PING!
[Stealth (Active) has leveled up!
Stealth (Active) Lv 48 (8.92%)
Minimizing the noise you make and the amount another can see you, you have learned to remain unnoticed.
48% chance of success.
-6% chance of working for every ten levels affected NPCs are beyond you.
+14% chance of working for every ten levels you are above affected NPCs.]
I quietly dropped out of [Stealth] from the rafters and landed right behind my target, then tapped her shoulder.
She screamed like… well… like a little girl.
"Gundan!" she admonished, clenching a fist and bonking my head… hard. "What is wrong with you?!"
[Physical Resistance (Passive) has leveled up!
Physical Resistance (Passive) Lv 36 (3.70%)
Due to being hurt in the past, your body has learned to stave off a portion of the damage.
-36% damage from all physical attacks.]
"That hurt, Mai!" I complained. "We're going to be shinobi, now; how are you going to be a good kunoichi if you scream every time someone surprises you?"
"By not getting snuck upon, I presume." Kitsuna droned.
I offered the boy a wounded look.
Mai smirked triumphantly. "See? At least someone thinks I'm going to be a good kunoichi." Her lower lip then trembled, and her eyes watered with unshed tears as she looked at me. "Unlike someone."
I immediately grew guilty. "Um… I'm sorry Mai! I didn't mean it; please stop crying!"
"Oh, the look on your face!" she suddenly burst out laughing. "You're so easy, Gundan-kun."
I growled. "Should've fucking known."
"Language!" Hideki chided, eyeing me disdainfully. "I will never be able to see what Hitomi-sama sees in you – a buffoon who behaves like a commoner."
Biko simply sighed, leaning against the wall with an air that spoke of laziness. "I'm surrounded by idiots."
It had been three months since I woke up from my 'Dive to the Heart'. In these three months, a lot of events had come to pass.
Outside the building in which my friends and I grew in knowledge of the shinobi arts, Konoha itself was changing. The smear campaign against Naruto abruptly stopped when I joined the Academy. This coupled with my attempts at bringing his image up whenever my friends and I took to the village proper (almost every day) made me have hope that life would be far different for Naruto than it was in canon. In spite of me not being able to use childish charms in my persuasion, it was clear-cut arguments that did the job for me since I was now widely known to have joined the Academy.
Ah, the woes of having everyone know you.
The Uchiha Clan was also enjoying similar benefits, but since I have very little contact with the clan (which is to say, none at all) beyond Itachi, it wasn't much. I didn't want to even enter the compound without skipping a year at least. I don't know Fugaku's character very well, but I couldn't chance him thinking that I was slowing his son down and have him forbidden from being friends with me. Very fanfic-cliché, I know, but hey, it never hurt to be careful.
While their reputation with the village was somewhat better, the now-growing Kurama clan had no such reservations, and the two were almost the best of friends. It was strange seeing tsundere Uchiha with the overly-affectionate Kurama (I think my words may have worked a bit too well), but the overall temperament of the clan visibly improved.
My own skills grew slowly. While I worked on control every spare moment of the day I had, my time was eaten up by the Academy and socializing. It was woefully little time that I had even with completely forgoing proper night's sleep once it became unnecessary. While the time intervals between me fully being replenished and chakra-exhausted was the same, there was only a five-point difference between the two, now. It gave me hope that, very soon, I wouldn't even need to sleep between stretched of exercises.
I also grew friendly with the Hyuuga clan. My strange classmate notwithstanding, Hitomi, Hinata, a surprisingly friendly Hiashi, a forever-amused Hizashi (usually at his brother's antics), chibi Neji (who was also super adorable), and maybe even Mo (in his own tsundere fashion) soon became a part of my social circle. It helped that they apparently found my chakra coils and the energy within fascinating.
I continued to visit the Kurama Clan on and off. Kiko's homemade Dango was heavenly, and Katsuhiko always had an anecdote to share from when he was part of the Third Shinobi World War's front-lines. Joka oji-san also joined us many times when it wasn't his shift at the shop, sharing his own tidbits from before he lost his left arm.
I hadn't any time to visit the other clans because of my own training and the Academy. Things had gone much better than I thought they would, there. Itachi, Kitsuna, Mai, and I became fast friends, true, but my impromptu speech on our first day had… an added side effect.
Hyuuga Hideki was a tall eight-year-old boy who hated me with his guts. Or, at least, that's what he showed. His reputation score of 9 (Adored) confused me a bit since we had not spoken or interacted much at all, unless it was him taunting me. He joined us by insulting me to my face and insisting that there had to be someone who actually knew things to guide us on our foolish endeavor. He likes to call me a commoner, for some reason. His strengths lay in his abnormally strong Byakugan with which he could zoom in to an unnatural degree. Unfortunately, he was weak in the Hyuuga taijutsu style Jyuuken, which was what your place in the hierarchy was judged by. He was also the only Hyuuga I saw so far that har short hair.
Nara Biko was your stereotypical Nara… not. Sure, she had a flair for strategy and tactics that always saw anyone losing against her in a shogi match, but she also had an obsession with ninjutsu rivaled only by future Sasuke. In spite of being only an Academy Student, the little sprite already knew three Doton ninjutsu and two of her own clan Hiden. However, her taijutsu and genjutsu were abysmal beyond belief. We had to work her hard to get her up to early advancement standards in those areas, in fact. She said that she found explaining exactly why she joined us far too troublesome.
Ryosuke was a ripped seven-year-old orphan from the orphanage across the village from ours. Before meeting him, I did not know it was possible for children to be so muscular. He joined us because he wanted to be the Head of Torture and Interrogation, someday, and 'being an advanced placement Genin would work in my favor'. He had a tongue nearly as vulgar as mine, something dubbed 'commoner language' by Hideki, and was the most hot-tempered of the lot. I'd like to call him brash, but he was scary good at throwing kunai and didn't need to punch someone to make his displeasure known, never preferring the close-and-personal approach. We got along great, something that seemed to irritate Hideki for god knows what reason.
The seven of us were all in the top of our year. I was the highest with perfect scores, followed by Itachi and Hideki contending for second place, Ryosuke, Mai and Kitsuna tied, and finishing up with Biko (amidst several complaints from said Nara). Our teacher was apparently so impressed that we didn't even need to ask him to allow us to join advanced placement tests this year, he recommended it all by himself.
Ahem.
The tests were far too easy. This was stuff children struggled with, not a barely twenty-one in a child's body. I was able to memorize and regurgitate such easy information in verbatim. This was enough since there was not a lot of critical thinking involved.
And now, we waited for the results, something which apparently warranted a visit to the office of the dean.
"I still don't understand why we gotta be here." Ryosuke grumbled from where he was twirling a kunai in his right hand.
"Relax, Ryosuke. He'll probably congratulate us or something and they usher us off to our new class." I commiserated, patting his shoulder. "Maybe he wants to tell us we scored super high or something."
"Whoop-de-fucking-do." He continued to grumble.
Hideki glared. "At least mind your tongue around us, commoner. It does you no good to spew that plebian word every two sentences."
"What? 'Fucking'?" Ryosuke glared back. Why the two were always at each other's throats was a mystery. "Well, what's your fucking problem, oh Mr. Al-fucking-mighty?"
Hideki scoffed. "I expected more."
"Too fucking bad I continue to disappoint your fucking expectations."
"I swear, you two are like children fighting over a toy." Biko groaned.
The two boys turned to glare at her. She simply met their gaze with a deadpan stare.
"Just stop it, okay?" Mai sighed, rubbing her temples. A surprisingly adult gesture from a child. "I'm pretty sure Sarutobi-san is laughing in there because we think he can't hear us."
The door opened then, showing our teacher, albeit amused-looking. "I'm sure that's not the case, Yamanaka-chan."
Mai sighed.
"Do come in, children." A far deeper voice called from within. We all exchanged glances and squared our shoulders as we followed the command.
The office was quite spacious. It reminded me very much of what I had seen of the Hokage's office in the manga, except a tiny bit smaller. Behind the swiveling armchair that sat in front of a large desk, there was a huge window that gave a fantastic view of the village and the Hokage Monument. The walls were covered with bookshelves filled to the limit with scrolls and books. I did not doubt for a moment that they contained advanced knowledge we were considered too dull, untrustworthy, or simply inadequate for.
The man that sat in the chair was not quite as old s the Sandaime. They did look similar, save for the fact that this man did not have his skin sagging like it had lost all elasticity. His hair was still in the process of greying, and he did not reek of smoke, so this couldn't possibly be Hiruzen. He was titled with [Sarutobi Tenken – Lv ?].
He offered us a kindly smile and gestured us all to come to stand before him, which we did, offering a respectful bow. My keen ears caught that our homeroom teacher had quietly closed the door and had come to stand somewhere behind us.
"It pleases me to see such drive amongst our students." He beamed, eyeing us all critically; his gaze rested on me for a moment too long, which I immediately caught. "Do you know what you have accomplished, future shinobi?"
Not 'children', but 'future shinobi'. Hm. We all, even the usually authority-disregarding Ryosuke, not wanting to peeve the man who was essentially responsible for our lives while we were in this building. Because none of us were clan heirs, we couldn't expect any boot-licking or leniency, especially when it came to me and the only other orphan present.
"Let me tell you something." He said, with an air of embarking on a long journey of words. "Our Academy wasn't established until the Niidaime took the hat. Before that, clan members preferred to grow within their own confines, and rarely were civilians with talent 'sponsored' into training. This was beneficial due to the speed at which shinobi were produced and their proficiency, but limited in the sense that very few were actually being produced. This is why the Niidaime established the Academy and made it mandatory for any aspiring shinobi to participate for at least a year. Civilians find far better and unbiased training than any clan would, even with good intentions, allow them. This produces more shinobi, but standardized ones that may or may not progress in rank later on in their career."
Where was he even going with this?
"In all my years of being a dean at the Academy, and even during my predecessor's time, we have never seen such good scores." He spoke nonchalantly, but even a fool could see the unrestrained glee in his eyes. "Granted, the first year is usually far easier than anything you may ever learn in life, but there is barely a point's worth of difference between all of your scores. Gundan-kun scored perfectly." His eyes rested on me with curiosity evident.
I felt no satisfaction in hearing that statement. The syllabus was child's play. What I was more worried about were the practical aspects that would no doubt come later.
"I must ask," he continued, eyes shifting to focus on us as a whole, "how did you all manage to score above the highest scorer in history?"
Now that was a tidbit that I was interested in. Itachi was right next to me, so it couldn't be him. Minato did not become uber-cool until he fell under Jiraiya's tutelage. So… was it Kakashi?
"We had a good teacher." Ryosuke offered. I was able to catch Mai subtly stamping his foot. "Ow!"
"You're hopeless." Hideki harshly whispered.
"I somehow doubt you're referring to Janto." He offered an amused smile.
I sighed, stepping forward. I didn't want this attention, but now that Ryosuke has opened his big mouth… "Forgive me for saying this, Sarutobi-san, but the curriculum is simply too easy for me to have any difficulty. And given that my friends had proficiency below me in the subject-matter, it was only natural that I work to help them."
"Helping your comrades? Good, good." He hummed, eyeing me critically. "Well, how far into the subject matter have you delved, hm?"
"We have memorized and understood most of the Academy's theoretical curriculum." I spoke for the group. "The only aspects we haven't been able to stretch are the practical ones."
His eyebrow arched. "In three months? You learned the entire theoretical syllabus of the Academy in three months?"
"I am an orphan, Sarutobi-san, and have little else to do with my time." I offered, in explanation. I don't need to tell him that my mind was used to memorizing and working with far more complex subject-matter, and the politics and history of the land felt like fantasy-lore. "It helps that I find the theory very interesting."
"You memorized, perfectly, might I add, the entire theoretical Academy curriculum and were able to teach it to six other students." He stated, voice a little disbelieving, but not so much that I had to get worried. After all, this was the shinobi world, and such oddities were rare but not improbable. "Hm… alright. You will be bumped a year, given your exemplary scores on the Advanced Placement test. From tomorrow, you are officially in Year Two."
We all bowed. "Thank you, Sarutobi-san."
"It'd be criminal to hold back such talent." He chuckled. "Even the best of tutors can't pull miracles if they don't have sufficient talent to work with." He then pointedly addressed everyone but me. "You should be proud of yourselves."
"Thank you, Sarutobi-san." They chorused. I suppressed a groan.
"Very well, you are dismissed." He waved us off. "Something tells me I'll be seeing you lot in another three months.
We took our leave then, Janto-sensei staying behind, not speaking until we were past the stairs and out of the Academy proper.
"Ryosuke, you idiot!" Mai hissed, whacking him upside the head. "Now they'll spy on Gundan-kun!"
It was actually common knowledge and quite accepted that the village spies on prodigal talent from the shadows. It was why I told them not to speak of my tutoring, knowing that Ryosuke was a loudmouth. I wanted that attention on me if my plan is to work. I already apparently had the Hokage's attention, if the Yamanaka sap incident was any tell, but I was aiming for someone else's gaze.
"Be real, Mai." Biko spoke, staring morosely at the clouds. Hm, with all the time we've been spending in the library, I wonder when the last time was that she had a relaxing day. "We live in a ninja village with ANBU patrols. Do you really think no one knows we've been at the library at all hours that its acceptable most days?"
There was an uncomfortable air about us as she said that. People may have accepted being spied on, but I was still a bit miffed about it, given that I once lived in a world where privacy was as simple as four walls and no cameras.
"At least we are done with useless books." Hideki muttered, crossing his arms in the sleeves of his white kimono. "Perhaps now the great Gundan-sama might deem it wise to start us on more practical aspects."
Ryosuke bristled, for some unimaginable reason. "You-"
"Children, children." I sighed, stopping to turn and offer a benevolent gaze over my friends. "All shall occur in good time. Today, though, I think we've earned a bit of rest. We did just pass the Academy's first year, after all. We can continue working tomorrow, but today let's treat our bodies to some relaxation time. How about we have a meal together?"
The group offered me a collective blink as if unsure I had just spoken. I personally found that very offensive. "Are you sure, Gundan-san?" Kitsuna hedged, cautious despite his monotone drone.
I offered him a deadpan stare. "I'm not that bad, am I?"
"A week before the tests, you begged Uki-san to keep the library open and let us study throughout the night… and succeeded." Biko deadpanned.
I shrugged. "Aren't you lot thankful I did that? Now you skipped a year of wasting time at the Academy."
Itachi spoke up in our group for the first time since I knew him without prompting. "Perhaps we can dine at Uchiha Senbei? It is only mid-morning, after all." To his credit, he did not even stiffen when the group (except Kitsuna, who apparently did not find this odd at all) collectively turned to stare at him in disbelief (admittedly, that included me).
"You're… inviting us to the Uchiha Clan Compound?" Mai asked, astonished. "Seriously?"
Itachi looked confused. "Yes. Do you not wish to accept?"
"Of course, we're going!" Ryosuke quickly assured him. "It's just that… we didn't think you ever would."
That's an understatement. While the Kurama and Uchiha clans were indeed growing close, it was still well known that the latter did not take well to people entering what they probably thought of as 'their space' besides the former.
"Mother wished to congratulate us if we passed." He explained, still not looking hesitant or unsure. "If you have no objections, of course."
"I don't think there's anyone who does not want to go." I admitted, receiving nods from everyone. "Except… maybe Hideki…?"
Said boy sighed. "Alas. Even though I would wish I didn't have to, it would be extremely rude to Mikoto-sama if I declined the invitation." He then offered me a baleful look. "Additionally, someone must ensure you do not get into trouble with your commoner's tongue."
I smiled at him. "Thank you, Hideki. It means a lot that you're coming."
For some reason, the boy blushed and looked away. "D- don't say such things."
"Oi! Are you insulting Gundan?" Ryosuke butted in, looking agitated for… god knows what reason.
"Boys." Mai groaned. Kitsuna offered me an especially dead look – he did this when I looked over something obvious, rare as the occasions were. Biko didn't even grace us with a look. Itachi seemed… amused.
"Well, rivalries aside," I said, physically pushing the two chest-to-chest boys apart, "it's off to the Uchiha Clan with us!"
We made an odd group, walking through the town to the Shinobi District. People, mostly shopkeepers and the like, waved at me or offered a greeting when I passed, which I returned cheerfully. A good effect of me having helped out everyone after the Kyuubi attack was that most of them now knew me by name as a helpful entity, which granted me a place in their good graces. Thankfully, this wasn't the first time my friends had seen such behavior from the village towards me, so it was not worth any note since I had already explained my stance in the village to them, supported by Kitsuna and Mai. Thankfully, none were particularly shocked at my 'helpful nature' because I had 'taken them under my wing', so to speak.
We crossed into the Shinobi District and I waved cheerfully at a Kurama Clan member I remember engaging in a control contest with last week. She waved back with only a little less energy before turning back to her accompanying friend, which made me blink when I realized she was an Uchiha. Said girl turned to observe me as we walked towards the Uchiha Clan compound.
I couldn't blame her. The fact that there were a lot of clan members in my friend-circle was not the only odd thing to the eye – we all were dressed radically different as well. Hideki and Kitsuna still sported the kimono ninja look, the attire being commonplace in their clan at the moment. Itachi wore a high-collar shirt and cargo pants – black, of course. Mai had on a sea-green short-sleeved dress. I still had my black hoodie-and-slacks ensemble, and Ryosuke had a grey trench-coat with slacks. Biko wore a simple green and grey sleeveless jacket and a modest skirt. This combination of fashions both traditional and modern was eye-catching, I'll admit, so I wasn't too peeved when people turned to look.
I was used to stares in the Shinobi District enough, at this point. It was odd to see a civilian accompanying a clan-heir, for one. Hiashi was genial about it but I could tell that the Hyuuga watching from their houses around the little space in the compound where Hinata, Neji, and I played. They quickly changed their tune when they saw how good I was with kids (something I refuse to admit) and began to foist off their kids on me as well. It didn't help things when the Kurama Clan caught wind of this and made me promise to be available when their (now large number of) expecting mothers delivered. I haven't visited the Yamanaka Clan compound ever, but I have a sinking feeling I'm going to be propositioned to babysitting there as well.
I will repeat myself. I'm. Not. A. Mother. Hen. It's not my fault kids like me, okay? Okay.
There were two bored-looking ninjas guarding the Uchiha Clan gates when we approached. Only one of them exhibited any signs of being an Uchiha at all. The second one, a ninja with only one hand and a shaved head garbed in the standard Konoha Jonin gear (black edition), was titled, [Reimon – Lv ?]. Neither looked up or made a fuss as we approached and soon passed between them, but I did turn to look back, to catch Reimon looking at me curiously.
I paid it no mind as I continued to follow Itachi.
The Uchiha Clan Compound was much less foreboding and dreary when there were no corpses lying around. Very odd, I thought to myself dryly. The place hinted at much more traditional Japanese architecture than even the oldest parts of Konoha, which made me glad that I had waited to come here after I finished a year's worth of courses at the Academy. Some meritorious history ought to let Ryosuke and me pass the initial 'orphan' disgust, hopefully. But if they detested orphans so much, who was that clan-less Reimon, back there?
Uchiha Senbei was a quaint little shop that looked like a little Japanese cottage, more than anything. It was adorable. It further helped the cute factor when I noticed that it was overlooked by an old woman, titled [Uchiha Jumi].
There were a few tables in a porch-like setting. All were currently empty, save for one. Given the hour of day, mid-morning, I would normally understand that, but the clan head's wife was currently seated at the table with a baby in her arms – the third person to awake the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, the third to awaken the Rinnegan, and the incarnate of Ashura, Uchiha Sasuke was currently happily sucking away at a bottle of what looked like milk. As we approached, I observed him.
[Uchiha Sasuke – Level 3
HP – 120
CP – 190
Constitution - 2
Health - 1
Agility - 1
Intelligence - 9
Luck - 5
Wisdom - 7
Uchiha Sasuke is the son of Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto, brother to Uchiha Itachi. Having only just begun his life, he has little in the way of memories or experiences]
Oh well. What can you do? You can't fight the stats of one of the main characters, huh? Hey, that reminds me, I've never scanned Itachi, yet!
Before I could, though, Mikoto looked up and smiled at us approaching children, a compounding of five, seven, and eight-year-olds. "There you are! Come, have a seat! I just placed an order for some Kaware Senbei. I hope I ordered enough."
Before we approached her table fully, we all stopped to bow out a customary greeting, then we dragged a few chairs over. Itachi had no such reservations and walked straight to his mother's side, poking little Sasuke on his forehead, immediately getting his attention. The little tyke gurgled happily and tried to grab his finger.
"Everyone, this is my mother, Uchiha Mikoto." Itachi introduced, gesturing towards his mother. "Okaa-sama, this is… everyone." He finished lamely.
Mai quickly cleared her throat. "My name is Yamanaka Mai. I am five years old. I like erosive-sap plants and dislike salty food. My hobbies are gardening and reading books. I dream to become a good Yamanaka Kunoichi."
Mikoto smiled at her. Thankfully, we'd already decided how introductions were going to go. Mikoto clearly wanted to know what kind of people her son was hanging out with. We weren't going to disappoint, unnaturally nice Uchiha or not. "It is refreshing to meet a fellow Kunoichi not obsessed with boys." She remarked simply.
Mai blushed. "Thank you, Mikoto-sama."
"I am Hyuuga Hideki." Said boy began, puffing his chest out a little. "I'm eight-years-old. I like nature, and dislike impolite people." Here, he leveled a dirty look at Ryosuke, who, thankfully, refrained from sticking his tongue out like a little child…. Which he was. Damn, I'm holding them to too high standards. "My hobbies are training my Byakugan. My dream is to become a respected member of my clan."
"The Hyuuga are one of the few people to be able to match us, Hideki-kun." Mikoto smiled reassuringly. "I hope you see your dream fulfilled."
The boy blushed. "Th- thank you."
"The name's Ryosuke." The only other orphan besides me drawled. I resisted the urge to poke him. "I'm seven. I like throwing knives and don't like snobbish brats. My dream is to join the Torture and Interrogation Department."
Mikoto laughed a tinkly one. "I can safely say I've never heard of an aspiring shinobi wanting to be an Interrogator before. I hope you succeed."
"Thanks!" Ryo grinned. Idiot!
Biko sighed before she spoke. "Hello. My name is Nara Biko. I'm seven-years-old. I like sleeping and dislike exercise. My hobbies are playing shogi and checkers. My dream is to die without getting married."
Itachi's mother found this amusing as well. "I can certainly sympathize." She joked, looking at Sasuke with a mock pout. We politely laughed.
Since Kitsuna was already introduced in some other setting, I spoke next and last. "Greetings. My name is Gundan. I like my friends and my village. I hate bland food. My dream is to protect people from the shadows so that they don't have to get their hands dirty."
It was at this point that Sasuke shifted, eyes landing on me, and then he immediately began to struggle in Mikoto's grasp, reaching for me.
"He's also unnaturally good with children." Itachi added. I offered him a betrayed look, to which he simply smirked.
Mikoto shifted her chair closer and carefully handed Sasuke over to me wordlessly. Little brat, his hand immediately went to my hair.
"Why is every baby I meet obsessed with my hair?" I quietly bemoaned, tickling him with my free hand. He laughed that adorable laugh that babies do and tried to poke my forehead.
"It seems what I heard from Kiko was true." Mikoto mused, and when I looked up her eyes were full of warmth. "It is good to finally meet you, Gundan-kun. I've heard much about you, from many people."
I smiled wearily and Sasuke grasped my finger gently. My eyes immediately tracked back down to him as I began to try and tickle his stomach. "All good things, I hope."
"Very." She assured me and patted my shoulder. "You… are a good boy."
"Thanks…?" I offered in response, unsure what else to say. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Kitsuna shifting while looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable.
"You will be pleased, mother, to know that all of us have passed the advanced placement exam with scores that far outshine the highest scorer yet." Itachi rescued us from falling into awkwardness. "I hope father will be pleased."
"He will be overjoyed, I'm sure. Oh, Itachi!" She squealed, pulling said boy into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Thank you, okaa-sama." Was Itachi's muffled voice from her bosom. Sasuke giggled.
She released him and turned to me. "And I'm sure I have you to thank, in some way. Thank you for helping us, Gundan-kun."
That tipped me off immediately, and I smiled at her before shooting Kitsuna a look from the corner of my eye. I had told Katsuhiko not to tell Fugaku that I requested them to be friendlier! "Itachi is my friend, Mikoto-sama. I leave none of my friends behind." Kitsuna offered no change in expression, so I turned to look back at Mikoto with a smile equating hers in warmth.
"I am glad to see my son has such good friends." She beamed. Thankfully, it was at this time that the senbei arrived with steaming cups of tea, and conversation somewhat slowed down into small one-liners.
Sasuke didn't want to leave me the entire time, and Mikoto said it was good to have a break, so I politely kept the little one entertained. Eventually, I had to resort to swirling leaves around with chakra threads to distract him from tugging at my short hair, which actually made Mikoto activate her Sharingan for a moment. Hm, it seems an Academy student with chakra control as high as mine was rare… or even one having the knowledge on how to make chakra strings in the first place. Thankfully, with my level ninety control and hundred chakra points per minute regeneration, it was as easy as breathing to manipulate them into various shapes. My friends already knew about my control exercises since I would normally do them while tutoring, so it was of no note to them. Oddly enough, I could feel a couple of eyes on me, not including the ANBU hidden about, but when I looked up the only one looking in my direction was Itachi, and he was focused on Sasuke.
Eventually, the sun reached high into the sky, and Mikoto had to leave for home since she had yet to cook. I immediately offered assistance, but she simply laughed and waved me off, saying she had it under control. Before we left, I also approached Jumi with an offer for assistance, which she agreed to, calling me over the next day. Accidentally, though, I touched the [Location Collectible] since it was so close to the door.
PING!
[You have discovered: Uchiha Senbei! 6/50 Konoha locations discovered!
Please select one of the following –
Adept Uchiha Taijutsu Scroll
20 Perk Points.
10 stat points.]
Dammit! Well, since I'm not friendly enough with the clan to be using their taijutsu, I quickly selected the last option.
[You have selected: 10 stat points!]
A wasted opportunity. I shook my head as I followed my friends. So, every time I cross a level 5 threshold, my awards double? Good to know, but I could have saved that collectible for just before I had a mission out of Konoha for maximum rewards… dammit.
As soon as we reached the gates of the Uchiha Clan Compound, all of my friends, Ryosuke included, made excuses about having places to be and things to do and walked off. I shook my head with a small smile, knowing all of them were mentally exhausted and required time for rest. Instead, I prepared to leap over to my room and practice control for the rest of the day…
"Hey, kid."
I stopped, turning to address he who spoke to me. I was surprised to find Reimon, the one-armed guard, gazing at me. "Good afternoon. How may I help you?"
The man rubbed the back of his head. "Well, it's more of the other way around." He drawled. "I'm a sensor ninja, and I can tell you have amazing chakra control. How would you like to learn a couple of techniques of mine?"
I arched an eyebrow, internally incredulous. "You would just… teach me your techniques?"
"Well, I'm not going into the field anytime soon." He said, casting a look at his empty sleeve. "And… I heard what you said back there, about protecting people while in the dark. I could feel you were telling the truth. My techniques would be more of use with someone to pass them on to."
PING!
[Main Quest Alert!
The Mark of the Damned
Reimon, an amputee ninja, wants to pass on his techniques to you so that they may better serve you. Learn his techniques.
Objectives :
?
Reward :
1000xp]
Alarm bells! Alarm bells ringing in my head! Question marks for objectives? Fuck me!
PING!
I ignored it and showed nothing as I smiled and bowed. "Thank you for your generosity."
He waved me off with clear amusement dancing in his eyes as he turned and began to make his way towards where I knew the Naka Lake was. "No, I must thank you. I've been watching you for a long time, young Legion. Even… before."
He took my name. My non-translated name. Fuck, who was this guy? Wait…
"From 'before'?" I asked, with all the air of a curious person.
PING!
This time, I did look, if only for the screens to offer me some help.
[Silver-tongue failed!]
[Silver-tongue failed!]
I can't even fool him?! What the hell?
"From before the attack of the one known as the 'nine-tails', of course." He smiled genially, and it was bothering me that I could see nothing of his true emotions… if there were any. Was this guy a member of ROOT? Was he an ANBU? "A vain title, but warranted, I'm told."
'I'm told'. This guy isn't from around here. But how is that possible? Everyone in the elemental nations knew Hagoromo's creations from the number of their tails. Where could he-
My stomach felt as if it were drenched in ice when I realized. This… this guy wasn't from this world at all. [Foreign Influences] was at work here.
In the time it took me to reach this conclusion, we had already come to Naka Lake. We didn't stop at the shore, however, and were now walking on the surface of the water. Curiously, no one paid us any mind.
"I see you have reached a correct conclusion." 'Reimon' spoke, amused. "Ah, how refreshing it is to find someone so young with such a deductive mind… but you're not really this young, are you?"
I stopped following him and fell into a loose stance, cursing my lack of foresight of not learning a decent taijutsu style. If I had known this was going to happen, I'd have chosen the Uchiha taijutsu scroll. "Who are you?"
"My, my, how abrasive." He mocked, but his feet soon left the surface of the water as he began to float in the air. Pitch-black smoke coiled around his form as a malicious parody of a smile darkened his features. "And here I was thinking we would have a pleasant conversation all along. How thoughtless of me."
I was somehow frozen in place as he reached forward and poked my forehead. Immediately, my surroundings melted. I was no longer standing on the surface of the calm lake. Instead, my feet were planted on the solid obsidian ground, my body buffeted by strong wind. The sky was dark, but I was able to see a world not afflicted by gravity. Large chunks of obsidian rock hung in the air, suspended by an unnatural force. Streams of white light danced throughout the area. A sun-like object hovered far, far away.
I recognized the place instantly.
'Reimon' melted away, and a far more familiar figure took his place, garbed in a simple brown leather duster and grey slacks. His feet and most of his lower body were shrouded by smoke. His eyes were pitch black, and his hair waved as if in a gentle breeze rather than the gale-force winds blowing about.
"Outsider." I gasped out, eyes wide. When I chose that perk, I wasn't aware that this… this could happen!
"When someone takes my name, it's usually with more reverence." The being spoke, maliciousness now replaced with serenity in his expression and tone. "Considering how you know of me, however, it is all but expected."
Okay, so a fucking sacrifice-turned-god was in front of me. What the fuck? Naruto was a manga/anime. Dishonored was a game! "How…?"
The being laughed. "In time, little one. In time." He spoke in what he probably thought was an assuring tone. "When I learned that he who considers himself my rival had trapped a human from another dimension in one of his own makings for his entertainment, I simply had to come to see. How interesting to know that this particular human knows more of us than most. You were quite the lazy individual, before."
Despite the situation, I rolled my eyes. "I didn't take this shit from my parents. What makes you think I'll take it from you? Besides, how are you even still in power? Billie Lurke should have either killed or saved you."
"Ah, Billie." He sighed, gaze drifting far away. "She did so much for me. She tried… but this place can't be so easily left." He turned back to me with a placid gaze. "I watched your life from before, and I watch you now. You consider this your life after death, do you not? How naïve."
That piqued my already extremely high levels of 'oh shit'. "What do you mean?"
"For that answer, you must pass my trial." He spoke simply, then tilted his head. "Must we stand on ceremony? You and I both know how this is going to play out, my little Legion. But well, formalities are formalities." He gestured with his hand towards my own. "I am the Outsider. And this is my mark."
The back of my left hand began to burn. It wasn't a painful sensation, but neither was it pleasant. It just… was. I lifted it to my face as a familiar brand etched itself onto my skin – the Outsider's true name in a language I would never be able to speak.
PING!
PING!
PING!
"Now… for my trial." He spoke, hovering higher into the air. "Come find me."
He vanished.
I sighed and rand my right hand over the back of my left. It felt like it was a part of me all along – the skin wasn't slightly raised, it felt no different at first glance either. But when I touched it, my body tingled pleasantly, not unlike the tingle I felt from ASMR. I quickly took my hand away and turned to the notifications that had popped up.
[Due to the actions of a higher being, a new function has been unlocked!
Constituent Energies : Isolated manipulation of physical energy Chi (QI) and spiritual energy Reiryoku (RR) is now implemented. Character Page updated.]
I'd hold off on my reaction to that until I saw my character page. In the corner of my vision, my blue CP bar flashed, and in its place appeared a red bar titled QI, above which was a blue bar titled RR. I flicked the notification away to read the next one.
[Due to the actions of a higher being, a new skill has been created!
Mark of the Outsider (Active) Lv 1 (0.00%)
Granted to those who pique his interest regardless of moral alignment or sanity, the Mark allows you to bend the rules of reality. Can cast spells.
Skills Discovered: Apparate (100RR) ]
Can I scream now? No, not until I get the answers I need from that black-eyed bastard. I swiped that one off, too, landing on the next one.
[Title Unlocked: Outsider's Chosen
-50% costs to all Mark of the Outsider Spells]
Well, wasn't that nifty? I closed it and opened my system menu, navigating over to the [Character Page]. I tapped the question mark in the corner and examined the window. A lot had changed.
[Hints – Character Screen
In order to interact with the world of Ninpo Online, you have been furnished with a customizable avatar. This avatar, besides appearance, can be described by using six statistics, or stats.
ConstitutionThe constitution of one's character is directly responsible for how healthy they are. In NPCs, constitution affects their immune system and their health pool. For you, the [CON] stat describes your health pool, your health regeneration, your Chi pool, and limits the selection of armor you can wear.
HP = 100 + (10 for each point in CON)
HP Regeneration = (1 for each point in CON) per minute
QI = 100 + (10 for each point in CON)
StrengthOne's strength describes how strong they hit. For NPCs, this only sets the bounds for their base strength, and denotes how much damage they can inflict. For you, the [STR] stat describes your Chi regeneration rate, your limit for unenhanced physical activity, and the damage you inflict.
QI Regeneration = (10 for each point in STR) per minute.
DMG = Weapon Damage + STR
AgilityThis stat affects both, one's speed and one's overall sense of balance. For NPCs, this affects their base speed, their accuracy with thrown weapons, and their dexterity while moving. For you, the [AGL] stat shows your base speed, a rough sense of your balance, and, for every ten levels, allows you to advance in [?] by one level.
IntelligenceThis stat is directly related to one's memory power. For NPCs, this affects their recollection capability, learning capability, and their chakra pool. For you, the [INT] stat shows the your Reiryoku pool and also sets the limit for learning certain skills.
RR = 100 + (10 for each point in INT)
WisdomThis stat is directly entwined with one's mental processing power. For NPCs, this offers a rough estimate of their tactical capability, chakra regeneration, and chakra manipulation. For you, the [WIS] stat shows your Reiryoku regeneration, allows you to understand better, and sets the limit for learning certain skills.
RR Regeneration = (10 for each point in WIS) per minute.
LuckThis stat is the one that interacts with the environment the most. For NPCs, it determines the probability of certain events happening. For you, the [LCK] stat defines the loot you will receive through combat or quests, the probability of certain events happening, and the chances of External Influence activating.]
So, my chakra was now split into its physical and spiritual energy. What did that mean for my chakra usage?
As a test, I attempted to gather Chakra for a [Chakra Leap]. Fortunately, the energy still came naturally to me and I was able to accomplish the action by leaping straight up. I kept a careful eye on my bars as I fell and saw that both had reduced by a little. A quick visit to my character page showed that each had reduced by three points.
Hm… Chakra is a meld of physical and spiritual energies, so there was definite addition involved. The cost had also been split evenly between the two, but that could probably be because they both had the same amounts of stats invested in them. Six CP was split evenly into 3QI and 3RR and subtracted from both of them. Since my chakra felt the same as before, I can safely say that it hadn't grown at all. So… my CP was equal to my Reiryoku and Chi divided by two? That… was going to be a bitch to keep track of.
Wait, not really. If I keep both my Reiryoku and Chi levels the same, then the amount of one bar would be my CP, since the double would be canceled out by the division of two. Okay, so that's the plan.
Remembering the ten points I got from [Uchiha Senbei], I quickly opened my [Character Page] and assigned it to my stats, also selecting my new title from the [Orphan] one which had a blank description.
[Character Page
Gundan – Level 11
Title: Outsider's Chosen
Next Level: 20/600xp
HP - 220
QI - 220
RR - 220
CON - 12
STR - 12
AGL - 21
INT - 12
LCK - 21
WIS - 12 ]
There, that looked much better. [Physical Resistance] wasn't a big priority anymore since I'd be upping my [CON] stats for the QI bar, too. How novel. Also, the names of the energies… Reiryoku and Chi… if my suspicions were right, I wouldn't even need [Physical Resistance].
Okay, so now I need to cross this little linear obstacle course. I walked over to the edge and peered into the winds. There was another platform too far away for me to leap to. Time to see how the mark worked.
I didn't do something ridiculous like pointing my hand at the place. The books said- HOLD THE FUCK UP!
My eyes snapped wide open when I realized that my first ability with the mark wasn't a blink. I read and reread it with incredulity. I was now some sort of god-created wizard. Did that mean Reiryoku doubled as MP?
DUDE, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO AVOID BEING OVERPOWERED WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS FUCKERY LIKE GAH!
Almost as soon as I began to work myself up over it, though, [Gamer's Mind] kicked in and the irritation receded. I took in a deep breath and relaxed. I need answers, and I need them now.
I turned and glared at the spot. No need to point, I just need Destination, Deliberation, and Determination.
CRACK!
It lasted only for a second, but the sensation of being compressed down and traveling through what I only assume is a wormhole is not fun. At all. Thankfully I didn't feel like puking if I even could, and disorientation couldn't affect me because of [Gamer's Mind], so I shook myself and began to walk the way. Only fifty units of Reiryoku had been cut from my bar because of the effects of my title, and I now regenerated a hundred and twenty points, per minute. So, I could safely use it twice, eventually squeezing in another time when the twenties added up.
It took me little time to reach the final rock, by which time [Mark of the Outsider] had leveled up twice and further reduced the cost of using [Apparate]. Thankfully, there was no altar with a rune on it, so I quickly shook off the feeling of dread that had been growing in my stomach – having to look all over the elemental nations for those tiny runes would have been fucking hell.
The Outsider hovered there, gazing into a cloud of light. Agitated, I made my way over, stomping until I chanced a glance into it. I froze in my tracks.
It was… me.
Not Legion, but me from before. I recognized several instances that played in fast-forward in that cloud, but I stopped myself from deliberating on those memories.
"I want my answers." I bit out instead, staring resolutely at the god that brought me here.
His form turned, and he looked upon me with amusement. "Why, of course. Before I return you back to your new home, what would you have me tell you?"
"What did you mean when you said that this is not my afterlife?" I bluntly asked. From the corner of my vision, I spotted the mark glowing with my agitation. [Gamer's Mind] quickly swooped in and calmed me down, though.
"Through the events that tied me to the Void, I… ascended." The Outsider began, waving his hand to gesture into the blackness around us. "I gave light to the Void because I willed it. I wished for something to occupy this space, so Obsidian appeared and grew. I wished for entertainment, so it once again allowed me to peer into the worlds beyond." He smiled. "In many ways, the Void was my first true friend. It still is. However, the void is… an incomplete half, you might say. The only reason I am able to interfere in what you're now living is because it is from the power of that other half that your soul was bound and brought into your world, bestowing upon you powers of great potential, for the sake of amusement."
I tilted my head. "And who bound my soul to this world? Who gave me my Gamer powers?"
"You already know." The God spoke. "Do you remember, Legion? Do you remember the Dark Dimension?"
The Dark Dimension…? "Dormammu?!"
The Outsider looked upon me with a smile. "You do not remember, but you know enough to deduce. Such a sharp mind, even considering your true age." He then made a show of gasping. "Ah, but I have said too much. If you knew everything, you wouldn't be nearly as interesting… or maybe you would? Some rare gems are truly unpredictable."
Dormammu is from another universe entirely! And this is from way before my [Foreign Influences] perk! "What is going on?! Dormammu is from-"
"Originally, that was all you would contend with." The Outsider spoke, looking placid as ever. "Your 'life' was to be a simulation. Dormammu would watch your plight with amusement. But… I did say we were connected. It was I who gave you a choice – a choice to open up your world, so to speak."
I stared at the being in shock. "That perk… you put it there?"
"Dormammu is, above all, territorial. Do you truly think I would be able to pull you here if his magic was all that bound you?" The Outsider smirked. "It is out of his hands, now. That which I did has weakened me severely, but it was worth it. The Void itself seems to rejoice at my decision. Why? I do not know. But it shall amuse me to find out."
"You could send me back." I realized. "Even now, you can send me back to my old life, can't you?"
"You have passed, in that world. You can never be Yvon Mendez again." The god whispered as if to console me. "Your life was lived in full and given up at your insistence. Souls who try to end themselves are cast out of the cycle, so here you are. However, you are unique in the sense that you remember… you recall. It is, perhaps, the greatest mistake Dormammu has made. You are now… a wild card, in your terms. The power of the Void that now flows through your veins, for yes, it has made you flesh and blood again, is a beacon – an invitation for others like me or those who serve them, to watch, to observe… to intervene."
"You-"
"Ah, but you have spent enough time in the Void for the changes to take place." He said, leaning in closer to caress my cheek, from which I flinched away. "Live, little Legion, my only request is to live. The Multiverse won't be nearly as interesting otherwise."
He poked my forehead, and there I was, standing on the surface of Naka Lake, alone. I glanced around and quickly noted that the sun was in roughly the same spot, so not much time had passed. I really needed to get a watch.
I looked at the back of my left hand and sighed - the Mark was still there.