Chapter 7: An Unexpected Meeting
Ren walked away from the academy, the whispers of his classmates fading behind him. *Genius of a great clan,* they'd said. The thought almost made him snort in derision.
*Genius?* he mused, his steps steady on the cobblestone path. *That's just a label people stick on those who started the race earlier. A head start, nothing more.* He knew the truth. The difference between a clan child and a civilian wasn't some magical gift; it was resources. It was having elders who drilled you on chakra control before you could read, who corrected your shuriken form before you lost your baby teeth. It was beginning the journey while others were still looking for the path.
Of course, a head start meant nothing if you grew complacent. Hard work could always bridge the gap, could even surpass natural talent. There was no such thing as a natural genius—only a hardworking one. He ignored the lingering stares and continued home, his mind already on his next training session.
***
"I'm home," Ren announced as he slid the door open. The main room was quiet, illuminated by the soft, late afternoon light. Only his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, was there, arranging flowers in a vase by the window.
"Ren, you're back!" she said, her face lighting up with a warm smile. She had an uncanny ability to tell him and Sasuke apart instantly, a mother's intuition he couldn't fathom. "Hmm? Didn't Sasuke come back with you?"
"He's on his way. He'll be here soon," Ren replied, his tone softer than usual. It was a small concession he allowed himself in these private moments. He could maintain a cold distance from his father and brother, but facing Mikoto's unconditional, gentle love made the facade painfully difficult. She had been there for every milestone of his six years in this world, her affection a constant, warm presence.
He wasn't made of stone. He felt a deep, aching fondness for this family, a connection forged in the simple, daily rituals of life. But that connection was a danger. It was a future source of unbearable pain.
The Uchiha's fate was a sealed scroll. Even with his foreknowledge, what could he, a six-year-old with a fledgling system, possibly do? March up to Fugaku and reveal the coup and the ensuing massacre? He'd be branded a lunatic or a traitor, locked away, and the tragic wheels would turn regardless. If the Third Hokage and Itachi himself couldn't prevent it, his own efforts were a drop in a tsunami.
The clan was doomed. His only option was to build his strength, to ensure his own survival when the night of blood arrived. To protect himself, he had to wall off his heart. He couldn't afford to love them too much, because losing them a second time—after already losing one family in his past life—would shatter him completely. His calculated indifference, mistaken for brooding autism by his family, was his only armor.
Just then, the door slid open again. "I'm back," Sasuke said, his voice quieter than usual.
"Sasuke! Welcome home," Mikoto said, her smile never wavering. "How was your first day at the academy?"
Sasuke's eyes flickered toward Ren for a fraction of a second, a complex, unreadable emotion in them. "It was... fine. Didn't learn much." He changed the subject quickly. "Where's Brother Itachi? Is he home?"
"Not yet, dear. He's on a mission. He probably won't be back until tomorrow."
"Another mission?" Sasuke grumbled, a familiar disappointment coloring his tone.
Mikoto reached out and ruffled his hair. "He can't help it. He's a shinobi now. You will be, too, one day." She stood, smoothing her apron. "Alright, you two go play. I'll start dinner."
Once she was in the kitchen, Ren turned to leave. "I'm going out for a bit."
"Where are you going?" Sasuke's question was abrupt, unusual.
Ren paused, surprised. Sasuke rarely initiated conversation. "Nowhere special. Just going for a walk."
"Then... I'll come with you," Sasuke stated, getting to his feet.
Ren studied him for a moment. *What's his angle?* he wondered. The day's events had clearly gotten under his brother's skin. "Suit yourself," he finally said with a shrug.
They walked in silence through the Uchiha compound and out into the wider streets of Konoha. The village was winding down, the setting sun casting long shadows. The silence between them was thick and awkward.
Finally, Sasuke broke it. "Is this all you do when you go out? Just... walk?"
"Got a problem with that?" Ren replied, his voice cool.
"No, it's just..." Sasuke struggled for the words, frustration evident. "How are you so strong? If you're just walking around, how did you get so strong?"
Ren almost smiled. So that was it. The display in the classroom had sparked his competitive spirit. "I train," he said simply.
"By yourself?" Sasuke's disbelief was palpable. "But I train with Brother Itachi, and I'm not... I'm not that strong. How can you do it by yourself?"
"That's your problem, not mine," Ren said, his tone final. He didn't break his stride.
Sasuke stopped walking, clenching his fists at his sides. "Tch! Fine! I won't lose to you!" he declared, then turned on his heel and sprinted back in the direction of their home, doubtless heading straight for the training grounds.
Ren watched him go, a faint sigh escaping his lips. *Good. Let him train. Maybe it'll change something. Maybe it won't.* He continued his walk alone, the quiet allowing him to finally take in the village he'd only seen in episodes and chapters.
He wandered past shops closing for the day, smelling the aroma of dango and grilled fish from street vendors. He observed the ninja moving with purpose, the civilians heading home. It was all so vibrantly real.
"Hey! Ren-kun! Is that you?"
A familiar, cheerful voice called out from his left. He turned to see a girl with bright blonde hair tied in a high ponytail, wearing a simple apron over her clothes. She was standing in the doorway of a flower shop, a watering can in her hand. It was Yamanaka Ino.
Ren walked over, feigning mild curiosity. "Hello. You're... from my class, right?"
"Ino! Yamanaka Ino!" she said, beaming. "Yeah, Iruka-sensei's class! This is my family's shop." She gestured proudly to the lush, colorful displays behind her.
"Ah, right. Ino. It's nice to see you," Ren said, offering a small, polite smile that was a stark contrast to his classroom demeanor. "It's a lovely shop. Do you like working with flowers?"
"I love it!" she chirped, her enthusiasm infectious. "They're all so pretty and they make people happy!"
Ren's eyes scanned the displays and landed on a single, perfect crimson rose. He pointed to it. "How much for that one?"
Ino's eyes widened slightly, and a faint pink blush touched her cheeks. "Oh! That's a rose. They're usually given to... you know... someone you really like. A special someone. But if you want it, I can give you a good price!"
Ren picked up the rose, its petals soft and velvety. He turned his smile on her, a little more playful. "You'd give me a special price? For a flower for a special someone? Does that mean you're my special someone, Ino-chan?"
Ino's face flushed a deep scarlet. She sputtered, completely flustered. "Wha—? I—I didn't mean—! That's not—!"
Ren chuckled softly, a genuine sound. "I'm just teasing. How much is it? I'd like to buy it."
"T-Ten ryo," Ino managed to stammer out, looking both disappointed and relieved.
Ren fished the coins from his pocket and placed them in her palm. Then, he held the rose out to her. "Here."
Ino stared at the flower, then at him, utterly confused. "For... for me? But you just bought it."
"I did," he said, his smile gentle. "And now I'm giving it to you. You said you liked them, and they make you happy. So, it's for you. Unless... you don't want it?" He made a move to pull it back.
"No!" she almost shouted, snatching the rose from his hand with a speed that surprised them both. She held it carefully, as if it were made of glass. "I mean... thank you. I... I love it."
"Good," Ren said, his tone warm. "I'm glad. I'll see you in class tomorrow, Ino-chan."
"Y-Yeah! See you tomorrow, Ren-kun!" she called after him as he turned and continued his walk.
She stood in the doorway of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, clutching the single red rose to her chest, watching his retreating back until he disappeared around a corner. A wide, dazed smile spread across her face.
*He gave me a rose,* she thought, her heart doing a funny little flip. *Uchiha Ren gave me a rose.*