Ren Kurosawa was discharged from the hospital early in the morning, his body still slightly sore, but enough to move and train again. The doctor approached, holding the release scroll with a serious expression.
"Ren, you recovered quickly, but listen carefully: no more accidents. Training is one thing, getting injured until you pass out is another. Understood?"
Ren nodded, still feeling the weight of the reprimand.
"Good. Now go, and let's hope you don't need to come back anytime soon," said the doctor, with a slight relieved smile.
As he left the hospital, Ren barely had time to enjoy it: an ANBU was waiting discreetly outside. The man approached and spoke in a low, firm voice.
"The Hokage wants to see you. Now."
Ren felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Part of him wanted to run there, shouting with joy; another part felt embarrassed for having been in the hospital. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and assumed his most "innocent child" expression, trying to win over the Hokage.
"Yes! I'll… I'll go now, Grandpa Hiruzen!" he said, his eyes shining with a shy smile.
When he arrived at the Hokage's residence, Hiruzen was waiting, seated, with a calm but firm expression, radiating authority. The old Hokage looked at Ren with curiosity.
"Ren Kurosawa… I heard about what happened. Explain everything, from start to finish."
Ren took a deep breath and began, with the honesty he could show without seeming reckless.
"I… I was training my body and some basic jutsus I found in a scroll my parents left at home. I just wanted to improve… but then an animal — a chakra-enhanced boar — appeared and attacked me. It was… difficult. But I managed to defeat it."
Hiruzen raised his eyebrows, balancing surprise and attention. "And you were alone?"
"Yes, alone… but… I'm fine now. I just needed to rest," Ren replied, maintaining the posture of a respectful child while still showing enthusiasm for his accomplishment.
The Hokage paused, observing him. A slight smile appeared on his lips, restrained, as if trying to hide his surprise at the boy's talent and courage.
"Training alone and facing something like that… you were lucky to survive, Ren. But it also shows… potential. You need to channel it carefully, or you could put yourself in danger again."
Ren felt a chill in his stomach, but also a warm pride. He began mentally planning how to improve without repeating mistakes: better chakra control, strategic use of the Palm of Wind, training with the metal sword, and focus on physical endurance.
Hiruzen then decided to test the child. "And what do you think of Konohagakure?" he asked, his gaze attentive.
Ren took a deep breath, maintaining his innocent child persona, but answering with conviction:
"I… I want to protect the village, Grandpa Hiruzen. Protect the children, so they don't suffer… so no one loses their parents like mine did," he said, his eyes shining, yet still shy like a child.
The Hokage smiled, genuinely pleased with the answer. "I see you already understand the Will of Fire, Ren. It's good to see a child with such awareness and heart."
After reflecting for a moment, Hiruzen continued, with a more firm and approving expression:
"Listen carefully. Next month, when the new school year begins at the academy, you will be allowed to **enter early**. For your performance and courage, I will also **increase your stipend**. I want to see you keep evolving, but carefully."
Ren felt his heart race with excitement. He was thrilled, but also aware of the responsibility this entailed. Every training session, every choice, every step forward now carried weight, because the Hokage was watching him closely.
As he left the Hokage's office, Ren felt a mixture of pride, responsibility, and the awareness that now he was **under close observation**, and that every step of his training had to be calculated.
He took a deep breath, looking at the sky over Konoha. His journey of learning was just beginning, but for the first time, he truly felt on the path to becoming **more than just a talented child — someone capable of shaping his own destiny in this world**.
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