Walking through the Uchiha district. Grim and full of people who had long faces. Eyes that track every movement and those stern lines from stress and overthinking.
The red fans, the smell of sweet deserts a contrast against the stark cleanliness of the paths and the wooden, traditional houses that had a patriarch leading the family and their perfect little children.
The few policemen talking with the grannies at their stands. Ren's parents probably salivate at the thought of getting hold of a special clause that allows foreign- well foreign in the sense outside the Uchiha clan- to buy and sell inside the compound.
Alas, only Fugaku could give it, and the times were not kind to those outside. Ren could feel the stares and the strong gazes. A civilian in their midst? How dare he.
But in any case, today was not the day he would comment on the politics and state of despair that took a hold over Uchiha. Losing their only fair try at the hokage position with Fugaku and being rewarded with suspicion in the case of Kyuubi.
Alas, such was the life of the most powerful clan, since the Senju put down their clan and spread out in the civilian life.
A young teenager with spiky black hair and a dumb smile stopped Ren, "Hey! I know you! You are that little smarmy friend of Izumi-chan, right?"
Ren raised an eyebrow and responded, "Yes. And you are?" He knew he was Shisui, the famed speedster, but from alternative sources. Chuckling internally at his thoughts.
Shisui shrugged and patted his back, "Oh, the brooding type? Though my name is Shisui, the fastest shinobi in this village and the cousin of Izumi, twice removed."
He didn't knew Shisui was related to Izumi. Though it does make sense that a clan also shares familial relationships.
"Twice removed? Then you can barely call Izumi your cousin. As for the fastest, of course that place became yours as Minato is no more. The blessing of being second," as Ren twitched his lips in a smile.
Was it necessary for him to be mean? No. Though at the same time he tried his best to stay as distant as possible from Itachi and Shisui, especially when Itachi was in his class.
He was not active, he didn't respond as much during classes, so much that Izuna noticed and had a talk with him if there are problems at home.
Then Itachi graduated and now was the youngest shinobi in the active forces.
Shisui blinked, his face frozen in a weird smile that was trying to slip away, "Minato was a phenomenon. Could have never match him in any ways," laughing weakly, "Uchiha are a family, it doesn't matter if the blood ties are strong or not. Since being an Uchiha makes you part of the same struggle."
Uchiha and the same struggle. Intersting words to pick and say. Ren couldn't contain the need and the pressure on his lungs to not make a jab, "Uchiha share a struggle. Interesting way to see the world. Are they apart of Konoha that your clan share a unitary goal? What about the others, outside the compound?"
Shisui took on a thoughtful look as his leg started tapping the ground, "Konoha is the unitary whole that holds different perspectives. Think of Konoha like a hedghehog. Then each clan and each civilian is a solitary spine. We are whole and apart and each person or clan has different needs and interests," scratching his head. He sighed.
"Problems and conflicts always arose in the groups of people, that's why Hokage is the neutral judge. But anyway," shrugging and smiling, "Itachi would love to talk with you. Same type of boundless questions."
"Problems and conflicts. Yes, thoughts of different nature when the needle of that hedgehog wants to push in and not keep out the danger is of another form of, as you said, conflict," Ren narrowing his eyes at Shisui.
"You don't want to change the topic, I see. Caught your eye, I guess?" flashing a smile and Shisui continued, "Needle in or out, against or for the hedgehog. That's a question. The ultimate loyalty lies with the body of that hedgehog and not the brain."
"If the brain changes then it becomes a different hedgehog. Same body may be, different thoughts and interpretations of nature. With a needle gone. And when a needle is bad, you know what the animal do?" Ren paused, "they remove it."
"The needle can be healed and there's no longer the need to have it removed. Thoughts and interpretations can aligned. There are medical herbs that mellow the bruise or the decay," patting Ren on his head and ruffling his pink hair.
"But the brain decides when it's gone. Not the needle," as he looked up at Shisui's kind eyes.
"Quite grim view of the world you have there, little spunk. Almost sure Itachi would hate your guts," laughing and pushing Ren towards Izumi's house.
Ren rolled his eyes and added as his last thought on the matter, "A needle can band together with other needles, with no attachment to the sharper ones. An alliance of sorts. One can be removed, but when half of needles push inward?"
—
Izumi was with a slice of cake in her mouth and glaring at Ren and Shisui as they were on the doorway.
"What took you guys so long? Shisui, I told you go take Ren because he has no idea of how the compound is placed." Then moving her wrath towards Ren, "And you? You are never late. Today, on my birthday you decided to take the scenic route?"
Stomping her foot, "Why you can't be like Itachi."
Shisui just chuckled in the doorframe and responded, "We had a talk about hedgehogs. Really interesting critters and puffy and huffy just like you," flickering Izumi's nose and saying, "Happy Birthday miss fireball."
"I can't be like Itachi since first, I am not him. Then second I am not part of the Uchiha clan. You can say I should try to be like him, when my pretty hair coulour would darken with the time, and the eyes would become a void with no warmth," as Ren kept a straight face while saying that.
"It was in jest, you sour piece of gum," as Izumi sighed, "You and Shisui didn't have any talk about politics, I hope," as her eyes narrowed at her older cousin.
Both Ren and Shisui said in unison, "No," Shisui continued with, "Me and politics? Since when? I am too young to have such old hobbies."
While Ren took a cup of tea and sipping contently, "Shisui doesn't look like the type to think about politics, if he would speak about them, I guess he will say something like, politics are for those who read."
"You call me dumb? You little midget who's barely in the second grade?" Shisui grabbed Ren's neck and pushing towards him.
"It was only an observation, the fastest shinobi in Konoha, don't take it to the heart," as Ren twisted the hand and approached Izumi to hide behind her.
"Wasn't it Minato. The luck of being the second if I remember," as Shisui started to run after him.
Ren stumbled directly into itachi as Shisui got a hold of his clothes.