Chapter 9: The Proposal

Dawn had not yet dawned when Toshiro led Ren to a small secluded clearing, not far from the lake where the child usually trained.

"I've noticed your progress with the drop" Toshiro said, sitting down on a boulder.

Ren nodded, trying not to look too anxious.

"I'm going to show you something different today." Toshiro picked up a handful of pebbles and arranged them in a circle on the ground. "The chakra is not only used to make objects stick together. It can also be used to sense our surroundings."

He knelt beside the pebbles. "Close your eyes and put your hands like this," he demonstrated, placing his hands parallel to the ground. "Now, try to let the chakra flow gently downward."

Ren imitated his father's position, closing his eyes. It was similar to the exercise he had taught him to feel the chakra, but this time he had to project it outward.

"Don't force it" Toshiro guided him. "Imagine that your chakra is like the morning mist slowly descending."

For several minutes, Ren felt nothing. Then, gradually, he began to sense something--a resistance, like small knots in the flow of his chakra.

"The stones," he whispered. "Can I... feel them?"

"That's right," his father's voice was smug. "It is a basic form of chakra perception. Very rudimentary compared to what ninjas do, but it's a good starting point."

' It seems similar to the concept of the radars'

Opening his eyes, Ren saw that his father was watching him with a thoughtful expression.

"There's more," Toshiro said after a pause. "Your chakra control, your training, your dedication to fuinjutsu.... These are not common things in a child your age."

'...' For a moment Ren felt a twinge of worry in his chest.

"I have talked to some teachers at the academy," his father continued. "It would be possible to get you started early. It wouldn't be the first case, although it's rare."

' And you tell me so!!! You were giving me a heart attack!'

"How early?" asked Ren, trying to sound simply curious.

"You could start next semester, in two months. You'd be the youngest in the class, but..."

"I'd like that," interjected Ren, then corrected himself. "That is, if you and Mom think it's a good idea."

' I can't miss this opportunity'

Toshiro smiled. "We'll all talk about it tonight. For now, continue with the exercise. Try counting how many stones you can sense without looking."

That evening, sitting around the dinner table, the discussion resumed.

"He is very young," Yuki said, the concern evident in her voice. " And remember that although we've never had any problems, we don't belong to the elite."

"I know" Toshiro replied. "But he already has the chakra control of a much older child. And with his observation skills..."

"That's exactly why" Yuki interrupted. "Attracting too much attention at this time..."

Ren listened in silence, reflecting. 'The academy will worsening after Yagura takes full control. The nickname of 'Bloody Mist Village' will solidify more during this period. But I have to take the risk, if I go in now, I might avoid taking the exam in the same year as Zabusa."

"I want to do it" he finally said, drawing the parents' attention. "I know I'm young, but ... I feel the time is right."

Yuki and Toshiro exchanged a long look.

"If that's what you want" his mother finally said, "we will support you. But you'll have to promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Don't push too hard. You don't need to be the best, to stand out. Some times, being average is the wisest thing."

Ren nodded solemnly. His mother understood perfectly: in a village like Kirigakure, keeping a low profile was considered a blessing.

"I'll go talk to the academy administration tomorrow" Toshiro said. "For now, continue with your training. And Ren..."

"Yes?"

"I'm proud of you."

' I have never heard those words...something inside me that i never felt'

That night, lying in his bed, Ren thought back on the day.

The perception exercise had opened up new possibilities for him, but it was the early entrance to the academy that occupied most of his thoughts.

'Two months,' he reflected, 'Two months to prepare myself. To be strong enough to survive, but not so strong as to attract the wrong kind of attention. To be special, but not too special.'

He fell asleep thinking about his father's words, and how his life, and his character were gradually changing, merging more and more into that world.