Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or The Gamer
Author Comments: Another chapter done. I will either have another chapter out this weekend or Monday. I'm trying to build some extra story for regular updates but we'll see. Also I intend to add a overview of the rules of his power in the next chapter or two. I've been making these rules up as I go so it's time for a bit of editing and clarifying.
Also I know I have issues with grammar that I am trying to improve. If anyone catches the obvious errors send me a PM. I want to find the mistakes I make all the time and correct them if possible.
Review Replies:
SS: Thanks! Reviews help!
Ash0601: I haven't decided (but have thought about) most of those things yet. I usually don't decide until I get there in the story. As for the Shadow Clones they can help him level Skills but I think I'm going to put a cap on how much he can learn in relation to the power. But yes basically he can level up faster with them than without.
Karthik9: Thanks! Glad you enjoy.
DeathCrawler: Can't have no orange =)
Guest: Thanks!
Catcrazzed: Your Welcome!
CelticReaper: Thanks for a review!
BakaAndTensaiProductionz: Glad you liked it!
Random Guy: Funny you should mention it...
AnFan-n-More: Okay that was a lot but...right now at least I have no intention of save and reload in his power. As for where his power will take him I don't completely know anymore than you do =) I am just a but ahead in the story. I can say the idea of repeating the same story over and over seems a bit monotonous but who knows?
Guest: Right now I update as soon as I've finished a chapter and at least done one read through. Depends on the time I have. IRL is a harsh master.
Buterflypuss: Glad you enjoy it!
Alex2909: Poor Naruto right? Even with a cool entrance no love.
Chapter 8
Hiashi Hyūga sat sipping tea as Neji came in and bowed his head to the floor. He put down his tea and stared at his nephew.
"Speak." he commanded.
"I have a report about Naruto Uzumaki."
"I thought since you graduated the Academy it was difficult to keep tabs on him?"
"It was; but recent events have changed."
"Explain."
"Naruto recently graduated from the Academy. Since then he has been training with my teammate Tenten. I have been able to observe the two of them for the past two weeks."
"I was under the impression he had failed the Exam again?"
"I do not know the exact situation but it appears circumstances have changed."
"Probably the Hokage's doing. He always did have a soft spot for that child. You say he has been training. Has he grown stronger?"
"Marginally. Someone like him can only hope to improve so much."
"You might be surprised about how strong he could be."
"Uncle. If I may ask what is your interest in the boy? He seemed nothing more than a worthless, clanless orphan."
"That is not needed for you to know. Just inform me of any changes in his situation. You said he was training with your teammate correct?"
"Yes."
"Why was she training with him?"
"At first I believe it was mostly due to the fact they are both orphans but-" he hesitated.
"Go on." Hiashi ordered.
"I believe she may have developed feelings for him. I warned her away but she has not listened."
"Why did you warn her?"
"She is on my team and as such a association with myself and the Hyūga clan. Spending time with a waste such as him reflects badly on myself."
"Such pride from a member of the side branch?" Hiashi commented. Neji flinched just a bit. "Still you are right to an extent. Perception is everything with the Clans. But I think you'll find Neji that telling a teenage girl who not to be with will usually have the opposite effect." he said with a rare chuckle.
"My Lord?"
"For now I want you to let them be. In fact encourage them if they become involved. That means Naruto will be closer to you. Plus it could mean leverage in the future if needed. Now go, you have training to complete."
Neji bowed again and left quietly. How? How could such a loser be of any importance to his clan head? Or to Tenten? He was a natural genius far more skilled than that buffoon but still people seemed to flock to him. It was Lee all over again. People trying to escape their fate. Lee wanted to be a ninja despite not being able to use ninjutsu. Naruto wanted to be Hokage despite being clanless, talentless, and hated by the village. Tenten herself had a absurd dream of passing one of the Sannin! At least he she had only been giving it lip service; or so he thought. Now she was training even harder trying to reach some ridiculous goal! And then there was Hinata...
Neji didn't even want to think about her but she also seemed to be obsessed with Naruto. He would follow his Uncle's orders and make "nice" but he would help them accept their places in life. Even if he had to break a few of them in the process.
1
Naruto blinked in the bright sun after stepping onto the roof. Sakura was sitting next to Sasuke looking happy and shyly looking over at her crush while Sasuke tried to ignore everything around him. He sat down on the other side of Sakura. Teamwork? It was hard for him to picture. He had learned of it from Tenten but all his teamwork skills were, literally, working with himself. He had always fought against Tenten in training. Still he had the equivalent of a few months of memories on it so it could only help.
But how was he supposed to work with his teammates? A few weeks ago Sasuke was just his rival (that is if he was honest he had been no match for) and Sakura was the girl he liked. Now he knew more about them and he was forced to actually think about what he knew. Heh, Gamer Mind versus his own natural hyperactive nature. For a moment Naruto wondered where his power came from? What was the world like that produced such a ability? Somehow he knew it had to be a different world than this. It was just too contrary.
His thoughts were interrupted when Kakashi appeared in front of them staring with his one eye. Crap! He should have asked Tenten what was up with that. Not to mention the mask.
"Well, so you're my new team? Why don't you all introduce yourself?"
Naruto and Sakura looked at each other. Naruto shrugged.
"What do you want to know Sensei?" asked Sakura.
"I don't know. Things like who you are, your likes and dislikes, hobbies, goals things like that."
"Why don't you go first?" Naruto asked. "That way we'll know what we're you're looking for."
"Me? Okay I guess. My name is Kakashi Hatake. I'm not going to tell you my likes or dislikes. I don't have a lot of hobbies and my goals are well..." he said trailing off.
Sakura leaned over and whispered. "The only thing we learned was his name." Naruto nodded in agreement.
"Okay Naruto. Your turn."
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like ramen, training and learning new things. I dislike waiting for ramen, dirty houses, and people who are judgmental. My hobbies are hanging out with my friend, learning new things, and pranking. My goal is to become Hokage and in the meantime to become the strongest shinobi I can be. I also want to protect anyone who means something to me." He wondered if he should have mentioned he had a powerful demon sealed in him and a strange power from another world. Maybe not. Small steps.
"Very good. Sakura?"
"Yes Sensei. My name is Sakura Haruno. I like..." she looked over at Sasuke. "My goal in life is too..." this time she giggled. "What I dislike is." this time she paused looking over at Naruto her face grew softer. "my annoying ex-friend Ino who thinks she's so much better than me."
Hmm she was going to say Naruto. What changed her mind? Kakashi wondered.
"Sasuke?"
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I have no likes or dislikes. I don't have hobbies and I don't have a goal. I have a ambition I will make a reality. I will revive the Uchiha Clan...and kill a certain man."
The group paused as the dark words flowing from the young teen. Naruto sat there and after a moment of silence couldn't resist.
"Well teme I'm sure Sakura would like to help you with rebuilding your clan."
Sasuke didn't move but his face went a bright red. Sakura's face did as well but she reacted more harshly.
"Naruto! You jerk!" she yelled slamming her fist into his face. He could have avoided it, but well he had it coming after all. He couldn't hide his grin. He had fallen over and now Sakura was above him being held back by Kakashi Sensei.
"Now Sakura, killing your teammate on your very first day is not the best of starts."
"I'm gonna kill him!"
"Sorry Sakura, Sorry!" he pleaded. "It was a joke." After few moments she calmed down and sat back down.
"I had thought you had changed Naruto."
"It's more of a journey."
"Whatever."
Kakashi scratched his head. "I see we have a lot to work on. We'll see how you guys do with survival training tomorrow."
"Survival training Sensei? We've already had that at the Academy." commented Sakura.
"I have to judge your skills personally and this training is much harsher than normal."
"How much harder?" she asked nervously.
"Let's just say I would skip breakfast tomorrow. Meet me at training ground 7 at 6am." with that he vanished in a flash.
I need to learn how to do that; Naruto thought to himself. Problem for future Naruto. He turned to his new teammate.
"Hey guys sorry about that. If you're up for it I will treat you both to ramen at Ichiraku's later.
"Whatever." Sasuke said and jumped off the roof.
"Was that a yes or no?" he asked the air. "What about you?" he turned to Sakura.
"I don't know Naruto. You're acting weird today."
"Hey there's a fifty percent chance Sasuke will be there."
"Since when do you care what Sasuke does? And why haven't you asked me out or something?"
"Do you want me too?" he asked perplexed.
"No! Just it's not like you."
"Well I am capable of learning. Slowly. But we're on the same team now so we need to probably know each other better."
"And this isn't some attempt to trick me into a date?" she asked suspiciously.
"Come on! Sasuke was right here. I invited you both!"
"Fine. But if this is trick Naruto." she sighed. "I'll be there." Naruto worked out a time and watched her leave. He leaned across the rail and looked out across the village. He had wanted to ask Kakashi about his clan but he had disappeared too fast for small talk. He brought up his list of skills and his eyes focused on the Unity Skill. So this was a team. If you had told him he was going to have a meal with Sakura a few days ago he would have been ecstatic. Now he didn't know how he felt. Or even if he should be worried about it in the first place.
"Screw it." he said aloud. He could do something productive before dinner. He brought up his quest log and selected the Uzumaki Clan Quest. A arrow appeared on his mini-map.
"You can't hide from me Kakashi Sensei." he jumped off the roof in the direction of the jōnin.
2
Kakashi sat in a tree reading the latest volume in the Icha Icha series. This was probably his guiltiest pleasure. He probably should have spoke more with his team but he would learn all he needed tomorrow. If they passed then he would spend time with each of them. If they didn't...
Well it was best to not get too attached. Especially when one of the students was the son of your former teacher. A person you happened to feel a lot of guilt and responsibility for even if things were beyond your control.
Then there were the other two. He knew he would get Sasuke. He was the last of the Uchiha and interest in rebuilding his clan was a major concern on the council. Many didn't want him to be allowed to be a ninja and wanted to get down to the business of descendants right away. The Hokage pointed out that there would be a good chance he would become a enemy of the village if they tried that. So for now he would be trained. But if he failed the test tomorrow he might find his shinobi career sidelined.
Not that Sakura would mind. He chuckled to himself. Naruto was right. She would be willing to help him start the Uchiha clan again though she was bit young to really understand what that meant. Her skills were lacking at this point but if she had a goal to work toward besides being Sasuke's girlfriend he saw potential that could make a fine kunoichi.
That made Naruto seem all the more odd. He had read his file which was extensive due to his status as a Jinchuuriki, and he had seemed more scatterbrained. He had observed that for himself from a distance. By all accounts he should be almost as obsessed with Sakura and she was with Sasuke! Also he was much more calm with Sasuke; a rival who had been constantly upstaging him his entire Academy run, that he would have expected. Maybe it had to do with that student of Guy's who was watching the graduation. He had thought she was there on Guy's orders. Guy always wanted Kakashi to get his own team so they could be "rivals" but perhaps she was there on personal reasons?
Speak of the Nine tails he thought. There, in another tree over doing a fairly decent job of being stealthy considering his grades was Naruto. He sighed and closed his book.
"You might as well come down Naruto." The young ninja didn't look too surprised to be caught and made he way to the same branch Kakashi was on. He stood there staring.
"Well what can I do for you?"
"I came to ask you something but..."
"But?"
"I didn't know you were a pervert." he said pointing at his book.
"This it's just some harmless reading."
"Right, for a pervert."
"Naruto I'm not used to getting critiqued by students who haven't trained under me for a full day yet. Now you had something to ask me?"
Naruto eyed him suspiciously but decided to move on. "I wanted to ask you if you had any knowledge about the Uzumaki Clan?"
Kakashi masked his face. Why was Naruto asking about that? No one had been giving him any information about his heritage had they?
"Why do you want to know?"
"Well my last name is Uzumaki for one."
"Many orphans are given names of past clans."
"I know that but I have good reason to believe I am a true Uzumaki."
"And those are?"
"Private Sensei."
The most likely explanation was someone had told him his parentage. However if that was the case he would expect more questions about the Fourth. How to handle this?
"Well I suppose it's possible. As far as I know most members of the Clan had bright red hair but you could be from a illegitimate marriage or something of that nature."
He flinched a little. Inside so did Kakashi. He didn't like talking about his own Sensei in such a manner. Naruto deserved better but he would need to speak with the Hokage first. Somehow Naruto was getting information he shouldn't.
"Fine, but how can I find out more about them?"
"I'll tell you what Naruto. If you do good on tomorrows test I will be happy to do some checking into it for you. Sound good?"
"Alright. I can live with that for now. Cya tomorrow then Sensei." Naruto headed off. Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. He had put if off for now. He would have to speak to the Hokage. Tonight.
3
Tenten made her way to Ichiraku's for a ramen dinner with Naruto and his new team. Guy would be back soon and she wouldn't have as much extra time. Nor would she have as much time to work out her feelings. She laughed at that. She wasn't used to being indecisive about anything. Crap, she hoped this didn't mean she was turning into a fan-girl. The ramen shop came into view.
Speak of the devil.
Naruto-kun was sitting there with Sakura chatting amiably enough. She seemed to be chatting back and occasionally smiling. But she was the only one there! Sasuke wasn't to be seen. It was like they were on a date!
I am not jealous! Only stupid fan-girl's are jealous! Tenten thought loudly in her mind, fist clenched to her side. She focused on her breathing and relaxed. She walked up to the other side of Naruto. He sensed her presence and turned his face brightening.
"Hey Tenten! I'm glad you could make it!"
"Of course Naruto-kun you know I wouldn't miss it." she said sweetly. She looked over his head and looked (she did not glare) at Sakura who was drinking a soda. Sakura paused sensing a killing intent. Naruto noticed looked back and forth between the two girls. He did not quite know what was going on but he sensed danger.
"Sakura right? I'm Tenten." she said introducing herself. Sakura smiled hesitantly.
"Nice to meet you. Naruto said you would be joining us."
I'm not joining you! You're joining us! She thought. The fact they were here first was meaningless.
"Naruto-kun where is your other teammate, Sasuke?"
"That teme decided not to show. Not surprised really."
"I hope you haven't been too bored Sakura?"
"No, not really, Naruto's been a lot less annoying than normal." she commented.
He's not annoying! Okay well maybe sometimes but it's more cute than anything else!
"Well, that's good. I had to finish up at the shop so I was a little later than I meant to be."
"It's cool we we're debating whether we should eat anyway." commented Naruto.
"How come?"
"Kakashi Sensei says we're going to have survival training in the morning and said not to eat breakfast. I thought maybe I should skip dinner too since I'm on a diet" said Sakura.
Tenten took a glance over the young girl. Tenten was the student of Guy and as such had a good eye for physical development. The girl was much less developed than a girl her age should be. She wondered if she was "dieting" too much? That kind of thing was not healthy in a civilian life let alone the life of a shinobi.
"I don't know Sakura, I've been taught you want to eat whenever you get a chance. The life of a shinobi always means that your next meal is not a guarantee. I would suggest eating now and early in the morning."
"Yeah! It's my treat Sakura come on!"
His treat! Is he buying her dinner! Which is fine! I mean it's not like he's asked me out...or anything.
"I don't know..."
"Come on it's a celebration! We've graduated. Tenten must have celebrated when she graduated." he said looking at her.
For a moment her mind flashed back to her "celebration" which was a 20 lap run around the village. She had passed out at 10. But it was Naruto's look that caught her attention. There was concern in his eyes. For Sakura. He was trying to get her to eat. Tenten was a little amazed. She wouldn't have expected most boy's his age to notice such a thing, let alone...well him. She liked him, she could accept that but most times he was pretty oblivious. A stab of guilt washed through her. She was being ridiculous. Whether she liked him or not that was no reason to act crazy; he was trying to help a friend!
"Naruto's right Sakura!" she said cheerfully. "Tonight's a celebration. Eat up!"
"Well it is a celebration." she agreed reluctantly.
"Awesome! Ayame three of your best bowls of ramen!" he shouted before she could change her mind.
"It's not so big a stall you have to shout Naruto-kun." Ayame said coming over to the three. "Wow! Naruto how did you pick up two pretty girls like that? I didn't know you were such a ladies man."
Naruto quickly looked back and forth ready to dodge either a fist or a kunai but both girls were turned away slightly embarrassed. "Ayame it's not like that! Sakura and I just got put on the same team today and Tenten is-"
"Tenten! The same girl you've been talking about for two weeks now?"
"Yes?" he said with a note of hesitation...wasn't he supposed to have done something?
"The same girl I've been telling you to bring over for the same two weeks?"
"Well she's here!"
"The same girl who made you new clothes—at a discount?"
"I told you not to tell anyone about that!" Tenten yelled reaching for her weapons.
"I'm sorry! She tempted me with ramen! I'm weak."
"Don't get mad at him he really is weak against ramen." Ayame said laughing.
"And you're cheating on your new diet!" cried Tenten.
"Just a couple of bowls I swear!" he said inching away from her.
"Why Tenten you sound just like a wife scolding her husband." Ayame said slyly. Tenten immediately turned bright red and sat back down face downcast.
"That's just silly who could like Naruto?" joked Sakura. Tenten's head shot back up.
"What that supposed to mean?" she said angrily. She reached across Naruto to Sakura who was now trying to put some distance between her and the enraged kunoichi.
"I just meant that..he's sometimes...annoying?" Sakura stammered. Naruto was now trying to hold his friend back, not quite knowing what was going on.
"I happen to think he's just fine!" Tenten inched closer. Sakura prayed to Kami.
"Children." All three teens turned toward Ayame who slide three bowls of Ramen in front of them. They all stopped, looked at each other, and sat back down and began to eat, silently. Naruto felt the need to apologize, for what he wasn't sure but his instincts were strong on this. Tenten sat taking calm bites of ramen. One right after another.
"Tenten?"
"Hm?" another bite.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" another bite.
"Ayame and Sakura teasing you and stuff...about liking me." he chuckled nervously.
"Naruto-kun?" another bite.
"Yes?"
"I do like you." another bite.
"…..."
"..."
Tenten finished another bite and looked over at Naruto who still had not responded. He was sitting the hand holding a spoon with a petrified look on his face. Sakura was behind him just as frozen with a noddle hanging from her mouth. She hadn't meant to say it. She just hated indecision was all. She was the type of girl who got things done. He wasn't saying anything. He wasn't even moving. He may not be breathing. Her liking him had actually killed him. Her face began to grow red. There was no way this could get any worse.
Then, of course, it did.
"YOSH! SO MY LITTLE TENTEN LIKES A BOY DOES SHE! THE PASSIONS OF YOUTH ARE A FLAME THAT BURNS BRIGHTLY!
Her face went from red to a pale white instantly.
"Please no." she whimpered.
