Chapter 5: Open Eyes
Uchiha Ren was startled awake by the clamor of children.
His eyes snapped open! His body instinctively tried to sit up, but was immediately restrained by a sudden, intense pain.
He looked around with two red orbs, a crimson flash appearing fleeting and somewhat unstable.
"Shhh, quiet down. There's an injured person inside." A gentle female voice came from outside. Her voice carried a hint of seriousness, but more than that, a motherly tenderness and concern.
Hearing this, Uchiha Ren paused, then shook his head, muttering to himself:
'It's no wonder Kabuto ended up going down a dark path.'
'Having personally killed Yakushi Nonou, the orphanage director and medic who saved and healed him, anyone would find it hard to cope.'
Outside, a group of children were playing. The kunoichi who had used medical ninjutsu on Uchiha Ren last night, and who had also tutored Kabuto, was none other than Yakushi Nonou.
As a former elite spy of Root, Yakushi Nonou glanced towards the room out of the corner of her eye, reminding the children, "You have morning lessons soon!"
"We know, Director~" The children obediently replied.
She smiled warmly at the children and walked straight to Uchiha Ren's room.
Softly pushing open the door, she feigned surprise, as if just noticing Uchiha Ren was awake, covering her mouth. "You're awake? Your adaptability to medical ninjutsu is very high; you're recovering quickly."
Although Uchiha Ren had his own little schemes, he had no intention of hiding anything from the ace spy Yakushi Nonou, stating directly:
"Thank you, Director. I can't tell you the reason for my injuries."
"It's alright," Yakushi Nonou replied without hesitation. "It's good that you're fine."
"Then, can I leave?" Uchiha Ren forced a smile.
"Of course. Oh, right!" She said, then ran outside and brought in a package. "This is medicine. Your injuries aren't light, so don't do any strenuous exercise these next few days. We'll talk again once you're fully recovered."
Uchiha Ren bowed at a forty-five-degree angle: "Thank you for saving me!"
"A child of Konoha, there's no way I'd leave you to die. Go home quickly!"
Upon returning home, Uchiha Ren first checked if any items in his house had been touched.
Next, he unwrapped the package of medicine.
He boiled water and drank the medicine.
He let out a long breath.
"It seems that for an insignificant person like me, even being out all night won't draw any attention."
A voice from the void interrupted his thoughts.
The Marvel Ren Arakawa, named Stephen Fang, said, "Brother, aren't you afraid that orphanage director will report you?"
Before Uchiha Ren could answer, Pirate Ren Arakawa interjected, "That's still better than walking straight back to the Konoha gate. Do you believe that if he went back to Konoha without healing, he wouldn't even reach the Konoha Hospital before being sent to Root?"
Uchiha Ren shrugged, "Joking aside, if even a dog walked past the Konoha gate, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Shimura would know about it."
"As for the Director... as long as it doesn't infringe upon the orphanage's interests, she won't concern herself with these matters. After all, she had a falling out with Danzo Shimura a long time ago."
Uchiha Ren's expression darkened, "Once the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura hear that Uchiha Ji injured me..."
"Then... I'd most likely be treated as a small pebble disrupting Konoha's path to peace..."
"...kicked into the sewers, and no one would notice even if my corpse started to reek."
Stephen Fang, who was drinking cola, choked on it. "Cough! My apologies, it might be due to my upbringing, but I don't have the same high awareness of danger that you two do."
"It's alright. The Battle of New York is probably coming soon; you'll understand sooner or later."
"Alright, alright."
The Marvel Ren Arakawa muted his mic. Pirate Ren Arakawa's expression grew serious. "The urgent matter at hand is to figure out how to increase our strength."
"Mm... after what happened yesterday, I felt that the Gene Lock helped me greatly!"
Uchiha Ren walked to the mirror. "When I just woke up, I did feel a difference in my eyes, but they were still somewhat unstable..."
Pirate Ren Arakawa raised an eyebrow. "If you think about it that way, the Gene Lock activates inner potential when a Reincarnator is on the verge of death, while the Sharingan is an ability awakened by the Uchiha Clan during moments of intense emotional fluctuation."
He paused, then continued, "If we want to continue opening the Gene Lock until we master it, and also awaken our eyes... then..."
The two spoke in unison: "On the verge of death!"
Far away in the back kitchen of a burger joint, Stephen Fang, slicing pickles for burgers, swallowed hard upon hearing the crazy ideas of his two 'seniors.'
He gave the unlucky customer two extra pickle slices.
---
For an entire week straight.
Every evening, after Uchiha Ren finished classes at the Ninja Academy,
He would leave Konoha and come to a patch of forest not far from the Konoha orphanage.
This patch of forest was covered in bloodstains and traces of a struggle.
The blood, naturally, belonged to Uchiha Ren.
However, if the orphanage children were to see the "culprit," their worldviews would undoubtedly collapse.
Facing Uchiha Ren, having shed her usual demeanor and removed her glasses, was the gentle older sister—Yakushi Nonou.
Yakushi Nonou stood in the clearing of the forest, her gaze revealing a hint of seriousness, completely different from her usual gentle director persona.
Uchiha Ren, meanwhile, clutched the kunai in his hand, knowing he was about to face a difficult battle.
Sweat was already beading on his forehead, but his gaze was resolute. He had to use this battle to unleash his potential.
"Come." Yakushi Nonou's voice was calm, but her chakra had already begun to flow within her body.
Uchiha Ren didn't reply. He took a deep breath, then rapidly charged at Yakushi Nonou, the kunai in his hand aimed straight for her vital points!
Yakushi Nonou easily sidestepped, simultaneously kicking Uchiha Ren's wrist. The kunai clattered to the ground.
Uchiha Ren rapidly retreated, drawing shuriken from his waist and attacking again!
Yakushi Nonou dodged Uchiha Ren's every attack with astonishing speed and agility. Each of her counterattacks put immense pressure on Uchiha Ren.
On one side was an elite ninja from Root.
On the other was an Uchiha rookie who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy and hadn't awakened his eyes.
The gap was like an unbridgeable chasm.
Uchiha Ren's body was already covered in wounds, but he persisted, getting up quickly every time he fell and continuing to fight.
As the battle continued, Uchiha Ren began to feel his strength waning; each of his attacks became more clumsy and powerless.
Although Yakushi Nonou held the upper hand in the fight, she consistently controlled her strength, ensuring Uchiha Ren wouldn't suffer fatal injuries.
But what Uchiha Ren wanted wasn't merely a sparring partner.
What he wanted was to be on the verge of death!
He reached forward, brazenly swiping at Yakushi Nonou in front of her.
Yakushi Nonou's previously calm expression was replaced by anger! She grabbed Uchiha Ren by the neck!
The intense sensation of suffocation sent Uchiha Ren's blood rushing to his brain, veins bulging on his forehead. The nascent Sharingan in his eyes rolled upwards, resembling Byakugan.
Seeing Uchiha Ren's state, yet still insisting, Yakushi Nonou, though pained, did not release her grip.
With one foot nearly giving out, Uchiha Ren still managed to raise his hand, his fingertips brushing past her chest.
Her grip tightened further; Uchiha Ren couldn't lift his arm.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Just as Uchiha Ren gradually felt himself nearing death!
A powerful will to survive erupted within him!
His pupils constricted! A surge of power gushed from the depths of his body!
He used every last ounce of his strength to violently push away Yakushi Nonou, then stumbled backward!
Yakushi Nonou looked at Uchiha Ren, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
'It seems this child holds secrets I'm unaware of.'
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.
"That's enough for today!" Yakushi Nonou said coldly, releasing green life energy to heal Uchiha Ren.
The healing lasted for about twenty minutes.
Once Uchiha Ren was mostly free of major injuries, Yakushi Nonou turned and left the forest without looking back.
Leaving Uchiha Ren alone, panting on the spot.
"Thump!"
He collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving violently, but his heart was filled with joy!
The entire world seemed to slow down, the trajectories of falling leaves so incredibly clear!
Sharingan, activate!
(end of chapter)