Oh god my head's pounding and why is the sun so bright! I went to pull my blanket over my head when I felt myself lean and begin to fall.
SLAM!!
The impact with the ground cleared my lungs of my first breaths of the day instantly. Opening my eyes afterward only served to scare the hell out of me, seeing as I went to sleep in my bedroom and now I was in a full blown forest!
Then to further drive me toward insanity a line of bright blue text appeared, floating in front of me.
Welcome To The World Gamer!
And to make matters worse when I reached out to touch it my hand passed straight through. "So this is insanity? I expected more clowns." I said aloud, having fully accepted that I had gone off the deep end.
New Quest!
Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore!
Objectives: Complete tutorial to find out where you are and what's going on!
(Success: 10,000 Ryo, 1,000 EXP, Idea Of Next Move)
(Failure: Trust me you can't.)
As I stood there staring at the words I thought back to how hard I had hit my head on that fall. Obviously so hard it knocked me into some kind of weird dream. Oh well might as well go with it until I wake up.
Please say or think 'Stats' to continue tutorial! (Your choice will be set as default for game interaction)
Silently thinking the word the transparent box grew larger as the text changed.
Name: Shikamaru Nara
Level: 10 (Next Level: 0/5,500)
Title: Gamer
HP: 777/777
CP: 650/650
STR: 18
VIT: 17
DEX: 20
INT: 28
WIS: 18
LUK: 10
Money: 2,000 Ryo
Click each attribute to get a short description of what it represents! Think 'Skill Set' when finished to continue tutorial.
"Might as well." I said shrugging before going down the list clicking each.
HP- A number that represents the amount of health player has
CP- The total amount of chakra able to be used by player
STR- How physically strong the player is
VIT- How much physical endurance and chakra the player has
DEX- How quick and agile the player is
INT- How intelligent the player is and how well they can control their chakra
WIS- How well the player understands what is happening around them
LUK- How lucky the player is
Wait a minute! Shikamaru!? Chakra!? Am I in Naruto!?
For Figuring Something Out Early WIS Has Gone Up A Level!
What the hell is going on!? I recognized most of these stats almost immediately from every RPG I've ever played. It called me a Gamer to now that I think about it!
Think 'Skill Set' when finished to continue tutorial.
"Yeah yeah I heard you the first time." I said to myself before thinking 'Skill Set'.
Skill Set shows you all moves you know both passive and active.
Skill: Gamer's Mind Lvl: MAX
Description: Helps quickly recover from things such as stress or trauma as well as making user immune to becoming insane.
Skill: Gamer's Body Lvl: MAX
Description: Prevents User from obtaining any permanent damage as well as allowing Users to heal from most injuries after a full night's sleep.
Skill:Observe Lvl:1
Description: See who a person with a brief background!
Huh, that's it? I guess I did just get here.
Think 'Map' to finish tutorial and complete quest!
Yup, just like an RPG. When I thought the command a small, nearly transparent circle appeared in the upper left corner of my vision
This is your map, it provides you with a map of your surroundings as well as marking enemies if you can see them!
Looking at the map I saw that I was deep in the Nara Forest near the clan compound. I was zooming out and looking at the map of what I soon recognized to be Konohagakure when a shrill scream echoed through the trees.
"Shikamaru Nara you better not be lazing around in that forest instead of practicing your tree walking like you're supposed to!" A female voice exclaimed causing me to shiver purely out of reflex
"Troublesome." I said instinctively before walking toward the source of the voice near the edge of the forest. Reaching her I saw a gorgeous woman with creamy white skin, black eyes and long brown hair in a low ponytail sporting an unamused look.
"Hmmm, let's try something." I thought to myself before thinking 'Observe'.
Name: Yoshino Nara Lvl: 37
Yoshino is a skilled Chunin as well as the matriarch of the Nara Clan.
Yoshino, where have I heard that before? I remembered hearing the name before previously but who she was evaded me.
"Shikamaru how do you expect to do well in the Academy if you don't do anything but laze around when you should be training!" She continued scolding me though I was too busy trying to remember where I recognized her from to notice.
"Don't ignore your mother when she's talking to you!" She shouted before reaching out faster than I could see and yanking me by my ear toward the compound.
-10 HP
"Owww!" I exclaimed as she yanked me into the compound gates.
"Don't whine! Shinobi should be tough, besides I'm barely touching you." She said in a tone calmer than her previous yelling.
"Easy for you to say, when you're ears aren't bleeding from being yelled at!" I growled back, receiving a surprised look from 'my mother'.
Oh right! I guess Shikamaru would have just mumbled something about this being troublesome and moved on with life instead of arguing back.
"Oh well." I shrugged to myself as we walked back home, Yoshino scolding me for my 'new found attitude the entire way. Finally we reached the modest house and before Yoshino could say anything else I left to what I remembered was my room to think on everything that had happened so far. It was weird it had been around an hour since I woke up here yet I had memories of Shikamaru's childhood as though I were in his place when they happened.
I remembered first meeting Choji and befriending him even though everyone else made fun of him for being fat. Even though I was never there and what's weirder is that even as I sat on my bed now I was forgetting more and more of my own childhood. Names and faces began to blur, strangely this didn't bother me as much as it probably should have.
Hours passed and I finally began to process what was going on though I still didn't fully understand what was going on but from what I did apparently I was for some reason taken from my world and placed in the body of an anime character in a world that didn't even exist yesterday.
Quest Alert!
Quest Completed!
Rewards: 10,000 Ryo, 1,000 EXP
The alert drew me from my thoughts in time to see that the sun had gone down and it was now night. Guess I got so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't realized how long I'd sat here.
"Shikamaru! Dinner's ready!" Yoshino's voice called from outside my door. I told her I'd be out in a few seconds, though more to seem normal than out of a urge to eat. During the time I had to think I came to the conclusion that this couldn't be a dream it all felt so real. The breeze on my skin to the sharp pain of being pulled by the ear, it was all to real to be a dream which raised the even more important question of why am I here.
Brushing my thoughts aside I headed to where my minimap told me my family was eating and for the first time it dawned on me that this might not be the same world that I had know in my previous life.
Name: Shikaku Nara LVL: 39
Shikaku is the current head of the Nara Clan and a talented Jounin of the Leaf Village.
Now that seemed normal what wasn't was the young girl sitting next to him, her long brown hair framing her face as she smiled warmly at me. I didn't recognize her so I hit her with an Observe to see if that would shed some light on the situation.
Name: Shizumi Nara LVL: 4
Shizumi is the youngest child of Yoshino and Shikaku Nara.
Huh, so I guess I have a sister? Though this raises the question of if she's here then what else is different from the Naruto world I remembered?
"Why does Onii-chan look so pale? Is he sick?" She asked in an adorable voice. Ok sue me, I have a weak spot for kids.
"What no, I'm not sick! I'm just tired I guess." I said waving my hands, trying not to draw attention to myself.
"Then you should go to sleep. I wouldn't want you falling asleep in class tomorrow." Shikaku said offhandedly getting a nod from Yoshino.
Dinner went by quite uneventfully other than my mother and sister taking jabs at my laziness, as my father and I ate with unamused looks before I finished and went to my room.
During dinner I also learned that I started my final year at the Ninja Academy tomorrow, which was perfect because I now knew how far along the timeline I was. That means that shit won't hit the fan for a while if I'm lucky.
"If only they knew I have too much to do to be lazy." I mused to myself as I fell into a dreamless sleep.
You Went To Sleep And All Injuries Were Healed!
I was awoken by the curtains of my room being pulled open and harsh sunlight piercing the black veil of my sleep.
"Come on Shika get up you have to go to school." Yoshino said in a quiet, steady voice that left no room for argument. Not that I had any. I realized that if I wanted to survive in this world I'd need training, even if it did mean going through school for a second time.
Taking a shower I went over my basic plans for the day. Obviously go to the academy but other than that I had to prepare for how I'd behave. I couldn't just show up one day and act completely opposite to the Shikamaru that this world knew, no matter how different I was from him. It'd have to be a subtle change to keep from drawing too much attention to it.
I got out of the shower and put on a mesh shirt and blue shorts before standing in the mirror to brush my teeth and put on my earrings. Going to pull my hair into it's usual ponytail I paused, my hair actually looked kind of good down. It framed my round face and sat on my shoulders in a messy way, though it looked less unkempt after I brushed it out.
"Trying out a new look Shika?" Yoshiro asked me in a curious tone with a soft smile when I walked into the living room.
"Yeah figured I'd try something new today." I said returning her smile. It's strange, though I barely remember her, Yoshiro somewhat reminds me of my own mother. Stern with just enough love to help you get through life without ending out spoiled and unprepared.
"What is there something wrong with how I do my hair?" Shikaku joked causing the three of us to burst into laugh.
My walk to the academy was rather uneventful. I mean it would take an idiot to get lost with a map. So it was more of a guided tour of Konoha than an adventure, though the village was different than how it was portrayed in the anime. Instead of streets full of life, they were more sparsely crowded than anything. But I guess the sun did only rise about an hour ago so other than shop workers, shinobi, and other academy students no one really had an excuse to be awake.
"Hey Shikamaru!" A voice called out from behind me.
Turning to see who interrupted my stroll, I was greeted by a familiar face.
Choji Akimichi LVL: 10
Yup, time to see if all of the practice in the shower was worth the time wasted.
"Hey." I greeted the round boy with a small wave, trying my best to seem as bored as possible, and based on the next pop-up I'd say I did great.
New Skill Created!
Acting (LVL: 1)- They say a shinobi's best tool is the ability to be anyone and anywhere! Time to get acting!
"Shika, You alright man?" Choji's worried tone snapped me out of my stupor. Note to self, don't zone out in public. Luckily I didn't have to answer thanks to the ball of energy that is Naruto catching up to us.
"Guys wait up!" He yelled sprinting towards us. Looking at him made me facepalm at the stupidity of this world. The kid is literally a mirror image of Minato and yet almost no one noticed it until he grew older.
The energetic orange blur known as Naruto stopped directly infront of us with an enormous grin. "Hey Shikamaru! Hey Choji!" He greeted only slightly winded after sprinting down the street, but I guess that's kind of the standard around here.
"Good to see you man!" Choji greeted the blonde as I silently nodded before turning back in the direction of the school.
I'm screwed! Without even using observe on Naruto I could already tell he was in a completely different class than mine! I need to get to the academy and work my ass off if I plan to survive to even becoming a Chunin.
"- I don't know he's been acting weird like this all day." I heard Choji quietly tell Naruto as I looked up to see them staring back at me.
"I hope he stops acting like teme soon or I'll have to kick his ass until he's back to normal!" Naruto exclaimed loudly pointing at me, causing me to sigh and continue walking walking past them.
Apparently the walk to the Academy wasn't very long seeing as we made it to class on time even after the multiple stops we made along the way. Walking into the room I was overcome by the nostalgia of seeing so many familiar faces and even a few new ones. Sakura and Ino sitting behind Sasuke as he stared out the window only stopping to glare at Naruto before returning to staring out into space, this was all what I expected.
However the unknown female Inuzuka glaring at me while whispering to the equally unrecognizable Aburame girl was strange but whatever. But the weird boy with baby blue hair in the back of the room was just giving me serial killer vibes.
Naruto sat next to the Uchiha, glaring at the boy who continued ignoring him, and I sat down behind him next to Ino and Choji. The three of us sat together simply because it was a known fact the village would place us on the same team, just as they had done with our fathers, so we figured we might as well get used to being around each other.
"Ohh Shika are you trying something new with your hair!?" The blonde exclaimed, reaching out and touching my hair.
"Y-Yeah, I thought I should try something new." I stuttered out flustered for some strange reason. I sat and thought on why I was feeling this way as we waited for Iruka to show his face. Then I dawned on me, if I retained all of Shikamaru's memories then it only makes sense that I held some of his emotions still as well. That explains why I thought of his parents as my own as well as why I think Ino is kind of cute.
"Troublesome." I muttered as Iruka entered the class and began today's lesson on chakra control, something I knew enough about to feel comfortable zoning out once again.
I knew I needed to prepare for the upcoming events. The Konoha Crush would happen soon after I graduate and that was my first obstacle to overcome if I wanted to succeed in my mission. My mission was simple, get as strong as I could by any means possible and the first step of that was to grow strong where Shikamaru lacked strength. For example Shikamaru lacked versatility in combat so I knew that I needed to learn multiple jutsu and a solid taijutsu so that I wouldn't have to rely on shadow manipulation and my wits.
"SHIKAMARU!" Iruka shouted breaking my train of thought and bringing me back to the classroom where everyone was staring at me either out of pity or in Sasuke's case amusement. God I just met him and I already hate his guts.
"Well Mr. Nara since it appears you already know this topic well enough to daydream during my lesson, would you please come to the front and demonstrate how to properly control your chakra?" Iruka ordered in a polite tone.
I stood up and attempted to channel chakra into my feet, thank Kami for my high intelligence or I may have blown myself off of the ground, and walked past Iruka, straight up the wall and stood on the ceiling. I fought hard not to smirk at the dumbstruck looks on almost everyone's faces.
"Very good Shikamaru, though that still doesn't excuse your not paying attention." Iruka stated, unimpressed with my display. I guess he's seen that one before.
I dropped off of the ceiling gracefully, with a small flip and landed on my feet before walking to take my seat ignoring the shocked looks I received from everyone. I kept the same indifferent expression until Naruto turned around with a large grin. "That's right Shikamaru! Show Iruka-sensei who's boss!" He yelled making me grin at the irritation on both Iruka and Sasuke's face.
The day after that seemed to fly by and before I knew it school was over and Iruka was reminding us to get plenty of rest because we were sparing tomorrow. No matter that was a tomorrow problem, I like to live one day at a time.