The third day began identically to the second, yet felt subtly heavier. The routine of the pre-dawn arrival at Training Ground 3, the shared silent anticipation, the appearance of Genma exactly at 0600 – it was already ingrained. But today, the promise of diverging paths hung in the air. Akari nervously clutched a fresh leaf, Kenji periodically squeezed a small rock in his hand, their minds clearly on the impending elemental affinity training Genma had mentioned. Ren felt a different kind of anticipation – the explicit threat of Genma finding his 'breaking point'. Gamer's Mind kept him outwardly calm, but internally, tactical simulations ran constantly.
The morning warm-up was, as predicted, hellish. Genma combined the weighted pack endurance run with sudden demands for chakra control mid-stride. "Ito! Focus earth chakra into your soles – feel the ground resisting!" "Sumire! Channel wind affinity – try to lighten the pack's inertia slightly!" "Ren! Maintain Surface Walking briefly while carrying the pack across that puddle – no splashing!" These were less formal jutsu and more raw affinity/control exercises layered onto extreme physical exertion. Ren managed his task, the CP cost amplified by the weight (Surface Walking cost now 4 CP/sec under load), while Akari and Kenji struggled visibly, their control faltering under duress.
[CON Stat EXP +7]
[[Basic Chakra Control] Proficiency Increased: +0.8% (Task Loading Application)]
[[Surface Walking] Proficiency Increased: +1.5% (Weighted Application)]
After the run, Genma split them up. "Sumire, Ito – with me." He led them towards a quieter section of the training ground near the treeline. "Basic Nature Transformation practice. Sumire, your objective is to use your wind affinity to cleanly sever this leaf." He handed her a standard leaf. "Focus the wind – sharp, precise, controlled. Don't just blow on it; make it cut. Ito, your objective: use your earth affinity to crumble this rock." He tossed Kenji a fist-sized stone. "Feel the earth energy within you, project it, destabilize the rock's structure from the inside out. Both of you – this requires immense focus and repeated attempts. Do not expect immediate results. Begin."
Genma watched them fumble through their initial attempts for a few minutes, offering sharp, technical corrections ("Sumire, too dispersed! Concentrate the flow! Ito, feel the vibration first, don't just push!") before turning his full attention back to Ren, who stood waiting by the stream. A predatory stillness settled around the Jonin.
"Ren," Genma said, his voice dangerously soft. "Your control is advanced, your stamina surprisingly high, your reactions… interesting. But fundamentals under pressure reveal true capability." He walked towards the stream. "Your task is twofold. One: Maintain Surface Walking continuously on this stream. Not running, just standing. Constant output, perfect stability." Ren nodded, activating the skill (3 CP/sec drain begins). "Two," Genma continued, pulling out a disturbingly large pouch filled with senbon, "you will simultaneously deflect or dodge every senbon I throw at you. None are aimed to kill, but some will carry minor disruptive chakra – nerve strikes, muscle spasms, momentary disorientation."
Ren's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just multitasking; it was sustained defense under constant pressure while managing a significant chakra drain. A pure stress test. Gamer's Mind flagged it as [High Risk / High Reward Training Scenario].
"Begin," Genma stated, and the air filled with the hiss of displaced air as the first wave of senbon shot towards Ren.
Ren reacted instantly, his Observe Lv. 5 working overtime. [Incoming Threats: 5 Senbon. Trajectory: Spread pattern, torso/limbs. Speed: High. Chakra Detected: Minimal Disruptive Signature (Rightmost Senbon)]. He couldn't just dodge; standing still on water required balance. He used minimal movements, shifting his weight, using his hands to parry the non-chakra-infused needles (Academy Taijutsu Lv. 4 - Defensive Parry Application), while precisely sidestepping the one carrying disruptive energy. The parried senbon splashed harmlessly into the stream.
[Evasion Success! +0.1% Agility EXP]
[Parry Success! +0.1% Academy Taijutsu (Defense) Proficiency!]
Genma didn't pause. Another wave launched, faster this time, angles more co