Chapter 29: A new source for rewards

Chapter 29 - A new source for rewards {The extra Chapter for reaching 10 reviews I'll do another one if we get 10 more} As a new dawn graced Konoha, the village slowly came to life. The streets filled with merchants opening their stalls, shopkeepers preparing for the day's work, and shinobi heading out for their missions. The faint morning mist still clung to the rooftops, where the occasional blur of movement betrayed the presence of Konoha's protectors, leaping between the buildings. Children, always eager for excitement, chased after the passing shadows, their laughter ringing through the air as they tried in vain to catch up. On one of the taller rooftops, two blurs raced across the tiles, one clad in deep blue, the other in forest green, Ren and Eiji, weaving effortlessly through the rooftops. Parkour was second nature to shinobi, a skill so ingrained that few ever consciously thought about it. Moving across the village like this felt freeing a moment of exhilaration unburdened by responsibility. Today, the academy was closed, a day of remembrance for those who had fallen during the Nine-Tails' attack. Though the tragedy had left deep scars on Konoha, life continued, as it always did. It had been three months since the academy's first major test. Ren had received his weapon within the promised week, and its quality had exceeded his expectations. When he showed it to Juichi, his father had inspected it with a nod of approval, informing him that the claws were partially made of chakra metal, allowing seamless chakra flow through the blades. The gloves were crafted from layered fabric used in jonin uniforms, ensuring they wouldn't tear easily. The design was perfect it fit Ren's hands now but could be adjusted as he grew. From that moment on, Ren trained relentlessly to master the weapon. Using the claws in combat felt different from fighting barehanded, and incorporating ninjutsu while wielding them was an entirely new challenge. He couldn't afford to make mistakes in real combat, so he turned to the one person who could push him beyond his limits his father. For weeks, his father became his primary training partner. They clashed again and again, Ren testing his growing speed, precision, and adaptability. Since the claws were far too dangerous for normal spars at the academy, he had no choice but to learn through battles with his father, who never held back. Now, after months of effort, the weapon felt like an extension of his body. But even then, there was always room for improvement. As Ren and Eiji continued weaving through the rooftops, they occasionally threw small stones at each other, trying to knock the other off balance. Their lighthearted game continued as they neared the training ground area, where the rooftops gave way to tall trees and open spaces. The village's structured buildings slowly faded, replaced by nature's embrace. In one of the more secluded areas, Ren spotted Itachi Uchiha practicing shurikenjutsu. The wooden targets around him were already filled with kunai, arranged in near-perfect patterns. Since their fight during the academy exam, Ren and Itachi had started acknowledging each other with simple greetings, though their interactions rarely extended beyond that. They weren't exactly friends, but there was a mutual respect between them the recognition of two individuals who stood at the top of their generation. Ren, without hesitation, leaped down from the tree he was perched on. Caught off guard by the sudden movement, Itachi instinctively flicked a kunai in his direction, which Ren dodged effortlessly. "Hey, Itachi," Ren greeted, unfazed. Eiji followed suit, landing beside him with a dramatic wave. "Heyyy," he drawled, his usual carefree grin in place. Seeing that it was them, Itachi relaxed slightly and greeted them politely, "Hello, Ren-san. Hello, Eiji-san." Ren sighed internally. He had long since given up trying to get Itachi to drop the "san." It was just part of how Itachi carried himself. Eiji, glancing at the numerous kunai embedded into the distant target boards, let out a low whistle. "You're still training shurikenjutsu? But you're already the best in the class—hell, even in the entire academy. I doubt anyone could match you." Ren agreed silently. His own mastery of shurikenjutsu was at 79% his first mastery to reach "Advanced" level. Yet, even with that, Itachi's technique remained superior. The difference wasn't huge, but it was enough for Ren to acknowledge that Itachi was better. "I enjoy kunai throwing. It helps me relax," Itachi answered simply. Then, after a short pause, he asked, "Were you two training?" "Yeah, we were heading to the training grounds," Ren answered. Itachi tilted his head slightly. "You can train here if you don't mind training alongside me." "Sure, I don't mind. What about you, thief?" Ren asked, nudging Eiji. Eiji shrugged. "No problem. Free training ground is a free training ground." With that, the three of them each chose a separate area and began their respective training, ensuring they wouldn't interfere with one another. As Ren settled into his spot, his mind drifted. 'It's already been a whole year since I came into this world...' He sighed, remembering the chaos of the Nine-Tails attack, the uncertainty of waking up in a world he had only known through a screen, and the intense training that had shaped him since then. Today was his seventh birthday. This morning, Juichi had given him a special gift one that marked a new phase in his training. His father had handed him a small storage seal along with a set of training weights and explained: "This is a first-level training seal. Its maximum weight goes up to 100 kilograms. Start at 50 kilograms and increase it when you see fit, but deactivate the seal when you sleep. Never keep the seal activated during a fight—it could become a handicap otherwise." Juichi had then handed him a separate set of weights for his legs a band with multiple slots to hold removable weights. "Start with 10 kilograms on each leg. It'll help you develop more speed over time." Now, Ren was training with those exact weights. Fifty kilograms on his body and an extra twenty on his legs. The added burden had slowed his movements at first, but after adjusting through a morning of parkour with Eiji, his body was adapting. His Strength was now at 28 and his Agility at 33 but the rate of improvement had slowed significantly. Normal training alone wasn't enough anymore. That was why Juichi had allowed him to begin weighted training. At the same time, his shadow clones continued their ninjutsu training in the basement. He could now create two clones, and thanks to his shadow clone mastery reaching 56%, they lasted much longer than before. With everything in place, Ren took a deep breath. It was time to push his limits even further. As the hours passed, the three continued their training, pushing their limits with each round. They had engaged in brief sparring sessions as well, and compared to before, the difference in strength was slowly closing in. Itachi was at Level 35, Ren had reached Level 29, and Eiji was now Level 20. Though Eiji lacked any inherent advantage like a kekkei genkai or special lineage, his sheer determination and adaptability kept him from falling too far behind. He would eventually catch up if their growth slowed, though Itachi's impending Sharingan awakening would inevitably give him a sharp boost in power. Ren, on the other hand, could only rely on his training and the sporadic system rewards until he found a consistent source of points. Just as he was thinking about this, a sudden prickling sensation crawled up his spine the unmistakable feeling of danger. His body moved on instinct, his chakra surging as he immediately used Hiding Like a Mole Technique, a C-rank Earth Jutsu his father had given him. Diving underground, he moved swiftly through the soil, using his senses to search for the attacker. But just as he was about to surface, the ground above him shifted violently. Large chunks of earth shot up in blocks, disrupting his movement and restricting his options. Ren barely had time to react before the ground beneath him exploded outward, forcing him to flicker away. He barely landed when a fist came flying toward him. He didn't even have time to see the attacker. Pure instinct took over. His left arm shot up, absorbing the brunt of the punch while his right hand flew into the Half-Ram seal. Channeling his Wind Chakra, he exhaled sharply, unleashing a powerful gust of wind at the unknown assailant. But the attacker had already vanished. The air around him stilled, but Ren's muscles remained tense, his body preparing for another attack. At that moment, Itachi and Eiji landed beside him, both immediately shifting into combat-ready stances. Eiji, already gripping a kunai, was about to launch himself forward when Itachi's voice rang out, calm but firm. "Shisui-san, stop. What are you doing?" Ren's gaze snapped toward the direction Itachi was facing. Standing there, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, was none other than Shisui Uchiha the famed Shisui of the Body Flicker. "Don't worry, Itachi," Shisui said, his voice casual but laced with amusement. "I just wanted to see the person who can fight you to a tie every match." He turned his attention fully to Ren, his eyes glimmering with curiosity. "Hey, my name is Shisui Uchiha. Sorry for attacking you out of nowhere, but I gotta say you were very good." Ren, still catching his breath, studied Shisui carefully. The man was young, maybe just a few years older than them, yet his presence was overwhelming. His movements had been flawless, his speed incomprehensible. Even though Ren had trained rigorously for a year, Shisui's casual attack had almost overwhelmed him. The gap between them was massive. But rather than feeling discouraged, Ren felt excitement bubbling inside him. This was an opportunity. Shisui was known for his insane speed, body flicker mastery, and battlefield prowess but most importantly he was an important canon character who had shaped Itachi the rewards for interacting with him would be definitely good. "You're insane, you know that?" Ren said, shaking his head with a small grin. "You attacked without warning I didn't even get a proper look at you before dodging." Shisui chuckled, his expression turning more playful. "That's the whole point of an ambush, isn't it?" Eiji, still looking somewhat suspicious, finally lowered his kunai. "You almost gave us a heart attack, man. I thought we were actually under attack." "Hah, sorry about that," Shisui said, waving him off before turning back to Ren. "You've got great instincts. Most people in your situation would've been hit before they even realized what was happening." Ren didn't let the compliment get to his head. Instead, he took a step forward, meeting Shisui's gaze directly. "If you're so curious about my skills, why don't we take it a step further?" he challenged, tilting his head. "How about a proper fight? No ambush this time." Shisui raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Itachi remained silent, his gaze flickering between the two, while Eiji let out a short laugh. "You're either brave or suicidal, Speedo." Shisui smirked, cracking his knuckles. "A fight, huh? Alright. Let's see what you've got." Ren knew this was going to be on a completely different level. {Shisui makes an entrance}