The door burst open like it always did.
"I'm home!"
Naruto's voice filled the apartment as he stepped in, arms full of instant ramen packs and a half-empty bottle of soda tucked under one elbow.
Ren didn't move. He was still seated at the table, calm as ever, fingers lightly tapping a folded piece of paper in front of him.
"You remember your change this time?" Ren asked without looking up.
Naruto grinned and dumped the ramen onto the counter. "Yup! …Most of it."
Ren gave him a flat look but didn't press it.
Naruto plopped down into the chair across from him, noticing the paper on the table.
"What's that?"
Ren slid it across.
"Chakra paper. For nature testing. I had an extra."
Naruto blinked. "Wait… for me?"
Ren nodded once.
Naruto stared at the paper like it might explode. "You already did yours?"
"Yeah."
"Well… what was it?"
Ren paused. A long moment.
Then, quietly:
"Five."
Naruto's mouth dropped open. "FIVE?! Dude, that's not fair—!"
Ren cut him off with a calm wave of his hand. "Quiet. Try yours."
Naruto picked up the paper, eyes wide. "Okay, okay. Just… like this?"
"Focus your chakra. Don't force it. Let it flow."
Naruto took a breath.
Then another.
He pressed his chakra into the paper.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then —
The paper split clean down the middle.
Naruto stared.
Ren leaned forward slightly. "Wind."
Naruto blinked. "That's mine?"
Ren nodded. "It fits you."
Naruto sat back, processing it. Then—
"Wait till I tell—"
He stopped.
Looked at Ren.
Ren didn't say a word. He just held that steady, expectant gaze.
Naruto swallowed.
"Right. Secret?"
Ren nodded again. "Only you and me."
Naruto pressed the paper flat against the table and grinned.
"Okay. Just between us, then."
Ren leaned back in his chair, finally satisfied. "Good."
Naruto looked down at his hands.
"So… wind cuts, right?"
"Sharp, fast, precise."
"Heh." He smirked. "Guess I'm sharper than people think."
Ren just raised an eyebrow. "That's not a high bar."
Naruto laughed loud and long — real joy, not just his usual noise.
They sat there in the fading evening light, the paper between them like a quiet pact.
One secret. One bond. One step closer to something greater.