Ren was momentarily stunned.
Then it clicked.
Of course.
Who in the world understood the Three Basic Jutsu better than the Three Basic Jutsu themselves?
The thought was absurd, but the logic was flawless.
He cleared his throat and began explaining to Kurenai, following the advice that Transformation Technique had just given him.
"Kurenai, your chakra control is too scattered."
His hand remained gently on her back as he spoke calmly.
"You need to distribute your chakra evenly across your entire body first. Don't concentrate everything in one place."
He focused carefully on the chakra flow he could sense through her movements.
"Yes… that's better."
"The flow is already more condensed than before."
Then he frowned slightly.
"Wait. The chakra around your ankle is a little sluggish. Try adjusting it."
Kurenai listened seriously and attempted to follow every instruction.
She concentrated harder.
As she adjusted her chakra flow according to Ren's guidance, she could clearly feel the warmth of his palm resting against her back.
For some reason, her heartbeat sped up slightly.
Her cheeks gradually flushed red.
Thankfully, the two of them were standing back-to-back during the exercise.
Neither could see the other's expression.
Which made things far less awkward.
---
Time passed quietly.
The sun slowly moved toward the horizon.
After nearly an hour of continuous training, Ren finally ended the lesson.
By then, Kurenai was completely exhausted.
Repeatedly using the Three Basic Jutsu had drained a large amount of her chakra. Her breathing was slightly uneven, and tiny beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
But her eyes were shining brightly.
Full of excitement.
Because she could clearly feel the difference.
Under Ren's guidance, her Transformation Technique and Clone Technique had improved noticeably.
They were still nowhere near Ren's level of precision, but the chakra flow inside her body had become smoother and more natural. Even the amount of chakra consumed during each use had decreased slightly.
Those subtle changes were something Kurenai could clearly sense.
She clasped her hands together and bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Ren!"
"Your guidance was really helpful!"
She hurried to the side of the training ground where she had left her schoolbag, rummaged through it, and pulled out several folded paper bills.
After counting them carefully, she walked back with an apologetic expression.
"Um…"
"I only brought one thousand ryo with me today."
She handed the money to Ren.
"Is it okay if I give you the rest next time?"
Ren accepted the bills without hesitation.
"No problem."
Then he thought for a moment.
"How about we schedule the next session two days from now?"
"That way you'll also have time to digest everything you learned today."
Kurenai nodded eagerly.
"Mm-hmm!"
"It's a deal!"
She slung her bag over her shoulder and smiled brightly.
"Then I'll head back first."
"See you later, Ren!"
"See you."
Ren watched her leave the training ground.
Only after her figure disappeared did he turn back toward the empty field.
Now that he was alone—
It was time for his own training.
---
The Three Basic Jutsu were naturally his first priority.
These were the techniques he had begun cultivating the earliest, and their progress was already the highest.
Especially Transformation Technique.
Its favorability had already reached Stage Three.
Ren was extremely curious about what kind of qualitative change would occur when the favorability finally reached maximum level 10.
After that came the other techniques.
Great Fireball Technique and Water Release: Rampaging Water Waves Technique.
The Great Fireball Technique had been a little moody lately.
Ever since Ren held back during his previous spar with Hyuga Hizashi, she had been sulking constantly. During their dialogue sessions, she often ignored him entirely.
Fortunately, practice still increased favorability normally.
At this rate, Ren estimated that in about three to five days, her favorability would reach level five and unlock the second-stage trait.
As for Water Release: Rampaging Water Waves Technique…
The moment Ren walked toward a small stream running through the edge of the training ground, the galgame system suddenly activated again.
---
[By the stream in Konoha Village, you encounter a silver-haired girl standing beside the flowing water.]
[Her demeanor is cool and elegant, like the moon reflected on the surface of a lake.]
[She stands barefoot above the water's surface, dancing gracefully along with the flowing current.]
[The beautiful scene captivates you deeply.]
[Attempt to communicate with her?]
Yes / No
---
Ren selected Yes without hesitation.
The interface shifted.
A dialogue box appeared, its frame shimmering like rippling water.
---
[Water Release: Rampaging Water Waves Technique: …Hmm?]
[Young man, you've been watching for quite a while.]
[Do you have any profound insights about my "creation"?]
She didn't turn around.
She merely lifted one hand slightly.
A thin stream of water flowed gracefully through her fingers like silk.
---
Three choices appeared before Ren.
A:
"My apologies for disturbing you. I have never seen such an elegant dance. It feels like watching art come to life."
B:
"Wow! Amazing! Can you teach me? I want to shoot a water jet that powerful too!"
C:
"A creation as beautiful and fleeting as water itself… Rather than fading alone, why not join me and carve that beauty into the ninja world together?"
---
Ren stared at option B.
"…Seriously?"
What kind of ridiculous line was that?
'I want to shoot a water jet that powerful too.'
Are you sure we're talking about water release here?
Ren rubbed his forehead.
Honestly, he had already noticed the pattern.
Option B in this system was almost always the most ridiculous choice possible.
The only time it had worked was during his encounter with Great Fireball Technique.
Every other time, the B option had basically been a trap.
So he ignored it.
Between A and C, option A seemed more straightforward and polite.
Ren selected A.
---
[Water Release: Rampaging Water Waves Technique: …Oh?]
[It seems you are someone who can appreciate art.]
[Unlike those ninjas who merely see water as a weapon.]
[How rare.]
She paused.
Then asked quietly:
[But tell me… do you understand the true meaning of "form"?]
Ren answered honestly.
"Not really."
"Please enlighten me."
---
The conversation progressed smoothly after that.
Ren might not truly understand artistic philosophy, but as someone raised in the modern information era, he had no shortage of beautiful-sounding nonsense to say.
Flattery.
Philosophy.
A little poetic nonsense.
It all worked surprisingly well.
Fortunately, the "art" this technique referred to wasn't particularly abstract. As long as Ren played the role of an art appreciator, the dialogue flowed naturally.
Before long—
The conquest was complete.
---
His capture list updated again.
The number of controlled techniques increased to six.
Ren immediately began practicing the Rampaging Water Waves Technique.
After several attempts, he finally managed to perform it once or twice successfully.
But the results were… modest.
He spat out a thin stream of water that shot forward several meters and knocked down a small patch of aquatic plants.
Deadly?
Not even close.
The gap between his version and the elegant water dancer from the encounter scene was still enormous.
But Ren wasn't worried.
Now that the technique was on his capture list, he could slowly improve it through repeated training.
After all—
No one could become powerful in a single bite.
---
Compared to the other techniques, practicing Healing Technique was actually the most troublesome.
Because he couldn't train it alone.
Healing required something to heal.
Since both Ren and Rin were currently only auditing students in the medical class, they weren't allowed to practice on real patients yet.
Which meant they needed another solution.
Ren glanced at the stream nearby.
"…It's getting late today."
"Tomorrow I'll buy a fishing net and catch some fish here."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"They can be our 'patients.'"
Then he added,
"I can invite Rin and Obito too."
They were all auditing medical students.
They all needed practice subjects.
Sharing the cost of a fishing net shouldn't be a problem.
Right?
---
By the time Ren finished this round of training, the sun had completely disappeared beyond the horizon.
Stars were beginning to appear in the evening sky.
Every muscle in his body ached.
But he still forced himself to head home.
When he approached his house, he noticed something unexpected.
Next door—
Rin Nohara was still practicing.
She stood beside the fence in her yard, repeatedly performing the Three Basic Jutsu by herself.
Just as Ren arrived, she finished a transformation.
The smoke cleared.
And she returned to her normal appearance.
Then she noticed him.
"Huh?"
"Ren?"
Rin walked closer to the fence.
A few strands of hair clung to her forehead from sweat.
She stood slightly on her toes to look over the fence.
"Why did you train until so late?"
Ren smiled casually.
"I practiced a bit longer than usual."
"Lost track of time."
Rin studied his face for a few seconds.
Then she asked as if it were just a casual question.
"…By the way."
"Did Kurenai also go home this late?"
--------------------------------
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