Forest Bells - Relax

Hayama did eventually show up to take over watching me again.

He hid it well, but there was an awkwardness to him.

Probably feeling guilty.

I pulled out one of the cards I'd prepared: 'Did you feed Hanzo?'

He looked confused.

"Hanzo?"

I flipped the card, drew an arrow pointing at the name, and added: 'The blue lizard'

He crossed his arms.

"You called your lizard Hanzo?"

I shrugged.

"I did feed him, yes."

I stored the card and brought out another: 'Thank you.'

We met up with his genin team at the usual training ground.

"Yo, pansy, where you been the last two days." Shita waved and asked upon spotting me.

I popped out an empty card and a pencil.

Scrible, scrible, scrible…

"Hey, I'm talking to you! I thought you said you were done being an ass!"

I scratched through the previous response I was writing, looked up, glared, and tried to write a new response.

Scrible, scrible-

Shita stepped up again, but Hayama got between us with a hand on his shoulder.

"You should allow her to finish."

Screw it!

I tossed the card aside, and stuck out my tongue for them to see the seal.

"You want to go?!"

How stupid can you be?!

I threw up my hands in frustration.

You know what? Fine, let's go.

I rolled my shoulders back and slid into a fighting stance with my left foot forward. If he wanted to fight, he'd get a fight.

Shita cracked his knuckles with a massive grin.

"Finally!"

Before falling into the bestial stance he used normally. Leaned forward, arms crossed and almost down to the ground, medium wide spacing.

"Shita! Yumika!"

Both of us were tripped and knocked to the ground before we could get started, with a scolding remark from Hayama.

"Shita, Yumika just came out of the hospital and shouldn't be fighting anyone. Circumstance has robbed her of her voice."

Shita looked clearly chastised, then Hayama looked over at me.

"Yumika, you just came out of the hospital and you know you're not supposed to fight anyone without my express permission."

I flinched at the tone, mouthed a 'sorry', and got off the ground to sit.

I'm not a child, I'm supposed to have more patience than that.

The way I blew up during the interrogation as well…

I need to relax.

After a moment to contemplate.

…tomorrow should work, but first…

I brought out a blank card and started writing.

'Sorry, I shouldn't have blown up like that. The last month has been stressful.'

I got up and handed the card to Hayama, who had stepped aside as everyone else had started training.

He handed the card back.

"You don't need to apologise, it's perfectly understandable. If anything, this is my fault for bringing you here."

I brought out a card and pencil to start writing-

An outstretched hand stopped me.

"You want to ask why?"

I put away the card and nodded.

"In truth… you put forth a strong case. I was letting anger control my actions with Haruka. Yet, I could not just let such a target go without reason. Protocol would have had me take you both, but I could be excused for only managing to bring one."

He folded his arms.

"I knew Haruka would be executed should the village get their hands on him, and thought your return to be practically a guarantee."

…because you couldn't have known about my relationship with my father.

"On top of that, I'd hoped to speak with you before we returned you, and maybe offer you a place here."

He turned to face me.

"I underestimated your love for your home, and misread the situation. For that, I am sorry."

I sighed, then smiled.

A card was in my hands: 'It's fine.'

I eyed Seno who was watching me intently. Then brought out another card and started writing:

'I'm not going to run anymore. Shouldn't you get your team to stand down?'

He smirked for a second.

Oh. More lessons.

Fair enough.

That night, while we ate dinner, I started scribbling a request: 'Sir, would you let me roam free tomorrow? I want to relax, there's a teahouse I found.'

I showed him the card, then immediately panicked internally.

Was that too forward? Am I being commanding? Spoiled? There's no editing messages with actual written text!

My panic was unwarranted, as he seemed to calmly contemplate the idea, before coming to a decision.

"The roaming will be unnecessary, my team could use a break. I should hope that their presence would not ruin your teahouse visit."

They didn't completely suck, so I guessed it was fine.

I nodded and rushed off to bed (read as floor).

…after feeding Hanzo of course.

Where am I?

Hayama's apartment. 0.1 hostiles.

Hanzo, how did you get out of your enclosure?

Said lizard was sitting on my shoulder, like I'd trained him.

I tried very carefully not to startle him as I shuffled him back into the cage… which I'd forgotten to close the night before.

Oh god, he could have run away!

What kind of irresponsible pet owner was I?!

No, stop.

I took a deep breath.

You're stressed and making stupid mistakes. Today, you're going to relax. I. Am. Going. To. Relax.

No work clothes for me today, no no. I popped out one of the nice formal sets that I'd been given by Yuharu. Yes, I carried those with me out on missions.

Having these seals has made me really lazy.

I carried all my belongings with me… everywhere. It wasn't even a dent in my capacity compared to -shiver- the supplies.

I considered my reflection in a mirror.

Let's drop the whole 'poison blades in hair' thing today.

I was in the hidden leaf with a jonin and genin team, the odds of me getting kidnapped or something were astronomically low.

Ooh, could I do a braid? I have the hair for it, what else could I try?

The twin tails I wore normally were low effort, and I'd gotten quite proficient at weaving in the poisoned blades. I hadn't really spent anytime trying to be fancy before.

In the back of my mind I knew that my behaviour was a bit odd, but I also had a pretty good idea of what was going on. I was latching onto whatever I could in my attempt to force myself to 'have fun'.

Prettying myself up? I had been a guy in my last life and in this life I was a ninja; Neither left much room for that kind of thing, so this was new and exciting.

…sure, I'd had some formal occasions with the Shiin clan, but the expectations and pressure made that more terrifying than exciting.

With a spring in my step I entered the living room, to the sight of Hayama eating breakfast. He looked me up and down before bursting my bubble.

"You are aware that the teahouse isn't going to be open for another few hours."

Oh right… damn.

I shook off the thought.

Relax!

All was not lost, I would still get to go later, I just had to do something else in the meantime!

"Breakfast?"

I nodded, accepting the distraction.

Once I was done, I figured out what to do until the village awoke: reread 'The tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi'.

"Aren't you a little young for lord Jiraiya's work?"

What do you-

Oh.

I went completely red and tossed the book at him.

I am not a pervert!

I'd have shouted it if I could, but muted as I was, I resolved to just pout and noiselessly grumble like a gremlin instead.

He, being the elite ninja he was, naturally caught the improvised projectile. To which he noticed just how worn out the book was with apparent surprise, before actually opening it to have a glance, then he started to flip through curiously.

Following his eyes, I knew he wasn't reading the text. He was reading the notes I'd made in the margins. Comments on what Jiraiya reflected on in his writing: the allegories he made to the world of shinobi and the links to his personal life.

"You've read this a lot…"

He reached the back, where a picture had been tucked in: Isae, Kanshi, myself, and Kanshi's parents. Removing the picture showed that the inner back cover was signed: 'Happy birthday! Isae.'

Dated three years ago today.

Happy birthday to me, a full 12/33 years old.

He stared at the page wordlessly for a short minute, before slowly closing it and handing it back.

"...happy birthday."

I took the book and stored it away. Then I popped out a card: 'thank you.'

Fortunately, we could meet Hayamas Genin outside the training ground.

I really don't want to trudge through the wild in this.

"Sensei, pansy?"

I glared over at Shita who seemed confused at my appearance.

You are not ruining today for me!

He stepped back with his hands held up defensively.

"Okay, chill, sorry about yesterday."

Shita? Scared by me? Know what? Doesn't matter, be happy with it.

I forced a smile back on my face, and nodded my thanks.

Seno and Ureha arrived shortly after.

"Team, we're taking a day off before taking on a proper mission tomorrow. Yumika wants to visit a teahouse, if any of you would like to join, I'll be paying."

…

"That's unfortunate."

The teahouse was full. So the five of us were stuck outside waiting for a table to become available.

"We could simply go somewhere else."

Seno commented, seemingly being the only one who hadn't picked up on my mood.

Like hell!

I liked this place. It was the only place with my favourite tea.

Trying to save the bug user from whatever vile fate I had in mind, Ureha stepped in.

"Yumika, what prompted you to use a bow?"

Ureha used 'distracting question'. It's super effective!

I popped out a blank card and started scribbling, before turning it over: 'I didn't have ac- couldn't find- didn't want to ask- couldn't ask father for a kunai instructor. It would make him think I wanted to be a ninja.'

"So, it's a sloppy substitute?"

She said with a smile.

The sass! Are you just going to take that Yumika?

I squinted and started writing on the back side of the card.

"That sounds correct." Seno chimed in.

Glare, scribble, scribble…

For some reason, Shita didn't jump on the 'bows suck' bandwagon, and I showed my card: 'Just because it was my second choice doesn't mean it sucks!'

There was also a drawing of an angry face.

Seno crossed his arms.

"Prove it."

Fine!

I rolled up my sleeve to pop out my bow, three arrows with string wrapped around them, three apples, and three small cloth squares. I tied the cloth squares around the apples to form makeshift parachutes, then tossed them as high up as I could, using an unnecessary amount of chakra for maximum altitude.

Then I fired a shot at each of them, and tugged on the strings to show off the three makeshift kites I'd made.

Naturally, I was very smug about the whole thing… until I noticed the reactions of the surrounding townspeople.

"What the hell!"

"How impudent!"

"Ninja, keep your spawn under control!"

I grimaced and went absolutely crimson.

…sorry.

"I thought it was pretty rad," I heard from someone beside us.

I perked up at the positivity, looking over like a sunflower attracted to the sun. Where I saw a pair of kids 2-3 years younger than me.

Naruto's generation.

One of the two, a boy, wore blue and was blue, but didn't seem to be very blue. He wore a casually-formal style I'd seen a lot from the other rich youths my age in the capital, his cyan coloured hair was up in a topknot, and he held himself with dignity.

It's like someone took Mitsuki, made him less snake and put him a generation earlier as a noble.

His companion, the girl who spoke, was freckled. Her short brown hair spiked messily. A tank top and trousers gave her the full Final Fantasy 7 look, and she had-

Those are definitely murder eyes.

-sharp brown eyes. She was wearing this aggressively cocky smirk.

I grinned back, gave a thumbs up, and popped out my 'thank you' card.

Okay, two very unique and different individuals hanging out? That can only mean…

I pulled out a blank card and started writing.

10 seconds later I cocked my head curiously and flipped it: 'Are you guys ninja in training?'

The girl smiled proudly.

"Of course, the best ninja you'll ever see!"

I pumped a fist in enthusiasm, and offered a high five.

Wait, was that a thing in this world?

She returned it.

Phew, safe!

"Akuma, how could you sully your hand by touching a bow user of all things?"

Dude!

My high was mercilessly cut down by the obnoxious boy, and I popped out a blank card to start writing a comeback.

"Hey, I call it like I see it. That was an impressive shot," she said.

Scribble, scribble…

"A parlour trick," the noble prick countered. "Swords are clearly superior."

Scribble, scribble…

"...They're an elegant weapon, for a more civilised age." He continued.

Scrib-

What?

I looked up in shock, not that either of them noticed. The boy had a smug grin.

Was that a Star Wars reference?

I crossed out everything, and flipped my card to write again…

"Well obviously swords are way cooler, but we can't all be as awesome as me."

This conversation is going way too fast!

A cough from behind me.

"The two of you might want to allow the genin you're insulting to defend herself." Hayama commented.

"I was not insulting her, merely stating facts." he clarified, which was really just salt on the wound, but I had other priorities at the moment.

I finished scribbling, and aggressively flipped my card, which had already fallen behind the conversation: 'Well, bow or sword, I think we can all agree that hokey magics and ancient clan techniques are no match for a good weapon at your side.'

C'mon, let this be true. It's a stretch, but it's the first reference I could think of that could fit the context.

My eyes may have been twinkling.

"Calling it magic's weird, but weapon skills are definitely way cooler than dumb clan stuff."

Okay, she doesn't get it, but-

The boy chuckled.

"You don't even believe in ninjutsu, do you, Akuma?"

My eyes were definitely twinkling by that point as I started scribbling again.

English? No, no, this might still be a coincidence. Hell, even if they are another Earth-worlder they might be Chinese or something.

"Hey, I take offence to that." Shita interrupted unhelpfully. He leaned back with his hands behind his head. "If clan stuff was so useless, she wouldn't have just surrendered when we found her."

No! Don't derail the conversation.

"Oh no, he's another Kiba," the girl commented. "Always going gatsuga this, gatsuga that."

Scribble, scribble…

Seno scoffed.

"Hardly, Shita doesn't even have a companion to use the technique with."

That's interesting but the reference!

"Pft, I don't need it."

Scribble, scribble…

Seno adjusted his glasses.

"I'm simply stating that you can't defend clan techniques while disregarding your own."

The conversation hadn't derailed, it had switched lanes and been redirected to Switzerland.

I considered the card.

'I've travelled from one side of the continent to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, bu-'

I sighed.

This is useless now.

I shook it off.

Screw it, no toying around, Ki Adi Mundi, save me now!

I tossed the last card and started sketching on a new one.

Ureha came up behind the two clan teens and gave them both a chop to the back of their heads.

"Don't go trying to demotivate the clanless kids. It's rude." Ureha chastised before smiling utterly malevolently. "Unless you want a reminder of what we can do..?"

The two boys froze up and took a cautious step away from the frankly frightening looking girl.

Venom turned to ambrosia as Ureha turned her smile to the kids.

"Just do your best, I'm sure you'll get far with whatever specialisation you stick to. Sensei, Yumika, I think a spot just opened up."

Argh, I'm not done!

Screw it, I didn't need the chair. The droid attack on the wookies and the jedi master's face would have to be enough.

I handed the card to the blue boy.

He laughed, and I felt a spark of hope in my chest.

"What in the world is this? What is a 'wookie'?"

The spark was seen to as a fire hazard and extinguished by the expert firemen.

Damn…

That also meant they would have existed in canon… and not been amongst the graduating ninja.

Hey, there's still a chance this world wasn't following canon in the first place!

Deep in thought, Hayama started to gently lead me inside.

Oh, right! I didn't introduce myself.

I threw a 'My name's Yumika Nogawa.' card at the two.

"Ah, I am Yuu Ogura. It was pleasant to meet you."

I managed a wave before we got past the doors.

All the references made me want to watch a movie.

Shame that wasn't-

Realisation.

The land of snow filler movie is literally about filming a movie.

If I lived in the anime canon then the hidden leaf had a cinema!

New mission acquired.

Strategy Journal

New Entry - Rock Lee (5)

…

New Entry - Swordmasters (1)

Yes, I'm being vindictive. No, I don't care.

Martial arts is a no go unless I can get proper armour to block their strikes. A sword has reach and cutting power.

Staff could work, but then it becomes a contest of skill, speed, and strength. Not something I want to bet on.

Uneven ground. Footing is important for swordsmen, more than for martial artists, without proper form anything above basic sword techniques is going to be difficult. So ball bearings, caltrops, sand, and other large objects could be deployed to gain an advantage.

Breaking the sword. From what my weeb self can remember about the historical Katana, it was made the way it was due low quantity or weakness of the metal, so the blade is actually quite fragile. Maybe a heavier staff could break a sword if I parry it enough? Investigate sword smithing.

Skirmishing. I have a bow, I have a ranged advantage. It's the most obvious weakness, which is why any decent swordsman is going to know about it and have a way to deal with it. Probably gap closers, projectiles, or ninjutsu. In the case of gap closers…

Traps. Distancing traps would work well to skirmish against swordsmen whose solution to being at range is to come close. Either they are kept away, or they are damaged by the trap.

Fluids. The Boba Fett solution to dealing with jedi. A ninja with a sword can deflect projectiles, but a ball of acid, glue, oil, or any other fluid is going to just splash all over them. Acid would hurt. Glue would slow their movements. Flammable oils can burn. Other oils might be enough to blunt the blade or make it hard to hold. Get Jars of Stuff.

Side Note: Samurai. Don't use hand signs against samurai, they're specifically trained in fucking you over when you do.

Progress on other Projects:

Chakra Negation. Both arms and feet!

Blind-fighting. Effects of training maximised. Improve via experience. Project Closed.

Lamps and Torches. Easy enough, purchased and done.

Wind Release. No notable progress.