Ren smiled faintly as the long-awaited notification finally appeared before his eyes. He had been monitoring Ino's progress carefully, measuring her stance stability, reaction timing, and strike precision.
{Ding! Ino Yamanaka has reached Genin-level in Taijutsu.}
His lips curved upward slightly.
{Rewards obtained –
1. Six Eyes enhancement.
2. Talent Enhancement (can only be used on Ino Yamanaka).}
"So she finally crossed the line," Ren murmured softly. "Took you long enough, Ino."
Without wasting time, he lay down and activated Spiritual Training Mode. His body stilled while his consciousness separated smoothly, phasing through the walls of his house.
Moments later, he arrived at the Yamanaka compound.
Inside her room, Ino Yamanaka was asleep, hugging her pillow tightly. Even in sleep, her brows twitched occasionally as if she were arguing with someone in a dream.
Ren hovered beside her quietly.
"System, use Talent Enhancement on Ino."
{Talent Enhancement in process…}
{Processing…}
{Processing…}
{Processing…}
A subtle glow surrounded her for a brief moment, invisible to normal eyes. Her chakra coils refined gently, her mental pathways stabilizing and expanding in silent evolution.
Ren observed carefully.
"Good," he muttered. "Your clan techniques will benefit the most from this."
When the process completed, he withdrew without another word.
Ino stirred faintly.
"Why did I feel like Ren was here?" she mumbled groggily, eyes half-open.
She yawned widely.
"Ugh… stupid dreams."
Then she fell back asleep.
Ren never heard that.
Back in his room, his consciousness returned to his body. He lay still for a moment before speaking quietly.
"System, use Six Eyes enhancement."
{Processing…}
{Processing…}
{Processing…}
{Processing…}
His vision faded into darkness as he fell into deep sleep.
The next morning, he opened his eyes—and the world felt different.
"More… colorful?" Ren blinked slowly. "That's not the right word."
It was as if layers had peeled away from reality itself. Chakra flows shimmered with greater clarity. Distances compressed under his gaze.
He stood up and focused.
From inside his house, he could see beyond the village walls.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"My range increased by several kilometers," he estimated calmly. "That's ridiculous."
It had already been broken before.
Now it was unfair.
He stretched lightly and walked toward the academy.
"Today's a rare break from morning exercise," Naruto announced loudly the moment Ren arrived.
"You sound disappointed," Ren replied dryly.
"I am!" Naruto Uzumaki grinned. "I wanted to race you."
"You'd lose," Ren said flatly.
"Oi! At least pretend to encourage me!"
"I am encouraging you," Ren answered calmly. "By being realistic."
Naruto pouted while Sasuke Uchiha watched from nearby, arms crossed and eyes sharp.
Meanwhile, far from the academy grounds, Ren's shadow clones were scattered across forests and distant territories throughout the Land of Fire. They searched relentlessly for a suitable hidden base.
Dense forests.
Abandoned clearings.
Caves near remote rivers.
None were ideal.
"Damn it," one clone muttered. "There isn't a single forest big enough and remote enough to build a safe house without detection."
Another clone suddenly froze.
Memories flooded back to the original.
Ren paused mid-step at the academy entrance.
"Damn it… why didn't I think of this before?"
His clones across the Land of Fire immediately shifted strategy.
Instead of searching the land, they began capturing large migratory birds capable of flying long distances over open sea. Each bird was handled carefully, calmed with chakra, and marked.
A summoning seal was placed subtly upon them.
Temporary contracts.
"Go and find an isolated island for me," Ren instructed calmly through the clones.
He attached Flying Thunder God tags to their legs.
The birds launched into the sky, wings cutting through clouds as they headed toward the sea.
"Hope they find something soon," a clone muttered. "If only we'd thought of this earlier."
Another clone nodded. "Better late than never."
Back at the academy training grounds, Ren exhaled softly as he faced Naruto.
Naruto charged recklessly.
Ren sidestepped effortlessly and tapped Naruto's shoulder, sending him stumbling.
"I told you—think before you attack," Ren sighed.
Naruto jumped back up. "I was thinking!"
"No," Ren replied calmly. "You were shouting."
"That's part of my strategy!"
"What strategy?" Sasuke interjected coldly. "Being loud?"
Naruto pointed at him. "You're next after me!"
Sasuke's eyes shifted to Ren. "No. I'm next."
Ren rubbed his forehead.
"Why are you two scheduling fights like appointments?"
"Because I'm going to beat you," Sasuke said seriously.
Naruto nodded aggressively. "Me too!"
Ren looked at both of them.
"What a troublesome life," he muttered.
Shikamaru, lying nearby on the grass, lifted his head slightly.
"Welcome to my world."
Ren ignored him and motioned Naruto forward again.
"Fine. Come at me properly this time."
Naruto lunged.
Ren blocked, redirected, and swept his leg in one smooth motion. Naruto landed flat on his back.
"Ow!"
"You telegraph your right hook," Ren explained calmly. "And you tense your shoulders before charging."
Naruto groaned. "Why are you so annoying?"
"Because I pay attention."
Sasuke stepped forward.
"My turn."
Ren sighed but nodded.
"Don't cry if you lose," Naruto taunted.
Sasuke ignored him and attacked with far more precision.
Ren parried, countered, and increased speed slightly. Sasuke's eyes sharpened as he adjusted mid-combat.
"Better," Ren admitted.
"I'm not Naruto," Sasuke replied coldly.
"I noticed."
They exchanged blows rapidly, dust rising around them.
In the distance, Hinata watched quietly, analyzing Ren's movements. Ino stood beside her, arms folded.
"He's stronger again," Ino murmured.
Hinata nodded slightly. "Yes."
Ino glanced sideways. "You feel it too, right?"
"Yes," Hinata answered calmly. "His chakra feels… deeper."
Ino smirked. "You notice everything about him."
Hinata didn't reply.
Back in the spar, Ren lightly tapped Sasuke's chest and stepped back.
"Enough. You improved."
Sasuke frowned. "You held back."
"Of course I did," Ren replied plainly. "You're not ready yet."
Sasuke clenched his fists but said nothing.
Naruto jumped up again. "Again! Again!"
Ren stared at the sky briefly.
"My clones are sending birds across the sea," he thought. "My eyes can see kilometers beyond the walls. And I'm stuck babysitting these two."
He exhaled.
"Fine. One more round."
Naruto grinned widely. "That's the spirit!"
Ren's expression remained calm, but inwardly he felt a subtle shift.
His power was expanding.
His plans were advancing.
And soon, when the birds found that isolated island, the next phase would begin.
For now, though, he had two loud rivals to manage.
"Troublesome," he muttered again.
Shikamaru raised a lazy hand.
"Stop stealing my line."
Ren smirked faintly.
"No."