Naruto: Young Teacher
Chapter 22
Kurenai appeared inside the Hokage Tower shortly after sending a message requesting an urgent meeting. She waited quietly outside the office until an ANBU guard signaled that the Hokage was ready to see her.
She entered the Hokage's office and bowed respectfully. "Hokage-sama, I have an urgent report regarding Hinata Hyūga, Ino Yamanaka, and Ren."
Hiruzen raised his eyebrows slightly, curiosity appearing on his aged face. "Oh? And what exactly is this report?"
Kurenai straightened her posture before speaking clearly. "Hokage-sama, Ren has recreated the Rasengan on his own. Additionally, both Hinata Hyūga and Ino Yamanaka have already mastered the technique."
Hiruzen's pipe froze halfway to his mouth as he inhaled sharply in surprise. The old Hokage immediately choked on the smoke, coughing violently as tears formed in his eyes.
"Cough… cough… s-say that again," Hiruzen wheezed while smoke escaped from his nose.
Kurenai stood there awkwardly, unsure how to react to the Hokage choking on his own pipe. After a brief pause, she repeated her report more slowly.
"Hokage-sama, Ren recreated the Rasengan after reading about it in books. Hinata Hyūga and Ino Yamanaka have also mastered the technique under his guidance."
Hiruzen slowly leaned back in his chair, his expression turning serious as he processed the information. The Rasengan was an A-rank technique and one of the most difficult jutsu to master.
It required absurd levels of chakra control and significant reserves. Even experienced shinobi struggled to learn it, yet three academy graduates had already achieved it.
"Hiss…" Hiruzen slowly inhaled as his eyes glimmered with anticipation.
"I see," he said thoughtfully. "Then we will wait and observe Kakashi's evaluation of Ren during the bell test."
Kurenai nodded respectfully. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
With her report delivered, she bowed once more before leaving the office. The door closed quietly behind her.
Hiruzen looked at the closed door for a moment before setting his paperwork aside. A faint smile formed on his face as he reached for a familiar crystal ball.
"The paperwork can wait," he murmured to himself.
The crystal ball shimmered with chakra as the Third Hokage activated it. Moments later, the image of Training Ground Seven appeared within the sphere.
Meanwhile, Ren walked calmly toward the training ground with his hands tucked inside his pockets. Even before arriving, he could already sense the familiar chakra watching him from afar.
'Heh… the old man is already spying on us,' Ren thought with a faint smirk.
'Perfect. Time to put on a good show.'
When he stepped into the clearing, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura immediately turned to look at him.
Naruto was the first to react, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Ren, you bastard! Why are you so late?!"
Sakura crossed her arms with a small huff of annoyance while Sasuke simply watched silently.
Ren walked up to them and flicked Sakura lightly on the forehead.
"Ow!" Sakura yelped as she rubbed the spot.
"Ren! I didn't even say anything to you!" she protested.
"That's not the point," Ren replied calmly.
He looked at the three of them with clear disappointment in his eyes.
"Why are you guys such idiots?" Ren said bluntly. "With brains like this, you might die on your very first mission."
His words carried no mockery—only harsh honesty.
"A ninja needs patience, a calm mind, and stealth," Ren continued. "Naruto is loud, impulsive, and reckless. That kind of behavior gets people killed."
Naruto blinked in confusion while scratching the back of his head.
"You didn't even gather any information about your instructor," Ren said, shaking his head. "Why do you think we were given a full day before the test?"
He glanced at each of them in turn.
"What did any of you do during that time? And you all showed up on an empty stomach?"
Ren's tone grew colder as he continued.
"If an enemy attacked you right now, would you fight them while starving? And you couldn't even stay calm for a few hours of waiting."
He sighed heavily.
"Pathetic."
Sakura lowered her head quietly as she processed his words. Sasuke's face flushed slightly red with embarrassment and frustration.
Naruto, however, simply stared blankly while scratching his head again.
Inside the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen watched everything through the crystal ball with a pleased expression.
"Good," he murmured softly. "The boy is perceptive. He understands things many genin don't."
Ren let out another quiet sigh before reaching into a sealing scroll.
With a small burst of smoke, several packed food containers appeared in his hands.
He handed them to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
"Kakashi-sensei won't be here for at least another hour," Ren said calmly. "You should eat everything quickly."
Back in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen's eyes lit up with approval.
"Excellent… excellent," he said with a smile.
"First he points out their mistakes, then he helps them fix the problem."
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair with satisfaction.
"Strict when necessary, but kind at heart."
"A true bearer of the Will of Fire."