The single, shimmering Skill Point hovered in Ren's mental interface, a potent symbol of his first significant, earned reward. It represented potential, a direct shortcut in the arduous grind. The temptation to immediately pour it into Basic Chakra Control was strong. Level 7 wasn't far, and unlocking Water Walking prep felt like a tangible leap in capability. It was a concrete, physical skill applicable in numerous situations – escape, traversal, maybe even combat maneuvering eventually.
But Gamer's Mind, in its relentless pursuit of optimal strategy, presented a counter-argument. Information. In a world of deception, hidden powers, and impending crises he knew were coming, knowledge wasn't just power; it was survival insurance. Mizuki's unsettling presence was a constant reminder of unseen threats. Understanding affiliations, identifying hidden strengths or weaknesses in potential allies or foes, detecting ambushes… the long-term strategic value of a higher-level Observe seemed incalculably vast. Water Walking could wait; survival couldn't. The decision solidified.
Allocate 1 Skill Point to [Observe].
The mental command was instant. A faint pulse of energy seemed to flow through his senses, sharpening his perception of the world in subtle ways.
[Skill Level Up! [Observe] Lv. 4!]
- Increased Information Yield: Can now detect basic Elemental Affinities, rudimentary Skill Levels (e.g., Novice, Adept, Expert for non-complex skills), and more nuanced emotional states/intentions. Scan speed slightly increased.
- Cost: 1 CP per use.
The difference was immediately noticeable. Ren focused on Kiba Inuzuka, currently roughhousing loudly with Akamaru near the Academy entrance.
Observe: Kiba Inuzuka. Level: Academy Student (Low). HP: Moderate. CP: Moderate. Affinity: Earth (Primary - Minor), Yang Release (Trace). Skills: Academy Taijutsu (Novice+), Beast Mimicry (Novice - w/ Akamaru), Basic Survival (Novice). Traits: Loud, Confident, Pack-Oriented. Intention: Play fetch with Akamaru, Show off speed.
Observe: Akamaru. Level: Ninken Pup. HP: Low. CP: Very Low. Skills: Fang Attack (Basic), Dynamic Marking (Latent), Sensory Acuity (Adept - Smell/Hearing). Traits: Loyal, Energetic. Intention: Play! Chase! Kiba!
Seeing elemental affinities, even minor ones, and basic skill descriptors like 'Novice+' or 'Adept' was a significant upgrade. He could now make much more informed assessments. The Yang Release trace in Kiba was interesting – perhaps related to the Inuzuka clan's physical enhancement techniques.
Armed with his enhanced diagnostic tool, Ren turned his attention towards a resource most Academy students actively avoided: the library. It was a quiet, dusty place, usually occupied only by diligent students like Sakura, nerdy outliers, or those seeking refuge from rowdier classmates. Sunlight struggled through tall, narrow windows, illuminating swirling dust motes and rows upon rows of scrolls and bound books. The scent was one of aged paper, dried ink, and decaying bindings – comforting in its own way to Ren's inner scholar.
Most students saw the library as a chore, a place for researching history assignments or looking up basic jutsu theory they hadn't grasped in class. Ren, guided by his future knowledge, saw it as a potential treasure trove. He knew Konoha, despite its Uzumaki heritage via Mito and Kushina, had let practical Fuinjutsu fall somewhat by the wayside, focusing more on flashy elemental ninjutsu and taijutsu. The truly potent sealing techniques were either clan secrets (like the Yamanaka Mind Transfer or the Nara Shadow Possession – forms of 'sealing' consciousness or movement) or locked away in restricted archives like the Forbidden Scroll. But surely, foundational knowledge had to exist somewhere accessible? Basic theory, forgotten texts... remnants.
His search strategy was methodical. He ignored the main sections on village history or standard elemental jutsu. He gravitated towards the dustiest shelves, the poorly organized sections labeled "Miscellaneous Archives," "Outdated Curricula," or "Theoretical Chakra Studies." He used Observe Lv. 4 sparingly (still mindful of his CP) on scrolls that looked ancient, brittle, or simply out of place.
Observe: [History of the Second Shinobi War - Official Konoha Account, Vol. 3]. Quality: Fair. Content: Standard Propaganda, some useful battle summaries. (Useless for his current goals).
Observe: [Advanced Fire Style Katas (Scroll, Ink Faded)]. Quality: Poor. Requirement: Fire Affinity, High Chakra Control. (Not relevant yet).
Observe: [Treatise on Inter-Village Economics - Pre-Founding Era]. Quality: Fragile. Content: Obscure Historical Data. (Interesting, but not now).
Days turned into a quiet routine. Academy lessons, discreet training, then hours spent patiently scanning shelves, inhaling the scent of old paper, feeling the brittle texture of forgotten knowledge beneath his fingers. He ignored the occasional curious glance from Sakura or the librarian Chunin who mostly dozed behind his desk. He was just another quiet, studious orphan. Nothing to see here.
Then, finally, success. Tucked away behind a row of mind-numbingly dry logistical records from the Second Shinobi War era, Observe flagged something unusual – a battered, coverless bundle of parchment tied with faded string.
Observe: [Object: Damaged Scroll Bundle]. Condition: Poor (Significant water damage, Torn edges, Missing Sections, Ink severely faded). Title (Fragmented): ...dations of Sealing Script - Vol... Estimated Age: ~50-60 Years. Language: Old Konoha Standard w/ Archaic Kanji. Potential Skill Seeds Detected: [Basic Fuinjutsu Theory], [Seal Script Calligraphy]. Requirement for comprehension: Decent Chakra Control ([Lv. 5+ Recommended]), High INT/WIS ([10+ Recommended]), Requires Deciphering Effort. WARNING: Heavy Damage may render large portions useless.
Jackpot. Ren's usually steady heart rate gave a distinct flutter. Gamer's Mind immediately assessed the find: damaged, old, difficult to read – perfect cover. Who would suspect an orphan found anything valuable in literal trash? He quickly and discreetly slipped the bundle into his worn bag, feeling a thrill akin to discovering buried treasure. This felt far more significant than just mastering Academy techniques. This was the potential start of a unique power set.
His library searches continued, now with a secondary focus: anything related to chakra optimization or efficiency. Luck struck again a few days later with another piece of apparent refuse – a thin, mildewed notebook.
Observe: [Object: Student Notebook (Anonymous)]. Condition: Very Poor (Mold, Brittle Pages, Heavily Faded Ink). Title (Barely Legible): "Chakra Flow: Efficiency...?" Content Analysis: Contains handwritten notes, diagrams, and speculative theories on chakra molding, cost reduction, and pathway optimization. Author likely Academy Student or Low Chunin. Estimated Age: ~30-40 years. Potential Skill Seed Detected: [Chakra Flow Efficiency]. Requirement for full comprehension: [Basic Chakra Control] Lv. 8+, High INT/WIS, Requires Careful Study/Restoration Effort.
Two potentially game-changing finds, rescued from the literal dustbin of history. The real work, deciphering and learning, would have to happen during stolen moments back at the orphanage or in hidden corners of training grounds.
The practical applications of Academy life continued alongside this clandestine research. Mastering the basic Jutsu became Ren's public focus. The Substitution Jutsu improved with practice, the momentary disorientation lessened as Lv. 2 was reached. Transformation became more solid (Lv. 3), allowing convincing illusions of similarly sized classmates, though he rarely demonstrated its full potential, preferring to maintain an image of 'slightly above average'. The basic Clone Jutsu was easily mastered (Lv. 4), letting him create several stable illusions at once, useful for basic distraction drills.
[New Skill Acquired: [Substitution Jutsu] Lv. 1 -> 2]
[New Skill Acquired: [Transformation Jutsu] Lv. 1 -> 3]
[New Skill Acquired: [Clone Jutsu] Lv. 1 -> 4]
He practiced everything diligently but held back slightly in spars and public demonstrations. Being competent was expected; being a prodigy, especially an orphan prodigy with unusually high chakra control, attracted the wrong kind of attention. Danzo's shadow loomed large in his future knowledge, and Ren had no desire to become a ROOT recruit stripped of his identity and System.
Evenings transformed. While other orphans roughhoused or slept, Ren would find a corner with the dimmest light, carefully unrolling the fragile Fuinjutsu scroll fragment or peering intently at the faded notebook. Deciphering the archaic script and damaged sections was painfully slow, requiring intense concentration and cross-referencing with basic history texts he subtly checked out from the library. Progress was measured in single understood characters or comprehended diagrams.
He began practicing the calligraphy, using cheap ink and flimsy paper bought with saved chore money. The strokes required not just physical dexterity but channeling minute amounts of chakra through the brush tip, a skill entirely separate from raw control.
[New Skill Seed Detected: [Seal Script Calligraphy] - Proficiency 1.2%. Requires specific brush, ink, and chakra infusion techniques.]
It was a frustratingly intricate process, each failed character a smudge of wasted ink and effort. But the potential reward – unlocking the secrets of Fuinjutsu – kept him relentlessly focused. The path forward was bifurcated: maintain the facade of a competent but unremarkable Academy student by day, and secretly delve into forbidden-feeling foundational knowledge by night. The grind was multifaceted now, demanding balance and discretion, but the potential payoff felt boundless.