Renji nodded gratefully to her and turned away as Mikoto continued chatting with the others.
'In my past life, I was always curious about the downfall of the Uchiha. A clan so powerful, so filled with talent and merit over the years—yet they were sidelined so easily it drove them to thoughts of rebellion. While the higher-ups, or rather Danzo, may have played a major role, I can't deny the Uchiha pride bears some of the blame too.'
'From the emotions I can sense from the Uchiha kunoichi, they're rigid in their beliefs, full of pride, and distant—borderline anti-social. With most of them serving in the police force, it created a huge divide between them and the rest of the village.'
His eyes lingered briefly on Mikoto.
'Even her… She came all the way here to make connections, but she couldn't bring herself to take the first step. Then again, losing Kushina—her closest friend—so recently must have hit her hard.'
He sighed inwardly.
'Still, most of them seem quite honorable. Their pride won't allow them to do anything that stains the clan's reputation. If the villagers could see that side of them, maybe it would soften their impression a little.'
He turned back to his work, preparing for the next customer.
'Now that I've intervened and introduced Teuchi and the others, conversations will start naturally. The villagers will realize the Uchiha aren't as cold or unapproachable as they thought.'
'Of course, there are bigger issues to solve before trust can truly return—but this is a start.'
By the time he finished styling the other women, he noticed Mikoto looking serene as she chatted with them. Teuchi had already left with Ayame to open Ichiraku.
Through the emotions flowing from the women's hair, Renji could sense understanding—an acceptance that Mikoto's quiet demeanor wasn't coldness, but simply her nature.
When her turn came, Mikoto seemed satisfied with the conversation and entered the styling room.
"Please, have a seat, Mikoto-san. What would you like to do today?"
He gently guided her into the chair, his fingers brushing her silky black hair for the first time. As she pondered her answer, he ran his fingers through her hair—smooth, lustrous, and alive with demonic energy.
He couldn't resist. As he combed, he began drawing in the energy stored within her strands—a staggering three hundred units! Three times the amount held by an average jōnin.
His lips curved slightly.
'She's definitely at elite jōnin level.'
Mikoto finally spoke, deciding to start with a massage and wash—the premium kind. She wasn't ready to change her hairstyle just yet.
Renji nodded calmly, explaining the process and its effects. Her eyes widened, doubt flickering there, but she let him continue.
When his hands began their work, Mikoto's initial tension melted away. The massage was… divine. Warmth spread through her scalp and down her spine, a comforting wave of relaxation. Midway through, she let out a soft, involuntary sound of pleasure—and immediately flushed red. Renji only smiled, pretending not to notice, and continued with professional focus.
When he moved on to washing her hair, she instinctively dried it herself with chakra after, so he simply styled it back into her usual look.
By the end, Mikoto stepped out with the same hairstyle—but her hair looked healthy, every strand glowing faintly in the light. She felt light and refreshed, her body both relaxed and alert.
Renji didn't charge her, as promised, and quietly moved on to other customers.
---
By evening, everyone had left for the day. Renji tallied his gains.
'First, energy. Around five hundred units today—mostly from Mikoto, Kurenai, and Anko. Not bad at all, though it's a rare haul. I'll have to wait for their hair to recover before another absorption.'
'Second, connections. I met some interesting people today—not just kunoichi, but a few wealthy women too. If they spread the word, the salon's popularity will rise quickly… and hopefully draw in even more kunoichi.'
'Lastly, the Uchiha matter. I've started meddling—just a little, harmless enough for now. I should keep an eye out for any response.'
He leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.
Renji had made up his mind: he would help the Uchiha. Not just because of the regrets carried over from his past life, but because he genuinely liked Mikoto. It would hurt to see her gone, and after taking so much energy from her hair today, he felt a quiet obligation to repay her—even if she never knew.
'Now that I think about it, I should probably note down all the important events before I forget them.'
He fetched a notebook and began writing—in English. In this world, it would serve as its own form of encryption.
'I could use sealing scrolls… but then I'd need to summon echoes every time. This will do for now.'
His pen scratched softly against the page.
'Uchiha Massacre—still about nine years away. Not urgent yet, but I'll need to make steady progress before then.'
'First, Nono Yakushi. The head of Konoha's orphanage. If I remember right, she died fighting Kabuto because of Danzo's manipulation. The timing's vague, but if she's still alive, I want to save her.'
'Second, Pakura of Suna. The anime suggested she was betrayed and killed a few years after the Third Shinobi War—around now, probably. If she's already gone, maybe I can find her hair bun and trigger [Echoes of the Past]. Her Scorch Release would be incredible. But if she's alive… even better.'
'Third, Naruto. By now, he should already be in the orphanage. He won't face real danger for at least three years, but the rumors—being called a demon, being hated—that's not something a child should endure. The easiest solution would be to adopt him myself… but I doubt the higher-ups would ever allow that.'
He paused, thinking. No other urgent events came to mind.
So he began jotting down a list of other future incidents, marking the ones that might need his intervention.
'I want to do this… to save the people I admired. But I have to stay realistic. These aren't characters in a story anymore—they're real people with emotions, with choices of their own. If I help someone who later turns against me or those I care about… I'd regret it more than anything.'
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A/N: Ran the chapter through AI for grammar corrections, minor fixes.