The break between training sessions offered little respite. Ren found a secluded spot near the stream, ostensibly resting, but actually cycling chakra to expedite his recovery and replenish his pool (CP: 38 -> 85 recovered over the break, aided by the recent regen increase). He reviewed the morning's proficiency gains mentally – the boost to Surface Walking was significant, proving that high-stress application yielded faster results, albeit at greater risk and cost. Basic Chakra Control hitting Level 11 felt like crossing a meaningful threshold. He allocated his recently gained Status Points, continuing the balanced approach: INT +2, WIS +2, DEX +1. Every point invested in mental stats seemed to improve System processing and analysis speed marginally.
He Observed Akari and Kenji from a distance as they shared a simple lunch of rice balls brought from home. They ate mostly in silence, occasionally exchanging weary comments about the morning's brutal intensity.
Observe: Akari Sumire. Emotional State: Exhausted, Nervous (Afternoon session), Slightly Hopeful (Passed morning). Thought: Sensei is terrifyingly skilled… Ren is amazing… Can I keep up?
Observe: Kenji Ito. Emotional State: Physically Drained, Determined (+), Respect (Genma/Ren - Growing). Thought: Gotta push harder. Can't let them show me up. That water walking... infuriating.
Their individual determination was clear, though tinged with understandable anxiety. The shared hardship seemed to be forging a fragile, unspoken understanding between them, centered largely around their shared sense of inadequacy compared to Genma, and now, Ren's unexpected capabilities.
At precisely 1400 hours, Genma reappeared at the edge of the clearing, materializing from the shadows beneath a large oak tree as if he were merely an extension of them. His posture remained relaxed, but his eyes held a sharp, assessing quality.
"Recovered?" he asked mildly, though it wasn't really a question. "Good enough. This afternoon, we cover fundamentals often neglected until it's too late: Stealth, basic formation integrity, and putting those tools the Academy gave you to actual use." He gestured towards the dense woods bordering the training ground. "The forest is your classroom now."
He started with stealth. "Amateurs think stealth is just about hiding," Genma began, his voice low and carrying easily. "True stealth is about presence management. Controlling your scent, managing the sounds you make – breathing, footsteps, clothes rustling. It's about understanding the environment – wind direction, terrain, light and shadow. And crucially, it's about anticipating your opponent's senses and perception."
He then gave them a simple, infuriating task. "I will move into the woods. You have ten minutes to find me without being detected first. Work together or alone. Begin." And with a flicker that was less a jutsu and more an impossible melting into the dappled sunlight and shadow, he vanished.
Ren immediately activated Observe and scanned the general direction Genma had disappeared, but the readout was frustratingly empty. Target Lost. Last Known Vector: North-North-East. Traces: Minimal (Expert Anti-Tracking Measures Employed). Trying to track Genma conventionally seemed futile for their current level.
"Okay," Ren whispered to Akari and Kenji, signaling them closer. "Standard tracking is useless against him. We need to focus on our stealth. Move low, slow, use cover. Listen carefully. Akari, you're lightest – maybe take point slightly? Kenji, watch our back trail. I'll try scanning laterally." He quickly taught them the basic hand signals for 'halt,' 'danger,' 'target sighted,' and 'move forward' that were standard Academy fare but rarely practiced seriously.
They moved into the woods, adopting a loose triangle formation. The difference from the open clearing was immediate. Every snapped twig, every rustle of leaves, sounded amplified. Ren focused on controlling his breathing, minimizing his footfall (Stealth Basics Lv. 4 proficiency rising slowly), and constantly scanning with Observe, not just for Genma, but for terrain features, animal sounds, anything out of place.
[New Skill Seed Detected: [Environmental Awareness] - Increases ability to perceive subtle changes, track sounds, and utilize terrain for cover/concealment.]
Minutes crawled by. They found nothing. Then, a sudden whisper of displaced air from above. Ren instinctively looked up just as a single senbon embedded itself silently in the tree trunk right beside his head.
"Ren, detected," Genma's voice echoed seemingly from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Poor vertical awareness. Always check high ground. Step out."
Frustrated but unsurprised, Ren stepped into a small clearing as instructed. A moment later, Kenji yelped as a similar senbon pinned the edge of his trousers to the ground. "Ito, detected. Heavy footfalls, predictable pathing." Finally, Akari, who had frozen behind a bush, was revealed when Genma simply appeared beside her, startling a small scream out of her. "Sumire, good initial concealment, but zero offensive awareness while hiding. Total failure for Team 12."
He gathered them back in the main clearing. "Stealth isn't passive. It's active awareness combined with minimal presence. We drill this again."
The next hour involved variations on this theme – tracking exercises where Genma left deliberately misleading signs, concealment drills where they had to remain hidden while he actively searched, silent movement exercises across varied terrain (including the noisy stream bed). Ren consistently performed best due to his System-aided awareness and control, but even he was 'caught' several times, usually due to overlooking some minute detail Genma exploited. Akari proved surprisingly adept at static concealment but panicked easily when pressured. Kenji struggled significantly with noise discipline but showed tenacity.
[[Stealth Basics] Leveled Up! Lv. 4 -> 5!]
[[Environmental Awareness] Skill Seed Activated! Lv. 1 (15.3%)]
Next came formation drills. Genma taught them the basic diamond and wedge formations for movement and patrol. "Diamond gives 360-degree awareness," he explained, arranging them physically. "Point takes lead, flanks watch sides, rear guards the back. Constant communication – non-verbal whenever possible." He drilled them on moving through the woods in formation, maintaining spacing, passing hand signals, reacting to simulated threats (Genma suddenly appearing from different directions). Their initial attempts were clumsy – they bumped into each other, signals were missed, reactions were slow.
"Sloppy!" Genma critiqued sharply after one failed drill where Kenji almost tripped Akari while reacting to a 'threat' on the flank. "Your lives depend on this cohesion! Again!" Ren found himself naturally falling into a coordination role, using brief hand signals and occasional whispered directions to try and keep them organized, leveraging his slightly better overview from Observe.
[New Skill Seed Detected: [Basic Team Tactics & Formations] - Proficiency Gained through coordinated drills.]
Finally, as the afternoon sun began its slow descent, Genma moved them to the target range for weapon proficiency. "Academy throwing is static," he stated dismissively. "Useless. Combat is dynamic."
He set up simple moving targets – wooden planks suspended from branches, swung back and forth via ninja wire he manipulated with unseen skill. "Hit these. Ten throws each. Kunai first, then shuriken."
Akari, perhaps seeking to redeem her earlier struggles, showed her talent here. Her throws were swift, accurate, hitting the swinging targets consistently (Throwing Accuracy: Adept). Kenji, relying on brute force, threw hard but less accurately, several kunai missing widely (Throwing Accuracy: Novice+). Ren, with Throwing Accuracy Lv. 3, performed reliably, hitting most targets but lacking Akari's innate finesse. He focused on consistency and chakra-guided precision where possible, conserving energy.
[[Throwing Accuracy] Proficiency Increased: +2.5%]
Genma watched impassively, offering only minimal correction. "Sumire, good consistency, predictable trajectory. Ito, power over precision, wasted effort. Ren, economical, but telegraphs intent before the throw." He then produced his own senbon. Without seeming to aim, three needles flicked from his hand with near-invisible speed, each striking the exact center of the three moving targets simultaneously. The display of effortless mastery was breathtaking and utterly humbling. Observe: Genma. Skill Used: [Senbonjutsu (Master+)] - Trajectory Calculation: Perfect. Execution Speed: Extreme.
As the training day finally wound down, the shadows stretching long across the clearing, Genma gathered the exhausted, battered trio. They were covered in dirt, leaves, and minor scrapes (already fading on Ren thanks to Gamer's Body).
"First day assessment," Genma stated flatly. "Endurance: Needs major work (Sumire, Ito), baseline adequate but untested at true limits (Ren). Chakra Control: Severely lacking (Ito, Sumire), unexpectedly advanced but potentially unstable at higher costs (Ren). Stealth: Abysmal across the board, marginal aptitude in static concealment (Sumire), potential in awareness (Ren). Teamwork: Non-existent initially, slight improvement through forced coordination (Potential leadership aptitude in Ren noted? Needs confirmation). Weapon Skills: Adequate baseline (Sumire - Ranged), needs significant refinement (Ito - Taijutsu Power/Control), consistent but predictable (Ren)."
His summary was blunt, accurate, and offered zero comfort.
"This is Ground Zero," Genma declared, his gaze sweeping over them. "The absolute baseline. Tomorrow, we build. 0600. Same place. Expect the intensity to increase." His eyes met Ren's for a final moment, sharp and questioning. Observe: Genma. Intent: Conclude assessment phase. Begin targeted development phase. Continue monitoring Ren's capabilities and origins.
Without another word, Genma vanished back into the twilight shadows, leaving Team 12 weary, sore, but undeniably changed. The Academy felt like a distant dream. This brutal reality, under the scrutiny of their enigmatic Jonin-sensei, was their new world. Ren felt the familiar weight of the grind settle upon him, heavier now, but mixed with a grim sort of satisfaction. Progress was being made, foundations laid, even under the watchful eye of the Hokage's chosen observer. The path forward was steep, but for the first time, it felt undeniably real.