In the face of Naruto's profound question, Ren simply offered a faint smile and didn't answer directly. The meaning, though unspoken, was clear enough for Naruto to grasp. A brief, heavy silence settled between them. Naruto lowered his head, his face a complex mix of emotions.
"Ren-nii, I'm gonna head out today, hehe. I've learned too much today; my brain isn't big enough," Naruto chuckled, attempting to sound cheerful. "I need some time to properly digest all this." Though he tried to feign his usual big grin, the expression on his face wasn't quite convincing. It was a forced smile, barely holding.
Ren nodded. Naruto, having just learned the truth of everything, certainly needed time to process the overwhelming information. In the days that followed, Ren didn't see Naruto again. He heard that Team 7, including Naruto, had left the village with Kakashi to perform a mission. Ren had already resolved the incident in the Land of Waves, so the mission Naruto and his team were undertaking was just an ordinary C-rank mission, posing no significant danger.
Just like that, a month swiftly passed.
Spring blossomed, bright and vibrant. A gentle breeze rustled through the tall grass in the training fields. Ren lay languidly on the lawn next to Training Ground 3, his eyes closed, simply resting. He had just finished his own practice and was now enjoying this moment of peaceful respite.
"It's truly leisurely… Ren! I ran half the village looking for you in vain, only to find you sleeping here!"
A flash of vibrant green, the Blue Beast of Konoha, Might Guy, suddenly appeared beside Ren. He felt a throbbing headache seeing Ren's languid, relaxed posture. Why is this kid getting more and more relaxed? He looks more and more… boring! Since his resignation from Anbu, Ren had either been staying home studying ninja equipment, practicing at the training grounds, or simply finding any sunny spot to nap, or going shopping with the younger girls… This can't go on!
"Guy-sensei? Why are you here? Don't you have missions today? Would you like to come over and enjoy the sun?" Ren turned casually, making room for Guy to join him in his sunbathing.
Sunbathing? This kid's all wrong! Guy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. While he didn't know the specifics of what had happened to Ren during his time in Anbu, his decision to resign surely meant he had suffered a significant blow, leading to this negative demeanor, right? As Ren's sensei, I must give him some positive encouragement at such a critical time in his life! Youth! It must be hot-blooded!
With a dazzling smile, Guy turned to Ren. "Ren! You should know, you have always been my most proud disciple!" He paused, giving Ren a thumbs-up. "Well, you've always been so handsome, and your family background is quite good, and of course, you're absolutely impeccable in terms of strength!" Guy grinned, flexing. "So you must have confidence in yourself! Don't worry, no matter what happens, your teacher will always stand behind you to support you!" As he spoke, Guy opened his arms, clearly intending to envelop Ren in a bone-crushing hug.
"Hey, hey, I don't like that tone!" Complimented like this by Guy, Ren, who had initially been a little sleepy, suddenly felt a cold shiver. He grabbed Guy by the collar and tossed him away! Seriously! Those words sound incredibly… enthusiastic! Guy-sensei's brain must be short-circuiting again!
"Hey, hey, hey! How come your strength is getting stronger?!" Guy called out, getting to his feet some distance away, rubbing his arm. He wouldn't be injured by such a toss, but being thrown by his own apprentice with one hand still made him feel a little deflated. Though they hadn't truly fought, Guy could feel that Ren's strength was simply growing more and more terrifying.
"Guy-sensei, you didn't just come here to flatter me, did you?" Ren sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Of course not!" When it came to serious matters, Guy's expression also became a little serious. "I came to you this time to tell you something important. This year's Chūnin Exams are approaching. I, Kakashi, and Asuma are all serving as Jōnin instructors." Guy paused, his tone shifting. "So Konoha is temporarily short on manpower. Hokage-sama sent me to ask you. If you're not performing missions recently, would you be willing to serve as an examiner for the Second Exam of the Chūnin Exams?"
Ren narrowed his eyes. Was it sent by Sarutobi Hiruzen? And he specifically chose Guy-sensei, who is closest to me in the village. The meaning behind Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions was self-evident. Clearly, despite all that had transpired between them, Sarutobi Hiruzen still wanted to ease the tension and improve their relationship. Although Ren had previously resigned from Anbu, Hiruzen Sarutobi had evidently not given up on the idea of keeping him under his direct command. After all, whether in terms of current strength or future potential, Ren was an undisputed genius in Konoha Village. There were very few strong individuals in Konoha at the moment. Konoha's current combat power had not fully recovered since the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, when it suffered immense losses. A strong individual like Ren was vital to Konoha's safety. As long as Ren remained within his sphere of influence, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not abandon his desire to win him over.
"The examiner for the Second Exam? Shouldn't that be Anko Mitarashi?" Ren asked curiously.
"Huh? Ren, you're incredibly well-informed!" A look of surprise flashed in Guy's eyes. "I didn't even attend the Jōnin meeting this time, and yet you know the arrangements like the back of your hand!" Guy then nodded, confirming, "That's right, the examiner for the Second Chūnin Exam was indeed decided to be Anko Mitarashi. But just a few days ago, several unidentifiable corpses were found at the border of the Land of Fire. Their only distinguishing feature was that their entire faces had been taken, and their deaths were truly gruesome. This matter has attracted the attention of Hokage-sama. Hokage-sama is worried about what might happen during these Chūnin Exams, so he wants to appoint you as the examiner for the Forest of Death – the Second Exam. But since it's your first time as an examiner, he's concerned you might not be familiar with the role. So he's made Anko Mitarashi your deputy. Don't worry, she'll assist you in completing the second round of the Chūnin Exams."
"Okay, I understand. I've accepted this task," Ren nodded, agreeing to the role.
Is it almost time for the Chūnin Exams? Things are starting to get interesting… Ren smiled faintly.
Ren accepted this task for a very simple reason: he couldn't wait to meet them! Gaara of the Sand… and… Orochimaru!