To the land of Waves!

{Training Ground #21, Konohagakure}

{07:21 AM, 14th Mar 13 Yrs ANB}

{3rd Person POV}

~Clang~

...

~Clang~

Ren and Hayate were entangled against each other fighting on top of the small lake, Ren had gotten used to this method of sparring in the past week and now after a week of constant sparring on top of the lake, he could fight on top of the lake like he could on the ground.

At least that was the case when it came to just using taijutsu or kenjutsu, he still had some trouble maintaining both his balance and using ninjutsu at the same time while water walking.

Ren slowed down his slash at the last moment as he pushed forward breaking into Hayate's guard, his kick caught Hayate off-guard and the tokubetsu jōnin had to scramble backward in order to dodge his attack.

~Rip~

The kick was another fake as he hopped forward and closed the distance once again, his sword ripped Hayate sensei's flak jacket which caused Ren to stop in panic, his reward was a solid punch to the face that made him plunge deep into the pool.

'Dammit I had him right there, he totally cheated by faking an injury...' Ren thought as looked calmly into the cold water, he mobilized chakra in his hands to drag himself out of the lake.

Ren came out of the lake and looked at Hayate sensei, his jacket had a diagonal slash ripping it apart in the front, normally the jacket would be more resilient to a normal slash from any sword but Ren was channeling wind chakra through his sword, and although the extra layer of chakra blade was very weak right now it still ripped through his primary source of protection.

"You are not going to have the luxury of panicking in a real fight," Hayate commented as he suppressed his amazement at Ren's progress in multiple aspects at the same time. While it didn't take him long to learn water walking, it was the ease with which Ren was able to convert his chakra into wind nature that was truly fearsome to Hayate.

'No one would want to fight him at close range once he masters the wind manipulation,' Hayate thought, he looked down at his ruined jacket. Ren has just begun to grasp the way to convert his chakra into the wind just last week and since he had gained basic proficiency in the Dance of the Crescent Moon Hayate had instructed Ren to start training with his original sword and try to use chakra flow to make his attacks more lethal.

Hayate looked at his training sword, there were several gashes along its length even after the resistance and strengthing seals that he had Ren engrave onto them.

'I might need to think of a different way for him to train kenjutsu with his wind manipulation in order for him to get used to his improved range. This is the 3rd training sword that was ruined just this morning and his wind nature transformation seems like it will continue to improve.'

While Hayate was thinking about the solution to Ren's problems, Ren sat down on top of the lake to rest as he looked through his status.

...

==============================

[Status Window]

[Name: Ren]

[Title: Rookie of the Year]

[Level: 23 Next Level: 21,500/40,000]

[Chakra: 409/850]

[STR: 99]

[VIT: 93]

[END: 98]

[DEX: 169 {-50}]

[INT: 100]

[CHA: 85]

[Control: 58%]

[Fire: 20%, Wind: 27%, Water:0%, Earth: 6%, Lightning: 0%]

[Specialization: Chakra Sensor]

Money: 69,000 Ryo

Attribute Points: 45

==============================

...

'I could finish mastering the leaf-cutting exercise and water walking exercises today during the evening practice session. I should spend more time in the sensory deprivation training room and try to increase my sensing range...'

Chakra sensing was one of the specializations any shinobi could apply to learn if he or she has enough talent. Ren didn't have any talent in Chakra Sensing before but as soon as his INT crossed the 100 point barrier he was able to barely sense chakra around him in a 10 m radius. Along with it came a new skill that he had grinded during the past week thanks to Hayate sensei introducing him to the sensory deprivation room.

==============================

[Chakra Sensing(Passive/Active) Lv - 3 (45.17% to next level)]

[Chakra sensing is primarily associated with the practice of "chakra control" and the development of the user's sensory abilities. Anyone can develop basic sensory abilities and the more attuned with their chakra someone was, it was all the more likely that they could perceive changes in the chakra around them.]

[Passively sense (INT*0.3)m around the user.]

[When actively concentrated users could sense (INT*1.3)m around them.]

[Uses 1 chakra/min when Chakra Sensing is used actively.]

[Seals Required: Ram]

==============================

...

'Although my real range when I don't concentrate isn't impressive it is still a good enough start.' Ren looked at his INT and CHA stat, he has been considering dumping more points into them since they were the only stats that worked a little differently than the rest of his physical-based stats. Not only was gaining INT & CHA stats harder but even more so after he went through most of the theory books in the chunin portion of the library.

Ren had used 18 stat points when he boosted his INT to 100, and he was rewarded with a minor sensing ability, the odd question though was why didn't he gain any advantage from his other stats breaking past thresholds like it did with INT. He also has been constantly dumping 1 stat point every day into CHA since that stat would automatically grow even without his interference.

"Alright, let's go that's enough sparring for one morning," Hayate spoke, Ren closed his status windows and stood up on the water. Both of them walked out of the lake and Ren went to lean against his favorite tree but Hayate stopped him, "Come one let's go, we are taking a mission early today."

'Huh, why it's not like all the missions will be exhausted by the other genin squads...' Ren frowned at the thought of weeding someone's garden or chasing after a cat all around Konoha.

"Cheer up I asked Hokage-sama to select a simple C-Rank mission for us," Hayate spoke getting a bright smile from Ren, together they had completed 20 D-Rank missions in the past month. Although they only had to do 10 mandatory D-rank missions Hayate still delayed the first C-Rank mission until he was sure Ren would be able to hold his own against even some seasoned chunins.

'Since we are an unconventional 2-man cell it is better to take some more precautions.'

"Let's go then Hayate sensei," Ren was visibly a little bit excited, from the day he could remember he has dreamed of becoming someone who was in control of his own destiny. Being a shinobi has thus become the obvious escape to freedom he always desired and now finally he had a chance to take his 'first mission'.

Hayate chuckled as Ren for the first time voluntarily opened the door to the mission assignment room, he did that the first day but after hearing about the disappointing mission he received it was always Hayate who had to drag Ren to the mission center every day.

"Hokage-sama," Hayate bowed and Ren followed, Hayate noticed that Ren wasn't as stiff as before when he bowed to Hokage-sama now, the difference in authority had slowly sunk into his mind subconsciously.

"Oh hello, Hayate-kun, Ren-kun, excited about the mission today?" Hiruzen asked, his eyes staying on Ren for a moment who nodded immediately.

"Alright," Hiruzen waved his hand towards the door and a chunin from his side went out of a side door, Hiruzen threw a scroll towards Hayate and at the same time, a blue block appeared in front of Ren.

===================================

[STORY QUEST Generated!]

[A 'C' - Rank Mission!]

[The mission's objective is to escort Tazuna, a bridge builder, back to his home in the Land of Waves and protect him from any threats from bandits while he finishes the construction of the bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire.]

[Main Quest: Make sure the bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire is successfully built.]

[Side Quest I: Defeat any bandits that might disrupt the construction of the bridge.]

[Hidden Quest I: ???]

[Hidden Quest II: ???]

[Hidden Quest III: ???]

[Hidden Quest IV: ???]

[Rewards:]

[Main Quest: +10,000 Ryo, +100,000 EXP]

[Side Quest I: +1,000 EXP per enemy neutralized.]

[Hidden Quest I: ???]

[Hidden Quest II: ???]

[Hidden Quest III: ???]

[Hidden Quest IV: ???]

[Failure: +1000 EXP]

===================================

While Ren was staring at the unusual notification, Hayate looked at the clearly drunk bridge builder who wobbled behind the chunin. He frowned as he closed the scroll that had the mission description, 'it is a good mission, simple enough and since Tazuna is a civilian and not even a noble he isn't even worth attacking. So the mission should pass by in peace at most there would be some bandits who would oppose the building of the bridge according to Tazuna but Ren could handle them easily.'

"I thought I paid for actual shinobi, why are you giving me a brat and a guy who looks like he was born in the epidemic..." Tazuna hiccuped as he accused their team, Hiruzen quickly handled the matter and Ren simply ignored the drunk guy, the large amount of Hidden Quest indicated that this mission was a lot more complicated than a simple C-Rank mission.

'All the D rank missions I have taken till now just had a simple description with a 1000 EXP reward, the difference between a C rank mission and a D rank mission is a bit too much. A 100,000 EXP means I can level up at least 2 times from just the main quest.'

"...Tazuna-san, I assure you we can handle whatever happens in this mission. Would you like to depart today or tomorrow?" Hayate asked.

"Since it is pretty early right now let's depart today," Tazuna replied, he took his time looking at Hayate and Ren before he sighed and took another gulp of his sake.

'While drinking sake and acting like a drunk allowed me to easily pass Konoha's inspections, would these two even put up a fight against the demons under Gato's employ?' Tazuna thought.

"Alright then we would depart for the Land of Waves in a couple of hours," Hayate spoke to Tazuna politely and then turned to Ren, "Pack for a month-long trip and meet back at the main gate in 2 hours..."

Ren nodded to Hayate and walked out of the room, whatever the mission may be, at least finally he could leave the village.

'Is he lying though, if it was only bandits that were coming after him the blocks wouldn't generate all these options...'

...

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AN- On to the First Major Arc! Who's with me!!

P.S- 11 extra chapters on Pàtreon at - P.atreon.com/Version_401

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