The sudden vacuum left by Genma Shiranui's departure was almost as jarring as his abrupt appearance. On the windswept rooftop, silence stretched, thick and awkward, broken only by the distant sounds of Konoha settling into the afternoon. Ren stood breathing steadily, the slight tremor in his limbs from the exertion of Surface Walking Lv. 1 already fading thanks to Gamer's Body actively repairing minor muscle strain (Status: Minor Muscle Fatigue (Legs) - Rapid Recovery Initiated). His internal CP bar showed a noticeable dent – the skill was powerful but costly at Lv. 1.
Akari stared at him, her brown eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and something akin to awe. Kenji, having shaken off the last vestiges of numbness from the nerve strike, just gaped, his usual gruffness momentarily forgotten.
"Ren... how?" Akari finally whispered, the question hanging heavy in the air. "Running… down the wall? That's… that's advanced chakra control! That's Jonin-level stuff, isn't it?"
Kenji nodded dumbly, his gaze fixed on the spot Ren had landed after his wall run. "Yeah... Seriously. What was that? The instructors never taught anything like that." His voice held less suspicion now, replaced by grudging respect and sheer confusion. He wasn't asking accusatorily; he seemed genuinely baffled.
Ren met their gazes calmly, keeping his expression neutral. Revealing the System was unthinkable. Lying felt risky with Genma likely having ways to verify information later. Calculated vagueness was the only path.
"Chakra control," Ren stated simply. "I spent a lot of time practicing fundamentals. Leaf sticking, focusing exercises... pushing the limits." He deliberately omitted the 'two years of obsessive grinding guided by a System'. "Understanding how to output chakra constantly from the soles seemed like the next logical step after mastering adhesion." He framed it as intense personal study and dedication, leveraging the 'studying theories' hobby he'd mentioned.
Observe: Akari Sumire. Emotional State: Awe, Confusion, Increased Respect (+), Slight Intimidation (+). Thought: He figured that out *alone*? Just by practice? That's incredible… and kind of scary.
Observe: Kenji Ito. Emotional State: Confusion, High Respect (+), Reevaluation (Ren != weak). Thought: Just… practice? Damn. Guess I need to train harder. Must have worked himself to the bone.
It seemed to work, shifting their perception from 'impossible magic' to 'freakishly dedicated training'. Which was acceptable. It fostered respect without revealing the truth. It also served as subtle motivation for them – if he could achieve this through dedication (as they now believed), maybe they could push themselves further too.
"Still..." Kenji rubbed the back of his neck, looking impressed. "That was insane. You saved our asses back there. That hit… none of my punches were even close."
Akari nodded vigorously. "A-and my kunai! That distraction with the railing... you used that perfectly when he was focused on Ren! That was smart, Kenji wasn't just useless!" she corrected herself quickly, flushing slightly as Kenji shot her a brief glare, though it lacked its earlier heat. Ren saw a flicker of surprised gratitude in Kenji's Observe readout.
"We passed because all three elements worked," Ren stated, deliberately including them. "My maneuver created the opening. Kenji's initial charge forced Genma-sensei to reveal his evasion tactics. Akari's distraction split his focus at the critical moment. It wouldn't have worked if any part was missing." Sharing the credit, even if his contribution felt disproportionately large due to the System, was crucial for team cohesion. He needed them functional, not just awestruck or resentful.
Observe: Akari. Emotional State: Relief (+), Increased Team Feeling (+).
Observe: Kenji. Emotional State: Gruff Acknowledgment (+), Reduced Defensiveness (+).
Good. The dynamic was shifting, albeit awkwardly. "0600 tomorrow. Training Ground 3," Ren reminded them, pulling the focus back to the immediate future. "Genma-sensei doesn't seem like the type to tolerate tardiness."
"R-right!" Akari nodded, squaring her shoulders slightly, the initial shock replaced by nervous determination.
"Yeah. Won't be late," Kenji grunted, adjusting his hitai-ate.
The makeshift 'team meeting' dissolved. They descended the stairs together but separated near the Academy entrance. Akari hurried off towards the library district, perhaps to process or research. Kenji headed towards the market streets, maybe for those meat buns he liked. Ren watched them go for a moment before turning towards the familiar, worn path leading back to the orphanage.
The walk back felt different. The familiar sights of Konoha – the bustling shops, the shinobi leaping across rooftops with casual grace, the massive stone faces carved into the Hokage Mountain looming protectively over the village – seemed overlaid with a new layer of complexity. Genma's presence, the Hokage's directive, the tangible proof of his own growing (but hidden) power... it was a heavier burden than simple survival. He was no longer just an orphan trying to get by; he was an anomaly being watched.
Returning to the orphanage was like stepping back into a simpler, slightly depressing reality. The smell of cheap stew, the shouts of younger children playing tag in the yard, Emi-san's tired but kind smile.
"Ren! You're back! How did it go? Did you get assigned a team?" Emi-san asked, wiping her hands on her apron, her eyes searching his face anxiously.
"Yes, Emi-san," Ren replied quietly. "Team 12. With Sumire Akari and Ito Kenji. Our Jonin-sensei is Genma Shiranui."
Emi blinked, surprised. "Genma-sama? One of the Hokage's guards? That's... an important assignment, Ren. You must have impressed them during the exams." A flicker of pride crossed her face, quickly followed by concern. "He will expect a lot from you. Work hard, be safe."
"I will, Emi-san," Ren assured her, keeping his tone mild. He ate the simple dinner, helped with minor evening chores, and then retreated to his corner mat as darkness fell. The other orphans eventually settled into sleep, their soft breathing filling the communal room.
For Ren, the day wasn't over. Under the guise of sleep, his mind was active. He carefully unrolled the fragile Foundations of Sealing Script scroll fragment in his minimal inventory space (accessible mentally). Using the enhanced clarity from his higher INT/WIS, he focused on deciphering another sentence, painstakingly comparing archaic kanji to memorized Academy texts, channeling minute chakra threads to try and 'sense' the intent behind the faded ink.
[[Basic Fuinjutsu Theory] Proficiency Increased: +0.4%]
[[Seal Script Calligraphy] Attempt: Minor Success - Character for 'Contain' rendered semi-accurately. Proficiency +0.2%]
Slow, meticulous progress. He then shifted focus, practicing the internal chakra cycling meant to improve Chakra Flow Efficiency. It was a meditative exercise, feeling the energy move within him, smoothing out tiny eddies and fluctuations, aiming for perfect, cost-effective flow.
[[Chakra Flow Efficiency] Proficiency Increased: +0.1%]
Finally, he considered the morning. Training Ground 3 at 0600. Genma Shiranui. What would the elite Jonin have planned? Given the unorthodox test today, Ren doubted it would be standard D-Rank missions like catching cats or weeding gardens, not yet anyway. It would likely be brutal physical conditioning, intense skills assessment, perhaps survival training designed to push their limits and expose weaknesses. Genma wasn't there to coddle them; he was there to forge capable shinobi, and specifically, to figure out what made Ren tick.
Ren checked his meager inventory – kunai (sharpened), shuriken, ninja wire. Everything was accounted for. He closed his eyes, letting Gamer's Body handle the physical restoration while Gamer's Mind simulated potential scenarios, planned contingencies, and reinforced his resolve. Tomorrow, the real training began. And Ren needed to be ready for whatever scrutiny, whatever challenges, Genma Shiranui threw his way.