Night in the Uchiha District was always quiet.
Too quiet.
That kind of silence wasn't peace — it was tension, wrapped in tradition and trapped under glass. But tonight, Ren stood on the roof of the compound, eyes scanning the stars.
He knew he wasn't alone.
[Shadow Alert: Hidden Presence Detected – 11 o'clock]
Without turning, he spoke.
"You always watch from the shadows, Itachi. Ever thought of saying hello like a normal brother?"
From the treetop, Itachi dropped silently to the tiles, arms folded inside his cloak. His red Sharingan glinted beneath the moonlight.
"You're gathering allies. People from outside the clan. People who don't understand the danger of where you're going."
Ren turned slowly. "You mean power? Purpose? Evolution?"
Itachi's voice remained flat. "You're disturbing the balance."
Ren chuckled, low and cold. "Balance? You mean the leash they put around our necks while they slowly tighten it? No thanks."
They stood in silence.
Two Uchiha. Two sides of a mirror.
"You've got potential," Itachi finally said. "But you're walking toward a cliff. And I won't catch you when you fall."
Ren's eyes flared with shadow chakra, laced with red. "I won't fall."
[Shadow Pulse Activated – Passive Pressure Field Unlocked][Trait Gained: Aura of the Monarch – Minor enemies hesitate to attack you][Clan Suspicion: Moderate]
As Itachi vanished, melting back into the night, Ren stood alone again—but smiling.
He wasn't intimidated.
Itachi was strong. But Ren was becoming something else entirely.
Pocket Hunting Dimension – Hours Later
The new area had unlocked.
A vast temple, twisted and beautiful, rose from the obsidian plains. Floating platforms circled it, each holding orbs glowing with primal energy.
[You've Unlocked: Temple of the Fallen Kings][Warning: Trial is One-Time Only – Failure Will Reset Progress][Reward: First Monarch Evolution Tier – Shadow Core Upgrade][Recommended: Enter Alone]
Ren turned to his companions — Aiko, Junko, and Hinata. "This one's mine."
Hinata looked worried. "Are you sure you don't want us with you?"
He gave her a rare, soft smile. "You're the reason I'll come back. And when I do — I'll be more than just Uchiha."
Inside the Temple
The trial began instantly. No waiting. No mercy.
Ghosts of warriors past — spectral shinobi with ethereal armor — descended on him in silence. But Ren didn't run.
He let them come.
Each strike he blocked, each blade he dodged, fed his core — the Shadow Monarch power awakening in his veins. The temple pulsed in time with his heart.
[Skill Fusion in Progress…][Shadow Chakra + Uchiha Chakra][Unlocked: Shadow Flame – Dojutsu Infused Shadow Weaponry]
His katana burst into black fire.
And then—
He unleashed hell.
Bodies fell. Shadows grew.
And when the temple lights faded, Ren stood in the center of the fallen kings — victorious, eyes glowing not just red… but rimmed with violet shadow fire.
[First Evolution Complete][Title: Half-Step Monarch][Skill Gained: Throne of Shadows – Summon Obsidian Throne Anywhere | Buff Allies in Radius][Shadow Army Limit Removed][Shadow Storage Unlocked: Souls of the Defeated]
He breathed heavily, laughing.
Now we're getting somewhere.
Uchiha Compound – Later That Night
Back in the real world, Hinata found him first.
"You're… different."
Ren took her hand gently, but his grip held power. "And I'm not done."
She hesitated. "You scare me sometimes…"
He leaned in, whispering against her ear. "Then hold on tighter."
[Hinata Bond Level Increased – 2: Stirring Affection][Aiko Jealousy +1][Junko Suspicion +2]
But something else was coming.
Across the village, Danzo was already watching Ren's file grow thicker.
"He's gathering power. Women. Secrets. He's not just another Uchiha."
Beside him, a Root operative asked, "Should we intervene?"
Danzo stared coldly at Ren's photo.
"Not yet. Let him grow a little more. Then we cut the root."
To Be Continued...