The afternoon light began to fade over the training field. The air was quieter now, wind weaving gently through the tall grass. The two brothers remained — one standing, arms crossed, the other still cross-legged on the dirt.
Naruto Uzumaki stared at the leaf in his hand like it was mocking him.
"Okay," he muttered to himself, "focus. Sharp. Cut. Not crush…"
His palm glowed faintly with chakra — wild, unfocused.
The leaf twitched.
Curled slightly.
Then—
Split.
A thin, ragged line tore through the center of the leaf.
It wasn't clean. It wasn't pretty.
But it was a cut.
Naruto blinked. "...Wait."
He held the two halves up.
"Did I just—?"
"You did."
Naruto looked up.
Ren stood a few steps away, his expression unreadable — then softened slightly. He nodded once.
Naruto leapt to his feet.
"YES!! I knew I could do it!"
He ran around the field holding both halves like a trophy. "Take that, stupid leaf! I'm the leaf-slicer now!"
Ren rubbed the side of his temple. "You sound like you just invented wind."
"Well, I kinda did! I'm basically a chakra genius now!"
Ren arched an eyebrow.
"Took you eight tries, three crushed leaves, and one public accident."
Naruto grinned. "Worth it."
He stopped running, breath catching a little.
Then he looked down at the split leaf again — holding it differently now.
"Hey, Ren…"
"Hm?"
"Thanks. For helping me. I know I'm not as smart as you. Or fast. But you never… y'know. Talk down to me."
Ren looked at him for a moment.
Then stepped forward.
He raised a hand.
Naruto grinned and met it halfway.
Fist bump.
"You're not dumb, Naruto. Just loud."
Naruto laughed. "Loud and deadly now!"
Ren sighed, but the faint smirk didn't leave his face.
"You still owe me ramen for skipping class."
"Ugh. Fine."
As they packed up their things, the cut leaf still sat in the center of the field — quiet proof that Naruto, for all his noise, was finally starting to grow.