Another cycle of seasons turned over Konoha. The vibrant greens of summer faded into the crisp golds and reds of autumn, which surrendered in turn to the stark, cold beauty of winter, only to reluctantly give way to the budding promise of spring once more. For Ren, now nine years old, this passage of time was less marked by changing scenery and more by the steady, incremental climb of numbers on his internal Status screen. The Academy routine had become second nature: lessons, drills, maintaining the facade of average competence, followed by the intense, secret grind of his true pursuits.
His diligence, both overt and covert, bore fruit.
[Name: Ren]
[Title: Academy Student (Final Year)]
[Level: 4 -> 6] (Accumulated EXP from skill mastery and minor objective completions)
[HP: 80/80 -> 110/110] (CON increases from Level Ups & Body Adaptation)
[CP: 80/80 -> 130/130 (Regen: 2.0/min -> 2.5/min)] (Increases from Level Ups & Chakra Control improvements)
[Status Points: 10 (Unspent)] (Saving for strategic allocation)
[Skills:]
- Gamer's Mind (Passive) Lv. MAX
- Gamer's Body (Passive) Lv. MAX
- Observe (Active) Lv. 4 -> 5 (Significant gains in data yield & interpretation)
- Basic Language Comprehension (Konoha Standard) (Passive) Lv. MAX
- Basic Chakra Control (Active/Passive) Lv. 6 -> 9 (88.2%)] (Water Walking imminent, fine control vastly improved)
- Academy Taijutsu (Passive/Active) Lv. 2 -> 4 (Solid defensive forms, quicker reactions)
- Throwing Accuracy (Passive) Lv. 2 -> 3 (Reliable accuracy at standard Academy ranges)
- Transformation Jutsu (Active) Lv. 3 -> 5 (Convincing transformations of similar humanoids/large objects)
- Substitution Jutsu (Active) Lv. 2 -> 4 (Faster execution, reaction time slightly improved)
- Clone Jutsu (Active) Lv. 4 -> 5 (Multiple stable clones maintainable with minimal focus)
- Stealth Basics (Passive/Active) Lv. 1 -> 3 (Improved silent movement, better awareness of light/shadow)
- Trap Setting (Basic) Lv. 1 -> 2 (Can identify/set simple tripwires and pitfalls)
- Basic Fuinjutsu Theory (Passive) Lv. 1 (35.7%)] (Slowly deciphering foundational concepts from damaged scroll)
- Seal Script Calligraphy (Active) Lv. 1 -> 2 (11.5%)] (Can draw simple, foundational seal characters with moderate success rate)
- Chakra Flow Efficiency (Passive) Lv. 1 (2.4%)] (Requires meditative practice/further study. Currently reducing all active skill costs by 1%)
[Skill Seeds:]
- [Water Walking Preparation] (Requires Control Lv. 10)
The slow but steady progress in Fuinjutsu Theory and Seal Script Calligraphy felt like uncovering an ancient, powerful language. Each deciphered paragraph, each successfully replicated character, buzzed with latent potential. The Chakra Flow Efficiency skill, unlocked after painstakingly deciphering the tattered student notebook, was a quiet powerhouse, passively making every chakra expenditure slightly less taxing – a critical advantage for someone starting with baseline reserves. Ren dedicated time each night to simple chakra cycling meditation, not just to improve control but also to slowly feed proficiency into this vital passive skill.
His upgrade to Observe Lv. 5 proved its worth daily. Monitoring Mizuki became less about guessing and more about confirmed, chilling facts. The white-haired Chunin projected an aura of helpfulness, but Observe cut through the facade like a knife.
Observe: Mizuki. Level: Chunin (Mid-High). Skills: Academy Jutsu (Adept+), Deception (Expert), Kenjutsu (Novice), Subtle Manipulation (Adept+), Stealth (Adept). Active Buffs: [Constant Vigilance (Self)], [Chakra Suppression (Minor)], [Concealed Malice (Moderate Effectiveness)]. Traits: High Malice, Resentful (Konoha System/Iruka), Ambitious (Ruthless), Orochimaru Sympathizer/Agent (Confirmed via Intent Analysis). Current Primary Intention: Identify and Groom Vulnerable Target for Forbidden Scroll Theft. Secondary Intention: Sabotage Iruka's Career/Reputation. Emotional State: Impatience, Underlying Greed, Feigned Cordiality.
The picture was stark. The [Concealed Malice] buff explained why his negative intent hadn't always been fully exposed at lower Observe levels. The confirmation of his allegiance to Orochimaru and his specific goal regarding the Forbidden Scroll removed any lingering doubt. Graduation day, Naruto's inevitable failure on the basic Clone Jutsu, Mizuki's manipulative offer – the sequence of events clicked into sharp, terrifying focus. Ren felt a cold dread settle in his stomach, a feeling only partially mitigated by Gamer's Mind. Knowing wasn't the same as being prepared.
What to do? Direct confrontation was unthinkable; Mizuki was a seasoned Chunin, Ren a Genin-in-training with hidden potential but limited combat application yet. Alerting the Hokage directly? An orphan claiming a respected Chunin was a traitor plotting to steal a legendary artifact? He'd be dismissed as delusional, or worse, draw Danzo's scrutiny for knowing things he shouldn't. Warning Naruto was equally futile; the boy craved acknowledgment and would latch onto Mizuki's false promise like a lifeline, dismissing Ren as just another person doubting him.
That left Iruka. The man genuinely cared for Naruto. But how to warn him without revealing Ren's impossible knowledge? A direct, verbal warning faced the same credibility issues. "Sensei, I overheard Mizuki plotting..." Overheard where? When? How? The questions would immediately expose Ren's fabricated premise.
An anonymous tip. It felt like the only viable, low-risk option. But the message had to be perfect – specific enough to ring alarm bells for Iruka after Naruto went missing with the scroll, but vague enough beforehand not to seem like prophetic nonsense or endanger Ren. It needed to leverage Iruka's known protective instincts towards Naruto and his inherent distrust of easy shortcuts, subtly pointing suspicion towards Mizuki without naming him outright.
Ren spent several evenings painstakingly drafting the note on cheap parchment bought from a market stall. The act of writing was unexpectedly challenging. His Seal Script Calligraphy Lv. 2, while basic, enforced precision. Deliberately writing in a crude, childish hand required consciously suppressing his improving fine motor control and chakra infusion, making the letters look authentically shaky and ill-formed. He used generic ink, smudged it slightly for effect. After several attempts, he settled on the wording he'd considered before: "Be wary of silver tongues after the exam, Iruka-sensei. Not all smiles are kind. Look closely at who offers easy paths to those who stumble. Trust your gut." Short, cryptic, planting a seed of doubt aimed squarely at anyone offering Naruto an unconventional way to pass after failing.
The delivery method was the next hurdle. Slipping it into Iruka's grade book felt too risky – discovered too early, or perhaps found by Mizuki himself. Under his apartment door, late on the night after the graduation exam, seemed safest. Ren started using his Stealth Basics Lv. 3 for short nighttime 'excursions', mapping routes through the village shadows, identifying blind spots in patrols (mostly nonexistent around the civilian sectors late at night), and locating Iruka's modest apartment building near the Academy district. Preparation was key.
Alongside these covert plans, Ren diligently maintained his Academy performance. He aced written tests but held back slightly on scores. He performed the Academy Three reliably but rarely flawlessly in drills. In spars, he continued his strategy of solid defense, occasionally scoring a 'lucky' hit but often ending in draws or narrow losses against more aggressive opponents like Kiba or even civilian students with more natural athleticism. He had to ensure he graduated, ideally placed on a team where he wouldn't be overshadowed by clan prodigies but could still gain real experience. Being the 'quiet, competent orphan' was the goal.
The final year at the Academy felt charged with a different kind of tension. The approaching graduation wasn't just an academic milestone; it was the first major divergence point where Ren's knowledge demanded intervention. The weight of that knowledge felt heavier each day. Could his vague note truly influence events? What if Iruka dismissed it? What if Mizuki overpowered Iruka regardless? Gamer's Mind ran probabilities, calculated risks, but couldn't eliminate the knot of anxiety tightening in Ren's chest. He could only prepare, lay his subtle trap, and hope his interference tilted the odds just enough. The first real test of his ability to manipulate the future without shattering it was drawing dangerously close.