Konoha, the heartland of the Uchiha clan. Renzou Uchiha and Uchiha Kai strolled through its streets. "The Uchiha compound is truly vast, just as expected," Renzou remarked, gazing around. Even though he knew the Uchiha were Konoha's largest clan, witnessing the scale of their territory firsthand was still impressive.
"You haven't been here before?" Kai asked, noticing Renzou's awestruck look.
"No. My father told me not to come to the clan after I was born… so," Renzou replied, a wry smile touching his lips.
"It's okay. Father and the others will be discussing your return to the clan with the elders soon," Kai said quickly, sensing Renzou's quiet melancholy.
Renzou chuckled softly, not entirely convinced. With the Sakumo matter now settled in his mind, a knot of worry had loosened. After their usual training session, he and Kai had been discussing Kai's family, and Renzou had expressed a desire to see the Uchiha compound and meet Kai's parents. After a moment's hesitation, Kai had agreed. His father hadn't forbidden him from bringing friends home, and his mother often encouraged him to make more acquaintances. Hence, their current excursion.
The Uchiha clansmen they passed eyed Renzou with curiosity. "Who is that? He looks somewhat familiar."
"I don't recall seeing him in the family."
"Wait a minute… look closer. Doesn't he resemble the former guard captain, Captain Shanzhou?"
"Now that you mention it… Captain Shanzhou did have a young son. By my reckoning, he'd be about this age."
"It does seem so. I believe his name is Renzou. Ah, the poor child."
"Yes, he's all that's left after Captain Shanzhou's passing."
The murmurs reached Renzou's ears, and Kai's as well. Just as Kai was about to speak, Renzou interjected, "By the way, Kai, where's a good place to get a gift? I can't go to your house empty-handed."
Uchiha Kai blinked, then shook his head. "No need. My parents don't really care about that."
"Still, it's a small gesture from me. Could you point me to a shop?"
… At Renzou's insistence, they visited a store, purchasing some tea and fruit before heading to Uchiha Kai's house, their arms laden with bags. Reaching the entrance, Renzou stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
"Please wait!" a gentle female voice called from within the courtyard.
Soon, the door opened, revealing a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties. This was Uchiha Nishitsuki, Uchiha Yusuke's wife and Uchiha Kai's mother. Her demeanor was warm and welcoming.
"Kai, you're back. And who is this?" Nishitsuki looked at the two boys, slightly puzzled by the assortment of bags they carried. A soft chuckle escaped her.
"Mom, I'm back. This is Renzou. These are… well, things he brought." Kai trailed off.
Renzou smiled and finished for him, "Hello, Aunt Nishitsuki. I am Uchiha Renzou, a classmate and friend of Kai. Please forgive my intrusion."
"Renzou… you're Shanzhou and Mina's child, aren't you? Come in, come in. Oh my, what all have you brought?"
"Kai, why don't you take Renzou to the guest room to sit for a bit? I'll prepare some snacks for you both," Nishitsuki said warmly, gesturing towards the entrance.
"Okay, Mother," Kai replied, leading the way.
After removing their shoes, they walked through the entrance hall and down a corridor. Kai opened a door, and they entered a spacious room of about thirty square meters. A large table stood in the center, and a floor-to-ceiling window on the left offered a view of the courtyard. As soon as they sat down, Nishitsuki entered, carrying a tray with three-colored meatballs and cups of tea.
"Please, Renzou," she said, sitting beside them and encouraging them to eat.
"いただきます!" (itadakimasu), they both said, reaching for the meatballs. Ah, so good!
"You know," Nishitsuki said, looking at her son meaningfully, "Renzou is the first friend Kai has ever brought home as a guest."
… "Humph! This guy practically begged me to come. I just agreed to shut him up," Kai grumbled, looking away.
"That boy is so stubborn. He'll never make friends being so contrary," Nishitsuki said with a sigh, shaking her head.
"It's alright, Auntie. Kai has many good qualities besides his lack of frankness. Otherwise, we wouldn't be such good friends," Renzou interjected with a smile.
"Just like Shanzhou was back then," Nishitsuki murmured, watching Renzou eat. She recalled her husband Yusuke's words about Renzou's potential. Despite lacking the Sharingan or the Byakugan, his perseverance and the strength he'd shown suggested a bright future, perhaps even surpassing his father. And even Kai admitted he'd never won against Renzou in their spars.
A knock echoed from the doorway. "Excuse me, is anyone here?"
Nishitsuki quickly rose and opened the door. A moment later, she ushered in a boy of about four years old. Seeing the child's face, Renzou was taken aback.
Uchiha Kai, however, greeted him naturally. "Hey, Shisui, long time no see. What brings you to my house today?"
It was indeed Uchiha Shisui, the future "Shisui of the Body Flicker," a prodigious talent on par with Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi. One of the rare Uchiha to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, he possessed the devastatingly powerful and undetectable illusion, "Kotoamatsukami," capable of subtly altering a person's will. Feared by enemy villages for his speed, his life had been tragically cut short due to Konoha's fear of the Uchiha. Danzo had stolen his right eye, and Shisui, disillusioned, had entrusted his remaining eye to Itachi before sacrificing himself, his death inadvertently triggering Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan. Shisui's death had deeply impacted Itachi, ultimately contributing to his decision to annihilate the Uchiha clan for the sake of the village. He was more than a friend to Itachi; he was like a brother.
The Uchiha's fate is so tragic. If the genocide could be averted…A flicker of excitement sparked in Renzou's eyes.
"Excuse me, Brother Kai, Aunt Nishitsuki ran into me on the road yesterday and invited me to visit today, so here I am," Uchiha Shisui said to Kai with a bright smile, then turned his gaze to Renzou. "Who's this?"
Uchiha Kai grinned. "This is my friend Renzou. And this is our Uchiha's little genius, Uchiha Shisui."
Renzou met Shisui's familiar, slightly upturned gaze. He nodded and said, "Hello, Shisui. I'm Uchiha Renzou, Kai's friend. Nice to meet you!"
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End of Chapter 8