Several months had passed.
Ren and the others were now in their sixth year at the Academy. At twelve years old, their graduation was approaching quickly, and the instructors had already begun preparing the final evaluations.
During those same months, Ren had been far from idle.
His safe house had finally been completed.
The entire island was now protected by complex layers of fuinjutsu barriers, illusion seals, and detection networks. Even if someone somehow reached the island, they would see nothing but dense forest and empty terrain.
Today, however, was special.
Today Ren was finally bringing Hinata and Ino to see it.
---
Ino Yamanaka crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks slightly as they stood in Ren's room.
"Your surprise better be worth it," she complained.
"We waited for months!"
Her voice carried clear annoyance, though there was excitement hiding beneath it.
Ren only grinned confidently.
"Have I ever lied to you?"
Ino narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You lie by omission all the time."
Hinata covered her mouth slightly, trying to hide a quiet giggle.
Ren pretended to look offended.
"That hurts, Ino."
"Really?" Ino replied dryly. "Because I feel like you're enjoying this."
Ren chuckled softly before forming a hand sign.
Two shadow clones appeared beside him instantly.
Both clones immediately transformed.
One became Ino.
The other became Hinata.
Hinata Hyūga blinked in surprise.
"Will they be going to the Academy in our place?"
Ren nodded casually.
"Yep."
"The transformation will hold, and the clones know how to behave."
Ino walked around one of the clones, inspecting it carefully.
"Wow… that's creepy."
Her clone rolled its eyes perfectly.
"Hey!"
Ren laughed lightly.
"Alright," he said. "Now give me your hands."
Hinata obediently stepped closer.
Ino hesitated for a second before grabbing his hand as well.
"Where are we going anyway?" she asked.
Ren smirked.
"You'll see."
In the next moment—
They vanished.
---
When the three of them reappeared, Hinata and Ino blinked repeatedly.
The air was different.
Fresh.
The sound of waves crashing gently against distant cliffs echoed softly.
Both girls slowly turned their heads.
Their eyes widened.
"No way!!" Ino shouted.
She spun around in disbelief.
"You built a house?!"
Hinata stared in silent amazement.
"And… where even is this?"
Ino walked toward the edge of the garden, staring out toward the ocean.
"It looks like a deserted island!"
She turned back toward Ren, stunned.
"You found a deserted island and built a house here?!"
Ren crossed his arms and grinned proudly.
"Yep."
"Now we can train without worrying about being discovered."
Ino looked completely speechless.
"You can't be serious…"
"You did all this just so we could train???"
Ren shrugged casually.
"Pretty much."
Hinata smiled softly, her eyes shining as she looked around the peaceful surroundings.
"It's beautiful."
Ren nodded slightly.
"Alright, you two."
"You can go explore the island and get familiar with it."
"But do it quickly."
"We still have training to start."
Ino and Hinata looked at each other for a second.
Then they both dashed inside the house.
---
The house itself was a large two-story Japanese style building.
Wooden floors, sliding doors, and wide open rooms created a peaceful and elegant atmosphere. Outside, a large garden surrounded the house with plenty of open space.
Ino immediately ran toward the garden.
"Hey Hinata!"
"Let's plant flowers here!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at the empty soil.
Hinata walked beside her calmly.
"You probably know more about which flowers grow well here," she said gently.
"So I'll leave that to you."
She smiled warmly.
"Just tell me what to do and I'll help plant them."
Ino's eyes softened instantly.
She suddenly hugged Hinata tightly.
"You are the best!"
Hinata blinked in surprise but smiled anyway.
She was already used to Ino's dramatic reactions.
---
Ren walked into the garden area a moment later.
"My clones are planting fruit trees across the forest."
He pointed toward the distant tree line where faint movement could be seen.
Hinata nodded thoughtfully.
"That's a very good idea."
Ren smiled.
"Fresh fruit, natural food supply, and better ecosystem balance."
Ino tilted her head slightly.
"You really thought of everything, didn't you?"
Ren shrugged again.
"Mostly."
Then he gestured toward the forest.
"Now go explore the island properly."
"There's a lake further inside, and a lot of small animals."
"Rabbits, birds, deer…"
He paused before adding.
"And I'm planning to bring more later."
Ino's eyes sparkled again.
"A lake too?!"
Hinata looked excited as well.
"Let's go see it."
The two girls quickly ran toward the forest.
---
Nearly an hour later, they returned.
Both of them looked extremely happy.
"This is the best!" Ino said immediately.
She spun around the garden again.
"How did you even find this place???"
Hinata nodded eagerly.
"It feels so peaceful here."
Ren chuckled.
"Forget that for now."
"Go change into your training clothes."
"And give me the gravity gear I gave you."
Both girls nodded.
"Here."
They removed the gravity equipment from under their clothes and handed it to Ren.
Then they walked inside the house to change.
Both had brought proper training outfits stored inside sealing scrolls.
Ren watched them go before forming another hand sign.
Two shadow clones appeared.
He handed the gravity gear to them.
"Take these to the sealing chamber."
Both clones nodded silently.
They grabbed the equipment and walked deeper into the house.
---