Ren froze for a split second.
The question had come out of nowhere.
Beside him, Rin Nohara stiffened just as suddenly—then, in the very next moment, her face turned bright red all the way to her ears.
"K-Kushina-nee, what are you saying?!" Rin stammered, flustered beyond belief. She waved her hands in front of her chest as if trying to physically block the question itself. "A couple or something… w-we're not like that… not yet!"
The moment those last two words slipped out, Rin realized what she had said.
Her entire body froze.
Her face turned even redder.
"…!"
Ren coughed lightly, looking away with an awkward expression.
Kushina, however—
"Hahaha!"
She burst into laughter, completely unbothered.
"Relax, relax!" she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I just asked because you two are always together, acting like a pair. It's natural to be curious!"
She leaned forward slightly, her expression softening into something unexpectedly sincere.
"But listen—if you ever meet someone you like, you've got to be bold. Don't hesitate. Otherwise…" she clenched her fist and pumped it in the air dramatically, "…you might regret it later!"
Rin blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.
"I-Is that so…?"
Her voice came out small.
Almost instinctively, she glanced at Ren.
But the moment her eyes landed on him, she quickly looked away again.
---
Ren's Thoughts
Ren felt the subtle shift in atmosphere.
…This is awkward.
He wasn't clueless.
Rin's feelings—
He had already noticed them.
In the original timeline, Rin had liked Kakashi. That much was certain.
But this world was different.
Here, Ren and Rin had grown up as neighbors. They trained together, ate together, and spent countless ordinary days side by side.
Childhood friends.
Close.
Natural.
And Ren himself—
He wasn't exactly unpopular.
With his looks, ability, and calm demeanor, he had always stood out at the Academy.
It's not strange for Rin to… shift her feelings.
Ren exhaled quietly.
Still—
We're too young.
Even in a world where children became ninjas early, risking their lives before adulthood…
Romance?
That could wait.
Right now—
Strength came first.
Survival came first.
The Ninja World War wasn't something you could face half-heartedly.
---
Parting Ways
After finishing their meal at Ichiraku Ramen, the group stepped outside.
The warm glow of lanterns lit the street, and the night air carried a faint chill.
Kushina stretched her arms lazily.
"Alright, I'm heading back!"
The ANBU, as always, appeared silently from the shadows to escort her.
Before leaving, she turned around and flashed them a playful grin.
"Don't forget what I said!"
Then she was gone.
---
A Quiet Walk
Ren and Rin began walking side by side through the streets of Konoha.
It was already late.
The sky had deepened into a rich navy blue, dotted with stars. Moonlight spilled across the stone-paved road, casting a soft glow that made everything feel calmer… quieter.
Their footsteps echoed faintly.
Neither spoke at first.
Rin slowed her pace slightly.
Her mind kept replaying Kushina's teasing words.
Are you two a couple?
Her heart began to beat faster.
Almost involuntarily, her gaze drifted sideways.
Ren walked beside her, hands relaxed, expression calm. The moonlight highlighted his features—clean, sharp, quietly composed.
Something about that moment—
Felt different.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Like a feather brushing against her heart.
Soft.
Ticklish.
Warm.
"R-Ren-kun…"
"Hmm?"
His voice snapped her out of her thoughts instantly.
Rin jolted slightly.
What am I doing?!
Confession?
No—
Not like this.
Not here.
This moment wasn't special enough.
No flowers.
No perfect setting.
Just the lingering smell of ramen broth and the fatigue of training.
Too casual…
Way too casual.
Rin lowered her head quickly, her gaze falling to her feet.
"Um—" she started, forcing her thoughts in a different direction. "Do you… want to go train a bit?"
She hesitated.
"It feels like… we haven't practiced Taijutsu together in a while."
---
"Now?"
Ren glanced at her.
Then shrugged lightly.
"Sure."
He had just finished eating anyway.
"A bit of movement will help digestion."
Rin nodded quickly.
"Mhm!"
---
Night Training Ground
They headed toward a small forest training ground near the residential area.
At night, the place felt completely different.
Silent.
Still.
Only the faint chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves filled the air.
Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting shifting shadows across the ground.
Rin took a deep breath.
Then—
Her expression sharpened.
All the earlier embarrassment disappeared.
Now—she was a ninja.
"—Here I come, Ren-kun!"
---
Battle Begins
Her hands moved rapidly.
"Water Release: Water Clone Technique!"
Splash!
Three identical Rin clones appeared beside her.
They spread out immediately, forming a triangular formation around Ren.
Without hesitation—
They attacked.
The clones rushed forward with kunai in hand, while Rin's main body inhaled sharply—
"Water Release: Rampaging Water Waves!"
A powerful stream of water surged forward like a rushing tide.
---
Ren's Response
Ren didn't rush.
He didn't panic.
Instead—
Poof!
He used a Substitution Jutsu, creating distance instantly.
His hand slipped into his ninja pouch.
The next moment—
Whoosh!
Kunai and shuriken flew out in rapid succession.
Each one was connected by nearly invisible steel wires.
---
A Web of Steel
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Some of the projectiles shattered Rin's clones instantly.
Others were deflected.
But most—
Embedded themselves into nearby trees.
Then—
The wires tightened.
Interlocking.
Crossing.
Forming a three-dimensional net.
---
"Retract!"
Ren pulled sharply.
Slash!
The web contracted.
Rin's remaining clones were instantly shredded into splashes of water.
Her real body—
Was caught.
The wires wrapped around her waist and arms, tightening rapidly.
"Ah—!"
She cried out, struggling.
But just before being fully bound—
Poof!
Substitution Jutsu.
A log replaced her body, now tightly wrapped in wires.
Rin reappeared several meters away, panting slightly.
Her cheeks were flushed.
---
"Nice."
Ren nodded in approval.
Then attacked again.
---
Close Combat
Rin leapt onto a tree, channeling chakra into her feet.
She moved swiftly across branches, dodging the densest parts of the wire net.
Her kunai flashed.
She threw it.
Ren responded instantly.
Their projectiles collided mid-air.
Sparks flew.
Rin's throwing skills—
Were solid.
Even impressive.
---
Final Clash
Suddenly—
Rin saw an opening.
She moved.
Fast.
Descending from above, she swung her kunai downward.
"Got you—!"
---
But Ren Didn't Move
He didn't dodge.
Didn't retreat.
Instead—
He raised his hand.
And grabbed the blade.
---
Sparks—Not Blood
"Ren—watch out—!"
Rin's eyes widened in shock.
But instead of blood—
Sparks burst out.
Metal clashed against something impossibly hard.
---
Snake Limb Hardening
Ren's hand had turned pitch-black.
Dense.
Solid.
Unyielding.
Snake Limb Hardening.
---
Disarm
Before Rin could react—
Ren twisted his wrist.
The kunai slipped from her grip.
Then—
He grabbed her wrist with his other hand.
Pulled her closer.
And pressed the hilt of the kunai against her neck.
---
"It's over."
---
Silence
Rin froze.
Then—
Relaxed.
"I lose," she said softly.
---
Aftermath
She looked at his hand with clear curiosity.
"Ren-kun… what was that just now?"
Her eyes sparkled slightly.
"You caught a kunai with your bare hand… was that Genjutsu?"
---
"No."
Ren shook his head.
"It's a Ninjutsu I learned recently."
He kept it vague.
No mention of Orochimaru.
That wasn't something to share casually.
"It allows me to harden my limbs."
---
Rin's Curiosity
Rin nodded slowly.
"A technique like that… that's amazing."
Then—
She tilted her head.
Her expression turned thoughtful.
Innocent.
Curious.
And then—
She asked:
---
"Can… any part be hardened?"
---
"?"
Ren blinked.
For a moment—
He didn't respond.
Because that question…
…had a very dangerous meaning depending on how you interpreted it.
------------------------------------------------
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