Ren genuinely believed he had poured his heart into explaining his training method to Kurenai.
Kurenai, however, was equally convinced that he was teasing her.
Treating ninjutsu with sincerity sounded reasonable enough. Every instructor taught that a shinobi needed to understand a technique rather than blindly repeat its hand seals. But talking to ninjutsu, giving them gifts, raising their favorability, and waiting for special events sounded more like the plot of a strange romance novel than legitimate training advice.
Kurenai studied Ren's expression, searching for the smallest hint of amusement. To her surprise, he looked completely serious.
"You really talk to your ninjutsu?" she asked cautiously.
"Every day," Ren answered. "Communication is important. Some techniques become discouraged if you neglect them, while others grow jealous when you spend too much time practising something else."
Kurenai stared at him for several seconds before releasing a quiet sigh. "I understand. You don't want to reveal your training method."
"That isn't what I said."
"It's all right. I know asking someone to reveal their secrets is impolite."
Ren opened his mouth, but no explanation came to mind that would make the truth sound less ridiculous. He was not deliberately hiding anything. The problem was that the personified ninjutsu and translucent system interface existed only for him.
He could hardly expect Kurenai to sit beneath a tree, speak to empty air, and wait for her Clone Technique to answer.
Still, the useful part of his advice remained valid. A shinobi who treated ninjutsu as nothing more than memorized hand seals would never reach the same level as someone who understood its structure, purpose, and limitations.
Kurenai's anxiety was understandable.
As the daughter of a Konoha jōnin, her current practical performance fell short of what others expected from her. She was far from untalented; the problem was that nearly all her natural ability lay in genjutsu.
The Academy's practical examinations focused on taijutsu, throwing weapons, chakra control, and basic ninjutsu. Genjutsu occupied only a small portion of the curriculum, which meant Kurenai's strongest talent contributed little to her overall score.
In taijutsu and ninjutsu, she ranked somewhere in the middle of the class. She was stronger and better trained than most civilian students, but when matched against children raised by established shinobi clans, she usually lost.
Those repeated defeats had begun weighing on her.
Kurenai had previously asked Asuma Sarutobi for advice, but that conversation had not helped much. Asuma was the son of the Third Hokage and a descendant of the Sarutobi clan. He had received proper training long before entering the Academy and could already perform the Three Basic Techniques and several D-rank ninjutsu with ease.
Aside from the exceptionally gifted Kakashi Hatake, very few students their age could suppress him in a direct contest.
Asuma understood how to practise harder and refine an existing technique, but he did not understand what it felt like to struggle with the fundamentals. When Kurenai asked how she could improve, his suggestions were based on a foundation she did not possess.
Ren was different.
In the previous examinations, his practical results had been almost identical to Kurenai's. His academic performance had always been excellent, but no one had considered him a talented fighter.
Then, within a surprisingly short period, he defeated Homon Hyūga, demonstrated remarkable control over the Three Basic Techniques, and rose to first place in the class.
That transformation was impossible to ignore.
Kurenai tightened her grip on her school bag and gathered her courage. "Ren, I would still like you to guide my training. Even one or two lessons would be helpful. I'll pay you according to the number of hours."
Ren's attempt to explain the system died immediately.
"Pay me?"
Kurenai nodded. "You would be giving up your own training time to help me. It wouldn't be fair to ask you to do it for free."
Ren's eyes sharpened slightly. "How much are you offering?"
"One lesson…" Kurenai hesitated as she considered the amount. "Would three thousand ryō be enough?"
Ren stared at her.
Three thousand ryō was not a trivial sum for an Academy student. It was comparable to the total payment for an ordinary D-rank mission, and genin still had to divide that money among their team members after the village deducted its share.
Kurenai was offering him the equivalent of an entire mission for a single lesson.
If he somehow taught her forty lessons, he could earn one hundred and twenty thousand ryō. Even after purchasing training supplies, medicine, and chakra paper, a considerable amount would remain.
More importantly, unlike a D-rank mission, he would not need to catch escaped pets, clean drainage channels, weed farmland, or search through piles of rubbish.
"Kurenai, are you serious?" Ren asked.
"Of course." She mistook the light in his eyes for hesitation. "If three thousand isn't enough, I can ask my father—"
"No, three thousand is more than enough." Ren interrupted her before his first potential customer could raise her own price beyond reason. He cleared his throat and adopted a more dignified expression. "We're classmates, so helping each other improve is only natural. Winter break begins in a few days. I can examine your current level and design a suitable training plan then."
Kurenai's expression brightened.
"As for the fee," Ren continued generously, "you don't have to pay three thousand. Two thousand five hundred ryō per lesson will be enough."
He had given her a full five-hundred-ryō friendship discount. As far as Ren was concerned, this proved that he valued their relationship more than money.
"That's wonderful!" Kurenai exclaimed. "Then let's begin after school today. We can use the training ground near my house."
"Today?"
"The sooner we start, the better." Kurenai smiled, her earlier anxiety replaced by visible excitement. "Thank you, Ren. I'll wait for you after class."
She hurried away before Ren could explain that winter break had not technically begun.
Ren watched her leave and began calculating how much training equipment he could purchase with his first payment. Explosive tags were probably still too expensive, but he could afford additional shuriken, medicine for muscle pain, or several high-quality meals to support his physical training.
A strange sensation caused him to glance sideways.
Rin stood a short distance away, speaking with Obito. Although she appeared to be listening to his complaints about the examination rankings, her gaze repeatedly drifted toward Ren and Kurenai.
When Ren met her eyes, Rin immediately looked away.
Obito noticed and turned as well. The moment he saw Ren, his already gloomy expression became even darker.
Ren raised one eyebrow.
Before he could determine what the two of them were thinking, Teacher Oki stepped out of the Academy building and clapped his hands loudly.
"That's enough. The rankings aren't going anywhere, so stop crowding the board and return to the classroom. We still have several important matters to discuss before the winter break begins."
The students reluctantly moved inside.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Oki stood behind the lectern and began his end-of-term address. He reviewed the class's overall performance, praised the students who had improved, and warned those near the bottom of the rankings not to waste their vacation.
"The graduation examination is only two months away," he reminded them. "For now, your most important responsibility is to strengthen your foundations. Do not attempt dangerous techniques without supervision, and do not enter restricted training grounds simply because you want to impress your classmates."
His gaze briefly passed over Obito, who shifted guiltily in his seat.
"You must also remember why you are training," Oki continued. "A shinobi's strength does not exist solely for personal glory. It exists to protect the village and the people precious to us. That belief is the foundation of Konoha's Will of Fire."
The students quietened.
Oki placed both hands on the lectern and adopted a solemn expression. "I am still learning what it means to inherit that will, so I cannot claim to explain it perfectly. There is, however, one person who understands it more deeply than anyone else."
He turned toward the classroom entrance.
"That person is Lord Third himself."
Dozens of heads swung toward the door.
A figure in a white Hokage robe stood in the entrance, his arrival so quiet that no one had noticed him. The red-and-white hat upon his head bore the kanji for "fire," while age had carved faint lines across his face. Yet his posture remained straight, and his eyes were clear and alert.
The current leader of Konoha had personally entered their classroom.
"Hokage-sama!"
Teacher Oki and every student rose at once.
Hiruzen Sarutobi responded with a gentle smile. "There is no need for such formality today. Please, sit."
The students hurried back into their seats, though excitement continued rippling through the room. Even those who frequently saw Hiruzen's face upon the Hokage Monument had rarely stood this close to him.
Asuma sat especially straight. His expression remained controlled, but the slight tension in his shoulders revealed that the Hokage's unexpected appearance had caught him off guard as well.
Hiruzen stepped behind the lectern and surveyed the classroom.
His gaze passed over Guy, Obito, Rin, Kurenai, Homon, and Asuma before lingering almost imperceptibly on Ren. The pause lasted less than a second, but Ren noticed it.
"Children, seeing all of you filled with such energy brings me great comfort," Hiruzen began. His voice was warm and steady, carrying easily throughout the classroom. "You are Konoha's future and the next inheritors of the Will of Fire."
Several students leaned forward, listening with complete attention.
"The knowledge you acquire today will become the strength you use to protect your home tomorrow. Your classmates may one day fight beside you on dangerous missions. The bonds you form now could become the reason you find the courage to stand when everything appears hopeless."
His expression softened.
"I have reviewed the results of your recent examinations. Some of you performed exceptionally well, while others still have a considerable distance to travel. But a single examination cannot determine your future. What matters is how you respond to success and failure."
Obito slowly lifted his head.
"Those who succeeded must not become arrogant," Hiruzen continued. "Those who failed must not surrender. As long as the leaves continue to dance, the fire of the village will continue to burn—and its light will guide new leaves toward the future."
The classroom remained silent.
Most of the students listened with shining eyes. Some seemed ready to rush directly onto a battlefield for Konoha, despite being too young to graduate.
Ren wore a suitably inspired expression, but his thoughts were considerably less sentimental.
The speech was impressive, and Hiruzen certainly knew how to move an audience. Still, encouraging words would not help Ren learn the Eight Gates or obtain stronger ninjutsu.
If the Hokage truly wanted to inspire them, something tangible would be far more effective.
As though he had heard Ren's thoughts, Hiruzen paused and smiled.
"I did not come here merely to offer encouragement. I also have an announcement concerning your graduation examination."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
"To motivate each of you to display your full potential, the village will provide special rewards to the three students who achieve the highest overall results."
Whispers spread across the classroom, but Hiruzen raised one hand and continued.
"The students who place second and third will receive training resources selected according to their individual needs. As for the student who takes first place…"
Every eye in the room fixed upon him.
"The first-ranked graduate will be granted one reasonable request, and Konoha will do its utmost to fulfil it."
For a heartbeat, no one spoke.
Hiruzen allowed the suspense to build before providing an example.
"You may request the opportunity to learn a C-rank or higher ninjutsu, provided it is not a clan-exclusive technique or a forbidden art. If you choose such a reward, I will personally guide you in mastering it."
The classroom erupted.
"Hokage-sama will teach the winner personally?"
"A C-rank technique—or something even stronger?"
"What if I ask for a B-rank ninjutsu?"
"Does that mean we can choose any elemental release?"
"I'm going to take first place!"
The excited shouting seemed powerful enough to shake dust from the ceiling.
Even Asuma's eyes widened. Being instructed by his father was hardly unusual for him, but receiving recognition as the highest-ranked graduate clearly mattered.
Guy clenched both fists as passion blazed across his face. Obito shot out of his chair and loudly declared that the future Hokage could not possibly lose. Homon Hyūga sat stiffly, the pride of his clan refusing to let him accept his recent defeat as the final result.
Kurenai glanced toward Ren, determination flashing in her ruby-red eyes.
Ren matched the excitement of the surrounding students, but beneath the surface, his thoughts were already moving rapidly.
C-rank or higher.
Hiruzen had not limited the reward to C-rank. Depending on what the Hokage considered reasonable, Ren might be able to request a B-rank or even an A-rank technique.
The rank of a ninjutsu primarily reflected the difficulty and danger involved in mastering it, so a higher-ranked technique was not automatically superior in every situation. The Three Basic Techniques had already proven that supposedly weak abilities could become extraordinary when combined with his system.
But that only made the possibilities more tempting.
If E-rank techniques could awaken such remarkable traits after their favorability increased, what kind of characteristics might emerge from an A-rank ninjutsu?
A powerful attack? An advanced movement technique? A defensive ability capable of surviving attacks that would otherwise kill him?
Ren's pulse quickened.
Whatever happened, he would take first place in the graduation examination.
After offering a few final words of encouragement, Hiruzen left the classroom. Before disappearing through the doorway, however, his gaze passed over Ren once more.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
That second glance was not accidental.
The Hokage had noticed him.
The moment Hiruzen departed, the classroom descended into chaos again. No one had any interest in listening to the remainder of Teacher Oki's speech. Groups formed throughout the room as students debated who would place in the top three and what ninjutsu they would request if they won.
Most predictions centred on Asuma and Ren. Some students also named Homon because of the Hyūga clan's reputation, while others argued that Guy's taijutsu scores could push him into the top ranks.
Teacher Oki attempted to restore order twice before surrendering. He gave several final safety reminders and officially announced the beginning of their three-week winter break.
Chairs scraped across the floor as the students hurried to leave.
Rin packed her belongings before approaching Ren's desk. "Ren-kun, do you want to walk home together?"
"Not today. I still have something to take care of."
Rin glanced toward Kurenai, who was saying goodbye to Asuma and Genma Shiranui. Understanding immediately, she adjusted her bag over her shoulder.
"All right. Obito and I will go ahead."
"Why am I being included without anyone asking me?" Obito protested from behind her. Despite his complaint, he followed Rin toward the door without hesitation.
Once most of the class had departed, Ren stretched and looked across the room.
Kurenai finished packing her bag and walked toward him. The nervousness she had displayed earlier was gone, replaced by the focused expression of someone who had already chosen a goal.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
Ren stood and slung his bag over one shoulder. "For my first paid lesson? Of course."
Kurenai shook her head.
"Not just for that. If Lord Third's reward can include advanced genjutsu, then I've decided I'm going to compete for first place too."
She stepped closer, her ruby-red eyes fixed on him.
"So don't hold back, Ren. I want you to teach me everything that changed you."
Ren's confident smile stiffened.
Kurenai still believed he possessed a secret training method. Now that the Hokage had placed an advanced technique within reach, she had no intention of accepting a vague explanation or a half-hearted lesson.
As the two of them left the empty classroom, Ren came to an uncomfortable realization.
Before he could claim Hiruzen Sarutobi's reward, he would first have to convince Kurenai that he could teach her a secret that existed only inside his own head.