A/N: I am not Kishimoto, therefore I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!
"Regular speech"
Regular thought
In-game announcements
In-game narrative
"In-game speech"
'In-game thought'
-In-game comment on open chat
Himari: In-game private chat
1/17/2020 - fixed errors
Chapter 1
August 27
Hinata had just finished unpacking and was staring at her calendar when the dorm room phone rang. She shook her head to clear her mind and hurried to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hinata," said the voice on the other side, clear relief in her tone. "Did you arrive safely?"
"Yes mother," Hinata replied. She could imagine her mother, Tsunade, biting her lip in worry. "I just finished unpacking everything and was about to clean up a bit when you called."
"That's good to hear. I worry, ya know, now that I'm traveling and you're on your own." For Hinata's freshman year at Konoha University, her mother had stayed close by for the entire year. Now work demanded her attention and that meant constant traveling between citys and countries.
"I know, mother. I promise that this semester I'll try and call you every Sunday. Don't worry too much about me, mother, I have to grow up sometime, right?"
She heard her mother sigh. "That's right. You're not the little girl that we found on the side of the road anymore. You're a growing, independent woman, but to me, you'll always be my sweet little girl." In the background, Hinata head someone calling for her mother. "Sweetheart, I have to go. Shizune sends her love. Love you!"
A quick "Love you too!" was the only thing Hinata could say before Tsunade hanged up.
Thirteen years have already passed… Hinata pushed back those memories and focused on her present. She looked around the room, and quickly dressed her bed. With nothing else to do, Hinata took out her laptop and powered it on. A few seconds later she had her online game running.
At the age of twelve, Hinata had fallen in love with the RPG Japan: A History and has never stopped playing it. The game was farming, fantasy and an epic all rolled into one. And the company added new territory every two years, so the map of the country always kept expanding. She quickly signed in at her character Himari appeared on the screen in her light, floral, lavender kimono blouse and dark lavender hakama skirt and her weapon of choice, the naginata. Immediately a chat box opened from her in-game husband, Tsubasa.
Tsubasa: Let's get divorced. Meet me at The Rock of Lives.
Hinata was momentarily in shock, but then her logical side kicked in, and his decision made sense to her. They had only married in-game for a specific dungeon challenge in the Tohoku region in the first place.
Himari: Ok. See you there.
Hinata opened her map and selected the Hokkaido region, then selecting the capital, Sapporo. Opening the park subdivision, she clicked on The Rock of Lives, and her character appeared next to Tsubasa's.
"Here is your compensatory weapon for agreeing to the divorce."
It was a level 50 sword with Fire 3 and Looting 2 enchantments.
Himari slapped the item away. "I don't need it. Let's get this done."
Tsubasa put the sword back into his inventory and nodded. Both walked towards the Lover's Statues, and the in-game marriage deity intoned:
We are gathered here today to mark the end of an intimate relationship. As we start, I would like to invite Tsubasa and Himari, to take a moment to recall the good things about your partnership. The loving, creative, fulfilling times that you shared. You came together in love and hope, and have a shared history as a couple for this period of time. At that time you held a ceremony to honor that union in trust and honesty. That partnership has now run its course, and today we undo those sacred vows to release each of you to your future.
Himari and Tsubasa recite:
"To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven;
A time to give birth, and a time to die;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace."
You have journeyed together as far as it is possible to go. You have spent these years together, walking through life as a united force. May I gently remind you to look back with love at this shared time and to set down the difficult times with forgiveness for each other and yourselves. You are about to release each other from the bonds of marriage so that your paths can diverge, and you can travel on your separate ways.
Do you accept? Yes or No
Himari and Tsubasa clicked Yes.
Today is an end of a union but the beginning of a new way to journey forward. Drink the Water of Amnesia. From this moment on, you are each other's "Ex" and as such have a new, different relationship.
Both drank and watched as a window popped up in the sky: Tsubasa and Hamari are no longer in love and have divorced.
"I apologize for any pain that I might have caused."
Himari shook her head. "We married for a challenge. It was only a matter of time before one of us left."
Tsubasa nodded. "Then I wish you well Himari."
"You too."
Tsubasa has logged off.
o.O.o
It was two hours later when Himari was traveling in the Kanto Region that she came across her clan's leader being defeated by Drollonn the Rock Golem. Checking her inventory, Himari saw that she was equipped with some Water Jutsu scrolls.
'This boss should give me at least some extra XP.'
Quickly taking a few kunai out, Himari threw them and caught the attention of the boss. It let out a roar and ran towards her. Himari waited till Drollonn was about seven meters, did the hand signs and called out "Kanashibari no Jutsu" (Temporary Paralysis Technique). Drollonn froze mid-step, and Himari wasted no time in gathering the rest of her chakra and used "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu" (Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique). The solid, dry ground was covered in waves of water that rushed around them. Behind Himari a giant column of water began to form, when it reached fifteen meters high, the column shot directly towards Drollonn. The rock golem never stood a chance and disappeared. A purple light shined in the monster's place and dropped a Mage Class OP Necklace, but it wasn't Himari's equipment type.
"Himari!" Hoshi called out. Her long blond hair flapped behind her. "Thanks for saving us. We were having a hard time defeating Drollonn."
"It's no problem, but next time face Drollonn alone. His stats fall when fighting a female fighter alone but triple when it's mixed."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"So," Takeo, the clan leader said. "What did it drop?"
Himari handed Hoshi the necklace and watched her jaw drop.
"I am so lucky!" Hoshi exclaimed. "It's a Mage Class OP Necklace."
"How about a challenge for that necklace?" The group turned to the new arrivals. It was one of the top 10 clan leaders and his two companions. "We were about to jump in when Himari beat us to it."
Hoshi ran behind Takeo. "No way. Your way too strong for me."
The leader laughed. "The how about asking Himari to fight for you?"
Hoshi quickly used a Bubble Eye Jutsu, "Please."
"Your choice Himari," Takeo said.
Himari nodded, "I'll do it."
"Meet us at the main plaza in Tokyo at five today," the leader said then logged off.
"Thank you Himari. It's rare that I can find any equipment that I can wear," said Hoshi and hugged Himari.
Hinata had just typed a message when her screen went black. Hinata switched on and off her desk lamp and found that the dorm had a blackout. Sighing, she searched for her tool kit at the bottom drawer and opened the fuse box and fixed the faulty main power switch. Last semester, she had sent in her complaint about the regular blackouts, but it seems that nobody had fixed it yet. Testing the light with her desk lamp, she switched it on, and the light turned on. Hinata turned back to her computer and tried the power button, but it did nothing. She flipped her laptop and took out the back panel, a quick search lead to her slightly smoking, dead battery. Hinata had hoped that her battery would last a bit longer, she had seen the signs, but it decided to die when she needed her laptop the most. Tomorrow she would buy the replacement battery. Hinata checked the clock, 3:15, and decided that she had about an hour to burn. Changing into her running shorts and a t-shirt, Hinata tied her hair into a ponytail and headed for the school track.
o.O.o
Internet Café - 4:50
Himari has logged on
Hinata wasted no time in sending out a message and a challenge when she arrived at the main plaza and saw her opponent.
Himari: Let's not waste time. I only have half an hour at the Internet Café. Let's do two out of three.
Once in position, the clan leader, Manabu, hit his palms on the ground and unleashed "Doton: Retsudo Tensho" (Earth Release: Split Earth Turn Around Palm). Himari jumped into the air using her air walking technic, escaping the spiraling ground and created three Bunshin Daibakuha (Clone Great Explosion). As the ground settled, she and her clones gathered enough chakra to use Chidori. One by one, her clones ran towards Manabu. He easily dodged the first two, but forgot about the third, and barely dodged it's Chidori. That was his mistake. The way Manabu dodge left him completely open for the clone to explode sending him flying through the air, straight towards the real Himari. Meeting the body in the middle, she stabbed her Chidori through Manabu's back causing instant death and winning her the first round.
After regenerating, the second round started, and this time, Himari went on offense. Using Suiton: Bakusui Shoha (Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave), Himari spat out wave after wave of water that reached Manabu in seconds. Wasting no time, she gathered her remaining chakra and stuck her overpowered Chidori in the water, effectively electrocuting Manabu and winning the second round. Even if she had to sacrifice a few HP.
In-game open chat comments:
-That was incredible!
-No wonder Himari is the only female player on this server ranked for dueling.
-She's playing him for sport!
-Right?
-How is she so good at the "walk-on-air" trick?
-That doge was incredible!
-She only places sixth with that kind of skill?
-I wonder who's number one?
-Is the number one the legendary Lord Uzu Haruto?
-I've never met him. The name is pretentious enough!
-How did he come up with that avatar handle?
Manabu: I give! I give! I don't want to lose any more levels.
Winner of this challenge is Himari
After regenerating again, Manabu approached Himari and handed her a red orb. "This is the reward that I offer. I found this orb at Sulfur Mountain, but I have no clue what it does."
Himari accepted the reward and logged off; her time was up.
Hinata packed and paid for her service and left to the electronic store, hoping to find a replacement battery for her laptop.
Unbeknownst to Hinata, she had a spectator watching as she fought Manabu.
o.O.o
Internet Café 4:45
"Jiraiya mentioned that you're interested in starting a gaming company," said Nagato after moving his piece.
Naruto nodded, eyes barely seeing the board as he made his counter move on the shogi board. Nagato paused, then move to protect his sudden weak point, but it was too late. In his next move, Naruto moved his pawn to face the king. "Good game."
Nagato nodded in defeat. "Per our earlier agreement you won this game, so as a graduation gift I will give you a gift." Nagato then pulled out a folder from his briefcase and passed it to Naruto. "This is the deed to the Internet Café. With remodeling, this place will be enough for a start."
"Cousin, that is your offer. I didn't agree to it."
"You don't want it?" asked Nagato surprised.
"No," Naruto confirmed, a foxy grin spread on his face.
Nagato let out a knowing laugh and pointed at Naruto, "You, are ambitious."
Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "I just think it's more fun to start from nothing. Plus, I already found the spot."
Nagato gave in. They packed up the board game and stepped out into the main room at the café. "We're both black sheep of the family because we're into computers." Nagato waved at the sea of computer monitors. "Your dad was an archeologist, your mom a historian and your godfather a private investigator, yet, you and I, we are into computers." After a pause, Nagato continued, "I don't have the energy to run this place anymore. If you don't want it, I'll shut it down."
"Sir," a worker interrupted. "You have a call."
"Yes," Nagato answered. To Naruto, he made his voice as deep as possible and said, "I'll be back."
As Naruto was left alone in the main room, his eyes swept the monitors, watching as people checked their social media accounts, answered emails and watched videos. Then, a monitor caught his eye. Right in front was a girl with fast hand movements playing Japan: A History. Unconsciously, Naruto walked closer to her. He was mesmerized as she quickly typed combination after combination to do the right jutsus and defeat her opponent. In a matter of minutes, she had her opponent beaten. He cracked a smile as her handle was mentioned in the public chat room. Himari… fitting name. Naruto held his breath as she turned. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her porcelain face. She, Himari, was beautiful.
"Let's go," Nagato broke Naruto out of his focus. "It's my turn for lunch."
When Naruto looked back, Himari was gone.
I will find you.
August 29
Hinata woke to a pair of voices yelling her name and two bodies landing on top of her. Their combined weight took her breath away. Hinata tried to push the bodies away, but they pinned her arms down.
"Hinata!" they yelled excited.
"Can't… Breath…"
The two girls let up and fell to the floor laughing as Hinata took in precious air. She glanced at her clock and winced at how late it was. "When did you get here?"
"Why?" asked Sakura smirking. "So that you can know how deep you sleep?"
Hinata rolled her eyes at the barb.
"We just got here actually," Matsuri said from the floor. "When we saw you, Sakura and I could not resist."
"Ha ha." Hinata stretched, "Anyways, let me know if you need anything because I'm going out in a bit."
Matsuri shook her head, "I'm good."
Hinata turned to Sakura. She stood there thinking then, "Let me finish up here quickly, and I'll go with you."
o.O.o
"How was your summer Hinata?"
"Full of medical texts, dead, naked bodies and late-night gaming." Hinata deadpanned as she browsed at the wall at the electronic store, looking a specific battery. Out of the corner of her eye, Hinata saw Sakura shivered. Tsunade was a renowned and highly in demand medic and so in every school break Hinata helped her mother out. While medicine had picked her interest, seeing dead bodies was not.
"And that's why I decided to stick with being a pediatrician." Sakura turned to look at a protective case for her laptop when in through the doors came the Campus Bell and her sidekick, Shion and Karin. Quickly whispering, "Hinata six o'clock!" Sakura alerted Hinata about her undeclared love rival. Hinata nodded, found her battery and made a beeline for the cashier with Sakura at her side.
"Hey," they heard Karin whispered yell to Shion. The store had some nice acoustics. "Isn't that the runner up from the beauty contest? The Department Bell?"
"Ignore them, Karin. They are not worth our attention."
Sakura leaned in closer to Hinata's ear, "Cold as ice, that one." Hinata's lips twitched.
Hinata ignored Sakura and paid for her battery. Grabbing Sakura's hand, they left the store feeling two pair of eyes tracking their movements until they turned at the corner of a street. Hinata met Sakura's eyes, and both busted out laughing.
"How can someone so conceited be the Campus Bell?" Sakura said imitating Shion's aristocratic speech.
"Maybe the rest of the school is blind?"
Sakura shrugged. "I still think that you should have won that contest. Whoever uploaded that blurry picture did you no justice."
Hinata rolled her eyes and tugged on Sakura's arm. "Let's go back to the dorm."
Within five minutes they were back, Hinata took out her tools and flipped her laptop. In a blink of an eye, she had replaced her battery and turned on her computer. After making sure that everything was there, Hinata logged on to her game and guided her character back to Sulfur Mountain to collect herbs.
"Back to your game?" teased Sakura. "Or to your husband?"
"We broke up."
"But he was your in-game husband!" cried Sakura.
"So what?" Matsuri questioned. "It's not like they know each other in real life."
"But-"
"And, by the telling signs on Hinata's face, her "husband" has been more distant lately."
"But-"
"Sakura," Matsuri gently laid her hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I know that you believe that true love prevails, but this is an online game, not real life. And even in real life, finding someone to truly, deeply fall in love is hard. There is no real path to take for that "eternal true love" that you believe."
"But-" Sakura tried again, but Matsuri shook her head.
"I may be young, but love is more than liking the idea of love. It is a decision that must be made every day because love is an act. It's a decision. It's deliberate. It's an effort and energy every day. It's choosing and committing. It's doing. It's not simply," Matsuri waved her hand in an ambiguous gesture, "it. Get me?"
Sakura nodded and sat on her bed defeated.
Hinata smiled at Matsuri, "You are wise beyond your year."
"I'm an old soul," she shrugged. "What can I say?"
A beep from the chat box brought Hinata's focus back to the game.
Hoshi: Himari, where are you? What are you doing?
Himari: I am collecting herbs in the forest. What's wrong?
Hoshi: What's wrong? Did you break up with Tsubasa?
Himari: Yes. That was a few days ago. I thought that was old news.
Hoshi: Why are you so calm? I heard that he and Chou would soon become in-game spouses.
Himari: Chou?
Hoshi: Don't you know her? She won the Dreamy Angel contest and is known as the number one beauty of Japan: A History. Drop the herbs and check out the site!
Himari: Give me a second.
Hinata opened a new tab on her browser and loaded the main page for the online game. She clicked the contest section and at the very top was the "Dreamy Angel" contest with a picture of Cho, the player behind the Chou handle, as the winner.
Himari: She's pretty.
Hoshi: …Did you really break up?
Himari: We only became in-game spouses for a quest. Don't take it to heart.
Hoshi: It's still a shame. Tsubasa seemed like a nice guy. I didn't peg him to be influenced by beauty. On the other hand, this Cho is really pretty. I heard that she fancied a guy on the equipment ranking. I just didn't expect her to be with Tsubasa. But I did notice that they have been leveling up together.
Himari: I see.
Hoshi: But it's not Tsubasa's fault. The thing is, Himari…
Himari: What?
Hoshi: You're so skilled. You're number six on the duel ranking. You never ask boys for equipment, and you never post any photos of yourself. The thing is… everyone suspects that you're a dude in disguise playing a female character.
"A dude in disguise?" Hinata loudly said indignantly. "I'm now a guy because, apparently, I don't post photos?' Hinata let out a groan as she leaned back on her chair, "What's with this superficial world?"
"Whoever they are, Hinata, they clearly haven't met you, our Department Beauty." Matsuri piped from her top bead.
Congratulations to Mr. Tsubasa and Ms. Chou. May your merry matrimony last forever, and never shall you part.
Hinata clicked "wander" mode and left to the bathroom. Once alone, she stared at the mirror, her logical mind trying to make heads out of this mess.
Firstly, she was a gamer at the tender age of twelve. Hinata has seven years under her belt to know that online relationships do not last. No matter how much work it's put into. Second, she always kept her distance. Her mother had taught her the dangers on online socializing, and really, anybody could be at the other end. Lastly, Hinata was not interested in finding a partner, in-game nor in real life. With that, Hinata finished her business and returned to her computer.
Only to find a bigger mess.
The big downside of letting a character wander is that they gather where most players are. And, apparently, after reading a few comments in between the nastier ones, she was going to storm the wedding of Tsubasa and Chou. And to think, this all started when I went to the bathroom…
"If I run away now, the gossipy crowd would think that I'm heartbroken." Hinata softly commented to herself.
Tsubasa: What's wrong? Didn't you say no hard feelings a few days ago?
Himari: Dude, I'm only here as an onlooker.
"I can't leave, yet I can't stay." Hinata rolled her neck, trying to loosen up the sudden knots that she had. "There is only one thing to do."
Herbs on sale!
Himari: Come on! Take a look! Fully certified herbalist with the latest medicine. Twenty percent off the regular price!
-Is she selling medicine?
-Fully certified medicine!
-Twenty percent off? That's cheap!
-Nice deal! I want one.
Hinata watched as all the players crowded around her as the caravan quietly passed by.
Sold out!
After everyone cleared the ivory bridge of the main water town, someone called out her handle. Himari turned around and there, underneath the weeping willow, stood Lord Uzu Haruto, the server's number one player.
"Lord Uzu Haruto?"
He nodded.
Himari elegantly, as much as one can, ran down the bridge and approached Lord Uzu. "Yes, Lord Uzu?"
"What do you think of the wedding?"
'Did he come to gossip, too?' Himari let out a small smile, "It was grand."
"Would you like an even grander wedding?"
Himari's eyes grew wide and she felt her jaw drop slightly.
"Form an in-game marriage with me."