Ōnoki left in the end.
Once Shinji had made up his mind, Ōnoki had no way to oppose him.
Nor did he have the strength to.
After all, Shinji really did defy all reason. Ōnoki had never believed there could be someone else in the world who could master Dust Release without being taught by a predecessor.
Yet here he was.
It made no sense at all.
As for Kurotsuchi...
Ōnoki understood Shinji's intentions. He wanted Kurotsuchi to befriend that girl and gradually change her outlook.
That meant his granddaughter would be safe for the time being.
Beneath Kannabi Bridge.
Kurotsuchi crouched in front of Uchiha Nanashi and poked her soft cheek. "It's incredible. She's lived for over a hundred years, and yet..."
"She looks about my age?"
"And she had this much power when she was so young? Does anyone in the Uchiha Clan make sense?"
Shisui leaned against a large rock, arms folded.
His expression darkened.
He thought Shinji had made a mistake.
Even if Uchiha Nanashi really did become friends with this girl and let go of her hatred for the Uchiha and the Shinobi World...
Shisui didn't dare imagine what the two of them would be like together!
"All right. Wake her up."
"Oh..."
Kurotsuchi crouched there, staring at Uchiha Nanashi's cute face, unsure what to do. "How am I supposed to wake her?"
"Insult her, or just give her a slap."
"Huh?"
Kurotsuchi looked up in shock. Shinji's expression was perfectly serious.
She hesitated, then frowned.
"Idiot!"
Shinji: "..."
Shisui: "..."
"Idiot! Idiot!"
Shisui was baffled. He slapped a hand over his face, unable to watch any longer. What a sight.
Shinji couldn't help laughing.
"Doesn't look like it's working. Want to try slapping her?"
Kurotsuchi hesitated. "But won't she come after me when