Ren sat cross-legged in the middle of the training ground, surrounded by scorched earth, shattered wooden targets, and kunai buried at crooked angles in the surrounding trees. Thin trails of smoke drifted through the evening air, carrying the bitter smell of burned grass and heated metal.
His expression, however, was unusually serious.
At present, the number of members in his so-called "harem" had risen to fifteen.
Of course, none of them were actual women.
They were ninjutsu, secret techniques, and combat skills stored inside his system—each possessing its own favorability level, characteristics, variants, and unlockable abilities. There were also more than a dozen alternate forms, or "skins," connected to those techniques.
It was an impressive collection.
But Ren understood that merely collecting techniques was meaningless if he failed to develop them properly.
Fire Release was currently his most complete category. He had already brought both Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu and Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu to maximum favorability. Combined with their unlocked variations and alternate applications, his understanding of Fire Release had reached a level that would make most Konoha shinobi envious.
Among ordinary ninja, very few could suppress him in a direct clash of flames.
Only elite jōnin and a handful of Kage-level shinobi could confidently overwhelm him through superior chakra, experience, or a stronger elemental advantage.
Ren rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
If he wanted to continue improving his Fire Release, there were only a few techniques worth pursuing. Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, Dragon Flame Release Song Technique, Majestic Destroyer Flame, and Hiding in Ash and Dust Technique were among the rare techniques capable of meaningfully increasing his combat strength.
Most lower-level Fire Release techniques would only add variety.
They would not change the outcome of a real battle.
His close-combat foundation had also begun to take shape.
The White Fang's swordsmanship gave him precision and killing power. Tsunade's monstrous-strength technique allowed him to convert perfectly controlled chakra into devastating physical force. The Nerve Activation Technique accelerated his reactions and muscular response, while the Instant Hell Shadow Kill Formation gave him a terrifying burst of speed and lethality.
Once all four reached maximum favorability, Ren estimated that he could temporarily unleash three to five times his ordinary combat strength.
That was not a small improvement.
It was the difference between exchanging blows with a jōnin and killing one before they realized the battle had begun.
In that enhanced state, an ordinary jōnin would struggle to survive even a single clean strike from him.
Even a Kage-level opponent could not afford to be careless. If they underestimated his speed or failed to react in time, his sword could reach their throat before they completed a hand seal.
Still, Ren was not satisfied.
The Eight Gates remained his most dangerous trump card, but its favorability was increasing far more slowly than his other techniques. Fortunately, after reaching twenty-five favorability, he had unlocked its first-stage characteristic.
He could now open the first two gates safely.
Under extreme circumstances, he could force open the third.
However, opening the third gate placed a visible strain on his muscles and chakra pathways. His current body could withstand the damage, but using it repeatedly would be reckless.
Ren had no desire to cripple himself for temporary power.
After silently reviewing his abilities, he finally reached a conclusion.
"The main objective for the next stage is to raise the average favorability of every technique above fifty."
At the same time, he needed to improve his physique.
No matter how exquisite a technique was, chakra remained its foundation. Greater chakra reserves meant stronger ninjutsu, longer battles, more powerful enhancements, and a wider margin for error.
Ren glanced at his palm as chakra gathered faintly beneath his skin.
If an ordinary Hyūga possessed chakra reserves comparable to the Ten-Tails, even a casual Eight Trigrams Air Palm would become a catastrophe. With enough chakra poured into it, a basic clan technique could approach the destructive power of the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack.
The system probably could not raise Ren's chakra to the level of a tailed beast.
At least, not anytime soon.
However, increasing his reserves by several thousand points should be possible.
Once that happened, he could begin focusing more heavily on Water Release. Unlike Fire Release, many advanced Water Release techniques depended heavily on chakra volume and pressure. A shinobi with mediocre reserves might create a water dragon, but a shinobi with monstrous reserves could transform an entire battlefield into a lake.
There was another possibility as well.
When enough Fire Release techniques reached maximum favorability, they might form a special Bond. The same should apply to Water Release. Ren had yet to discover how many techniques were required, but the system had already proven that related abilities could influence one another.
If he gathered enough high-level techniques, he might unlock something far beyond a simple increase in power.
Perhaps stronger elemental affinity.
Perhaps reduced chakra consumption.
Perhaps even a transformation in the very nature of his chakra.
There was no point guessing endlessly. He would uncover the conditions eventually.
Ren turned his attention to another problem.
The Nerve Activation Technique was extremely effective, but its duration remained limited to forty-five seconds. In a short assassination or sudden clash, forty-five seconds was more than enough.
Against a Kage-level opponent, it was dangerously brief.
A powerful enemy could survive the initial assault, retreat, defend, or simply delay him until the technique ended. Once the enhancement faded, Ren would be forced to continue fighting while dealing with exhaustion and accumulated muscular strain.
He needed to extend the duration.
His thoughts immediately turned toward Orochimaru.
"I wonder whether Pakura's blood samples and complete research data would be enough to trade for another arm," Ren muttered.
The previous experimental arm Orochimaru had prepared had given him valuable insight into chakra pathways, muscular response, and cellular compatibility. If Ren could obtain another modified limb—or perhaps an improved version—he might be able to study the Nerve Activation Technique more deeply.
Of course, negotiating with Orochimaru was never simple.
The man could smile politely while calculating the value of Ren's organs.
Ren would need to prepare several layers of insurance before visiting him.
Sealing techniques were another priority. Minato and Kushina were his best possible sources, though approaching them required careful timing. Kushina possessed the Uzumaki clan's sealing knowledge, while Minato had the talent to understand, adapt, and apply those techniques in battle.
Theoretically, many Uzumaki sealing techniques originated from the same fundamental system. If the Binding Seal inside Ren's collection was connected to that system, then advanced Uzumaki techniques might be treated as alternate forms.
Once its favorability rose high enough for him to send gifts and unlock deeper interactions, he might be able to obtain an entire branch of sealing knowledge at once.
That possibility alone made the technique worth developing.
Then there was Transparent Escape.
Ren still had not decided whether it would become a serious combat ability or simply a convenient infiltration technique. Its initial effects were useful, but incomplete.
He needed to unlock its first characteristic before judging its true value.
For now, speculation would achieve nothing.
He rose to his feet and picked up several shuriken from the ground.
There was one final technique he wanted to test before ending the day.
Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson.
At its core, the technique was a combination of Phoenix Flower Jutsu and shurikenjutsu. The user launched several fireballs while hiding shuriken inside the flames, making it difficult for the enemy to distinguish between harmless fire, real projectiles, and concealed attack angles.
The principle was not particularly complicated.
Executing it properly was another matter.
The flames obstructed ordinary vision, while the shuriken constantly shifted positions inside them. To control both at once, the user required exceptional dynamic vision, precise chakra control, and the ability to predict the enemy's movement.
That was why the technique was particularly suited to members of the Uchiha clan.
With the Sharingan, they could track every projectile, observe every reaction, and adjust their attacks in real time.
Ren did not possess the Sharingan.
But he did possess the Nerve Activation Technique.
He inhaled slowly, then formed a sequence of hand seals.
Chakra surged through his nervous system.
The world changed.
The swaying grass became painfully clear. The drifting smoke seemed to slow. Even the trembling of leaves in the distance became visible, each movement separated into distinct details.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Ren snapped his arm forward.
Six shuriken left his fingers.
At the same instant, he exhaled a cluster of blazing fireballs. The flames swallowed the spinning weapons, concealing their metallic glint inside waves of orange light.
The burning projectiles spread across the field.
Three moved directly toward the target.
Two curved around from opposite sides.
The final one flew high, hidden behind the brighter flames, before descending from above.
The wooden training dummy was struck almost simultaneously.
Fire exploded across its chest. Shuriken tore through its shoulders and throat. The final projectile struck the center of its forehead with enough force to split the wood.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
The execution had succeeded, but it was not perfect. One shuriken had deviated slightly, and the flames had concealed his own vision more than expected.
Against a stationary target, the difference was insignificant.
Against a skilled shinobi, that slight error could mean survival.
He repeated the technique.
Then again.
And again.
Each attempt became faster, sharper, and more difficult to read. By the seventh attempt, the target was no longer recognizable. It had become a blackened mass of shattered wood embedded with heated metal.
For the first time, Ren successfully recreated an Uchiha-style Fire Release combination without possessing the Sharingan.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
The Nerve Activation Technique could compensate for part of the Sharingan's visual advantage, but only for a short period. If he extended its duration and improved his perception further, he might eventually reproduce even more techniques traditionally restricted to bloodline users.
The possibilities were dangerous.
And extremely tempting.
Ren trained until the sun disappeared behind Konoha's distant rooftops. Only when the forest became covered in long shadows did he finally stop.
"That's enough for today."
His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his muscles burned from repeated activation. He wiped his forehead, carefully collected every kunai and shuriken scattered across the field, and sealed them into his storage scroll.
Leaving weapons behind was careless.
Leaving evidence of his techniques behind was worse.
By the time Ren returned to the residential district, the village lanterns had begun to glow. Warm light spilled from windows, and the smell of cooked rice drifted through the streets.
At home, he immediately took a bath and changed into fresh clothes.
He had barely finished fastening his outer robe when the front door opened. Tajima and Aoi entered together, carrying several small shopping bags.
Aoi glanced toward him and smiled. "You're home earlier than expected."
Tajima placed the bags on the table and looked Ren over. "Good. Hurry and get ready. We're meeting Hiroshi and his family for dinner. We shouldn't make them wait."
Ren nodded. "I'm ready."
Not long afterward, the Mikami family met the Nohara family outside their neighboring homes.
Hiroshi greeted them with his usual booming laughter, while his wife exchanged warm pleasantries with Aoi.
Rin stood slightly behind her parents.
Compared with the previous day, she had clearly made an effort with her appearance. She wore a simple pale kimono decorated with small floral patterns. Her dark hair had been carefully arranged, and a delicate ribbon rested near one side of her head.
The outfit was modest, but elegant.
When she saw Ren, her eyes curved into happy crescents.
"You're finally here," she said, raising one hand in a gentle wave.
Ren looked at her for a moment longer than usual. "You look different today."
Rin's fingers paused near her sleeve. "Different in a good way?"
"In a good way."
A soft blush appeared across her cheeks.
She quickly turned toward the road before her parents noticed.
The two families headed toward Yakiniku Q together. The adults walked in front, discussing work, village affairs, and recent rumors. Ren and Rin followed several steps behind them.
Rin occasionally glanced at him, seemingly waiting for him to say something more about her kimono.
Ren noticed.
He simply pretended not to.
After several seconds, Rin lightly kicked the side of his sandal.
Ren looked down. "What was that for?"
"Nothing," she replied sweetly. "A stone must have attacked you."
"A very aggressive stone."
"Those are common in Konoha."
Despite her innocent expression, the corners of her lips trembled with suppressed laughter.
The restaurant was already crowded when they arrived. The sounds of conversation, clattering plates, and sizzling meat blended into a warm, lively atmosphere.
Hiroshi proudly presented the dining voucher he had reserved in advance. A waiter led them toward a large table in a quieter corner of the restaurant.
The moment everyone sat down, Hiroshi slapped one hand on the table.
"Ten plates of premium beef ribs!" he declared. "Five plates of pork loin, several vegetable platters, rice, and whatever side dishes you recommend. I'm in a good mood tonight, so everyone should eat as much as they can!"
The waiter's smile widened. "Right away!"
Tajima coughed softly. "Hiroshi, isn't that a little excessive?"
"Excessive?" Hiroshi stared at him as though he had spoken nonsense. "There are six of us! Besides, Ren and Rin are still growing. They need to eat properly. How else are they supposed to have the strength to go to the battlefield and kill enemies?"
The cheerful atmosphere became slightly quieter.
Rin's mother lowered her eyes for an instant.
The war had become an ordinary topic in Konoha, but no parent truly became accustomed to hearing that their child might soon be sent to the front lines.
Hiroshi seemed to realize what he had said and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Fortunately, the waiter returned with the first plates of meat. As the beef touched the heated grill, a rich sizzling sound filled the table, followed by the mouthwatering smell of roasting fat.
Conversation gradually resumed.
Ren was turning a piece of beef when the restaurant curtain was lifted again.
A tall man entered with a young girl beside him.
The man appeared to be in his thirties. His posture was straight, his expression stern, and his eyes constantly surveyed the room with the quiet vigilance of an experienced shinobi.
The girl possessed naturally wavy black hair, delicate features, and striking red eyes.
She looked around the crowded restaurant.
Then her gaze stopped.
Surprise flashed across her face, followed immediately by delight.
"Ren? Rin?" she called. "You're both here?"
Ren and Rin looked up at the same time.
"Kurenai," they said together.
It had been some time since either of them had seen Kurenai Yūhi. Beside her stood her father, Shinku Yūhi, one of Konoha's respected jōnin and a specialist in genjutsu.
Ren had only encountered Shinku a few times.
The man had apparently attended their Ninja Academy graduation, but Ren had been called away by Hiruzen almost immediately afterward for additional ninjutsu instruction. As a result, they had never spoken properly.
Hiroshi recognized him at once and stood.
"Jōnin Shinku! I didn't expect to meet you here. Are you having dinner with your daughter?"
Shinku gave a reserved nod. "That was the intention."
"Then join us!" Hiroshi said without hesitation. "There's plenty of food, and your daughter is clearly acquainted with Ren and Rin. It'll be livelier with everyone together."
He turned toward Tajima. "You don't mind, do you?"
Tajima shook his head. "Of course not. We're all from the same village, and Kurenai is their classmate."
Shinku hesitated.
He was not naturally comfortable with such sudden familiarity, but refusing in front of his daughter would be unnecessarily cold.
"Then forgive the intrusion," he said.
The waiter brought two additional cushions, expanding the group from six people to eight.
After greeting the adults, Kurenai approached the table.
There was an open seat beside her father.
There was also an empty seat beside Ren.
Kurenai slowed.
Her red eyes moved between the two places.
For a brief moment, uncertainty appeared on her face. Then she seemed to make a decision.
Kurenai walked directly past her father and sat beside Ren.
Rin was already seated on Ren's other side.
The arrangement left Ren trapped neatly between the two girls.
Rin's smile remained gentle, but her chopsticks stopped moving.
Kurenai acted as though nothing unusual had happened. She tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear and leaned slightly toward Ren.
"It really has been a long time," she said. "You didn't even come to see me after returning to the village."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Was I supposed to?"
Kurenai's lips formed a faint pout. "Aren't we friends?"
Before Ren could answer, Rin placed a perfectly grilled piece of beef into his bowl.
"Ren has been busy training," she said pleasantly. "He barely has time to visit anyone."
Kurenai looked across him toward Rin.
Rin met her gaze.
Both girls smiled.
Neither smile reached their eyes.
Across the table, Shinku stared at his daughter's abandoned seat beside him.
Then he looked at Ren.
Then at Rin.
Then back at Kurenai.
A deep crease slowly appeared between his brows.
Shinku had entered the restaurant expecting a quiet dinner with his daughter.
Instead, within less than a minute, she had placed herself beside a boy and begun exchanging suspiciously polite smiles with another girl.
His instincts, sharpened through countless missions and battles, immediately warned him that something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi laughed without noticing the tension. "Wonderful! Young people should spend more time together. Ren, take care of both of your classmates."
Shinku's eyes narrowed.
Ren calmly lifted the piece of beef Rin had placed in his bowl.
Kurenai immediately reached toward the grill.
"Try this one too," she said. "I cooked it."
Rin's chopsticks moved at the same time.
Their hands collided above Ren's bowl.
The two girls froze.
The adults finally fell silent.
As the grill crackled between them, Ren realized that tonight's dinner might be far more dangerous than any battlefield training.
And judging by the look Shinku Yuhi was giving him, the first attack had already begun.
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