บท 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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