Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
(-)
4 months later
197, 198, 199, 200.
With a deep sigh of relief, I fell to the surprisingly soft ground.
200 push-ups. That is my limit as a 3-year-old child. It honestly is a little unrealistic, but chakra does wonders for the body in this world.
What would be impossible in my old world is only slightly difficult in this world, and that's pretty cool.
It has been 4 months since my experience with the ominous presence, and it has been 4 months since I started having nightmares. I don't know whether I should thank the person that made me experience that awful presence or curse them for it. On one hand I'm grateful to them because they reminded me that I'm weak and that I need to be better for both me and my Kikaichu. On the other hand, they really messed me up. Not only can I not sleep without my imagination trying to kill me, but I also just can't stop smiling. After I exploded out in laughter from experiencing the presence. I always had this small smile on my lips, and I can't get rid of it!
It sounds stupid, but I don't care because in a way it's my only comfort. I read about this before. They call it smiling depression which is a term for someone living with depression on the inside while perfectly happy and content on the outside.
However, I would like to say that I am not depressed! Just a little worried. I'm concerned about my future in this world as well as my recurring nightmares, but I don't want to worry my father or myself. So, I try to put on a brave face. Even if it's a small smile it won't worry him and hopefully me.
But that's enough about depressing topics. What happened with the presence was an unfortunate/fortunate experience. It gave me even more drive than I already had, but at the same time it damaged me in a way I can't understand. I'm not going to dwell on that experience though, instead I'm moving past it and focusing on more important stuff like my Kikaichu.
That's right, prepare to be amazed because I did it. I have successfully trained my Kikaichu to learn how to take chakra from a distance. The distance mind you is no farther than the length of a penny, but progress! Turns out my theory was correct. All I had to do was slowly put distance between the object AKA me, that my Kikaichu are trying to steal chakra from and the Kikaichu themselves. Then its effectively just like training a muscle. It could even be described simply as a baby starting to take its very first steps. Once they learn all that they can, the next generation is usually better than the last and can perform the feat better than the previous generation could.
I'm so excited because my theory is coming true. Once I get older my Kikaichu are going to be unbeatable. But right now, it is time for chakra control. I found a bunch of chakra control exercises in the Aburame compound. There was beginner's stuff like the leaf concentration exercise and tree climbing to more advanced stuff like waterfall splitting, needle balancing, and many more. Obviously, I started off with the leaf concentration exercise because I am a total novice, and I did that until I was drained dry.
However, just as I had predicted my chakra reserves, while not necessarily low, aren't high either and because of that learning to control it was a fairly simple process almost like learning how to balance on a bike.
I'm currently in a clearing in the leaf village. While the training grounds are off limits to non-ninja there are still plenty of quiet spaces to train in. While I do love the Aburame compound it does get kind of depressing there every now and then. Every Aburame is such a recluse, even the children. I tried to make friends with my fellow Aburame. I thought we could bond over our love for insects, but that turned out to be nothing more than a pipe dream.
It is a well-known fact that we Aburame love our insects. We respect them for all their skills that go unnoticed by most and try to learn from them, but I don't understand why that means we have to do it solitary. It's not that we're not allowed to work with each other. It is just that Aburame prefers to do almost everything alone.
No that's wrong, what I meant to say is that they only really communicate with their immediate family. They practice, train, and share knowledge with only their close relatives. Everybody else they try to avoid. The adults communicate much more than the children, but they still choose to be by themselves if they can. It is honestly like we're all different species of ants forming our own colonies in the same area. It really sucks.
I wanted to go train with my father, but it seems like he is getting busier and busier. He's away a lot of the time on missions and when he comes home, he looks so tired and disheveled. It makes me wonder what's going on out there, but I chose not to ask.
So here I am. Strengthening my body while lamenting on the fact that I couldn't find a friend to train with. However, I'm hoping that that problem will be solved once I enter the academy. My goal is to make one friend. That sounds sad, believe me I know, but I'm just not the type of person to have a giant mass of friends. It is all so overwhelming because then you have to divide all your time between them and that's time, I could be practicing with my Kikaichu.
Having one good loyal friend is all I need. He/she will always have my back and in turn I will always have theirs, but that's a problem for another day. The problem I'm currently facing right now is my breathing technique. It's been four months since I decided I'm going to learn it and I still can't even begin to see the starting line. I already know that you can increase lung capacity by heavy and intensive training. Anything from walking, running, push-ups, muscle strengthening, and many more options can help increase you're the amount of air you can inhale. I even do separate training while holding my breath. But I really don't see or feel any different except for the fact that I can hold my breath longer.
I'm scared that I'm doing something wrong, but I'm going to continue my training because while it may seem like it is not working there is no harm in continuing it. I even have an idea that will probably help me and was one of my main reasons for coming outside the compound today.
To get a fighting style.
I have sparred with my dad more times than I can count, and every time he took me down with stern grace I have never seen before. However, his style is not for me I decided. He not only takes the blows of his opponents on purpose, but also effectively counter attacks once the opponent has failed in their initial strike, but that's not for me.
He takes the attacks on purpose because his Rinkaichu effectively eats at the person's offending hand and once they are distracted by the mind shattering pain, he kills them in one strike. It's a style he developed way before his rinkaichu were able to fly, and one he still uses to this day.
While it sounds cool, it really is a fighting style for men only. More specifically Rinkaichu users. I need something that suits me. I tried going through the compound library. The Aburame has many Taijutsu scrolls. I spent a whole day there just searching yet I couldn't find anything that seemed like it would fit me. That's why I'm outside so I can find inspiration.
Some people might think It's stupid. What could I possibly find outside in this clearing? Well, what I'm looking for is the battle of nature itself. That's right, I'm looking for a fight between fellow insects.
The idea came to me when I was in the library searching for a fighting style to learn. I thought to myself that I needed a teacher, someone that can teach me something that is special and only unique to them. My answer as always were insects. They are little savages that have plenty of fighting experience because for them it's literally do or die.
So now I'm outside in a small forest searching for an insect battle. I thought it was going to be easy after all, insects outnumber us 200 million to 1 right. How hard could it be?
(-)
4 hours later
Turns out Pretty flicking hard!
Are you kidding me! 4 hours and not a single thing to show for it. You would think that I would find something interesting by now but nooo, every insect I have seen so far is so standard and boring it is just ridiculous. I swear if I don't see something soon, I'm going to flip.
Sigh.
It's time for a break. Falling on my back I decided to think. What the hell am I going to do? Why is it so hard to find something so simple? I mean seriously this is Konoha. A village built in a literal forest. How hard is it to find an insect fight-
I'm so flipping stupid.
Why have I been searching by myself when I have thousands upon thousands of little helpers literally inside me. With nothing but a thought I call upon my Kikaichu and soon they come out almost instantly.
"Find me a decent battle occurring in this area" with my orders given my Kikaichu dispersed into the grove.
Now what to do. I'm so angry. Why did I not think of this, but before any of that is addressed maybe I should confront that person that's been following me.
Every time I leave the compound, I always release a small number of my Kikaichu to always observe my surroundings and inform me if something was amiss. I do this because of my experience with the presence. I'm pretty sure a ninja could avoid this. But that's only if they are aware or at least I hope so. It was only when I started searching for my insect duel that they informed me that someone was following me, not that it was necessary considering this person really sucked at being sneaky.
So, I'm going to punish them. It is rude after all to follow someone without their permission, right? With that thought I give instruction to my Kikaichu that I currently have dispersed stealthy around the grove to converge on this person.
...
AAAAHHHHHHHH!
The shrillest scream I have ever heard erupted shortly after. It was soon that a boy about my age came running from his hiding place trying to brush off my Kikaichu. He quickly fell in his panic.
He looked seriously panicked and oh man is he crying. I didn't think a person would react so badly to my insects. Before he had a heart attack, I decided to call them off
Once he wasn't covered from head to toe in my Kikaichu I got a good look at him. He was skinny almost enough to be called unhealthy, he had a plain black shirt with even blander grey pants. He had short light brown hair, grey eyes, and the same complexion that most people in Konoha are known to have. Honestly he looks kind of boring. The only noteworthy thing about him is that he wears circles framed glasses with a crack in one of the lenses.
Keeping up my intimidating act I decided to speak.
"You have got a lot of nerve following me for as long as you did. I thought that it might have been a mistake and that you were just curious, but trailing me for nearly 4 hours makes you a borderline stalker. Now speak what are you after. If I don't deem the answer to be satisfactory, I will cover you in my Kikaichu from head to toe and have them drain your chakra until you're barely alive, and then leave you here tied up left in the dead of night."
Huh, that may have been a little harsh, but got to commit.
My voice was no higher than a whisper, yet I knew he could clearly hear me. With each word I spoke he got noticeably paler. What I'm doing could probably be considered too much, but I'm kind of pissed at the moment for still being unable to find my insect brawl and having a stalker on top of it just got on my nerves even more.
Wait, what's that smell? Oh, my he actually urinated on himself. I must really be intimidating him, but I still don't care. The only thing I care for right now is for an answer.
"You have 5 seconds to answer me. Otherwise, I will keep my promise." Soon I started counting.
"5,4,3,2."
WAIT!
Oh, it seems like he is finally ready to talk.
(-)
Boy's Pov
Terrifying. Ruthless. Deadly. Dangerous.
These are the words I would use to describe this girl in front of me. I knew she was bad news, but this exceeds all of my expectations.
Medium length coal black hair, caramel colored skin, eyes so green that they shine past her dark tinted shades, and a permanent small smile that looks both endearing and frightening.
I want to run, but I know if I do this girl will tell her insects to swarm me again, and that is an experience I really want to avoid.
"Are you finally ready to speak or are you going to urinate yourself a second time." Spoke to the girl.
At her words I felt my face grow scarlet red in embarrassment. Not only am I crying. But I had to pee myself as well. The world really hates me today nevertheless, I have to speak fast otherwise I'm in a world of punishment. This girl made it pretty clear what would happen if I don't talk soon, but if I tell her then I'm going to get beat up anyway. What should I do?
"I was following you" is an obvious statement no doubt, but it was the only thing that came to mind. There wasn't much emotion displayed on the girl's face, but I can tell that wasn't the answer she wanted to hear.
"Is that you answer? Do you remember what I told you would happen if I didn't deem your answer satisfactory. I'm already talking far more than I am used to, which is not helping my mood."
Soon insects started to crawl from outside of her skin. Which only freaked me out even more.
"I'm done playing games. Just take your punishment, and we can both go our separate ways, you creep." The insect came together to form one massive black swarm and was slowly coming in my direction.
At this point I decided that whatever those kids did to me wouldn't even compare to what she would do so I quickly blabbed out everything like my life depended on it because it literally does.
"I was following you because I was told to." Just as the insects were about to make contact they stopped.
"What do you mean? Why would someone tell you to follow me." She tilted her head slightly in confusion, somehow making her look even more intimidating.
"They... they told me to follow you because they wanted me to take some of your insects to prank someon-
'Pretty soon I choked on my breath. It was as if the air became 5 times heavier, and I couldn't properly inhale. The girl no, the monster in front of me somehow became even more frightening.'
"You have a lot of nerve to try and take one of the things I value most in this world."
I don't know if it is a trick or I simply misheard but her voice sounded heavily distorted almost like-
A hand grabbed my throat, interrupting my thoughts and sending me into a panic.
"Now then what should I do to you. My earlier punishment seems far to tame now considering what you tried to pull. How about I let my Kikaichu take your man hood. You see I value my Kikaichu as much as I value my life, and I hear men value what's underneath their pants just as much as they value their own lives too. So, I can just take yours and we'll call it even. Are you ready?" as she said this the smile never left here face.
The insects start crawling from her hand making their way to my neck. It feels so unpleasant. So, mind numbingly terrible that I'm going to faint, but I can't because I'm afraid I'm going to wake up to something missing. Soon I felt them crawling lower and lower and I felt myself soiling my pants once more.
I tried to force her hands off of me using all my strength, but she wouldn't budge. She's so strong it's ridiculous. I have to do something. Anything! Otherwise I'm doomed. With what remaining strength I can muster I spoke.
"Please stop." Tears are flowing freely, my vision is starting to turn black, but I continue on.
"I won't do it again."
"Trust me once I'm done with you, you won't even think about it again."
I'm not getting through to her. I have to do something. Something in exchange for her letting me go, but what.
"I'll do anything. Anything if you please don't do this!" In the end I couldn't think of anything and just said what came to mind. However, just as I was giving up hope and just when I felt the insect reach my lower region, I felt them halt.
"Do you mean that? Will you really give me anything?" She questioned. Which made me pause. Will I give her anything, but when I felt the vibration of the beetles my immediate answer was yes.
Pretty soon I felt the insects retreat from my body and see them travel back to the girl crawling through her trench coat and back inside her making it seem like they were never there in the first place.
"Then we have a deal." She released the grip she had on my neck, and I felt like I could breathe again. "Tell me what your name is."
At this my thought instantly darkens. She would probably be like them too. Like everyone else. I really don't want to tell her, but I have no choice, so I speak.
"Kodoku." When I shared my name, she repeated it back to me to confirm it. Yet when I thought, she was going to make fun of me she continued on as if it was the most normal name in the world.
"Well my name is Mor-"
"Wait, aren't you going to make fun of my name. Make fun of me." I'm completely stumped. Everyone makes fun of my name. Nobody I have met hasn't. Even the orphanage matron couldn't help but make a face at my name."
"Tell me, do you know what a name is?" The question stumped me for a second. Of course, I know what a name is and I told her just like that.
"Well then tell me what a name is. Give it to me in your own words."
The more she talked the more she confuses me, but answering questions was always my strong point so adjusting my glasses I recited what I read in one of the many books I studied.
"A name is a word or set of words by which an external observer can use to identify a person, animal or place" despite the situation I felt quite proud of my answer.
"You are quite well learned for a child. It honestly keeps surprising me of what I find in this world" that last part sounded more like she was speaking to herself.
" Yes, you are quite right a name is used to identify anything in this world and because of that it has power." The more she talks the more I somehow want to listen. Names have power, what does that even mean.
" You see, a name is a powerful thing. It is used as a descriptor that allows people to make quick assumptions and judgements about us. For the human mind it is the fastest way to categorize a lot of information in a short amount of time." What she is saying I've never even thought about. It sounds so simple yet nobody even thinks about it.
I realized I do tend to subconsciously judge people for their name. Like if a name sounds pretty then the person must be pretty too or if the name sounds cool then that person must also be cool as well, and it was at this I came to realize that I'm no different than those bullies at the orphanage.
"So now we come back to you and your name Kodoku which has no meaning. It literally is the word itself. Poison. I bet you were called many mean and hurtful things in your short life. Things that made you feel quite angry at not only your tormentors, but the people who gave you that name in the first place.
'At this point I wonder if I'm even speaking to a little girl or if I'm speaking to a full-on adult.'
"You asked why I didn't make fun of your name. The answer is quite simple: I don't judge by names, I judge by actions, and that's why I don't like you. You followed me and tried to take away something I cherish deeply in this world for something as mundane as a prank just because you were told to. You may think that taking a few beetles isn't a big deal, but it's a big deal to me. Not only that but you're so weak as to be pushed around by others without even planning to fight back, and finally when it comes down to it your true nature shows just how cowardly you really are. Everything about you just screams pathetic, frail, and useless."
"The more she speaks the more I feel like crying again and it's not because of how she sounds although that is a small part of it. It's because of how true her words really are. I am cowardly. I can't stand up for myself and I was inconsiderate of someone else's stuff just because I don't see any value in it. Pretty soon the tears start flowing again"
"However, I don't hate you. I dislike you, but not hate. Why? Because you're quite young you don't know the ways of the world yet. You were simply following the orders of other people because you were weak and while I hate weak people who can't stand up for themselves. I despise people who bully the weak even more. You remember what you said right. You promised that you would do anything if I let you go."
At this she came closer and placed her hands on both of my cheeks and gently lifted my face to look at her dark tinted shades. Her eyes are so green they shine right through the glasses. I couldn't look away. Only shake my head in affirmation.
"Then become strong Doku. Strong enough so that nobody can push you around. Strong enough that you can say your name proudly without fearing ridicule. Strong enough that you can be who you want to be. Can you keep this promise, Kodoku." The more she talks the more entranced I become. So, I just shake my head once more.
"Good I will keep you to that." Soon she walks away while motioning me to follow her. I couldn't help but question her about where we would be heading."
"I'm going to show you what you have to look forward to if you keep your promise."
I'm starting to think of myself as nothing more than a wind up toy with only one motion because I keep shaking my head yes.
We were walking for what felt like maybe 15 minutes before I started to hear voices. Not just any voices, but familiar voices. The guys who forced me to try to steal this girl's insects, I mean Kikaichu. I started to feel sweaty. I'm nervous, I realized. No, not nervous but scared. These guys have been my tormentors for a while now and there is no way I could go against them, but just as my thoughts were about to go downhill. I felt a gentle soothing touch on the top of my head.
"Don't be scared." She said and I don't know why, not when she said those words, I immediately felt myself calm down.
We walked up to the group and stopped around ten feet away. At this point I tried to stand with as much confidence as I could muster, but I wondered to myself what she was going to do.
"Doku, what are you doing? Did you get what we asked you to get? The leader of the group of my tormentors, Noboru. Just as I was about to respond she spoke.
"No, he didn't get what you asked for. Why? Because that belongs to me. Now you listen here. It's not nice to pick on the weak. You should try to pick on the strong instead." Just as she said those words, she came at them.
What happened next, I will never forget. This tiny little girl literally assaulted 6-to-8-year Olds and came out on top. They tried to fight back obviously, but to me it only looked like they were punching air because by the time their fist were about to land, she was already gone and landed a blow of her own right in the stomach of the attacker. Seeing that they were losing the fight as if instinctively they chose to run, but that only doomed what little chance they had of victory because now their backs were to her, and she decided that was the finisher. Immediately she moved with such speed and flexibility it was hard to believe my very own eyes, and delivered a brutal kick to all three of them. Once they were on the ground groaning in pain I saw her insects emerge and cover all three of them. When they realized what was covering them, they all started screaming. It was at this time she decided to speak.
" You're all so weak. You try to demean and ruin a person's life when this is all you're capable of, pathetic. If I ever see or hear you doing this crap again I'm going to stick my Kikaichu in the insertion point of what makes you a man. Do I make myself clear?" Even I winced at that and I'm starting to notice she loves threatening to take people's manhood.
Everyone, especially Noboru, did nothing but shake their heads affirmatively. Pretty soon her Kikaichu came back to her.
"Now get out of here before I change my mind." This time they were allowed to run and never once did I see any of them look back. At that very moment I only had one thought going through my head
Amazing!
"Do you see what you have to look forward to. If you become strong, nobody will mess with you anymore." I looked back to where she was only to see that she was gone. Nothing, not even a trace of her was here, it was as if she just vanished.
She was truly amazing unlike anybody I have ever met before. Could I do that, I wondered. Could I become strong like her. I truly don't know, but what I do know is that I'm going to give it my all, and hopefully meet her again and proudly proclaim that I kept my promise. The thought made me smile.
However, a sudden thought, made me pause.
"I never even got her name." my word were brushed aside by the wind.
(-)
Moriko Pov
Wow, that took a lot of time.
Kodoku huh. I wonder if he will keep his promise. Some people might wonder why I helped him and honestly, I don't know myself. Maybe it was the spur of the moment thing or maybe I just felt bad for this weakling. Maybe because he reminded me of someone.
Whatever the reason, I did my good deed for the month and now I can do what I came to do in this grove initially.
My Kikaichu have already informed me of an interesting specimen. It only took me 10 minutes to find him, and boy was I excited.
Swift and sure footed as flexible as an acrobatic master. 76 pairs of legs and one nasty attitude. I'm looking at a centipede, but not just any centipede but a geophilidae centipede. These things are absolute monsters. Armored from head to toe and loaded with venom nothing can stop these guys except death itself, and here is one searching for its next meal.
I kept following him already knowing what he was searching for and not even 10 minutes later it found one. A katydid more commonly known as a bush cricket. As soon as the centipede found the cricket it immediately charged. Rushing in with zero hesitation. The instant he makes contact he wraps as many legs around the cricket as he can. His legs are tipped with a very sharp claws and their piercing into the poor thing.
Once the cricket was pinned the centipede injected its lethal venom. Serotonin, I believe it was called which literally just increases the absorption of other toxins that break down the cell wall and the tissue while also causing tremendous pain. Soon the centipede started tunneling through the body of the cricket and devoured its victim from the inside. I don't know how long I watched but I found the scene so entrancing.
I wondered if I could do that. Trap my enemies in an iron lock grip and then absorb their chakra until they have nothing left to give. I don't know how long I watched, but by the time it was over there was nothing left of the cricket but an empty shell. It was discarded like trash and the centipede moved on looking to find its next victim.
What I saw was absolutely beautiful. Already I have so many ideas. Quickly I asked my Kikaichu to find the next battle and they did not disappoint. We soon stumbled upon a praying mantis and by the look of this thing it's obviously a female. About 3 inches and swift as lightning I'm looking at a woman that knows what she wants.
However, I don't see anything that she could fight. I waited for her to go searching but all she did was stand in one place. She just stood there for about 7 minutes until she swiped at the air so fast, I couldn't even track her movements. When I looked at her raptorial claws, I saw that she had one of my Kikaichu. Quickly before he could even defend himself, she bit into his head killing him before he could even fight back.
The only word that came to mind was 'fast'. She moved quickly. It was as if my Kikaichu was moving in slow motion. Pretty soon I realized what she did. The mantis was analyzing the best possible moment to strike and when she did, she didn't hold anything back. I already knew that mantises were fast attackers, but this exceeds my expectations. To be able to kill one of my Kikaichu. That's honestly impressive.
But while her attack was pretty impressive it was her observations that really drew my breath. I know that a mantis has five eyes. Two large compound eyes and three smaller eyes in the middle of their head. It's because of these that their power of observation is so great, and how she was able to grab my Kikaichu from out the air so easily. Honestly the Arthropod family is just amazing.
I can't wait to try out all these new ideas when I get home. I've decided I've seen enough for today, but first I have one last thing to do.
Soon I walked up to the praying mantis who was happily enjoying the body of my deceased Kikaichu. Once I was close enough, I immediately smashed her with my hand repeatedly. Soon there was nothing but a green mush of where the mantis used to be.
"I mean seriously did you really believe I would let you live after what you did to a member of my colony." With a smile on my face and my thirst for revenge sated I walked off to the Aburame compound ready to try and create my new Taijutsu style that will help me thrive in this world as the strongest.
(-)
chapter 4
I like the pace at which everything is moving not to slow, but not too fast either. Moriko's strength is steadily increasing as she plots her schemes.
Im actually a little ahead on the chapters so they will come out soon. Thanks, for reading.