Ren carefully climbed down from the oak tree, his legs protesting slightly despite Gamer's Body working overtime (Status: Minor Muscle Fatigue; Minor Chakra Exhaustion - Recovery Rate: Moderate). He landed softly on the ground near Akari and Kenji, who were slowly picking themselves up, brushing dirt and leaves from their uniforms. The faint tingling sensation from Genma's 'incapacitating' senbon strikes seemed to have faded from both of them.
"We... we did it?" Akari asked hesitantly, looking from the flag still perched securely on the high branch back to Ren, then towards the empty space where Genma had stood. "We passed?"
"We achieved the objective," Ren corrected quietly. "But Sensei marked two of us as incapacitated. Technically, the team failed to survive intact."
Kenji scowled, rubbing the back of his neck where Genma had struck him earlier. "Felt like surviving," he muttered gruffly. "That pulse thing you did, Ren... and Kenji's earth shake... barely slowed him down." He paused, looking genuinely troubled. "Sensei… he wasn't even trying, was he?"
Ren nodded grimly. "Likely not. He was assessing, controlling the engagement. Testing our responses." He didn't mention the Observe readout confirming Genma's intent.
"Still," Akari added, a spark of resilience flickering in her tired eyes. "We worked together better that second time. Kenji's… uh… ground shake… it did give you that opening, Ren. And my kunai helped too, right?" She looked to Ren for validation.
"Every action contributed," Ren confirmed truthfully, reinforcing the team aspect. "Your distraction pulled his focus. Kenji's attempt disrupted his footing enough. It wouldn't have worked without those elements." He saw Kenji straighten slightly, a reluctant nod acknowledging the point. The seeds of teamwork, however strained and rudimentary, were there. Failure, paradoxically, seemed to be forging them together faster than easy success would have.
[Leadership (Basic)] Proficiency Increased: +0.5% (Post-Action Debrief - Positive Reinforcement)]
"Mission tomorrow, 0700, Hokage Tower," Ren reminded them, shifting back to pragmatism. "D-Ranks. Don't expect anything exciting."
They dispersed soon after, heading back towards the village proper, moving with the weary gait of soldiers after a losing battle they somehow didn't die in. Ren walked alone, his mind already processing the day's data. The 300 EXP was a substantial boost. The Leadership level-up was unexpected but potentially useful. The successful application and refinement of Chakra Pulse (Defensive) felt like a genuine breakthrough – a unique skill derived from System analysis and real-world pressure. He reviewed its stats:
[Chakra Pulse (Defensive)] Lv. 1 (10.0%)]
- Effect: Emit short-range pulse of raw chakra (approx. 1-meter radius) to disrupt incoming chakra/low-level Genjutsu/chakra-infused projectiles.
- Effectiveness dependent on incoming force/technique complexity.
- Can cause minor disorientation to opponents caught in radius (Requires testing).
- Current Drawbacks: High CP Cost, momentary channeling focus required (leaves user briefly vulnerable).
- Cost: 15 CP per pulse.
Expensive, inefficient, but his. A tool Genma didn't recognize, born from his unique circumstances. He needed to practice it, refine it, lower the cost, perhaps increase the range or disruptive power. More grinding awaited. Genma's pointed comment about 'inefficient techniques' confirmed the Jonin was deeply suspicious of its origin, despite Ren's fabricated explanation. The scrutiny would only intensify. Ren decided to save his current batch of Status Points (earned from reaching Lv. 7 previously), holding them in reserve until a clearer need emerged – perhaps bolstering CON for stamina, DEX for evasion, or pushing INT/WIS further for faster skill gains and analysis.
Back at the orphanage, Ren went through the evening motions – chores, dinner, feigning sleep. His real work began in the quiet darkness, meticulously deciphering another line from the Fuinjutsu scroll (Proficiency +0.3%), practicing the internal flow for Chakra Flow Efficiency (Proficiency +0.1%), and mentally reviewing Genma's movements, trying to internalize the Jonin's impossible speed and precision (Combat Analysis EXP +2).
The next morning, Ren met Akari and Kenji near the imposing Hokage Tower at 06:50. The Mission Assignment Desk area was already a hub of low-level chaos. Numerous Genin teams milled about – Team 10 lounging nearby, Shikamaru looking half-asleep while Ino argued with Choji over snack choices; Team 8 stood quietly, Shino impassive, Kiba impatiently bouncing on the balls of his feet while Hinata observed nervously. Ren even caught a glimpse of Naruto loudly proclaiming Team 7's greatness to a nonplussed Sakura, while Sasuke leaned moodily against a far wall, pointedly ignoring everyone. Observe confirmed Kakashi was, predictably, late.
Team 12 felt distinctly out of place amongst the established clan teams and Naruto's sheer volume. They stood awkwardly, awaiting their sensei. Genma arrived precisely at 0700, appearing beside them so silently Akari jumped.
"Ready for the thrilling life of professional ninja?" Genma asked dryly, shifting his toothpick. Observe: Genma. Status: Fully Alert. Assessing Team Readiness/Attitude. He didn't wait for an answer, instead leading them towards the crowded assignment desk, manned by several bored-looking Chunin shuffling through scrolls and mission requests.
"Team 12, reporting for D-Rank assignment," Genma stated flatly to one of the Chunin.
The Chunin looked up, recognized Genma, and his demeanor shifted slightly to one of professional respect, though tinged with confusion at seeing the elite Jonin leading such a young, unremarkable-looking team. "Genma-sama. Right away." He scanned a list. "Available D-Ranks... Let's see... Weeding Lord Danzo's personal training ground..." (Genma subtly shook his head almost imperceptibly – Ren caught the micro-movement, Observe confirming Intent: Avoid direct interaction with Danzo's personnel currently.) "...Repairing fences along the western perimeter... Ah, here we go. Madame Shijimi requires assistance. Her prized cat, Tora, has gone missing again. Standard retrieval mission."
Tora. Ren mentally sighed. Of course. The infamous demon cat of Konoha's D-Rank circuit, bane of countless Genin teams. This was practically a rite of passage.
Genma accepted the scroll with a nod. "Understood. Team 12 accepts." He turned back to them. "Objective: Locate and retrieve one feline, name 'Tora', known for exceptional evasion skills and a remarkably foul temper. Report to Madame Shijimi at the provided address for briefing." His tone suggested this mundane task was somehow beneath even commenting on.
The 'briefing' with Madame Shijimi, the Fire Daimyo's wife (currently visiting Konoha), was exactly as Ren expected based on fuzzy recollections: effusive descriptions of her 'sweet little Tora,' a dramatically inflated reward offer, and near-tearful pleas for his safe return. Tora himself was nowhere in sight.
The hunt began. "Okay," Ren started, attempting to apply yesterday's lessons, "standard search pattern? Akari, your observation might be good for spotting movement in alleys. Kenji, cover the market streets – more potential hiding spots. I'll take the residential rooftops, broader vantage point, use Observe."
Genma leaned against a wall nearby, watching them with detached amusement, offering zero input. Observe: Genma. Intent: Monitor Team's approach to mundane task. Assess problem-solving, communication, application of basic search principles *without* direct combat pressure.
The search was... tedious. Hours passed under the increasingly hot sun. They chased false leads – countless ordinary cats that earned them annoyed glares from homeowners. They tried coordinating via hand signals, but the bustling civilian environment made it difficult. Kenji's straightforward approach mostly involved yelling "Tora!" into bushes, yielding predictable results. Akari dutifully checked alleys but was clearly frustrated. Ren scanned rooftops with Observe, occasionally spotting promising heat signatures that turned out to be sleeping pigeons or sunbathing lizards (Environmental Awareness gained fractional proficiency).
[Searching Proficiency Increased: +0.1%]
Finally, after nearly three hours, Ren spotted him. A flash of striped fur darting across a rooftop two blocks away, heading towards the marketplace Kenji was supposedly covering. Observe: Target Identified - Tora. Status: Annoyed, Evading Capture (High Skill). Notable Skills: Stealth (Adept - Feline), Agility (Expert - Feline), Scratching (Painful).
"Target sighted!" Ren called down, using a focused hand signal to indicate direction. "Marketplace, heading south!"
He leaped across the rooftops in pursuit, hearing Kenji's confirming shout below and Akari moving to intercept from the side streets. The chase was surprisingly difficult. Tora moved with blurring speed and uncanny parkour skills, darting through open windows, scrambling up drainpipes, disappearing into crowds only to reappear moments later.
Ren used Observe constantly to track the cat's erratic path, relaying directions. Akari managed to cut Tora off once, only to receive a vicious scratch for her troubles (HP: Low-Moderate -> Low. Status: Minor Laceration). Kenji finally cornered the demonic feline in a dead-end alley, but Tora launched himself directly at Kenji's face. Only a desperate Substitution with a trash can saved Kenji from severe facial rearrangement.
Ren dropped down into the alley as Tora recovered from hitting the trash can. Seeing the enraged cat about to bolt again, Ren reacted without thinking about stealth or subtlety. He focused, pushed chakra through his hand, and used a non-damaging variant of the only 'binding' concept he vaguely understood from his fragmented Fuinjutsu studies – adherence. He slapped his palm onto the alley floor right in front of Tora. Basic Chakra Control Lv. 11 - Object Adhesion (Minor - Targeted Burst). Cost: 5 CP.
Tora's paws hit the spot Ren had infused with sticky chakra and stuck fast for a split second, just long enough for Kenji to dive and awkwardly but successfully bundle the spitting, yowling feline into a sturdy sack they'd brought.
Mission Accomplished. Sort of.
They returned Tora to a tearfully ecstatic Madame Shijimi, received their payment (which Genma immediately confiscated, presumably for "team funds"), and endured a final ear-pinching cuddle from the Daimyo's wife aimed at the 'heroic' catnappers.
As they finally escaped back into the street, exhausted, scratched (Akari), and generally demoralized by the sheer absurdity of the mission, Genma appeared beside them.
"Debrief," he stated flatly. "Initial search pattern: Logical but poorly executed. Communication: Improved slightly under pressure but still hesitant. Individual contributions: Sumire - good initial diligence, poor hazard avoidance. Ito - persistence commendable, tactical awareness minimal. Ren - effective use of Observe for tracking, final capture reliant on..." Genma paused, eyeing Ren speculatively, "...'adhesion control'. Interesting application."
Observe: Genma. Focus locked on Ren's chakra use. Storing data point regarding 'adhesion' application. Suspicion regarding skill origins remains high.
"Overall assessment," Genma concluded, "You successfully completed a D-Rank mission. Do not expect commendation. This is the baseline reality of Genin life. Tomorrow, 0700, Mission Desk. We continue until you demonstrate consistent efficiency and teamwork even in the face of soul-crushing drudgery."
He vanished. Ren sighed internally. D-Ranks. It seemed their immediate future involved a lot less high-stakes combat testing and a lot more fence-painting, weed-pulling, and cat-wrangling. Yet, even in the mundane, Genma's watchful eyes, and the Hokage's directive behind them, remained fixed squarely on him. The grind continued, just on a different, slightly less lethal, front.