"…"
Ren, with his keen hearing, caught the muttered comment. He glanced over and saw it came from one of the Uchiha clan boys, though he didn't recognize him. Ryota, was it? A mob character with no presence in the original plot.
He was about to dismiss it entirely when a familiar chime sounded in his mind.
[Ding. Host's exceptional performance has attracted the hostility of a Noble-class individual. As the future sovereign destined to govern the Three Realms, conflict with the established aristocracy is inevitable. Please defeat Shiba Masatai, a member of the Shiba Clan of the Four Great Noble Houses, in the upcoming combat training!]
[Mission Issued: Defeat Shiba Masatai of the Shiba Clan.]
[Mission Reward: Hadō #4: Byakurai!]
Reading the system text, Ren couldn't suppress a smirk. 'Uchiha Clan equals… Shiba Clan? You're really committed to this bit, aren't you? But I'm not complaining!'
Over the past month, the system had been silent. Likely, daily academy life was too mundane to trigger its protocols. Missions seemed to require specific conditions: a direct challenge (like Kurenai's), or a clear act of hostility (like this Uchiha's sneer). He was starting to grasp its flawed logic: it reacted to conflict, opposition, or initiated events.
'I wonder… if I start proactively picking fights, will the mission frequency increase?' The thought was tempting. He found himself looking forward to the practical combat training now. Furthermore, Hadō #4: Byakurai involved elemental properties—lightning. In this world, that should translate to a Lightning Release ninjutsu, right? His interest was thoroughly piqued.
As each student completed their throws, the final rankings were tallied. Ren, unsurprisingly, placed first. Kakashi Hatake took second. The sneering Uchiha Ryota, to his own credit, managed third. Asuma Sarutobi placed a respectable fourth… Kurenai Yūhi performed well, securing seventh place. She truly was the one who wasn't a "practical type" in the conventional sense—her strength lay elsewhere.
The ranking announcement didn't signal the end of class. Chunin Instructor Oda began breaking down more advanced techniques, correcting common mistakes in stance and release. As a chūnin, his fundamentals were solid, and guiding fresh academy students was well within his capabilities.
Soon, the class concluded, and the dismissal bell rang.
On the way home, Kurenai, her small book bag slung over her shoulder, walked beside Ren in unusual silence. She frowned, pouted, and seemed deeply lost in thought, a stark contrast to her usual bubbly chatter.
Ren, playing the part of the observant older brother, felt a duty to inquire. "What's on your mind? Feeling down about your score? It was perfectly fine. You've got the makings of a future elite jōnin. With my guidance, you'll only get better."
"Oh." Kurenai nodded absently. Her score wasn't the issue. She was quite satisfied and had long since stopped comparing herself to a freak of nature like Ren.
Her preoccupation was with Ren himself. He was too popular. What if some other girl managed to snatch him away? A possessive, anxious feeling gnawed at her—the sensation that something integral to her world was slipping from her grasp. She'd felt a similar dread before, when her father had explained the pragmatic origins of Ren's adoption. This time… it was sharper, more immediate.
A little girl's moods were mercurial. Ren was baffled. He ruffled her hair. "If it's not your grades, then what? Spit it out."
Kurenai turned to look at him, her lower lip pushed out in a pronounced pout. "Ren… you really won't leave us, will you?"
He paused, momentarily bewildered, but his quick mind connected the dots. A gentle, reassuring smile softened his features. "Of course not. I've already promised, haven't I? I'm not going anywhere."
Hearing his affirmation, Kurenai let out a small, relieved sigh. She stuck out her right hand, pinky extended. "Pinky swear! Only then will I believe you!"
Ren chuckled and linked his pinky with hers. "Deal."
Their small fingers hooked together in the universal seal of childhood promises.
"Hehe!" The cloud over Kurenai's mood lifted instantly. She tugged on his arm, her energy returning. "Come on, Ren! I'll treat you to dango! Mom said if I ever had a little brother or sister, I should share my favorite things with them. Even though you're the older brother, it's the same principle!"
Ren smiled wryly. "Aren't you worried about eating so much you'll turn into a little mochi-ball?"
At this, Kurenai shot him a glare. "You're always tricking me! I should have listened to Mom from the start. Mom said girls do have two stomachs! I'm only going to believe half of what you say from now on!"
'Mom…' The mention of her late mother gave Ren a momentary pang. He rubbed her head gently, his voice softening. "Your mother said that? Then it must be true. I suppose I just don't understand girls well enough…"
"So I don't have to worry about turning into a dango!""You still remember that one?"
Laughing and chatting, they soon arrived at the popular dango shop. Kurenai skipped inside to make her purchase while Ren waited by the entrance, people-watching. His attention was caught by an approaching pair of voices, growing louder.
"I'm telling you, it's been ages since I've been let out! One day a week of 'free time'? It's a joke! Do they think I'm some kind of prisoner?!""Haha, what can we do? Your situation is… a bit special right now.""That rotten old Third Hokage!""Shh! Keep your voice down…"
A young man and woman, teenagers really, were walking down the street. The young man was handsome and bright-eyed, with spiky blond hair that seemed to capture the sunlight. He wore a standard flak jacket and currently had an expression of sympathetic helplessness. The young woman had a waterfall of vibrant, crimson hair and wore a simple dress. Her delicate features were currently scrunched in a mix of displeasure and profound resentment.
'What are the odds?' Ren thought, instantly recognizing the future "tomato and egg" duo—no, the future parents of the protagonist, the leader of the (future) Akatsuki. Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.
He hadn't expected to run into them here. Judging by the timeline, Kushina should already be the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. Had Minato developed the Rasengan yet?
Standing near the shop entrance with his own striking red hair, Ren immediately drew their attention. Kushina's gaze lingered on his hair, then dropped to his face. Her eyes widened, and she let out an involuntary exclamation of delight.
"Wow! What a cute little sister!"
In Konoha, vibrant red hair was exceedingly rare, a trait she shared with few others. Seeing it on someone so young, and with such delicate features, triggered a surge of kinship and… a slight misjudgment.
Ren: "…"
The hair, correct. The gender, drastically incorrect.
He fixed Kushina with a flat, unamused stare. "While I appreciate the 'cute' part, please look more carefully. I am a boy."
Uzumaki Kushina blinked, then gasped again, her conclusion leaping to a new, equally flawed height. "Oh? A boy little sister?!"
Ren: "…"
He had never before encountered an adult capable of stringing those particular words together with such genuine astonishment. The cognitive dissonance was staggering.