Chapter 1-15

Standing on a roof I eyed the little bookstore across the street. It felt like I was standing at the entrance of a rabbit hole, one step away from diving into it, my groceries at my feet and my eyes fixed on the bright banner hanging next to the door of the store.

'Bargain Sale: Icha Icha Paradise!

Icha Icha Violence coming soon!'

"I just want to see what all the fuss is about." I quietly told myself.

Alright, let's get this over with!

I glanced over my shoulder at the Shadow Clone, that just pooped into existence and gave the simultaneous Henge a once-over. The appearance of that ever-present genin at the administration building just with a different hairstyle and color looked natural enough, the slouch and mannerism looked fine, too.

I wordlessly handed him the exact amount of money for the book, since I really didn't want to give a chakra construct, no matter how badass the creator was, all my money.

Further instructions unnecessary, the Clone hopped down to street level, casually made its way to the storefront, and immediately vanished inside.

'Come on, come on!' I couldn't keep my foot from tapping impatiently.

There he was, still keeping his nonchalant gait my clone walked a couple of steps before he leaped and joined me on the roof.

He wordlessly handed me the book and dispelled himself. I glanced at the setting sun and decided that I would wait until I was home to take an actual peek inside, carefully hopping down to the street, mindful of the flimsy paper bag containing my groceries I turned and went my way.

Not even fifty steps and I couldn't help myself, I stared at the cover with the pretty lady and the bloke chasing her and flipped it over to read the description on the back.

"The main character and heroine, both new to love, begin dating, and their eyes gradually open to grown-up love." I read out loud.

That…really sounded…a bit lackluster to be honest.

Eyes still on the short description I paused in my step and held my groceries slightly behind my back. Not a moment too soon as a gaggle of playing children rushed past me like a laughing tidal wave.

I glanced around, made sure nobody saw what kind of book I held, and flipped it again to start at page one.

…

'Oh…'

…

'That is a very detailed description.'

Another glance around, a preventive double-check, and angled the book so the cover would be hidden just to be sure.

Despite the many figures littering around this little part of the forest, it was a surprisingly quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

And that was by design since I really needed to concentrate. This was going to be my very first practical trial run at the first two gates and that meant messing with my own brain.

I had even dispelled the five Shadow Clones that had been trying to split the little stream they had been standing on. Going with a proper waterfall had felt like overkill for my baby steps into the second phase of my wind chakra training.

I gave a shallow nod to the last Shadow Clone, which had been continuously feeding and maintaining my Hidden Mist Technique, and heard it dispel.

Now it was just me in a comfortable lotus seat and the 15 water clones scattered around the little clearing and the nearby trees. They were going to be my targets.

'in'…'out'…'in'…'out'…My breathing evened, and I lead my senses inwards. I channeled a minuscule amount of Yin chakra into the left hemisphere of my brain and felt it pool in the right tenketsu.

'in'…'out'…and I flexed my chakra to forcefully widen the pathway. Instantly I was hyperaware of my own body, I could feel my own blood rush through me, the cool air caressing my throat until it filled my lungs. My eyes threatened to fly open, but I barely managed to suppress the urge and used my hypersensitivity instead to zero in on the tenketsu in the right hemisphere of my brain.

With a surprising amount of effort, I distilled the tiniest amount of Yang chakra and guided it into the right side of my brain, a heartbeat later the tenketsu was blown open and adrenalin filled me like I never felt before, it literally felt like I was losing myself in a panic. A fight or flight reflex threatened to overwhelm my reason and I just needed to move.

Eyes snapping open, mind fixed on my watery chakra constructs all around me and I was gone.

I stepped into my favorite jutsu, the one that I mastered to the degree where it became effortless and no conscious thought was needed, and less than a heartbeat later water exploded where my fist went through the first clone's head.

The first droplets hadn't reached the ground when my right leg flew through the midsection of the third clone in the clearing. Unbothered by my lack of sight I trusted my senses and a heartbeat after the instant my foot touched the ground my knee removed the head of the next clone.

Next, I went after clones hidden in the trees and foliage. Bark exploded under my explosive steps; branches were pulverized by ax kicks until only four clones remained. I was starting to feel the strain, my calves felt like they were going to tear apart any second, but I refused to let those clones live.

My finger blurred into motion 'Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave'

Water surged from my mouth and exploded in front of my feet in a gigantic column, a size that I never even had come close to before, my single-mindedness kept me focused on the task at hand however and my hands blurred again.

'Water Release: Water Fang Bullet'

Four spinning tendrils, almost as wide as myself, tore out of the towering fountain in front of me and headed directly for their targets. They didn't wind or curve, no, straight as arrows they drilled through air, branches, and even trees until they found their mark.

I dropped to my knees exhausted and drained, I didn't care when the tower of water before me collapsed into itself and drenched me to my bones.

I did care, however, about the destruction it revealed and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It felt like I was high as a kite, no wonder all the crazies were power-hungry monsters.

"Impressive display, young man." A voice said directly behind me and I whipped around, falling on my ass.

I gaped and stared, a myriad of thoughts flashing through my head.

'You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.' Went luckily unsaid, instead, I went with something different, that probably didn't earn me any bonus points either.

"How the fuck didn't I sense you?" I managed to ask thankfully in a quiet manner and watched those plush ruby lips form a tiny smirk despite my crass language.

"Genjutsu."

'Bullshit!'