"Ren, it's you."
Seeing Ren suddenly appear, Shisui wasn't particularly surprised.
He simply smiled and greeted him.
After knowing each other for several years, Shisui had long since gotten used to Itachi's younger brother appearing and disappearing like a ghost.
Or rather—suddenly popping up out of nowhere.
For all he knew, this kid might suddenly emerge from behind him and start talking.
At first, he really had been startled several times.
Especially once, when he was in the middle of doing his business and this guy suddenly popped out behind him—
It scared him so badly he nearly clenched it off.
"Brother Shisui, what are you doing here?"
"Hm? I…"
Shisui froze for a moment, a little puzzled.
Wasn't this place something he'd discovered himself?
Why did it suddenly feel like he was the one who didn't belong here?
Of course, the strange feeling passed in an instant.
One tall figure and one short figure stood chatting casually on the river's surface.
Caw—caw—
Above them, crows swooped down and streaked rapidly along the riverbank.
As time passed, Ren slowly noticed that the traits on Shisui's body seemed to have changed.
A brilliant mass of golden light shone dazzlingly.
Below it, one particular trait was constantly leaking black mist.
[Conversation target: Uchiha Shisui.]
[Analyzing copyable traits.]
[Kotoamatsukami (Gold), Phantom Body Flicker (Purple), Mangekyō Sharingan (Purple), Kotoamatsukami (Gold), A Heart Set on Death (Black)…]
Compared to more than two years ago, the traits on Shisui's body could now practically be called perfect.
The only thing missing was that bright green Susanoo.
But…
When he saw that special black trait, Ren couldn't help letting out a quiet sigh.
"A man destined to die… so Shisui has already sensed something coming?"
In canon, this sunny, cheerful boy actually had a real chance to live.
A very big chance.
Whether he fled back to the clan or defected from the village, both paths held hope.
Yet in the end, he only handed over his last eye to his friend.
He used his life to help Itachi awaken the Mangekyō.
Which of these was cause, and which was effect—Ren couldn't tell anymore.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall his own black trait.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth and checked it.
[Name: Uchiha Ren.]
[Chakra: 1,852,511.]
[Traits: Seven-Year Itch (Black), Light's Golden Body (Color), Weak Presence (Color), Flying Thunder God Technique (Gold) Lv.6, Nine-Tails Jinchūriki (Gold), Mangekyō Sharingan (Purple)…]
Six years had passed, and both his mental strength and physical condition had grown substantially.
Especially in the past two years, as he got older, his physical attributes had increased even faster.
And this was only in his normal state. If he activated Cloud Flow Body Technique and Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, his stamina could multiply several times over!
Relying purely on taijutsu, he could already rival an average jōnin!
But most importantly…
After all these years, Seven-Year Itch hadn't changed in the slightest.
The black miasma on that trait was so thick it was practically terrifying.
He had tried feeding other traits into it before, but nothing changed at all.
Like a pool of stagnant water.
Perhaps this thing would only reveal something on the night of the clan massacre next year?
Ren nodded slightly at the thought.
Then, after hesitating for a moment, he looked sideways at the cheerful big boy beside him and asked pointedly,
"Brother Shisui, what do you think of the village?"
"The village? It's great. There aren't any wars right now, and everyone's living happily."
"Then what do you think… about Danzō?"
"Lord Danzō?" Hearing the name, Shisui hesitated for a moment before answering seriously, "He's a true hero who selflessly dedicates himself and protects Konoha from the shadows, deeply rooted beneath the ground!"
Ren: ...
It's over. There's no saving him.
Among the Uchiha, this Shisui really didn't have a scheming bone in his body.
[Conversation has exceeded ten minutes. Attempting to copy trait.]
[Copy failed.]
Another failure.
If talking didn't work, then—
Let's fight!
Ren slightly raised his head, looking at the tall boy before him. Sunlight filtered through the scattered bangs, stinging his eyes a little.
"Brother Shisui."
"Hmm?"
"Right now… I've got a lot of pent-up fire."
"Huh? Have you been staying up late lately, Ren?" Shisui blinked.
"No. I want to fight you."
Ren rolled his neck. A series of crisp cracking sounds rippled through his bones.
The laziness and slackness in his eyes vanished completely.
Like a lion awakening from slumber, his entire body radiated a sharp, blinding presence.
"Haha, you little guy, why are you suddenly—"
Shisui laughed, even reaching out to rub Ren's small face.
But in the instant his hand moved forward, he suddenly saw Ren's eyes turn scarlet.
His expression shifted slightly.
This was—eye awakening?
When did Ren awaken his Sharingan?
He was baffled.
In his memory, Ren was always lazily lying around.
After talking for a bit each day, he never wanted to move again.
And Uchiha usually only awakened their eyes on the battlefield, after witnessing the death of comrades and undergoing intense emotional stimulation.
But Ren had never even had the chance to go to the battlefield!
From birth until now, nothing particularly tragic had happened to him either.
So… how did he awaken it?
And more than that…
Those scarlet eyes actually made even Shisui feel a faint chill run down his spine.
So this kid was… serious?
He took a deep breath. His expression grew solemn as he nodded.
"Alright."
Whoosh!
He suddenly drew the katana from his back and leaped backward several steps.
Streams of chakra surged out from within him.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Under his feet, the water's surface boiled like hot oil, bubbling violently.
"Since that's the case, let me see just how far little Ren has grown!"
With that, he slashed out with his blade.
Crash!
The blade's arc carried a surge of water straight toward Ren!
Splash—crash!
Water exploded into the air, instantly disrupting the line of sight.
Behind the white mist of spray, Shisui formed hand seals while calling out,
"Ren, be careful. Next I'm going to use Fire Release: Great Fireball from three directions at the same time—"
Mid-sentence, his voice abruptly cut off.
Drip.
A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Dense goosebumps prickled across his back.
At the edge of his vision, the cold gleam of a shuriken hovered right by his kidney, radiating a chilling light.
Above Ren's head, the words "Flying Thunder God Technique" flashed past in a blur.
Pinching the tail of the shuriken between his fingers, Ren shook his head and said,
"Brother Shisui, hasn't anyone ever told you not to talk so much when you're fighting…"
"Long wind-ups get you killed really easily."
This sunny big brother was already in a fight and still reminding his opponent to be careful.
If he really ran into someone fast, wouldn't he just get one-shot?
Only now did Ren truly understand why the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, had made all the major villages abandon missions on sight.
Even the later-famous Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha had never forced the villages to issue an order like: "If encountered, abandon the mission immediately."
"You… when did you—?"
Shisui narrowed his eyes. For the first time, a trace of true caution appeared in his bright gaze.
He was genuinely shocked.
Ren had clearly been in front of him just a moment ago. How had he suddenly moved behind him?
Body Flicker?
But when had he formed the seals?
Splash.
In the next instant, Shisui's body directly turned into a pool of water and flowed into the river.
Splash, splash!
A moment later, he reformed more than ten meters away.
Twelve figures in total!
Each holding a katana, all facing Ren.
"Body Flicker? Now that's finally a little interesting… but—"
The veins at the corner of Ren's eyes bulged slightly. Beneath the scarlet Sharingan, the Byakugan snapped open at the same time.
"Sharingan plus Byakugan. Brother Shisui, your Body Flicker… is useless now, isn't it?"
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