After some discussion, Ren stood up, preparing to leave.
"Are you leaving, Brother Ren?"
Itachi stood at the door, looking at Ren, and said with some reluctance.
"It's alright, Itachi. Anyway, we're both in the Village now, and you know where my house is. Come find me when you have time. For school, just use a Shadow Clone to attend; it's a waste of time anyway."
"..."
Fugaku, who was standing nearby, twitched the corners of his mouth twice. He wanted to say something but swallowed it back.
Itachi was stunned by this string of words, and after he reacted, he said with some embarrassment,
"Skipping school isn't good, and I don't even know the Shadow Clone Technique."
"Itachi, don't be so rigid."
Ren said, pulling out a storage scroll from his body. After opening it, a large pile of scrolls immediately appeared on the ground.
"Let me look..."
Under the stunned gaze of several people, Ren rummaged through the pile of scrolls. Seeing this, Fugaku couldn't help but advise him,
"No need to trouble yourself, Ren. The Uchiha Clan also has a method for practicing the Shadow Clone Technique."
"I'm not giving him the Shadow Clone Technique."
"Huh?"
Ren's words immediately confused everyone present. Itachi blinked, his face showing a hint of curiosity.
"Found it!"
After some rummaging, Ren picked up a scroll and handed it to Itachi, smiling.
"Itachi, practice hard. I'll be checking in a while, you know."
"Yes!"
Itachi dared not delay and quickly took it. Shisui, standing nearby, happened to see the writing on the surface and subconsciously said,
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu..."
As soon as Shisui finished speaking, Fugaku's expression changed immediately. He turned to look at Ren, just about to say something, when Ren spoke first,
"Don't be so formal with me, Uncle Fugaku. This is a gift from me to Itachi. It's quite practical. After he learns the Shadow Clone Technique, you can help him manage his study time."
After Ren's words, Fugaku found it hard to refuse further, and his usually stern face softened a little.
"Oh, and Yūsuke Uncle."
Ren turned to look at Yusuke Uchiha, who was standing to the side, and said softly,
"Please tell Ryufeng that I'll be waiting for him at the Seventh Training Ground at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. There's something I need his help with."
Yusuke nodded, agreeing.
"Then we'll take our leave. Let's go, Shisui."
"Huh?"
Shisui raised his hand and pointed to himself, looking at Ren with a puzzled expression.
He was already back at the Uchiha Clan Grounds, and his home was not far away. Where was he taking him now?
"Let's go. There are still some things to do, and I'm bored alone."
Ren took two steps forward, pulled the bewildered Shisui, and walked away. Soon, they disappeared from the sight of Fugaku and the other two.
"Then I'll head back first, Clan Head."
"Mm."
After seeing the other person leave, Itachi suddenly looked up at Fugaku and asked nervously,
"Father, can you teach me the Shadow Clone Technique?"
"Of course, you can."
Fugaku readily agreed with a smile to his eldest son's request.
Normally, it's difficult for a five-year-old child to even perform Ninjutsu, but Itachi was different.
A while ago, he had only performed the C-rank Great Fireball Jutsu once, and Itachi learned it directly after seeing it, which surprised and delighted him.
Moreover, before this, Itachi's attitude towards training had always been lukewarm, but now he was actively proposing to train, which made him feel even more relieved.
At this moment, Ren and Shisui had already left the Uchiha Clan Grounds and were walking through the bustling streets.
It was already three or four in the afternoon, approaching dinner time. The streets were full of people carrying shopping bags with groceries, and those who carried nothing were heading to restaurants.
"Brother Ren, who are we going to see?"
Shisui rubbed his nose, then turned to look at Ren and asked.
"Of course, I'm going to see my lovely subordinates."
After Ren finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly walked forward. Shisui could only quicken his pace to keep up.
Not far away, two figures were slowly walking with vegetable baskets.
"Mom, did we buy too many vegetables?"
Yao, carrying a basket full of vegetables, turned to her mother and said helplessly.
A woman in her thirties, who looked delicate but spoke with unusual firmness, said,
"Too much? Look how thin you've become; you're almost unrecognizable."
"..."
Yao put one hand on her forehead and sighed helplessly.
Ever since she returned from the front lines two days ago, her mother had been making a table full of dishes every day, claiming she wanted her to regain the weight she had lost. This resulted in her gaining several pounds in just three days. Although she had resisted, she couldn't resist how delicious the food tasted!
"Yao!"
As the two were chatting, a shout from behind made Yao pause, then turn around. Immediately, she saw Ren walking towards them, and she couldn't help but exclaim,
"Captain!"
"Yo, long time no see."
Ren nodded, smiling.
Just then, Natsume Rin, who was beside them, suddenly spoke.
"Yao, is this your friend?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Yao nodded excitedly, then introduced him,
"Mom, I kept forgetting to tell you, this is our Captain, the youngest Jonin in Konoha."
"Jonin?!"
Natsume Rin looked at Ren with a surprised expression. When she first saw Ren, she felt that he wasn't much older than Yao. She originally thought he was a Genin like Yao, but she never expected him to be a Jonin. Even her own husband, who was over forty and had been a Ninja for twenty or thirty years, was only a Special Jonin.
It wasn't surprising that she mistook him, after all, although there were teenagers like Ren who became Jonin in Konoha Village, they were definitely not many.
"Hello, Auntie. I am Hoshimi Ren. Please guide me in the future."
Ren nodded to the other party, smiling.
"You, hello."
After greeting her, Yao looked at her Captain and asked curiously,
"Captain, where are you going?"
Ren scratched his hair and grinned,
"I was originally going to look for you guys, but since I ran into you here, it's much more convenient."
"Hmm, is something wrong?"
Yao tilted her head, looking at Ren, waiting for him to continue.
"Yao, please inform Suzuki and Shio that they need to gather at the Seventh Training Ground at twelve noon tomorrow. They cannot be late."
Hearing this, Yao's eyes immediately lit up, and she asked with some anticipation,
"Captain, are we going to start missions?"
"Tsk, you'll know when you get there."
Ren chuckled, then waved to the two.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye, Auntie, Yao."
"Hey, wait!"
Natsume Rin, who had reacted, quickly called out, but Ren had already disappeared into the crowd.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Yao looked at her with some confusion and asked.
"Nothing, let's go home."
Natsume Rin shook her head, then picked up the vegetable basket and walked away with Yao, secretly regretting it in her heart.
She had originally wanted to invite him to their home for a meal, but she was a step too slow. By the time she spoke, he was already gone.