Chapter 7: Teaching can go both ways (Part II)
It was already Wednesday as Naruko exited her apartment before the sun was even up so she could start Gai-sensei's, clearly, insane morning workout. After the needed stretches and warm-ups the girl started the long jug. During this run she let her mind wander back to the night before last when Iruka and she explained to the Hokage about the Gamer Soul.
Like she had done with the scarred chunin she had asked the Kage to be a party member and even included Falcon and Neko so everyone would be on the same page. Then they repeated the process of showing the videos Benihime had taken of their adventure while explaining how Gamer Soul worked. Unlike Iruka whoever, Hiruzen asked a lot of questions during the video. Some of these being: How were these dungeons created? Was the variety of creatures determined by the dungeon? What determined the power of the beasts inside them? How could Naruko create techniques like those on the fly or learn them by leveling up? And many more which the fairy tried to answer as best she could.
Regretfully it was during these questions Naruko learned that the system did not want her to know the mechanics behind a lot of those answers. Worst was that it wasn't even trying to be subtle about it because as soon as some of the more technical information was said all the Uzumaki could hear was harsh static. Then for added measure no matter how much she wanted it or will herself into doing it her eyes were simply unable to focus on their mouth to see if she could try and read their lips. Getting frustrated quickly Naruko had informed her party members about this which unlike the fairy could the adult by surprise since neither had that problem. With that realization fresh in their minds they asked Benihime why this was happening which she just answered.
"Normally the player avatar doesn't know they're in a game. Therefore, why should they know how the code making up their world works?"
Then to prove her point the diminutive redhead had asked Iruka to write any of the mechanics down on paper and hand it to the whiskered girl. The man did so and when the Uzumaki's eyes landed on the words these became pixelated before falling off the paper onto the ground where they shattered into nothingness. After that Naruko could only frown and crosses her arms as the adults talked over the technicalities she couldn't understand. Thankfully that didn't last long as Benihime goes on to explain the party system.
The information had been similar to the one given to Iruka-sensei but with two distinctions. The first being that the fairy clarified that everyone in the party, which had a max capacity of 8, would gain the same amount of XP and money so long as they were in battle. That meant that if say they killed an enemy that gave 100XP and 100copper then everyone gets both sums. This way the money and experience would not have to be shared among them in equal shares or by contribution to the fight. The second new piece of information had been that while experience and money were shared by the party members all items went to the leader, i.e. Naruko since she was the one considered the player character.
After that, the village leader asked for a possible demonstration of a skill gained through the system. When asked if it could be one that can be used outside of battle he agreed. Thinking this was a good chance to practice crafting the Uzumaki decided to pull out her portable forge which surprised the adults. Sure, the video had shown that the girl could materialize items but they thought that was relegated to her weapon or small items, not something almost as big as her. Then came the real surprise for them came when the whiskered girl threw in five rat tails and proceeded to hammer out a whip from the molten material.
Rat Lasso [Lv1] |Common| ~ Main Weapon ~
Description – A leather whip created from the tails of giant rats. As a memento of where the materials came from the handle is in the shape of a rat with the tail being the weapon. Careful though, due to the magical way this weapon has been created the taint of the animal now resides in the tip of this whip.
+5ATK
1% of causing Poison status
Next, the gamer had shown off the shop by buying Hiruzen a new pipe with a bowl in the shape of a smiling monkey. That had gotten a laugh out the old kage as he accepted the gift. In return, he had given her as a reward a pardon for skipping school the next day. Yet before she could celebrate, he told her that it was because she would spend the day taking tests in the hospital to make sure this new bloodline limit wasn't negatively affecting her body. Thankfully that had reminded the whiskered blonde one of the reasons why she had agreed to talk with the Hokage. Boy, had that been a fun and revealing conversation.
| Flashback ~ Start ~|
"Hey, Jiji. When were you going to tell me that I have demon chakra?" Naruko asked to the surprise of the leader and his bodyguards.
"What are you talking about, Naruko-chan?" Hiruzen questioned back almost on reflex and showing he had not been ready for that inquiry.
"Oh, don't you dare fake ignorance about this!" the blonde accused with a pointing finger at the old man. "It may have been for a moment but I have proof of it right here!" she announced and with a snap of her fingers Benihime produce the image of the whiskered girl's demonic transformation. Even Iruka was taken aback at the sight of those red-slit eyes and pronounced whisker marks. "That chakra is fueled by my anger and today I was by far the most enrage I've ever been. If it hadn't been for my new bloodline having a calming feature I could have turned into a wild beast and torn apart that fool Goro to shreds!"
"Naruko-chan, I understand that you're upset and mistakes were made but I was thinking of your's and the village's safety." the Hokage replied but the glare he got in return told him that was the worst thing he could have said.
"Am I supposed to take that as an apology for the way this village has treated me?" Naruko asked with an intense stare. To her side, she could see Iruka about to say something and she quickly lifts a finger to silence him. "I know what you're going to say Iruka-sensei but please let me speak first." Thankfully the chunin seemed to understand and backdown which let the Uzumaki take a calming breath to center herself for what was about to come. Then she looked at the man that had been like a grandfather to her all of these years and made sure her eyes conveyed her anger, frustration, and betrayal she was currently feeling.
"Sandaime-sama," the whiskered girl started and almost relished in the fact that using the title cause a hurt look to briefly pass by the old man's face. "During my short life I have experience: 1) what it's like to go to bed hungry without ever eating anything for days, 2) the hatred of people you don't even know, 3) the coldness of sleeping in the streets during winter, 4) the indignity of having to scavenge food out of trash, 5) a near-death at the hands of a drugged up mugger who stabbed me in a dark alley, and so many more things."
The Uzumaki recounted as her mind played back each one of those events again and again to her like a broken record. Still, she noticed that each added experienced seemed to act like a punch in the face for each adult. Even the two remaining ANBU seem to start showing that they were getting uncomfortable with the truth. This, however, didn't bring her any satisfaction as she could already feel the burning sting of unshed tears. That, however, did not stop her from continuing with releasing all of the frustration she had been building up. The proverbial dam had finally opened its doors and it was not about to close.
"Do any of you even know how it's like growing up with people telling you since you could make memories that you're all alone in this world because you're a monster that doesn't deserve love? Because I do and you have no idea just how easy it is to believe that is during those lonely nights in that empty apartment, I call home." the girl announced without an ounce of regret for the tears now freely flowing down her face. Benihme tried to alleviate the whisker girl's pain by hugging the girl's neck. This only made the Uzumaki give a miserable sounding laugh. "Looking back on it now everyone in this village is incredibly lucky," Naruko commented while slowly stroking the fairy's back. "All it would have taken was a day like today before I got this power and I could have become the very monster everyone said I was," she added while remembering the many times she had been so close to losing it before the years.
So many times, she had wanted to just let go and truly strike back against the people that treated her like trash. She could already feel the hot flashes of anger at the memory of the harlot of an orphanage owner punishing her for just trying to get something to eat for the first time in a week, getting thrown out of said orphanage because she "lowered the sales value", and then lets not forget all of the store owners that kicked her out for what seemed like sports or principle.
"So, tell me now Hokage-sama." the blonde growled out while glaring at the old man who seemed to have age another decade in this hour alone. "Why was my demonic nature allowed to fester unchecked? Why was I not warned of it before and instead I had to learn it from a quest born out my hate? Dammit! Didn't you think it would have been better in the long run that training me on how to use that chakra was better instead of hoping I never had to use it!" she shouted in frustration as her eyes shifted into purple with hints of red. "Or what? Were you thinking that I could handle all of that abuse and not fight back at some point?" she accused with a near growl as her entire body started to shake from the buildup of negative emotion. Unbeknownst to the girl, her hair was already thrashing about in the form of nine angry tails. What she did notice, however, was the sudden silence that fell on the room as the adults refused to look at her. Then her eyes widen at the realization of how close she must have been to the truth.
"Oh, dear Log… You were…" Naruko stuttered as her body began to spark with red chakra. Try as she might, she felt the rage just would not stop ramming at full force until it finally exploded. "WHAT THE HELL JIJI?!" the girl screamed with all of her power.
In conjunction with this, her body let loose a blast of red chakra that became a shockwave which hammered everything in the room. Be it, man, woman, chairs, books, papers or shelves everything was forced out of their resting position. The adults and furnisher were pushed back, the shelves had their content shaken out, papers flew about and the sealed reinforce walls and windows cracked under the strain of the power. Yet as they looked on to the center of this maelstrom all the adults could see was a small crying girl whose facial features were now much more feral as the wind of her power chaotically moved her jacket. Somehow her more demonic expression seems to emphasize just how betrayed and in despair she was.
"Do you have any idea how lucky you are, I managed to find people like Ichiraku-san, Ayame-nee, Tenten-oneechan, and Iruka-sensei!? If it hadn't been for them, I could have gone berserk by now and you would have had to probably deal with mini-kyubi!" the demonic child accused loudly as red chakra was swirling around her in wisps.
"You're wrong about that last part." Hiruzen finally answered with his age showing in a sad and tired tone. "It would have been far worse. After all, an out of jinchurikies are always worse than the beast sealed in them." the leader confessed to the hurt child.
"Beast sealed in them? What do you mean-" the girl started as she tried to understand what he had just said to her. The haze of fury as making things incredibly difficult for her to analyze things right now. Not to mention the Uzumaki's mental state was not in the calmest of positions do to remembering the worst points of her life. Plus, what in the hell did jinchurikies or sealed beast in them had to do with this? She was talking about the demonic energy inside her because of the day she was born not about the demon that attacked the village!
Then it finally clicked what the Hokage meant.
"The Kyubi no Yoko is sealed in me?" Naruko could be heard whispering in disbelieve. It was as if a switch had been flipped as all the power just left her as if it was never there, to begin with. Then her body started shivering as a sudden cold equal to a being thrown into a frozen river. Not a second later her legs failed as she nearly fell back is not for Iruka's acting quickly and catching her. Yet his warm body could do nothing to stop the cold dread or her now haunted look. The kage for his part saw what looked to be his now broken granddaughter and not for the first time cursed his inability to fulfill the Yondaime's final wish.
"Yes, Naruko-chan. The Yondaime alongside your mother Kushina-chan fought against that monster on that terrible night. They gave it their all but sensing its fate the Kyubi attacked you to stop Minato-kun from sealing it once more." Hiruzen said as his mind returned to that tragic night which uprooted the lives of everyone in the village. He took a calming breath to try and stop his aching heart before exhaling to inform the people of what happened the night of the Kyubi attack twelve years ago.
"The time of your birth was one of this village most guarded secrets because the time when a female jinchuriki goes into labor is when their seal is at its weakest. Yes, Naruko-chan, your mother, Kushina Uzumaki, was the previous holder of the Kyubi no Yoko before you though not many knew of this. Knowing the danger, you and your mother were in Minato-kun, his student Kakashi Hatake and I tried everything to keep the place you would be born in a secret plus we gather some of our best ANBU to guard said location.
Yet somehow a man in a white mask with a single eye hole found this location. In a matter of moments, he managed to break through the barrier jutsu around the area, dispatched the elite ANBU guarding your mother, killed my beloved wife Biwako who was the acting doctor, held you who was not even a minute old as a hostage, ripped the Kyubi out of your mother's stomach and sent the monster to attack the village. After that, it was utter chaos as the Kyubi started its assault our unsuspecting village in what was just a few moments ago a tranquil night. The Yondaime quick thinking as always managed to use the Hiraishin no Jutsu to rescue both of your mother and you.
Then Minato stops the first attack of the tail-beast by transporting the chakra sphere away from the village. Then he went to fight this masked man who seemed to be able to control the Kyubi. I still don't know whoever this masked man was but it didn't seem he put much of a fight before Minato-kun forced him to retreat. The shinobi forces and I had barely even started countering the demon fox before the Yondaime came back on top of Gamabunta-sama to fight the monster. Somehow Minato-kun managed to teleport the Kyubi after away from the village so that he could defeat it. However, it has been largely documented from the many failed attempts in the past with the other 8 tails beasts that they cannot be killed only sealed.
Thus, with a heavy heart Minato-kun choose to sacrifice himself using the Reaper Death Seal to slit the demon in half while sealing the other half in you using the Eight Trigram Seal. That's the spiral tattoo that appears on your navel when you use or mold chakra. However, the last thing Kushina-chan wanted for you was to become a jinchuriki like she was. Thus, your mother, ever the fighter, tried to use her Adamantine Sealing Chains to force the Kyubi back into herself even if it was the last thing she would do. Regretfully a jinchuriki usually dies after their tail-beast has been taken from them but your mother remained just barely because of how stubborn she tended to be.
However, due to the combination of your mother being at death's door and having given birth to you moments prior meant she didn't have enough strength to seal the demon back in her. The Kyubi knew this and also noticed what Minato-kun was going to do so in a last-ditch effort to stop it the beast attacked you in the hopes of killing its new vessel. Your mother even weakened to near death from both giving births to you just minutes prior and having the Kyubi ripped out of her still had enough strength to throw herself in front of the attack that would have easily killed you. As for Minato-kun, he did the same because he was not about to just let Kushina-chan kill herself if he could have stopped it. They succeeded in stopping your murder but at the cost of their own. With time nipping at their heels and know that nothing else would stop the newly freed Kyubi no Yoko they used the last bits of their life to seal it away inside you.
Their final wish or I should say the Yodaimes's was for you to be seen as the savior of this village for the burden placed on you. Foolishly, because I blindly trusted this village, after that night I presented you to the civilian side of the council as such but they asked for your death almost immediately. Thankfully as the now reinstated Hokage, I had the final say and shot them down just as quickly. Then I enacted two laws: (1) one would make it forbidden for anyone but you and I to talk about your status as a jinchuriki and (2) two that it would be a crime punishable by death to try and kill you. Yet by what you've told us that wasn't anywhere near enough to keep you safe for the worst humanity has to offer. For that, I am truly sorry not just for me or this village but for every hardship you will still face living here. I know I can't be forgiven for failing you so utterly but at least know that I will do what I can to help you."
Once the Hokage finished retelling the true story of Naruko's birth she just sat on the chair long since provided by one of the ANBU. How many nights had she stayed up later wondering why she was alone? How many times had she opened that door to envisioned that empty house with a mother and father waiting for her after school was done? Just how many times did she wonder if she had done something in a previous life for the gods to deal with her such a bad hand?
Now at least she knew there was a reason. But that didn't help her much as she didn't know who that masked man who ruined her life was. Therefore, there was no face for her to direct her anger. Not that she could muster any anger right now as all she felt was exhaustion. Between the yelling, crying, baring her soul, accessing the Kyubi's chakra and finally hearing the story of her birth she was emotionally spent. She didn't even have it in her to blame the old leader for his mistakes. Even Iruka-sensei sitting by her while regularly squeezing her hand reassuringly while Benhime hugged her neck she did speak for several minutes.
"Did she love me?" Naruko finally whispered though everyone could hear her. "Did Kushina-san love me?" she asked again but never lifted her tear-stained face.
"She called you her greatest treasure. And I'm more than sure that had she lived Kushina-chan would have loved every moment she got being your mother." Hiruzen answered with a small smile at the memory for the woman. "Naruko-chan, I understand that in no way is this an apology for all that you have suffered nor am I asking for your forgiveness. But I promise you that from now on I will try to make it up to you."
"Just… Just tell me about her."
| Flashback ~ End ~|
That night had been an emotional roller coaster for everyone present and if she was telling the truth the Uzumaki still felt raw about the whole affair.
Still, after the revelation, the Hokage told her a few things about her mother. First, one being that like her Kushina loved ramen to the point she almost exclusively ate it during the pregnancy. The Uzumaki also learned that her mother was part of a clan that was thought to be eradicated to the last during the last Great Shinobi War. Which meant as far as he knew Naruko was the last Uzumaki alive. However, after a couple of stories about the last Uzumaki matriarch, the Kage told the student and teacher that it was best for them to go rest for the night. Iruka agrees and Naruko didn't have the energy to fight or move for that matter so she let the man carry her. When they got home, she didn't know since she had fallen asleep in his arms as soon as he lifted her and they got out of the building. What she did know was that when she woke up the next day her sensei was sleeping in a chair by the foot of her bed and there was a letter by her nightstand.
After she and the fairy woke up the teacher, he read the letter. Turned out it was instructions from the Hokage for Naruko to go to the hospital and get a full body checkup under the escort of Neko. The girl didn't like that one bit but Iruka-sensei ever the mother hen reasoned that it was for the better since they could see if there had been any other negatives to having gained the Gamer Soul. Thus, this was the reason why she lost another day of training. Worst was that after all of the physical tests from muscle and reflex to blood, urine and scat all they got was that she was a normal child. The only strange thing was she possessed the strength, resistance, and reflex of kid that was between her first or second years in the ninja academy not someone in their last year. That was not new considering they already knew about the girl becoming weaker.
Still, at the end of all of the tests, she did get a reward. This reward turned out to be a picture of her mother that the Hokage had found after looking inside one of the security vaults. Funny enough the picture was of the stunningly beautiful redhead grinning as she gave the victory sign while holding the first-place trophy for a ramen eating contests. Also, to her left was what looked like an unconscious spiky-haired blond male with a face inside a bowl. Then to her mother's right was an older male with long spiky white hair and her facial markings who was also knocked up but with his head was slightly leaned back and foaming in the mouth. At the back of the picture, Benihime read for her, "The undisputed Ramen Queen of the Fire Nation, Kushina Uzumaki!"
Naruko had genuinely laughed at that.
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Hinata was getting nervous, no scratch that, she already was. Try as she might the Hyuga hadn't seen her favorite blonde since the training match on Monday. Then after school she searched all over for the Uzumaki in the blonde's favorite areas but there wasn't even a hair of evidence to signal that the girl had been there. Not even the kind Ichiraku-san and his daughter had seen their favorite customer which was by itself terrifying.
Then when she got home that night for one of the first times in a long while, she got angry. The reason being when she learned what had happened between Naruko and Neji.
| Flashback ~Start~ |
CRACK
"You did what?" A growl was heard asking.
At these unexpected sounds Hiashi, Hanabi and Neji all turned to see something neither thought possible. After all, they had never seen the sweet, gentle and quiet Hinata using her Byakugan at full force to glare at someone. Come to think about, they had never seen the girl glare before either. They also noticed the white-knuckle grip she had on chopsticks that looked to have slit the porcelain plate in half. Neji knowing that both the glare and question were directed at him could only blink like an owl. Even though his calm face didn't show it the minuscule gulp he made did show he felt uncomfortable with the situation.
"Neji-niisan, never use your Byakugan like that again." Hinata had ordered in the hashes tone anyone had ever heard from her before excusing herself from the table.
| Flashback ~End~ |
The Hyuga princess blushed at the memory of that night. She just couldn't help but get angry at Neji-niisan for using their family's sacred all-seeing eyes for something so perverse! Didn't the clan already have a law forbidding that exact act?!
'How dare he do that?! How could he just use the Bakugan to stare at her wonderful legs with such soft yet firm tights, those shapely abbs, and that supple chest?' Hinata thought with a glare. It took all of three seconds for her to realize how her though had described the Uzumaki. Not a second later she burst into a near-atomic blush that she could only hide by slamming her face down on the desk and having the hoodie of her jacket cover the rest of her head. 'What's happening to me? Why do I keep thinking of Naruko-kun like this? I am not a boy!' the Hyuga princess thought in distress. It was so confusing to her just how easy it was for her mind to compliment the whiskered girl. Be it the girl's energy, the refusal to back down or her tantalizing body it felt natural for her mind to praise the small bombshell. Then Hinata's blush did because radioactive when she noticed she had used "tantalizing" and "bombshell" to describe her classmate.
'This is all you fault Neji!' she screams internally trying to blame someone for what she was currently feeling. Here she had been feeling worried because she hadn't seen the girl and her brain was doing weird things!
Then to her slight relief, the subject of those thoughts finally walked into the room as if nothing had happened. Well, those blue-eyes did look somewhat sleep-deprived but given yesterday Iruka-sensei had said the girl was in the hospital it was to be expected. Nonetheless, it was a relief to once more see the girl who seemed to think Hinata's wondering eyes were an invitation as the small blonde gave a soft smile and started walking towards her.
'Wow, she looks so great…' Hinata thought while slightly biting her lip before she even realized it.
"Why are you still here, Dead Last?" the classroom heard the bully Goro question.
"Sorry, you must have at least one point invested in personality if you want to talk to this character," Naruko responded with a voice that somehow managed to sound very mechanical. That seemed to anger the bully as he threw more insults at the girl who didn't even acknowledge him. Hinata, for her part, stared in awe with the control the normally hot-tempered Uzumaki now had. Then the bluenette notice Goro's hand enter his ninja pouch and her eyes widen. Naruko noticed her friend's surprised look and followed the Hyuga's eyes to find what she was looking at. There she saw the fool Goro with something in his hand that she couldn't make out before he threw it. Next thing she knew someone pulled her forward hard. Quickly recognizing the feeling of falling she knew the person that tried to save her had slipped. Knowing from experience how painful it was to land on the stairs the Uzumaki's instincts worked overtime. The first thing she did was throw an arm around the person and push them onto her chest. then with all of the momentum that her body could provide she spun them to her left. At the same time, she summoned her scythe and slammed it into the wall to stop them from falling.
"Phew. That was certainly something," Naruko sighed with a lazy smirked after successfully averting the fall. Then jinchuriki looked at the position she and her helper found themselves in. A slight blush dusted her cheeks but the smirk only seemed to get stronger. "You know? There are far easier ways to cop a feel, Hinata-chan."
Hearing those words made Hinata blink in confusion. One moment she was pulling Naruko to safety and the next their bodies were spun around like a top before stopping abruptly. Therefore it took her a second or two to get her bearing and looked where she was. Thankfully both of her hands helped with the "looking" part. They "helped" by way of her right hand groping one part of the Uzumaki's chest while her face was buried in the other. Then her left hand was grabbing a set, in her opinion, perfectly firm glutes while both her legs had snaked around a leg from the girl she had tried to save. Once her traitorous hands gave some noticeable squeeze the bluenette bolted away with speed rivaling that of a Body Flicker Jutsu. The sudden missing weight almost causes Naruko to fall flat on her face. Thankfully between the grip of her scythe and Benihime pushing, she managed to regain her balance. After that, the whiskered preteen pushed herself back to her feet and glared a Goro's direction.
Their eyes met and she was about to yell when she noticed the dangling rope behind the boy. It made her raise an eyebrow in confusion which the boy may have taken it as something else as he smirked. Kiba, who had almost been cut by the thrown kunai, was in the process of cursing at the bully when the rope snapped tautly. Next thing everyone knew Goro was slammed headfirst into the empty chair that would have been to his right had he been sitting. The sound that came out from the impact was an ugly crack and once the body started being lifted into the ceiling the students could see blood dripping from the unconscious boy's forehead. In morbid silence, the classroom just stared as the unconscious bully was lifted into the open hash on the ceiling where he disappeared along with the opening.
"Guess that's the end of his and his father's ninja careers. But that's what happens to traitors," a nonchalant voice said behind the Uzumaki and Hyuga. Every student jumped at the sound of this new voice and turned to the source to find an ANBU.
"Lizard-san, don't scare us like that!" Naruko shouted with a small glare before she turned back to pull her scythe out of the wall. Thankfully it didn't take much strength to do so and she quickly stored it back into its ring form. She did, however, take note that the wall glowed briefly and the gash she made with the weapon was gone. 'Okay, that's cool. I wonder: what did it?'
"It's Gecko, actually. Lizard is my senpai," the reptile mask ninja commented and no one could tell if he was joking or not. "Anyway, here the Hokage gave me an order that this must be delivered to you."
With that, he handed the student a scroll which she accepted and opened while leaning on the wall. This way some of the more curious classmates would not see the content. That turned out to be a good idea as it was a letter asking her to meet him on this Friday after school so they could open a dungeon and he could see how these work up close. The letter also mentioned that there would be a jonin named Kakashi Hatake present as well.
{Kakashi Hatake? Isn't that the student of the Yondaime the Hokage mentioned during his retailing? Maybe this Hatake-san knows about the seal containing the Kyubi and his there to see if nothing is wrong with it?} the fairy inquired through the radio at her mistress who answered with a "probably" since she had come to the same conclusion. Then Naruko was about to confirm this when her eyes briefly passed over Hinata. The bluenette was a little weird with all the blushing and let's not forget how the girl groped her just a few moments ago. Yet for some reason that just made the lavender-eyed cutie more intriguing. Then there was the bonus of the girl being related to that pervert Neji which meant if recruited/corrupted the girl would be invaluable in the long-term plan for making him pay.
"Tell the Hokage I agree, Gecko-san. But only if he agrees to write and sends a letter of joined training to the Hyuga clan for one Hinaya Hyuga." said the Trickster Queen to the ANBU. What the small queen didn't know was that during this confirmation she had been sending a very calculating smirk at Hyuga princess. The princess for her part felt an excited shiver run down her spine at seeing that smirk.
'W-W-Why does she m-m-make me feel l-l-like this?' Hinata thought while poking her fingers shyly. Gecko just shrugged at the exchange he saw between the girls and confirmed he would tell the kage before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Hey, why should he care about the social lives of two preteen kunoichis? Plus, there was a nice A-rank completion reward for him after finishing this delivery. Still, the exchange between these three was seen by all the students that were not still in shock from seeing one of their classmates being taken out in such a matter. Among these were Sasuke and Ino who were both frowning or glaring. In the former's case, he frowning as he wondered what kind of pull did the supposed dead last have to make such a demand to the Hokage and by extension the Hyuga clan with the security that it would happen. The latter, however, had other reasons for glaring.
'Just what are you planning Naruko Uzumaki? Whatever it is I'm gonna find out and hopefully save Hinata-chan from all the trouble that you make!' Ino swore before smirking as a devious idea popped in her head. 'O~hohoho, I could use this moment to find out what tricks Naruko has that could help Sasuke-kun! That way he'll see that I'm way better than Billboard-Brow!'
To her side, Shikamaru could be heard muttering "Troublesome blonde" as he tried to catch-up on his sleep. There was no way he was going to stop the girl from doing anything she was planning to do. He has known the princess since they've been in diapers and he has learned to not mess with her when she broke out the Noblewoman's Laugh.
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(Later that night)
(Hyuga clan compound)
Hinata walked out in amazement out of her father's study.
She didn't know how it was possible but Naruko had somehow managed to get the Hokage to write an officially signed and stamped letter that was sent to clan head directly. The man had read it and sent for her immediately where she learned the content of it. The letter was indeed a request for Hinata to accompany the Hokage and an unnamed student for a training venture. This letter also explained that they needed a Hyuga because the Byakugan would be a perfect tool to measure the student's control over their chakra and since Hinata was around their age the student would feel more at ease performing than with adults judging them. Plus, since the first daughter was the heiress this would also help prove the Hyuga's prowess to this new potential ally. Thus, her father had instructed her to not fail this as it may show the elders she still had value. Hinata had quickly accepted the responsibility and excused herself to prepare for the weekend.
'I don't know how you did it, but I will not fail you, Naruko-kun!' Hiashi's first-born declared to herself with a fire few people thought possible of the timid wallflower.
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(Friday after school)
(Outside of the Ninja Academy)
Thursday and most of today have passed by without a problem. Well, that was a half lie as today they were informed the Goro would no longer be part of the class given his willingness to attack a fellow citizen of the village with a deadly weapon. Naruko celebrated that internally though she did hear rumors of some of the bully's victims were throwing a party later. It would be a shame not going to it but right now she had more pressing matters like waiting for her training partner to meet her below the tree with the swing.
{Nervous about your date?} Benihime asked with a grin much to the confusion of the adventurer.
However, before she could answer three people showed themselves. Two of them were Hinata and Ino, for some reason, while the third was someone new to her. For starters, this adult woman looked to be the definitive example of beauty for a kunoichi. It didn't even matter her dress looked like it was made of bandages on top of at red single sleeve blouse since that seem to accentuate all the right curves in a tantalizing but conservative matter. This woman had a pair of mesmerizing red eyes that fairy confirmed were natural but also extremely rare for a non-albino. Then there was her long wild black hair that gave the "I still look sexy without brushing" look. To finish her look this kunoichi wore red lipstick and purple eyeshadow that went perfectly with her unique eye color. All in all, Naruko couldn't stop the pink from dusting her cheeks at the slight of the woman. The adult seems to notice she was being checked out because she softly chuckled and introduced herself.
"Hello there, I am Kurenai Yuhi a jonin assigned as Hinata-chan's guardian by Hyuga-sama. It is a pleasure to finally meet you Naruko Uzumaki." Kurenai said with an extended hand and a friendly smile. Unable to talk the Uzumaki just shook hands and nodded in affirmation. This earned her a giggle from the Yamanaka who she glared at.
"What are you doing here, Violet?"
"Oh, nothing much, Pumpkin," Ino answered with a smile. Then eyes sparkled as her smile grew and her voice because innocent. Then she crossed her fingers below her chin and tilted her head to the side. "I just wanted to see if you would let me join you?" she asked with a sickly-sweet voice.
…
…
…
"Ino, we both know that fake cute sounding voice and look is not going to work on me." the whiskered student responded with a frown.
"Really? That's strange because it worked last week when I got you to buy me that popsicle." the second blonde commented with a confused look. That commented cause the gamer to blush in embarrassment.
"I'm a different person from the person I was a week ago." Even after saying this with crossed arms the blush for the old shame remained.
"Clearly," the mind walker muttered with a frown at that strategy not working. Then she smirked victoriously and said: "I'm still going anyway."
"And why would I let you?" Naruko asked before Ino pulled out a scroll from her ninja pouch. Then the fangirl opened the scroll on the ground and summoned the item seal in it. Once the smoke cleared the women saw that it was a Jumbo Supreme Deluxe bowl of miso chashu pork ramen for Ichiraku. In other words, a bowl of ramen big enough to hold five servings. "I hate you."
"I'll take that as a yes then," proclaimed the Yamanaka with a grin. It may have cost a large amount of coin given this was the plate Ichiraku used in their food challenge but she knew it would have easily won over the Uzumaki no problem. Plus, hearing that declaration while the small girl struggled so as not to become a drooling mess was music to her ears.
"No," the Uzumaki suddenly whispered but it was loud enough to nearly give both Hinata and Ino heart attacks. The idea of the girl reacting was an impossibility! "Not unless you swear under your title of Heiress of the Yamanaka Clan that you will not inform anyone in any way what you will see today." Okay, so that was a false alarm and the world was not ending today. Still, that stipulation was unexpected and thoughtful coming from the Uzumaki. If Ino agreed to it that meant her plan to tell Sasuke was already ruined. Ino may be many things but she was the heiress of a clan and knew very well there were things you just did not do. No one those things being breaking a contract bound by the honor of her clan or position. Then her quick thinking found a loophole in this contract. It would be a dirty tactic but shinobi were taught to never play fair if they could. Mama didn't raise no fool!
"Fine, I promise to not tell anyone about what I see during this," she agreed after handing the once more sealed ramen at the hungry Uzumaki.
Only Kurenai managed to notice the small frown on Hinata's lips during the exchange. It made her chuckle internally as she saw her young ward experience jealousy over how easily the Yamanaka inserted herself into this outing. Still, she didn't want to keep the Hokage waiting so she remained the girls they need to get going. To her surprise, the Uzumaki took Hinata into a one-hug and told them to place one of their hands one of her shoulders. The two remaining women shrugged and did so. Both of them had heard the rumors that the girl could preform a wind variate of the Body Flicker and guess the girl needed at least a free hand to perform it. Then the Trickster Smirk appeared on the whiskered girl's lips.
"Oh, and don't bother screaming because you wouldn't get a chance to."
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(Moments before)
(Training ground #03)
Kakashi waited alongside the elder kage for the arrival of his teacher's daughter. Last night the leader had told him all that had transpired with the blonde jinchuriki while he was away in a month-long mission. Truth be told, he still couldn't believe half of it and the other half just seemed impossible. Sure, he hasn't lived as long as the old shinobi but he had seen his fair share of crazy over the years but this Gamer Soul bloodline limit just seemed to out of this world. Normally bloodline limits fell on one of three categories: dojutsus, nature manipulation or body mutations. Yet somehow this new power seemed to work like a combination of all three in some ways plus a reality-bending quality to it on top of it? Had the cyclops been younger he would have told the Hokage his had finally gone senile for letting the Uzumaki fool him so easily. Thankfully, for both his health and job, he had just said that he would believe this when he saw it. The smirk the kage threw at him ended up being the reason why he was now waiting for the kids to show up.
'At least I can catch up with my reading,' the jonin thought with a giggle. Of course, that was a lie because the new book in the Icha Icha book series wasn't out until next month and this was the 10th time he read this volume. 'Still, now that Naruko at least knows about her position as a container and part of her heritage I can start getting close to her.'
The Hatake still felt a sizable measure of anger whenever he thought of his failure when it came to protecting his sensei's daughter. First, it was because he was still too young and still dealing with the death of his teammates to even consider connecting with people let alone a newborn. So when Minato and Kushina both died he simply shut down and decided to throw himself into ANBU again and again to escape the pain instead of dealing with it. After that, some of his friends like Gai and Neko finally managed to pull him out of his depression enough for him to get the help he needed. There he realized all he could do now for the girl was guard her while in the shadows. Regretfully after the few years of therapy and getting some of his life together he noticed he had missed his chance as the girl now had Iruka.
The first time he realized this he had felt anger and jealousy at how the chunin had won over the blonde troublemaker. Thankfully those feelings did not last more than an hour or maybe less as he saw how happy the girl was with the scarred teacher in her life. It was with that thought in mind that he had thought to help get the teacher to adopt the girl. Then it was there when things really turned bad as he found out the girl's worst enemies. The first one being the Civilian Council that had made it almost impossible to legally adopt the girl through multiple obtuse or borderline illegal laws and procedures that one would need to navigate first. It was insane sure and a forest was probably cut down to make the paperwork but it could probably be done before the girl reached her 18th birthday. The real problem was one Danzo Shimura.
That old war hawk hadn't done anything yet in part because Hiruzen was fighting him tooth and nail. But Kakashi knew that the man had more than a few civilian council members in his pocket. So, the cyclops had no doubt that should someone had tried to adopt the girl Danzo would have swooped in and caught the girl first. Then the girl would most certainly be brainwashed and turned into a living weapon under his command only.
'Knowing that bastard he would first dethrone the Hokage using Naruko to kill him. Then he would probably go for the Fire Daimyo to gain full control of the Fire Nation. After that, he probably declares a new Shinobi War so that he can take control of all of the elemental nations. There would be no peace for anyone,' the masked jonin thought with some fear. He already lived through one war and he did not want another. This especially considering it could be one that ends with everyone dying because of a madman that didn't think twice about turning a small girl into the perfect unfeeling killing machine.
His thoughts on the end of the world were thankfully interrupted by a gust of wind. Then the jonin looked up from his book when he heard the Hokage say: "They're here." Kakashi raised an inquiring eyebrow at the woman and three girls he found in the center of the training ground. This was especially so when three out of the four women looked scared out of their wits while the last one was grinning up a storm.
"Mah, I thought I was only seeing Uzumaki-san and Hyuga-ojousama?" Kakashi inquired while closing his book. Kurenai may not have a snowball's chance in hell of taking it from him but he also didn't feel like proving it to her. Plus, she could be a good role model for the kunoichis in training and the last thing he wanted was to make them think jonin level kunoichis weren't strong.
"That was the plan," Hiruzen was heard saying before he approaches the kunoichis. "Welcome everyone! I hope the ride wasn't too rough on you. Iruka-kun told me Naruko-chan's method of travel is an experience."
Not a second after saying this he saw the two women holding onto the Uzumaki let go. Kurenai already used to the Body Flicker and trained in the weird effects genjutsu could cause was only looking a little green while putting a fist to her mouth. Little Ino however just fell on her butt and soon after on her back trembling while continuingly saying "I almost died," like a broken record. Hinata for her had chosen to bury her face on the whiskered girl's neck.
"Not sorry about that. As for the new guest? Well, Kurenai was sent to protect Hinata-chan and Yamanaka-san just talked her way in. Couldn't do anything about either," Naruko answered towards the only males.
{More like Ino bribed you with ramen and your will was too weak.} The Hokage heard Benihime say. After hearing the mandatory "Shut up!" from the embarrassed jinchuriki he chuckled.
"I do hope you at least made a deal with her before that? We are trying to keep this a secret for now, after all." Hiruzen inquired which the gamer nodded in affirmation.
Then she lightly kicked the Yamanaka which seemed to snap her out of the trauma the girl had just suffered. After that, they waited for the mind walker and Gentle Fist user to get their bearings. Once that was done the old kage asked the girls if they knew just how important it was to keep what they would see a secret. The leader even released a very small fraction of his power for them to know he was being serious. Hinata, already used to some Killing Intent, this thanks to being seen as useless by the elders of her clan, nodded in confirmation. But Ino, whose father had babied her for years, was a whole nother story.
"I'm sorry! I was thinking of teaching Sasuke-kun any techniques or jutsus I learned from this! But I promise not to do it on my position as the heiress of the Yamanaka clan!" Ino proclaimed while bowing as low as physically possible for her.
"Why you sneaky little," Naruko was muttering and Ino thought she was done for. The dead last was being protected by the Hokage and she just angered the whiskered girl.
'I'm dead,' she thought as she felt tears already forming in her eyes. Then she heard Naruko's laughter and looked up to see the girl grinning back at her.
"Well play there, Ino-chan!" the gamer praised while letting go of Hinata. "Fine, if you do manage to learn a technique or jutsu during our little excursion you're free to teach it to anyone you want. After all, it's you who learned and/or created it. Same goes for whatever money you earned."
"Are you sure about that?" Kakashi inquired after viewing the interaction. He didn't have anything against the Yamanaka and truth be told she had earned a few respect points in his book for trying to pull that stunt. But this was supposed to be a secret training mission and you aren't supposed to divulge what happened in those. They were secret, after all.
"Yep. She earned that after finding that loophole and it's my fault for underestimating her quick thinking," the whiskered blonde informed while helping her fellow blonde up.
"Well, with that issue resolved I think it's time for you to turn us into party members so we start exploring a dungeon," Hiruzen suggested.
Then he explained to the others to click the confirmation on the screen that would appear before them. The non-party members had different varieties of confusion with Kakashi being indifferent, Kurenai and Ino's total lack of understanding and Hinata's looking like she found a missing piece of the puzzle. However, they were all still caught off guard when the transparent blue screens did appear and clicked the [YES] button as the kage suggested. Funny enough only Hinata didn't feel the splitting headache given she had already experienced a similar pain when she had awoken her Byakugan years ago.
(P1) Naruko Uzumaki [Lv3] ~Leader~
(P2) Hinata Hyuga [Lv24]
(P3) Ino Yamanaka [Lv18]
(P4) Kurenai Yuhi [Lv57]
(P5) Kakashi Hatake [Lv77]
(P6) Hiruzen Sarutobi [Lv89]
"Huh? Guess if the party is too big, I can only see the names and levels on my party members while their HP and MP just become colored bars without any numeric values," Naruko commented as she looked at the new additions. Seeing that even Ino was more than ten levels higher hurt her pride by a lot but she was getting used to it.
"At least now they know I'm here. Also, we shouldn't have to worry about explaining most things about the party system. I went ahead and added that information into the installation process. It would be too time-consuming to always have to explain it to new members." Benihime proclaimed from her place on top of her mistress's head. Hearing the new voice made the new adventures turn towards the source while the adults blinked the children gasped in wonder.
"Y-Y-You're that fairy I s-s-saw Naruko-kun before the f-f-fight with that b-b-bully!" stuttered the Hyuga princess at finally seeing a colored version of the creature. Ino for her part just watches with a slacked jaw at the cute winged creature as she had always thought fairies were just little kids' tales.
"I guess you weren't lying about this power. Forgive me for doubting you, Hokage-sama," Kakashi commented as his vision cleared and he started seeing the numbers on top of the people present.
Kurenai for her part, however, remained silent with widened eyes as her mind tried to process the new information. She instinctively tried to dispel a genjutsu even though she already knew none of this was an illusion. She knew illusions both from research done on the field and experience gained from practicing it. At this point, only someone like the Hokage or an experienced Sharingan user could fool her. Given that the kage had no reason to play a trick like this, Kakashi was also caught off-guard and nothing in the Uzumaki's history showed a connection with the Uchiha clan the Genjutsu Mistress could only accept that what was happening right now was real. No matter how insane it seemed.
"Naruko-san, could it be possible for you to open a dungeon now?" asked the elder.
Hearing this formality made the Uzumaki sigh which prompted her to inform the old man that he could still use the chan honorific. She may still be mad at him for keeping secrets but it just felt wrong for him to not call her that. After that, she asked her Navi to guide her through the process of opening a dungeon. The fairy gently floated down to the girl's ear and explained what she needed to do. After a nod of understanding the girl walked towards the glowing rainbow-colored orb only, she could see, in the middle of the training ground. After that, she told everyone to get behind her so they would be safe and away from the opening. Then the jinchuriki put her open hand on the orb which caused the name of the dungeon to appear to her.
"World Gate hear my command and open this dungeon: [Field Type] Tranquil Meadows!" the gamer invoked with a grin the said she was ready for adventure.
On the other hand, for the party members, it felt the world trembled due to some unknown power. It was almost as if something ancient or before time itself had heard the girl's voice and had awoken. Then right in front of the Uzumaki cracks of pure blue light started appearing in the air. Yet these lines weren't simply jagged lines but straight lines that seemed to form hundreds of thousands of small cubes. But when it seemed like these tiny cubes would cover the sky they stopped. Right after this, the center of this display twisted into a whirlpool that sucked in almost the entire pixelated image of the training ground. In its wake, a pure white hole was left open as if showing it was the exit to a dark cave.
"Well, see you on the other side everyone!" Naruko called out to her party before jumping into the gate. They tried to call out to stop her but it was too late as a string on light seemed to hit her and suspended the blonde in midair. Next thing they knew that girl exploded into pixels that were sucked into the portal in milliseconds.
"Oh great. This is going to feel like fighting Onoki-san all over again." Hiruzen commented while the others felt different levels of panic at seeing this.
Swiftly he stopped their worries by remaining them that Naruko's HP bar was still full. Thanks to Benihime programming the basic knowledge of how the Gamer Soul work and what many of the terms used meant they were calmed down by this. After that, they were trying to decide who would be next when Hinata accidentally walked too close to the portal and got sucked in. That sacred Ino enough that she backed away fast from the portal. To bad her acting like that awake the prankster side of the resident Copy Ninja that only a very few knew existed. Hence, he silently crouched down lean in close to her ear and…
"BOO!" The scream the girl gave could have shattered glass and as an added effect she involuntarily jumped into the portal. As they saw the third female get sucked in Kurenai could only glare at her jonin senpai. He saw that and got up with his signature single-eyed smile before saying: "Ladies first, Yuhi-san."
Somehow that managed to get a small chuckle out of the red-eyed woman against her wishes. Then with a roll of her eyes, she walked into the portal and experience the same process the three girls had felt before her. After this, the Hokage walked in followed later by the Hatake who wondered what would be expecting them on the other side of this portal.
Had anyone with the ability to see the portal or the game world like Naruko been there they would have seen the portal implode in itself. Then as if nothing had ever happened the white orb was once more there.
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Author's Notes
Thank you geoslim21 for catching my mistake of using "neesan" instead of "niisan" when Hinata referted to Neji. I know that Neji can look like a girl but I'm not planing on using a genderbend version of him.