"Look mom! Dad!" I showed them my Mantle of Vitality than I had chosen to wear for this quest.
It didn't look the most stylish, but the quest spooked me into wearing it. I would need all the advantages I could get, even if the exp listed didn't suggest it would be too hard for a genin.
"Umm nice honey." Mom tried. "It looks good with your… dress?"
"Yes. They're both.. red…." Dad added. I know their real opinions. And I don't care, I am miking this.
I posed for effect, flexing my muscles even as they were hidden by the cape. Some guy with a sunhat came up to my dad. "We're ready sir. When you give the signal, we're clear to head out."
"Yes, thank you. Tell them they're good to go. I assume you've dealt with the gate guards as well?" Sunhat guy nodded. "Perfect. Let's go then."
And so! We went! Onto the great beyond! The wild west! The wilderness, where no one has ever dared tread before!
I pointed to the horizons. I am coming for you, destiny! Just you wait!
"Honey, are you coming?"
"Yes mom!"
I don't know what I expected. I mean, it's guard duty. But it's so…
Boring! Is this the life of a ninja? Wait for something exciting to happen? I just sit here! Watching these people! And that's it!
The most action I've gotten so far today is pulling some guy's leg out of a hole he tripped into.
In addition, I have noted that there are six of them, excluding my parents, and they all are incredibly dull. Like, really dull. They won't even talk to me anymore. After an hour of asking them about their lives they started telling me off, saying I was wasting their energy on small talk. Well, when small talk is the only thing you've got you take it all right?!
...I may be a bit more tense than I previously thought.
I settled back into my spot on top of one of the cargo carriages, watching the trees go by us. All the carriages except for one were cargo carriages. The last one was where mom and dad were, sitting in the nice shade, ordering everyone around like royalty. I asked if I could sit with them and they kicked me out! Said I was the hired help, and should be out there actually doing my job! The nerve!
Okay, seriously I need to calm down. Though it's kind of hard to do when you know there's going to be some sort of attack, but not from where or when. The sun is setting, so that means the time for travelling is almost over.
I've been briefed on the details of the trip. I mostly blocked out the lame stuff, but the timetable is supposed to go something like five days travel, spend two days in Hot Springs, then five days travel back. Just in time to have a rest day before the Academy starts back up again. Yeeeeeeeh.
"Hey, Masumi. Can you pass the salt?" I asked sunhat guy. I had finally learned his name, him being the only one who lifted the ban on conversation. He was apparently a long time working associate of my parents', so maybe he felt obligated to talk to me. Since I'm their whole child and all.
It still made me like him immeasurably more than the drab mess that is the others, so I've decided he's gonna be the only guy whose name I remember.
"Yes of course."
I put some extra salt on my reheated sashimi. Don't judge. I like it salty. "Say, why are we going to Hot Springs again?" I asked.
"Weren't you there at the debriefing?"
I blew on my sashimi. "Yes?"
Masumi gave me an unimpressed expression. "We're just going to be collecting some money owed to us by one of our contractors. He didn't send it out on the normal shipment because he's backlogged and didn't have the men, so we're getting it ourselves."
"Wow, we need money so badly we can't stand to wait a few weeks?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I just do whatever your parents tell me."
"Right." That explanation gave me exactly no good feelings about this trip. Let's see where this goes.
You know, at first I hated the silence and brisk attitudes, but now I kinda dig it. It leaves me space to train. Nothing strenuous. Nothing that would cost too much MP, since I would need that, but my Konoha Standard Taijutsu went up a level! So that's good. Well not really. Seems I've run into another problem.
Konoha Standard Taijutsu (Passive) lvl. Max: The basic taijutsu that every Konoha nin knows. It allows for punches, kicks, blocks, and most importantly, dodging in a three dimensional space. Modifier: +(lvl.) to Str stat.
I've learned all there is to learn. I'm going to need a new taijutsu to work on. I really don't feel like this skill is good enough if it maxed out at level ten. On the plus side, it gave me a nice bonus!
Congratulations! You have mastered the skill: Konoha Standard Taijutsu (Passive)!
+2 Str.
And those were permanent strength points too! Not just extra ones from the skill, which means these are my new stats.
Name: Haruno Sakura
Lvl. 10
Next lvl. 03.49%
Designation: The Gamer
Occupation: Academy Student
HP: 2200/2000 (+200)
MP: 1700/1700
Str: 16(+10)
Agi: 10(+11)
Cha: 9
Int: 18
Wis: 17(+5)
Luck: 3(+2)
Points:18
Description: Sakura is a young Konoha Academy student who excels in book learning and word problems. She has recently learned of her Gamer status, and is carefully optimistic on her prospects for the future.
Current state: Considering.
This is good, because I think we're going to get ambushed soon. Call it a gut feeling, but this is the perfect time for one to be sprung on us. We had just entered Hot Water a few hours ago, meaning it would be a lot harder to call for help if things went haywire. It was also coming closer and closer to dusk, meaning visibility would be crap, but not totally shot. Plus, people unconsciously let their guard down during the transition periods of dawn and dusk. Kudos to Sakura for remembering that from her textbooks.
Time to put out some feelers. I gathered my strength and put out my hand. A blue pattern of overlapping triangles appeared on my palm, spinning and rotating in different directions.
"Open, gate of the Storm! Naomi!" The triangles turned yellow and lined up perfectly behind each other, giving passage for a brighter light to pass through, turning corporeal and launching itself to the space in front of me. Once the light show was over, Naomi came out looking entrancing like usual.
"Whoa, what the hell is that?!" Masumi shouted, making everyone look over to what I was doing.
"First of all, Naomi's a she, and it's ninja magic. Don't worry about it." I dismissed him. Generally saying "ninja magic" tended to get civs off your back about whatever you were doing, even if I was technically lying to them.
Naomi doesn't take chakra. She takes MP directly. I can tell because it feels much different than molding the energies together.
"Hey Sakura! What's upppp?" She did an aileron roll. (yes I also watched that Game Theory episode.) "Are we training some more? I love training! Are we training?"
I smiled. "No, Naomi. We're actually on our first mission right now." One of the guys looked up at us, alarmed. "I just need you to go ahead of us and do some reconnaissance, stake the place out and see if there are any malicious entities lying in wait for us."
A question mark appeared above her shiny little head of black hair. "What's reconnaissance? And what's a malicious?" I did not have the time to teach her how to speak right now.
"Don't worry about it. Just look and see if you can see some bad guys ahead of us, okay? Make sure you take your time. I don't wanna be caught off guard."
She nodded enthusiastically, and then saluted. "Okay!" And she was off.
Sure enough, twenty minutes later she came back with news. "There are some weird guys wearing rags and pointy metal things over there." She pointed at where the road developed itself. "There's also, like a buncha houses and hot springs and stuff even further up! It smelled reaallly nicee." She fawned over herself.
I see.. We're already close to Yugakure, then? That could mean two things. One, they're incredibly dumb, setting up an ambush this close to a hidden village. Or two, they're in leagues with Hot Springs. Very obviously, I preferred the former.
"Did they look strong at all? Did they look like ninja?"
That question mark appeared again. "What's a ninja?"
Seriously. "Do you know anything?!"
She grinned and started spinning. "Nope!"
The urge to facepalm came, but I valiantly suppressed it. "Alright. Just start attacking anyone that tries to come at us, okay?"
She saluted again. "Okay!"
Cool, now that that's dealt with….
I jumped on top of my parent's caravan and knocked, prompting them to stick out their heads. I then cleared my voice. "So attention, everyone! We'll be getting into a little bit of a sticky situation soon, so I suggest you keep all valuables close to your chest and well protected. Make sure you stay with the group during the entire duration of the altercation," So I don't have to chase you down when someone comes after you, "and most of all, stay calm. As a ninja of the Leaf, your protection is insured and guaranteed by the State of Fire, so long as all directions I just uttered are followed. Questions?" There were no questions, but they did huddle in close together. They've probably been through this shtick before. "Thank you. That will be all."
My mom gave me a judging look. "Are you allowed to say any of that yet?"
I grinned evilly. "No. But they don't need to know that."
I pulled two kunai from my inventory and got into a defensive stance on top of the middle caravan, ready to react and retaliate to any situation. These bandits would have to get through me to get a shot at any of the valuables here, and I wasn't going to be playing nice.
"Good luck, honey! You'll do great!"
"Thanks mom!" Let's get this exp!
Observe.
Name: Kohaku
Lvl. 7
Designation: Black Wolves Lowlife
Occupation: Bandit
HP: 800/800
MP: 650/650
Str: 9
Agi: 5
Cha: 3
Int: 4
Wis: 2
Luck: 6
Description: Being orphaned at a young age, Kohaku had to learn to fend for himself in an environment unsupportive of those in his situation. Not very bright, and not being blessed with too many talents besides his physique, the only options for him were hard manual labour and banditry. At age fifteen, he chose banditry. He's been a loyal member of the Black Wolves ever since.
Current state: Ready to loot.
Every single bandit's stats had looked just about like this. There were about five in total, their levels not really exceeding 8. Perfect. This was absolutely doable.
They had been hiding in the trees and following us for a while now, but to my ninja senses they were like a beacon, even with the darker sky.
A bundle of them split off and encountered the west wing of the carriage line. "Halt! We are the Black Wolves! Hand over all your valuables and we'll let you live!" The other two bandits circled around to come at the southeast.
They wasted no time attacking the goods, and we didn't either. "Naomi!"
A small lightning strike hit one of the bandits coming for Masumi, the resulting bang of noise rattling everyone, including the bandits into stopping attacking.
+500 exp!
Well that's one way to tell me he's dead. I do not have time to process that!
I flew, kunai in hand and slicing through the group at the butt end. The first one was too shocked from the blast to react in time, resulting in me getting a good amount of hits in.
-257 HP!
-409 HP!
-186 HP!
The other one I didn't get as lucky with, as he swung his sword at me. I rolled out of the way, tossing one of my kunai at the first guy.
-48 HP!
+600 exp!
Perfect. Another lightning strike!
+400 exp!
The leftover guy swung again, and I blocked it with my kunai, leaving me space to maneuver around and circle my elbow into his jaw, disorienting him and making him lose the force he put on his sword arm, leaving my other arm up for a knife slice.
-230 HP!
-547 HP!
And to throw the other knife for good measure..
-23 HP!
+500 exp!
You have leveled up!
Perfect! The last guy was running away, but I wouldn't let him! I set off to run after him when—
"No! Help!" Oh God that's mom! That's mom!
I ran over to their carriage, discovering another bandit, but this one gave off a different air.
Observe
Name: Yukio
Lvl. 19
Designation: Yugakure Nuke-nin
Occupation: Black Wolves Leader
HP: 2600/2600
MP: 1600/1850
Str: 22
Agi: 29
Cha: 25
Int: 15
Wis: 14
Luck: 9
Description: Officially exiled for breaking a major village rule, Yukio was shunned by his fellow Hot Springs ninja. It didn't mean that he stopped having dealings with past clients, in or out of Yugakure. Now, his only goal in life is to get rich and show up the very people who made his life miserable.
Current state: Impressed.
He was holding my mom in a chokehold, a kunai pointed directly over her heart. Filthy brown hair matted his too big nose and beady eyes. A not too enticing display, but that may just be me projecting. After all, he was holding my mom hostage!
"Let her go. Or you die."
He raised one eyebrow. "Or I what? You really think some genin in a ridiculous cape could stand around and tell me what to do?" He scoffed. "Gotta say, you took out my distraction pretty easily by yourself. Along with the help of that summon of yours, but you're no match for me. Let me just get what I came here for and you might even leave here alive."
"Hah. Never. What would you even want from them? There's only spices and tupperware in here."
"I want the leaders of this joint. This woman here I got, but I need the man too. Where is he?" He's aiming for my parents? Why?
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Don't get smart with me! I don't even nee—"
"Naomi now!"
A lightning strike came for both Yukio and my mom.
-761 HP!
The resulting crash left my eyesight dazed for a bit, and I lost track of where he went. I didn't have to wait long to find out.
I dodged kunai and shuriken that came from my right side. I took some shuriken straight out of my inventory and deflected even more coming from me.
Yukio landed a few paces away from me, his clothes singed. "A transformed water clone. The woman was a water clone the whole time. Not bad."
Water Style: Water Clone (Active) lvl: 2: The user creates a copy of themselves entirely made out of water. They have physical form, but only a fraction of the strength of the original. Current MP use: (250-26% =) 185 MP.
That's right. Practicing my taijutsu wasn't the only thing I was doing on the way here. I had also focused on my new water jutsu, which meant I was working on my Water Manipulation. Turns out using actual jutsu raises the level a whole lot faster. Thankfully I had the good sense to check out the scroll for the Water Clone when I left Konoha. Otherwise...
I smirked. "You really think I'd let my parents stay in that wagon unprotected like that? You must be a bigger idiot than I thought."
Naomi started hovering next to me, huffing and puffing. "Sakura, *hah* I don't think I can *hah* do anymore of those lightning *hah* shots."
"That's fine. Just water wave him when he gets too close for comfort."
"Okay.."
"Done with your strategy meet?" Yukio taunted.
"Way this fight is going, you're the one that needs the time."
He smirked. He was having fun! "Oh, we'll see about that." He vanished.
Oh no, that's a Shunshin! I held up my kunai close to my head and neck, hoping to protect them, and jumped away. It didn't save me from his onslaught, as he kicked my left hand away, the kunai going with it. Next, he took out the other hand with a knife slice, making me drop my weapon.
-142 HP!
-399 HP!
He went for another strike, but he had to evade a water wave from Naomi.
Okay, he is way too fast for me. And damn that hurt! I need a new plan! I can't just rush into this thing and expect to win! So, he's too fast for me. What can I do about it? Oh right!
Stats
Stats
Name: Haruno Sakura
Lvl. 11
Next lvl. 60.92%
Designation: The Gamer
Occupation: Academy Student
HP: 1759/2100 (+200)
MP: 615/1700
Str: 16(+10)
Agi: 10(+11)
Cha: 9
Int: 18
Wis: 17(+5)
Luck: 3(+2)
Points:24
Description: Sakura is a young Konoha Academy student who excels in book learning and word problems. She has recently learned of her Gamer status, and is carefully optimistic on her prospects for the future.
Current state: Rushed.
I have 24 whole points! Time to take advantage. "Naomi, distract him!"
She zoomed off, a blade of wind blasting Yukio's spot, resorting in him having to dodge. Good, that'll occupy him for a bit.
Now for the new stats….
Lvl. 11
Next lvl. 60.92%
Designation: The Gamer
Occupation: Academy Student
HP: 1759/2100 (+200)
MP: 1315/2400
Str: 26(+10)
Agi: 20(+11)
Cha: 9
Int: 22
Wis: 17(+5)
Luck: 3(+2)
Points:0
Description: Sakura is a young Konoha Academy student who excels in book learning and word problems. She has recently learned of her Gamer status, and is carefully optimistic on her prospects for the future.
Current state: Rushed.
Hah! Now I'm stronger and faster! It even gave me some of my MP back! I think I can win now!
"Think you can try to run, huh?!" Yukio jumped away from Naomi's onslaught, launching into hand signs.
"Fire Style: Running Fire!"
A thick tendril of fire exited his mouth and ran out like a rope around me, stopping at just the edges of the line of carriages beside me, encircling me. The civilians screamed in terror. I was trapped. The fire was closing in ever so slightly.
"Now for the coup d'état!" More hand signs flew into another fire jutsu. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Oh absolutely not. I activated the skill, and my hands went into the hand signs on their own. "Water Style: Wild Water Wave!"
Just as the ball of fire came in and tried to hit me, an equally large billow of water came to confront it, smashing through both the circle of fire and the attack at the same time.
"That's right! I freakin' counter you! What are you gonna do about it?!"
Naomi came to my rescue, putting out the rest of the fires and making sure it didn't hit the now frightened civilians.
I didn't give Yukio time to recover, flying into a taijutsu combo before he could Shunshin away. The first two kicks went up and straight into his jaw, following a bicycle kick I flipped backwards for on the head.
-455 HP!
-487 HP!
-309 HP!
For the last hit I took a kunai out of my inventory for a stab in the neck, but he dodged it halfway through. Wasting no time, he flipped back out and to the side.
"How did you get so fast so quick?!" He yelled. The tables turned so quickly he didn't have time to process it.
Yukio
HP: 588/2600
This is it. I don't think he has anything more up his sleeve. "I don't need to tell anything to a dead man."
Yukio was terrified, I could see it on his face. "Not if I make a run for it!" Oh no you don't!
"Water Release: Water Whip!" Thankfully this jutsu only had two hand signs, meaning it was fast enough to grab for Yukio's ankles and drag him to me.
-58 HP!
"This is the end, terrorizer."
"No!" The kunai came down.
-530 HP!
+1200 exp!
You have leveled up!