Dinner at Ren's becomes something of a weekly event. Once a week, Team 7 gathers at Ren's place and amidst teasing and arguments discuss their plans for the upcoming week.

This week, amid teasing Sasuke for his affinity with cats, teasing Naruto about getting dragged around by dogs, and Ren himself getting teased about how he had shrieked when on of the dogs they had to walk had decided to pounce on him, Kakashi had decided to drop a bomb on them.

Not literally, but given that this was Kakashi they were talking about Ren didn't think that expecting his sensei to literally show them a bomb and ask them to disarm was much of a stretch.

"So," Kakashi started, "I don't suppose that any of you feel up for a C-rank yet?"

Silence fell across the room as the genin in the room processed what he was saying.

Naruto spins around so fast Ren barely sees him move. One minute Naruto is sitting next to him, the next Naruto is clinging to Kakashi's vest with stars in his eyes.

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto says, "Do ya mean it? Are we really going on a C-rank?"

"Not if you keep acting like that," Kakashi deadpans and Naruto deflates like a balloon, "But if your teammates are up for it then I see no reason why we shouldn't go on a C-rank."

Ren and Sasuke share a look.

Sasuke nods.

"Well," Ren drawls, "I don't see why we can't take a C-rank."

"I don't suppose that you have one already picked out Kakashi?" Mebuki asks as she wanders into the dining room.

Kakashi scratches the back of his head.

"Maa, Mebuki, where's the fun in choosing a mission without your team there?"

"That's a 'no' then," Mebuki sighs, and Ren watches his mother as she crosses her arms over her chest, "Just be sure to take care of them will you? And take care of yourself as well."

Kakashi looks surprised at the second part of her request but nods his head anyway.

"Of course," Kakashi says, "I wouldn't let anything happen to them."

Ren narrows his eyes at Kakashi.

"She said to take care of yourself too," Ren very carefully doesn't add dumbass to the end of his sentence, "So don't do anything stupid."

"But Ren," Kakashi protests weakly, "I'm your sensei, it's my job to be stupid."

Naruto cackles at that.

"Are you saying you can get more stupid sensei?" Naruto asks, "Cause here I thought that you'd already hit rock bottom!"

Kakashi's fist lands on the top of Naruto's head and Naruto wilts to the ground.

Ren throws his head back and laughs.

Ren wakes up the next morning to something being thrown at his window.

What the shit? Is his first thought; followed by an exasperated, Ino.

Throwing his blankets off, Ren storms his way over to his window, slams it open, and glares down at the smirking blonde on the streets below.

"Ino," Ren hisses, "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Ino's smile is sickeningly sweet as she stares up at him. The sky is still dark and the streets around her empty.

Ren finds himself more than a little pissed off when a backwards glance at his clock tells him it's three o'clock in the morning.

"Get dressed," Ino says happily, "We're going training."

"Why at three in the morning?"

"Because we haven't had any bonding time since you got your bro gang."

"My 'bro gang?'" Ren raises an eyebrow.

Ino flips her hair to the side.

"Yes," she says, "Your bro gang."

Ren can't deny that he has been seeing less of Ino these days, both of them too busy focused on their careers as genin and their teammates to have much time for each other. A part of him misses his blonde friend, which is probably why he agrees to go training with her.

At three am.

On the day his team is getting his first C-Rank.

Honestly Ren was kinda glad he died as a college student, it gave him something to pin his terrible ideas on.

Training with Ino was different. During their Academy days when they had sparred Ren had held back, not wanting to harm his friend.

Now he felt he didn't have to. As they traded blows it had become evident that Ino had grown since their days at the Academy, it had only been five weeks and yet she had become strong enough for Ren not to worry about hurting her.

It made Ren grin in a way he hadn't since he woke up in this world; this grin was wild and hungry and as Ren lunged toward Ino he watched as she danced away before coming at her again. Ino was quicker but Ren was stronger, and at this point both knew that all Ren had to do was place a well aimed punch on her and it would be over.

Dodging one of Ino's thrown kunai, Ren picked up his speed with a burst of chakra and rushed toward Ino. Fist out, he managed to graze Ino's side and send her flying with the shockwave of his chakra.

Ino hits a tree and slides down it. When she hits the ground she groans and aims a glare at Ren.

Ren shrugs.

"Sorry," he says when he's not sorry at all.

Ino can tell, she snorts and waves her hand as she gets up.

"Yeah, yeah," she says, "Tell it to someone who believes you."

Ren raises an eyebrow. "Sasuke might."

That catches Ino's attention.

"Tell me," she says slyly, "Have you found anything out about him?"

"He's fond of tomatoes and ongiri," Ren says, "Also, he's not as bad as I thought."

Ino croons successfully.

"I told you he wasn't bad! Sure, helps that he's a looker too."

Ren pinches his nose.

"I am not talking about this with you."

Logically, Ren knows that he should be preparing for his first C-Rank.

Logically, Ren knows that he should be figuring out a way to make sure Sasuke doesn't almost die. But while Ren doesn't want to see that happen, he also knows that as he is, there is nothing he can do to stop it. He's just a genin; Zabuza and Haku would eat him for breakfast.

So he doesn't plan anything.

He just hopes that everything goes according to canon.

This is a short filler chapter just to let everyone know that I haven't abandoned this story. The next one will be longer, I promise. Also, excitement! We're entering the Wave Arc! Lemme know if you guys have any predictions for how it's gonna go down? I'd love to hear them!