Chapter 41: Happy Times

According to the agreement between Ren and Neji Hyuga, if Neji lost, he'd have to handle all the cooking for Ren's barbecue. At this point, Neji, with a bruised face, actually began to work according to their prior arrangement. Fire, cutting meat, grilling, seasoning... Soon, the delicious scent filled the air.

TenTen, Rock Lee, Hinata, and Naruto all had expressions of keen anticipation. Even Neji, who had been cold and aloof, couldn't help but feel a little hungry.

"If we only have this meat, it doesn't seem to be enough?" TenTen whispered softly. She hadn't expected so many people to come to the picnic, so the ingredients she'd bought simply weren't sufficient.

"Leave it to me to solve it." Ren said with a smile, then turned and walked towards the depths of the woods.

"Hey, Ren-nii! It's very dangerous over there!" Naruto couldn't help shouting loudly. Even someone as mischievous as him wouldn't dare venture deep into that forest. He'd heard there were many large beasts in there.

However, Ren soon returned. He was dragging a large wild boar, which seemed to weigh 200 pounds! TenTen, Rock Lee, Hinata, Naruto, and Neji all stopped what they were doing, mouths agape, watching Ren calmly walk back with a wild boar even larger than himself.

"Brother, is this the wild boar you hunted?" TenTen couldn't help swallowing, shocked.

"My goodness, Ren-nii, you're too powerful! You can even take down such a huge wild boar!" Naruto praised with wide eyes.

"Ren-kun, that's amazing!" Hinata's eyes flickered with adoration.

"Hohohoho! Ren is truly exercising his ability all the time! Is this the real secret to Ren becoming stronger?" Rock Lee analyzed with a serious look. "Using battles with wild boars to hone your actual combat abilities? Perhaps this is a new method of cultivation!"

"This guy..." Neji's eyes sank, and he couldn't help muttering. When the two of them had fought just now, Neji had run out of chakra, and he hadn't fully recovered yet. But Ren not only defeated him quickly, he now even had time to hunt another wild boar. How terrifying was his current strength?!

Neji's eyes were suddenly covered with a gray haze; they were no longer as bright as before. He fell into deep confusion. Is it really only people like Ren who are called geniuses? The achievements I was proud of were utterly insignificant in front of him. I... I'm a complete loser!

Ren saw the feelings of loss and self-defeat in Neji's eyes, but he didn't say anything. He was a very perceptive and easy-going person. Some things, some ideas, had to be understood and changed by Neji himself. No one else could help him.

"Hurry up and eat barbecue! What are you doing standing here stupidly?" Ren patted Neji on the shoulder, then nudged him towards the others at the barbecue. "How can there be so many reasons to need to think? You're not active in cooking, I think you have a problem with your brain!"

Then Ren ignored Neji and went straight to the barbecue. Neji's gaze towards Ren was very complicated. In the end, there seemed to be a compromise in his heart, so he walked towards the barbecue and joined them.

Sizzle, sizzle~ The aroma of barbecued meat constantly wafted through the air.

Ren and the others couldn't wait. After the smell of the meat filled the air, several people immediately began to feast on it.

"Meat! Bring me another skewer of roasted wild boar!"

"I want some too! Hey, Neji, don't steal my meat!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Leave a few skewers for Hinata and me! Be considerate to us girls~~"

"Freshly baked pork with fat and lean meat~ First come, first served, only 20 skewers~"

The sound of laughter, chasing, and playful banter gradually filled the air by the river. After all, they were just children who hadn't even reached the age of ten. Although they were a bit precocious, though they had a strange understanding of the world, and though they may have had some friction in their past interactions. But at this moment, nestled in the woods, by the clear stream, it seemed that all that remained was the sound of this group of happy children laughing and enjoying themselves.

---

The Spring Festival soon ended. This experience left Ren and the others with very happy memories. Their lives returned to their daily routine of attending the Ninja Academy and after-school practice.

One day, Might Guy suddenly found Ren.

"What? Going out of the village to train?" Ren was surprised.

Might Guy nodded and said, "Yes, Ren, I think your strength has already surpassed the level of Ninja Academy students, but you can't graduate early now, and it's a waste of time to stay at the academy."

Ren secretly nodded in his heart. He had indeed long since learned all the knowledge taught at the Ninja Academy. Continuing to stay there was indeed a waste of his time. But... this was a rule set by the Third Hokage himself. Ren felt a bit helpless. This was probably similar to his past life, where college students were trying to get a diploma, right? But looking at what Might Guy was saying now, it meant... Can I take a leave of absence from the Ninja Academy and then follow him out of the village to train?

This was a rare opportunity! Ren's eyes lit up. Since his birth, he had stayed in Konoha Village, never having traveled to the world outside. He was naturally very curious.

Seeing that Ren was in a state of trance, Might Guy asked hesitantly: "What's the matter, Ren, don't you want to?"

Ren hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, of course not! I was just so surprised when I heard the news, I got lost in thought for a moment!"

"Hahahaha!" Might Guy laughed heartily. "I knew, Ren, you must be as eager to meet the challenge as I am! This is our burning youth!"

"Guy-sensei, shall we set off tomorrow?" Ren asked curiously. He had long been looking forward to the so-called outdoor training experience.

"Don't worry. The Hokage just approved me to take you out to train, so I hurried over to inform you of the good news. But before we go, there's still a lot to prepare." Might Guy's expression became a little serious. "Experience isn't as simple as a child's spring outing. We must prepare enough dry food and water, as well as weapons and so on. Of course, I also have to pick up a few tasks to serve as the content of our experience this time."

Ren nodded. Indeed, this training trip would last for an unknown amount of time before they returned to Konoha. In this world, there were no means of transportation like planes or high-speed rails. Basically, they'd have to travel on foot. Although ninja had chakra blessings, which could increase their speed, in the face of many unknown dangers outside, they might face a fighting situation at any time. They also had to maintain a relatively full level of chakra in their bodies to ensure they could immediately enter combat mode. And before leaving Konoha, he also had a lot of preparations to do.

After Might Guy told Ren everything, the two separated and began to make the most adequate preparations for their future outings. Their departure time was set for three days from now.ildren laughing and enjoying themselves.