A strange scene unfolded in Ren's mind.
Under warm sunlight, a playful girl appeared before him.
She wore a flowing red dress, her entire figure flickering like living flame. Her hair danced like fire, shifting with every movement, while tiny sparks bounced at her fingertips like mischievous spirits.
She looked—
Alive.
[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: Yo! You must be the one Big Sister mentioned, right? Not bad—you look pretty handsome! Want to play with me? I fly really fast!]
A set of choices appeared.
[A: Of course. It's an honor to meet someone as beautiful as a phoenix flower.]
[B: I'm here to learn, not play. Behave yourself.]
[C: Play? What kind of game? Sounds interesting.]
---
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
---
So this one…
Is the playful type.
Mischievous.
Energetic.
Unpredictable.
---
If he chose the wrong tone—
She might lose interest immediately.
After a brief pause—
Ren smiled faintly.
---
"C."
The girl's eyes curved into crescents.
[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: Hehe~ I didn't expect you to be this fun! Alright then—let's play! If you can make fireballs that satisfy me, I'll take you somewhere interesting~]
Ren returned to reality.
---
In front of him—
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched calmly, waiting.
---
Ren brought his hands together.
He recalled everything.
The chakra flow.
The rhythm.
The seals.
His fingers moved.
"Fire Release… Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Whoosh—!
Several fireballs burst from his mouth.
---
Bright.
Orange-red.
Each one about the size of a basketball.
---
They shot forward—
Flying steadily through the air—
Before striking the targets ahead.
---
Thud! Thud! Thud!
---
Scorch marks spread across the surface.
---
Not as powerful as Hiruzen's demonstration—
But—
Clean.
Controlled.
---
For a first attempt—
It was exceptional.
Ren exhaled slowly.
---
Half a fire genius…
---
With the Spirit of Fire boosting his affinity—
Even unfamiliar techniques responded more easily to him.
---
And then—
A familiar voice appeared again.
---
[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: (spinning happily mid-air, flames dancing) Yay! You did it! A bit crooked, but it's just the start~ Pass!]
---
[Favorability +3]
[Current Favorability: 3/10 (Stranger)]
---
Nearby—
Hiruzen nodded approvingly.
---
"For your first attempt, this is already excellent," he said.
---
"The key now is stability."
---
"Control your chakra output more precisely."
---
"Try again."
---
Ren nodded.
---
"Understood."
---
He inhaled deeply.
---
Then—
Once more.
---
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
---
This time—
---
More fireballs erupted.
---
Larger.
Faster.
More numerous.
---
But the moment they left his mouth—
---
Ren felt it.
---
Something… off.
---
"…Hm?"
---
Even Hiruzen's expression shifted slightly.
---
The fireballs—
Didn't fly straight.
---
Instead—
---
They curved.
---
Moved.
---
As if pulled by invisible threads.
---
They gathered—
---
Forming a shape in midair.
---
A large—
---
"人" shape.
---
Then—
---
It shifted.
---
Collapsed.
---
Straightened—
---
Into a perfect—
---
"一".
---
Then—
---
Expanded.
---
Rounded—
---
Becoming a glowing ring.
---
An "O".
---
And finally—
---
They burst apart.
---
Like celestial fireworks.
---
Scattering in all directions—
Up.
Down.
Left.
Right.
---
Each fireball spiraled through the air—
Before colliding—
---
Boom! Boom! Boom!
---
Explosions bloomed like golden flowers.
---
Tiny sparks rained down—
Like glowing petals drifting in the wind.
---
Beautiful.
---
Too beautiful.
---
"…Hey."
---
Ren's composure cracked slightly.
---
What are you doing?!
---
Inside—
---
[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: (laughing as she chases the fireballs) So fun! So fun! Flying freely is the best! Look, Ren, isn't it pretty?!]
---
Ren: "…"
---
Nearby—
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood completely still.
---
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
---
Then—
---
He looked at Ren with clear surprise.
---
"…How did you do that?"
---
Ren coughed lightly.
---
"…I just… tried something."
---
That was technically true.
---
He had controlled the chakra.
---
But—
The way it behaved after release…
---
That was definitely not part of the original technique.
---
At least she didn't spell something weird…
---
Ren suppressed the urge to sigh.
---
If those fireballs had formed something ridiculous—
This would have been impossible to explain.
---
Fortunately—
Hiruzen didn't question it further.
---
Instead—
His expression turned to admiration.
---
"Excellent."
---
"To achieve such precise chakra manipulation on your first day…"
---
"And to freely alter the trajectory of multiple fireballs…"
---
He shook his head slightly.
---
"Your talent in Fire Release… exceeds even my expectations."
---
Ren lowered his head slightly.
---
"You're too kind, Hokage-sama."
---
---
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment.
---
Then—
---
"If that is the case…"
---
He reached into his sleeve.
---
And pulled out—
---
Two scrolls.
---
Old parchment.
Tied with dark green cords.
---
"These are for you."
---
"Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
---
"And—"
---
"Fire Release: Great Fire Wall Technique."
---
Ren's pupils shrank slightly.
---
…Both?
---
---
Hiruzen continued calmly.
---
"The Great Fire Wall Technique is a C-Rank ninjutsu."
---
"It focuses on defense."
---
"It creates a wall of flames capable of blocking attacks—and burning anything that attempts to pass through."
---
"I've noted the key points inside."
---
"Study it carefully."
---
He paused.
---
"But remember—"
---
"Do not be greedy."
---
"Master one technique properly before moving to the next."
---
---
Ren stepped forward immediately.
---
"…Thank you, Hokage-sama."
---
He accepted the scrolls with both hands.
---
Inside—
---
A surge of excitement rose.
---
This is huge.
---
A new technique…
---
And—
---
A new 'skin' for Great Fireball.
---
---
"Very good," Hiruzen said with a satisfied nod.
---
He placed a hand on Ren's shoulder.
---
"The future of Konoha…"
---
"…rests on young sprouts like you."
---
"Go."
---
"Your Jonin instructor should already be waiting."
---
"Begin your next chapter."
---
---
Before Ren could respond—
---
Poof.
---
A flicker.
---
And Hiruzen disappeared.
---
---
Ren stood there for a moment.
---
Then—
Carefully stored the scrolls.
---
Exhaled.
---
No rush to use them yet.
---
Right now—
There was something more important.
---
---
Who… is my Jonin?
---
---
Ren turned and walked back toward the Academy.
---
The Grand Auditorium—
Was now empty.
---
Rows of chairs.
Silent.
Still.
---
Dust floated in the air—
Visible in beams of sunlight.
---
And then—
---
"Ren."
---
A soft voice called out.
---
Rin.
---
She sat near the front—
Reading.
---
She looked up—
Smiling gently.
---
"You're back."
---
"How did it go with Hokage-sama?"
---
Ren nodded.
---
"It went well."
---
"I learned… a couple of new techniques."
---
Then—
He looked around.
---
"…Where is everyone else?"
---
"Already assigned?"
---
Rin closed her notes.
---
"Yeah."
---
She thought for a moment.
---
"Guy, Genma, and Ebisu are on one team."
---
"Asuma, Kurenai, and Raido are on another."
---
"Then there's—"
---
She paused.
---
"Teacher Oki told me to wait here for you."
---
Her eyes met his.
"I thought…"
"…you might know something."
Ren blinked.
"…?"
Something—
Was off.
Their team… hadn't been announced yet.
--------------------------------
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