"We're ninja!" Ryosuke beamed, waving around his hitai-ate with unbridled glee. "We did it, we did it!"
"Calm yourself, commoner." Hideki sneered, but it didn't hold as much venom as it usually did when he directed the expression towards the other orphan in their little group. "This is only the first of many hurdles in our lives that we must leap over."
"But we are shinobi now." Mai breathed, looking at her own hitai-ate with awe. "We… we all passed the Academy in a year. With the best scores ever recorded. And… this is all thanks to Gundan-kun…"
Itachi bumped my shoulder with his own; a dangerous motion if I was a civilian, given that we were seated at the very edge of the Academy's roof. "Is something wrong, Gundan-san?"
I exhaled softly, eyeing the blue cloth in my hands with unease. Having been in a daze from the moment I left the examination room, all the way till here, I was a bit… well, okay, a lot elated. But I couldn't help but think about the future. The whole of the Elemental Nations was out there. Obito was running about somewhere, plotting the word's sleep. Zetsu was plotting to bring his mother back. Had Nagato already turned into Pein? Was Gaara a Jinchuuriki?
This whole year had been a waste. I'd taken down ROOT, sure, and I had eliminated the very possibility of the Uchiha Clan or Naruto being alienated, but… besides train, I'd accomplished nothing else of note. I hadn't been able to find Jiraiya outside that one time when we met, Orochimaru may as well have left the village for all I knew. I still hadn't helped anyone besides my friends become stronger. I…
There was so much for me to do… and that wasn't even counting what Dormammu and the Outsider may launch my way, for their amusement.
"I'm fine… thank you for asking." I looked up and smiled a small smile at Itachi. "It's just… I accomplished my goal. I passed out of the Academy with perfect scores in a year. I just… I'm feeling a little lost."
"Troublesome guy." Biko sighed from my other side and patted my shoulder. "Now we get assigned under a Jonin sensei and train. We do missions and train even more to secure Konoha's future…" She groaned. "Now I'll have to do even more of those chakra control exercises… troublesome."
"I am certain your sensei will teach you all kinds of ninjutsu, Biko!" Ryosuke grinned. "And I'm going to request a draft into Torture and Interrogation! It's going to be so awesome!"
"I, too, will train to be a better ninja and, in time, a capable clan head." Itachi confided, gazing at the setting sun. "I hope I get on a team with one of you."
"Me too!" Mai beamed. "Don't get me wrong, I still hated every single bit of this past year, but… actually earning an accomplishment on my own merit… it has made me so happy. And... I would love to be on a team with you guys!"
"Then we should hope that we are not separated." Kitsuna nodded. "Advance Placement students are usually apprenticed or scattered into teams missing a member. It would not be unusual for none of us to be on a team with another."
That brought about a round of silence. The mood plummeted drastically. Ugh. Goddamn, I was being such a downer.
I shook my head and stood in a single fluid motion. "Well then, we'll just have to make sure that we all get sorted into teams with each other! And even if we do get separated, we should meet regularly! We're the Konoha Seven, after all!" I beamed, taking a step back to smile at my… family. Not friends, but people I had come to know and love. They… I'd protect them. Whatever it took. From Kaguya, from Obito, or even from Dormammu. I can't bear to think of any of them hurt. No…
But compared to some people out there, I'm just so… weak…
"Konoha Seven, huh?" Mai mused, smirking. "I like it."
"Wow! We got a group name, guys!" Ryosuke laughed. If his eyes were a little wet, no one commented on it. "Let's make sure we back each other up, even if it's from miles away!"
Hideki scoffed and turned his face away, but his full face was as red as a tomato. Even his ears. It was downright adorable. "As if I would leave my friends behind." He muttered. Aww!
"You troublesome idiots need someone to keep you in line." Biko smirked, eyes closed. "I'll no doubt have to do that, lest the world implodes due to your sheer loud voices."
"Belonging to such a group… would be beneficial." Kitsuna stuttered, clearly out of his element.
Itachi seemed startled for a moment, too, before he smiled. "Hai, Gundan-sempai."
I pouted. "But I'm not older than you!"
"Then why do you act like you're our mother?" Biko sighed.
"Hey!"
So yeah, maybe things aren't exactly cut and dry. Maybe everything is still uncertain. Maybe, because of me, this simple world was going to be invaded by beings and concepts far beyond anyone here could believe.
But you know what? As long as I've got these people, and Naruto, and Teuchi, and Aoi, and Mika, and… everyone… I'll never fail.
I don't think I can bear it if I destroyed my happiness again when I have gotten another chance to live it.
PING!
Oh, for Christ's sakes-
It was only later, after a celebratory dinner at Yakiniku Q, that I finally acknowledged the floating screen in front of me.
[Quest Complete!
Main Quest: Under Scrutiny
You have decided to join the Konoha Shinobi Academy in order to join the active ninja force and increase your reach over the land. Persevere through four years of lessons and pass the Academy Final Exam.
Completed Objectives :
Pass the Academy Final Exam
Completed Bonus Objectives:
Pass the Academy Final Exam with perfect scores.
Pass the Academy Final Exam with less than three years of study.
Pass the Academy Final Exam with less than two years of study.
Help Itachi pass the Academy Final Exam earlier.
Maximize the skill level of one or more skills while you are an Academy Student.
Reward :
5000xp, + Scholar Title, +10 stat points, 15 stat points, + Uchiha Gunbai (Plain) x1, + Random Skill Scroll]
Oh… kay… so I get a total of five thousand experience points, twenty-five stat points, a new weapon, and a random skill scroll? Cool. I swiped the screen way and opened up my inventory. There were two new items; the Gunbai, which I let rest there, for now, and the skill scroll, which I pulled out and tapped.
PING!
[You have acquired the technique scroll; Cero.
Would you like to learn this skill?]
Well, at least it's nothing too overpowered… should I be happy about that or sad, by the way? Not being able to slam people left and right is in keeping with my 'stay-normal' mindset, right? Well, in all honesty, I'm already overpowered. I'm pretty closing to maxing out [Water-bending], and once I do, I'll probably be able to blood-bend everyone in Konoha. Simultaneously. During the day.
My [Subterfuge] skill was pretty OP too. The only reason that Kakashi probably found me, that day, was because I left the state to stand and stretch. I've maxed out my mastery of Kenjutsu to the point I can… probably… do wonders with a sword.
God, I'm pretty overpowered. My desperation was for naught! Oh, what a world!
I sighed and just accepted. Hopefully, the skill won't evolve into Cero Oscuras or something when it's maxed out.
PING!
[You have learned a new skill!
Cero (Active) Lv 1 (0.00%)
Compress your spiritual energy into a ball, then 'rip' its shell to expel the energy in a certain direction. Ignores armor.
Damage: 100HP
Cost: 250RR]
Okay. Decent damage. Decent costs. Altogether, not that bad. I took a deep breath and navigated over to my [Perks] screen. I had 320 points sitting there, just enough to buy both remaining perks and let me uncover the next tier.
[Perks
Mutant Gene 1 – Unlock a mutant gene.Cost: 150 PP.
Magic Specialty 1 – Unlock a specialty field of magic.Cost: 150 PP.]
I was still a little leery, though. If I really could get strong enough to hold my own without any special perks, why should I purchase any of these for my own? As I did with Naruto, I know for sure that I can hand over these skills to others, so why not?
Well… the only reason I could think of was that I didn't know anyone with the capability to use magic… or even if they could. It simply wouldn't do to give someone a magic specialty when they couldn't even use it, right? The mutant gene, however, I certainly could, and that I'd be giving to a very special someone. Thinking about it, I also knew who to grant the crystal to summon the Astrals to!
I stood, dusted myself, and turned on the spot to apparate over to the other orphanage. Slipping into [Subterfuge], I quickly made my way up the stairs and into the baby's room. I walked through the rows of cribs until I finally landed on one with a sleeping brown-haired girl.
The label read, 'Tenten, age: 2 years 4 months'.
I quickly opened my inventory and brought out the Anima Crystal. Once it was in my hand, however, I looked uncertainly between it and the little girl off in la-la-land. Could I really hurt a child, even if it helped more than just her in the long run?
I knew the answer almost as soon as I thought about it.
Wincing, I took a kunai in my hand and pricked a small spot on her finger. I carefully squeezed it a bit and then smeared it over the crystal. The object began to crack. Once, twice, and then it shattered into white mist and surrounded Tenten, seeping into her.
Nodding in satisfaction, I stood and carefully walked out, closing the door softly behind me. Then I twisted on the spot and apparated yet again, this time into the Shinobi District.
Looking around to orient myself and to be thankful that I was still in stealth mode, I made my way over to the Lee Clan Compound. I brought out my chakra and spread it around me, activating [Kage Yosuru] for the first in a long time as I moved from shadow to shadow, carefully making my way into a very particular house.
Thankfully, Rock's mother was fast asleep on the couch, so I climbed up the stairs and into the baby's room without much fuss. Unfortunately, the baby was awake. Fortunately, something about me fascinated him enough to giggle cutely and try to grab for me.
I cooed internally, smiling as I lifted him up and into my arms. Okay, sue me, I couldn't help but find babies adorable – everyone does! I'm still not a mother-hen!
Deciding not to waste any time, I opened my game menu and navigated over to the [Perks] section, then selected [Mutant Gene 1].
[Are you sure you would like to give Rock Lee the Mutant Gene 1?]
Sure.
[Please choose one of the following:
Energy Projection
Density Control
Shadow Matter]'
Oh. OH! Wasn't this selection from that underrated X-men game? Destiny, I think it was called.
Well, Energy Projection would give him ranged capability, but it doesn't fit into his style at all. Totally out. And while he was impossibly agile and dexterous later on in life, it was his head-on taijutsu that made him so terrifying, learned directly from Maito Gai.
The choice was obvious.
[You have selected 'Density Control'. Are you sure?]
Hell yeah! Explode with the flames of youth, Lee! Just… not literally.
PING!
[You gave Rock Lee the Density Control Mutant Gene!]
I looked over the little baby as soon as I dismissed the screen. Seeing nothing outwardly wrong, I kissed his forehead and set him down, waved, and vanished in a soundless swirl back to my orphanage room.
Okay. So I just made Tenten a summoner and Rock Lee a mutant. All in a day's work, right?
To unlock the next tier of perks, I needed to finish this one, so I sighed and opened up the menu again, selecting [Magic Specialty 1].
[Please select one of the following:
Solid Script
Dancer
Guns Magic
Titan
Doll Attack
Animal Soul]
…..
I… have never felt so insulted in my life. Oh, well, you get what you ask for, it seems. I scanned through the list and selected the only one that didn't make me a D-list character.
[You have selected, 'Titan'. Are you sure?]
Please end my misery.
[You have learned Titan magic!]
PING!
[You learned a new skill!
Titan (Active) Lv 1 (0.00%)
You use magic to enlarge yourself. Along with your physical size, your physical attributes and capabilities gain a boost.
Boost value: +1% for every 100m.
Cost: 400RR/min/10m .]
Hm. Not useless, but not all that useful either. Maybe when I get the next level of magic specialties, I'll get a better selection of powers. Maybe even Dragon-slayer magic!
The next set of perks seemed to clear, and I quickly scanned them.
[Perks
Avatar – By allowing Raava to inhabit your body, you open up your connection to all four elements simultaneously.Cost: 200PP.
Eye of Mikhail – By being bestowed upon with Michael's eye, you are now able to use Zaiphon.Cost: 200PP.
Augmentations – By learning David Sarif's knowledge, you have learned to augment yourself and those around you.Cost: 200PP.
Conduit Gene 1 – Unlock a Conduit element.Cost: 200PP.
Fullbring 1 – Unlock a Fullbring.Cost: 200PP.]
Okay… that cinched it. This game is fucking rigged. Ugh.
Anyway…. So, I need two hundred points more to buy my next perk, huh? What skills do I have?
[Skills List
Gamer's Mind (Passive) Lv MAX (100%)
Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through.
Cannot be affected by negative mental debilitations.
Gamer's Body (Passive) Lv MAX (100%)
Your body behaves as if it were in a game and reacts accordingly.
Restore HP and CP and remove debilitations by sleeping in a bed.
Pain is brief and injuries only affect HP.
Sleeping and Eating optional.
Physical Resistance (Passive) Lv 56 (0.72%)
Due to being hurt in the past, your body has learned to stave off a portion of the damage.
-56% damage from all physical attacks .
Chakra Resistance (Passive) Lv12 (19.14%)
Your body recalls being exposed to tainted chakra, and its attempts in fighting against it. Against normal chakra, these defenses are more effective.
-6% damage from all chakra-imbued attacks.
-50% skill effectiveness against tainted chakra.
Chakra Medium (Passive) Lv MAX (100%)
By mastering strict control over internal chakra flow, only a bare minimum of chakra is required to initialize a jutsu. Finely tuning chakra movement throughout the body is now second nature. Due to unshakable control, you now regenerate chakra at a much higher rate.
-50% delay in regeneration to physical and spiritual energies.
-99% chakra cost for chakra-imbued skills.
Exercises Discovered – Leaf Balancing (0.1 CP/min), Tree Climbing (0.2 CP/min), Water Walking (0.3 CP/min), Chakra String (0.4 CP/min/string), Cloth Stiffening (0.5 CP/min/m2), Senbon Balancing (0.6 CP/min/needle).]
Detect Bloodlust (Passive) Level 32 (7.00%)
Allows you to pinpoint the person who is emitting the sensation of wanting to very-much kill you, and from where.
-7% skill effectiveness for every five levels the source is beyond you.
+13% skill effectiveness for every five levels you are beyond the source.
Silver-tongue (Passive) Lv 95 (0.00%)
Your mastery with words allows you a greater chance to persuade targets, allowing them to see your view of thinking and, more often than not, gently tugging them onto your path.
69% chance of working.
-2% chance of working for every five levels the target is beyond you.
+18% chance of working for every positive REP with target.
Eavesdropping (Passive) Lv72 (42.0%)
Allows the user to listen in on things happening around them.
162 meters range.
-15% effectiveness in loud areas.
Idiocy (Passive) Lv 48 (36.2%)
Sometimes, people don't understand why you are doing what you are doing. Because of this, they may think you are insane, really foolish, or just plain endearing.
48% chance to earn positive REP with those around you.
52% chance to make those around you think you are crazy.
Master Marksman (Passive) Lv MAX (100.0%)
You are a master at hitting your target, whatever the type of projectile you use.
Accuracy: 100%
Accuracy penalty: -20% for every 500m after 500m.
Highest throwing speed: 10 projectiles/sec.
Protagonist's Luck (Passive) Lv MAX
Interesting events will happen to you more frequently as time passes on.
Telepathy (Active) Lv 72 (54.21%)
You understand the world around you by taking a closer look. Attuned to the living, your scrying skills now allow you to see into the mind of the person you are observing.
1 sec in target's mind is 0.005 sec in real life.
4 CP per second while looking into someone's mind.
Minor Speed Force Connection (Active) Lv MAX (100%)
The Speed Force has turned its gaze upon you, watching and weighing. For now, you have fleeting use of its capabilities.
Increase speed by 10 times when active
Subterfuge (Active) Lv MAX (100%)
A master of the unseen, you are able to stay hidden even in the most unorthodox of circumstances. Unless the target has a massive advantage, you cannot be found.
-99% chance to be detected.
+50% chance of landing a Critical Strike.
Chakra Leap (Active) Lv 34 (7.32%)
Using chakra directed to the lower-leg muscles, one can increase the distance covered by a single bound.
44 meters distance covered
Cost: 0.5 CP
Chakra no Mesu (Active ) Lv49 (9.10%)
The user forms a sharp blade out of their chakra that covers the hand from fingertips to wrist. It allows them to cut into a living body without breaking the skin, decreasing chances of infection.
Damage: (INT + DEX)
Cost: 0.6CP per blade
Kage Yosuru (Active) Lv27 (0.00%)
The user embraces the shadows, allowing better hiding capabilities.
+ 28% to Stealth skill when active.
-15% to enemy vision cones
Cost: 0.7CP/sec
Mark of the Outsider (Active) Lv 31 (20.0%)
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: Silent Apparate (10RR) , Void Vision (1RR/sec), Water Pressure (20RR), Pull (150RR/sec)
Genjutsu Mastery (Passive) Lv 29 (68.2%)
The mastery of casting of illusions.
+29% chance to inflict damage on the nervous system.
-29% chance for target to escape illusion.
Water-bending (Active) Lv 82 (1.5%)
By using your body's energy to redirect and flow with change, you are able to control the healing element of water in solid, liquid, and gaseous states.
Limit: 820l.
Healing limit: 100HP per sec.
Cost: 1QI/sec
Pesquisa (Active) Lv 6 (6.21%)
A sensing technique used only by the most proficient spiritual energy users, by pulsing out your own spiritual energy and calling it back in, you can pinpoint beacons of spiritual energy around you via spiritual resonance.
Max sphere radius: 500m.
Cost: 95% of RR.
Kenjutsu Master (Passive) Lv MAX (100%)
A master of the blade, your self-taught style in conjunction with several others makes you a fearsome opponent.
+100% damage with bladed weapons.
-99% chance for your opponent to dodge.
+50% chance for a critical strike.
Bunshin no Jutsu (Active) Lv 21 (0.00%)
By ejecting chakra from your body and manipulating it, you are capable of creating a basic illusion of yourself. The image produced is intangible and vanishes after a solid object passes through it.
Cost: 8CP
Duration: 90 seconds
Kawarimi no Jutsu (Active) Lv37 (0.00%)
After charging an object with your chakra, you can instantly substitute with it at any time.
Cost: 35CP
Range: 46m
Henge no Jutsu (Active) Lv44 (0.00%)
By expelling chakra from each of your tenketsu and condensing it down to reflect a static image from your mind, you effectively project an illusion of having changed shape.
Cost: 6 CP/sec.
Taijutsu Mastery (Passive) Lv25 (6.23%)
The mastery of hand-to-hand combat.
+25% chance to cause damage to internal organs.
-25% evasion chance for opponents.
Styles learned: Konoha Academy Style.
Titan (Active) Lv 1 (0.00%)
You use magic to enlarge yourself. Along with your physical size, your physical attributes and capabilities gain a boost.
Boost value: +1% for every 100m.
Cost: 400RR/min/10m.]
Okay… so I have a lot that I can level up. [Cero], [Titan], [Pesquisa], [Mark of the Outsider], and the E-ranks come to mind first. It also wouldn't hurt to max out my [Water-bending] in preparation for the [Avatar] perk. And if I can level up any of the others in the meanwhile, it'd be a bonus.
Wait! I also have twenty-five stat points to spend! I quickly navigated over to my character screen and sorted them off, opting to even out my [Agility] and [Luck] at hundred, and assigning the rest evenly.
[Character Page
Gundan – Level 38
Title: Outsider's Chosen
Next Level: 5000/18,000xp
HP - 520
QI - 520
RR - 520
CON - 42
STR - 42
AGL - 100
INT - 42
LCK - 100
WIS - 42]
Thankfully, I didn't gain any extra skills from reaching the hundred-point threshold, but… yeah. I just wasn't comfortable with those numbers anymore. Ugh.
Fuck this shit. I'm going to bed. THe universe better still be standing when I wake.