The classroom buzzed with excitement as the newly graduated students sat at their desks, each wearing their forehead protectors with pride. The metal plates reflected the sunlight from the windows, marking the moment they had all waited for. Ren sat calmly beside his friends while quiet conversations filled the room.
"So, what are you gonna do now?" Shikamaru Nara asked lazily, leaning back in his chair.
Ren shrugged casually. "Missions like you guys. Maybe sometimes with you if the opportunity comes."
Choji Akimichi grinned widely. "It would be fun to do missions with you, Ren!"
Ren and Shikamaru exchanged a knowing glance before sighing almost in sync.
"Say that again after you complete a few missions," Ren said calmly.
Shikamaru nodded with a bored expression. "Yeah… missions aren't exactly a picnic."
Choji blinked in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Neither Ren nor Shikamaru answered. Like many others in the class, Choji imagined ninja missions as exciting adventures. Kids like Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka shared that same belief.
They didn't yet understand what true ninja work really meant.
Ren glanced toward the girls sitting nearby and spoke in a slightly serious tone.
"You better be careful out there. If you see that masked guy, send me a message through the FTG mark immediately."
The girls nodded in agreement, though two of them didn't look entirely pleased.
Ino Yamanaka crossed her arms and pouted. "Why is that FTG so unfair?"
Sakura Haruno nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Only Hinata and Ren can use it."
Beside them, Hinata Hyuga giggled softly.
"Well… maybe because I'm a Hyuga," she said gently. "And because I have Ren teaching me."
Ren smiled faintly at their playful complaints.
"Don't worry. You guys should also prepare yourselves. For the next few months, you'll probably be stuck doing D-rank missions."
"Damn it, don't remind me," Ino groaned dramatically.
Just then, the classroom door slid open and Iruka Umino walked inside with a clipboard.
The chatter instantly quieted.
Iruka looked around the room with a proud smile. "Alright everyone, today I'll be announcing your team assignments."
The room grew tense as everyone waited.
"Team Seven…"
Excited whispers spread across the classroom as names were called one after another.
Finally, Iruka looked toward Ren.
"And Ren… you will be a solo team under Lady Tsunade."
A small wave of surprise passed through the room.
Ino sighed quietly. Even though she already knew the Ino-Shika-Cho formation couldn't be broken, hearing it out loud still felt frustrating.
Ren simply smiled and looked around at his friends.
"Well," he said calmly, "our lives as ninja start now."
He leaned back slightly with a relaxed grin.
"You all ready?"
Naruto shot his fist into the air immediately. "Of course I am! I'm gonna become the Hokage!"
Kiba smirked confidently. "Heh, missions sound awesome. Akamaru and I will handle anything!"
Choji scratched his cheek. "As long as we get food breaks, I'm ready."
Shikamaru sighed dramatically. "What a drag… but yeah, I guess."
Sakura nodded with determination. "I'll work hard."
Ino grinned. "Just watch. I'll become amazing."
Hinata spoke softly but firmly. "I'll do my best."
Ren chuckled quietly at their reactions before standing up.
Afterward, he walked out of the classroom while the others remained seated, waiting for their assigned sensei to arrive.
Ren stepped outside into the warm sunlight and began heading toward the Senju compound.
"Hey Ren! How's it going?"
A familiar energetic voice stopped him.
Ren turned around and saw Might Guy and his team approaching.
"Hey, Rock Lee, Tenten, Neji Hyuga, and Mr. Guy," Ren said with a smile. "How was your mission?"
Guy struck a dramatic pose immediately.
"A youthful mission! We completed it in record time!"
Lee mirrored the pose with sparkling eyes. "The power of youth guided us!"
Tenten rubbed her forehead in embarrassment while Neji sighed quietly.
"Well, today you officially became a ninja too, right Ren?" Tenten asked.
"Yep," Ren replied with a grin.
Neji studied him for a moment before asking calmly, "Lady Hinata isn't with you?"
Ren shook his head. "Nope. They're still waiting for their sensei."
Tenten looked surprised. "You all aren't on the same team?"
Ren shook his head again.
"They'll be teaming with others. Even though their official sensei will be different, they're still Lady Tsunade's students."
He pointed casually at himself.
"And I'm a solo."
Tenten blinked.
"Damn… solo from the start?"
A hint of envy flashed in her eyes.
Ren simply smiled.
"Well, I'll see you guys again."
They exchanged farewells before heading their separate ways.
As Ren continued walking toward the Senju compound, he let out a quiet sigh.
It wasn't like he didn't want to team up with his friends. But the situation in the village required a different approach.
Because of the new barrier protecting Konoha, Obito's attention would inevitably focus on Tsunade.
To everyone in the village, it appeared as if Tsunade herself had created the powerful new barrier.
In reality, it was also bait.
A way to make Obito reveal himself.
Ren wasn't worried about the girls. They all carried his Flying Thunder God marks and could call him instantly if anything happened.
Ino and Sakura would never be alone without backup.
As for Hinata…
Ren's smile deepened slightly.
She had already learned the Flying Thunder God technique.
With her evolving Byakugan, the forming Sage Body, and the newly developing Byakugō Seal, she could even fight Obito if he appeared alone.
Killing him would still be extremely difficult.
But surviving? That was absolutely possible.
Ren looked up at the sky thoughtfully.
As long as Obito stayed quiet for a few more years, everything would fall into place.
Hinata would awaken her Tensaigan and fully stabilize her Sage Body.
Once that happened, Ren would be able to copy the Truth-Seeking Orbs and step into the Six Paths level.
"As long as we have time…"
Ren grinned confidently.
"The future is secured."