Because Retsu and Yan were both held back in the village, the Uchiha's five-person youth rotation in the Land of Fire was broken.
To fill the gap, the clan sent three new faces: Uchiha Hachidai, twelve, eldest son of Uchiha Sa; Uchiha Daoho, twelve, second son of Uchiha Ze; and their escort, Uchiha Kenshin, nineteen, already married, the third-place finisher at the Blade Tournament.
No question, these were Renji's own people. The clan clearly wanted to tighten bonds among the juniors and carry on the friendships their parents had forged.
Renji greeted Kenshin, explained he would head back to Konoha, and that the clan would send new brothers to replace him. He asked Kenshin to take over his Guardian post.
Before leaving, Renji passed the acting captaincy to the oldest member of their group, Uzumaki Zhiyuan. Aside from the Fire Temple, most clans rotated disciples. Only the Uzumaki were stationed year-round in the Land of Fire. After a year of steady work, they had won the daimyo's trust. The daimyo had even hinted that he hoped an Uzumaki would captain the squad. Renji simply went with the flow and made it official.
Back at Konoha's gate, Renji traded greetings with the guards. They looked like they wanted to say something but kept swallowing their words.
Puzzled, he went home. Then he froze. His dad was cooking. Takuma in the kitchen? He knew his father's skills. This spelled danger.
Takuma beamed. "Haha, Renji, you're back. Your mom went for a walk. Dinner's almost ready."
"Father, let me handle it. I learned some dishes with Yan. They're pretty decent," Renji said quickly, refusing to risk the darkness that was Takuma's cuisine.
"No need. I learned a few recipes from Meimei. Everyone liked them. You should try." Takuma sounded very confident.
Renji thought about sprinting to Ichiraku to smuggle home a few hot bowls. Worst case, dispatch a ninja hound for KFC. But who was Meimei?
Just as he was gearing up to protest, the courtyard door clicked. Renji rushed out, ready to tattle on Takuma's culinary crimes to his mother.
He stopped dead. His mother, Uchiha Ran, stood there with a noticeably round belly. At her side was a beautiful young lady, one hand supporting Ran, the other carrying a basket of fresh groceries.
Forget the pretty sister for a second. Mom, that belly. Was the clan's two-child policy meant to be followed this enthusiastically? She looked ready to deliver. He had been gone six months. What was happening?
Ran stroked his hair. "What's wrong? You don't like the idea of a little brother or sister? Don't worry. Your father and I still love you the most."
Takuma added, half proud and half playful, "You know about the two-child policy. We're answering the call. Besides, you were so precocious that your mother and I barely got to experience being parents. We didn't expect twins. I'll ask the Hyuga soon to check whether they're boys or girls."
Renji finally turned to the young lady. She really was striking, a bit like the legendary Uchiha Jili, the one who created Izanami in the old tales.
"Hello, I'm Uchiha Meimei. Please take care of me," she said shyly.
"Ah, hi, I'm Renji. Please take care of me," he replied, scratching at his head with his left hand.
"I'll cook. We bought lots of fresh ingredients today. Uncle, let me handle the kitchen. You rest. Your son just came home. You two must have plenty to talk about," Meimei said, face a little red as she whisked Takuma away from the stove and banished the King of Dark Cuisine.
Ran chuckled. "Renji, this is the girl I found for you. Not bad, right?"
A good read on her son's expression told Ran that Renji liked Meimei. Meimei's life had been hard, which made her all the more precious.
That line about the girl from that family rang a bell. Xingye. Uchiha Xingye. That rascal. Guess I'll need to help that guy rack up some merit later.
"Mom, who exactly is she? What's this about that family's girl?" Renji asked, a touch flustered.
"Meimei is your uncle's orphaned daughter," Ran explained. "Your uncle defied the clan and insisted on marrying a civilian woman. Your grandfather drove them out. Later your uncle died in battle. Your grandfather felt too ashamed to bring the mother and daughter back, so Meimei grew up among civilians. Her mother, Maimai, forbade her from becoming a shinobi, so she's just an ordinary girl.
"Recently, someone in the clan remembered them and went to propose. Her grandmother refused, saying her family might be civilian, but they still had dignity and would not let their granddaughter get tangled up with us again.
"Maimai then accepted the care of a longtime neighbor. With ordinary families that would be fine, but our bloodline is special.
"Your father's branch traces back to the Warring States master Uchiha Huohé. He was second only to Madara and Izuna. My branch traces back to the legendary Uchiha Jili.
"Both lines share one trait. Our ancestors awakened Mangekyo. Only those with Mangekyo in the ancestry are likely to awaken it again in future generations.
"So we could never abandon Meimei. This concerns the clan's vital bloodline. We had to retrieve her.
"Her mother has remarried. Because Meimei carries Uchiha blood, the clan invoked a special rule, the bloodline clause Konoha signed with all clans, and brought her back.
"Maimai never imagined that in trying to be clever, she would hand her daughter to us. She came to me for help.
"I kept Meimei here and told them directly that she is your betrothed. Problem solved." Ran spoke slowly, careful not to miss any detail of her son's future.
Renji listened carefully, then spotted the critical issue. "Mother, Meimei and I are closely related. Wouldn't that risk problems for our children?" He silently congratulated himself on his quick thinking.
Ran laughed. "So that's what worries you. You must like Meimei if you're thinking that far ahead. Let me walk you through it.
"My grandfather is first generation.
"My father, your maternal grandfather, and my cousin on my aunt's side are second generation.
"I, and my first cousin Uchiha Kagami, are third generation.
"You and Meimei are fourth generation.
"The key point is that your maternal grandfather and the aunt who raised me are half-siblings with the same mother. Our branch is extremely potent. Every generation has produced full three-tomoe awakenings.
"My grandmother married into strong lines twice, both for the clan's strength. In that turbulent era, that was real sacrifice.
"You don't need to worry about defects. Feeling better now?" She patted Renji's shoulder, then, tired, let Takuma support her back to rest.
Renji stood in the breeze, mind whirling. So many generations to sort through. Then a thought struck him. In the original tale, Shisui was likely from Kagami's line. Shisui was one or two years older than Itachi. Which meant Renji might very well become Shisui's father. If he survived and Meimei did not remarry, that is.
Which would also mean a duplicitous grandfather on one side and a possibly duplicitous great-grandfather on the other. Shisui's odds of becoming a traitorous sacrificial pawn would skyrocket. If Renji died and Grandpa raised him for a time, the kid's brain would be thoroughly washed.
Then that poison would pass to his nephew, Uchiha Itachi. Cousins talking freely would infect each other fast. Two model turncoats. Absolutely not. Renji had to stop that path.
He stepped into the kitchen and saw Meimei working over the stove. Only one solution. Keep Dad far away from my future son.
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