Over the next few days, Renji fell into a comfortable rhythm. Every morning, he opened the salon; every evening, he closed it with a satisfied smile. Day after day, he drew in Demonic Energy from his customers' hair.
With the high-quality service he offered—and his customers enthusiastically spreading the word—the salon's reputation grew rapidly.
It soon became something of a new phenomenon in Konoha, much like the bathhouses. The prices were steep, which kept most civilians away, but the kunoichi couldn't resist once they saw their friends' stunning hair. One visit was all it took—they were hooked.
Those who tried the premium services noticed the difference almost immediately. Their hair stayed clean longer, shinier and easier to style for days. Those who received massages felt sharper, more focused, even experiencing smoother chakra flow. Anko and Kurenai realized this improvement during their missions.
Mikoto became a frequent visitor, dropping by nearly every day—mostly to chat with his other customers. Renji didn't mind; her presence drew in even more clan kunoichi. His salon was becoming a quiet hub of village life.
In the evenings, Renji roamed the village, gathering energy and collecting hair the deceased kunoichi in the cemetery. He also began frequenting the orphanage district, hoping to come into contact with Nono Yakushi.
Through discreet inquiries and a few generous donations, he eventually learned that she was still in Konoha—currently working at the hospital.
'Makes sense,' he thought. 'After the attack, the hospital must be overflowing with patients.'
He soon located her energy signature from a distance—it was strong and unmistakable. Her hair matched what he remembered from the anime: chest-length light brown hair with long bangs framing her face.
He didn't approach her that day.
'I should wait for a better opportunity… ideally when she's back at the orphanage.'
With that plan in mind, he returned home.
By the time a week passed, word had spread of the Uchiha's relocation to the outskirts of the village. Mikoto's visits grew less frequent—likely due to increased surveillance. Renji could only hope she'd still find time to drop by.
---
Six Months Later
Half a year passed, and Renji had achieved several of his smaller goals.
First, he expanded the salon. The waiting room had become a hot spot for gossip, so he built an entirely new space for it—comfortable seating, soft lighting, and tea service for guests.
Second, he'd accumulated enough energy to consider unlocking new skills or upgrading existing ones. He planned to attempt it soon.
Third, his collection of Bonded Hair had grown steadily. He gathered one or two braids/ponytails every day—mostly from jōnin, some from chūnin—all taken from the cemetery. Many experiments had been made and a few were destroyed, but in the process, he gained deeper insight into [Echoes of the Past].
Fourth, and most importantly, he had managed to meet Nono. Every month, he donated a portion of his earnings to the orphanage—an amount large enough to draw her personal gratitude. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, she still hadn't accepted his invitations to visit the salon. He often sighed at the missed chance to harvest the energy in her hair.
---
That day marked another of his monthly donations. The orphanage looked livelier now—fresh paint, repaired fences, and laughter echoing through the courtyard.
'I'm glad Nono isn't anything like the caretakers from my past life's orphanage. She truly loves these kids—cares for them like they're her own children. If only every orphanage had someone like her.'
"Renji-kun, welcome!"
Renji turned toward the familiar voice.
A gentle woman approached, her shoulder-length light brown hair shimmering softly under the sunlight. Her bright green eyes shone with kindness behind round glasses. Dressed in a modest black gown and white apron, with a coif framing her face, she looked every bit the image of a nun. A warm smile graced her lips.
Renji returned the geeting.
"Nono-san, it's good to see you again!"
"Please, come in," she said kindly.
As they walked side by side, several children spotted them and ran over.
"Big Brother Renji! Let's play hide and seek!"
"No, tag! We haven't played tag yet!"
"Tell us another story! Like the one about Cinderella!"
Renji laughed softly, patting each of their heads.
"Next time, okay? I promise."
Nono smiled at the sight.
"You're really popular with the kids, Renji-kun. Sometimes, I even get jealous seeing how excited they get when you visit."
Renji chuckled. He could feel her emotions—it wasn't true jealousy.
"I'm glad you say that, Nono-san. But you're the one who looks after them every day. Compared to you, I'm just a guest who drops by once in a while. You deserve the praise more than I do."
Their easy conversation continued as they entered her office.
He handed over the neatly wrapped package he'd brought.
"Here's the donation for this month."
Nono accepted it solemnly, her expression gentle yet firm.
"We can't thank you enough, Renji-kun. I promise—every bit of this goes straight to the children's care."
"I believe you, Nono-san. I just hope it's enough."
"Every little bit helps," she assured him. "And your donations are more than generous—they cover far more than you realize."
Their talk drifted naturally after that, touching on the orphanage, the hospital, and the village. Eventually, Renji made his usual attempt to convince her to visit the salon.
Normally, she refused with a polite smile—but this time, she hesitated, then nodded slightly.
Renji's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.
'Finally! She's one of the strongest kunoichi of this era—her hair holds energy rivaling Mikoto's!'
Outwardly, he kept his composure, only smiling pleasantly.
"That's wonderful, Nono-san! Feel free to come by anytime. Of course, I won't charge you a thing!"
Nono returned his smile, though a flicker of resignation crossed her mind. She could feel his enthusiasm every time they met. She wondered if perhaps he had feelings for her—but she couldn't bring herself to address it.
'I hope I'm overthinking this,' she thought. 'If not, I'll have to let him down gently. He's a good man… but I can't let myself get attached. Not while I have the orphanage—and the hospital.'
Her expression softened, though a shadow of worry remained.
'Besides… if Danzo-sama found out, he might use him against me. He's already tried to manipulate me once, cutting the orphanage's funding to force my cooperation. Without Renji-kun's donations, he might have succeeded already. When I visit his salon, I'll need to check if he's being watched because of me.'
Renji couldn't read her thoughts without direct contact with her hair, but he felt her emotions—complex, heavy, tinged with guilt and care.
He didn't understand everything… but he could feel her sincerity.
---
A/N: Ran the chapter through AI for grammar corrections, minor fixes.