Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Dango Shop
Change two people?
What does that mean...
Shisui was suddenly taken aback, and when he looked at Kanzuki, he found his cool expression was still calm.
"...What do you mean?" he tried to ask.
Kanzuki simply stared at him. "The literal meaning."
Shisui pressed his lips together, his gaze deepening. "Oboro, I feel... you seem to know a lot."
"Yes," Kanzuki admitted directly, leaning against the tree and tilting his head slightly.
"I say I can foresee the future—do you believe it?"
Shisui's expression turned to one of helplessness, thinking that he was just joking.
"Oboro."
He sighed heavily and said slowly, "You know what I mean by change, right?"
Kanzuki's expression remained unchanged. "Oh?"
Shisui raised his eyes to look at Kanzuki, and in his deep, dark eyes, Kanzuki's reflection could be seen.
"Silently and imperceptibly altering a person's thoughts, completely changing who they are, without any groundwork or warning..."
"I can do that."
As soon as he finished speaking, his dark eyes began to shift to a vivid crimson, exuding an icy and sinister aura, revealing a black pinwheel pattern.
"This is the ability of my eyes, the Sharingan, which can turn anyone I see into my puppet."
"Does that include me?" Kanzuki asked.
Shisui's eyes returned to their usual black as he looked unflinchingly at Kanzuki. "I will not use this ability on you."
"You want to use it on your clan leader, don't you?" Kanzuki inquired.
Shisui sighed, "That would be the last resort, if it ever comes to that."
"Oboro, what do you mean by change?"
"..."
Kanzuki surprisingly fell silent for a moment as Shisui divulged his abilities to him.
Should he also be honest? If he spoke up, how would he explain? If he laid everything bare, how would Shisui view it...
The forest was quiet for quite a while before Kanzuki spoke again.
"Change... the Hokage's attitude towards the Uchiha."
Shisui's eyes moved slightly as he asked, "How to change it?"
Kanzuki didn't respond again, falling into silence.
Shisui merely smirked, oscillating between a sigh and a smile. "Oboro, ideals are ultimately just that; my vision is not without its glory either."
"I said I would help you, and I definitely will." Kanzuki said slowly.
"Ah, I believe you," Shisui replied.
He didn't ask what was hidden in Kanzuki's silence or what was behind his lack of honesty.
"Be careful during the mission; after all, he is the clan leader of the Uchiha, and his strength is absolutely not inferior to mine," Shisui reminded him.
"…Understood." Kanzuki nodded.
"Oboro, I hope you tell me whatever decision you make."
Shisui smiled lightly and placed a hand on Kanzuki's shoulder.
"Of course, we're friends, aren't we?"
"…Yes."
"Oboro!"
As soon as Kanzuki returned home, he heard a familiar voice calling from behind him, and only one person could call him that.
Tenten ran over from her house, stopping by Kanzuki's side.
"Hehe, my mom went to visit a neighbor. Take me out to play!"
Kanzuki just glanced at her and opened his door.
"I'm tired today; I'm not in the mood."
With that, he pushed the door open, kicked off his shoes and tossed them carelessly on the floor, then lay down beside his bed.
Tenten pouted in dissatisfaction but still straightened up Kanzuki's shoes before following him inside.
"What are you doing?"
She came to the side of Kanzuki's bed, reached out to tug at his arm, trying to pull him up.
"Get up, now!"
Huff huff! She put in a lot of effort but couldn't move Kanzuki, gasping for breath.
"I said I'm not in the mood; don't bother me." Kanzuki pressed his arm against his forehead, closing his eyes.
Tenten, crossing her arms, sat angrily on a nearby chair.
Hearing her, Kanzuki opened his eyes.
"If not taking you out to play makes me a bad guy?"
"Hmph!" Tenten turned her head, ignoring him.
Kanzuki sat up, watching her look adorable while angry.
"You want me to accompany you out, mainly to get me to buy you snacks your mom usually forbids you from having."
"If one day I stop buying you tasty treats, will I still be your Oboro?"
Tenten was stunned by his words, looking at Kanzuki with confusion.
"You won't buy me snacks anymore?"
"…"
Kanzuki sighed helplessly at her cute face and smooth forehead. After thinking for a moment, he waved her over.
"Come here."
Seeing this, Tenten hesitated but got up from the chair and walked over to Kanzuki.
"Close your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Close your eyes." Kanzuki repeated.
Tenten looked at Kanzuki dubiously, her small face inexplicably flushed, but she obediently began to close her eyes slowly.
What is this little girl thinking…
Kanzuki silently looked at her blushing cheeks and couldn't help but feel speechless. He immediately stretched out his right hand, curling his thumb and middle finger together and blowing on them.
Smack!
With a crisp sound, he flicked Tenten's forehead, which turned a bright red spot.
"Ah!"
Tenten yelped in pain, quickly covering her forehead with her hands. When she opened her eyes and looked at Kanzuki, she saw his face wearing a triumphant expression.
Tears immediately filled her eyes, and the next second, she looked like she was about to cry, a pitiful sight.
"You're bullying me!" she croaked.
"Who told you to kick me earlier?"
"You… so stingy…" Tenten sniffled, as if holding back tears.
"Let's go; I'll take you to eat something good." Kanzuki stood up from bed and walked toward the door of the room.
Tenten instantly wiped her tears dry, quickly followed him, and held his hand.
"Wait for me!"
After being pulled along, Kanzuki glanced at her but didn't refuse. Tenten's eyes were already red, and the mark on her forehead was quite obvious.
"Does it hurt?"
"It hurts."
"Serves you right."
"..."
The two quickly reached a dango shop, where Kanzuki let Tenten order everything she liked to eat. Because he disliked sweets, he only ordered a drink.
Watching Tenten happily eat, completely forgetting the earlier incident, Kanzuki couldn't help but marvel at the simplicity of being a child.
"Oboro, here!" Tenten suddenly handed Kanzuki the last dango skewer, the one she had mostly finished.
"I'm not eating that," Kanzuki replied.
But Tenten was insistent, glaring at him. "You're rejecting me! I didn't touch this one; eat it!"
"No." Kanzuki glanced at her.
Tenten, a little upset, kicked him again on the shin from the table.
"What's up? Do you want me to flick you again?" Kanzuki replied casually.
Tenten immediately flinched, covering her forehead with her hands, shaking her head vigorously like a bobblehead.
Kanzuki continued to sip his drink, noticing the quiet little shop, where only a few patrons were present.
Tenten rolled her eyes, her expression brightening once more.
"Oboro, try this; it's delicious!" she pouted in a spoiled tone.
Kanzuki looked at her. "I refuse."
Tenten grew angry and helplessly stuffed the last bite of dango into her mouth, as if it were her sworn enemy.
"You're so annoying, Oboro!" she mumbled incoherently.
Just then, four men entered the dango shop, led by a young man with a bandana, a senbon dangling from his mouth.
All four were dressed as ninjas. It was indeed eye-catching for such a group of men to walk into a dessert shop.
Kanzuki glanced at them and noticed a hint of familiarity, his gaze revealing a touch of surprise.
But he chose not to engage; the village was small, and he often ran into acquaintances.
They sat down at a table near Kanzuki, and the shop owner approached them to take their order.
Kanzuki became sensitive, noticing that all four were casting glances his way, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
"Oboro, should we order more? We're almost done eating."
"Eating so many sweets? Be careful or you'll turn into a chubby kid."
"Yay yay yay!"