"Alright, Ren. Go on in—I'll be waiting for you outside," Uchiha Nobuhiko said with a smile, giving his son a gentle push forward.
Ren Takashi nodded. "Got it. I'm going."
He stepped into the academy's training grounds, where the entrance assessment was already underway. The process was straightforward: a physical fitness test—specifically, a five-kilometer run within a set time limit—and an optional talent evaluation.
Candidates could choose to demonstrate skills in ninja tools, chakra control, or even basic ninjutsu. Extra credit was given for participation, but skipping the talent portion wasn't penalized.
Naturally, Ren breezed through all of it, earning top marks across the board. He showcased a portion of his ninja tool proficiency and chakra control, and even performed the Three Basic Techniques and the Fireball Jutsu—though with their power carefully restrained.
After all, he still intended to become Tsunade's student.
Ren had a strong suspicion that the Third Hokage was observing today's evaluations—especially since his recent reputation as a genius had been spreading like wildfire. This was the perfect opportunity to leave a favorable impression.
He wasn't wrong.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was watching everything unfold through his Crystal Ball Jutsu. Puffing lightly on his pipe, he furrowed his brows.
"That chakra volume… must be around the level of an average chunin already."
"And from the reports I received, he hasn't been training for more than two months…"
"To already have such a chakra reserve? His physical constitution and vitality must be far above the Uchiha average."
"No wonder he's so talented in medical ninjutsu—it's clear proof of strong yang chakra affinity."
"And on top of that, both his tool work and mastery of basic ninjutsu are solid—better than many freshly graduated genin."
"This boy's talent is undeniable."
A glint of calculation flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes.
"A genius like him must either be brought under my control… or eliminated before he becomes a weapon of the Uchiha."
…
Ren's test concluded smoothly. After saying goodbye to Mikoto, he followed his father home.
Official classes hadn't started yet. The afternoon was for receiving results, and the actual school year began the next day.
"How do you think it went?" Nobuhiko asked as they walked.
Ren gave him a side glance. "Really, Dad? You know how easy that was."
"Haha! Fair enough! My son's a genius, after all," Nobuhiko laughed, then ruffled Ren's hair.
Ren groaned, batting his father's hand away and fixing his tousled hair, which only made his father laugh louder.
That afternoon, Ren returned to the academy to collect his assessment results.
As expected, he had been placed into Class 1-A.
"Huh? You're in Class A too? Looks like we'll be classmates!" said a cheerful voice.
Ren turned to see a blond boy approaching him with an outstretched hand.
"I'm Minato Namikaze. Thanks for the advice earlier today, by the way!"
Ren blinked, then smiled in recognition. During the morning's run, he'd casually given the boy a tip about controlling breathing rhythm.
"You're that guy. I'm Ren Takashi—nice to meet you officially," Ren said, shaking his hand.
Of course he remembered. This was Minato Namikaze—someone Ren planned to recruit into his future Uchiha alliance.
His earlier comment during the run had been no coincidence—it was a calculated opening move.
From what Ren observed, Minato was definitely a civilian-born student; he hadn't even grasped basic breathing techniques used in shinobi conditioning. That, too, made him an ideal candidate for early bonding.
"Oh no, it's my pleasure! Compared to you, I've got a long way to go," Minato replied, a warm and slightly bashful smile on his face.
"Don't sell yourself short," Ren countered with a grin. "You picked up my advice immediately and adjusted on the fly. That shows potential. I doubt you'd be in Class A if you didn't have real talent."
"You think so?" Minato's eyes lit up with genuine surprise.
"Absolutely. Want to celebrate a little? My treat."
"Eh? That might be a bit much…" Minato hesitated, clearly reluctant.
Ren noticed and waved a hand dismissively. "Don't be silly. We're friends, right? And besides, I'm a Uchiha. Money's not exactly a problem. Don't make me ask again—or are you saying you don't want to hang out?"
Minato's cheeks colored slightly. "...Alright. I'll repay you one day, promise."
"That's more like it. Come on!"
Ren clapped him on the shoulder and led him through the commercial district, treating him to a selection of local snacks and street food.
As the sun began to set, Minato reluctantly tried to turn down the armload of leftover treats—only for Ren to stuff it all into his hands anyway.
"Minato! Take care! See you tomorrow!" Ren called out, waving.
"Yeah! See you!" Minato waved back, watching Ren disappear into the crowd.
Looking down at the food in his arms, his expression softened.
"People say the Uchiha are arrogant and difficult," he murmured to himself. "But… Takashi-kun doesn't seem that way at all."
Orphaned, poor, and often shunned, Minato had experienced enough coldness from the world to know sincerity when he saw it.
And Ren Takashi… felt real.