Itachi and I sat across from each other in peaceful silence as we each focused on our respective elements. I slowly drained the leaf of water and he burned his to ash. The only real difference was that I was sitting half a meter off of the ground while he merely sat on the ground like a scrub. Maybe I should clarify a bit I was using Chakra strings to hold me half a meter above ground. With my regeneration of 54 Chakra/min I could literally do this forever. Some would call it cheating I would call it gittin gud.
When Itachi's Chakra got low enough he stopped burning his pile of leaves and went back to working on his shurikenjutsu. I had asked him before he started if he wanted a moving target to practice on and when he agreed I used my strings to pick up one of the conveniently placed logs and moved it around. The sounds of clinking metal or the thump of a successful hit filled the garden. The minutes bled into hours and Itachi started to do katas for taijutsu.
It looked like a very reactive style of combat and I really didn't see myself being able to use it properly. From what my inexperienced eye could see it seemed to have a lot of holes that could be exploited but that could be from his inexperience or they were covered later.
Ding! Water Leaf Exercise reached max level.
What? Already, it's only been like half a day. I looked over my skills and sure enough it was fully leveled with Water manipulation having gone up to level 5 in the process. How did that… Oh, right the quest with Kushina being my mentor. Didn't it say I would have and increased experience gain for my water element. I looked back and sure enough there it was. Still that's insane for leveling a skill. Maybe I should ask for the next level of training. I thought about it for a moment then decided against it.
"Hey Itachi."
"Yes."
"Would you like to spar with me?" He stopped his kata and nodded.
"Alright then." I hopped down from my floating position and walked over to him. "Fight until down or yield." He nodded and we made the sign of confrontation then we lowered into our stances. As I thought Itachi was waiting for me to make the first move. I obliged and led with a low kick at roughly half speed to see his reaction speed.
He stepped into the kick as he moved at a slightly faster speed taking the hit on the meaty part of his leg instead of his knee. I had to really pull back before I connected as I wasn't sure how well he could take a hit throwing me off balance. Capitalizing on my mistake his right hand shot forward like a knife for my throat. A hasty block diverted it to the side and away from my neck. A retaliatory straight punch at his chest saw him bending over backwards into a handstand as a foot zoomed for my face.
He really likes targeting my head area I mused as I took a page from his book and stepped into the blow. It caught me in my right shoulder but it was worth it because I captured his leg. A quick kick to his arm and he was down on the ground. I helped him off the ground and then we were at it again.
I can truthfully say this with no amount of envy that Itachi is amazing. If I didn't have this ability he would have left me in the dust long ago. As it was I could tell that if something didn't change he would be my better in taijutsu. I just didn't seem to have some vital spark for it even with my power. The difference that separates a master from a grandmaster. That was just fine with me though. So what if I never became world class in taijutsu I'm far more drawn to sharp things and ninjutsu. That's where I'll shine.
The spar continued and I could see him getting faster and faster. More able to pick me apart piece by piece. That is not to say that I wasn't improving as well he was just improving faster than I was. At the end we both made the seal of reconciliation covered in sweat, dust and a few bruises which were fading for me.
"Thank you for that Itachi. It's hard to find people my size that can put up a good fight and the way that you can improve like that on the fly was amazing."
"You were improving as well as holding back." He pointed out.
"Yes I wasn't using my full speed but don't try to diminish your accomplishments. That was an excellent spar."
"I agree." A man's voice spoke from right behind me. I whirled around cursing the fact that my Chakra sense skill seems so worthless at actually keeping me aware of people around me. A younger man in a standard shinobi garb with the addition of the Konoha Military Police symbol on his jacket along with onyx eyes and brown hair was standing there.
"Good evening Father." Ah, the Uchiha clan head. He looks like a stern no nonsense kind of guy.
"Good evening Lord Uchiha. It is a pleasure to meet you." I gave a formal bow.
"None of that right now Shiro. While in my house I prefer to let go of more formal behavior unless the situation calls for it. I am Fugaku Uchiha. Please call me Uchiha. I've been talking with my wife while you spared and I must say you must have an exceptional talent to be called to duty at such a young age."
"I merely call myself adequate for now yet others seem to think otherwise." I shrugged. He seemed to study me for a moment.
"I find that you truly believe that. How peculiar? Never the less both you and your sensei are invited to dinner with us tonight." I looked over at Kushina and she nodded.
"We would be delighted to accept your hospitality for tonight." I gave another bow.
"Good. Itachi can show you the bath so you can both get cleaned up before dinner. Don't worry about your clothes they will be washed before you get out." He turned around and started walking back towards Kushina and Mikoto. Itachi pulled on my sleeve and led me back into the house to the bath.
We stepped into the small room right before the bath and as I began disrobing I noticed Itachi was as well. "What are you doing?"
"Preparing to take a bath." He sounded confused.
"People take baths together?" Every time but once after I killed someone I've bathed alone and I thought that was a special occasion.
"Do they not?" We both stared at each other in confusion before I shrugged my shoulders and continued taking off my clothes.
"Your house, your rules." That minor cultural misunderstanding over we headed into the bath proper where there was already a pool of steaming water waiting for us. I couldn't help but also notice some ugly bruises that were forming on his leg and lower back.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to hit you quite so hard." I said as I indicated the bruises.
"It's fine I got you as well." We both looked down at the large one on my stomach. Of course as soon as we did it healed over leaving nothing but unblemished skin.
"Oh, wow would you look at that ninja magic at work." I laugh awkwardly. His stare is so deadpan it hurts. "I'm just going to get cleaned up now." Thankfully the rest of the bath wasn't so awkward. Indeed it was very relaxing sitting in a pool of warm water with someone else. We soaked in the water until Itachi's mom called us for dinner and I regretfully left the water's embrace.
Entering the small front room before the bath I found all my clothes neatly folded and washed. I put everything back on, all weapons in place, even though I didn't quite know the etiquette of bringing weapons to the table. I'll have to ask Kushina before I actually sit down. Itachi led me to a large dining area where Kushina and Fugaku where already sitting down. I made my way over to Kushina while Itachi made his way into the kitchen.
"Sensei, what's the protocol for weapons after being invited to dinner." She takes a glance at my two kunai bandoliers and the subtle shift of cloth in my sleeves before talking.
"People never really expect other ninja to be unarmed and it's true. As long as it's not obtrusively in your face like carrying a sword to the dinner table small weapons like you're carrying are fine just don't use them."
Nodding along with her explanation I do have one question. "Never?"
"Never." She said with a small smile. How? Seals maybe or do they stick them in uncomfortable places. I shudder at the thought of getting hit by a literal shitty kunai. Before I can get her to expand on this Mikoto and Itachi entered with five steaming bowls of food. We all sat down and clapped our hands together before we began eating.
It was great compared to the usual food they feed me. It was some kind of beef rice bowl with fried egg. I ate it with unusual gusto as I listened with half an ear as Fugaku told us about his day. Apparently the entire police force had been out today and guarding all exits from the village as it went into lockdown. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship they had caught 5 people trying to flee and 1 poor fool trying to enter during a lockdown. As head of one of the major clans he had also been informed of 3 separate arrests of spies and a traitor. 9 people were going to be tortured and pumped for all their information then killed because one of them had done a shitty job at stealing information. It might have still gone unnoticed if I hadn't casually mentioned a portion of my bloodline to Kushina.
Hm, have I mentioned this food is great? I could see both Kushina and Mikoto glancing at me after Fugaku told us about the 9 people, probably to see if I was disturbed by it or something but I literally couldn't be so nothing to see here gals. Besides compared to directly killing someone this was an order of magnitude easier to deal with. Wow, that makes me sound like a sociopath. I let off the vibe that it didn't bother me and now they both just seem kind of sad.
Mikoto gave me another portion which I tried to refuse, it's not like I need it or anything, but in the end I relented. I finished that as well then I put my foot down when she tried to give me another. Woman I could eat you out of house and home leave it. The meal ended and Fugaku begged off saying he had paperwork to finish while Kushina and Mikoto left us behind with a set of Go.
We sat there and played until they came back with a tea set. Politely thanking them we continued playing.
Ding! Gained +1 INT
Huh, I can gain stats like this as well? Nice. I calmly sipped my tea as I felt two sets of eyes burning into my back. They probably felt my chakra spike as I gained more. This is really good tea I'll have to get some of this later.
The day continued and while I didn't gain anymore stats or levels I still thought it was a good day. I didn't know how tense I was from just continually training until I took a little break like this one. I would still prefer to be doing something more than just relaxing but it's not a bad thing to do from time to time.
Eventually it became late enough that it was time to leave. The entire Uchiha family gathered in the entryway to see us off.
"Thank you for extending your hospitality to us today and for dinner. I hope to extend the same when I can." I gave a full bow to Fugaku and Mikoto. "Itachi it was an interesting day. I will try to see you again soon. Goodbye."
"Goodbye Shiro." We left the house and went out through the compound gate where there were two different guards manning the post.
"Where to now sensei?" She looked up at the rapidly setting sun before answering.
"My house I think. It'll be too dark to do any real training soon and your other sensei won't pick you up for another 2 hours or so." She led me through the streets for about 20 minutes or so before we came to a smaller two story house with a small yard. "Put your hand here." I did so and I could feel a small prick on my hand.
Lifting my hand up I saw a small drop of blood on it. "What just happened?"
"That was me keying you into the sealing array around my house. If I didn't bad things would have happened to you. Come on inside then." Interesting.
The inside was cozy if a little small. Off to my immediate left I could see a kitchen and dining area with a staircase on my right and a hallway straight ahead. "Well this is home. Take your sandals off and come into the living area." She led me towards the kitchen which apparently functioned as a kitchen, dining and living room area. The couch was soft and plush as I sat down.
"Do you need anything?"
"No sensei, although I did complete the water leaf exercise. Is there any chance I could get the next step tonight?" She muttered something under her breath that I didn't catch.
"Sorry not today. It involves drawing water from the ground and making a puddle. I don't want to destroy my lawn and you can't really do it inside so sorry not right now. I'll teach you it tomorrow though." That's disappointing but I can handle it.
"Can I make Chakra strings and meditate then?"
"Sure just don't damage my walls." Strings latch onto the walls and I start floating in air.
"I won't sensei." She mutters something again and leaves me to it. I fall into a meditative state easily and time loses its meaning until the front door being opened drew me from my state. A younger man with spikey blond hair and blue eyes entered. He was wearing standard jonin attire and standing behind him was a small boy. The boy also wore the standard chunin attire yet he also had a half face mask with spikey silver hair and grey eyes.
We all stared at each other, them in the doorway, myself hovering above the ground. The blond one spoke first. "Ah, you're not here to try to kill us are you?" The shear ridiculousness of that statement drew a snort from me. Me able to kill them? Not a chance unless they lost all their limbs and even them I think they would find a way to bite me to death. The blond one's chakra isn't even there so he's a jonin and the silver haired one's chakra in blurry like he's learning to hide it so almost a jonin.
"Not unless you're a traitor. My name is Shiro and I'm Kushina's apprentice. Judging by the fact you can get into the house you must know her somehow."
A slight chuckle. "You could say that." There was a loud thump from upstairs and then a blur of red as she slammed into him.
"Minato, I thought your team wasn't getting back for another two days?" She gave him a kiss.
"It was easier than expected so we were able to complete it faster. Anyways what's this about an apprentice?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah this is Shiro I just got him today and he's 3 years old and amazing. On his first day we uncovered a mole with the ability to steal A-rank secrets and 9 people got caught from it after the village went into lockdown. Then he figured out how to do the water leaf exercise and fire leaf exercise in two minutes and mastered the first in half a day while we went to go see Mikoto and Itachi." All this was said in a rapid fire pace that left me barely able to keep up but Minato and the other guy seemed to be used to it.
A hand on her mouth stopped the flow of words. "That's great honey but we still haven't been introduced yet."
"Oh, hehe, yeah my bad. Shiro,' I let the strings fade and dropped down to the ground, 'this is girly looking man is Minato Namikaze and this guy that could pass for your brother is Kakashi Hatake." I gave a half bow.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both I…" I stopped in mid-sentence as I felt Saiko's chakra flare up outside the house. "I'm sorry to cut this short but it would seem my escort is here, please excuse me. Goodbye Kushina sensei I'll see you tomorrow."
"I'll see you tomorrow at training ground three at 8." I nod as I put on my sandals and leave the house. Saiko appears next to me and places a hand on my shoulder while the world blurs. As it stops I'm greeted by the familiar sight of drab grey walls and Saiko releases my shoulder.
"What did you learn today?" I tell her everything and she's gotten so used to my weirdness that she doesn't even flinch at how fast I learned and mastered the water leaf exercise. "Well isn't that great how you had such a fun relaxing day while I ran across the entirety of Fire country relaying new orders after the breach was found and plugged." Is that bitterness I detect sensei.
"I'm going to be entirely honest. I'm dead tired and cranky about having to train you right now so be prepared for that."
"Ah, wait before we start training Kushina mentioned how a ninja is never not armed. What did she mean by that?" A long sigh.
"You should have figured this out. A ninja's body is a weapon just as much as a kunai is but if you meant in the tool sense then most kunoichi carry senbon in their hair while shinobi need to be a bit more inventive."
"Oh, I thought I could get a seal or something that could hide…" I trail off and stare blankly at the wall behind Saiko.
"What is it brat?"
"I can't really explain it could I just show you?"
"Is it dangerous?" I shake my head and she considers for a moment. "Go ahead."
Taking out a kunai I mentally call up my long unused inventory and stick it in. The kunai disappears from my hand and I can see it take up a box in my inventory.
"What did you just do?"
"I think I placed the kunai in a hidden space only I can access."
"Take it back out." I reach out and the kunai pops back into my hand. I look over at Saiko and she's hunched over.
"Brat did you just invent a space-time ninjutsu just so you could hide things?" She sounds like a parent that has resigned herself to dealing with her problem child.
"Maybe?" There was a moment of silence and the she started to laugh. It wasn't a haha kind of laugh either it sounded crazier than that.
"A three year old invents a space-time ninjutsu within one day because he wants to hide things. What is the world coming to?" She regains control over herself then lets out a long drawn out sigh. "One of these days you're going to make me go crazy. Let's go to Lord Danzo and explain your new found talent." She led me through the underground maze and then knocked on a section of wall.
"Enter." The wall slid down and I saw Lord Danzo behind a desk filled with paperwork. We walked before his desk and knelt. "What is it?"
Saiko spoke up. "Shiro has revealed a space-time ninjutsu that can be used to store items and retrieve them."
"What?" Lord Danzo's voice was filled with disbelief. "Show me."
I slowly grabbed a kunai from my pouch and pushed it into the inventory. His eye widened then narrowed. "Ko, what did you see?" Another shinobi appeared kneeling next to us.
"I saw a slight distortion in the air when the kunai disappeared yet his chakra did not show signs of use and no genjutsu was used. The kunai is no longer in this room and I cannot see it anywhere." He nodded slowly.
"Bring it back." I did so.
"I saw the same things as before and that is definitely the same kunai."
"Dismissed." Ko disappears from my senses.
"Could you teach this to others?" I think for a moment then shake my head.
"I apologize Lord Danzo but this feels instinctual like it is part of my bloodline. Others could try to copy it but as Ko said I don't feel like I'm using Chakra to do this and there are no hand signs involved. It just feels like a part of me." He lets me kneel there for a while as he considers the information.
"Why did this not occur before now?"
"I had no desire to hide items before."
"I see." Lord Danzo seemed to mull over everything that had happened.
"I should have let you go outside more often if this is what happens. Your first day outside and we catch 9 spies and traitors while you return with an undetectable space to hide items. Saiko test his ability for the rest of tonight then get some rest. Both of you are dismissed."
We bow and exit. Both of us are silent on the way back to the training room. Once we get there I have to ask Saiko something that I wanted to say. "Saiko did I do a bad thing by having this ability?"
She stops and ruffles my hair. "No, it might have been bad if you had created it but since it was part of your bloodline we can't really hold it against you. Just promise me to try not to pop out any more space-time ninjutsu they're extremely dangerous to create and usually deadly."
"I'll try not to but hey you said I could create my own techniques now and then this happened without even trying. Just think of what my technique will be like when I try." I exclaim cheerfully.
I could actually see her shudder at that. "Just… just try not to destroy Konoha when you do alright?"
"Of course I wouldn't do that I like it here and you're here as well." She mutters something and then straightens.
"Alright time to test this ability." A block of stone rises up from the floor. "Try to put this in."
Testing my inventory was useful. In the end I found out it perfectly preserved food at the same temperature it was put in. It had a limit of 50x50 cm to the size of what could be put in but larger items could be sealed in a scroll and put in without a problem. Dead things worked fine but anything that was alive came back dead. Poor mister mousy you gave your life FOR SCIENCE! Oh, and we couldn't seem to find a limit to the amount of things that I could put in which was nice. Now I could do the age old videogame tradition of looting everything.
It took several hours of extensive testing but after that Saiko declared it done for now. Before we could start my actual training though I wanted to ask one more question.
"By all the Gods out there if you are about to drop another explosive kunai on me I'll spank you so hard your children will feel it." I subtly moved my posterior away from the angry woman.
"I just wanted to know if I could learn the technique that you use to move around so fast?" She paused and started chuckling.
"Sure here is the hand sign. Now watch closely." I could feel the Chakra build up in her legs and then a puff of smoke and she was gone. Oh, so Kushina didn't create a clone that's good to know. "Starting out it creates a puff of smoke like you just saw but at higher levels it can be used without smoke." She said from right behind me. Ignoring her attempt to startle me I created the hand sign, focused my Chakra, and immediately ran straight into a wall.
Ding!
Learned Body Flicker (D- rank Active 100(85)) LVL 1 – 0%
The body flicker technique is a high speed movement skill that propels the user at such speeds it seems like they teleported.
Increases speed by 300% over 100 meters.
Increases DEX by 1%
I groaned as I heard my sensei's evil laughter behind me. "I forgot to mention it takes a little getting used to." Forgot my ass. "Don't try to use it in combat until I tell you though, alright?" I grunt as I stand up to try again. Slamming into the opposite wall is just as fun as it was the first time. Listening to Saiko take enjoyment from my pain I just know that tonight is going to seem like forever.
Saiko literally drops me off at training ground 3 the next morning then leaves just as quickly to run back to her bed. The cool grass feels nice on my battered body. I think I'll just lay here for a bit. Something is poking me in the back. I grumble and move slightly.
"Oi, brat you alive." The poking resumes. Fine I'll get up. I push myself up, body aching and face Kushina. She doesn't even try to hide the stick in her hands.
"Woah, what happened to you?" She points at my battered appearance.
"I was learning the body flicker skill last night."
"Ah,' she nods knowingly, 'that'll do it. Do you still want to learn the second stage of water training or do you want to rest?"
"Training please." I force myself to pay attention as her chakra soaks the earth below us drawing water to the surface and into a puddle. She lets the technique dissipate and motions me to try. Alright I can do this. Almost as soon as I start I hear the ding.
Ding!
Learned Water Drawing (Active – 30(25.13)/min) LVL 1 – 0%
Water techniques need water to actually be used. This skill is a precursor to drawing water from other sources to be gathered for a technique.
Increases water accumulation speed by 5%
"Looks like you've got it just as fast as last time. I was going to have you work out today but seeing you look so pitiful just practice that while I read these scrolls."
I nod, secretly glad to not have to move much right now, and get on with practicing. Just another day in my life really.
Name: Shiro
Age: 3 year - 0 months
Title: Rookie Root Shinobi
LVL: 8 - 1% to next LVL
HP: 590/590
Chakra: 8767/8767
Elemental Affinity: Water
STR: 61(67.1)
VIT: 59
END: 63
DEX: 75(78)
INT: 54(55.62)
WIS: 53(54.59)
LCK: 13
Points: 40
Money: 800
Water Manipulation (Passive) LVL 5 – 6%
Allows for easier transitions between neutral chakra and water chakra as well as the manipulation of water.
Decreases cost of all water techniques by 1.25%
Increases control of water by 5%
Increases total chakra capacity by 0.5%
*Water Leaf exercise (Active 10(8.37)/min) LVL 10 MAX
Decreases time spent changing from neutral to water chakra and back again by 50%.
* Water Drawing (Active – 30(25.13)/min) LVL 1 – 0%
Water techniques need water to actually be used. This skill is a precursor to drawing water from other sources to be gathered for a technique.
Increases water accumulation speed by 5%
Body Flicker (D- rank Active 100(85)) LVL 4 – 15%
The body flicker technique is a high speed movement skill that propels the user at such speeds it seems like they teleported.
Increases speed by 500% over 100 meters.
Increases DEX by 4%
* Beginner's Leaf Taijutsu (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Basic katas at the beginning level of martial arts. It won't impress anyone but at least you know it.
Increases DEX and STR by 10% while using.
Intermediate Leaf Taijutsu (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Intermediate katas at the beginning level of martial arts. It won't impress anyone but at least you know it.
Increases DEX and STR by 10% while using.
Expert Leaf Taijutsu (Passive) LVL 8 – 32%
Expert katas at the beginning level of martial arts.
Increases DEX and STR by 10% while using.
*Meditation (Passive/Active) LVL 35 – 18%: Warning cannot use in battle. To know oneself body and mind. Meditation has been used for centuries to center oneself and for relaxation now you have started on the same path as though before you.
Passive Effect: Increase INT and WIS by 3%
Active Effect: Increases Chakra Regeneration by 45/min
*Chakra Strings (Active – 5(4.25)/min) LVL 10 – MAX
Strings formed of pure Chakra manipulation. This technique is most widely used in Suna's Puppeteer Corps. Decreases the time necessary to form the strings by 50%
*Invisible Strings (Passive) LVL 10 – MAX
Renders the Chakra Strings invisible to the naked eye.
*Length (Passive) LVL 10 – MAX
Increases functional length of the strings to 100m.
*Strength (Passive) LVL 10 – MAX
Increases lifting weight of each string by 100kg
*Multitasking (Passive) LVL 10 – MAX
Increases number of strings active by 20
*Emissions (Passive) LVL 6 – 87%
Decreases the Chakra emission by 30%