Naruto: The Flame That Reshapes Fate

Konoha Hospital.

A single-patient room near the corridor corner on the second floor—this was Uchiha Rēn's room.

Life in the hospital wasn't as pleasant as he had imagined. Rēn had overestimated his influence. After Shisui told the Elders what he did at the Hokage building—and after they amplified the tale and spread it among the clan—

The entire compound erupted.

That damned Danzō had been turned into a vegetable and was now lying in the hospital thanks to their clan head. It was the most satisfying news they'd heard in five years. Especially among the radicals who had once been dissatisfied with Rēn's firm rejection of the coup at the clan assembly—one by one, they instantly transformed into his staunch supporters.

When they heard that the clan head had also been injured in the fight with Danzō and was now hospitalized at Konoha Hospital, groups of clan members arrived in threes and fives carrying fruit baskets and various gifts to visit him. They nearly wore down the doorstep to Rēn's room. The pile of presents grew so large that there was nowhere left to store them, so they had to send the perishable fruit to the Police Department to be consumed.

"Sigh..."

Leaning back against the bedhead, Rēn let out a helpless sigh.

"If I had known this would happen, I would've just gone home. Those damn bratty kids from the clan don't go home to sleep at night. Instead, they wander the hospital halls claiming to be protecting me from assassination... Honestly, if I've fallen to the point where I need their protection, I'd rather jump out the window and be done with it."

"Don't say that. It's their way of showing care. Everyone knows you're strong and skilled, Clan Head. But there's a saying: 'A spear in the open is easy to dodge; a hidden arrow is hard to guard against.' They're doing this because they admire you!"

Uchiha Ranzan sat in the chair next to the hospital bed, peeling an apple.

The small fruit knife danced in his hand like a butterfly. In the blink of an eye, the red skin was cleanly removed, revealing the full, white flesh inside.

"Hmph, don't give me that. If you ask me, those brats are just too idle. They just want something to do. Anyway, how's the situation at the Police Department? Any tricky problems lately?"

Since Rēn had been hospitalized for the past few days, he had entrusted nearly all affairs of the Police Department to Uchiha Ranzan and had been taking it easy in the hospital.

"Pretty good! The news about Danzō becoming a vegetable has boosted everyone's morale. Plus, all the subtle harassment and under-the-table moves against the Police Department have stopped. You could say everything's fine!"

Uchiha Ranzan took a bite of apple. The sweet juice splashed.

"That's good to hear."

Rēn had no further questions.

From the current outlook, the Uchiha could look forward to some peaceful days. As long as he didn't fall, the Third Hokage and his side wouldn't dare make a move. Of course, if they did, it would be with overwhelming force... but that was a matter for later. Right now, there were more immediate troubles to handle.

Knock knock!

A knock came from the door.

"Again?"

Rēn's eyelid twitched.

He glanced at the overflowing gifts on the table and sighed in frustration. Powerlessly, he said, "Come in! It's not locked!" At the same time, he quietly wondered who it could be this time. But when the guest stepped in—

Rēn raised an eyebrow.

"Rēn, how's your injury?"

A refined-looking man with a gentle smile and an air of scholarly grace walked in carrying an exquisite fruit basket that looked quite expensive.

"Senior Kurama."

Rēn straightened his posture.

He looked somewhat surprised at this familiar face—though not particularly close. Kurama Sōun, the newly appointed head of the Kurama clan. During the Third Shinobi War, he had teamed up with Rēn several times. Back then, already a jōnin, Kurama Sōun had taken good care of him.

But not long after the war ended, the Nine-Tails incident broke out.

The Uchiha clan's situation had worsened ever since. To be honest, it had been two or three years since Rēn last saw Kurama Sōun... Wait. A flash of insight struck Rēn. He remembered that meeting in the Hokage building four days ago, after he defeated Danzō. At the time, someone had been watching him. The source of that gaze—it seemed to be Kurama Sōun.

"Looks like your injuries are healing well!" Kurama Sōun glanced at the table overflowing with gifts and simply placed his basket on the bed.

"Just a minor injury. But senior, you sure have guts. If word gets out that you came to visit me... I doubt it would end well. On the contrary, if you anger those old men, life might get very difficult for you."

As the saying goes: "No one visits the shrine for no reason."

Kurama Sōun wasn't a villain, but neither was he the type to offer help in times of need out of kindness. Their past relationship was neutral at best—not close friends.

If he was willing to risk causing trouble for his own clan just to step into Rēn's hospital room, then there was clearly something important behind the visit.

"Four days ago, Rēn—you must have awakened your clan's Mangekyō Sharingan, correct?"

Kurama Sōun nodded politely to Uchiha Ranzan, who stepped aside. As he spoke, he calmly took a seat in the chair, showing no hesitation about revealing a secret.

"Ranzan, keep watch outside. I need to have a proper talk with Senior Sōun."

Uchiha Ranzan stared intently at Kurama Sōun for a moment, then threw the apple core into the trash, grabbed a tissue to wipe his hands, and left the room. He pulled the door shut behind him and leaned against the wall outside, standing guard.

Inside the room,

Rēn sat cross-legged on the bed, studying Kurama Sōun with interest. "Senior Sōun, Mangekyō Sharingan... Where did you hear that name?"

"That's no secret," Kurama Sōun replied calmly. "In our prime, the Kurama clan was said to rival the Uchiha in genjutsu. One of our ancestors once had a genjutsu battle with an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Thanks to that encounter, our clan happened to learn about it."

"I see."

Rēn nodded.

But in truth, he didn't care whether it was true or not. Real or fake, it didn't matter to him. Rēn didn't mind flaunting his power to the outside world. As long as he was strong enough, what if people knew he had the Mangekyō Sharingan? Did they really think they could find a way to counter it?

Though the constant visits from his clan had been annoying these past few days, Rēn had still managed to set aside some time to study his dōjutsu. Trying to crack his Mangekyō techniques wouldn't be so simple.

"So then, Senior Sōun—what did you come to see me about?"

Once the pleasantries were over, Rēn cut straight to the point.

"You haven't changed at all, Rēn. Still as direct as ever."

Kurama Sōun gave a slightly bitter smile. He took a deep breath and said,

"I came because I want to ask you for a favor."

"Please help me heal her!"