"Brother Chiga, are you a fairy?"
"Brother Chiga, will you want to eat me?"
"Brother Chiga, can you teach me that move you just did? Once I learn it, I won't be afraid of Belle-mère scolding me anymore!"
On the way back, Nami clung to Chiga, chattering incessantly, while Nojiko shook her head helplessly, continuously pulling Nami, who kept pressing against Chiga's leg.
"When you're a bit older, and as ladylike as Nojiko, perhaps I'll teach you." Chiga flicked Nami's forehead, making a boop sound. Chiga rubbed his hands, quite satisfied with the feel.
Nami covered her head with both hands, pouting and grumbling, "Stingy! I see you only like Nojiko! Wuwuwu, aren't I precious anymore??"
Nami's playful antics made Nojiko blush. Annoyed, she gently patted Nami's little head again, then shyly stole a glance at Chiga.
However, her small movements, of course, couldn't escape Chiga's eyes.
After all, with the Uchiha clan's excellent genes, coupled with his slightly aloof demeanor, he held a great attraction for these slightly precocious little girls. And then there were his mysterious eyes, dangerous yet possessing a fatal allure.
Hmph! These damned genes, and this damned excellence! Chiga outwardly remained as steady as an old dog, but inwardly, he was shamelessly indulging in self-admiration!
Belle-mère silently followed behind them, her eyes fixed on Chiga's back.
What was that power? Was it the power of a Devil Fruit? But she had seen Chiga jump into the sea to catch fish; aren't all Devil Fruit users unable to swim?
Numerous questions made the young man before her seem like a mystery she was eager to unravel.
Upon entering the village and reaching the crossroads where they would part ways, Belle-mère seemed to have made up her mind. She told Nojiko and Nami to go back first, saying she had something to deal with. Although Nami and Nojiko were a bit puzzled, they obediently went home.
After they left, only Belle-mère and Chiga remained at the crossroads. Chiga looked at Belle-mère, knowing she had something to ask him, and spoke,
"Sister Belle-mère, is there something you need?"
Belle-mère took a deep breath and cautiously said,
"Chiga, this might be a bit presumptuous to ask, but I mean no harm. Can I ask who exactly you are? After all, it's really hard to understand why someone with that kind of ability would stay in a small, insignificant place like the East Blue for ten years, right? And those eyes, they aren't just peculiar in appearance, are they? Of course, if this question makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. Please don't take it to heart!"
Belle-mère rattled off a string of questions, her ten fingers intertwined, anxiously awaiting Chiga's reply.
Chiga looked at her deeply, then smiled. He greatly admired Belle-mère, having watched the anime.
Although her strength wasn't high, the scene of her smiling in the face of death to protect Nami deeply moved him at the time. He knew she was a good person, so he didn't feel any negative emotions about her questions.
After some thought, Chiga said in a low voice,
"It's fine. You just need to know that I'm not a bad person. As for these eyes, you can understand them as our family's innate talent. They are called the Rinnegan, the eyes of a Sage. That move just now was released through them; it's one of my abilities. As for my clan, you could say I come from the Sage lineage, the Uchiha clan."
Sage, Uchiha, Rinnegan, one of his abilities—Belle-mère was greatly shocked upon hearing these. Although she had never heard of the Uchiha clan, from Chiga's performance, it must be an extremely powerful clan.
Chiga saw Belle-mère there, with no reaction, so he continued,
"Some things happened, and I have some memory loss, but I still remember that I am the last surviving member of this clan in this world. As for why I stayed on this island for so long… have you ever considered that I was only six years old when I arrived in the village? Where could I have gone at that age?"
"Uh, I guess that's true." Belle-mère scratched her head awkwardly. "So, what are your plans next? With that kind of ability, you surely won't stay here your whole life, right?"
"Hmm, I plan to join the Marines."