Today was the day they would officially become ninja.
The morning sunlight filtered through the windows of the Senju compound, casting long beams across the wooden floor. Tsunade stood by the veranda, arms folded, watching Ren prepare to leave.
"You don't have to do ninja missions, you know?" she said quietly.
Ren adjusted his forehead protector lazily and shrugged. "What, still worried about me?"
Tsunade exhaled slowly. "It's not that, Ren. I know how strong you are. But the situation with the Uchiha… and that Zetsu thing… it's far too complicated."
Ren's expression softened slightly. Even he felt a chill when he thought about how far Obito had gone in the shadows.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "With all the fūinjutsu and ninjutsu we've created, I don't think many in this world can stop us."
Tsunade reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But you and the girls have to be careful. That wannabe Madara might pop up anytime."
Ren smirked confidently. "Oh, it'll be him who regrets showing up. With your genius space-locking Deep Forest Emergence jutsu, he'd be cooked."
Tsunade lifted her chin proudly. "I'm the Great Tsunade, after all."
Ren's gaze drifted downward before he nodded solemnly. "Yup. Definitely the greatest."
Shizune coughed awkwardly but nodded in half-jealous agreement.
Tsunade's mouth twitched. "You brat, stop looking where you shouldn't."
Yet as she said that, she pulled him into a tight hug, burying his face against her chest. Ren didn't resist, and neither of them said anything. It wasn't inappropriate—just warmth, reassurance, and the quiet fear of a guardian watching a prodigy step into danger.
"Come back in one piece," she muttered softly.
Ren smiled against her. "Always."
---
He walked toward the Academy lazily, hands in his pockets. On the way, he spotted Sakura Haruno waiting by a tree.
"Yoo, how's it going?" he called. "Ready for the exam?"
He casually draped an arm over her shoulders as they walked.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "It's just one of the three Academy jutsu. We can do them without hand signs and with our eyes closed."
She huffed lightly. "We're too powerful for graduation. We should be doing the Chūnin Exams instead."
Ren chuckled. "You're not wrong."
Before he could continue, a yellow blur tackled both of them.
They caught it effortlessly.
Sighing in unison, they said, "Can you stop acting childish?"
"Well," Ren added dryly, "she is blonde, so I doubt it."
"Morning, my darlings!" Ino Yamanaka cheered brightly.
She climbed onto Ren's back and pecked his cheek.
Ren's smile widened instinctively.
Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly before leaning in and pecking his other cheek. "Equality."
Ren laughed softly and continued walking, Ino still clinging to his back. Her cheeks brushed against his as she talked animatedly. He had the sudden urge to pinch them, but restrained himself with impressive willpower.
His free arm rested comfortably over Sakura's shoulder as they made their way to the Academy.
Once inside the classroom, Ino slid down from his back and gave him another quick peck before taking her seat. Sakura followed suit, pecking his cheek before sitting in front of him.
A few minutes later, Hinata Hyuga entered slightly out of breath.
"Sorry," she said softly. "I had to deal with some Hyuga affairs."
She sat beside Ren as usual. Without hesitation, he slipped his arm around her shoulders.
"Hey," Ren whispered dramatically, "after we become ninja, we'll all be busy. How about you three give me some motivation?"
Hinata slid her arms around his waist and leaned closer until their foreheads touched. Her pale eyes locked onto his.
"Stop acting spoiled, you shameless guy," she murmured fondly. "You can visit us anytime you want with Flying Thunder God."
Ren grinned and gently pecked her lips. "Yup. That's the motivation I was talking about."
Hinata sighed in affectionate exasperation and pecked his cheek. "Stop now. We have an exam to do."
Ren tightened his hug. "Don't wanna."
Ino reached back and pinched his waist sharply. "Stop fooling around and drop the barrier."
Ren leaned over and pecked her lips. "Yes, ma'am."
He dispelled the subtle genjutsu barrier he had cast around them. To everyone else in the classroom, the four of them had simply been sitting normally.
Sakura turned around suspiciously. "Hey. That's unfair."
Ren winked. "How about I make it up with a small shopping trip?"
Sakura nodded immediately. "Acceptable."
Just then, Naruto Uzumaki leaned over from behind them.
"Hey, Ren," Naruto squinted. "Why are you glowing like you just won a war or something?"
Ren smirked knowingly. "You wouldn't understand, Naruto. You're too young."
Naruto's face scrunched up. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
Ren only shrugged casually.
Then he remembered something important.
"Hey, Naruto. When you have free time, come to the Senju compound. I've gotta introduce you to someone."
Naruto blinked in surprise. "Me? Fine! But who?"
Ren's smile turned slightly mysterious. "You'll see."
Naruto narrowed his eyes suspiciously but grinned anyway. "If it's training, I'm in!"
Sakura leaned back slightly. "You're planning something again, aren't you?"
Ren raised both hands innocently. "Me? Never."
Ino snorted. "That's the biggest lie you've told today."
Hinata smiled softly, resting her head lightly against his shoulder.
Outside, the village buzzed with life. Inside, four prodigies prepared to step into the shinobi world—not as ordinary genin, but as something far more dangerous.
Graduation was only the beginning.
And none of them were ordinary anymore.