Article 36 - Chapter 32 - Promotional Escapades
-Volume 2: Subarticle 1-
Warnings: I do not own Naruto, it's intellectual property is owned by none other than Masashi Kishimoto. I own the OC's that I've added to the story and nothing more.
-Also, still accepting Beta readers/ Editors! Hit me up with a PM-
┬┴┬┴┤ Chapter 32 ├┬┴┬┴
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
(9 Years old - Mina POV)
I had hoped to find myself with Hiashi on his latest excursion from the village, but it was decided that he would take Neji instead which was irksome but not altogether unexpected.
Don't misunderstand, Hiashi had actually been treating me more fair ever since accomplishing the 2nd task of the six I owed him. It seemed that with demonstration of my value, that he came to accept me for how I was, foregoing his pressure to change me into his idea of an ideal Hyuga allowing me to serve as a useful instrument in the now.
Even Hiashi had his limits though. As a man who idolized the main branch, he still had to keep appearances in order to save face when I crossed lines I knew better than to cross. I was progressional, ever testing the limits of the patriarchs patience to take advantage of all benefits within my means.
Each me and Neji were to receive graduation presents. We were allowed to make requests for what would be most useful to us in preparation of joining the workforce - becoming full fledged ninjas.
Neji's request was wholesomely practical - true to his personality. He wanted a uniform that could withstand his signature transformation fighting style. Upon reverting from a transformation, the destruction of ones clothing from it became readily apparent. His only request was a chakra imbued uniform which could morph alongside him at his whim.
Luckily the Akimichi clan within konoha where specialist in creating body morphing ensembles for extreme comfort even mid transformation, but their skills were in size adjustments, not form manipulation, so although much of the work could be done inside the village, the finishing touches were required to be applied out of the village, which is the true reason why Neji was allowed on Hiashi's expedition, and when I found out their target destination, I couldn't hold myself back from asking for the moon.
"I want a puppet assembly kit from Sunagakure." I stated.
A vein in the side of the man's face bulged after hearing my request.
In truth, I didn't expect my request to go through. Either Haishi wouldn't be able to get his hands on what I wanted or he would refuse. I figured the slimmest chance that he might be able to follow through made it worth it to ask, especially since I couldn't think of anything else that I specifically wanted. Tokuma had already brought me shopping and picked up the great majority of all supplies I could want.
"How many times do I have to tell you to give up your puppeteer fantasy? A leaf shinobi trying to be a puppeteer isn't only wholesomely impractical, it's a disgrace."
"Disgrace or not - that's the only thing I'm asking for. If you can't manage that, then give me nothing, at least then I can confirm my suspicions of how resourceful you are."
"Hehmph. You think petty provocation will change my mind?"
"..."
Letting him stew with that on his mind was my one and only play, but you wouldn't find me holding my breath or anything.
Hiashi had discovered me many of times over experimenting with the construction of puppets, and each time he confiscated all my prototypes, parts, and tools to dissuade me in my pursuit of the art of puppetry. I wouldn't let it work though, and continued anew each time to his annoyance.
His last time that he went to confiscate my belongings, he had asked a question.
"What the hell has you so fixated on the substandard art of puppetry?"
"As I see it, my strength in close quarters is already unmatched. I will continue refining my taijutsu and gentle fist technique of course, but my mid to long range combat is very lacking by comparison. I'd like to leave close quarters combat to my clones, then support my teammates with puppets at a distance. I want to be a pivotal control tower of the battlefield, able to lead and react to anything." was my answer.
It was after this discussion that Hiashi decidedly gave up on interfering with my dreams of becoming a puppet master. But giving up interference and lending aid are two very different things. I suspected he wouldn't aid me in my ambition, but figured even as a long shot it was worth trying.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The Omamori brocade bag swung against my chest with each stride in a hypnotic rhythm. It was a Buddhist protective charm, and although I didn't believe in its ability to do anything besides be encumbersome, the sentimentality of it still left me carrying it around with me regardless.
It was a gift from Neji.
The night of my wretched diagnosis I was visited by Neji before undergoing the surgery. At the time I would rather have not been seen, pity is for the weak, which is exactly why being pitied by my senpai grated on my nerves. It woke me further to my weakness.
Still, long after the fact I had come to appreciate his modest display and the fact I knew he cared about me.
Hinata's visit was the truly uncomfortable engagement. Unable to walk away, I was forced to confront my demons.
She was confused as to why I removed all traces of her from my life, tears in her eyes while asking. I ushered the rest of the occupants in the room out for a moment of privacy before explaining to her that she had made her decision. That she used me knowing full well I had once had feelings for her.
She stood silent with a dumbstruck expression before trying to explain herself, but it was exactly as I had suspected, she was torn in confusion between me and naruto, and figured that pursuing Naruto was more practical.
Perhaps I rubbed off on her too well…
The recovery post-op was slow and arduous, but after completion of the months on months of physical therapy I was better than ever before. I certainly was weaker than I would have been if I never had to deal with my damaged chakra pathways and non-unions of my improperly healed capitalaries, but that was in the past and I couldn't afford to cry over spilt milk.
While I wasn't able to train, I instead spent my time learning. Reading, conversing, experimenting, researching, ect… I needed to understand how I had damaged my chakra system and how to prevent it from happening again.
The answer came in two parts, the first was how I had used Leon in the summoning realm. Pumping exorbitant amounts of foreign chakra through my system with little preamble causing the precursory damage. But the 2nd part was more disturbing. A congenital defect that was likely because of my kekkei genkai. Shikotsumyaku assist's with the rapid regeneration of skin, muscle tissues, bones, as well as other biologic agents. For skin, muscle and bones, the Shikotsumyaku was a blessing, able to create functioning replacement with little errors, but for things like chakra pathways and capitalaries? The rapid regeneration caused anomalies preventing them from ever returning to normal on their own.
It was similar to a benign cancer. Extra cells are produced affecting the ability for proper functionality. The replication of cells were confined to the area of origin thankfully making it possible to fix with an operation without the fear that it would be spread.
It was quite a revelation, the discovery of my genetic defect. There was no cure, all I could do in the end was manage it until it finally left me a cripple or dead. I was uncertain if Kimimaro from canon had the same exact condition, or if his differed at all.
I found myself cursed now for the 2nd time by congenital failure. I should have probably fallen to despair, but I couldn't help but thank Being-X. He could throw all the handicap's he wants at me. I would play this life out on Hardcore Veteran difficulty and still win. Perhaps it was delusional, but losing after all the foul play sofar wasn't an option. My plans for the future may have been altered somewhat, but the end game would be exactly the same.
The subjugation of the self-proclaimed God.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
"No way that idiot can pass. The final test is on the clone and transformation jutsu and that flunkie can't do either."
Sitting at the back of the classroom, Kogetsu's obnoxious voice carried louder than the other children's mumbles.
The final testing process for ninja applicants was being managed by Wataru-sensei and two other judges in a secondary room one-by-one. Lee was the only student in the class to be missing, and the last to be called despite the rest of the children being called alphabetically.
"They already knew he wouldn't make it, so they didn't even bother\ letting him take the test. How dumb can he be to think he be a shinobi without any ninjutsu OR genjutsu."
"Hey Tetsuya, shut your mouth, your garbage and the only way you can make yourself feel better is talking about the only kid in class who you might be better than." I said catching their attention forcing them to glance over their shoulders to the back of the room.
"Might? I already have my headband. I AM better than that loser."
"Yeah? How come he's been whoopin' that ass in taijutsu class then?"
"Because we aren't allowed to use ninjutsu or genjutsu during the matches. ALL HE HAS IS TAIJUTSU, and he's barely ahead of me at that."
"I think your last 30 matches are 1 Win - 29 Losses versus him, right? You said barely? The kid is straight demolishing you retard."
Kogetsu let out a hearty chuckle holding his belly and beating his fist on the desk.
"Bro, you got R-O-A-S-T-E-D! I'm dead."
"-And you fatass, you have a negative win rate versus him and your from a ninja clan. How embarrassing."
"NO I DON'T! … We're even." He retorted crossing his arms and glancing off to the side.
"Oh, my bad, all I can remember is you losing the past five of them."
Showing me his grating teeth like a rabid dog, his hateful gaze locked on me despite being the end of our words.
From the doorway entered Rock Lee, holding a headband out in his grasp with unfettered pride and excitement on full display.
"I've done it! I've done it! I too am a full fledged ninja!" He yelled beaming with exhilaration.
I found myself clench my hand beneath the table, leaning forward in celebration. Things about this world were constantly changing from the cannon story I remembered, so celebrating this win, even if it was expected, was a weight off my heart.
"Lee got a headband?! I must be dreaming! " Kogetsu exclaimed.
My mouth fell into a frown, my attention back on the intolerant brood of a relocated section of the Kohaku clan now settled in the Hidden Leaf.
The kid stood from his seat, turned, and struck the kid next to him in the face with his open palm knocking him to the floor.
"What was that for?" Tetsuya said pushing himself off the ground.
"See! It didn't hurt. It HAS to be a dream!"
"It hurt me though dumbass." He finished with a slap of his own.
"Oww!"
A face planted into my palm at the ridiculous idiocy of those imbeciles, but I couldn't say they were good for nothing, those clowns could make me giggle even on my worst days with their half-brained antics.
From the door entered another figure, Their recognizable chunin kit shushed the room into silence. Watari-sensei was holding a paper he was looking down at all the while plodding over to his desk.
An enunciated emptying of his throat reined in the class as he announced: "Today, all of you awarded with a headband are shinobi. Be proud of the time and dedication to come this far, but it is only the beginning of your journey. Tomorrow at 10:00am will be your genin orientation and squad assignments. Remember to come prepared as you will meet your Jonin instructors. That is all, you are excused."
"Sir, what about class rankings?" the black-headed Nara asked with a hand waving in the air.
"Ah, yes. Class rankings will also be released tomorrow."
Odd… I had thought that the Nara kid didn't care about class ranks as long as I knew him, what's up with the sudden change? Over the past two years or so he had progressed, and his mechanical execution of both ninjutsu and taijutsu developed at an alarming rate compared to the other students… well besides Sasuke, Neji, and me of course. There's no way he overtook the top three seats which is all I cared about.
Neji and Hiashi should be returning sometime today, but when exactly I was uncertain.
The class poured out of the room, bodies in a hustle and bustle to vacate the classroom like school children leaving for summer vacation.
Like schoolchildren? Well, despite now being considered adults having joined the rankings of Genin within the Konoha military aristocracy, we were still schoolchildren in actuality.
Sasuke nudged my side with an elbow. "You coming?" He asked.
"What, over to your place?"
"Duh, where else, unless you want to hit the training grounds first?" A cocky grin appearing on his face.
Asshole.
He managed to advance at such a breakneck pace that in all reality, Sasuke had surpassed me at many ninja skills. He had learned several elemental jutsu's, progressed his Sharingan to the final tomoe, and completely outclassed me at thrown projectiles. My rehabilitation left my pride wounded having been overtaken by the Uchiha prodigy and he didn't miss an opportunity to rub it in.
"To your compound it is then."
In spars I could still keep up. Sasuke's genjutsu was next to worthless on me which served to limit his options. Also, my defense was always going to be problematic for him, especially since the Dead Bone Pulse made it harder to pop my clones, but also because he didn't have an ace jutsu that could defeat or circumvent my defense yet. I was exhausting my bag of tricks to continue to pull out decisive victories. Sooner or later the difference of our skills and talents would be the deciding factor in our skirmishes rather than my solid defense and improvisational repertoire. No doubt he's been waiting for that day for half his damn life.
The Dead bone pulse was a fright in live no-bars-held combat, but its effectiveness dropped several magnitudes if goring the opponent was out of the question. That paired with Sasuke's deep knowledge of the chakra system he had learned along the way from both books and my practical application of the Gentle Fist on him gave him the knowledge and skills to shield his tenketsu from getting sealed or disrupted too badly in spars.
That paired with my handicap was enough to even the playing field between us in spars.
For those reasons, I couldn't afford to show off anymore of my tricks, not yet at least. I needed to continue working on my fundamentals in secret to catch back up so I wouldn't need to show him every trick in the bag to maintain my edge over him.
Kicking off the roofs of buildings, today was technically the first time were authorized to use the Shinobi highway despite using it many times before. Not having to watch over our shoulders in fear of a scolding was a nice perk though now having advanced to genin.
"...You think we're going to be paired together right?" Sasuke asked slowing his pace a little.
"Hiashi-sama should have pressured the Hokage to pair us together, not to mention every year they normally pair the boys best, the girls best, and the classes worst together on a team. At first I was certain Neji would hold the boys first over you, but I think you snagged the spot, and besides, I was already told Neji and I cannot be paired on the same team because the Byakugan is too valuable a tool to stack them on the same team." I said before adding: "-so yeah, I don't see why we wouldn't be paired up."
"Hn… Good. Anyone else would just slow me down anyways, besides, being on the same team will make our joint goal easier."
"Yeah is that all, are you sure your not falling in love loser? I mean, I couldn't fault you, look at me." I probed scanning for a reaction.
But as I expected, nothing. Not a facial readjustment, or posture change. He was truly entering the echelons of the Elite in both fighting prowess and self control. The kid I had once been able to read like a book was now more like a complex sudoku puzzle much to my chagrin.
"Hn…"
"Nyaaah." I let out in a girlish fashion, my tongue sticking out.
A glumness had been ruminating inside me the longer I found myself in this forsaken reality. Despair from the idiocy, complacency, and downright incompetence of those who surrounded me.
There were few who my eyes of appraisal found value in, and fewer who maintained said value.
Oddly enough, the most valuable person in my eyes had become Sasuke, and not of his genes, his battle prowess, or his role to play in some master scheme I was cooking, but because he was one of the only people around me who felt like an honest to god human that I could get along with. Our interactions saved me from lurking in a pit of depression. His friendship had become the highlight of my life in the hidden leaf to my astonishment.
Over the many hours we spent in close proximity, my mask would occasionally slip around the Uchiha prodigy, revealing glimpses of my true nature. But to my surprise, he never turned away or rebuked me for them, and instead seemed to enjoy each instance like he valued them more because he knew they were genuine.
Where I had once seen only a puppet that I could string along at my leisure, he underwent a rapid metamorphosis into a defining connection that tethered me to my remnants of sanity.
There's a consensual understanding that you become more like the people you surround yourself with, and although I may hold much more wisdom than Sasuke, his raw unfettered intellect was astounding. So much so I couldn't help but be jealous, I wished that I was as gifted as him, and perhaps I was, but my gifts resided in different areas.
Not long ago, I simply wished to possess Sasuke. I was intrigued by his potential power and his agile mind. However somewhere along the way, it devolved into full blown personal attachment.
It started when I realized how greedy it was of me to hold contempt for someone simply because he had talents I didn't, That lingering thought spurred my conscious to hold me back from the hardcore manipulative tactics I had started and planned to continue employing.
I told myself I was content with watching his brilliant radiance. To stand by his side as he honed his intellectual might into a fearsome unstoppable weapon. I wanted to help him cultivate his gift, and without a doubt I have, but his bottleneck was still nowhere in sight.
Maybe if I could figure out a way to prevent Being-X from controlling Sasuke, then he could even help me slay the 'God'.
I wasn't sure why Being-X couldn't possess me like he could possess everyone around me, or why my mind seemed to work while time was at a stand still. If it had the ability, surely it would have exploited it by now, but instead it continues trying to influence those around me.
If I could discover the secret behind his power, then... maybe telling Sasuke about that damnedable god wouldn't be so far fetched... Am I getting ahead of myself? True psychological intimacy, not holding anything back could be possible if the right conditions are met… which was alluring to fantasize about.
I enjoyed his company from the bottom of my heart, and this lead me to question whether this attachment was a compromising risk. Would it be a new avenue Being-x could exploit.
The obvious answer would be yes, but I learned a valuable lesson that even avoiding connections wouldn't save people from being victims to Being-X's interferences. If they were going to be meddled with regardless, then there was no reason not to take advantage of opportunities to bond with people.
I was at a crossroads and I would need to make a crucial decision.
Would I only accept a female as a love interest, or was Sasuke a potential suitor worth investigating?
I tried quantifying my feelings into thoughts, but they were a jumbled mess. Sorting through them would be a grievous chore. Part of me wondered if the attraction I already knew existed with him was more than that of platonic friendship. I didn't know if he had romantic feelings for me, but I did have my suspicions. The real problem was my feelings toward him were mysterious.
I was one to, under normal conditions, act with decisiveness and confidence fueled by logic. But with him? - I was so far out of my element I was drawing blanks more and more. I also found myself acting differently towards him as a result of this resulting in more awkward situations than I intended, but I rolled with them like they had been intentional, and adopted them as a normal way to converse with him.
The confusion over my sexuality left me frustrated. To sort out my feelings would require understanding myself on a deeper level, and to do that required both experimentation and self- reflection.
I'm sure I'm one of the few cases where I had to choose whether between being mentally homosexual or physically homosexual. Engaging in physical homosexuality seems the obvious choice, I'm still pretty sure I prefer women, but I suspect even that might be proven to be surprisingly empty… I just wasn't sure. But perhaps I'll have a better idea after tonight's experiment.
It's a human paradigm to yearn for intimacy. To be so close to another or others that you can share the depth of your body and psyche. The allure wasn't lost on me even if I admitted that the idea was far-fetched in my current situation.
I couldn't afford to push my envelope with people I was already acquainted with though, which is why tonight will be a good test to get a better feel for myself. If I couldn't attain psychological intimacy with someone I knew, than the obvious answer to reach a conclusion was to seek out physical intimacy.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
The daylight weigned, dusk falling in full motion. With my back leaned up against a wooden wall onlooking the entrance of the red light district which was now coming online. I took a deep sigh before pushing myself upright and bolded, entering the district and turning into the most frequented brothel of the village.
The building was massive, three stories in totality. It was a repurposed mansion of a wealthy merchant, the windows all shining vibrant colors due to the abundance of light streaming from the stained glass.
Closing the door behind me, the fragrance of multitudes of lingering perfumes and female pheromones hit me like a wall. So strong it was dizzying if I was being frank.
A scantily dressed hostess greeted me, her blonde locks twisting into marvelous curls nearly managing to hide the large golden O's dangling from her earlobes.
"Excuse me, I think you may be lost young… Hyuga-san?"
"I don't believe so, I'm here to celebrate my coming of age and will be borrowing one of your prostitutes." I said flashing my shinobi headband as my identification before returning it to my pocket.
Her eyes darted from side to side in a motion I could only conclude was in denial she head heard me correct.
"You said you wish to visit a prostitute? You need a word with someone in particular?"
"No. Just show me the lineup and I'll select my favorite."
"Er… Ma'am we only have service girls here."
"Okay? So show me your girls, or at least give me recommendations?"
"Uhh. right." She sputtered darting behind the check in desk rifling through papers.
In no time flat, she handed me a binder, and as I flipped through the pages of practically nude marketed girls, my eyes stopped and lingered on a young redhead.
"Is she available?" I asked turning the binder around and tapping the page indicating my selection.
"Yes. What type of package would you like?"
"Put me down for…" I stalled peeking around overhead at the deals listed in chalk on a blackboard in neon pink."-for an hour."
I was starting to get impatient so I withdrew my coin purse indicating I was ready to pay at any time. Of all the money I had managed to stash away, I was charged more than half of my reserves, 18,000 Ryo.
After payment, I was escorted to the second floor up a flight of spiraling stairs. We passed several enticing beauties. My overall confusion over my sexuality had ramped up my libedo to dangerously high levels. If I didn't get this out of my system, I swore I was going to end up assaulting someone soon.
Walking past an open doorway, I caught sight of a man hammering away on top of a woman on her back clenching the sheets of the bed. "Aaaahhh!"
My escourts face flushed pink, taking a sideways step to jerk the door shut as we past.
"My apologies."
"Looks like you got yourselves some exhibitionists here, huh?" I said winking at the blonde.
Her hips swayed in front of me causing her dress to dance above the floorboards with each step.
"Heh, it's as you say Ma'am." She chuckled, turning her attention back in front of her seeming nervous or uncomfortable. It was difficult to deduce which one from her vocal inflection alone, as her body language wasn't telling in the slightest.
She paused outside a door where she slammed her knuckles into the hardwood.
Knock Knock.
"Miranda you have company."
"Come in!" I heard shouted from inside in a sultry tone.
The door swung from its hinges revealing a female sprawled out on a loveseat clad in an ornate thin silver shimmering dress that hugged her body accentuating her curved and plump rear.
"Well, Hello cutie." The girl welcomed me right after spotting me. "What brings you here?"
"What do you think brings me here fuckin' slut?"
Her eyes opened wider in astonishment, She glanced over to the woman behind me still lurking in the hallway in surprise as if to say, "Did that just come out of this little girl's mouth?"
"Alright, You two have fun. I'll be back in 60 minutes." She said not acknowledging the woman's questioning glance closing the door as she left.
Now it was just me and her.
Her black eyeliner made it difficult to have my gaze wonder as if her eyes were demanding my attention. They were a brilliant shade of amber complimenting her perfectly combed and maintained pinkish-red hair falling to her breasts. A single large pigtail stuck out to the side bound above one of her ears which probably should have looked ridiculous, but instead I found it pleasantly captivating, especially with the single blue and white flower pinned to the tuff.
"You look very young."
"Yeah? Well I'm old enough for you to call me daddy."
If I had to guess her age, I 'd guess 17. Yeah, probably 17, give or take a year.
She came closer with light careful footing, inspecting me with a practiced smile fighting back her confusion. I found that fight especially alluring, she wouldn't likely be making the mistake of belittling me again.
If I still liked women, this girl was exactly my type.
I don't have an excuse to come out of here with more questions than answers.
My hand shot out catching the fabric of her dress in my fingertips. It was silky to the touch, and so thin I could feel the texture of her skin beneath. I dragged my nails up and down her back as I pulled her closer. Goosebumps rose along the path traveled by my nails to my excitement.
"Do you like that?" I asked.
"It feels good." she responded in a hushed tone before mirroring my actions. Her nails were longer, and she went right for my neck. My back spasmed from her touch, her grin widening as she saw my reaction.
Unacceptable. I won't let her take control. It's all mine.
Bringing my arms overhead, I stood waiting for her to catch on. In no time she slipped behind me, tugging at my blouse making it slide up my body until sliding past my skyward reaching hands.
Then something peculiar happened.
She… did she just sniff my blouse?
My eyes opened wider in surprise.
Reaching to her shoulder, I pulled her down to her knees. I dragged a fingertip over my exposed abdomen in front of her face and she took the cue wonderfully.
Her puckered lips approached meeting my belly leaving pecks in a trail upward.
The swaying Omamori brocade bag caressing my chest was going to get in the way - so I pulled it off and flung it over atop my blouse crumpled in a heap on the floor.
My nipples hardened, but my chest was as flat as a board. As much as I'd love to say it didn't bother me, it did. It was one of my few causes of embarrassment, and I felt myself losing the stranglehold of control I seized as she worked her way up to my chest.
"Down girl." I said grasping her luscious hair in my firm grasp like a handlebar so there could be no question where she was going.
Her tongue danced along my hardened abs in tickling vibrations.
"Urrr-ruuff." Escaped my lips in bated breaths.
It was as if that was the signal for her to go harder. To double down in her efforts.
Claaap.
The woman stopped for just a moment before getting back to work, her face flushed bright red.
Claaap. Claaap.
I squeezed her plump ass in my hands in between spanks.
"Oh yeah, you like that don't you slut. Look how wet you are!" I said bent over to the side to get a better view noticing she wasn't wearing any panties.
Stepping back and ripping my tights off with a domineering grin, I reapproached taller than the fully grown woman on her knees.
"Undress me the rest of the way with only your teeth."
Her hot breath escaping her mouth and nostrils riding over my skin made me shudder. Her ability to strip me of my panties with only her teeth seemed like it was second nature to her. As if she was a skilled musician playing a rehearsed arpeggio scale. Before I knew it they were at my ankles and I stepped backwards out of them.
I retreated to the bed, jumping back first onto it, One of my hand's exploring my nether regions. I was soaking wet and dripping.
"Get your ass over here. This pussy isn't going to lick itself."
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
(Miranda POV)
The young girl exited the brothel doors leaving them behind in the lobby.
"How did things go?" The receptionist asked, curiosity swimming in her voice.
"There's… something not right about that girl."
"Any girl who would come here at her age an odd one for sure. Very bold certainly."
Rubbing my thumbs together, I thought about how to word my suspicions.
"Well sure, but I at least expected to have to take the lead. She was far more knowledgeable, dominant, and demanding than she has any right to be at that age." I said pausing before my next inquisition. "How could someone that young be exposed to the type of sexual experience she seemed to have? I fear the Hyuga have already sank their claws into her. Just thinking about what she must have gone through is disgusting."
"Shh!" The receptionist shushed with a finger at her lips. "Are you crazy? The Hyuga aren't common patrons, but don't dare badmouth them. They are one of the four noble clans in the village of Konoha and they will not stand for any slanderous words."
I crossed my legs in a formal curtsy, my head bowed to the ground. "My apologies mistress. I was out of line."
The mistress's hand cupped her chin. "Yes, as long as you understand." She said, her voice trailing off. She started again, this time in a whisper "... but that doesn't mean your deduction is too far off the mark. Still, Tell no one of this to be sure the wrath of the Hyuga doesn't fall upon this place."
"Ye-Yes Ma'am." I sputtered.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
(Mina POV)
Hiashi and Neji's return was a day late. They arrived sometime in the early morning while I was still asleep.
Called out of bed by Tokuma, I found myself downstairs in loose sweats unprepared for Hiashi sitting in our living room.
"Good morning." He greeted.
"Morning Hiashi-sama." I parroted still a bit delirious from sleep.
Stretching out my shouldered, I caught a box wrapped up in ornamental paper at the feet of the clans patriarch.
My heart stopped.
It can't be? Can it?
The man's face broke out in a knowing grin. His foot slid the box across the hardwood towards me.
"Open it." He commanded.
Still unable to believe that the contents of this box was what I had asked for, I needed to confirm it without delay.
A nail sliced the edges of the paper allowing me access to a plain wooden box I pulled out from the wrappings.
The top slid open with pressure from my thumbs. Silver metal tools, wooden pegs, along with various other trinkets filled the box. I couldn't help but leap to my feet bouncing around in joy.
Before I knew what I was doing my arms flung around the clan leader into a thankful hug.
"Thank you - thank you - thank you!"
"Heh, Yes - yes. That's quite enough. I'm glad your happy because this was not the easiest thing to get my hands on, but if anyone asks, you didn't get that from me. If anyone asks, this is what I gave you." He said pulling a set of glass vials from a pocket.
One vial was filled with orange liquid, the other filled with blue. Both had sprayable caps wedged onto the tops of them.
"Per-fumes?" I asked unsteadied, unsure what exactly I was handed.
"Yes - Now you are a woman, despite how early you may have graduated. So even if I had come back without what you wanted, I had planned on giving you these anyways."
I hope he doesn't intend to spring out a marriage contract on me now. That would be just my luck.
"What, are you not happy with your gifts?"
"Their great, it just… it seems like there would be some catch."
"No catch. Keep up the good work and keep your nose clean. I don't want to find out that you've been making trouble for the clan again. Understood?"
"Yes Hiashi-sama!" Nodding in affirmation.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
The class was smaller than when I had first started out here. Several applicants had found themselves dropped from the curriculum or dropped out of their own accord.
"Before we get to team assignments, the class rankings are posted at the front of the class on the board."
Despite many of the occupants of the class vacating their seats to get a look at the final results, with my extraordinary sight I could see the details even from the back of the classroom.
Mina Hyuga - 234 points
Sasuke Uchiha - 219 points
Neji Hyuga - 215 points
Iwaizumi Nara - 172 points
But where was lee on the list?
"NO!" I blurted out causing several people to look my way.
Lee wasn't dead last… he was 2nd to last place with 68 points.
"Everything alright Hyuga-san?" Watari sensei asked causing more people to glance over to me.
"Yes… My apologies for the disruption Sensei."
Fuck, is our team going to end up with this deadlast Ushijima Wakabae now? UNLUCKY - UNLUCKY! NEVER FUCKIN' LUCKY.
"Alright then, now that everyone has had a chance to see their scores, time to announce the new team assignments. Team 14: Kogetsu Kohaku, Tatsyua Shibata, Armani Subaru, and instructor Anko Mitarashi… Team 13: …"His voice trailed off being overpowered by my conscious thoughts.
"Looks like the three stooges got paired together..." I heard Neji whisper.
I would have found it hilarious that Neji also adopted my nickname for them if I wasn't stressing so hard over the team selections.
If Lee doesn't make my team, does that mean Guy Sensei won't be our instructor?! It would make sense since Guy would be one of the only sensei's to be able to make anything of Lee, but Guy is too valuable to lose out on, who could possibly fill his place?!
"Team 11: Neji Hyuga, Iwazumi Nara, Tenten Fuji, and instructor Raidō Namiashi…"
Lee is still up for grabs, and so is Guy sensei!
My palms flew together into an unconscious prayer. If I could wish for one thing at this moment, it was for the dream team.
Come on baby!
"Team 9: Mina Hyuga-"
Come on - come on!
"-Sasuke Uchiha-"
Lee! Lee! Lee!
"-Rock Lee, and instructor Maito Gai."
"YESSSS!" I found myself exclaim springing from my seat a fist punching the air.
Sensei chuckled at my outburst. "Yes! I'm Glad you like your squad." He said with a flamboyant smile. "That's it for squads with Jonin instructors, anyone who didn't hear their name called report to the genin core assembly hall tomorrow at noon for assignments. For all of those who made it on a Jonin instructional squad, congratulations, stay behind to meet your captains, the rest of you are dismissed."
Lee shot up the stairs to the back of the room, standing behind Neji seated at my left.
"We did it! We made it into the same squad my eternal rival."
"I know. I'm so happy with our assignments." I said noticing Neji wince. "What? You knew we couldn't be paired up together."
"I got placed with the infuriating Nara."
"I thought you didn't like him because he was unmotivated. He ended up only being 40 points behind you. That's pretty good, right? He might have even claimed the Ace rookie rank from a different class."
"Once a failure, always a failure." He said in a huff.
"I thought you were over this preordained destiny stuff. Maybe he just matured at some point. Gotta grow up some time, am I right?"
My words were meant to be consoling, but I guess it would have been hard to have been taken that way while I was still grinning ear to ear like an idiot.
"Excuse me." He said, standing up with his chair squeaking against the floor.
Lee slid into the now vacant chair instantly his grin widening.
"What do you think our sensei will be like? Do you think he will have a scar on his face? Proof of his countless battles from which he's prevailed. Or Maybe-"
"Lee, calm down. Speculation is meaningless. Just wait patiently and find out like the rest of us." Sasuke said.
I watched nonplussed as Neji wandered out of the classroom.
Where could he be going?
Sasuke coughed fakely catching my attention, causing me to glance over to my right.
"Your... new hairstyle suits you well."
My chest lurched. The compliment turned my mind white, perhaps short circuiting my neural pathways or something, I couldn't be sure. A warm sensation spreading over me.
I had figured I wanted to try something new, so inspired by the prostitute I visited last night, I got my hair restyled before graduation this morning similar to hers. The same tuft of hair sticking out from the side of my head with a sacred blue lily pinned to it.
I didn't think the haircut would have such a positive effect though. What a pleasant surprise.
"Yeah? It would look even better with your hands tangled in it."
"Like that would ever happen brat." He turned away unable to look at me.
"Aww, look Lee! I think I made him embarrassed."
"In your dreams. I've grown accustomed to your jokes." He finished crossing his arms on his chest.
"Who says their jokes?" Touching his nose gently with my index finger and giving a playful wink.
I was right. As pleasurable as the momentary physical stimulation was last night, It was empty in the end leaving me to question why I was so fixated on girls this whole time.
Was I trying to safeguard who I used to be? What does that even matter, I had changed so much, both mentally and physically from who I once was. At this point, I could settle for any gender as long as our connection was real, and I decided that fostering that connection with Sasuke shouldn't be too difficult. I could tell I was desirable to him, but much like myself, he was quite stubborn.
Capturing his affections would be a worthy challenge, and come with the added benefit of solidifying his loyalty even further.
Sasuke's cheeks pinkened just a shade, but it didn't escape my visual prowess.
I've still got it baby.
"You like Sasuke?" Lee asked too loudly causing several to turn their heads to the back of the room.
Okay, seems like everyone's eyes are on me.
I saw my opportunity like a sniper spotting a lense flare from an enemy scope on the battlefield.
This is my shot.
"I think what everyone wants to know, is if Sasuke likes me." I finished with a dastard smile.
The spotlight was now on the Uchiha, his hands folded together on the desk hiding his mouth from the spectators.
"I want to know who Sasuke likes!" Tenten shouted.
Several other girls chimed in mumbling in agreement.
He shrugged, indifferent to the attention, a smug expression exposed as his hands parted ways.
"Of everyone here, I suppose Mina has the best chance with me."
Below the desk, his heel ground into my toes all while not dropping his act to the rest of the class.
I pinched at his side, careful to bypass the audience's eyes.
"I'll get you back for this." He mouthed from the corner of his lips, still grinning confidently.
Many of the other females' gazes flicked between Sasuke and I fighting between jealousy and understanding.
"I guess it kinda makes sense for those two to end up together. No one else is in his league."
I shielded my face from the class with a hand then poked my tongue out of my mouth mocking him. "At least now some of your fangirls will leave you alone loser."
His lips curled into a miniature smile, the pressure from his foot atop mine growing uncomfortable.
Where I had been pinching his side, I instead dug a nail into him, but his grin only grew wider to my annoyance.
It would seem neither of us knew how to concede ground, escalating our childish engagement to their limits within the classroom without drawing attention to ourselves.
"You guys like each other, right? But all you do is tease each other and fight. I just don't get it." Lee said dejected with slumped shoulders.
"Love is like a battlefield Lee, and Sasuke here thinks he's the dominant." I replied back still holding eye contact with the unrelenting Uchiha.
"Think? I am the dominant between us now. Who's the one that's been shirking away from sparring and joint practice?"
"Okay - for one, that's not what I was talking about when I said dominant, and two; I'll still clap those cheeks in spars."
"I-" Sasuke started, but was interrupted by a flash bolting into the room. The figure stopped masterfully striking a cheesy pose with an arm overhead, and the other bent overhead with his eye gazing out the hole in his hand making the OKAY sign.
"Konoha's Sublime Green Beast, The captain of squad 9 is here to lead you through the sweet and sour of your blossoming youth - Maito Gai at your service!" He boomed.
Sasuke's eye twitched, then turned back to me leaning close with his hand shielding his mouth.
"Is… is our captain an idiot?"
"He's certainly unique." I said giggling.
Lee stood up in his chair in a gasp. "Gai sensei is spectacular! Did you see his entry everyone? That is my sensei!"
"Err… Rock Lee right? Your enthusiasm is commendable! You're a shining star in your springtime of youth!" His cheeks contorting forming dimples and exposing his radiant pearly white chompers. He stuck his thumb up towards Lee. "I approve!"
Lee clenched both hands into fists raising them head level, his eyes burning with a fiery passion.
"I already have sensei's approval? I'll have to give it more than my all now! I will be a splendid ninja and make you proud!"
A few in the room burst into spurting laughter, but made attempts to muffle it.
"Is that Lee's dad?" I heard someone ask as more whispers spilled out of the audience watching our instructor and teammate make fools out of themselves, but since I cared about very few peoples opinions, I figured it would be fun to join in on the action.
"I will become Gai Sensei's number One most dependable junior!" I shouted, standing and striking a pose holding a single finger in the air.
Maito Gai clenched his gut and let out a hearty laugh. "Seems like my team is brimming with style! Team 9, let's head out!"
He spun around, strolling to and out the door, the rest of the team including myself leaving to follow.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
"All of you have sweat and worked to get where you are today. So tell me, who are you? What do you like, dislike, and what are your future dreams?" Sensei asked standing atop the academy building on the rooftop gazebo. "Let's start with you gloomy. What's your story?"
"I am Sasuke Uchiha. I have a lot of dislikes, and very few things that I like." He said, our eyes connecting for a brief moment before turning his attention back to sensei. "As for a dream of the future? I wouldn't sum up my ambition as something as light as a dream, because I will make it a reality. I will kill a certain man, and inevitably restore my clan back to prominence."
When he said that type of thing in cannon, he meant Itachi, but him and myself are the only people that know he's actually now talking about Danzo.
It felt good to be on the inside of things. Being lost and clueless just doesn't suit me.
"I see. A passionate flame burns within you Sasuke-kun. You have something you strongly want to protect, whether that's your ideals, your pride, or whatever it is. I can see it drives you immensely. Welcome to the team."
He eyed me next. "Hmmmmmm? Mina your next."
"Mina Hyuga, but you all knew that. I like surpassing my limits and challenging myself to grow both as a person, and as a ninja. I dislike anything done half-assed and people who don't use their brains. My dream is to become the first S ranked shinobi to come out of the Hyuga clan and be immortalized as a legend."
"I see. Yes. And What about you Lee?"
"I want to prove that I can become a splendid ninja with only Taijutsu! I want to prove it to my eternal rival, and the whole world!" He shouted loud enough that the local birds roosting in the tree to our right fluttered away with a few chirps.
"Hmm!" He grunted "Yes, I see all of you are eager to hone and prove your talents. This team has what it takes, I'm sure of it, so I won't even bother giving you guys my real preliminary test, but a test has to be issued regardless, so we are going to play a game of rock, paper, scissors, and each of you must beat me, but I will only be using rock."
"Your… going to only use rock sensei?" Lee asked confused. "If we know that, how can you beat us?"
"Lee, Lee, Lee. Why would I want to win when I could have you three as teammates?"
We went through the motions, one by one we dueled Sensei, each of us throwing out paper and winning without issue.
"As of this day forward, I will be your Sensei, and I will protect all of you, my dedicated pupils. Gather around Team Gai!"
He ushered us in with his hands then stuck his arm into the center of us all, flashing us his teeth in a bright charismatic smile. "Hmm? … HueeeeemmmMMMMMMM!" He hummed loudly increasing his volume towards the end, Lee quickly following suit, throwing his hand on top of Gai Sensei's.
A quick chuckle, and then he looked my way. "HeeeeemmmmmMMMPPPHHHH!" He hummed.
What a character...
I stacked my hand on top of the pile, a quick giggle by sensei in his victory, and then we all looked to Sasuke, who by now was the odd man out of the group.
I could tell by the look on Sasuke's face that he thought this behavior was beneath him. His and Sensei's eyes were in a heated deadlock, stalemated forcing Gai to apply more pressure.
"HMMMMMM! HUEEERRRRRRMMMM! HEEEEUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! ~ heheh." He finished with a nod, Sasuke's hand finally landing on the pile. "Fight for your dreams and ambitions with the full power of youth my pupils! Team 9 on three, ONE, TWO, THREE-"
"-TEAM 9" We yelled in chorus.
"-FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" Gai chanted. Lee was the only one to follow sensei's lead heartedly chanting FIGHT alongside the Elite Jonin.
Sasuke flashed me a look I could only describe as utter bewilderment nearly making me bust out into laughter. I fought it down, but I still found myself letting out small noises to keep the laughter dammed up.
"Tch... Hue-hmp" I struggled.
I don't think I've ever seen him look as confused as he was in that very moment. I wish I could have snapped a picture and saved that hilarious image forever, it was 'that' priceless.
As much work as I put in to ensuring this teams formation, this specific detailed lineup coming together, I still had to admit that I was lucky that it all worked out. That I got to have such a wonderful team.
My hair snagged and pulled reflexively causing my hands to shoot to my head.
A warm critter had flown into my hair?
My heartbeat increased in tempo as I messed with my hair grabbing at the intruder, until realizing what it was.
A hand, Sasuke's hands to be exact.
"Your hands would look better tangled in my hair, that's what you said, right?" He asked loudly.
My cheeks burned from my embarrassment, I wanted to rebuke him, but for some unexplainable reason I stood there silent, letting him fondle away at my hair.
To say I wasn't enjoying it would be a blatant lie, but showing my pleasure was impossible. I would just take it quietly until he gets bored.
Mmmmhmmm.
"I told you I'd get you back. After all, I'm the Dominant." He whispered, hot air breathed into my ear breaking me from my bliss.
"I didn't know you two were so close." Gai said.
Goosebumps rose on my neck, and a few hairs stood on end.
"Oh yes, everytime I beat him in a spar, I make him do this for an hour." I lied not giving Sasuke an opportunity to explain himself further.
He sputtered behind me, his display backfiring in his face.
"It seems you both are in the springtime of your lives, aren't you?. Cherish these moments and never let the fire die!" He said giving us a thumbs up.
"But…" Sasuke started, yanking his hands out of my hair in the meantime. "Tch." He clicked his tongue of annoyance.
His plans, whatever they were, were too delicate to weather my interference. They were like a collection of fine china being introduced to a swinging bat, of course they would break and fall apart.
I spun around beaming from ear to ear leaning in closer to him.
"I am the Dom, and don't you forget it." I whispered.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
After team formation, we were given the rookie genin jerk-a-round, tasked to complete medial D-rank missions that ranged from weeding gardens, repainting the interior of an apartment for a landlord, and reorganizing the public libraries census documents and birth certificates.
The reorganization of documents was no doubt given to us because my and Sasuke's familiarity of the library plus our workload we handled in the Konoha Military Police Force that came under new management.
A week passed by, and unlike Kakashi who would use the insignificant missions as an excuse to meander off on his own, our Sensei actually would assist and encourage us, stressing delegation of duties and teamwork the whole time, setting somewhat ridiculous mini goals for himself, and by extension us to accomplish the whole way.
"I will pick these weeds while walking only on my hands."
I'm not going to lie, I tried my best to mimic Gai at the time, also getting into a handstand, but I didn't quite have the balance to hold myself one handed while picking weeds, and Lee looked even goofier in his attempts, falling forward into a tumble, or backwards and landing on his back repeatedly.
"We'll have to work you guys up. Let's start you off on only one leg."
I have to admit, even doing the most mind numbing tasks, things were never boring when Sensei was around. He had this gift of making what should have been the ordinary extraordinary with just his presence.
I already had respect for the man, even if his intellect was lacking just a wee bit, but I found myself admiring him more and more the more time we spent together.
His charisma was infectious. Sasuke found himself joining in on Gai's challenges as well, bitter because of having been swept up in the leaf hurricane that was Maito Gai.
"Jonin's really are on another level… We aren't even close after all the time we've put in!" Sasuke spat, throwing his kunai to the ground in a hissy fit.
One thing that people might not know about the Uchiha if not close to him, He isn't afraid of expressing his emotions, but because his emotions are primarily dealing with his anger, he can't lash out at every second of every day. He would come to a tipping point, where he managed to keep calm and was fully under control until finally snapping like New orleans dam levees during hurricane katrina. His disposition would change from his normally stoic self to a heated impulsive mess in an instant.
He leaned against the base of a tree, wide enough that 5 people with their arms extended couldn't wrap around the tree completely. Absentmindedly, my fingers played with the exterior bark weathered and coarse to the touch.
We were at one of our usual training grounds out in the wilderness tucked away in a corner taking a breather from our sparring. Well, I was taking a breather, Sasuke had been throwing Kunais trying to bounce pairs of them into new trajectories.
I think his work ethic might have surpassed mine… but not all of his training is efficient. If he took a second to slow down and think, He'd probably make more progress in the long term while not burning the candle at both ends.
An ant crawled off the tree and onto my hand, the tingling sensation of each step it made was relaxing - until it bit me. Annoyed, I flicked it off, it impacting the tree and ricocheting into the tall yellowing grass and weeds.
"Are you listening?"
"Hm? - Uh, yeah, your crying over not being Jonin level yet."
He sat up straighter, a scowl plastered across his face not subtracting from its aesthetic appeal.
"How can we take down S ranked ninja's if even Jonin is out of our reach? Am I the only one who's concerned here?"
I yawned, not a care in the world right now, sprawling out more and stretching my back. A quiet moan as I ripped up some grass by its roots producing a calming natural aroma.
"No, I'm not happy about it either, but if you work on upping your speed a bit more, and increasing your arsenal of jutsu's, especially other peoples jutsu's you can copy, and I work on my speed, Taijutsu, and incorporate my puppetry into combat, we should be sitting pretty good. Worrying about it is a waste. And I should know, I used to worry so much I got a stomach ulcer. I learned my lesson and when i'm not strategizing or training, I chill and take some me time, ya know?"
"Every waking moment, all I can think about is my revenge. Relaxation is a distraction that only serves to separate where I am now, and my future goals."
Hearing him say that only made me further realize how unhealthy my own vendetta against the damnedable god was. Not so long ago I was just like that… Well, maybe If I didn't have Izuna I would still be like that.
"Sasuke, I'm a genius - right?" I probed batting my eyelashes at him.
"Mhmmmmm…" He replied drolly.
"I spend plenty of my free time figuring out new ways to improve you. The time I've bought you, the spare time that you have now that you are much further advanced than you would be without my help, you owe it to me. So I demand you fucking chill, and start paying me back by laying over here in the grass with me. The world isn't going to pass you by if you blink, I promise." I said patting the ground next to me, and turning my attention back to the clouds.
"Grrr…"
Did he growl at me?! … Well at least he listened and is lying down like I asked.
I used to scoff at the idea of cloud watching. I internally ridiculed Shikamaru all those years ago for wasting his life away, but it seems I still have a lot to learn. The more I grow and learn, the more I realize that I'm not as wise as I thought I was. The dunning kruger effect in all its glory ladies and gentlemen. Knowing about it only helped manage my expectations, but managing expectations, and knowing the extent of your own ignorance are vastly different from each other.
The only consolation is realizing that most people are just as blissfully ignorant as I first expected. When it came to wisdom, the majority of my competition was a bit underwhelming despite being no sage myself.
"Mina-kun?" a familiar voice called out.
I leaned back further, swinging my legs overhead then whipped my legs back, catching myself on my feet half crouched.
"Ebisu-san?" I said holding the special-jonin's gaze. Well, I couldn't really see through his thick black sunglasses even with my visual prowess, but from the angle of his face, there was little doubt he was staring right at me.
"I was looking for you and finally found you." He said pushing his glasses further up his nose grinning.
"Yeah? Okay, so why did you want to see me?"
"I guess I'm going to take off." Sasuke said now off the ground, his eyes narrowing before turning his back and kicking off the ground onto a tree branch bolting the other direction.
"The honorable grandson has been talking about you non-stop since your graduation. He has come to respect you from the stories he's heard, but he would like to see the genius prodigy for himself. As a former teacher, perhaps you could do this man a favor and drop by sometime?"
Konohamaru? Isn't he an incompetent snot nosed brat? Urrrggghhh! ...Still, I do owe Ebisu a favor, and the idea of leaving that unpaid is vexing…
We stood in silence for a brief moment before I broke it.
"I guess I'm free now, so why don't we head over?"
"Excellent. The young master has been progressing beautifully in his studies, but he lacks a competent role model close enough to him in age. I'm sure this will be good for him, and I appreciate you giving him your precious time."
This man must powder his nose every few hours to hide how brown it is from burying it in peoples' asses. But... I guess it wasn't altogether displeasing, just feels a bit disingenuous is all.
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
"Wow this is her!? You can manipulate your skeletal system at will? Huh? You can show me right?"
"Hold your horses kid, I literally just walked through the door."
Konohamaru bounced around looking like an energetic puppy, his chin tilted up, taking turns flashing me both inquisitive and excited faces.
"Sorry, he doesn't usually get this wound up. Honorable grandson, your acting a fool." Ebisu reproached.
"What's the difference between normal eyes and the Byakugan? I heard you can see chakra and peoples pathways with it on, does that interfere with your standard vision at all?"
This is to be expected I guess…
Konohamaru's room large enough to cram 40 or more people in it standing. The Hokage's Residence was also well furnished. Many sofa chairs with padded cushions were placed in various locations, as well as tables, cabinets, and bookshelves. It was strange how many books he had. They were shelved, laying atop desks, and stacked in piles across the floor. He probably had a small fortune worth of reading material in his room to be honest
I tried to remember back to when I was actually 7 or 8…
What grade would I have been in? 2nd or 3rd? Yeah - and back then I read at a 10th grade level at the minimum, but had to have read less than 20 real books by myself, and maybe another 30 If i included books read to me out loud. How advanced is this kids reading having seemingly read so much material?
Picking up a random book off the stack, the title read: Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.
Yeah, I wasn't reading this kind of shit at his age.
Setting the book down back where I found it, I paced around in the vast room, the timberwolf grey tiles clicking with each step. The walls were bent in a large arc as the building itself was shaped like a dome. A row of six windows all leaked light into the room, the sun descending from its peak in the sky.
"Come on! Just a little demonstration? Pleeeeeaaaaaseeeeee." The kid begged.
It was then when I realized the strange ensemble he was wearing. Khaki shorts and a button up shirt. He was also without that ridiculous scarf he carried around everywhere in cannon.
What in the world could have changed him so drastically? Is this evidence observable proof of the butterfly effect? That any and all changes made to a timeline will distort a universes future?
Spotting my reflection in the window, a grin slipped on my face replacing whatever face I had made while lost in thought.
My spine crowned out of the skin covering my back, it bending and writhing like a serpent.
"I can change its shape, size, and density through the manipulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are cells that produce and destroy bones respectively." I said giving my informed version of the Shikotsumyaku explanation.
Sasuke always teases me when I get lost in thought. How can he always tell? I wish he'd tell me what my 'tell' is so I could manage to hide it better… Well, at least I hope I could hide it better...
Observing myself in a mirror while thinking was impossible. It was a paradox, because when I drifted into thought, I would forget to see what I looked like, and by the time I remembered, I was too late.
They say the only sure things in life are death and taxes. If I were asked, I would respond that the only certain thing in life are questions. Behind every question is an answer leading to another question, or to an unsolvable paradox. Life is cruel that way, but I guess that's why the universe pumps out so many idiots. Because if in the end your questions are meaningless, why bother with them?
I was different in that sense. Where people found meaninglessness, I found purpose.
So what if a new problem arises after solving the last? That doesn't mean to stop simply because a new problem takes its place. To stop is synonymous with death in my opinion. So in that sense, I suppose Being-X might already be dead - the arrogant pretentious bastard.
I got in the habit of something akin to autopilot during medial taskwork to free up more processing power for thought. It is one of my few ways to sneak more reflection in during the day for intellectual growth.
A firm knock sounded at the door, and in no time Ebisu-san was called into action for something or another. He stepped out, and somehow I was swindled into taking Konohamaru outside for a practical skills demonstration.
I had 4 of my shadow clones deathmatch each other while I comentated over the fights. What was happening, why I was making some of my choices, and the works. At the very least, with all the time I spent learning, I had to prove my conceptual mastery by teaching it, the highest level of demonstrated mastery of a subject.
My pride as an educator, even with this 7 year old, wouldn't let me cut corners in good conscious. But even in the diminished state of autopilot I managed to avoid cutting many corners. The practice must be deeply engraved in me at this point.
"See that? The weapon and armor durability are the same, so lowering impact surface area will increase force distribution to a smaller more compact area, resulting in more damage. That's how that clone broke through the others defense even though they were the same materials."
If I were to explain it simply, i would use a baseball bat versus a gold club analogy, but neither seem to exist in this world annoyingly.
"I see. That kekkei genkai is awesome, and it's gotta really high skill ceiling too, right?"
He was like a spunge. He picked up on every fiber of information and absorbed it, never needing a second explanation. This kids potential is huge.
How did Kishimoto underplay this kids talent so much? It's a travesty in all honesty.
Sweat seeped out of my pores from standing on the sidelines under the intense rays of the sun.
"Lemonaid?" The kid asked pushing a cup into my hand. He poured the transparent yellow liquid from a thermos keeping its contents cool.
The temperature of the refreshment soothed the lips, and the citrusy flavor left me downing it in minimal gulps.
"What about your Byakugan? Does seeing Chakra ever interfere with the vision of material objects?"
Raising my hand to my face and stroking my chin, I thought about what the best way to phrase it would be, before settling on: "The Byakugan's vision is kind of like two layers. Imagine one eye see's only chakra, and the other eye sees all material matter, except both eyes can see both layers simultaneously. It's weird, like two different images are in my head, but it's so natural to see it that way, they are hard to separate and is never confusing for me. I don't know, does that make sense?"
"Yeah. That makes sense. So it manifests as additional data to the brain and doesn't inhibit the standard vision at all."
"Yeah… But kid, your vocabulary is insane! How many books have you read?!"
"Uhh… I lost track. I have no idea."
I shoved him with an arm playfully. "Come on. A hundred? Two hundred?"
"Way more."
"Way more? How could you have had time to read way more books than 200. How long ago did you learn to read?" I asked before covering my mouth with a hand before burping. "Excuse me."
Konohamaru's face morphed from his happy-go-lucky giddy expression to a mischievous grin.
"I've had much more time to read than you, Mina Hyuga - AKA. Nick Cryslar."
My blood froze in my veins, alarm bells blaring in my brain all the while.
I hadn't been called Nick since my reincarnation.
I leapt backwards adding distance between us, my mind whirring at frightening speeds.
"Time flows mingling with chaos and chance in order to create miracles and shape fate. Anyone in opposition of this flow, orchestrated by the Singularity, are my sworn enemies."
"You - who ar-re you?!" I let out in an unequal tone.
"A man of science, given the name Amadeus by the God of our universe."
A distinctly unfeminine snort escaped me at his words. "A man of science? Heaping praises to that demon. You must not be in your right mind."
"We're not so different, you and I. I had a debilitating disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It left me with minimal to no control over my muscles. Before the age of 21 I was confined to a chair, and soon lost my ability to speak. You had full motor functionality, and even had your sight, you were only prevented from playing sports. Get over yourself."
"Don't say it like that. My lifestyle was ripped from me purposely by that demon! It wasn't some fleeting trial, he gives and takes away at a whim!" I yelled.
"-Through all my research, I came to the conclusion that our universe was created with rules and laws too perfect for coincidence. Did you know water is the only chemical compound where it's physical state is less dense than its liquid state? If not for that, the world would be covered in ice, uninhabitable, and that's only a single miracle God set into motion for us. The amount of things that had to be perfect for the existence of humanity is more improbable mathematically than winning the lottery 5 times in a row, I've ran the computation through a super computer, so I would know. However, where we differ is very clear, your inability to accept God's grace and your blasphemous undermining of his efforts is unredeemable."
If he was talking like this without a care in the world, I had already fallen victim to his trap, what was it?!
"Dues lo Vult - God wills it. So I have faithfully carried out our God's orders," he said.
With a hyper analytical razor, I pruned my gathered insights dividing the useful information and foregon assumptions from the useless.
The Lemonaid! That bastard poisoned me?!
As if arriving at the conclusion was a trigger to unleash the toxin's effects taking root in my body, my blood's circulation was strained evident by the purpling of my skin at my fingertips.
My hand flew into my mouth jamming several fingers down my throat batting at my uvula.
"UrrWWAAAHHhhh!" I gagged emptying the contents of my stomach into the grass.
Thick strands of saliva hung suspended from my lips, and I wiped them away on my shoulder not caring for edicate or decency.
My vision blurred… then distorted into two fuzzy pictures side-by-side. Double vision if you will.
I was caught in an invisible blizzard, chilled to the bone and shaking.
I'm going to die… Like this? To Being-X's fucking pawn?! NO! I REFUSE!
LEON COME.
There was a click, and suddenly I was flung from the driver's seat to the passenger in a moment.
Izanagi - Izanagi - Izanagi! Izuna's voice rang through my head.
The distorted picture regressed into clarity returning to focus.
"Byakugan!" I heard myself shriek.
A tempest of spawning tendrils swarmed the evangelical extremist in sheeps clothing.
Bzzt
He warped from his location replaced with a wooden log.
A substitution.
I know slow-fuckin'-idiot, I'm already 3 steps ahead of you.
We warped out of where we were into a space a few hundred meters further into the clearing leading to the forest's revine.
Again, the silverish tendrils manifested sailing through the sky towards Amadeus.
But his bracelet flashed with a bright blinding white light, warping away.
Izuna substituted, and substituted hot on his tail, the clouds of smoke from every jutsu finding its way into our lungs, but nothing would stop him now, his thirst for bloodshed wouldn't be quenched until Being-X's pawn was lying in a lifeless heap, and I didn't blame him.
How are his substitutions so fast, and longer distance than ours?
The back of the child was pulling away, getting further and further until nearing the edge of our enhanced vision.
FUCKKKKKKKKKK!
The picture of the environment around us tinted over with a black film, our chest heaving in animalistic rage.
Tendrils spawned wrapping around a tree constricting around it until it snapped in half bisecting it.
The bark split apart like a cracking inferno of a fire. Like chinese firecrackers all being set off in one grand finale.
The towering monstrosity of a tree leaned over, gravity pulling it down to earth. The air parting ways around it, slowing down its decent with a whistle, until it found it's target - slamming to the ground with massive seismic vibrations that crashed into my body like turbulent oceanic waves sweeping me off a foot, but Izuna catching us stomping the foot back into the ground with a primal roar.
I watched dumbfounded as Izuna pulled himself out of his rampage.
I could have killed him… I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CONTROL SOONER!
He would have just fled sooner. Your being emotional. At least we got information out of him since he thought we were already dead.
INEXCUSABLE! YOUR FUCKING TRASH AND YOU KNOW IT. YOU ALMOST GOT US KILLED. POWER IS THE ULTIMATE EQUALIZER AND YOU HAVE NONE.
Like you did much better asshole, besides, knowledge is power, and my analytical mind obviously surpasses yours, or at minimum when your like 'this' it does.
I was arguing with myself.
Down the spiraling rabbit hole of madness I have succumb.
"Hello darkness my old friend..."
┬┴┬┴┤神の起源├┬┴┬┴
A/N: Hello, It's been a while since I released a chapter for you guys, and It's been a work in progress for some time. This chapter and life has fought me the whole way, but finally here it is, even if it came out kicking and screaming. FYI - Konohamaru is a reincarnated soul given a canon characters body. He is partially inspired by the great Stephen Hawking. Also, as a side note, god writing Guy sensei/Gai sensei was fun. What a top tier personality that man has, am I right?
Reviewer Question: - Did you anticipate Konohamaru's plot twist coming? I tried to foreshadow it as best as I could without making it too obvious. I'd love to know how you all thought I did.
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