There was no hesitation.
No warm-up.
No wasted words.
The moment Ren and Might Guy faced each other—
They moved.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sharp, explosive sounds of fists and feet colliding echoed through the misty morning air.
Their clash was immediate.
Violent.
Relentless.
---
Compared to the Hyūga Clan's Gentle Fist, which focused on precision and internal damage, Guy's fighting style was the exact opposite.
It was raw.
Explosive.
Overwhelming.
---
Every punch he threw tore through the air like a hammer.
Every kick carried crushing force, fast enough to blur.
It was like being caught in the middle of a storm.
---
Ren, however—
Was different.
---
He didn't meet power with power.
He met it with control.
---
His body flowed like water.
Predicting.
Dodging.
Redirecting.
---
Time and time again, he avoided Guy's heavy blows by the smallest margins, slipping past attacks that would have shattered bone if they landed cleanly.
And when the opportunity appeared—
He struck back.
---
Bang—!
---
Ren's leg whipped through the air in a clean arc, smashing into Guy's raised arm.
The impact echoed.
Guy let out a low grunt as his body staggered back a step—
But only a step.
---
The next moment—
He twisted his waist and countered instantly.
---
Thud!
---
His fist slammed into Ren's shoulder.
A wave of numbness spread through Ren's arm, the shock traveling deep into his muscles.
---
"—Tch."
Ren's eyes sharpened.
---
So this is the 'Blue Beast'…
---
Even with the First Gate of the Eight Gates open—
Even with enhanced strength—
He couldn't suppress Guy physically.
---
That alone was absurd.
---
His durability… his explosive power…
They're on another level.
---
Ren adjusted his stance slightly.
---
My current 'Might Guy Body' transformation… still isn't optimized.
---
The thought passed in an instant.
The battle didn't slow.
---
More than a dozen exchanges followed in rapid succession.
Each one faster than the last.
Each one heavier.
---
Then—
Guy's eyes lit up.
---
He saw it.
An opening.
---
"HAH!"
---
He spun his body violently, gathering momentum into his leg.
---
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
---
Whoosh—!
---
A devastating spinning kick tore through the air—
---
But—
---
Ren was gone.
---
In a flicker—
He vanished from his original position.
---
Reappearing several meters away behind Guy—
Seven.
Eight.
Maybe more.
---
In his place—
A single stone dropped from midair.
---
Guy's kick struck it instead.
---
CRACK—!
---
The stone shot forward like a bullet, smashing into a nearby tree.
Branches shook violently.
Leaves scattered into the air.
---
Silence fell.
---
Then—
Guy straightened up.
---
"Hahaha! That was refreshing!"
---
He planted his foot firmly, flashing a wide, gleaming grin.
---
"Ren! I know you were holding back!"
---
"You didn't use anything except taijutsu!"
---
"Next time—"
---
His eyes burned with excitement.
---
"Next time I'll be even stronger! And we'll have a proper, full-power match!"
---
Ren exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his body.
---
"…Sure."
---
"Next time."
---
---
The battle ended.
---
And as the adrenaline faded—
Familiar text appeared in Ren's mind.
---
[Eight Gates: Hm… not bad, but not as intense as I expected. Still, you trained early and even used me in battle, so I'll let it slide today! I'll come find you again for training later!]
---
[Eight Gates Favorability +1]
[Current Favorability: 6/10 (Stranger)]
---
Ren stared blankly.
---
"…This thing really levels up slowly."
---
He couldn't help but complain internally.
---
Still—
Another thought surfaced.
---
Something that had been bothering him for a while.
---
Why does the system recognize Gentle Fist…
But not Steel Fist?
---
After thinking about it—
Ren came to a conclusion.
---
It was about completeness.
---
The Gentle Fist was a complete martial system.
It had structure.
Theory.
Purpose.
---
It targeted chakra points.
Disrupted internal flow.
Destroyed organs.
---
It was refined.
---
But Steel Fist—
Was just a general concept.
---
A collection of brute-force techniques enhanced with chakra.
---
It wasn't a system.
---
It was a category.
---
Which meant—
The system didn't recognize it as a "target."
---
But—
Another technique might.
---
Chakra Enhanced Strength.
---
Ren's eyes flickered slightly.
---
Tsunade's technique…
---
If he ever got the chance—
He would definitely learn it.
---
---
After parting ways with Guy and Might Duy—
Ren headed toward a quieter training ground on the western side of the village.
---
A small stream flowed nearby.
Clear water.
Calm surroundings.
---
Perfect for training.
---
He stepped onto a flat stone near the water and took a deep breath.
---
Then—
His hands moved.
---
Chakra surged.
---
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
---
Boom—!
---
A massive fireball erupted into the air, nearly as tall as a person, blazing with intense heat.
---
Without pause—
---
"Water Release: Water Trumpet!"
---
Whoosh—!
---
A roaring stream of water burst forth, crashing against the surface of the stream, sending waves splashing outward.
---
Fire.
Water.
---
Again.
And again.
---
The air filled with steam as heat met liquid, creating a swirling mist around him.
---
But—
Ren wasn't focusing on power anymore.
---
He was observing.
---
Feeling.
---
The subtle influence of his traits:
Spirit of Fire
Water Dancer
---
Especially the latter.
---
When he shaped the water—
Spinning it into spirals.
Condensing it into spheres.
Breaking it into fine streams—
---
Something changed.
---
The chakra consumption shifted.
Slightly.
Subtly.
---
As if—
The technique itself was responding.
---
…Interesting.
---
Ren continued experimenting.
---
After a full round of training—
He stopped.
---
And checked the results.
---
Both techniques had increased their favorability by about 2 points.
---
But more importantly—
---
Water Trumpet evolved.
---
[Water Release: Water Trumpet]
Favorability: 5/100 (Intimate)
Stage Rewards Obtained (2):
Physique +2
Trait: Water Dancer
---
[Water Dancer: Your Water Release gains artistic flexibility. When shaped into satisfying forms, chakra consumption is reduced by 4%.]
---
Ren nodded slightly.
---
First stage was 3%… now 4%…
---
At max… maybe 6%?
---
On its own—
It wasn't overwhelming.
---
But—
If applied to stronger techniques…
---
Water Dragon Bullet.
Water Colliding Wave.
---
Then—
Everything would change.
---
Combined with his ever-growing physique—
---
One day—
---
I might even replicate something like Tobirama's "Sea Release"…
---
The thought lingered.
---
---
In contrast—
---
His Great Fireball Technique had reached 6 favorability.
But its growth had slowed significantly.
---
Ren frowned slightly.
---
Is it because I haven't given it a "gift"?
---
Or… I haven't triggered a special event like with the basic techniques?
---
He sat down cross-legged beside the stream.
---
As his chakra recovered—
He entered the system interface.
---
And opened the dialogue for—
---
[Great Fireball Technique]
---
"Hey… Little Fire," Ren asked casually.
"Do you know the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique?"
---
A response came almost immediately.
---
[Great Fireball Technique: Hmm? Phoenix Sage Fire… she's like a younger sister from the same clan. Why?]
---
Ren raised an eyebrow.
---
"Just heard about it. How's your relationship?"
---
There was a pause.
Then—
---
[Great Fireball Technique: Relationship? Just average. That girl is too flashy. Always dressing herself up with all kinds of fancy effects. She doesn't understand that what matters is inner strength! Only uncultured upstarts rely on appearances!]
---
Ren blinked.
---
"…That sounds like jealousy."
---
---
And right on cue—
---
Another voice jumped in.
---
[Clone Technique (Water Clone Form): Oh my~ isn't this our noble Miss Great Fireball? Haven't seen you in two days and you're already this miserable? Talking about "inner strength"… isn't it just because no one gave you new clothes?]
---
Ren: "…"
---
It had begun.
---
Again.
---
[Clone Technique: Honestly, I don't think Ren will give you anything. Your reputation isn't exactly great~]
---
[Clone Technique: Sure, you look bright and dazzling on the outside… but do you know what people call you behind your back?]
---
[Great Fireball Technique: Shut up! You're not allowed to say it!]
---
[Clone Technique: Hehe~ they call you—]
---
[Clone Technique: "Kindness Technique."]
---
---
A pause.
---
---
[Clone Technique: Because you never hit anyone~]
---
---
"…Pfft."
---
Ren almost laughed out loud.
---
---
[Great Fireball Technique: AAAAAH!!! You annoying clone! I'll burn you to ashes!!!]
---
Flames surged violently in her "presence," practically radiating rage.
---
---
Ren rubbed his forehead.
---
These two…
---
Out of all his techniques—
---
These two were the most active.
---
The loudest.
---
And the most chaotic.
---
---
They really are…
---
A pair of ill-fated lovers.
---
---
For a moment—
Ren was genuinely worried.
---
If this continued—
Great Fireball's favorability might actually drop from sheer emotional damage.
And just as that thought formed—
A new notification appeared.
[Special event keyword detected!]
[Time-limited mission triggered!]
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
Here we go again…
Something new had begun.
--------------------------------
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