Nothing I did would bring Pakkun back. I prayed to the stone, I shouted out at it, and I even did a funny dance.
Nothing.
Well, outside I got Sasuke to laugh. That had to be a feat in itself.
However, that was overlooked by the fact I somehow sealed a Konoha ninken into a stone. Said ninken's owner was coming towards us and would possibly see such event as the death of his beloved dog.
I. Was. Freaking. Screeeeeeeewed!
"Should we..."
"Yes!" I growled as I carried Sasuke on my back. Inventory was very handy for quick packing up. "We got to buy some time till I figure out how to get that dog free. I mean, if I never wanted to get another chance at becoming Hokage, I'd stick around."
Oh, yeah. With all that has been going on, I completely forgot about my dream.
Well, at this rate, becoming Hokage was the least of my worries.
I mean, you can't be the Hokage if you were dead.
"Still... Your Sense did that?" Sasuke whispered, "I wonder what's its like in there. It must be uncomfortable."
"Not the time to muse about such things." I huffed as I jogged through the streets.
And I seriously did not want to think more on the stone. It just made me feel even guiltier... And my soul expected both Sasuke and I might end up in a shallow grave somewhere.
Konoha ninja who had dog companions were very devoted to their canine partners.
"Still... You shouldn't waste your energy on..."
Eeeeew! He just coughed on my neck! Ick ick ick!
"Are you trying to get me sick?"
"Sorry," Sasuke muffled. "What are these bumps on your-"
"Hives. I've haven't had a chance to treat them in... Er, weeks?" My sense of time was horrible now. "Seems hives are shared between my bodies. Minute-chan is clingy."
"Hn," Sasuke sighed out, but I was glad he wiped off the back of my neck.
However, I was shocked at how much... This little village was like Konoha... Yet not.
The thing missing... No one was glaring at me. But, unlike First Town, no one was staring at me. People just saw Sasuke and me as normal kids.
If I wasn't panicking, I would have been in heaven.
Sure, it's not much... And the feeling of normal was a little bland compared to what I thought it would be...
Normal was better than anything I felt in Konoha. It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders knowing not everyone hated me back in reality.
Well, that was, if I lived to see the next few days.
"Look out!" I reacted before even looking at the source of the racket or shout.
"Sorry. Sorry. Sorry," I kept this mantra while nodding my head till a loud crash brought me to reality. I turned my head and saw a cart had crashed... And a few children were laying on the ground and some of the adults looking on in horror.
An idiot of a trader ran up and purely focused on trying to get his ox to stop panicking. Not even once going to the children.
"Go," Sasuke hissed in my ear and I bolted over to the scene.
The upside, everyone was breathing.
Bad news? A lot of injuries with seeing blood and limbs bend in wrong places.
"I'll set bones. You start healing the others." Sasuke jumped off my back and went straight to work.
I went to a kid that had to be half my age. He had a gash on his forehead and crying.
"Ah... It's alright," I put my hand on his forehead. "The great Uzumaki Naruto is here to help!" And... the kid just cried harder. Luckily, I got Heal down to where I could use it without a second thought.
"Huh?" The sobbing boy blinked as my hands glowed. "It... It doesn't hurt anymore."
"See. I helped you." I grinned at him before I moved onto the next person.
Crud. It was a girl whose leg was clearly broken. And Sasuke was still working on others. However, she had passed out. Concussion?
"Dang it." I had no way of knowing... Or did I? "It's worth a shot." I focused on putting magic power in my hands and put it on her leg. She flinched, but I was shocked it worked.
I was able to see in her leg. Er... Not so much see... I don't exactly know how to explain it, but I saw it was a clean break. I then carefully moved the bones into place before healing her owns. I also did the same to her head.
Whew. Good. No head trauma.
I kept on using my new magic and healing. Looking at my Senses, Recovery hit past fifteen and a noise caught my attention.
The Recovery Sense is level 15 or higher, a skill was generated after using healing magic to isolate problems in patients 20 times.
That didn't happen before… And it wasn't under Recovery in skills. Oh, there was a new Ex-skill? Which was for things outside battle like crafting.
Magic Scan - Gives information to a user of specific injuries even if a person is not in the party. If used on an enemy, a marker will appear for five minutes of physical weaknesses. Also, any focused healing increases the speed of spell at cost of small HP recovery with not used on the whole body.
"Amazing," Didn't this just made me a super healer or something? I mean, if I can focus healing now… Wait, along with it, I also had some new spells… Dispel?
"Jeez. Seems the owner is a novice merchant. He overloaded the cart and used an easily spooked ox." Sasuke said with getting next to me. "Thankfully, no lives taken... But, the owner should have been more careful."
"Agreed." I sighed out. My MP was almost out due to all that healing. Who in their right mind allowed an ox to pull an oversized, overstuffed cart? There was easily over half a dozen kids I healed alone.
Sasuke did the same with some others. Seemed the cart slammed right into a group of kids playing a game.
"T-Thank you." I blinked before looking at all the kids we healed. They were with their parents and…
Waaah. What was with that look in their eyes. I have never seen such a look before. And it was kind of creeping me out.
"Are you a medic-nin?"
"Amazing. I don't feel a thing from where I was hurt."
"Same here. Usually, medic-nin treatment still has some discomfort."
"What's your names?"
"Naruto-sama!" The boy I tried to comfort chimed out. "Thank you!"
"Ah..." Sasuke and I looked at each other before we both nodded in unison. "Escaaaaaaapeeeeeee!" Sasuke leaped onto my back and I activated a Speed Enchant with the little MP I had left.
Once we were out of the village, I stopped and gotten my breath. Sasuke rested against a tree and looked a little green around the edges. "I... wasn't expecting so much... praise for that," Sasuke mumbled. His cheeks tinted pink.
"Praise?" I asked. "Was that praise? I mean, the way they looked at us." I shuttered.
"That was awe and respect," Sasuke said with a bitter expression. At this rate, he was gonna get stuck with it. I preferred his current stuck expression of smug jerk over this. "None of the injuries was life-threatening, so I don't get why they looked at us that way either."
"Humans are weird."
"A-greed."
We looked at each other before we snorted with a little laughter.
Guess we both got a lot to learn about social interactions and stuff.
"At least I stuck to the road this time. Guess if we get to the next village, that should buy us enough time to-"
I felt something go through my throat.
It was like a pinch and then nothing.
I didn't even feel the ground when I hit it and stared at it.
Yep, nothing moved when I tried to. Best I got was a few twitches that told me I was at least alive.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted before I heard a smack and thud where he was.
"I'm sorry for this, but I must do this."
My gut collapsed with horror when a boy wearing a white mask came into my line of sight. The same mask I've seen ANBU and those creepy kids wore.
Nooo!
I thought made sure I wasn't followed!
I saw Sasuke was knocked out and the ANBU kid already tied him up. Even with not being able to move, I knew he was doing the same to me.
Great.
Now we were both gonna end up as experiments.
I tried my best to try and memorize where we were at.
That was, till the ANBU kid put a blindfold over my eyes. I could even scream with the gag in my mouth as well… Not that he needed it as even my voice was paralyzed.
Hence, all I could do was huff and pray. All I had was my ears and loads good that did with just birds and nature sounds to go by in a place like Fire Country.
Country of nature, almost all year round.
I also know ANBU were never good with people.
Talking? Rarely was one of those professionals could hold a conversation.
Either due to never talking outside single words or... the conversations get weird.
Seemed carrying people also counted in that weakness.
Once I was put down, whatever was paralyzing me was taken out of my body and I could feel again.
Wished he left it in.
After what seemed like hours of travel, my poor body was sore and being tied down on what I guessed was a chair made my muscles ache even worse.
The gag and blindfold came off.
I glared at who did it...
And instantly regretted it.
"Cheeky little brat, aren't you?" A tall man with seemingly no eyebrows glared right back at me. I didn't back my glare down even with feeling ready to wet my pants.
His was clearly a ninja and foreign at that. He wore clothes more grays than Konoha ninja did and his build was much more muscular than what I knew of.
Worse?
He has a huge sword that I know no one in Konoha used.
I would have known anyone who had such an awesome sword.
"Zabuza-sama, his companion and he are medic-nin." The ANBU kid said while kneeling before the foreign ninja. "They should be able to assist us."
"Yeah. As much as I would like to take up Gatou's offer, he's a bit too sleazy for my taste." Zabuza sighed before glaring at the ANBU kid. "Haku, take off that ghoulish mask."
"Sorry," Haku said while taking off his mask... Waah! Pretty! He's a... No, the way he spoke... Boy, that looked pretty girl? "Old habits die hard."
Yeah. He's a guy... I probably not realized it though if I hadn't experienced being a girl myself. However, I noticed on the mask a symbol...
Four wavy lines?
Uh-oh.
"Now, brat, I don't like to waste time," I gulped while keeping a firm frown at Zabuza. "I don't really care for your life unless it has worth. Add in your little companion is clearly sick as well... You best impress me if you both want to live."
This was exactly what I was scared of. If I failed and escape, Konoha would want to-
"Zabuza-sama, it wouldn't be wise to kill them," Haku said with a professional smile. "We don't need Konoha's hunter-nin after us as well. Konoha and Fire Country are very protective of their medics." Zabuza gave a nasty look at Haku before the boy walked forward to me.
Hake then bowed at me. "I apologize for the inconvenience. However, we rather our location not to be exposed. Our two companions are in need of medical attention. We will gladly pay you for your services."
"So... You just need me to heal them?" I was already changing my Senses for combat. I mean, I never used Earth Element before, but it should be low enough level not to do too much harm to make these guys madder at me.
"Yes." Zabuza growled, "There ain't any other medic-nin in the area that will service missing-nin. So, it's either you cure them or we take on a risky deal with a sketchy, but rich drug lord."
"I..." I bit my lip.
Could I heal ninja?
I mean, ninja wounds and such were on a whole new level compared to what I've been doing.
"Tch. Who do you think you're talking to?" I grinned while puffing out my chest. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, the greatest magic archer in the world!"
"...Magic?" And I got bland looks from both Zabuza and Haku.
"Well, sorry if my people prefer the spiritual part of your chakra as magic power." I huffed in annoyance. "Personally, I find you ninja stupid to use such a power that threatens you live if you abuse it." Zabuza's eye twitched, but I kept my pride up.
Sure, I am scared of people.
I've also learned long ago one needed to put up a front to hide those weaknesses. That and it helped keep life a little bearable when you keep a positive attitude and laugh at the despairing face on.
I believed Zabuza here could hurt me pretty badly. If only this place was more like OSO, then I wouldn't have to bark so loud.
"Alright, you little brat, prove it." Zabuza went behind me and leaned the chair back...
Owwwww. I did not know chairs could do that sound. The one that the teachers got with putting the blunt end of a kunai to the blackboard.
However, looking around... I saw we had to be in some kind of bunker.
There were bunkers all over Konoha due to the past wars. However, if I remembered the map in the Old Man's office well enough... There were at least a dozen possibilities around Konoha... And the village we were at was southward from Konoha...
A total of five possible locations.
Well, that was if these guys were using an official bunker.
There had to be a lot of unofficial ones all over the place for mercenary ninja and such.
I was dragged into a room. Sasuke was asleep and tied down to a bed in said room. Seemed he wasn't feverous anymore with his skin close to normal color, but I was a skeptic.
"I gave him some herbal medicine," Haku answered with seeing my glances to Sasuke. "He has a cold?"
"Yeah. Idiot overdid himself," I sighed. "Promise me you'll let him go no matter what. You can do whatever you want with me, but he's just a novice."
"He's older than you," Zabuza growled.
"But I've used magic longer than him," I snorted. "So, deal or no deal?"
"Fine." Zabuza sighed, "If you failed, it wouldn't be too hard to get Haku to dump him in some hotel. He's pretty loaded him up on sleep medicine."
"Good." Though I was a bit worried I couldn't trust him... The look in Zabuza's eyes. "And I shall honor my side of the deal."
"Then heal those two idiots." I was cut free and I got up. Zabuza pointed at the two other beds in the room with occupants. Looked like two brothers with dark hair... But they were clammy and shivering.
"We had a run in with hunter-nin. They got poisoned, but forgot their gauntlets were poisoned when cutting the wound to bleed it out." Haku explained as I moved closer. "We managed to set the broken bones and such, but the poison is still in their system."
"Magic Scan," I whispered it out while putting my hands on one of the brothers.
Broken bones, mostly ribs... Some internal bleeding...
"Poison three?" I muttered in confusion. That was the status I was seeing with the injuries. It seemed to been slowly seeping into their organs and adding to the bleeding. Best cure the poison, so...
"Cure" was the new skills I gained with Recovery hitting level 15. I got High Heal at Level 5 and Round Heal at Level 10 but found it more useful to use Heal due to it's short cast time and cooldown.
The brother's body glowed... But, the poison didn't go away. I used Magic Scan again.
Poison 2?... Oh! I get it. The number meant potency!
The higher the potency, the more times a skill or item had to be used to cure it. I cast Cure two more times and the poison was gone.
I then tried to get the exact locations of the breaks... Okay, seeing inside a human's body, especially one ravaged by poison, was nasty. I was just shocked I could use Magic Scan to see in the body. And now I saw why it was an Ex-skill instead of a normal skill.
I could use it along with other skills.
I was almost out of MP when I finished.
My patient was breathing easy and seemed to sleep soundly compared to before.
"Are you alright?" Haku asked while bringing the chair to me. I sat in it and let out a huff.
"Yes. I just need to sit down and recover my magic power. Curing the poison took more out of my magic power than I thought."
As well as Magic Scan. It seemed to eat my MP constantly whereas Hawk Eyes normally wouldn't take any. Guess different Ex-skills need different conditions to work.
Zabuza came up and inspected his comrade. "I healed him up. Just have him take it easy as I don't know if my healing also hardens the bone back to normal." Now that I thought about it... I used Magic Scan on the other brother and saw the same amount of poison in him.
I pretend to reach into my bag and pulled out three Antidote Potions through Recipe. If my hypothesis was right…
"What are you doing?" A flinched as a hand grabbed my wrist and my eyes met Zabuza's. "Poison?"
"Antidotes." I answered, "I'm still recovering, but it would be best I neutralize the poison." Though, I don't know if potions would work. At least it could slow down the damage...
Hopefully.
"You maybe a brat... But I know when to not trust a person." He shook my wrist to try and get me to drop the vials. "You were gonna poison him."
"No! I was-Eh?" I was holding the potions by the corks. One popped open and landed right on the sleeping man.
"What the-Blew!" He spat as the potion landed right on his head. "What is this? Grass water?"
"No, it's medicine." I grinned with seeing what Magic Scan showed me. "Which till now I didn't know could work through the skin," I smirked while shaking my hand and drenching the guy with the two other potions.
"Why you little-" I was grinning as the man groaned in pain with trying to get up and hurt me. At least the poison status was gone.
"Stay still so I can heal you." I sighed.
"Why would I let a little brat who just drenched me heal me?" The potion covered brother hissed out before freezing. "What in the-"
"Even with getting most of your bones set, you still got a broken rip... No, two of them floating," I sighed while focusing Heal on those ribs. You could use the healing magic to move bones and such to make the healing work... But I ran out of MP.
"Well, I'll give you a choice." I made several Potions the same way as before. "You can either take these by mouth or I pour them on you. They should finish healing the tissue damage since I'm out of energy."
"I'll drink them, brat." The man snatched the potions and drank them. "Hm? For medicine, this doesn't taste bad."
"You want me to make the potent ones?" I gave him the nastiest look I could.
"Er... Nope." He went back to drinking the potions and looking away. He must have had enough SP that Potions weren't that effective. It took up to ten or so to finish his healing. "Huh? I'm not even sore?"
"Of course," I beamed with pride. "Do you dare doubt the healing abilities of the great Uzumaki Naruto?"
"More like the great twerp," My patient snorted.
"You want to be poisoned again?" I asked while pulling out a Poison Potion. "I'll gladly arrange for that." Though, he doesn't know I have a few extra Antidote Potions.
"Shut it, both of you," Zabuza growled out and threw a towel at the brother. "Go take a shower, Meizu."
"Sure." Meizu got up and glanced at me. "Oh right," I got punched right in the face before I could react. "That's for the first shower, brat."
Ow... That took a good twenty percent off my health.
I laid on the floor while I allowed the world to stop spinning.
"Are you alright?" Haku? Yeah, Haku asked me while he leaned over me.
"Weah." Oh, I bit my tongue. I pulled out a potion and drank a little of it to heal my mouth and bruise. "Yeah." I sighed while checking my jaw. Good. It didn't pop out of the socket. "Ain't the first time someone blindsided me. Won't be the last." I finished the potion and it recovered most of my health.
"The bruise..." Haku touched my cheek and I jerked away. "It still hurts?"
"No." More I rather not be touched. "Now, I did my part of the deal. Keep your side of it." I flinched when Zabuza grabbed my chin and forced me to look him. He studied my face as I felt my throat tighten.
Zabuza looked back at the sleeping brother.
Silence filled the air as he studied the brother before looking back at me.
"What? My work isn't satisfactory for ya?" I asked while I felt the hives spread up from my neck to just under my chin.
Not good. Not good.
I was gonna end up dead and Sasuke would, too.
"Far from that," Zabuza said while he let me go. "Though, I don't think we are gonna let your friend go."
"What?!" I screamed and clenched my fists. "You promised ya let him go!"
"I never promise anything, kid." I glared right at his leg. A fireball instantly engulfed his knee. "What are-" Curses came out of his mouth as he tried to pat the fire out.
I bolted right to Sasuke.
I somehow managed to cast an Attack and Speed Enchant at the same time. Thanks to that, I was able to rip off the roped and grabbed Sasuke.
I didn't even get a chance to shift from that spot, though.
Instead, I was engulfed by ice and forced to drop Sasuke. He almost got speared by the icicles.
"It would be not wise to harm my master," I saw little needles of water forming around me. Aimed right at my eyes and head to boot. Could I do that with water magic?
No, how do I-Right!
"Earth Element - Explosion!" I screamed out the spell and targetted the air before me while covering my ears. A bright light came to my eyelids as I shut my eyes and was shot back. The ice broke...
Except for the pieces, that was holding my legs in place.
I hit the floor hard and my ears rang from the explosion. And I felt the heat on my head. I set my hair on fire and patted it out.
Well, that was quite the fail... And I was out of MP.
I had no means to recover MP outside natural rest.
I was dead.
But, maybe Sasuke would survive. I looked at him once I got my hair no longer burning.
Whoa. That had to be some potent sleeping medicine. The jerk was still a snoozing away. The other patient, on the other hand, woke up in a panic with all I could hear as my ears slowly stop the ring.
I looked at the movement and saw Zabuza had his knee free of fire. Only a little red from my attempt of a distraction. Haku and he both stared at me.
Water floating around Haku as he had that "enemy locked on" kind of stare mixed with shock.
Yep. I just screwed up beyond any possibility of getting out alive.
"Did... Did he just made an explosion by looking?" Zabuza asked out loud.
"Yes. I did." I answered, "Though, I said that spell." And chances were this could at least get it where I'm gagged. That only means I can use the spells I practiced without speech.
But, there's still a chance.
"I'll gladly commit suicide if you don't let Sasuke go. And try to do as much as damage to ya in the process." I grinned as big as I could.
If Sasuke escaped, then I would be just happy with that if my life ends now.
That was if I didn't get an icicle through my head. Haku turned the water spikes right into ice and ready to spear me.
Instead, Zabuza burst into laughter.
"Master?"
"Huh? What I missed?" My patient asked before looking at me. "Who's the kid and what the heck happened in here?"
Personally, I didn't know either. All I know was this Zabuza guy was a whack job that was likely gonna kill me once whatever funniness in his head was over.
That or the possible frostbite forming in my toes formed a clog and do that before him.
Whichever comes first.
However, my gamble paid off.
They freed Sasuke.
I forced them to give me proof which Haku gladly showed me through ice mirrors. That was a damn cool ability if not seeing the dangerous side first.
Sasuke was safe and Haku even paid for his new hotel along with left some more fever medicine in case the cold came back.
I am very thankful there was at least one kind person in this group of criminals. He even thawed my legs out slowly to make sure I didn't go into shock.
That and he made good hot cocoa.
I'm a sucker for hot cocoa.
Still, I'm amazed I've lived to the point of falling asleep. I was tied up and a guard put to watch me… I bet a hundred gold they really wanted to see if I would hold true to the suicide promise.
Well, upside, I kept the promise of not doing it since Sasuke was safe… Well, as safe as he could now.
It was morning in OSO and I knew Sasuki wouldn't be getting up. I got ready and prepared for the worse. If I got money for Sasuki, maybe he could survive here without me.
We still haven't found out how death worked between the two worlds.
"Good morning, Menma-san." Linda chimed as I ate breakfast. "Your fiancée was quite the night bug last night. Also, he seemed very worried but wouldn't tell me... Are you alright?"
"Damn jerk." I wheezed out. The food I swallowed forced itself down the wrong tube. "I'm not his wife. He just got the wrong idea."
"But, you two are always together."
"Don't mistake guilt for love," I said. I just hoped my choice wouldn't make Sasuke felt guiltier.
I savored my breakfast before I went out to meet Magi-san. I met Yun there and got three thousand Gold from all the potions I made.
Only under two thousand left before I can buy a stall! Must get the stall to increase my profits...
Oh... yeah...
Yun... Only got fourteen hundred gold. Though, he retorted he didn't have a chance to hunt and gathered. So, I didn't get the evil eye from him.
The upside, though, the films and leathers we sold to Magi-san actually were worth more than she paid us. Next time we traded materials, she promised to pay us more and asked me to passed this on to Sasuki.
Yet, bad news came with the good.
"Ah, it seems like there's an oversupply of Potions now. That's why the price is breaking down."
"So, our Potions will be the same." Yun groaned in frustration.
"Oh, you two don't need to worry. They were sold at a fair price. Moreover, Yun-kun's and Menma-kun's potions have a high effect, so there are people who know they're hidden masterpieces." Magi chimed. "I expect Sasuki-kun's will be the same once she's your level."
Wait... What? I stared at Magi-san in confusion.
How were our potions masterpieces?
Sure, I treated ninja poison with my Antidote Potions and used Potions to heal bad tissue damage... However, wasn't that normal for potions?
"That's great." Eeeeh! Yun! Explain it to meeeee!
"Also, it's about time I purchased a store. I finally accumulated the right amount." Magi-san hummed.
"Oh! Congrats! Congrats!" I hugged Magi-san as she stood up. "That's quite an achievement!"
"Congratulations," Yun said with a slight bow.
"Eh, the cheapest store costs five hundred thousand minimum, and if I'm buying one then I thought of getting the biggest one in this town. The initial capital I needed was seven hundred fifty thousand, and I need money for materials , too. I have about one M currently."
"M?"
"Is that so. You're quite rich, aren't you... To have a million already."
"What?!" I gapped at Magi-san.
Already a million gold?
She must be a very good crafter to earn that much in so little time!
"That's why if you have potions and other items, bring them to my shop directly. I'll buy them properly." Magi-san hummed.
"Thank you very much." We both did a polite bow. "At that time, I'll come over," Yun added with a smile.
We both formed quite a nice working relationship with Magi-san. I was very proud of her achievement... I wonder...
Should I be saving for a store instead of a stall?
As I pondered this, I noticed how friendly Magi-san was with her customers. She even promoted her shop a little while chatting with us...
"M-Magi-san? This weapon is?" I looked at Yun and saw him in shock. I followed his gaze to the cheapest weapon.
It was at twenty thousand gold.
"Ooh, One-Handed Sword? I made it in my spare time. Hmm, there's no Sense in it."
"Not that. The effect, effect!" Yun shouted as I appraised it better.
Wild Blade {One Handed Sword}
ATK+15 Additional effect: Critical Increase(minimal)
W-What? Such a boost!
My bow was only at ATK +2 and Iron Arrows brought only ATK +3... A total of ATK +5 which Yun said was basically the same as the initial swords...
NPC weapons went around +6 in attack when I looked around their shops early evening last night. Even with Fang Arrows getting a speed boost... I never saw anything like this.
Yet, what did this Critical Increase meant? The ATK +15 already made this a high-level item.
"Ah, additional effect? This is something anyone can do if they have the higher level of Smithing Sense."
"Hee?" We looked at her with interest.
"If you raise Smithing to 30, it'll change into Tempering. If that happens, your weapons will have an additional effect. Amazing, right? By the way, when Craftsmanship is leveled to 30, it becomes Engraving, so do your best."
"Um... If it's fine..." Yun glanced at me. "Could you teach us?"
"It's fine, fine," Magi-san chuckled. "It's all in the guides on the website. What's more important is combining characteristics of each Sense. It's not something that can be standardized. It's a game where everyone seeks the only talent. It's not something one can do with a template. The least expected way to achieve it might come from within you."
Right. Hawk Eyes with magic was like that. A lot of things could be done with combining Senses and experimenting.
Speaking of which, I needed to try out making those arrowheads. I couldn't use my furnace indoors and I was scared the light of my furnace would attract monsters in the woods.
... I could try doing it in the real world.
Oh, right.
My days were numbered. Maybe I recommend my fletcher idea to Sasuki.
"Thank you." I bowed with a big grin.
"Indeed. It's good to know Craftsmanship will have derivation at level 30. Is it the same for other crafting Senses?" Yun asked.
"Yup yup. Onee-san likes to watch young ones who do their best." Then Magi-san frowned at me. "But, you alright, Menma-kun?"
Huh? Magi-san didn't look too much older than us. What did she mean? At most, she was a twenty-year-old or something. Wait for a...
"Yes. I'm fine." I kept my grin on. "However, please tell us where your shop is once you have it set up."
"Okay," Magi-san nodded and kept her mouth shut while Yun looked at us in confusion. "It's about time for lunch, so I'll log out and eat." Magi-san sighed.
"Ah! I need to go out and make lunch as well or my little sister will be angry." Yun gave out a tired sigh.
"Ohh, a young girl's cooking. Onee-san would like to eat that."
"Right," Yun said before he looked at me. "Oh, right. I'm meeting my sister in the game after lunch. She is having me do a quest with her, so we could chat about Senses on the way to the location."
"Okay." I nodded. Wait a second... Yes! Lucky lucky!
I might have a chance to survive, yet!
"I will be finding a place to smith at then. It would be problematic if I go to the woods and force you to find me."
"Yeah." Yun nodded and disappeared into particles of light.
I said goodbye to Magi-san and got away before she tried to question me.
I found a quiet area with few people. It was a bit of an alleyway, but it worked for me. I set up my furnace and ingots. I would use Copper and Tin first before I make Iron.
Mostly since both were softer to figure out this next step. You couldn't make arrowheads out of a rectangular piece of metal...
Or, at least arrow heads and small stuff. So, I decided to take the Copper Ingot and headed it up. I then hammered it out and slowly turned it from an Ingot into a sheet of metal.
Once that was done, I finally found why there was a pair of seemingly gardening snips in my Smithing Kit. I drew out the arrowheads with a pencil and loosely cut out about twelve arrowhead blanks till the scraps disappeared in light practices due to I cut too much.
"Whew." I sighed. Copper was pretty soft, but at least my hypothesis was proven. I'll try six Copper Arrowhead Blanks in the forge and the other six with the file and such.
Best figure out the best methods to make arrowheads when I got nothing to go by book wise and all…
Oh? Is it already been mostly any hour? Best prepare for battle since probably gonna talk in a new area.
"Menma, meet me at the East gate when you can." Was what Yun left me after I made a few arrows and potions for the trip through Recipes and Synthesis.u
Once I reached the gate, I found Yun easily...
Though, why was there such a dense group of people? In the center of it was a silver hair girl in pretty armor.
"Come hunt with us. We're about to break through a boss mob."
"Hey, can you come..."
"Won't you come with us."
I flinched at the words. It reminded me all too much of my first day.
Worse, this girl was being called out by men and women alike.
"Sorry to make you wait." Yun grabbed my sleeve and pulled me towards the crowd.
"Too slow! Let's go!" The silver hair girl rushed over to us. She was wearing her sword the same way as Taku and had a white theme. It made her look very pretty and I blushed as she grinned at us.
"H-Hey," Yun said with a frown.
"Come on already." The silver hair girl grabbed Yun's hand and pulled us along. From the crowd, I could hear voices calling out... And I recognized hearing "Cute Ninja" and "Urban Legend." I wonder what was a legend if it's in an urban area?
Once we were quite a distance, Yun asked the girl how that crowd happened back there.
"I'm quite a well-known player now." The girl chimed, "There're lots of people who try to pick me up."
"Oh, is that really all right?"
So this was Yun's sister? With looking at them both, I could see the similarity between them.
No wonder Yun ended up turned into a girl.
"Yeah. Also, this equipment is a made-to-order product. I asked for an acquaintance from Beta version to make it for me. A lot of people are like 'talk to them for me' or 'give it to me' and so on about it. I'm quite tired of it." The silver hair girl sighed.
"Be careful. Don't let some weird guy attach himself to you. That's not a good idea."
"What? Yun-onee-chan's worried about me?" The silver girl gave a knowing smile and Yun replied with pursed lips and looking away. "I'm sorry. Thank you for worrying about me, Yun-onee-chan."
"Hey, I might be a female character in the game, but can't you call me brother?" Yun said with annoyance.
"Impossible. Also, it's because Onee-chan was too slow it turned out like this!" The silver hair girl punched up in the air before she noticed me. "Huh?" I flinched at the look she was giving me. It was a bit hot and not in a good way. Though, it didn't seem like hatred like I was used to.
"Should I abandon housework? Could you've helped me right? Like wiping the dishes for example," Yun said with narrowed eyes.
"Impossible. The game was calling me!" The silver hair girl cried out. "However, who is this?" Waaah! She narrowed her eyes at me and frowned.
I don't think she liked me.
"This is my friend Menma. Since we were meeting for a quest, I thought it would be a good chance for him to speak to you, Myu." Myu? So that's her name?
"Geez!" Myu pouted while putting her hands on her hips. "It's a female only quest with a limit of two people, Onee-chan! It's called the Investigation of Crystal Cave's Interior. She can't come with us!"
Yep. She definitely doesn't like me... Maybe she could sense my worries.
I looked down and pondered what to say... I-I didn't want to make Yun feel bad with inviting me to travel with them. But, I didn't want to be rude to Myu and make things worse.
This was my last chance to spend time with Yun. I wanted to at least see him not worrying about me. Especially since my days were likely numbered.
"Myu... Menma's like me. A boy in real." Yun pinched the bridge of his nose and I watched as Myu's face shift from blank shock before going into full horror.
"You mean you're a boy?! You're too cute to be a boy!" Myu shouted while pointing at me.
"I was thinking of my Ninja Centerfold transformation when my genjutsu got screwed up." I sighed. "Hence I ended up a girl instead of a boy."
"Genjutsu? What's that?" Myu asked before she gasped. "No way! You're the urban legend going around the boards, aren't you! The Cute Ninja!"
"Eh?" Yun and I looked at Myu. Then I yelped and hide behind Yun when Myu tried to grab me. "P-Please... I'm not good with physical contact."
"But, are you really a person trapped in the game? And able to transform and do real ninja stuff?" Myu asked with sparkles in her eyes.
"Er... How... Did Taku and them-"
"You did transform in front of the gate, Menma," Yun said while putting his hand to his forehead. "Even with Taku and his group kept quiet..."
"Noooo." I whined, "I don't want people to know I'm a ninja-in-training... I mean, not after what I found out."
Worse, once I am dead... Sasuki would be the target of my fame! He was bad with people to start off with.
"What did you find out?" Myu asked and I blushed with seeing a curious look from Yun.
Right... Yun was my friend, right?... Possibly me best one since he been with me since the first day I ended up here.
I couldn't lie to him.
"I'm a dead man."
"Eh?!" Both looked at me in horror.
"I freaked out after I figured out how Taming work... And accidently turned a Ninken into a stone! And there was this accident where Sasuki and I healed a bunch of people... And now we're captured by missing-nin and I really pissed off the leader with trying to use magic to escape after healing his comrades and he went back on his promise to let Sasuki go..." Tears were going down my cheeks as I trembled. "I got him to keep his promise… But now I stuck with the criminal!"
Why couldn't I get things done right for once? I just hoped Sasuki would survive even after the mistakes I did.
"S-So... You're currently a hostage?" Yun asked in shock.
"Yeah." I nodded. "Sasuki is possibly just getting up now due to all the sleeping medicine they put in him. That's why he's not here. I'm glad I managed to get him to safety... But what did I do to deserve my life ending with being a good guy? Worse, I'll never have a family as I'll be dead before I learn what that feels like."
I mean. The look in his eyes. Zabuza was a man of honor, I know it. How the flip did such a guy get away with lying when honor was often against that! I should be just glad I managed to push him to keep his word.
"A-A..." Myu stuttered with big eyes. She must really not want to be with me now. Or hang with her brother.
Who would want a soon-to-be-dead guy as a friend? Especially one like myself who kind of put me in this situation.
"I... I understand if either of you doesn't want me around." I bowed in apology. "Even if I had a great time with you, Yun... I shouldn't waste your time with soon any longer being here. I didn't want you to know as I didn't want to sadden you... But, I am still very thankful for you being my friend and-"
"A-An orphan?" Myu's voice cracked. "You never had a family?...No one ever there for you?"
"Yeah. I'm not well liked in Konoha, so I could see how no one wanted me" I sighed. "Now I'm gonna die, but I hope to learn as much as I can and-"
"You poor thing!"
"Waaah!" I gasped out as Myu hugged me.
"How could you give up so easily? You are just a kid and you are claiming you're about to die?" Myu whined out. Er… what the? Were you even listening to me? "No! As a Paladin, I shall not let this injustice go! Where are you? Yun and I can go and save you from that bad man!"
"Fire Country," Myu stared at me. "I'm from another Earth. Plus, if Zabuza doesn't kill me, this Kakashi guy tracking me down will since I turned his dog into a stone!" I cried out.
"A stone?" Both asked me and I opened my inventory.
"My Taming Sense somehow activated and Pakkun turned into a stone!" I held the stone while I shivered. "Konoha trackers are practically like brothers and sisters to their dogs. He's gonna kill me for this!"
"You got Taming to work!" Myu gasped, "Didn't anyone tell you it's a dead Sense?"
"No Sense is trash or dead!" I huffed out. "You only call it that without trying to figure out what those abilities are for... But, how do I free Pakkun? Or is he... He..." I was ready to sob. I was gonna die and worse, I had no idea if Pakkun was alive or-
"Summoning Stones, you basically hold it up and just use the word 'summon' to trigger the spell." Myu sighed while patting my head. "One or two people got them before so that part is in the guides. It's just getting them through Taming was what made it a dead Sense since it was all luck."
"How was petting a dog and making it make a deal with my luck?" Both stared at me before I took a deep breath. "Summon - Pakkun!" I shouted and the stone glowed as I dropped it on the ground.
Within a bright flash... Pakkun belly flopped right onto the ground. "What the? How did I get-"
"Thank goodness!" I hugged the surprised pug. "I won't be killed by Kakashi!" I don't even know the guy!
"Put me down," Pakkun growled.
"Oh! It's a little puppy!" Myu cooed. "Can I pet him?"
"Don't you dare call me a cute little puppy, miss," Pakkun said while glaring at Myu. "And I am a Ninken, so don't think of petting me. I'm on the job at the moment... Which, somehow I got summoned away from Kakashi."
"Eh?" I turned Pakkun around. "What do you mean? Weren't you stuck in that stone?"
"What stone?... And who are you, missy?" Pakkun asked.
"I'm one of the kids you are guarding. It involves why you were glowing and why the heck I ran from Konoha in a panic." I glared at Pakkun. "But, how did you get back to Kakashi?"
"Oh, it left something for you to summoning me?" Pakkun rubbed his ear in thought. "I see... So that's what was with that weird two names added in that one slot for my personal summoning scroll. All you did was send me back home and Kakashi summoned me with sensing that happening. We are heading to your hotel as we speak."
"Which I'm not there," I groaned. "Some missing-nin saw my ability to heal and kidnapped me. Worse, Sasuki-er, Sasuke has been left in a different hotel... Sigh, maybe you all can just get him home."
"Who's the missing-nin?" Myu and Yun looked at us in curiosity.
"Some guy named Zabuza. He has a big sword and he had me heal two of his comrades since they were the bad shape." I sighed out.
"How the heck you got mixed up with an S-ranked missing-nin like Momochi Zabuza?" Pakkun growled while jumping out of my hands. "However, I don't think he's gonna kill you."
"Why? I freaking lit his knee on fire and caused an explosion with magic!" I threw my hands in the air. "How the hell is someone not gonna kill me after that?"
"I don't even know what to say with hearing that." Yun sighed with his face in his hand.
"Amazing! I must know what Senses you used for that!"
"I just use Fire Element and Earth Element!" I hissed out. "How are you all not seemingly worried I pissed off a high-rank criminal?"
"Because your ability to heal must have impressed him to not kill you after doing so." Pakkun sighed, "Zabuza's known in the books as a merciless type Missing-Nin. He puts his goals and skin before anything else. The fact he let you live means he sees you as value for his goals."
"Jeez. Way to turn the good news I'll live into bad news." I said while smacking my forehead. "Well, maybe I could tell Zabuza the situation and try to negotiate to freedom. I mean, it was clear from how Haku was talking that they were trying to avoid trouble with Konoha."
"True. If you can talk it out, then it might be for the best." Yun sighed out in relief. "I'm just glad you're not in...Er… Well, not in danger of death, but... I'll support you from here. I might not be able to do much, but at least items and Senses here work there."
"What?!" Myu's eyes sparkled at me. "You can use Senses in real!"
"Yes, yes. Ah, Pakkun, this is Yun and Myu. Yun and Myu, this Pakkun. Welcome to the world of OSO or Only Sense Online. A supposed genjutsu game from another world that allows you to play around in a supposed fake world... Though, fake or not is the question Yun, Sasuki, and I are still trying to figure out."
"So... I'm in another world?" Pakkun asked while sniffing. "Sure smells different from Fire Country."
"Yep. Sorry. I just panicked with thinking I killed you and summoned you here." I sighed, rubbing my eyes to clear the tears. "However, now you see why I don't wanna go back to Konoha right now? Sasuki and I are just trying to figure out what my jutsu even does."
"Yeah." Pakkun sat down before me. "Though, ninja understands such things. A lot of ninja struggle through jutsu invention like this... But, never had I seen it on such a grand scale as this."
"Tell me about it." I sighed.
"Wait... You mean... You mean others can end up here from your world?" Myu asked with eyes beaming.
"Yeah. Sasuki did it. However, it resets all your abilities as our world runs on a similar system of abilities as Senses... Only you can only see if after you use the jutsu or you let a person touch you to expose their menu to them." I explained. "However, we don't understand it and we don't want other ninja trying it as we don't know if death here counts as death back home."
"I see." Myu said, "But if I could do that... Then I could be twice as efficient at leveling my Senses! Could you make a-"
"No!" Yun whacked Myu across the head. "You are already bad with your grades, you game addict. Plus, all your Senses are combat based. What the heck would you do in a peaceful Japan?"
"I could be a healer!" Myu chimed with a whine. "I bet-"
"Sasuki and I are healers and look where that ended up in real." An awkward silence filled the air.
"Sorry!" Myu bowed at me. "But... Does your village really hate you so much you're scared of them discovering your new abilities?" Then Myu's eyes narrowed at me. "No way! Did they beat you and-"
"They never beat me!" I cried out in frustration. "They... just glared... And ignored me... And said things... Never once... Once laid a finger on me... But, they scared me... I was so scared they would and..." I couldn't control myself anymore. "I... I just don't want them to hurt anymore... They might hurt me with thinking I become superpowered... But I don't wanna hurt anyone."
And, in truth, I had no idea what pain and horrors my jutsu could cause to Konoha if the ninja learned of it.
I mean. Sasuki and I had to do a lot of work just to survive. What would ninja use to fighting do with only basic abilities?
Chances were death would be high. Then the fact the lost of abilities weakening Konoha's forces...
Then, a war might erupt and... I didn't want to even think about it.
I wanted to stop being hurt... Even if it was just words and looks. With leaving Konoha, I solve both my problems of my pain and the possible pain my jutsu would cause.
"Toooo cuuteeeeee!" Myu hugged me again. "Those meanies! If I could go to your village, I'll wage war with them! How could they hate a sweetie like you?" Myu then got off and pumped her fist before her. "I know! From now on, you're my little brother. Ah, wait, you're a girl here, so you're the little sister I always wanted, te he!"
"Huh?"
"Though we can't officially do adoption considering our parents would kill my little sister," Yun sighed, "She speaks the truth on a lot of stuff... Menma, you shouldn't let those bullies make you think you're a bad guy. You're truly a good friend... No, since this is a pretend world, let's go with a sibling. I mean, you've been like that little brother that hangs with me. We will help you through your tough times just as you helped me."
"W-What?" I looked at them both and they were smiling at me. Warm bright smiles I've only seen families had for each other.
Never for me. "But... But..."
"If you have no family, then my family will gladly take you in as our little virtual one." Yun put his hand on my shoulder. I felt no hives formed and my eyes looked right into his. "I mean, there're no rules against making your own family when you have none. And you look like you really need one, Menma."
"Yep! Now I have a cute little sister to dress up and show off!" Myu hummed with hugging both of us. "And then we can go on lots of adventures! Oh, let me get screenshots to show Sei-nee-chan. I bet she would be so happy to get another little sibling with how adorable the Cute Ninja is! No, you should be the Adorable Ninja!"
"Myu... Menma's a guy." Yun sighed, "Don't go around calling him cute. It's rude."
"But, Onee-chan and Imouto-chan are so cute! I wanna show you both off to others and say you're my sisters."
"Jeez, Myu," Yun groaned.
"Hic."
"Huh?" Both focused back on me as my knees buckled.
I couldn't believe it... No, this couldn't be true.
"Menma, are you okay?" Yun asked before I wailed into the sky.
Every injustice I been through... Everything just came out as raw emotions and sobs.
This world had to be a dream.
It couldn't be anything but such.
Simply because I couldn't be this damn lucky to have finally gotten a family. A true family.
Hence, I mourned.
Mourned so hard.
I knew it was only a matter of time before I woke up back to nothing, after all.
I would wake up to being Zabuza's prisoner and possibly my demise soon.
Zabuza was a criminal after all... And crimes never end well in the long run.