The assignment the following morning felt like a marginal step up from inventory checks and fence painting, though only just. "D-Rank: Supply delivery and crop assistance," the mission scroll read. "Client: Farmer Tanaka, located three kilometers south of the main gate. Deliver specified fertilizer consignment, provide three hours of assistance with seasonal crop pest removal."
Farming assistance. Still firmly in the realm of manual labor, but it meant leaving the immediate confines of Konoha's walls. For Ren, this presented new opportunities – observing terrain outside the village, testing navigation skills, potentially encountering different flora and fauna to scan with Observe. For Akari and Kenji, it likely just meant more dirt and possibly unpleasant insects.
Genma met them at the south gate, accepting the large sacks of fertilizer from a Chunin logistics officer without comment. He hoisted one sack effortlessly onto his own shoulder, then handed one each to Ren and Kenji. Akari was spared carrying a main sack but was given a smaller, dense pouch containing specialized pest deterrent powders. The weight distribution was uneven, another subtle test of how they handled assigned loads. Kenji grunted under the weight but squared his shoulders. Ren adjusted the sack (Load: Moderate-High - Applying Strength Stat (Currently 8)) finding a comfortable balance.
"Route is direct," Genma stated, gesturing down the main dirt road leading away from Konoha. "However, we detour." He pointed towards a barely visible game trail branching off into the light woods flanking the road. "We practice off-path navigation and environmental awareness en route. Ren, you have map duties and point. Ito, take rear security, watch for disturbed ground suggesting animal lairs or worse. Sumire, middle flank, focus on airborne signs – broken branches, unusual bird calls, wind shifts."
The familiar diamond formation resumed, but the environment was immediately different. The controlled safety of Konoha's training grounds was replaced by the untamed wildness of the surrounding forest. Sunlight filtered weakly through the canopy, casting confusing shadows. The air was alive with the chirps, rustles, and buzzing of unseen creatures.
Genma didn't hover. He moved almost silently alongside them, sometimes visible, sometimes melting into the woods only to reappear unexpectedly from a different angle. His instructions came intermittently. "Ren, identify three potential water sources within the next hundred meters." Ren used Observe and Environmental Awareness (Proficiency +0.5%), spotting dew collecting on certain types of leaves, tracking the sound of distant running water, noting ground moisture indicating a nearby spring. He reported his findings concisely.
"Sumire, identify two edible plants and one poisonous one in this vicinity." Akari struggled, nervously consulting basic Academy plant identification memories, correctly identifying a common edible berry but misidentifying a potentially harmful mushroom (System Alert: Incorrect Plant Identification by Teammate! Potential Danger: Moderate). Ren discreetly Observed the mushroom ([Death Cap Mushroom - Highly Poisonous]) and subtly steered the team's path slightly away from it without countermanding Akari directly, making a mental note to find a way to subtly 'correct' her knowledge later.
"Ito, identify three different types of animal tracks." Kenji, surprisingly, did reasonably well here, his earthy connection perhaps giving him a better feel for ground disturbances. He correctly identified deer, boar, and some kind of smaller canine tracks (Environmental Awareness gains for Kenji?).
[Skill Seed Activation: [Basic Survival Knowledge] - Integrates Field Observations related to Water, Flora, Fauna Identification, and Tracking.] (System awarded to Ren based on processing teammate reports and his own scans)
Genma's lessons were practical, immediate, woven into the journey itself. He wasn't lecturing; he was forcing them to see, listen, and interpret the environment as a living entity filled with resources and threats.
They finally arrived at Tanaka Farm – several modest fields of flourishing vegetables bordered by woods, with a simple farmhouse nearby. Farmer Tanaka, a weathered old man with kind eyes and earth-stained hands, greeted them gratefully. The fertilizer was delivered, and then the real work began: pest removal. This involved meticulously checking each plant for harmful insects (mostly large, leaf-eating beetles) and removing them by hand, then applying the deterrent powder Akari carried.
It was tedious, repetitive work under the strengthening sun. Genma, characteristically, offered no help but stationed himself atop the farmhouse roof, ostensibly supervising, but Ren knew he was observing every detail. How they worked together, how they handled the repetitive strain, how their vigilance might drop during a 'safe' civilian task.
Ren used the opportunity. While picking off beetles, he discretely used Observe on the surrounding soil (Rich Loam - Good Fertility), the crops (Healthy Growth Cycle - Minor Insect Infestation), the nearby woods (Ambient Chakra Signature: Low - Normal Flora/Fauna). He even practiced minor Seal Script Calligraphy variations mentally, associating characters with the task at hand ('Pest', 'Repel', 'Growth'). Every moment was a chance to grind, even amidst agricultural labor.
[Manual Labor Efficiency Proficiency +0.8%]
[Basic Survival Knowledge Proficiency +1.2% (Agricultural/Pest Recognition)]
After three hours, Farmer Tanaka declared himself satisfied, thanking them profusely and offering them fresh water and some slightly bruised but sweet apples. As they prepared to leave, hauling their now-empty sacks, Genma spoke.
"Tanaka-san," he called down from the roof. "My team requires further environmental training. We'll be conducting exercises in the adjacent woods for a few hours. Don't be alarmed by minor activity." Tanaka just waved cheerfully, oblivious.
Genma led them not back towards the game trail, but deeper into the woods bordering the farm. He stopped in a small, unremarkable clearing. "Situation," he stated abruptly. "Hypothetical: Your return journey supplies – food, water – have been 'compromised'," (he glanced meaningfully at their empty water flasks). "You have three hours of daylight left. Secure potable water, identify a secure temporary shelter location, and procure one edible food source – plant or animal – sufficient for three people. No leaving this designated square kilometer area." He subtly defined the boundaries using hand gestures towards landmarks. "This is pass/fail for the team. Individual skill demonstration matters less than collective success. Begin." He then vanished into the canopy.
Panic flickered in Akari's eyes. Kenji looked determined but slightly lost. Ren's mind immediately went into overdrive. This wasn't hypothetical; Genma had essentially just stranded them for a practical survival test.
"Okay," Ren took charge instantly. "Priorities: Water first. Recall the spring I noted on the way in? It should be within this zone, south-east." He pointed. "We move there together. Akari, use your wind sense – listen for water sounds, feel for moisture in the air. Kenji, stick close, watch for game trails leading towards water. I'll navigate and scan for immediate threats or resources."
They set off, Ren pushing the pace slightly. They located the small, clear spring bubbling up between mossy rocks relatively quickly, confirming Ren's earlier observation (Water Source Confirmed: Potable). They refilled their flasks thankfully.
[Objective Update: Water Secured]
"Next, shelter," Ren continued, scanning the surroundings with Observe Lv. 6. "Not building one, just identifying. We need defensible position, good visibility, cover from elements. That rocky overhang?" He indicated a cluster of boulders on a slight rise nearby. Observe: [Rocky Overhang]. Provides: Good Cover (Overhead/Partial Sides), Moderate Concealment, Elevated Vantage Point. Potential Hazards: Loose Rocks (Minor), Animal Den nearby? (Unconfirmed). Assessment: Suitable Temporary Shelter. "Let's check it, make sure it's not already occupied."
They scouted the overhang carefully. No signs of large predators. It was declared their temporary 'base'.
[Objective Update: Shelter Location Identified]
"Food," Ren stated, looking around. "Most difficult part. Hunting takes time and skills we haven't honed. Foraging is faster but riskier." He looked at Akari. "The edible berries you found earlier? Were they within this designated zone?"
Akari thought hard, then nodded uncertainly. "I… I think so? Back near that fallen log?"
"Okay. Akari, lead the way, confirm the location and identification carefully. Kenji, you have better stamina, provide escort and lookout. I will conduct a wider sweep in this immediate area using Observe for any other easily accessible food sources – edible roots, insect hives maybe – while maintaining awareness for Genma."
The team split briefly, Akari and Kenji heading towards the remembered berry patch while Ren began a meticulous spiral search pattern outward from the overhang, his Observe active, scanning plants, ground signs, even insect activity.
Observe: [Wild Yam Root - Edible (Requires Cooking)] - Proficiency +0.1% Basic Survival Knowledge
Observe: [Grub Colony (Rotting Log) - Edible (Protein Rich - Requires Cooking/Preparation)] - Proficiency +0.1% Basic Survival Knowledge
Observe: [Faint Disturbance - Concealed Senbon Triggered Marker?] - Genma testing observation? Avoid.
He marked the locations mentally. Just as he was about to recall Akari and Kenji, Akari's slightly panicked voice reached him through the trees. "Ren! Kenji! Over here! Quickly!"
Ren sprinted towards her position, drawing a kunai. He found Akari pointing nervously at Kenji, who was standing stock-still, one foot hovering inches above the ground near the berry bushes. "He almost stepped on it!" Akari whispered, pointing.
Ren followed her gesture. Coiled near the base of the berry bush, partially hidden by leaves, was a viper, its scales blending almost perfectly with the forest floor. Observe: [Pit Viper - Venomous (Moderate Neurotoxin)]. Status: Alerted, Defensive Posture. Threat Level: Moderate.
Kenji looked pale but hadn't panicked. Akari had spotted it just in time thanks to her nervousness prompting closer inspection.
[Teamwork Success: Hazard Avoided via Mutual Awareness]
"Okay," Ren said quietly. "Don't move suddenly, Kenji. Back away slowly." Kenji did so, his foot carefully retracting. The snake watched them warily but didn't strike, eventually slithering away into the undergrowth.
"Forget the berries for now," Ren decided. Too risky with the snake potentially still nearby. "I found edible roots and grubs near the overhang. Not appetizing, but meets the objective. Let's head back."
They returned to the overhang just as the three-hour mark approached. They presented their findings – the water flasks, the identified shelter, and Ren described the located edible roots and grubs (drawing a quick diagram of the yam root in the dirt).
Genma reappeared silently beside the overhang. He inspected the water, glanced at the shelter, listened to Ren's report on the food sources, his expression giving nothing away.
"Water secured. Shelter identified. Food source located, albeit unappetizingly pragmatic," Genma summarized tonelessly. "Hazard identification and avoidance demonstrated, eventually. Team functioned under pressure without complete disintegration." He paused. "Pass. Marginally functional."
[Objective Complete: Survival Scenario - Pass]
[EXP Gained: 250 (Teamwork, Survival Application, Problem Solving)]
[[Basic Survival Knowledge] Leveled Up! Lv. 1 -> 2!]
[[Environmental Awareness] Proficiency Increased Significantly: +8.5%]
Relief washed over Akari and Kenji. Ren felt a quieter satisfaction, mixed with the awareness that Genma's definition of 'pass' was likely still far below actual combat readiness.
"Do not assume this level of performance is sufficient," Genma warned, shattering the brief moment of relief. "Real survival situations don't give you designated zones or time limits. Indecision or error results in death, not just a failed exercise." He turned towards the direction of Konoha. "Let's move. You have reports to file."
The trek back felt longer, weighted by exhaustion and Genma's stark assessment. Yet, something had shifted again. They had faced a genuine survival challenge, relied on each other's senses (Akari spotting the snake, Kenji's earlier track identification), followed Ren's plans, and succeeded as a team, however marginally. Even Kenji seemed less inclined to argue and more focused on observing alongside Akari. The D-Ranks weren't just chores anymore; they were integrated field exercises, forging Team 12 in ways the Academy never could. And Ren knew, with certainty, that Genma's tests were only going to get harder.