Training Ground.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Several streams of water appeared around Ren, continuously rotating and expanding, and in a moment, a water vortex rose from the ground.
"Attack!"
As Ren's words fell, the water vortex paused, and then crashed down like a waterfall! The immense impact instantly caused large pits to explode in the surrounding ground. While changing the environment, it also preserved most of the water.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Ren, standing by the river, surged his Chakra, and in a moment, a water dragon burst from the river in front of him, guided by Chakra, it crashed into a row of neatly arranged wooden stakes by the river, its momentum astonishing.
"Crack!"
A series of cracking sounds continuously rang out, and after destroying five wooden stakes in a row, it finally dissipated weakly. Ren continued to form hand signs, and as soon as the wooden stakes fell to the ground, another low shout came.
Ren showed no signs of stopping, his hands rapidly flying. The surrounding water began to churn again.
"Water Release: Surging Water Strike!"
The large amount of water left over from the Water Shockwave did not dissipate. Under the control of Chakra, these water currents converged beneath Ren's feet, covering the nearby ground with a thick layer of water, looking like a "water carpet" from a distance.
Ren paused his steps, sliding rapidly across the water, rushing towards the remaining wooden stakes. His speed was significantly faster than before. He gripped a Kunai in his left hand, which was quickly covered by a layer of Water Release Chakra, making it even sharper.
Water Release: Water Blade Slash!
A cold light flashed, and the remaining five wooden stakes were instantly cut in half! The cuts were neat and uniform. After falling to the ground, they all revealed smooth cross-sections.
"Whew."
The Chakra on the Kunai dissipated, and the water surface, no longer supported by Chakra, also collapsed, seeping entirely into the soil after landing on the ground.
Ren looked at the muddy half of the training ground in front of him, a slight smile on his lips.
Finally, hard work pays off. After seven days and nights of training with Shadow Clones, he finally successfully mastered about seventy to eighty per cent of the second-generation A-rank Water Release Ninjutsu, and even developed a set of Water Release combos.
It's just that...
Ren felt the thin layer of Chakra remaining in his body and instantly gave a bitter smile.
The damage is truly high, and it's truly cool, but the consumption is also truly high.
After just one set of these combos, Ren's Chakra was reduced by eighty per cent, leaving only a pitiful twenty per cent.
This further solidified Ren's determination to capture a Tailed Beast in the future. The amount of Chakra he had now was only about one card's worth. It was fine for quick battles, but if he encountered someone with thick skin and a preference for prolonged fights, Ren would definitely be at a disadvantage.
"Not bad."
A voice came, and Ren turned his head to see Kosuke walking towards him. Ren quickly went to meet him.
"Kosuke-senpai."
"Hmm."
Kosuke nodded at Ren, looking at the muddy half of the training ground in front of him. Even he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"I really didn't expect your talent in Ninjutsu to be so high. Hokage-sama truly didn't misjudge you."
"Huh?"
Ren felt a bit confused. What did this have to do with Hiruzen Sarutobi? Before he could finish thinking, Kosuke waved his hand at him.
"Your training is over. I also need to report back to Hokage-sama."
"Yes, thank you for your trouble during this time, Kosuke-senpai!"
Hearing Ren's words, Kosuke paused his steps, and without looking back, he left with a single phrase, "Train hard," and disappeared using the Instantaneous Body Technique.
Ren bowed respectfully in the direction Kosuke had left, then walked to the shade of a tree and began to recover his Chakra.
...
Hokage Office.
"You're back. How was it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the man kneeling before him, smoking his pipe and asking in a low voice.
"He is extremely excellent. His talent in Ninjutsu is probably not inferior to yours. Not only did he master a large number of advanced Water Release Ninjutsu in just a few days, but he also developed a combo technique on his own. If he doesn't die young in the future..."
"The future is promising!"
Hearing Kosuke's high praise for Ren, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyebrows in surprise, and the office fell into a brief silence.
"It seems my teacher's legacy has a successor."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, and Kosuke, across from him, lowered his head and said nothing.
"When you believe he is strong enough to stand on his own, give him the rest."
Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking leisurely, then sat back in his office chair, put down his pipe, and prepared to continue handling official business.
"Yes!"
Kosuke then instantly disappeared from where he stood, his whereabouts unknown.
"Naiken."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
A figure appeared in front of the desk, kneeling and waiting for the Hokage's command.
"Find someone to notify Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Uchiha Ryufeng to gather here. You go notify Hoshimi Ren to gather here."
"Yes!"
As soon as the words fell, the Anbu left, and the large Hokage Office was once again left with only one person silently handling official business...
...
"Hokage-sama wants to see me?"
Ren looked at the Anbu in front of him, feeling completely bewildered. What was going on? He just finished training, and they called him over. Was it to ask about his post-training thoughts? Never mind what he wants to do, I'll know when I get there.
"Let's go."
The Anbu nodded at Ren, and the two of them, one in front and one behind, rushed towards the Hokage Building.
Upon reaching the outside of the Hokage Office, the Anbu left, leaving Ren alone to step forward and knock on the door.
"Come in."
Ren pushed the door open, and as soon as he closed it, he noticed that besides Hiruzen Sarutobi, there were also Uchiha Ryufeng and an unfamiliar middle-aged man in the room.
"Hokage-sama."
After bowing, Ren stood in a line with the other two, all looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, awaiting his explanation.
"Everyone is here, so I'll get straight to the point. I have a mission here for you to complete. For now, you will form a temporary team, led by Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Alright, you may go discuss how to complete this mission."
The three, who hadn't even reacted yet, were thus ushered out by Hiruzen Sarutobi. The three remaining outside the door exchanged glances. The atmosphere temporarily fell into an awkward silence.
"Hello, I am Sarutobi Shinnosuke, your temporary team leader."
Seeing Sarutobi Shinnosuke's outstretched hand, Ren quickly reached out.
"Hello, Captain. I am Hoshimi Ren. Please guide me."
"Hmm, Ryufeng and I already know each other, so no need for further introductions."
Uchiha Ryufeng nodded. The three walked to a corner, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke opened the mission slip in his hand. After seeing it, all three had somewhat strange expressions.
"This is... a training exercise, right?"
Ryufeng's gaze turned to Ren.
Ren spread his hands.
"I roughly understand the situation, so Captain, what do you think?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's face was serious. He formed a hand sign, and the paper slip in his hand began to burn.
"Go back and prepare. Gather at the Konoha Village gate in fifteen minutes."
"Yes!" X2
Then the three instantly disappeared from where they stood, leaving only a burning paper slip falling to the ground. A few words could vaguely be seen on it.
"Eliminate mountain bandits"