{Alt Title:- Dear Diary, Today I Met a Predator}
Back in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen was once again going through the endless piles of paperwork when a voice came from behind him.
"Was giving that to Ren Takahashi the right move? I don't think I need to highlight how important it would be if someone else got their hands on it and explored it further."
Hiruzen paused for a moment, then said, "It's more of a test. I actually wanted to see something."
The hidden speaker didn't say anything for a while, then asked, "How long do you think it would take for him to learn it?"
Hiruzen thought for a moment and answered, "Probably five to six years. Maybe lower if he got something from Sayaka's side."
After that, silence returned to the room.
~~~
Meanwhile, back in the basement, Ren was deeply engrossed in reading the birthday scroll. With just the name, he could already figure out how this could be used. On the scroll, there wasn't a ninjutsu or a simple technique. It was a Fuinjutsu seal: [SPATIAL ANCHOR SEAL].
Ren thought, 'Flying Thunder God.'
He quickly began reading the detailed explanation to confirm it. The function of the seal was to lock chakra into a fixed spatial coordinate through a seal, allowing instant chakra projection or sensory feedback between two distant points.
'It's the fuinjutsu required for using the Flying Thunder God jutsu. However,' he frowned slightly as he read further, 'this isn't complete. It just shows how to make the seal, not how to actually use it. But still, once I am able to make the seal properly, I'm sure I can figure something out.'
Not wasting any time, he took out some Fuinjutsu paper, ink, and a brush from his space belt, along with normal paper and a pencil.
First, he tried to copy the seal exactly as it was onto the normal paper with a pencil. However, it wasn't easy. The seal was divided into three complex parts.
The innermost circle was the chakra signature lock layer, where the user would seal a part of their chakra to serve as an identity core. Just this first layer alone required so many symbols that Ren hadn't even seen till now.
The second part was the spatial binding layer, designed to connect the sealed chakra to the spatial coordinates of the location where the seal was placed. The Fuinjutsu would automatically lock the coordinates once the seal was activated.
The third layer was the pulse reception layer, the easiest of the three but still difficult for Ren's current level. This layer would allow the user to send a pulse of chakra into the seal but not let any chakra leak outward.
It took Ren thirty minutes before he even finished copying the seal properly once on normal paper. After that, he spent a few more hours repeating the process until he could draw the seal with relative ease.
Then, finally, he picked up the brush and ink, laid down the Fuinjutsu paper, and started making the seal symbol by symbol.
However, before he even reached the middle part of the first layer, the paper ripped.
Without a word, he started over.
The result was the same.
He tried a few more times, but aside from making a little progress each time, the paper still got ripped apart.
Ren frowned, 'Although it requires some effort, my Yang chakra control should be enough to at least draw the first layer. However, I still can't do it.'
He looked at the brush in his hand, then at the ink to the side, and finally at the Fuinjutsu paper in front of him. 'Could it be that the ink is not chakra conductive enough?'
He nodded slightly, 'This seal should require products that are more chakra-conductive, which would allow a much easier flow of chakra, at least for my current level. I don't think Minato would've complained about something like ink, but maybe it's just that my mastery isn't enough.'
He glanced at his status panel: 36% mastery of Fuinjutsu and 28% mastery of Yang Release.
'Fuck saving the points, I want to use them right now.' He raged internally.
He almost pulled his hair in frustration when he realized that even if he wanted to use the points, he couldn't. The lowest points he had were Intermediate Level Points, which could only be used after reaching 50% mastery.
~~~
It had been a week since Ren was stopped by Hiruzen from advancing further into the restricted zone of the Forest of Death, and Ren had retaliated by dropping a chakra version of a nuke.
At that time, Hiruzen had said that Utakata would return from his mission in a week, so Ren had informed his teammates about it. As agreed, all three of them had gathered today at Training Ground One at the usual time.
During the time the team hadn't been training together, they weren't aware of each other's progress. However, Ren noted that Yugao had gained two levels over the month, so her training must have been going well.
Hitoshi's level, on the other hand, hadn't increased during the month, but somehow Ren got the feeling that the insects on Hitoshi's body were stronger.
'The system levels aren't really suitable for gauging a shinobi's power, especially not for the ones with bloodlines,' he thought.
After all, there were many like the Aburame who, on a personal level, might not seem much stronger. However, together with their insects, they could fight against people whose system level was much higher than their own.
'I really shouldn't rely too much on the system levels, especially not for the higher-tier ninja, you never know what kind of move they could pull,' he thought.
The three of them sat beneath a tree as they discussed their training. When Ren told them he had gone into the Forest of Death, Yugao expressed her dissatisfaction that he didn't ask her to tag along on such a "fun" adventure, and Hitoshi also supported her.
Ren could only shrug as he heard the two and promised them that if there was a next time, he would ask them.
Just as Hitoshi was about to begin recounting his own training tales, there was a sudden flicker. Since Utakata was supposed to arrive, there wasn't much reaction from the three at first.
However, when they saw that it wasn't Utakata, they immediately shifted into alert mode.
Standing in front of them was a scarecrow of a man, with spiky greyish-white hair styled to the left, donning a dog-like mask. With a glance, Ren identified the man, 'Kakashi Hatake,' he thought, then casually glanced above his head and saw level 68.
Without wasting any time, Kakashi ordered, "Team 1, follow me. We need to recover your Sensei."
'Wow, that's the classic your parents are in danger, follow me, kid kidnapping style,' Ren thought dryly.
When Kakashi saw the blank stares of Team 1, he tossed a scroll over to Ren. "Hokage's order."
Ren checked the scroll, confirmed it was safe, then opened it and read it through. As Kakashi said, it was a direct mission order from the Hokage. It also confirmed that Utakata was safe, but needed to be escorted back to the village along with his teammates who had accompanied him.
Ren nodded to his teammates and briefly explained the mission, then pocketed the scroll.
Seeing that Team 1 was ready, Kakashi flickered away without another word, leading them out of the village through a secret exit rather than the main gate.
When Ren saw this, he thought, 'This must be one of the ANBU's exit routes, but is he even allowed to show us this?'
Kakashi led the way silently as Team 1 followed behind him. As they continued travelling, Ren, as the acting leader in Utakata's absence, asked the necessary question. "What is the location?"
"Near the borders of Hidden Waterfall and Hidden Grass Village," Kakashi responded with a short answer and fell silent again.
Ren and his team also maintained the silence, understanding that this was not the time for idle chatter.
It took another two days before they finally got somewhat close to the designated area. Finally, they stopped.
During the whole two days, the team only rested for a total of two hours, that too in short breaks of fifteen minutes. The rest of the time, they travelled nonstop.
Now, when they stopped, Kakashi silently made a clone, and the clone immediately flickered away.
He didn't explain anything to them, and they didn't ask either, understanding that the clone was likely sent to scout ahead for information.
~~~
The four of them stayed quietly hidden as Team 1 recovered their breaths after two days of continuous travel.
Aside from Kakashi, Hitoshi had also sent out some of his insects to scout the surroundings.
It took quite some time before both Kakashi and Hitoshi flinched simultaneously. However, before either of them could say anything, a voice filled with amusement and subtle mockery echoed through the area.
"Ah, Kakashi-kun, if you are in charge of a babysitting mission, you shouldn't bring them to such a dangerous area. Otherwise, your client might complain," the voice said.
When Ren heard the voice, all the hairs on his body stood on end and an oppressive feeling of intense bloodlust pressed down on him.
With slight difficulty, he looked up and saw who it was.
A man was standing casually on the branch of a tree, his pale skin almost ghost-like under the faint light filtering through the forest canopy. He had striking golden eyes with slitted pupils and purple markings around his eyes that made him look unmistakably like a snake.
'Pedomaru,' Ren thought immediately.
It was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, and someone Ren knew all too well from his past life memories and from the bingo books and the crime records in Konoha.
Without a word, Kakashi stepped forward, positioning himself between Orochimaru and Team 1.
Yugao and Hitoshi stood to Ren's sides, their bodies tense. Although they were affected by the sheer oppressive bloodlust that filled the air, they still managed to move with some difficulty.
Snako malfoy's golden eyes lazily scanned the three Genin before settling with amusement.
"Oh my, how cute," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Young Genin are always so much fun to handle," he licked his lips with his snake-like tongue, "even more if they have some talent."
His gaze fixed on Ren directly.
Ren shuddered as he met those slitted eyes, 'this damned PDF, if he was just after my life, I wouldn't mind much, but I god damn have a problem if he wants my youth,' he thought angrily, cursing Orochimaru's reputation in his mind.
Kakashi's calm voice broke through the tension, "Be ready to advance near the borders at my signal."
The moment he finished speaking, he flickered forward, appearing just in front of his royal slitherness.
Pedo-sennin tutted lightly, his expression filled with amusement.
"You shouldn't be so impatient, Kakashi-kun," he said smoothly. "I guess both your father and your Sensei kicked the bucket before they could impart some crucial knowledge to you."
{Alt Title 2:- Congratulations! You Attracted a War Criminal!}
{Alt Title 3:- Snake Daddy Pulls Up to the Wrong Kindergarten}
~~~~~
{I admit that I have much more fun deciding the chapter title and naming Orochimaru, than actually writing the chapter.}
{Also, I am dissapointed that none of you got that last line's reference in the previous chapter, but oh well.}
{We'll talk about FTG after I read your comments.}
{Anyway, you now know what the chapter schedule will be so save your stones, and give me the stones on the days that the chapter's aren't released.
If we remain in the top 100s for the 3 weeks till 19th may, then I will do a double release everyday for a week from the 19th, so, the stone's in your phone now.}
{You know what else to do}
{STONES!!!!!}