Chapter 128: The Final Preparation

[ Hi there! Ito-kun here! Check my Instagram account to see Ren Mizutani Images!]

Only two days remained until the third-year exam.

Ren sat on a flat rock in a desolate wasteland, gazing at the horizon, lost in thought.

The past days replayed in his mind—a whirlwind of training, effort, and improvement.

In less then one month, he had pushed his body to the limit.

He had increased his weight to 50 kg, surpassing every boundary he once thought possible. The muscle pain, the struggle to move with agility—these had all become part of his routine.

Aoi and Jun'ko have improved a lot. They should manage during the exam... It's Kurara that worries me. Even though she joined training in the last two days, something felt off about her.

There was something in her demeanor that unsettled him. She hadn't complained about the fatigue, yet she seemed distracted, distant.

Now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

He shifted his focus to another critical point.

The solution with the Glycina Nebula is showing results. The new rat is still there, more alive than ever.

A faint smile touched his lips. It was a small success, but it proved that his research had a future.

He took a deep breath, letting the cold evening air fill his lungs.

Once again, he ensured that he was completely alone.

Then, he formed three hand seals.

In an instant, three clones materialized beside him.

He studied them closely.

The chakra within their bodies was dense, stable. It was the first time he had created three clones simultaneously without feeling drained.

My chakra reserves have been growing significantly lately... Is it because my body is developing too?

He stood up and wrapped a black cloth around his eyes.

The air around him grew heavy.

Now, he was alone against three copies of himself—without being able to rely on his sight.

The first attack came without warning.

Ren sensed a faint shift in the air to his right and reacted instinctively, lowering his center of gravity.

The strike whizzed past his head, slicing through the air.

He moved sideways, keeping control of his breathing, relying on his hearing, his sense of smell, and his sensory skills.

Good. This exercise Ganryu taught me is perfect for sensing an opponent's chakra. Though it's a major handicap to rely only on residual senses.

The clones gave him no time to think.

The second attack came from the left, faster this time. Ren dodged just in time but failed to notice the third clone emerging from the water behind him.

A direct blow to his side made him stagger.

Still imperfections in my sensory abilities... I lost track of the third clone.

He absorbed the hit but retaliated immediately.

He knew the clone was still near the water.

Swiftly, he formed hand seals, giving the enemy no time to retreat.

Water Release: Droplet Spear.

From the surrounding water, sharp spikes erupted, piercing the clone and dissolving it into a mist of water.

But as he executed the seals, another clone seized the opportunity.

A wave of water extended like a serpent, coiling around his torso.

Water Whip.

The third clone lunged forward, ready to strike while he was immobilized.

Ren clenched his teeth.

Twisting his torso, he grabbed the water whip with both hands and released an electrical surge.

The Water Whip trembled for an instant before dissolving.

The attacking clone moved to land the decisive blow, but Ren had already drawn his tanto, blocking the enemy's blade with a swift motion.

The metallic clash echoed into the night.

The clone that had used the water whip backed up slightly. Ren seized the opportunity.

He launched a quick strike...

But the clone vanished in a puff of smoke.

Substitution.

A moment later, a wave of water, unleashed by the third clone, engulfed him.

Ren activated Mist Body Flicker, dissolving his form and reappearing a few meters away.

But right there, a clone was already waiting for him.

As he reformed, he felt the cold steel of a kunai pressed against his neck.

He froze, letting the silence take over.

The clone stared at him for a moment.

Then, it disappeared.

Ren removed the blindfold, catching his breath.

Good... I still can't defeat three clones while blindfolded, but this training has paid off. Now I know exactly what to improve.

He stretched his shoulders, releasing the tension accumulated in his muscles.

Looking up at the sky, he saw that it was already deep into the night.

That's enough. Better to rest in these last two days.

He unfastened the weights from his wrists, ankles, and torso, letting them drop heavily to the ground.

His body suddenly felt light, as if freed from invisible chains.

In these two days, I need to get used to moving without weights.

Turning, he started walking home.

The next day, Ren headed to the Academy as usual.

The air around the building felt heavier than usual, as if everyone was holding their breath in anticipation of the inevitable.

The classroom was immersed in silent tension.

Students sat at their desks, but their nervousness was evident in their gazes. Some stared into space, others fidgeted with their fingers, while a few exchanged quick glances, seeking reassurance from their peers.

Fujimoto-sensei stood in front of the blackboard, his face impassive, preparing the final lesson of the year.

It's really strange to see him this serious... Ren thought as he watched his teacher.

Many were determined, but worry was palpable.

Only two people seemed completely unaffected by the tension in the room.

Misaki, who looked colder than usual, her gaze icy and unreadable.

And Shinji, who was half-asleep, resting his head on his hand while staring blankly into space.

Ren looked away from them when Jun'ko leaned in slightly, whispering under her breath.

"Even Fujimoto-sensei seems worried."

Aoi, sitting beside her, immediately looked up and gestured for her to be quiet, as if even mentioning it was a bad omen.

Ren noticed that Kurara hadn't spoken a word throughout the entire lesson.

She sat upright, hands clenched on her desk, eyes fixed on the blackboard.

As if she were in a trance...

The girl, usually more detached, seemed completely absent, lost in a thought that consumed her from within.

Fujimoto continued his lesson, but few could truly focus.

Everyone knew that there was nothing left to learn now.

It was no longer a matter of theory. The real test would take place in the field.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the day, Fujimoto dropped the chalk onto his desk and turned to the class.

For a moment, there was absolute silence.

Then, in a firm and decisive voice, he announced:

"Gather tomorrow morning by the coast. Your exam will begin there."

A chill ran through the classroom.

No one spoke as they packed their things.

As Ren stood up, only one thought echoed in his mind.

The time has come.

[Hi There! Ito-kun here ^.^ can you help me down in the comment? I was thinking if i should keep in consideration the knowledge of Boruto too or not, from one side there are many interesting things and clarification, like the summoning technique, that does'nt work like we saw in Naruto, from the other side we can implement some interesting information.

Let me know what do you think about :)

Ps: i already saw some comment regarding it, Thanks to Misteriboi

Thanks everyone specially Jayroy_63 ,Sami_Alfoheday, BagusPardana, thefarmerboy007_7, Darkosiris_Lopez, Alexx_Sejas, Werty_9247, RyuB201, shadowborn, Yasmin_Silva_3876, RyuB201, DaoistVVm1Vi, DaoistDW5XU4, Acnol,DaoistSEsItM,bndr, RyuB201, VanHellsing6969, Daoist710883, WertyTribola, LevinCloth, Daoist0thxiB, bndr, AKIB19,LevinCloth, DaoistAZmi17,Alexx_Sejas, Morgoph, Strandarn, Gothrog, Nonymous_H, Ikaro_Rodrigues, Radical_Hamburger1, Misteriboi, AKIB19, Abdul_Salam_FASAMI, Daoist9Sa84q, Gothrog, shadowborn, DarkGambit, Miguel_024 and Meltis_Pach!

 Sincerely Thanks and remember about the Power Stones, these are the motivation for my work :) ]