Momentum didn't announce itself.
It accumulated.
Aren felt it the morning after Team Eleven's return, standing alone on Training Ground Three before the sun had fully cleared the treeline. The air was still, chakra-responsive—ideal conditions.
Ideal for testing.
He extended one hand and exhaled slowly, guiding chakra through the tenketsu along his forearm. Not forceful. Regulated.
The system aligned instantly.
[Chakra Circulation: Stable]
[Control Efficiency: Above Genin Average]
Blue-white energy shimmered faintly around his palm—not visible enough to draw attention, but present. Real.
Aren narrowed his focus and compressed it.
The grass beneath his feet bent inward slightly.
Then he released.
A controlled pulse rippled outward, disturbing the surface of the training ground in a perfect circle. No explosion. No wasted force.
Just displacement.
The system recorded it.
[Ninjutsu Application: Chakra Shock Pulse – Incomplete]
[Assessment: Functional / Low Output / High Control]
Aren relaxed his hand.
Not flashy, he thought.
But usable.
That mattered more.
Footsteps approached behind him.
Lee's voice came first. "Aren! The sun greets us with the fire of youth!"
Tenten followed, eyeing the disturbed grass. "You training already?"
"Yes," Aren said. "Testing chakra output."
Lee leaned forward eagerly. "A new technique?"
"An adaptation," Aren replied.
Tenten studied the ground more closely. "That wasn't basic chakra release. You didn't flare at all."
"I'm minimizing loss," Aren said. "Efficiency first."
She smirked. "Figures."
They trained together soon after. Lee focused on taijutsu combinations, forcing Aren to maintain distance while reacting in real time. Tenten pressured him with controlled weapon throws—not to hit, but to herd.
Aren responded with movement and timing.
Then, when Lee overextended, Aren acted.
He slammed his palm into the ground and released chakra sharply.
Not wide.
Directed.
The earth beneath Lee's foot cracked upward just enough to throw off his balance. Lee stumbled, recovered midair, and landed hard—laughing.
"Magnificent!" Lee declared. "That was no mere trick!"
Tenten raised an eyebrow. "Earth Release?"
"Partial," Aren said. "Borrowed structure. Not affinity-based yet."
The system updated.
[Elemental Interaction: Earth – Preliminary Compatibility]
[Affinity Confirmation: Pending]
That was new.
Aren stored the information carefully.
Later that day, the mission board buzzed with activity.
C-ranks dominated the listings.
Preparation.
Aren noticed the jōnin watching from the edges of the room. Evaluating posture. Listening to tone. Measuring something unspoken.
The system confirmed his suspicion.
[Village Status: Pre-Chunin Selection Phase]
Ino stood nearby with Team Ten, pretending not to watch.
Pretending poorly.
When Aren glanced over, she didn't look away this time.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly—curious.
After assignments were handed out and teams dispersed, she approached him near the corridor.
"I heard you disrupted Lee's footing without touching him," she said quietly.
"Observation travels fast," Aren replied.
She smiled. "It does when it's interesting."
He studied her expression. No probing. No ulterior motive.
Just genuine interest.
"Ninjutsu?" she asked.
"Applied chakra control," Aren corrected. "The technique isn't complete."
"That's still impressive," she said. "Most genin our age go for power first."
"Power is inefficient without accuracy," Aren replied.
She nodded slowly. "You're building something."
"Yes."
The system chimed.
[Bond Evaluation: Stable]
[Interaction Effect: Cognitive Alignment – Minor]
Ino didn't linger.
But she looked thoughtful as she walked away.
The mission itself was routine—escort, light scouting, no confirmed hostiles. But midway through the route, Aren felt it.
A shift.
The system reacted before his conscious mind did.
[Threat Probability: Rising]
[Environmental Pattern: Artificial Disruption]
He raised a hand.
"Stop."
Lee froze instantly. Tenten already had a kunai half-drawn.
Aren knelt and pressed two fingers to the ground, feeding chakra downward—carefully, deliberately.
The earth responded.
Subtle vibrations echoed back.
Three positions.
Hidden.
"Bandits," Aren said calmly. "Poorly concealed."
Before the ambush could spring, Aren stood and formed a single hand seal.
Not flashy.
Not dramatic.
He released chakra in a focused wave that fractured the ground in front of the hidden attackers, collapsing their footing and forcing them into view.
Lee moved immediately.
Tenten followed.
The fight was brief.
Efficient.
When it was over, Aren exhaled slowly.
The system finalized its assessment.
[Ninjutsu Usage: Confirmed – Combat Viable]
[Style Trend: Control-Oriented / Tactical Deployment]
As they returned to the village at dusk, Aren felt it again.
Momentum.
Not loud.
Not dangerous.
But undeniable.
He was no longer just observing power.
He was shaping it.
And this time, when eyes lingered on him, he didn't retreat from the attention.
He measured it.
Used it.
Some growth, Aren decided, required visibility.
End of Chapter 15
Author's Note
📅 Regular Schedule: Daily updates will continue
💎 Bonus Chapters: Every 10 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
Thanks for reading and supporting the story 🙏 Comments & Power Stones help a lot with visibility!