"Change two people?"
What does that mean...?
Shisui was suddenly struck with a realization. As he looked back at Ren, all he could see on that cold, detached face was calmness.
"...What do you mean?" he hesitated, trying to ask.
Ren just stood there silently, gazing at him. "Exactly what I said."
Shisui pressed his lips together, deep in thought. "Ren, I feel like... you know a lot more than you're letting on."
"I do." Ren admitted without hesitation, tilting his head slightly as he leaned against the tree trunk.
"I said I can predict the future, do you believe me?"
Shisui's expression turned helpless again, thinking Ren was joking with him.
"Ren."
He sighed deeply and said slowly, "Do you know what I mean by change?"
Ren's expression remained unchanged. "Oh?"
Shisui raised his eyes and looked at Ren, and Ren's outline was reflected in his shiny black eyes.
"Silently and imperceptibly, I can change a person's mind, completely altering who they are. It doesn't require any preparation, and there will be no signs..."
"I can do it."
As soon as he finished speaking, his dark, bright eyes began to turn scarlet, revealing an icy cold, evil look. The black, four-cornered windmill pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan emerged.
"This is the power of my eyes, Kotoamatsukami. I can turn everyone I see into my puppets."
"Including me?" Ren asked.
Shisui's eyes returned to their usual black, and he looked directly into Ren's eyes. "I won't use this ability on you."
"You want to use it on your clan leader, don't you?" Ren questioned.
Shisui sighed. "That's a last resort, only if it really comes to that."
"Ren, what do you mean by 'change'?" Shisui asked.
"…"
Ren rarely remained silent for long, but Shisui had just revealed his ability to him.
Should Ren confess as well? How would he explain it? If he laid everything out, how would Shisui view him?
The forest remained quiet for a long time before Ren finally spoke again.
"Change... Hokage-sama's attitude toward the Uchiha."
Shisui's eyes shifted, and he asked, "How?"
Ren didn't respond, falling silent again.
Shisui simply smiled, half sighing and half laughing. "Ren, ideals are just that—ideals. My vision is beautiful, too."
"I said I would help you, and I will help you." Ren spoke slowly.
"Yeah, I believe you," Shisui said.
He didn't ask what was behind Ren's silence or the lack of transparency.
"Be careful when you're on your mission. He is, after all, the head of the Uchiha clan, and his strength is definitely not inferior to mine," Shisui added.
"…Alright." Ren nodded slightly.
"Shisui, I hope you tell me when you make any decisions."
Shisui chuckled and placed his hand on Ren's shoulder.
"Of course. We're friends, aren't we?"
"…Yes."
"Ren!"
Ren had just returned home and was standing at the door when he heard a familiar call from behind. Only one person could call him like that.
Tenten came running over from her front door and stopped beside Ren.
"Hehe, my mom went to visit the neighbors. Can you take me out to play?"
Ren just glanced at her and opened his door.
"I'm really tired today and not in the mood."
After saying that, he pushed the door open and walked in, kicking off his shoes and tossing them aside before lying down on his bed.
Tenten pouted in dissatisfaction but still tidied up Ren's discarded shoes before following him in.
"What are you doing?"
She walked over to Ren's bed, reached out to grab his arm, and tried to pull him up.
"Come—on—get—up!"
"Huff, huff!" Tenten panted heavily after putting in a lot of effort but failing to move Ren.
"I told you I'm not in the mood. Stop bothering me." Ren put his arm over his forehead and spoke with his eyes closed.
Tenten stood there, angrily putting her hands on her hips, and gave Ren's leg a hard kick.
"Meanie!"
She sat down angrily in a chair, crossing her arms.
Hearing this, Ren opened his eyes.
"Does not taking you out make me a bad guy?"
"Hmph!" Tenten turned her head away and ignored him.
Ren sat up and looked at Tenten, who seemed adorably furious.
"You just want me to take you out so I can buy you all the snacks your mom doesn't let you eat, right?"
"If one day, I stop buying you treats, would I still be your Ren?"
Tenten was a bit confused when she heard this and looked at Ren with bewilderment.
"You won't buy me snacks anymore?"
"…"
Ren felt a bit helpless as he looked at Tenten's cute face and smooth forehead. After thinking for a moment, he waved her over.
"Come here."
Tenten hesitated for a moment but eventually got up from her chair and walked closer to Ren.
"Close your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Close your eyes," Ren repeated.
Tenten looked at Ren suspiciously, and her face suddenly turned red for some reason. But she obediently closed her eyes slowly.
What's this little girl thinking...?
Ren, seeing her blushing face, felt speechless. He then stretched out his right hand, bent his thumb and middle finger together, and blew on them.
Snap!
A crisp flick to the forehead left a red mark on Tenten's brow.
"Ow!"
Tenten cried out in pain, quickly covering her forehead with both hands. She opened her eyes and looked at Ren, only to see a mischievous smile on his face.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and in the next second, she looked like she was about to cry, appearing pitiful and delicate.
"You bullied me!" she said in a hoarse voice.
"Who told you to kick me earlier?"
"You're so stingy..." Tenten sniffled, as if holding back her sobs.
"Come on, I'll take you to get something tasty." Ren stood up from the bed and headed for the door.
Tenten immediately wiped her tears, quickly caught up to him, and grabbed his hand.
"Wait for me!"
Ren glanced at her after she held his hand but didn't refuse. Tenten's eyes were still red, and the red mark on her forehead was very visible.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes."
"Serves you right."
"…"
The two eventually arrived at a dango shop, where Tenten ordered all her favorite snacks. Ren, on the other hand, only ordered a drink since he wasn't fond of sweets.
Watching Tenten happily eat, having forgotten what had just happened, Ren sighed inwardly. After all, she was still just a child.
"Ren, here." Tenten handed Ren a skewer with one leftover dango.
"I don't want it," Ren replied.
Tenten, however, insisted, glaring at him. "You're disgusted with me! I didn't even touch that one—eat it!"
"I don't want it," Ren said, giving her a glance.
Tenten, now annoyed, kicked Ren's leg under the table again.
"What? Do you want another flick to the forehead?" Ren said coolly.
Tenten immediately covered her forehead in fear, shaking her head wildly like a rattle.
Ren continued sipping his drink, his eyes wandering around the quiet shop. There were only a few people, and the atmosphere was quite peaceful.
Tenten, thinking quickly, smiled again.
"Ren, please try it! It's really good!" she said sweetly.
Ren looked at her and replied, "I refuse."
Tenten was frustrated and could do nothing, so she angrily stuffed the last dango into her mouth as if she had some deep resentment toward it.
"Ren is so mean!" she mumbled through her full mouth.
Ren refilled her drink and said, "I bring you out to eat, and this is how you repay me? You're so ungrateful."
"Hmph!"
The peaceful shop was suddenly interrupted by four men walking in. The leader was a young man with his headband tied backward and a senbon in his mouth.
All four of them were dressed as ninjas, and their entrance into a quiet dessert shop drew quite a bit of attention.
Ren glanced at them, recognizing them vaguely, and a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes.
But it didn't matter. The village was small, and running into familiar faces was an everyday occurrence.
They sat down at the table next to Ren and Tenten, and the shop owner promptly came over to take their order.
Ren, ever sensitive, noticed that the four men were glancing at him occasionally, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
"Ren, should we order more? We've almost finished everything."
"Eat too many sweets, and you'll turn into a chubby little ball."
"Lalalala!"
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