Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Slime Sparring Shenanigans (Don't Tell Iruka)

The next afternoon, Konoha's training ground #7 buzzed with unsupervised chaos. Academy brats turned it into a free-for-all—kunai flying, bad Rasengans fizzling, and one Hyuga kid yelling "Byakugan!" at a squirrel.Ren Uchiha lounged against a stump, munching stolen dango (Predator-perfected duplication = infinite snacks). Naruto Uzumaki bounced like a caffeinated pinball. "C'mon, Ren! Spar time! I'll show you Multi-Shadow Clone mastery!"Sasuke Uchiha stood a few paces away, arms crossed, looking like he'd rather brood than breathe. But his eyes tracked Ren—ever since the "confetti incident."Suspicion meter: Orange, Ren noted. Great Sage, threat level?[Sasuke Uchiha: Genin potential, Sharingan stage 1. Combat threat: Moderate. Intel value: High. Recommendation: Impress without full reveal. Use 30% slime capacity.]"Alright, fox-boy," Ren called, cracking knuckles. "3-way free-for-all. No jutsu over C-rank, no crying to Iruka. Loser cleans the winner's shoes for a month."Naruto grinned maniacally. "Dattebayo! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Poof poof poof! Four clones charged—sloppy, but spirited.Sasuke snorted. "Pathetic." His hands blurred—Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu (smaller scale)—a fireball roared toward the clones.Ren smirked. Showtime. He darted forward with Thought Acceleration, dodging flames like they were standing still. Sharingan hadn't awakened yet, but slime senses made chakra flows glow like neon signs.[Chakra mapping complete: Naruto—raw stamina. Sasuke—precision killer. Counter: Absorb and redirect.]A clone tackled Ren—splat! He let it "hit," body half-melting to engulf the clone's arm. Predator activate (micro-mode). Chakra siphoned—poof, clone gone, ramen cravings analyzed as bonus."Ha! Gotcha!" Naruto yelled—then blinked. "Wait, where'd my clone go?""Eaten," Ren quipped, reforming seamlessly. "Tastes like determination and cup noodles. 6/10."Sasuke's eyes widened fractionally. He flickered forward—Shishi Rendan! Aerial combo, perfect form.Ren laughed. Predictable. He parried with slime-extended limbs, turning rubbery to absorb impacts. Punch after kick—boing boing—redirecting Sasuke into a bush."Too rigid, teme—er, Sasuke-cousin. Loosen up! Like this." Ren demonstrated: body rippling, launching a Water Whip (synthesized from yesterday's tags + ambient moisture). It lassoed Sasuke mid-air, slamming him down—gently.Naruto howled with laughter. "Ren 1, Broody 0!"Sasuke exploded up, tomoe spinning. Sharingan active. "What are you?" Fireball barrage—Phoenix Flower Jutsu.[Incoming: 7 fireballs. Mana conversion optimal.]Ren's core thrummed. Eat this. He expanded into a dome shield—flames hit, sank in. Predator guzzled the chakra, converting to his own fire affinity. "Mmm, spicy! Acquired: Phoenix Flower variant. Thanks for the upgrade!"The barrage vanished into his gooey mass. Ren burped a tiny flame puff. "Pardon."Naruto charged with a Rasengan proto-windmill fist. "My turn!" Ren sidestepped, tripping him with a slime tendril—splat into mud."Down you go, ramen warrior."Sasuke flanked—kunai storm. Ren melted low, reforming behind him. "Boo." Gentle neck chop—chakra-precise knockout (self-regen perk).Naruto popped up. "Cheater! More clones!" Ten now—swarm attack.Party time. Ren went full playful slime: split into five mini-Rens, each grappling a clone. Predator montage—clones poofed one by one, chakra stockpiled.[Absorbed: Shadow Clone x9. Chakra reserves +45%. Skill synthesis: Slime Clone imminent.]Last clone down, Ren reformed—taller, hair faintly blue-tinged before snapping back. Naruto panted, grinning despite loss. "You're... nuts! What was that? Summon? Bloodline?"Sasuke stirred, rubbing his neck. "Not Uchiha... but you copied my fireball."Ren winked, intelligent glint sharp. "Trade secret. Call it 'Ultimate Skill: Eat and Repeat.' Wanna rematch? Or admit defeat and polish my sandals?"Naruto groaned theatrically. "Fiiiine! But next time, I win!"Sasuke stood, dusting off. "Hn. Train properly. Whatever that was... refine it." A ghost of respect flickered—he walked off, but slower.As Naruto rambled about ramen revenge, Ren fist-bumped him. Allies forged. Sasuke intrigued. Powers leveled.[Post-battle: Fire affinity 28%, Clone synthesis ready. Warning: Iruka approaching—chakra signatures detected.]Iruka burst from the trees. "What happened here?! Sasuke down? Naruto muddy? Ren—you're in detention!"Ren sighed happily. "Worth it. Great Sage, log: Spar success. Ninja life: 10/10."Under the setting sun, Konoha's future wildcard plotted his next troll. Akatsuki? Orochimaru? Bring the snacks.