After finishing his performance, Amamiya Rei hurriedly parted ways with Shisui at the street corner.
He was eager to return home to eat a proper meal. After finishing his vegetarian dishes, he planned to head straight to the hospital for another buffet feast.
Meanwhile, once Shisui and Rei went their separate ways, Shisui made his way back toward the Uchiha compound.
In his mind, the words Rei had spoken earlier in the forest still echoed, lingering in his thoughts.
Shisui was often struck with awe at Rei's kindness and generosity.
Even though Rei had been forcibly brought to Konoha, torn away from her homeland, she still managed to show compassion for the people of Konoha. She would selflessly find ways to help even those who had once hurt her.
Rei… she was far too noble!
"Shisui."
Lost in thoughts of Rei, Shisui was suddenly pulled back to reality by a familiar voice at his side.
His drifting thoughts swiftly returned, and when he lifted his head, he saw—without realizing when he had arrived—none other than the Uchiha clan head standing before him.
"Clan Leader."
Shisui bowed respectfully to Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku's broad hand came down firmly on Shisui's shoulder. He gave a slight shake of his head, and together they continued down the path that led deeper into the clan grounds.
Shisui knew that the Clan Leader surely had something to say, so he waited patiently in silence.
"I heard from the Hokage himself that it was you who brought Amamiya Rei back to Konoha?"
Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Shisui, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
After Fugaku had received the task of instructing Rei, he had already been briefed by the Hokage regarding the circumstances of Rei's arrival in Konoha. He had also been shocked to learn that the one who had discovered Amamiya Rei and forced her into Konoha was none other than Uchiha Shisui.
"Yes."
Shisui nodded, though he was reluctant to revisit that painful memory—when he had personally shattered Rei's trust by dragging her to Konoha against her will. That had been the moment he broke Rei's faith in him, a memory too heart-wrenching to dwell upon.
Fugaku studied Shisui's face and noted the dullness in his eyes, the furrow of his brows that spoke of inner torment. He said, "It is clear to me that your bond with her runs deep. She is someone special to you, and you are someone very special to her as well."
Shisui lowered his head slightly, his ears turning red.
The Clan Leader's words lingered in his mind.
Rei… considered him special?
He remembered how Rei had once told him that he was her only friend.
At that time, her gaze had been filled entirely with him.
Shisui's chest tightened faintly at the memory.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but before he realized it, immersed in his own thoughts, the Clan Leader's voice sounded in his ears once again.
When he looked up, Shisui realized they had already arrived at the heart of the Uchiha compound.
At a fork in the road, Fugaku came to a halt. Turning to Shisui, he said, "I fully support you pursuing Amamiya Rei."
Shisui froze in place, his body stiff with shock.
But Fugaku did not elaborate further. He simply walked down the other path and disappeared from view.
Shisui stood rooted where he was, staring at the Clan Leader's departing figure, his mind a swirl of conflicting thoughts.
He understood well why Fugaku had said those words.
Because Rei was the only person—after the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama—who had awakened the Wood Release bloodline. Even though Rei was not a shinobi, his value was beyond measure.
But Shisui did not want their bond to be tangled up with such considerations of power or benefit.
Yet, Rei's Wood Release was something that could never be ignored.
As he remained there in thought, a small figure suddenly appeared before him.
It was Uchiha Itachi.
"Shisui, are you free this afternoon?"
The boy lifted his head, gazing at Shisui who was still lost in thought. Only once Shisui returned to himself did he pose the question.
Shisui pushed aside the Clan Leader's words for now. Smiling warmly at the boy, he nodded: "Of course! I'll train with you."
Though Itachi said nothing more, his eyes sparkled faintly with excitement.
"Good!"
The afternoon passed with Shisui and Itachi engrossed in continuous training.
Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital, Amamiya Rei finally finished an entire afternoon of indulging in food.
Stretching contentedly in the ward, he let out a satisfied burp and patted his rounded stomach.
So full!
In a single word—perfect!
In high spirits, Rei left the ward. But as soon as he turned the corner into the hospital's main hall and spotted Shisui, his good mood evaporated instantly.
However, when his gaze fell upon the fair-skinned, tender, and utterly adorable Uchiha Itachi standing at Shisui's side, his cheer began to return little by little.
Itachi trailed quietly behind Shisui like a silent shadow.
Rei walked over to the water tap, rinsed his hands.Then, pulling a handkerchief from the pocket of his skirt, he dried the droplets carefully before walking toward them and asking in surprise, "What brings you two here?"
"We trained all afternoon, and since it's dinner time, we thought of inviting you. Want to go for some grilled meat? Or is there something else you'd prefer to eat?"
Shisui had come with the clear intention of inviting Rei to dinner.
To raise the odds of success, he hadn't only brought Itachi along but had even offered Rei multiple choices.
At that moment, Honma Mei passed by once again, her voice drifting teasingly into Rei's ear: "I can let Kushina know you won't be coming home for dinner tonight."
Rei: "..."
Glancing at Itachi, who stood at Shisui's side looking irresistibly tempting, Rei swallowed hard and finally nodded. "Alright."
Honma Mei, along with a few fellow medical-nin, watched them leave together.
"Is that one of Rei's suitors?" one colleague asked curiously.
Another, catching sight of the Uchiha crest on Shisui's back, seemed to recall something. "Ah! That's Uchiha Shisui, isn't it?"
"You know him?"
"Not personally. But I've heard the patients mention him! He's known as a genius among geniuses."
Honma Mei, however, cared little about talent or ability. She was far more focused on a single point: "That Uchiha Shisui is quite handsome! In terms of appearance, he just about qualifies for Rei."
Colleague A: "Superficial."
Colleague B: "Shallow!"
Colleague C: "The Uchiha clan is full of good-looking men and women, after all."
…
The three of them—Rei, Shisui, and Itachi—left the hospital together.
Rei, with a dramatic flourish of his hand, declared that they would be eating ramen.
Naturally, neither Shisui nor Itachi voiced any objection.
On the way, Rei even spent his daily wages to buy Itachi a box of sweet dango.
Itachi acted cool and aloof at first, refusing outright. But the moment the dango touched his lips, he obediently muttered his thanks.
"..."
So this sweet-tooth could be bribed that easily, huh?
At the ramen shop, Rei insisted on treating them.
Though his salary as a medical-nin wasn't small, he couldn't quite bring himself to splurge on grilled meat for others. Ramen, however, was well within his budget.
After ordering, Rei watched Itachi, who had already devoured more than half the box of dango in the blink of an eye. His lips twitched before he asked, "Itachi, have you entered the ninja academy yet?"
Rei's gaze was filled with curiosity.
Three steaming bowls of ramen were soon placed before them.
After thanking the shop owner, Rei returned his eyes to Itachi, studying him intently.
Itachi lifted his head from the enormous bowl—larger than his own face—looked directly at Rei, nodded once… and then shook his head.
Rei: "..."
So… was that a yes, or a no?
***