After the initial surge of excitement faded, the Uchiha district gradually fell quiet. One by one, the lights dimmed, and the night settled in.
"…Ren, I should go."
Uchiha Mikoto's soft voice drifted near his ear as she pushed herself up.
Under the gentle moonlight streaming through the window, a few strands of hair clung to her slightly flushed cheeks. Her beauty, softened by the quiet night, felt almost unreal.
"Mm. Take care, Mikoto."
Uchiha Ren replied lazily, his voice carrying a faint huskiness.
She adjusted her slightly disheveled clothes, movements careful, a hint of lingering shyness in her expression.
He watched her with quiet satisfaction, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Next time…" he murmured lightly, leaning forward just a bit.
Mikoto froze for a split second, then shot him a flustered look, cheeks deepening in color.
"Don't push your luck."
The words came out firm—but the softness in her eyes betrayed her.
Ren chuckled under his breath, not pressing further.
Instead, he reached out gently.
Their farewell lingered—quiet, warm, and unspoken.
After a moment, Mikoto stepped back, her gaze lowered.
"I really should go."
Her voice was soft, almost shy.
At the door, she paused briefly, then turned—
A fleeting glance.
A small wave.
Then she disappeared into the night.
—
Ren stood by the window, watching until she was completely out of sight.
Only then did he return to the sofa.
Closing his eyes, his Sharingan stirred silently.
A faint ripple of chakra—
"Poof."
A plump orange cat appeared, sprawled across the cushion.
It was his summon—orange cat—fast asleep, belly rising and falling, whiskers twitching occasionally.
"…I'm hungry."
"Go make something."
The cat jolted awake, blinking in confusion.
It looked at Ren.
Then at the moon outside.
Then back again.
Its expression slowly turned into silent resentment.
Still—
It didn't dare refuse.
Stretching lazily, it hopped down and shuffled toward the kitchen.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
With two soft puffs, identical clones appeared—each wearing tiny Uchiha outfits.
One grabbed a spatula.
The other began preparing ingredients.
The original curled up at the doorway—
And went right back to sleep.
—
Ren leaned back, listening to the faint sounds from the kitchen.
His consciousness sank inward.
Into the space of his Sharingan.
In the void, an ancient stone gate stood silently.
He infused it with chakra.
Patterns lit up.
Energy gathered—
And formed a shimmering bubble before him.
Inside it—
An object floated.
A slender, elegant device—crafted with a blend of crystal-like clarity and smooth, marble-like texture.
Compact.
Refined.
Radiating a quiet, sacred brilliance.
Ren froze.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
His eyes widened.
Then—
A grin slowly spread across his face.
[Item: Spark Lens]
[Description: An object that appears ordinary in most hands, yet in the right hands can shine with the power to overturn despair.]
[Origin: Ultraman Tiga]
—
Back in reality—
Ren opened his eyes instantly.
Without hesitation, he summoned it into his hand.
The texture was strange—
Firm like metal, yet warm, almost alive.
The elegant design shimmered faintly under the light.
He turned it over in his hand again and again, unable to hide the excitement rising in his usually calm eyes.
A childhood dream—
Now in his grasp.
In a blur—
He vanished.
The next instant, he appeared in his bedroom upstairs.
"Click."
"Click."
Doors locked.
Windows shut.
Every possible opening sealed tight.
No one would see what came next.
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