🌀 Dawn – Elemental Fusion Attempt
The first light of day brushed across Konoha's forest line. Mist still clung to the grass, and the training field was silent — untouched by the day's noise.
Ren Uzumaki stood at the center, eyes half-lidded in concentration. His hands slowly moved through practiced seals, his breath steady.
"Wind first... control it. Then feed the flame."
Chakra surged into his arms — split, refined.
He launched the first strike:
"Fūton: Reppūshō!"
A sharp wave of wind burst forward.
Then, before it faded:
"Katon: Endan!"
A stream of fire lanced out, catching the tailwind — it flared unnaturally, brighter, faster—
Then it burst apart in a rough detonation, flinging ash and smoke across the field.
Ren leapt back, coughing slightly.
"Still unstable. But it caught this time."
He stared at the blackened crater forming at the center.
"I'm close. I just need control — not power."
He adjusted his stance again.
"Again."
📚 Later That Morning – Academy Grounds
Iruka watched the students pair up for their chakra exercises, clipboard in hand. His eyes shifted toward Ren, who stood quietly nearby, hands in his pockets, watching Naruto try to balance on the log again.
Iruka approached.
"Ren. A word."
Ren turned, nodding.
"You're good at teaching. Quiet. Sharp. Observant."
Ren blinked but said nothing.
Iruka smiled faintly. "How would you feel about tutoring a few students individually? Ones who are struggling. You'd still assist me normally, but we'd start pairing you with one student at a time."
Ren considered it.
"Sure. That's fine."
"I'll start with Hinata tomorrow, then maybe Kiba after."
Ren nodded. "Understood."
☁️ Rooftop – That Evening
The sky was soft with purple clouds and quiet wind.
Ren sat alone on the Academy rooftop, knees bent, arms resting on them.
He didn't react when Sasuke stepped beside him.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"You almost burned the trees this morning."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "You were watching."
"You've been training before dawn every day. You think no one notices?"
Ren stayed quiet.
"Why fire and wind?"
"Because they don't work together easily. If I can balance that... I can balance everything else."
Sasuke looked at him sideways.
"That's not normal genin logic."
Ren smiled faintly.
"Neither of us are normal, are we?"
Sasuke said nothing for a long time.
"You think power means control. But sometimes, it just... burns everything."
Ren looked at him. Saw it — not the pride, not the arrogance. The pain.
"You're not wrong," Ren said.
Sasuke didn't answer.
But when he left, he paused at the stairway.
"Next time you try the fusion — don't hold back. If it burns, let it burn. That's how we know it's real."
And then he was gone.
Ren looked back out at the darkening village.
The wind stirred again.
This time, it smelled faintly of ash.