The sky was dimming to twilight when Ren finally stepped into the house. He closed the door quietly behind him, slipped off his sandals, and moved into the main room—still carrying the faint scent of wind and dust from Training Ground 11.
Naruto was sprawled across the small sofa, arms dangling over the sides, a bored expression on his face. He perked up the moment he saw Ren.
"You're late. Been waiting forever."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "It's not even sundown."
Naruto rolled his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, yeah. So what were you guys doing? Some super-secret genin mission already?"
Ren walked into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water. "What about you? First day with Team 7. How'd it go?"
Naruto groaned, sinking deeper into the cushions. "Tch. That Kakashi guy made us wait for hours—literally hours. Then he shows up late, reads some dumb book, tells us we're doing actual training tomorrow, and says—get this—we shouldn't eat breakfast."
Ren stopped mid-sip, then chuckled softly. "Don't eat breakfast, huh?"
Naruto sat up. "You know something. What, is he gonna make us run laps or something?"
Ren leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You'll see."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Ren smirked but didn't deny it.
Naruto huffed. "Fine, fine. What about you? What did Team 1 do today?"
Ren's tone shifted subtly, more thoughtful now.
"We were dropped into a live stealth and cooperation exercise. Minimal supplies. Clone patrols. One map. Only way to pass was to reach the objective as a team."
Naruto blinked. "Huh? On the first day?"
Ren nodded. "We passed."
Naruto tilted his head. "Sounds kinda cool, actually. Who are your teammates again?"
"Kenji. He's sharp—trap detection and wire-type skills. And Aika's got sensor-type abilities."
Naruto grinned. "So, you're the boss already, huh?"
Ren shrugged. "We work together. I just make sure we don't walk into disaster."
Naruto stood and stretched. "Well, I hope my team's that fun tomorrow. Even if Kakashi is weird."
Ren gave a small nod, glancing at his brother.
"Just remember… don't let your guard down."
"Yeah, yeah. No breakfast. Got it."
They shared a small laugh as the day gave way to night.
And in the quiet of their home, two brothers stood at the start of very different roads—but still side by side.