CHAPTER 33 — A Beast Who Learns
📅 3 June, S.C. 1510
👦 Ren — 7
📍 Ren's Shed → Forest Edge → Open Field
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The morning sun filtered through thin cracks in the shed walls when Ren woke to a soft weight pressed against his leg.
Zemo.
The creature slept lightly, breathing steady but shallow, his injured shoulder wrapped in fresh bandages.
Yet something about him looked… different today.
More alert.
More aware.
Ren gently brushed Zemo's fur.
"You're recovering fast."
Zemo opened one eye.
A deep, intelligent amber.
Ren blinked.
"…And you're staring at me like you understand every word."
Zemo let out a low rumble — not a growl.
A response.
Kiro poked his head into the shed.
"Ren! You awake?"
He stepped inside, saw Zemo standing — and froze.
"He's… up?"
Ren nodded.
"And moving."
Luffy shoved Kiro aside.
"ZEMOOOOO!!"
Zemo flinched at the volume and backed up.
Luffy whispered loudly,
"He hates me."
Ren sighed.
"He hates noise."
Zemo nodded.
Luffy gasped.
"He AGREED?!"
Ren blinked.
"…Did he just communicate?"
Kiro rubbed his neck.
"Animals don't… nod. Right?"
Zemo blinked again — slow, deliberate.
Ren's heart beat faster.
"This is unusual."
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PART 1 — FIRST TEST: RESPONSIVENESS
Ren placed his hand on the ground.
"Zemo. Come."
Zemo hesitated… then stepped forward, placing a paw near Ren's hand.
Kiro whispered,
"Okay, that was not normal."
Luffy yelled,
"ZEMO CAN HEAR HUMAN LANGUAGE!!"
Zemo shot him a look that could only be interpreted as annoyance.
Ren took a deep breath.
"Let's check your mobility."
Zemo stood upright, though his injured shoulder trembled faintly.
Ren walked a few steps backward.
"Come."
Zemo followed — slow but purposeful.
Makino appeared in the doorway, carrying a basket of herbs.
"Oh! Look who's walking again!"
Then she paused, noticing Zemo following Ren so precisely.
"…Ren? Did you train him?"
Ren shook his head.
"No. He's just… responding."
Makino's eyes softened.
"Animals don't bond like this without reason. He's chosen you."
Ren looked at Zemo, who sat beside him, tail swishing softly.
A warmth spread in his chest.
"…Then I won't betray that trust."
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PART 2 — IN THE FOREST CLEARING
Ren led the group to a small open field behind the village.
He wanted to test something.
He held a small piece of meat.
"Zemo. Sit."
Zemo stared…
…and sat down.
Kiro's mouth fell open.
"What the—?! That's a trained move!"
Ren swallowed.
"Again."
"Zemo. Stay."
Ren walked five steps away.
Zemo didn't move.
Not even a twitch.
Luffy whispered,
"…Is he a ninja?"
Ren stepped further.
"Come."
Zemo ran forward — not fast, but coordinated — and stopped exactly in front of Ren.
Ren's heart kicked in his chest.
"He learns… instantly."
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PART 3 — TESTING INTELLIGENCE
Ren placed three stones on the ground:
○ small
○ medium
○ large
He pointed to the smallest.
"Zemo. Touch."
Zemo placed a paw on the smallest stone.
Ren pointed to the biggest.
Zemo touched it.
Ren pointed to the middle one.
Zemo touched it.
Kiro backed up.
"…Ren. That's not normal animal smarts."
Luffy whispered,
"He is smarter than Kiro."
"I HEARD THAT!" Kiro snapped.
Ren crouched.
Zemo tilted his head.
Ren whispered,
"You understand patterns."
Patterns.
Orders.
Commands.
Zemo leaned forward and placed his paw on Ren's chest — softly.
A sign of trust.
---
PART 4 — FIRST TRAINING SESSION
Ren stood.
"Let's try movement training."
He held two sticks and placed them parallel on the ground.
"Jump."
Zemo stepped over them.
Ren raised the sticks higher.
"Jump."
Zemo hopped over — smoothly.
Ren's eyes widened.
"Again."
Jump.
Higher.
Jump.
Sideways.
Jump.
Zemo wasn't just obeying —
he was analyzing the stick distance, timing his leap, adjusting for his injury.
Makino watched from afar, hands on her apron, lips parted in awe.
Kiro whispered,
"He's better trained than any pet I've seen."
Ren nodded slowly.
"He's… special."
---
PART 5 — A STRANGE SENSE
Ren stepped away from the group to adjust the training sticks.
Zemo suddenly stiffened.
Ears up.
Tail rigid.
Eyes sharp.
He ran in front of Ren — blocking his path.
Ren blinked.
"What is it?"
Zemo growled softly and looked toward the bushes.
But nothing moved.
No sound.
No danger Ren could detect.
Yet Zemo remained there, guarding Ren's front.
Luffy whispered,
"He sensed danger again?"
Makino frowned.
"Something spooked him."
Ren placed a calming hand on Zemo's head.
The creature slowly relaxed — but didn't move away from Ren's side.
Ren looked toward the trees.
The same direction the Ridgeback Boar had attacked from.
His jaw tightened.
"…Good boy."
Zemo's tail wagged once.
---
PART 6 — NEW SKILLS EMERGE
As the sun lowered, Ren tried one last test.
He threw a small stick lightly.
"Fetch."
Zemo ran after it.
But instead of grabbing the stick…
he stopped midway.
Ears tilted.
Head angled.
He circled the stick — analyzing it.
Then picked it up gently and brought it back.
Ren frowned.
"That wasn't instinct. That was examination."
Kiro nodded.
"He inspected it before deciding."
Makino whispered,
"He's becoming more aware."
Ren placed a hand on Zemo's shoulder.
"…You're learning faster than any creature I've ever seen."
Zemo pressed against him.
Ren felt a spark inside — excitement, warmth, curiosity, purpose.
A bond.
A partnership.
Something deeper.
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PART 7 — NIGHT REFLECTION
Back in the shed, Ren wrote:
> Zemo — Observations:
• Understands commands instantly
• Responds to voice tone
• Learns patterns
• Shows protective behavior
• Displays tool-awareness
• Detects danger before humans
• Possibly above-average animal intelligence
Prediction:
Zemo's recovery is enhancing natural instincts.
There is something extraordinary about him.
Something waiting to grow.
Ren looked at Zemo curled beside his mat.
The creature opened one eye.
Ren whispered,
"…We'll get stronger together."
Zemo nudged his hand.
A promise.
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END OF CHAPTER 33