Hinata's eyes met Ren's for half a second in mid-air, then immediately darted away, not daring to look directly at him. She then looked at Naruto, who was diligently researching the Shadow Clone Jutsu. 'Huh? Didn't Naruto-kun even know how to make a regular clone? How can he use the higher-level Shadow Clone Jutsu?' Hinata's sharp little brain quickly concluded that the Shadow Clone Jutsu was probably taught to him by Ren.
'If only I could be stronger too,' Hinata suddenly had such a strong desire in her heart. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she found a burst of courage. She suddenly raised her head and asked Ren, "Ren-kun, can you also guide me in my practice?"
It was indeed a very rare thing for Hinata to make such a request. Everyone was stunned for a moment, but Ren was the first to react, nodding to her with a smile and saying, "If you want to learn, of course I can teach you."
"Really, is it really possible?" After hearing his answer, Hinata suddenly became ecstatic.
"Certainly."
"I want to get stronger too." Although Hinata's tone was soft, there was a clear determination in her eyes, like flowers blooming on the edge of a cliff.
At this moment, Tenten, who had seen some insight from the side, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. Then she pulled Naruto next to her and walked towards another training ground.
"Hey, hey, Sister Tenten, where are you taking me?" Naruto shouted with a confused look.
"Oh, what an idiot! Can't you even see the current situation? The two of us shouldn't bother my brother to personally guide Sister Hinata's practice!" Tenten said in a very cheerful tone, then pulled Naruto away.
---
A few days had passed since the Ninja Academy's graduation assessment. Ren and the others went to the photo studio to take pictures for their archives, and then received a notice to go to the Ninja Academy.
When Ren and the others arrived at the Ninja Academy together, the classroom was already full of people. Most of the students had their forehead protectors tied on their foreheads. Tenten and Rock Lee wore theirs around their necks, while Ren tied his on his left arm. Their faces were full of longing for their future ninja careers. But they obviously didn't know that the real test to become a ninja would be conducted after the teams were assigned.
At this time, the Chūnin teacher walked into the classroom and said to them sincerely: "Congratulations! From today onwards, you are all ninja in your own right! However, since you are all still Genin, you need to form a team of three and follow a Jonin guide to carry out tasks together. Next, I will begin announcing the groups."
Hearing that it was a group of three, the atmosphere in the classroom became lively. Everyone was looking around, wondering who they would be in a group with. Among the many glances, focus was concentrated on Ren. Although he hadn't come to the Ninja Academy for a long time and had disappeared from the sight of many classmates for four years, the scene where he defeated Neji Hyūga and became the head student of the class four years ago was still vivid in everyone's mind, not to be forgotten. If they could be assigned to a group with such a strong person, it meant that the success rate of executing tasks in the future was guaranteed!
The Chūnin teacher began to announce the grouping:
"Inuzuka Hanazuki, Aburame Shido, Hyūga Tentaki... Tasaki, Tayuki, Urano Yui,..."
As the grouping became clearer, everyone's mood changed significantly. Those who had succeeded in being grouped with desired companions had overjoyed faces. Being assigned to a group with disliked individuals caused clear displeasure. But as the names were called, they noticed one important name missing.
They never heard Ren's name.
Finally, the Chūnin teacher read the names of the last group. "The next class is the last class in our graduating class - Team Nine!"
"The members of Team Nine are: Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyūga!"
The moment the voice fell, in an instant, countless eyes fell on Ren. Ren was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that his name wasn't on the list for any team? So he immediately stood up from his seat and asked the teacher: "Teacher, why isn't my name in this class?"
The teacher said: "Ren, as for what happens next for you, Lord Hokage has his own arrangements."
Having received this answer, Ren could only sit back in his seat, waiting for the so-called arrangement.
Time passed by minute by minute. One team after another was picked up by their Jōnin instructors. There were fewer and fewer people left in the classroom. In the end, only Ren, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Neji were left.
"Yo! Boys, it's been a long wait!"
A vigorous voice resonated in the air. A green whirlwind appeared in the classroom, and the figure of Might Guy appeared in front of them. At this time, he said apologetically: "Hey, I just dealt with some things at Lord Hokage's place, so it's a bit late to come here. Alright, members of Team Nine, we're off!"
A wide smile appeared on Might Guy's face, a cross star gleaming on his white teeth.
"Guy-sensei, but big brother..." Tenten had a hesitant look on her face; she couldn't bear to leave her brother here alone.
"Don't worry, Tenten, Lord Hokage has his own arrangements. You don't have to worry," Might Guy comforted Tenten.
"I'll be fine here alone, Tenten, you can follow Guy-sensei," Ren said with a smile.
"Okay then." Tenten just nodded. The three of them followed Might Guy out of the classroom.
At this time, the classroom was extremely quiet. Only Ren was left sitting quietly in his seat. A faint smile appeared on his lips. He really wanted to know what kind of scheme the old Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was cooking up.
This time, he didn't have to wait long. Not long after Might Guy and his team departed, an Anbu ninja with a cat mask on his face appeared in front of him in a flash.
"Mr. Ren, Lord Hokage has summoned you at Konoha's Back Mountain."
"I see." Ren nodded, then got up. His figure disappeared instantly. The Anbu ninja was stunned for a moment, amazed at the speed of his Body Flicker Jutsu. At this time, Ren had already jumped towards the mountain behind Konoha in the distance.
The mountain behind the leaves, that is, behind Konoha's Hokage Rock, contained a very large training ground. Beyond that lay a vast forest. This was not an external training ground, and it was rarely open to the public, so few people came here. Of course, the Hokage had the right to use this venue.
At this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was wearing the white imperial robe of the Third Hokage, standing in the open space above Hokage Rock. The strong wind blew his robes, making them flutter in the air. Behind him, an Anbu ninja wearing an animal mask knelt. On the left shoulder of his dark uniform, he wore a special badge, symbolizing his position as the current Anbu Commander.
At this point, the silence was broken. Hiruzen Sarutobi took the lead and asked: "Kakashi, what do you think of my previous proposal?"
Under the mask, Kakashi's low and cold voice came, and he replied respectfully: "Sorry, Lord Hokage, I still don't think that 12-year-old boy has the strength to become the captain of the Anbu."
Twelve years old was truly too young. What were most twelve-year-olds doing now? Swinging, flying kites, playing house? Going up the mountain to pick flowers, going down to the river to fish? Fighting for a girl, or being jealous for a boy? How could a child of this age join Anbu, and what's more, Lord Hokage wanted to directly promote him to the position of an Anbu captain? Even in his own era, when war raged, during the bloodiest and fiercest Third Great Shinobi World War, when even newly graduated Genin would be transported to the battlefield, even he, known as a genius boy who graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of five, became the youngest Chūnin in Konoha history at six, and the youngest Jōnin at twelve—even he did not possess the strength to become an Anbu captain at that age. As the current Anbu Commander, Kakashi truly could not accept having a 12-year-old kid among the captains of his assassination unit.