Kapitel 196: 195-Touching Grass

As Renjiro and Miwa walked through the bustling streets of Konoha, the morning sun illuminated the village, casting a warm, golden hue on everything it touched.

The sounds of merchants calling out their wares, children laughing as they played, and the rhythmic clatter of shinobi on patrol filled the air, creating a familiar and comforting atmosphere.

Despite the crowd, Miwa and Renjiro easily navigated through, their presence parting the sea of villagers with the subtle authority that came with being members of the Uchiha clan.

After a brief pause in their conversation, Miwa turned to Renjiro, a genuine smile lighting up her features. "By the way, Renjiro, I never got the chance to properly congratulate you on becoming a squad leader. I know it's been a month already, but I've been away on missions. I'm proud of you."

Renjiro looked up, a small smile forming on his lips at her words. "Thank you, Miwa. It's been… challenging, but rewarding."

Miwa nodded thoughtfully, her eyes filled with pride. "I'm sure it has been. Leading a squad is no easy task, especially at your age. How's the experience been so far?" She asked her tone a mix of curiosity and genuine concern.

Renjiro took a moment to gather his thoughts, "It's been a lot of responsibility," he admitted. He then went on to tell him how he had been from the last time that they saw each other and even after he became a squad leader.

Miwa listened intently, "That's good to hear. It sounds like you're handling it well. You've always been strong, Renjiro, but I'm glad to see you growing into your role."

Renjiro nodded, "I've had a lot of help along the way. My squad has been great, supportive, and reliable. I couldn't have asked for better subordinates."

A mischievous glint suddenly appeared in Miwa's eyes as she changed the subject. "And what about your friends? Have you made more friends since recently?"

The question caught Renjiro off guard, and he blinked in surprise. He wasn't used to Miwa asking about his social life, especially not so directly.

Miwa had always been a bit distant, not out of lack of care, but because of her own responsibilities that often took her away from the village.

Despite this, Renjiro had never resented her for it. He understood the demands of being a shinobi. But now, her sudden interest in his friendships felt both surprising and oddly comforting.

"Why the sudden question?" Renjiro asked, a bit alarmed by the shift in the conversation.

He wasn't sure where this was leading, and the teasing look on Miwa's face didn't help his unease.

"It's not like you to ask about stuff like that."

Miwa's smile grew wider, "What? You aren't making friends? Is something wrong?" She asked with a mock-serious expression, clearly enjoying the way Renjiro was squirming under her questioning.

"Of course I'm making friends," Renjiro shot back, a little too quickly, his defensive tone making Miwa's smile widen even more.

"How many?" Miwa asked, leaning in closer as if she was genuinely concerned, but her playful tone gave her away.

Renjiro let out an exasperated sigh, giving her a deadpan look. "Do you really want me to name all of my friends?" He asked, knowing full well that Miwa wouldn't let him off the hook easily.

"If you had that many friends, it wouldn't be an issue," Miwa replied.

'Is she serious?' He wondered, mentally preparing himself for what he knew would be an inescapable ordeal.

Miwa could be incredibly persistent when she wanted to be, and Renjiro knew from experience that the only way to end this was to give in.

"Fine," Renjiro began, reluctantly listing off names. "There's Aiko, Hiro, and Riku-sensei, of course. Then there's Sora, Kaito, Sama, Fu—"

Miwa's eyes lit up "Sama? Who's that? I've never heard you talk about her before."

Renjiro instantly regretted mentioning that name. He knew how Miwa could exaggerate situations, especially when it came to teasing him.

"She's from the Namikaze clan," Renjiro shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "I recently went on a mission with her and her cousin Minato." He hoped that by downplaying it, Miwa would lose interest and move on to another topic.

But Miwa wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily."Oh, so she's Minato's cousin?" She began, "Then tell me more."

Renjiro resisted the urge to facepalm, knowing where this was headed. "That's all there is to it. We met during the mission and became friends." He said, trying to keep his tone casual and dismissive.

Miwa's smirk only grew wider "Oh really? I haven't seen you this happy when talking about someone before."

Renjiro's mind went blank for a moment as he processed her words.

'What is she thinking?' He wondered, trying to figure out how to steer the conversation away from this topic. But before he could come up with a plan, Miwa continued her teasing.

"You see! You're even blushing!" Miwa teased, her voice filled with amusement.

"What?"

Renjiro felt a sudden warmth spread across his face, his cheeks reddening involuntarily. He couldn't believe this was happening.

'What the hell is happening to me? Damn these teenage hormones!' He thought, feeling utterly betrayed by his own body. He didn't understand why he was reacting this way, but he knew he never wanted a repeat of this embarrassing situation.

"It's not what you think," Renjiro protested, his voice a little higher than he intended. He could feel his face burning, and the more he tried to deny it, the more he could see Miwa's amusement growing.

Miwa laughed, "Then I guess it's understandable. Your mother was about your age when she met your father." She said, scratching her chin thoughtfully as if reminiscing about the past.

'Wait? Renjiro's mother was only eleven when she met his father. Was he a Pe-. No, that is beside the point!' Renjiro thought as he stared at Miwa wide-eyed and horrified.

"It's really not like that!" He insisted, but his voice lacked the conviction he wished it had. He could tell that Miwa wasn't going to let this go, and it was clear that she was enjoying every moment of his discomfort.

Miwa's laughter softened into a warm smile as she looked at her nephew, her eyes filled with a mixture of affection and nostalgia. "Renjiro, it's okay. I'm just teasing you," she said, her tone gentle now.

"You're growing up, and it's natural to form connections with others. Whether it's friendships or something more, it's all part of life."

Suddenly Miwa asked, "Are you currently busy, or do you have some time to spare?"

Renjiro glanced at her, "Not really, I just came from giving a mission report to Iwata-sama."

Miwa's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You just got back from a mission?" She asked, seeking clarification.

Renjiro nodded, "Yeah, we returned not too long ago."

"And what are you planning to do now?" she asked

"I was thinking of doing some light training before getting some rest." He said.

Miwa's eyes widened again, this time in shock. "Training? After just coming back from a mission? Aren't you tired at all?"

Her voice was a mix of disbelief and worry. She knew Renjiro was strong and dedicated, but even she couldn't help but feel concerned about him pushing himself too hard.

Renjiro shrugged, "I feel fine. The mission wasn't too taxing, and I thought some light training might help me wind down." He said it as though it were the most logical thing in the world, but Miwa could hardly believe her ears.

"Well, if you're feeling that energetic, then I have something I want to show you!" She said, her voice brimming with excitement.

=====

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Kapitel 197: 196-Battleground

Renjiro looked at Miwa, his curiosity piqued as he tried to read her expression.

"What do you want to show me?" he asked. His tone had a mix of curiosity and caution.

Miwa merely smiled, turning away and beginning to walk ahead "Don't worry about that, just follow me,"

Renjiro hesitated for a moment, watching her as she disappeared around a corner. With a shrug, he decided to follow, his footsteps echoing slightly in the narrow, dimly lit corridor.

'Where is she taking me?' he wondered, his thoughts swirling as they continued down the hallway.

The corridor they were in seemed to stretch on forever, the faint sound of their footsteps the only noise in the otherwise silent space.

Renjiro noted how the walls, once smooth and well-maintained, began to show signs of age and wear, the stone cracked in places, with moss creeping along the seams.

Finally, they reached the end of the hallway, where a narrow stairwell descended further down. Without pausing, Miwa started down the stairs, her movements smooth and deliberate.

Renjiro followed closely behind, his curiosity growing with each step they took. The stairwell was narrow, the walls closing in around them as they descended, the air thickening with the scent of damp stone and earth.

At the bottom of the stairwell stood a massive, dingy double door, its surface marred with scratches and dents that spoke of years of use. It was clear this door had seen better days.

'I didn't even know this place existed,' Renjiro thought, his brow furrowing as he took in the sight before him. The door was massive, easily twice his height, and looked like it belonged to an ancient fortress rather than a base hidden beneath the Police force.

Out of curiosity, Renjiro activated his chakra field. He wanted to see whether he would be able to get an inkling as to what Miwa wanted to show him.

Immediately he did, Miwa shot him a knowing glance. But her catching on to what he was trying to do was not what concerned Renjiro. Renjiro could sense the chakra signatures of every being or object around, except for what was behind the door. It was like someone had cut off a section of his chakra field.

'Hmm... that is strange, are they using a seal to block out sensing? No, that can't be. I have experimented with how my chakra field works every stealth seal I know of.' Renjiro thought.

While Renjiro had not mastered as many seals as he'd like to, he was aware of most and how they reacted with his surroundings. So this particular situation piqued his interest.

He was aware that even if he had a thousand years to practise Fuinjutsu, he would never know of all the seals under the sun as Fuinjutsu was very broad, with countless ways to achieve it. It was kinda like programming with how various programming languages popped up every now and then.

Miwa paused for a moment in front of the door, her hand resting on the rough wood. Without a word, she pushed it open

"Creeeaaak!"

The door groaned in protest as it swung inward, revealing a sight that took Renjiro completely by surprise.

Beyond the door was a vast open space. It was enormous, much larger than he had expected, with various demarcated areas spread out across the floor.

Each area was marked by thick lines of chalk or paint, separating them from one another. Some spaces were small, likely meant for one-on-one combat, while others were large enough to accommodate several fighters at once.

Weapons of all kinds were scattered around the edges of the room, some leaning against the walls, others laid out on makeshift racks. Swords, kunai, shuriken, and even more exotic weapons like scythes and chains were all there, glinting faintly in the low light.

The air was thick with the scent of sweat and steel, a combination that Renjiro recognized from countless training sessions, though this was somehow different—more intense.

Renjiro's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. He could see groups of shinobi sparring in the various spaces, their movements quick and precise, their faces set in expressions of intense focus. Some of the larger spaces had drawn crowds, and groups of onlookers gathered around to watch the action unfold.

The noise was overwhelming, the clash of metal on metal, and the dull thud of fists and feet striking flesh. But what stood out most was the crowd's reaction.

They weren't just watching—they were cheering, shouting encouragement or jeers at the fighters, their voices blending into a chaotic roar.

"Yeah! Get him!"

"Don't let him get away!"

"Finish him!"

The voices rang out from all sides, rising and falling like waves crashing against a shore. It was clear that this wasn't just a friendly sparring session; the fighters were out for blood, their movements fueled by something far more primal than simple training.

"Where is this?"

Renjiro aksed, his thoughts a jumble of confusion and disbelief as he continued to take in his surroundings. This place was unlike anything he had ever seen in the Uchiha compound, or anywhere else, for that matter.

Miwa turned to face him, a small, satisfied smile on her face as she saw the look on his face.

"This," she began, taking a few steps forward before turning back to him with a grin,

"is the Battlegrounds."

Renjiro blinked, the name taking a moment to sink in. "The what now?"*he asked.

'Does she mean a training ground?' he wondered, though the atmosphere here felt far too intense for simple training.

Miwa chuckled softly at his reaction, "The Battlegrounds," she repeated. "Is a place where most of the force's shinobi come to relax, train, earn some extra money, or even, in some cases, settle disputes." Her tone was casual as if she were describing a normal, everyday place, but there was a hint of pride in her voice.

Renjiro frowned, "How come I've never heard of it? I've been in the force for more than half a year now," he questioned, genuinely puzzled.

He prided himself on being aware of everything that went on in the compound, and the timeline to some extent, but this was completely new to him.

Miwa's smile turned smug, "That's because it's invite-only," she explained, crossing her arms over her chest.

"If you had friends who were members, then you would have heard about it. Fortunately for you, you have me."

Renjiro's mind raced with questions as he looked around again, his gaze flicking over the fighters and the spectators.

'How do the clan elders even let this place be?' he wondered, though the thought was quickly drowned out by the roar of the crowd as another fight reached its climax.

He glanced over at the source of the noise, his eyes widening as he saw one of the fighters land a devastating blow that sent his opponent crashing to the ground.

"I know what you are thinking about," Miwa said as Renjiro focused on her, "You are probably wondering why this is allowed by the clan leaders allow this right?"

Renjiro arched a brow, which was enough for Miwa to know that she was on point.

"It's simple," she began, "They view this as an avenue where the clan members can come and relieve their stress."

'Really?'

Renjiro thought as he spared a glance to a shinobi who had just lost in the previous fight and his body was riddled with wounds.