Don't Disappoint Me

The darkness before dawn had yet to fade, thin frost crystallizing on the blue stones of the Training Ground.

"Remember, brat." Tobirama Senju's voice was low. "A true ninja ends the fight before the enemy even notices."

He flicked his fingers, and three shuriken shot out in a triangular formation, striking the distant target with precision.

Renye focused intently, capturing every detail.

Un-dried dew still clung to his black hair, his pale face set in solemn concentration.

When Tobirama Senju suddenly closed in, he leaned back almost instinctively, a kunai grazing past the tip of his nose.

Tobirama Senju withdrew his hand, his robes snapping in the wind. "In battle, the enemy won't give you a second chance."

He raised his hands and formed seals; dozens of Shadow Clones surrounded the Training Ground, leaving no gap.

Renye's pupils contracted, his eyes darting rapidly as he tried to find the original among the clones.

Sweat slid down his cheeks, soaking his collar.

This was one of Renye's daily drills—find Tobirama Senju's original to sharpen his perception.

He only had three chances to strike...

"Brat, have you found me yet?" Twenty voices rang out in unison.

Renye studied the Tobirama Senjus carefully.

Some stood with arms crossed, smirking.

Others were expressionless, silently watching him.

Still others held kunai, their faces grim.

Renye looked helpless. Finding the original among twenty clones was no easy feat.

Especially since this was Tobirama Senju's Multi Shadow Clone Technique.

"Brat, just give up!"

Renye didn't reply. He took a deep breath, trying to spot a flaw in the finer details.

He knew that while Shadow Clones matched the original in strength, there was always a faint ripple in their Chakra.

If he could catch that ripple, he could distinguish the original.

The first Shadow Clone moved, lunging with a kunai. Renye sidestepped, but his gaze stayed locked on the clone's footwork.

The force of each step could be a clue.

Renye suddenly attacked, targeting the Shadow Clone on the left.

But the moment his kunai touched it, the figure vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"Wrong," he thought, fine beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"Brat, just give up," all the clones said in unison.

"Shut up." Renye was getting irritated.

He began observing seriously, catching a movement from a Shadow Clone at the back of the group.

The instant that clone moved, Renye's kunai flew out.

"Could it be the original?" he murmured.

Under Renye's hopeful gaze, the clone dissolved into white smoke.

Seeing this, he wasn't discouraged; instead, he wore an expression that said, "Just as I thought."

Tobirama Senju wouldn't make such a rookie mistake—unless he wanted to lure Renye in.

But Renye didn't dare gamble. What if it really was the original?

"Brat, you've got one last chance!"

"I know..."

Before he finished, all the Shadow Clones attacked at once.

Facing eighteen clones, Renye's lips curled up slightly.

"You came at me yourselves—don't blame me."

Renye leaped into the air, forming seals mid-flight. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Blazing flames swept across the Training Ground, the eighteen Shadow Clones flickering in and out of sight within the sea of fire.

Just as the flames were about to die out, Renye suddenly charged toward the northwest corner, his kunai aimed straight at that figure.

The Tobirama Senju before him raised a hand, blocking Renye's attack, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Not bad. Judging the original from residual Chakra—looks like you've improved."

Though he'd deliberately given Renye an opening, it wasn't an easy one to seize.

That Renye could find the original had indeed exceeded Tobirama Senju's expectations.

Renye let out a long breath, his taut nerves finally relaxing as he plopped down onto the ground.

The morning training every day left Renye with a mix of love and hate.

That old man Tobirama Senju really trained him like he was trying to kill him...

Sometimes they'd spar, and Tobirama wouldn't hold back at all, beating him half to death before calling in a Medical Ninja to patch him up.

Renye felt like the old man was doing it on purpose—just looking for an excuse to beat him up...

Though the training was brutal, the progress was undeniable.

Renye's strength now surpassed that of an average Genin.

He believed it wouldn't be long before he could fulfill his fond wish of punching the King of Show-offs and kicking Hiruzen.

Just as Renye was daydreaming about the future, Tobirama Senju pulled out a report card with a grim expression.

"Uchiha Renye, tell me—how did you manage to get this score?"

Renye stared at the test paper with a score of 5, scratching his head awkwardly. "Haha, Uncle, let me explain..."

"You damn Uchiha brat, you didn't study at all!" Tobirama roared.

"Uncle, don't slander me—I did study," Renye said sheepishly.

Well, flipping through a few pages before the exam counted as studying, right?

Sure, it wasn't much time, but you can't say he didn't study!

He'd done his best—what could he do if he still failed?

"If you score like this again next time, I'll personally..."

Tobirama's eyes narrowed as two of his fingers clamped onto the middle of a kunai.

Crack! The kunai snapped clean in half!

Renye swallowed instinctively, nervous. "Uncle, calm down—it's not that serious."

Tobirama said nothing, staring at Renye with a hostile glare that held no hint of a joke.

If Renye turned in such an embarrassing score again, he absolutely wouldn't go easy on him!

A test this simple—if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he'd never believe anyone could score a 5!

Honestly, could someone who scored a 5 even be considered human?

The more Tobirama thought about it, the angrier he got. A powerful killing intent erupted from him.

This was the second time Renye had faced Tobirama's killing intent head-on, and it nearly crushed him, making it hard to breathe.

So this was the pressure of a Kage-level powerhouse?

If he weren't already sitting on the ground, he'd probably be forced to his knees.

"U-Uncle, I'll try to pass next time—j-just calm down."

With Renye's promise, Tobirama snorted coldly and withdrew his killing intent.

"Brat, don't let it happen again!" Tobirama tossed the test paper to Renye and turned to leave.

Today's instruction was over. He still had to busy himself with taking on Disciples.

He needed to cultivate a batch of geniuses for Konoha Village who embodied the Will of Fire, to become the village's top combat power.

And those geniuses had to be personally taught by him.

As for Renye—forget it...

Tobirama didn't expect someone who scored a 5 on a written exam to inherit the Will of Fire.

In fact, he seriously doubted Renye even knew what the Will of Fire was...

He didn't have high hopes for Renye—just that he wouldn't do anything to harm the village.

Though Renye's character seemed decent for now, he still hadn't Awakened the eyes. He'd have to wait and observe after that.

From Tobirama's understanding of the Uchiha, most Uchiha Clan Members underwent some personality changes after Awakening the Sharingan.

He couldn't predict what Renye's personality would become, so he could only do his best to guide him onto the right path.

"Brat, don't let me down..."