Training in the Summoning Jutsu came to an end for the day.
After Ren's unusual talent had been confirmed—and after the training ground had briefly welcomed a puppy, a terrified magpie, and an extremely confused lizard—Minato decided that continuing without a proper plan would only drain Ren's chakra.
Instead, he shifted the lesson toward more conventional ninjutsu and taijutsu.
Most of his attention went to Rin.
Compared with the Rin who should have existed at this point in history, her current strength was already far greater. She had survived the southwestern front, trained under Minato, received guidance from Jiraiya, and fought beside Ren and Obito through several dangerous missions.
Passing the Chūnin Exams would not be difficult for her.
However, passing an exam and surviving a real battle were two very different things.
Rin's combat foundation remained narrower than Ren's or Obito's. Her strongest close-range option was Tsunade's monstrous-strength technique, and she had mastered several useful Water Release techniques. She had also begun learning two hair-based ninjutsu from Jiraiya, but neither was stable enough to rely upon in combat.
Beyond that, she possessed the ordinary taijutsu, shurikenjutsu, and battlefield medical skills expected of a promising Konoha kunoichi.
It was enough to defeat most genin.
Against an experienced jōnin, however, the weaknesses in her combat system would quickly become obvious.
"Your chakra control is excellent," Minato said as Rin stood before a battered wooden target. "But you're concentrating too much power into the moment of impact."
Rin looked down at her fist. "Isn't that the purpose of the technique?"
"For a single strike, yes. But if you commit all your chakra at once and the enemy avoids it, you lose balance and leave yourself exposed."
Minato stepped behind her and adjusted the angle of her shoulder.
"Don't think only about breaking what's in front of you. Think about what comes after the strike. Where will your feet land? Where is the enemy most likely to retreat? Can you defend if they counterattack?"
Rin nodded seriously.
She took a breath, focused chakra into her fist, and moved again.
This time, she did not swing with everything she had.
Her fist struck the target with a sharp crack.
The wood splintered, but instead of leaning forward, Rin immediately turned with the motion, stepped to the side, and raised her other arm to defend against an imaginary attack.
Minato smiled. "Better."
Ren watched from nearby, arms folded.
Rin's greatest limitation remained her chakra reserves.
Her control was already far beyond what most shinobi her age possessed. She could direct chakra with remarkable precision, perform medical ninjutsu, strengthen her body, and switch between techniques smoothly.
The problem was that every one of those abilities consumed chakra.
A prolonged battle would eventually exhaust her.
Ren had already decided that once he completed his wager with Tsunade, he would find a way to learn the Strength of a Hundred Seal from her.
He also intended to bring Rin along.
The seal stored chakra over long periods and released it when needed. For Rin, it could solve the greatest weakness in her fighting style.
With enough stored chakra, she could use monstrous strength repeatedly, maintain medical ninjutsu throughout a battle, and cast high-level Water Release without immediately draining herself.
If Rin mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal, her combat power could rise by an entire level.
The thought reminded Ren of something that had troubled him for a long time.
In the original course of events, how had Rin become the Three-Tails' jinchūriki?
A jinchūriki normally required enormous chakra reserves and a body capable of enduring the pressure of a tailed beast. That was why villages often selected members of powerful clans or individuals with exceptional vitality.
The Uzumaki were the most obvious example.
The Senju possessed similarly powerful life force.
Even the Uchiha, though not traditionally used as jinchūriki, had chakra and ocular power far beyond ordinary shinobi.
Rin belonged to none of those clans.
At least, not openly.
Her chakra control was outstanding, but her total reserves were not at the level normally expected from a jinchūriki candidate.
Was there something unusual in the Nohara bloodline that had never been revealed?
Could her ancestors be connected to a forgotten branch of a powerful clan?
Or had Kirigakure and Madara never intended for her to survive the sealing process?
That possibility seemed far more likely.
Perhaps the seal had only been designed to last long enough for Rin to return to Konoha. She had not been chosen as a proper jinchūriki. She had been turned into a living bomb.
Her survival had never mattered.
Only the destruction she could cause.
Ren's expression darkened.
Fortunately, the conflict between Konoha and Kirigakure belonged to a later stage of the Third Shinobi World War. For now, Sunagakure remained Konoha's greatest immediate enemy.
He still had time.
Time to strengthen Rin.
Time to uncover Madara's movements.
Time to ensure the future did not unfold as it once had.
The afternoon passed beneath the sound of striking fists, exploding water, and Minato's calm corrections.
By evening, the sun had sunk low enough to stain the entire training ground orange.
Minato finally raised one hand.
"That's enough for today."
Rin released a tired breath and lowered her arms. Sweat clung to her forehead, and several strands of dark hair had fallen loose around her face.
Ren gathered the scattered training tools while Rin carefully picked up Shiro, who had spent most of the afternoon sleeping beneath a tree.
The puppy yawned, stretched its small legs, and immediately curled against her chest.
The three of them left the training ground together.
They had just reached the exit when something staggered toward them from the opposite path.
At first glance, it looked like a shinobi returning from a battlefield after several days without rest.
Then the figure came closer.
It was Obito.
His hair was covered in dust, his clothes were stained with grass, and his legs seemed barely capable of supporting him. He walked with his shoulders hanging low, dragging himself forward like a corpse that had forgotten to lie down.
Fugaku's training had clearly been merciless.
The moment Obito spotted Rin, however, his body transformed.
His back straightened.
His exhausted expression vanished.
He forced energy into his steps and raised one hand with a broad grin.
"Rin! Ren! You're still here?"
Ren watched him approach.
Obito's legs were visibly trembling.
"You look energetic," Ren said.
"Of course!" Obito replied immediately. "That training was nothing. I could have continued for several more hours."
His knee nearly buckled.
He disguised the movement by pretending to adjust his sandal.
Rin covered a smile.
Obito was preparing to boast about his training when his gaze fell on the white puppy in her arms.
He froze.
"Huh?"
Shiro looked back at him.
"Woof."
Obito stepped closer. "Where did that puppy come from?"
Rin smiled proudly. "Ren summoned him."
Obito stared at her.
Then at Ren.
Then at the puppy.
"You mean with the Summoning Jutsu?"
"Yes."
Obito leaned down and examined Shiro from several angles.
"This thing?"
Shiro's ears lowered.
Obito scratched his head. "It looks more like a pet than a summon creature."
Rin's smile disappeared.
"Obito."
The warning in her voice caused him to straighten immediately.
"How can you say that?" she asked. "Shiro is a ninken from the Inuzuka clan. Have you forgotten Tsume's partner, Kuromaru? He'll become just as strong when he grows up."
Obito glanced at Shiro again.
The puppy was currently trying to chew the end of Rin's sleeve.
"Just as strong as Kuromaru?"
"Yes."
"Right. Of course."
Obito changed his expression at once.
He crouched and studied Shiro with exaggerated seriousness.
"Now that I look more carefully, he does seem unusual. Very fierce. Very powerful. You can tell he has the spirit of a great ninken."
Shiro sneezed.
Obito nodded solemnly. "See? Even his sneeze is impressive."
Rin's expression softened, though she still held the puppy protectively.
To her, Shiro was not merely an animal Ren had summoned by accident.
He was Ren's first successful summon.
More importantly, Ren had entrusted half of the responsibility for raising him to her.
That made Shiro feel strangely special.
He was something they shared.
A small bond that belonged to the two of them.
Rin's cheeks warmed slightly as the thought entered her mind.
It almost felt as though Shiro were a token connecting them.
Even if he never developed the chakra or intelligence required to become a proper ninken, Rin would not care. She would still raise him as part of her family.
Obito, noticing Rin's affection for the puppy, immediately tried to repair his earlier mistake.
"What does he eat?" he asked. "Milk? Meat? Should I go buy something?"
"That won't be necessary," Rin said.
Raising a ninken was far more complicated than caring for an ordinary dog. Their diet required special nutrition, and they were occasionally given medicinal supplements developed by the Inuzuka clan to strengthen their bodies, intelligence, and chakra.
Hideki had written everything down before leaving.
As long as Ren and Rin followed those instructions, Shiro would be fine.
Ren turned his attention toward Obito.
"How was your training with Fugaku?"
The question immediately restored Obito's confidence.
He placed both hands on his hips and laughed loudly.
"You have no idea how incredible Clan Head Fugaku is."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
Obito lowered his voice slightly. "I used to think he became clan head because of family connections."
Rin glanced around quickly. "Obito, you shouldn't say that so loudly."
"He isn't here."
A quiet movement came from the trees behind him.
Obito froze.
Ren looked past his shoulder.
There was no one there.
Obito slowly released his breath.
"Anyway," he continued more carefully, "he taught me how to use the Sharingan properly. He explained genjutsu resistance, visual prediction, Fire Release timing, taijutsu, and how to read an opponent's muscles."
His exhaustion vanished as he spoke.
"I can see things now that I never noticed before. The moment someone shifts their weight, I can tell which direction they're going to move. When they begin forming a hand seal, I can predict the technique."
Obito clenched his fist.
"I feel terrifyingly strong."
"Is that so?" Ren asked. "Then we should spar tomorrow."
Obito's smile stiffened.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"I have more training with Clan Head Fugaku."
"The day after?"
"I might still be recovering."
"Three days from now?"
Obito coughed. "There's no need to rush."
His confidence had limits.
He understood his own strength reasonably well.
More importantly, he understood Ren's.
Ren had captured Pakura alive, repeatedly disrupted Sunagakure's plans, and survived battles that would have killed most genin. Even Kakashi would struggle to match his battlefield achievements.
Obito had no intention of challenging him before he was ready.
However, Fugaku had told him something important.
An Uchiha who properly awakened and mastered the Sharingan became a completely different kind of shinobi.
In the shinobi world, there was an old warning.
When facing an Uchiha alone, retreat.
Obito possessed what Ren did not.
A bloodline limit.
The Sharingan.
If he continued training and learned to use those eyes properly, then surpassing Ren was only a matter of time.
At least, that was what Obito told himself.
His imagination immediately began running wild.
He pictured himself standing on a battlefield surrounded by defeated enemies. His Sharingan spun brilliantly as Ren stared at him in shock.
"You've surpassed me, Obito," the imaginary Ren admitted.
Obito crossed his arms. "Naturally."
Then Rin appeared.
Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Obito, you're amazing. I never realised how strong and reliable you were."
He smiled proudly.
"Don't worry, Rin. From now on, I'll protect you."
In his fantasy, Rin moved closer.
"Obito…"
"Obito."
Her voice sounded slightly different.
"Obito."
The battlefield disappeared.
Ren stood directly in front of him.
"Stop grinning like an idiot."
Obito blinked.
Rin was watching him with a puzzled expression.
Minato had already begun walking away.
"Minato-sensei said he's treating us to ramen," Ren continued. "Three people are waiting for one. Hurry up."
"Ramen?"
Obito's fantasy vanished completely.
"I'm coming!"
That evening, all four members of Team Minato gathered at Ichiraku Ramen.
The small shop was warm and crowded, filled with steam, the fragrance of broth, and the rhythmic sound of chopsticks against bowls.
Obito ate as though Fugaku had starved him for a week.
Rin ate more slowly, occasionally feeding tiny pieces of unseasoned meat to Shiro, who sat inside a small basket near her feet.
Ren focused on his ramen.
Minato seemed content simply watching his students argue.
By the end of the meal, the four of them had consumed an average of two and a half bowls each.
Obito alone was responsible for destroying the average.
They also ordered four bottles of Raw Cola.
Rin already knew where the drink had come from, but Minato and Obito had not attended the dinner at Yakiniku Q.
When they learned that Ren and Tsunade had developed it together, both reacted with visible surprise.
"You created this?" Obito asked, holding the bottle against the light.
"With Tsunade," Ren said.
Obito took another long drink.
Then he placed the empty bottle on the counter.
"Give me two cases."
"No."
Obito looked wounded. "Why not?"
"Production is limited."
"You own the workshop."
"My family owns the workshop."
"That's even better."
Ren stared at him.
Obito lowered his request. "One case?"
"No."
"Half a case?"
"Three bottles."
"Five."
"Four."
"Deal."
Obito immediately extended his hand as though they had negotiated a major international agreement.
Minato laughed quietly.
Before leaving, he bought two additional bottles to take home for Kushina.
Ren saw the opportunity.
"Minato-sensei, I'd like to study sealing techniques with Kushina again."
Minato nodded without hesitation. "I'll ask her."
Sealing techniques were too important to ignore.
They formed one of the hidden foundations of the shinobi world. Summoning contracts, barrier techniques, jinchūriki seals, storage scrolls, curse marks, and even the Flying Thunder God all relied on formulas related to fūinjutsu.
Ren might not use sealing techniques in every battle, but failing to understand them could become fatal at the worst possible moment.
After leaving Ichiraku, Team Minato parted ways.
The following days settled into a strict training routine.
Obito continued learning under Fugaku.
Rin followed Minato's guidance, strengthening her Water Release, taijutsu, chakra control, and medical techniques.
Kakashi occasionally appeared as a sparring partner, usually with the expression of someone deeply annoyed that he had agreed to participate.
Ren divided his own training between his main body and shadow clones.
His main body remained with Rin and Minato, practising conventional ninjutsu and studying the newly learned Summoning Jutsu.
His shadow clone travelled to distant, isolated training grounds to practise techniques that could not safely be revealed.
The Nerve Activation Technique.
Overload Pulse.
Light Flame Bomb.
And several other abilities he intended to preserve as hidden trump cards.
Jiraiya had once told him that intelligence was the lifeline of a shinobi.
Ren understood that lesson more clearly with every passing day.
Konoha appeared peaceful, but appearances meant nothing.
A White Zetsu could be hiding beneath the ground.
A Root operative could be watching from behind a mask.
An ordinary bird on a branch might be connected to a sensory technique.
Obito was particularly dangerous to train near. Madara's attention was almost certainly already fixed upon him, and wherever Madara looked, White Zetsu would not be far away.
Ren could not allow his full strength to become known.
So he trained in silence.
He changed locations repeatedly.
He erased marks from the ground.
He collected every weapon.
He even created false training traces to mislead anyone who might follow him.
On the fifth evening, his shadow clone was practising Overload Pulse in a narrow clearing far beyond the usual training grounds.
Chakra surged through its nerves.
Its vision sharpened.
Its muscles tightened.
Then, from somewhere beneath the earth, came the faintest sound.
A scrape.
The clone stopped moving.
The forest became completely silent.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then a pale hand slowly emerged from the soil behind him.
Someone had finally found Ren's hidden training ground.
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