Chapter 22: Conflicting Currents and Crackling Seals
The rhythm of D-Ranks interspersed with Genma's targeted pressure continued relentlessly. Team 12 learned to approach every mundane task with a baseline level of paranoia, anticipating the inevitable disruption or hidden objective. They repaired more fences, assisted more shopkeepers, and even endured another round of 'gardening assistance' for a different Civilian Council member, during which Genma tested their vigilance by having illusory snakes drop from trees (Akari screamed but reacted with a thrown kunai this time) and caused tools to 'malfunction' at inopportune moments (Kenji learned to check his shovel handle for Genma's subtle chakra sabotage before starting).
Subtle improvements emerged. Akari, forced by Genma's constant pressure, began actively using her wind affinity not just for sensing air currents, but to listen more effectively, picking up faint sounds carried on the breeze. Kenji, drilled relentlessly on controlling his chakra output, started displaying slightly better stamina management and a growing sensitivity to ground vibrations. Ren noted these developments with Observe, subtly encouraging them (Akari, did you hear that bird call change? Could mean something approaching., Kenji, that tremor feels different from the cart – maybe unstable ground ahead?) reinforcing their growing awareness without revealing his System-based certainty.
[Akari Sumire: Skill Seed [Wind Sensory Enhancement (Auditory)] Activated! Lv. 1 (5.1%)]
[Kenji Ito: Skill Seed [Earth Sensory Enhancement (Vibration)] Activated! Lv. 1 (3.7%)]
[Ren: Leadership (Basic) Lv. 2 Proficiency +1.1% (Subtle Mentoring Application)]
Today's mission involved delivering medical supply replenishment orders to three different remote guard posts scattered within a five-kilometer radius south of the village – posts often manned by lower-ranked Chunin or experienced Genin teams. Again, it required navigating off-main roads, carrying moderate loads, and vigilance.
Genma handled the assignment differently this time. Before leaving the village, he handed separate, sealed orders to Akari and Kenji. "Sumire, your scroll contains the primary route map and manifest list for Post Alpha. Ito, yours has the route continuation map from Alpha to Beta, and the