Renjiro's sharp gaze lingered on Obito's darkened expression. The mere mention of Kakashi had clearly set something off in the young Uchiha, and the tension in the air was palpable.
'Ooh, they're still not on good terms, huh?' Renjiro thought, his eyes narrowing as he observed Obito's clenched fists.
'But why is he beefing with someone who's younger than him?'
Obito seemed to catch himself after a moment, shaking off the anger that had flashed across his face. He straightened up as if determined not to let his frustrations show. Looking up at Renjiro, there was a renewed fire in his eyes, a stubborn defiance that almost made Renjiro smirk.
"They might be stronger than me right now," Obito began, his voice steady,
"But I have something they don't."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow at this, intrigued by the boy's sudden shift in attitude.
'At least he acknowledges that Kakashi is stronger than him,' Renjiro mused, folding his arms across his chest.
"Oh?" Renjiro asked, feigning nonchalance. "And what exactly do you have that Kakashi and Minato don't?"
Obito's lips curled into a cheeky grin, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. Without a word, he activated his Sharingan, and the familiar crimson glow filled his irises.
Two tomoe swirled around his pupils, the mark of his bloodline's powerful dōjutsu. The boy stood there, almost puffing his chest out as if expecting Renjiro to be impressed.
Renjiro, however, merely glanced at the glowing red eyes before letting out a soft sigh. "So, you think that just having the Sharingan will make you stronger?" His voice was calm, but the question hung in the air like a challenge.
Obito's grin faltered for a second, but he quickly shook his head. "No, of course not," he said confidently.
"But the Sharingan's power can grow! If I keep training, I'll surpass Kakashi, Minato-sensei, and even the Hokage!"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Renjiro's lips. The boy's ambition was admirable, but Renjiro was well aware of Obito's future. He glanced at Obito with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"There's never been a Hokage from the Uchiha clan, you know," Renjiro pointed out, his tone almost teasing.
Obito didn't miss a beat. His grin widened, his eyes sparkling with determination.
"That's because I'll be the first," he declared with a smug confidence.
"And I won't just be Hokage—I'll be the strongest one to ever live!"
Renjiro couldn't help but chuckle at that.
The boy's enthusiasm was infectious, but there was a trace of something darker beneath it, a hunger for recognition that reminded Renjiro of another popular Uchiha. Something that scared Renjiro. It was telling him that the future was already set in stone.
"That title has already been taken," Renjiro said softly, his smile fading as his thoughts drifted to Madara. The man had been a living legend, a shinobi so powerful that his very name evoked fear even in the Uchiha clan.
But there were reasons why the village no longer spoke of him. And Renjiro wasn't sure if Obito was aware of those reasons.
Obito's expression didn't change, though. He seemed to catch the implication in Renjiro's words, and his response came swift and firm.
"I won't be like Madara," Obito said, his voice steady. He paused for a moment, his gaze hardening.
"I'll be better. I'll be stronger."
Renjiro's breath caught for a split second. The way Obito said those words—so confident, so sure of himself—caught him off guard. He coughed into his fist, quickly regaining his composure, though his mind was already whirling.
'The irony...' Renjiro thought, unable to stop the bitter humour from creeping into his thoughts.
Clearing his throat, Renjiro decided to steer the conversation away from Madara before it went any further.
"Those are some huge dreams you've got, Obito," he said, his tone turning more serious.
"Are you ready to work hard to achieve them?"
Obito straightened up again, his expression unwavering. "Of course I am!"
Renjiro nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. "Then what do you want help with?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
"If you've got such lofty goals, you'll need all the help you can get, right?"
Renjiro knew that getting close to Obito now might help in the future. But he did not want to be so attached that he would make the potential antagonist stronger than he was supposed to be.
Obito's bravado faltered for a second as he seemed to genuinely consider the question. He furrowed his brow, rubbing the back of his head as he thought.
"Well… I want to get my third tomoe," he said after a moment, his voice more subdued.
Renjiro's gaze softened. The Sharingan's evolution was a deeply personal journey for every Uchiha, tied to emotional and often traumatic experiences. It wasn't something that could simply be trained for or rushed. Renjiro shook his head gently.
"I can't help you with that," Renjiro said quietly. "The Sharingan's growth depends on you—your experiences, your emotions. No one can force it."
Obito looked disappointed, but he didn't argue. Renjiro could tell the boy understood, even if he didn't like it.
"However," Renjiro added, "what I can do is spar with you occasionally. It'll help you build your battle experience, and that will make you stronger over time."
Obito's eyes lit up at the offer, his earlier disappointment melting away. "Really?" he asked, excitement bubbling in his voice. "You'll spar with me?"
Renjiro nodded. "Yeah. But remember, it's up to you to put in the effort. No amount of sparring will make a difference if you're not serious about your training."
Obito grinned again, the fire in his eyes returning. "I'll train hard, I promise! I won't waste this chance!"
Renjiro smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. "Good," he said. "Then I'll give you some advice about where to start. Your chakra nature is fire. That's your strongest asset, but you can't just rely on fire jutsu. Chakra control is key. If you can't manage your chakra properly, even the most powerful jutsu will be useless."
Obito listened intently, nodding along with every word. "I've been practising with fire release," he said. "But chakra control is hard. Minato-sensei makes us do these exercises, but I can't seem to keep up with Kakashi."
Renjiro hummed thoughtfully. "It's not just about keeping up with others," he said. "Chakra control takes patience. You have to feel the flow of your chakra and direct it with precision. If you rush it or try to force it, you'll only waste energy."
Obito looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding again. "Okay, I'll keep practising," he said, determination lacing his voice.
Renjiro patted the boy on the shoulder, his gaze softening. "That's the spirit. Don't get too caught up in comparing yourself to others. Focus on your own progress."
Obito smiled a genuine smile that reminded Renjiro of the boy's youth. Despite his fiery ambitions, Obito was still just a kid—a kid with dreams far bigger than his small frame could carry for now. But Renjiro was the potential, even if the boy didn't fully realize it yet.
"Well, I think that's enough for today," Renjiro said, straightening up.
"You've got a lot of work ahead of you, Obito."
The boy nodded, but as Renjiro began to turn away, Obito called out again, his voice hesitating. "Renjiro?"
Renjiro paused, glancing back. "What is it?"
Obito's expression was a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. "Aren't you going to the clan meeting today?"
Renjiro blinked, caught off guard by the question. He had all but forgotten about the Uchiha clan's regular meetings. After becoming a jounin and leaving the force, those meetings had faded into the background of his life.
"Ooh, those still happen?" Renjiro asked, his voice laced with genuine surprise.
Obito looked at him as if he were crazy. "Yeah, they're happening right now. You didn't know?"
Renjiro shrugged, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Guess I've been too busy with other things."
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