"Ryufeng, your Uchiha Clan Grounds are so vast! Amazingly, such a large area belongs entirely to your clan."
Ren looked curiously at the buildings on both sides and the coming and going Uchiha Clan members, exclaiming in admiration from time to time, with Uchiha Ryufeng trailing beside him, looking disgusted.
"Can you stop making such a fuss? It's so embarrassing. When we get to my house, please calm down, or I'll kick you out."
Ren laughed, unconcerned.
After the White Fang incident was resolved, the tight string in his heart loosened a bit. After completing their daily training with Uchiha Ryufeng, they started chatting, and the conversation turned to Ryufeng's family. Immediately, Ren expressed his desire to visit the Uchiha Clan Grounds and pay his respects to Ryufeng's family at his home.
Uchiha Ryufeng hesitated for a moment but then agreed. After all, his father hadn't said he couldn't bring friends home, and his mother often told Ryufeng to make more friends and bring them over to play.
Thus, the opening scene unfolded. The Uchiha Clan members on both sides of the road looked at Ren with surprised eyes. The Uchiha, who didn't have a very good reputation in Konoha, rarely had outsiders come to their Clan Grounds. It was difficult for them to make friends with other clans, let alone have guests visit.
"By the way, Ryufeng, where are the shops here? I can't go empty-handed, can I?"
Uchiha Ryufeng paused, then shook his head, "No need, my parents don't care about those things."
"No, it's a small token of my appreciation. You should still take me (◉‿◉)."
...
At Ren's insistence, the two went to a shop, bought some tea leaves, fruits, and other items, carrying large and small bags as they walked towards Uchiha Ryufeng's home.
Upon reaching the door, Ren stepped forward and pressed the doorbell.
"Please wait a moment!" A gentle female voice came from the courtyard.
Soon, the courtyard gate opened, and a woman who looked to be in her twenties emerged from inside. She was Uchiha Ryufeng's mother, Uchiha Akito.
Uchiha Akito was the wife of Yusuke Uchiha and the mother of Uchiha Ryufeng. She was not only gentle but also very kind to others.
"Ryufeng, you're back. And this is?"
Uchiha Akito looked at the two small figures carrying large and small bags of things with a bit of confusion, and at the same time, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"Mom, I'm back. This is Ren, he's my…"
Ren smiled and continued Ryufeng's sentence: "Hello, Auntie. I'm Hoshimi Ren, Ryufeng's classmate and friend. Please forgive my sudden intrusion."
"Oh, so you're Ryufeng's friend. Why did you bring so many things? Both of you, come in quickly."
Understanding, Uchiha Akito quickly ushered the two into the house, taking the large and small bags from them and placing them in the entryway.
"Ryufeng, take Ren to the guest room to sit for a while. I'll go prepare some snacks for you."
Uchiha Akito, who had reached the corner of the entryway, turned with a smile and instructed Ryufeng to entertain Ren well.
"Okay, Mother."
Uchiha Ryufeng responded to his mother, then walked ahead to lead the way.
After taking off their shoes, the two passed through the entryway into the hallway. Opening a sliding door, they entered a large room about thirty square meters, with a large table in the centre. To the left was a transparent floor-to-ceiling window, offering a view of the garden outside.
As soon as the two sat down at the table, Uchiha Akito came over carrying a tray. On the tray were three-colored dango and a few cups of tea.
"Please help yourselves, Ren." Uchiha Akito sat beside them, urging the two children to eat the snacks.
"I'm going to eat." X2
After eating a skewer of dango and taking a sip of tea, ah, what bliss!
"Speaking of which, Ren is the first person Ryufeng has ever brought home as a guest."
Uchiha Akito looked at Uchiha Ryufeng and said meaningfully.
..."Hmph, he kept begging me to come, so I reluctantly agreed because he was too annoying."
"This child is not honest. He won't make friends like that."
Uchiha Akito looked at Ryufeng with a helpless expression and said.
"It's alright, Auntie. Besides being dishonest, Ryufeng has many good qualities. Otherwise, we wouldn't have become good friends."
"Haha, I often hear Ryufeng mention you. Every time he comes back from training, he says he'll beat you next time. I didn't expect Ren to be so strong at such a young age."
Uchiha Akito said, feeling a bit surprised. Ryufeng's strength was not to be underestimated, having grown up under his father's strict tutelage. While not on par with Kakashi, who was already a Chunin, his strength was close to that of a Chunin. He had revealed his admiration for Ren multiple times in their conversations. Out of curiosity, Yusuke Uchiha had sent people to investigate Ren and was even more astonished to learn that both of his parents were Ninja but had sacrificed themselves. A civilian child, without the guidance of parents or any legacy left to him beyond a few Ninjutsu scrolls, was able to reach his current strength despite such a huge disparity. It was truly not easy.
During their casual chat, a sound came from outside the gate.
"Is anyone home?"
Uchiha Akito quickly got up to open the door. After a while, she led a child about four years old inside. Seeing the child's face, Ren was stunned.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Ryufeng, beside him, greeted him naturally.
"Yo, Shisui, long time no see. What brings you to my house today?"
Indeed, the person who had arrived was none other than the future renowned Uchiha Shisui, a super genius not inferior to Kakashi Hatake or Uchiha Itachi. He was one of the few Uchiha to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, possessing the strongest Genjutsu, "Kotoamatsukami," which allowed him to directly invade the opponent's brain and modify their will without being detected. He was known as "Shisui of the body flicker" by enemy Ninja.
Unfortunately, due to his political stance and Konoha's high-level fear of the Uchiha, he was ambushed by Danzo Shimura, the leader of Konoha's Root, who stole his right eye. Disheartened by Konoha's high-level, Shisui entrusted his remaining eye to Uchiha Itachi, and finally sacrificed his own life, entrusting his will to Itachi. His death also helped Uchiha Itachi awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
The death of his closest friend had a profound impact on Uchiha Itachi. In the end, he chose the Village and personally annihilated the Uchiha Clan. It can be said that Shisui was not only a close friend to Itachi but also like an older brother.
"Excuse me, Brother Ryufeng. Auntie invited me to visit yesterday when she met me on the road, so I came."
Uchiha Shisui smiled and said to Uchiha Ryufeng, then turned his head to look at Ren. "And this is?"
Uchiha Akito, beside him, smiled and said: "This is your Brother Ryufeng's friend, Ren. And this is our Uchiha's little genius, Uchiha Shisui."
Ren looked at that familiar rounded nose. He nodded and said: "Hello, Shisui. I'm Hoshimi Ren, Ryufeng's friend. Please take care of me from now on!"