The afternoon training session was almost over when the instructor announced open-field formation practice.
"Pairs. Positioning and movement-reading exercise."
Ren adjusted the bandages around his wrist.
Reiji was sitting in the shade, staring at the field as if he were tired before it even began.
"Are you going to stay there?" Ren asked.
"I'm analyzing," Reiji replied without lifting his gaze much. "Running without thinking is a waste of energy."
Ren gave a faint smile.
"Thinking too much is too."
Reiji sighed.
"You say that, but you're always calculating something."
"Not always."
"Always."
The instructor called the pairs. The two of them ended up together.
The exercise was simple: reach a flag in the center of the field while another pair tried to intercept.
No complex jutsu. Just movement, reading, and basic strategy.
When the signal was given, Reiji didn't run.
Neither did Ren.
The opposing pair sprinted ahead.
"They're going straight," Reiji murmured.
"Yes."
"So?"
Ren took two steps sideways.
"Can you hold one of them for three seconds?"
Reiji raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe."
"You don't need to win. Just delay."
Reiji let out a small "hm."
When the other pair approached the flag, Reiji moved forward a few meters, quickly forming a simple seal.
His shadow stretched across the uneven ground.
It caught one of the opponents for an instant.
The second hesitated.
That was enough.
Ren was already on the other side, changing the angle of his approach.
He grabbed the flag.
End of exercise.
The instructor wrote something down.
Reiji crossed his arms.
"You didn't explain the whole plan."
"There wasn't a whole plan."
"Yes, there was."
Ren shrugged.
"I just observed what you already did well."
Reiji stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Most people try to run faster."
"You're not the fastest."
"I know."
"So you don't need to be."
In the next drill, it was throwing under pressure.
Moving targets pulled by nearly invisible wires.
Reiji missed two throws.
The third shuriken hit the wooden support.
He made a slight grimace.
Ren gathered his own weapons and approached.
"You're looking too much at the target."
"That's kind of the point."
"No." Ren pointed at the nearly invisible wire pulling the target. "Look at the movement, not the center."
Reiji adjusted his angle.
Waited.
Threw.
Hit.
He looked at Ren.
"Do you practice this alone?"
"A lot."
"Annoying."
"It works."
Later, during physical training, Reiji fell behind in the run.
Ren slowed down.
"Going to quit?"
"I'm conserving energy."
"For what?"
"To think later."
Ren let out a quiet laugh.
"Run now. Think later."
Reiji sped up, still looking tired.
When they finished, they sat in the shade.
The wind moved the short grass across the field.
"You train outside the Academy, don't you?" Reiji asked.
"A little."
"It shows."
Ren didn't answer immediately.
Reiji continued:
"It's not pure talent."
"No."
"It's not obsession either."
Ren looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"Because obsession leaves different marks."
A brief silence.
Reiji rested his chin on his hand.
"Do you want to get strong for a specific reason?"
Ren picked up a small stone and tossed it forward.
"Everyone has a reason."
"Yes. But not everyone has a plan."
Ren stood up.
"We'll practice formation again tomorrow."
"Are you going to use me as a distraction again?"
"Only if it works."
Reiji gave a faint smile.
"It works."
The next day, during theory class, Reiji correctly answered a question about trade routes in the Land of Fire.
The instructor nodded approvingly.
Ren simply observed.
During break, Chōbee commented:
"You two are always together now."
Reiji answered before Ren.
"He runs too much."
"And you think too much," Ren added.
Chōbee laughed.
But the change was subtle.
Reiji began positioning himself better during drills.
Missed less.
Observed sooner.
And occasionally offered suggestions before Ren even said anything.
During a final exercise of the week, it was Reiji who said:
"Wait two seconds."
Ren waited.
The other pair overextended.
They advanced.
Clean victory.
While gathering their equipment, Reiji remarked:
"You don't have to do everything alone."
Ren adjusted the band on his forehead.
"I know."
"Do you really?"
Ren didn't answer.
The field was growing empty.
The sun already low.
"Tomorrow I'll try to hold two," Reiji said casually.
"Try holding one properly first."
"Annoying."
They walked back toward the village.