Ren planned to find time to properly test the effect of the newly awakened Light Flame Bomb. The first thing he needed to confirm was the relationship between chakra consumption and flash duration. A full five-second flash sounded powerful, but the cost might be far too high to use repeatedly in real battle. Under normal circumstances, there was no need to chase the strongest version. A one-second or two-second burst was already enough to create an opening. If he prepared several Light Flame Bombs and triggered them one after another, the battlefield effect might even surpass a single large flash.
Of course, his research into Scorch Release itself could not be abandoned either. Right now, Ren could only imitate part of its characteristics. His Light Flame Bomb carried high heat and a blinding burst, but compared to Pakura's true Scorch Release, it was still missing something essential. More importantly, Pakura was a Kekkei Genkai user. She could activate many of her techniques with one hand, or even without hand signs under certain conditions. That kind of instinctive casting was the true core of a bloodline limit, and it was something Ren still could not touch.
Ren's thoughts moved, and the pale white fireball in front of him quietly dispersed into the darkness. He let out a soft breath and muttered, "Tomorrow, I'll take time to test it properly. I need to remove this 'pseudo' label as soon as possible."
Once that thought settled, exhaustion surged through his body like a tide. The breakthrough had brought excitement, but it had also drained his energy. Ren wiped his face carelessly with a towel, fell back onto the bed, and closed his eyes the moment his head touched the pillow. The Phoenix Sage Fire Technique inside the system also quieted down, clearly satisfied with its new shiny evolution.
The next morning, Team Minato woke early as usual. They washed up, packed their gear, and headed out for a half-day border patrol mission. The border remained calm. Sunagakure had clearly not recovered from the heavy blow they had suffered a few days ago. Their forces stayed hidden, and no one dared to provoke Konoha's patrol line for the time being.
After returning at noon and eating something simple, Kakashi and Obito went out to train. Ren's accidental "late-night cultivation" had clearly left a strong impression on Obito. The Uchiha boy now believed Ren had secretly been grinding while everyone else slept, and that misunderstanding turned into fierce motivation. Kakashi, with the expression of someone forced into trouble by fate, took on the role of assistant instructor. In other words, he finally had a legal and reasonable excuse to beat Obito up during training.
Ren himself went to the small room behind the Medical Squad with Rin Nohara. Together, they spread out the scrolls, charts, and instrument records from Pakura's Scorch Release experiment and continued sorting through the data. Jace was not there today. His main duty was still treating wounded soldiers, and helping with yesterday's experiment had already been a favor. He could not spend every day doing research with them.
Fortunately, Ren's current state was very different from yesterday. After comprehending the Light Flame Bomb, his understanding of the data had deepened by a large margin. Some patterns that had seemed vague before were now much clearer. Chakra peaks, body temperature changes, glandular reactions, cellular overload, and the sudden dry-heat transformation all seemed to connect in ways he could finally begin to understand.
Still, one key problem remained. The catalytic medium Jace had mentioned earlier was still hidden from him. Without understanding that point, Ren could not refine his imitation from pseudo-Scorch Release into something closer to the real thing. He tapped his brush lightly against the table and frowned. "The main issue is still here. These chakra-conducting protein structures are too special and complex. It's hard to judge exactly how chakra fuses and changes when passing through them, but this should be the most important part."
Rin propped her chin with one hand and looked over the scroll beside him. Her expression was serious, though her voice remained gentle. "So our current knowledge and equipment still aren't enough?"
"Probably," Ren admitted. "If we really want to understand the trick behind it, we might need someone like Lady Tsunade or Orochimaru to take a look. Maybe when someone returns to Konoha, I can organize a copy of the research material and send it back."
Rin looked at him for a moment, then smiled softly. "Ren, you've already done very well. Most people wouldn't be able to summarize this much in such a short time. This topic is simply too difficult. Don't push yourself too hard."
Ren paused, then the tension in his brows relaxed slightly. "Don't worry. I know my limits."
He was about to continue when the curtain of the tent was suddenly lifted. Obito's spiky head popped in, and his excited voice rushed in before the rest of him. "Rin! Ren! Come out and see! Tonight's dinner is incredible! It's just like New Year!"
Kakashi walked in behind him with both hands in his pockets, moving at a much calmer pace. "It's not 'like' New Year. Today is January 1st, Year 47 of Konoha. It really is the New Year."
"New Year?" Ren and Rin froze at the same time.
Konoha's calendar had been established after the village was founded by Hashirama Senju. Like the modern Gregorian calendar, it used the depth of winter as the beginning of a new year. If they were in Konoha now, snow would likely have fallen several times already. But Wildfire Outpost was close to the Land of Wind and located in a warmer region, so the seasonal changes were not obvious. Add the tension of war on top of that, and everyone had lost track of time without realizing it.
Rin's eyes lit up immediately. "It's really New Year?"
The fatigue from studying endless data seemed to vanish from her face. For a girl her age, the festive atmosphere carried a natural pull, even if they were standing on the front lines of war.
Ren began tidying up the scrolls. "Then let's go take a look."
Obito led the way with high spirits. Ren and Rin followed in the middle, while Kakashi trailed behind them with an expression that clearly said he had no choice but to accompany these troublesome people. Once they stepped out of the tent, the sight before them made everyone pause.
In the open space at the center of the stronghold, a huge bonfire had already been lit. Orange-red flames leapt into the evening sky, driving away the dimness and cold. Several long tables had been pushed together and covered with food. There were large chunks of roasted beast meat sizzling with oil, basins of stewed meat and boiled fish, steaming white rice, fresh bread, and even rare fruits and vegetables. A few jars of wine with red paper labels had also been brought out, though the younger ninjas were clearly not supposed to drink them.
Logistics ninjas were setting up barbecue racks with practiced hands. Piles of meat and vegetable skewers had already been prepared beside them. The smell of spices, smoke, and roasted fat drifted through the camp, making even the exhausted wounded soldiers look more alive.
"Ren! Rin! Over here!" Jace called from nearby. She was directing a few recently treated soldiers to help move fruit, and when she saw the group arrive, her face brightened with a rare relaxed smile. "Come help hold those racks steady. Everyone should enjoy themselves properly tonight."
Ren and Rin immediately went forward to help, and Obito followed with great enthusiasm. After some busy preparation, the sky finally darkened completely. The central area of the camp was filled with firelight, laughter, and human voices. Konoha ninjas sat together in small groups, talking loudly, raising cups, and sharing food. Someone took out a flute. Another brought out a harmonica. Soon, a familiar folk song from the Land of Fire drifted above the bonfire.
For one night, the battlefield felt less like a battlefield.
At that moment, Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze appeared together. Jiraiya wore his iconic red coat and wooden sandals, his tall figure instantly drawing everyone's attention. As one of the legendary Sannin and the supreme commander of Konoha's southwest front, his reputation needed no introduction. The moment he arrived, cheers rose from all sides.
"Lord Jiraiya!"
"Come sit here!"
"Say something for the New Year!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly and accepted the invitation. After clearing his throat, he raised his cup and looked across the gathered ninjas. "I won't say too much. Over the past year, we've all experienced a lot. War has brought pain, sacrifice, and separation, but it has also shown us the courage and resilience of Konoha's ninja. Especially our young juniors, who have displayed responsibility and strength far beyond their age. You are the hope of Konoha's future."
Approving applause erupted from the crowd. Many people instinctively looked toward Ren and Kakashi. Among the younger generation, the two of them had achieved the most dazzling results. Their battlefield performance had already surpassed many adult ninjas in their twenties. No one could deny that they were monsters in the making.
Jiraiya raised his cup higher. "In this new year, I hope everyone continues fighting to protect our home and our comrades. Let us end this war as soon as possible. For peace—cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The camp answered in one voice. Cups clinked together. Laughter rose. The heavy atmosphere that had hung over the front line for days finally loosened.
Then Jiraiya suddenly grinned. "All right, enough serious talk. Since it's New Year, I'll perform something to liven things up. This is a little trick I learned during my travels around the ninja world. I call it—Face Changing!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiraiya raised his sleeve to cover his face. With one smooth wave, thick oil paint suddenly appeared across his features, turning him into a fierce warrior with bulging eyes. Another wave, and he became a sorrowful old man. A third wave, and his face transformed into a ridiculous ghostly child's mask.
The performance was smooth, quick, and surprisingly funny. Cheers and laughter burst from the surrounding ninjas. Many younger soldiers stared in amazement, never expecting the respected Lord Jiraiya to have such an approachable and playful side. Even Kakashi, who usually managed his expressions with iron discipline, had the corners of his mouth twitch faintly beneath his mask.
Ren watched the scene and silently complained in his heart. This "Mask-Change Hero" Jiraiya was really something. Did the Naruto world also have traveling performers who specialized in this kind of art? If so, maybe even Tobirama Senju had once learned some dramatic old performance song in private.
Jiraiya proudly stepped around the bonfire in his wooden sandals, changed several more faces, and finally ended the act amid applause and laughter. "Hahaha! Just a small trick! Everyone, eat well and drink well, but don't forget patrol duty. If Sunagakure takes advantage of our celebration, that won't be funny!"
"Understood!"
After Jiraiya sat down, the dinner officially began. Ren, Rin, Kakashi, and Obito gathered around one grill. Obito volunteered to be the barbecue chef, but his skill was questionable. He burned several pieces in a row, then laughed awkwardly and ate the evidence himself. When Kakashi offered to help, Obito stubbornly refused.
It was New Year, and they were still children at heart. Ren and Rin did not mind. They simply arranged seasonings, plates, and chopsticks beside the grill while watching Obito fight the meat with tragic determination.
"Rin! This piece is cooked perfectly!" Obito finally picked up a sizzling piece of roasted meat and handed it to her with shining eyes.
"Thank you, Obito-kun." Rin smiled and reached out to take it. But just as she was about to bite, a hot charcoal spark suddenly popped from the edge of the grill and landed on the back of her hand. She let out a small cry, and the meat nearly slipped from her fingers.
"Careful!"
Ren reacted instantly. He pulled Rin gently away from the grill, grabbed a water bottle from the side, and poured cool water over the reddened spot on her hand. His movements were quick but careful. "Luckily, it's only a little red. No blisters. How does it feel, Rin?"
The cold water washed away the burning sting. Rin half-squatted beside him, watching his focused expression as he held her hand. Under the reflection of the firelight, her cheeks turned faintly pink. "It's much better. Thank you, Ren."
Snap.
Obito's hand tightened around the bamboo tongs so hard they almost broke.
Kakashi glanced at him from the side and frowned. "Obito, why is your Sharingan active while grilling meat? Do you have so much spare chakra that you don't know where to spend it? Also, the meat is burning. Take it off."
Ren turned his head and looked at Obito, speechless for a moment.
Good grief. If Kakashi had not reminded him, Obito might have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan over barbecue.
Ren coughed lightly, stood up, and picked up another pair of tongs. "Let me do it. I'm better at grilling. Obito, here, this big portion is yours. Eat it while it's hot."
Obito stared at the plate piled high with roasted ribs, then looked at Ren's sincere expression. The strange resentment in his heart softened slightly. After a moment, he gave a muffled "oh," lowered his head, and bit into the ribs fiercely. The black tomoe in his eyes slowly faded.
Ren quietly sighed. As expected, Obito was still easy to coax. Even eating required emotional management.
After that, Ren took over as barbecue master. One piece after another of golden, fragrant, juicy meat landed on everyone's plates. Kakashi ate several pieces quickly, then silently got up and swapped places with him, allowing Ren to finally sit down and eat properly. The four of them ate around the fire, and for a short while, there were no missions, no killing intent, and no border tension. There was only the warmth of food and friends.
After several rounds of eating and drinking, some Konoha ninjas took the initiative to replace the comrades on outer patrol so they could come back and enjoy the celebration for a while. The atmosphere became even livelier.
At that moment, Jiraiya walked over with a wine cup in hand. His steps were slightly unsteady, and the smell of alcohol followed him as he sat down between Ren and Obito. "Kids, you've all done well recently. Seeing you reminds me of when I was young. Back then, I was also handsome, dashing, incredibly strong, and loved by thousands of girls. Hahaha!"
Kakashi quietly looked away. Obito's expression said he wanted to believe it but could not. Rin politely smiled. Ren wisely chose not to comment.
Jiraiya leaned closer and patted Ren heavily on the shoulder. "Especially you, kid from the Mikami family. Capturing Pakura alive and forcing Chiyo back—tsk, tsk. That battle record is enough for you to brag about for a long time. Tell me, is there any reward you want? I'm in a good mood today, so just ask."
Ren's eyelids twitched as Jiraiya's heavy palm nearly shook his bones loose. But when he heard the word reward, his eyes immediately brightened. "Is Lord Jiraiya really that generous? Then… do you have any powerful ninjutsu or secret technique you can teach me?"
"A secret technique?" Jiraiya's smile suddenly turned mysterious. He lowered his voice, as if about to reveal a treasure hidden from the entire ninja world. "You asked the right person. I really do have a unique ninjutsu I developed myself. Even Minato doesn't know it. It's extremely practical."
Ren's expression sharpened. Obito immediately leaned closer. Even Kakashi's visible eye shifted slightly in their direction.
Jiraiya raised one finger, his grin becoming more and more suspicious.
"So, Ren… do you want to learn it?"
The bonfire crackled beside them, and under the New Year's night sky, Ren suddenly had a very bad feeling that this so-called secret technique might change his life in a completely unexpected way.
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