If there was one Ninjutsu Ren wished he could modify to include an automatic trigger…
Then without hesitation, he would choose the Substitution Jutsu.
The reasoning was simple.
Although the casting time of the Substitution Jutsu was extremely short—barely 0.2 seconds—it still wasn't truly instantaneous. Against a skilled opponent with sharp reflexes, that tiny delay could become a fatal weakness. A perceptive enemy could interrupt the technique before it fully activated.
Worse still, the Substitution Jutsu was highly dependent on the user's condition.
If Ren were immobilized… bound… or even cornered against a solid wall with no viable substitution object—
Then the technique would fail completely.
That limitation alone created a massive gap between it and true space-time techniques like the Flying Thunder God or Amenotejikara, which operated on entirely different principles.
Ren exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.
If only it could activate automatically…
Just imagining it made his heart stir.
An auto-trigger Substitution Jutsu… a built-in survival instinct… a passive escape mechanism.
That would no longer be a basic technique.
That would be something bordering on instinctive space-time defense.
And that… would be terrifying.
Ren's gaze sharpened slightly.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that his mysterious "system" still held undiscovered potential. There were likely hidden mechanics waiting to be explored—functions that hadn't been revealed yet.
But right now…
He didn't have the energy to think that far.
His body felt like it had been wrung dry.
Right now, all Ren wanted was simple—
Go home. Take a bath. Collapse onto his bed. Sleep.
"Uncle Dai… let's stop here for today."
Ren's voice came out tired as he pressed his fingers against his aching head.
The strain from attempting the Eight Gates was far beyond what he had expected.
Even though he had used the Healing Technique afterward, it only restored part of his condition. His chakra reserves were still hovering at roughly thirty to forty percent of their peak.
It wasn't exhaustion alone.
It was deeper than that.
A kind of internal depletion—like his body itself was protesting.
Might Duy and Might Guy exchanged glances.
They weren't fools.
They understood exactly what Ren had just attempted.
A forbidden technique.
And for a first attempt…
This level of exhaustion was completely normal.
"Alright!" Might Duy declared, raising a thumb despite his own hoarse voice. "Training ends here today! Youth must burn—but it must also recover!"
"Exactly!" Guy added enthusiastically, even though he was panting just as hard. "Rest is also part of training!"
Ren gave a weak smile.
Soon, the three of them packed up and began walking home under the darkening sky.
The last traces of sunlight had long disappeared.
Night had settled over Konoha.
And as they walked, the quiet streets echoed with Duy's signature roar:
"The flames of youth will never extinguish!"
Even exhausted…
He was still loud.
Ren almost laughed.
---
Back home, everything followed a familiar routine.
Dinner came first.
Simple, warm, and satisfying.
Afterward, Aoi took care of the dishes while Ren headed straight for the bath.
The hot water washed away layers of fatigue, loosening his stiff muscles and calming his overworked nerves.
For a moment…
He felt human again.
After the bath, Ren carefully applied the medicinal ointment he had received from the Nara Clan onto his joints. The cool, herbal scent filled the room as the medicine seeped into his skin, easing the lingering strain.
Then came exercise.
Even in this condition, he didn't skip it.
He performed two sets of the calisthenics taught to him by Yakushi Nono, moving slowly and deliberately, ensuring his body adapted rather than broke down further.
Finally—
A cup of warm milk.
Ren sat on his bed, sipping quietly, letting the warmth spread through his chest.
Peaceful.
Calm.
For a brief moment, the world seemed simple.
But Ren wasn't done experimenting.
He raised his hand slightly, focusing his chakra.
A faint green glow flickered to life.
The Healing Technique.
He carefully guided the chakra across his own muscles, attempting to recreate the soothing sensation he had experienced earlier.
But…
It wasn't the same.
The warmth was there.
The healing effect existed.
But that smooth, almost silky feeling—the effortless, natural flow—
It was missing.
Ren frowned.
"…So it's a skill issue."
That was the only explanation.
When the Healing Technique had activated on its own earlier, it had felt almost… perfect. Like a system-generated effect beyond his own control.
But when he used it himself—
It was rough.
Unrefined.
Crude.
He exhaled softly.
"I need more practice…"
The thought lingered in his mind.
Maybe…
He should adjust his priorities.
Compared to offensive techniques like the Great Fireball Jutsu or Water Release: Chaos Wave, the Healing Technique had a different kind of value.
Survivability.
Sustain.
Consistency.
In a real battle…
That might matter more.
Ren lay down slowly, staring at the ceiling.
"…Goodnight, Three Basic Jutsu."
His lips curled slightly.
"And everyone else…"
Within moments—
He was asleep.
---
Meanwhile…
Elsewhere in Konoha.
The atmosphere was anything but peaceful.
---
It was early morning.
Inside the Hokage Building.
The office of the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, flipping through a stack of mission reports with a serious expression.
Across from him stood three figures.
Young.
Travel-worn.
And clearly just returned from a long mission.
Among them—
A blond-haired youth stood out immediately.
Minato Namikaze.
Not yet the legendary Yellow Flash…
But already someone destined for greatness.
Beside him stood two teammates from the Akimichi and Inuzuka clans, both showing signs of fatigue.
Hiruzen finished reading.
Then slowly closed the report.
"…As expected."
His voice was calm.
But heavy.
"The Hidden Cloud Village has already begun pre-war preparations."
He tapped the document lightly.
"The scale of their supply movement… is not small."
A pause.
Then—
"…A storm is coming."
The words hung in the air like a quiet warning.
Minato's expression turned serious.
The room felt heavier.
"Minato. Dodo. Agari." Hiruzen looked at them. "You've done well. This mission was important."
"Thank you, Lord Third," the three replied in unison.
"You may rest. I will discuss this intelligence with the advisors."
"Yes!"
The two teammates bowed and exited.
But—
"Minato, stay."
Minato paused.
"…Yes, Lord Third."
The door closed.
Silence followed.
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, studying him.
"Do you remember what I told you about becoming a Jonin Instructor?"
Minato blinked, then nodded.
"…Yes. The Academy's graduation season is approaching."
He straightened instinctively.
"I understand. I will fulfill my duty and guide the next generation properly."
His answer was immediate.
Decisive.
But Hiruzen didn't respond right away.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
Being a Jonin Instructor…
Wasn't exactly a popular role.
It meant babysitting inexperienced genin.
Taking responsibility for their lives.
Limiting one's own missions.
Many elite jonin avoided it.
But Minato…
Didn't hesitate.
Because he understood something deeper.
Responsibility.
And more importantly—
Trust.
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"There's no rush. Assignments will be made after graduation."
Then—
His tone shifted.
"But among this batch… there is someone special."
Minato's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A civilian-born child. Clean background. No clan support."
Hiruzen tapped his pipe lightly.
"But… he has a unique understanding of the Three Basic Jutsu."
Minato tilted his head slightly.
"Unique?"
Hiruzen exhaled a small puff of smoke.
"He developed… an improved version of the Substitution Jutsu."
Minato's pupils contracted.
"…What?"
Even he couldn't hide his surprise this time.
"I attempted to replicate it," Hiruzen continued calmly.
"I failed."
Silence.
A heavy, stunned silence.
Minato's expression turned completely serious.
"…An improvement to the Substitution Jutsu… that even you couldn't reproduce?"
His mind raced.
"Did he incorporate space-time properties? Some form of displacement mechanism…?"
But even as he spoke—
He felt the contradiction.
That level of technique…
From a student?
Impossible.
And yet—
Here it was.
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"That is exactly the question."
He leaned forward slightly.
"The Academy instructors believe this child may have potential in space-time ninjutsu."
"A few days ago, Hyuga Hizashi sparred with him."
"I observed the match personally."
A brief pause.
"…His technique is indeed unusual."
Minato inhaled slowly.
His curiosity ignited.
"So you want me to… confirm it?"
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
"If he truly possesses the ability to develop space-time techniques…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…then he could become a valuable asset to Konoha."
Minato didn't hesitate.
"I understand."
His voice was firm.
"I will complete this task."
Hiruzen waved his hand lightly.
"No need to be so tense. Just take a look and judge for yourself."
"I'll have the Academy cooperate."
"…Understood."
Minato nodded.
Then—
Hiruzen added one more thing.
"Oh, and Minato…"
He sighed.
"That child Kakashi…"
"…has been complained about again."
Minato froze for a second.
Then smiled helplessly.
"…I see."
---
Minato's return to Konoha didn't cause much of a stir.
To the public—
He was just another talented ninja.
Not yet a legend.
Not yet the Yellow Flash.
And the intelligence about the Hidden Cloud Village?
That was classified.
Locked away.
Buried beneath layers of secrecy.
But…
Not everything could be hidden.
---
At Konoha Hospital—
Two figures moved quietly through the corridors.
Ren.
And Rin Nohara.
They weren't involved in politics.
They weren't part of high-level intelligence networks.
But—
They could feel it.
Something was changing.
The atmosphere had shifted.
Doctors were busier.
Supplies were being checked more frequently.
Whispers echoed in the halls.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Something's coming."
Rin looked at him, her expression uncertain.
"You feel it too?"
Ren didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He stared out the window.
Toward the distant horizon.
Where unseen forces were beginning to move.
Where nations prepared for conflict.
Where war…
Was slowly approaching.
The calm before the storm had already begun to break.
--------------------------------
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