interested.

If he were to pursue another dojutsu, he'd much rather have the Tenseigan.

"Maybe one day, I should take a trip to the moon."

After all, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's true body was sealed there.

He wondered just how those thousand-year-old ladies had been living all this time…

Tsk.