Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto because if I did fight scenes wouldn't be twenty minutes of talking then 2 episodes of flashbacks.
Quick Note: Regarding Shiro's water elemental training. Since it is his natural affinity he gains a 100% xp boost. With being Kushina's apprentice this is boosted to a 200%xp boost for water. For Air its a 100%(half from Air talent and half from Kushina) boost and the rest are all 50%xp boosts. Lighting has 0%, Fire has -50% and Earth has -100% xp modifiers. This does not mean he won't still learn the initial skill at the same rate but he will learn faster or slower based on modifiers. Fire and Earth also have Chakra cost modifiers as well so he can't grind the skill as easily.
The next few weeks of my life were rather enjoyable. I spent the days with Kushina and she varied between training me physically, techniques or general shinobi knowledge. In addition some days we just hung out with Itachi and Mikoto. I only saw Minato briefly one other time and that was at Ichiraku's for lunch. Apparently the war was keeping him and his squad extremely busy. Kushina left for a couple of days as well on a mission. I wasn't involved with it because it was an A rank and as of right now I just wasn't qualified for that kind of mission.
Saiko kept me extra busy for those days Kushina was gone as well as worked with me during the night to improve myself. We continued to work on the body flicker skill as well as general exercise and more specialized shinobi knowledge. My routine was broken this morning however.
It started off normally enough. Saiko dropped me off at training ground 3 and I went to work on my second water release skill, water bullet, over by the lake so I had a ready source of water for it. The bullet sped out of my mouth and drilled into a nearby rock creating a big gouge in the center. I certainly wouldn't want to get hit by this or any ninjutsu really.
Ding! Water Bullet leveled up.
Water Release: Water Bullet (C Rank – Active( 250(200))) LVL 10 MAX
Generates a high pressured ball of water which shoots forth from the mouth like a bullet.
Decreases casting time by 50%
*More Dakka (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Generates up to 10 water bullets per cast
*Silence is Golden (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Congratulations. You can cast the skill without shouting it like an idiot.
Water Release: Water Whip (D Rank – Active(100(89))) LVL 10 – MAX
Generates a whip of highly pressurized water that you can direct.
Decreases casting time by 50%
*I've seen enough Hentai…(Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Generates up to 10 water whips per cast. Anime girls beware.
* Silence is Golden (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Congratulations. You can cast the skill without shouting it like an idiot.
I'm pretty enthused by my new skills even though I'm still not completely sure why my water elemental skills are leveling up so quickly even with the hidden bonus from that quest. I do feel that my power is trolling me a bit with some of the descriptions but there's nothing I can do about that.
While I was admiring my skills I felt Kushina start walking towards me. "Shiro I've seen enough for today it's time for something different."
"Different how sensei?"
She strikes a dramatic pose. "It's time for you to experience a mission."
"What rank will the mission be?" I asked cautiously. I had no desire to take slave labor D rank missions. They would be pointless and cut into my training time.
"Your other sensei and I believe you are ready for a C rank mission that we picked out. It starts in 30 minutes at the entrance of the North Gate." She tosses me a small bundle. "Your other sensei packed everything you'll need in there. Do you think you could body flicker to the North Gate?"
I unravel the bundle revealing it to be a small pack that I can strap around my waist. I do so then nod at Kushina's question. "Then let's go." We disappear from the clearing in puffs of smoke. It takes me quite a few more flickers before we reach the North Gate and I immediately sit down and start meditating. I used up around 2000 chakra from flickering and practicing the water bullet skill so I would prefer to recover before we leave the village.
With around 100 Chakra/min regeneration it takes 20 minutes for me to fully recharge giving me a bit of time to check the pouch I've been given. Inside the pouch are scrolls with the words clothes, food, shelter and gear written on the outside. "Sensei is there anyone around us?" She looks confused before shaking her head. We're standing off to the side of the gate, out of the way but close enough to see it.
I take the scrolls and shove all of them into my inventory. "What the fuck?" Huh? Did I not tell her about that? Oops.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? My bloodline decided I needed a pocket space to hide things."
"No,' she ground out, 'you didn't mention it at all."
"Well I think you inspired it really when you mentioned that ninja are never without a weapon I got to thinking how I would hide a weapon and then this happened."
"Idiot, I meant your body."
I nod vigorously. "I know sensei said that as well but I like sharp things and ninjutsu so those were what I thought of."
"And your bloodline thought hey let's mess with dangerous space-time ninjutsu and create something to hide items in."
"Exactly. Kushina sensei you know me so well."
"Brat one of these days you'll give me a heart attack."
"Sensei said I'll drive her insane eventually." She starts laughing at that.
"I think she and I need to go drinking one day to commiserate together."
"That hurts me sensei. Right here." I tap on my chest over where my heart is. "So what's the actual mission that we're going on? You never told me."
"Well if someone hadn't pulled an insane jutsu out of their ass I would have told you earlier." Eh, you're the one overreacting. "Our mission is to guard a supply run from here to the capital of Fire country. It's a 3 day journey with the caravan."
"That's there and back right?"
"Yep one day on the road, another in the city and one on the way back."
"Is that them there?" I point at a group of 5 wagons that are pulling up to the North Gate.
"Yep that's them. Let me do the talking for now." As we were walking over to them I received a notification.
Ding! Task Received.
C Rank - Escort the merchants from Konoha to the capital and back.
Rewards: 300xp, 3000ryo
A task not a quest? Are all missions going to be tasks then or will some of them be quests if they're dangerous enough? Whatever, it's not really that big a deal. Kushina has started to talk with the master of the caravan. He's an older guy who's going bald and greying hair. He still looks fit for a civilian though. No appreciable chakra worth mentioning.
"You're our escort? A woman and a child barely old enough to not be drinking milk from his mom's teat. When I paid for a C rank mission I expected to get my money's worth, not this." I think I looked at him like he was crazy. Can't he tell Kushina's a jonin the jacket totally gives it away? If she tried she could kill you with a finger flick to the forehead. What the fuck are you doing trying to get her mad at you for?
"I can assure you no harm will come to you during the journey. My apprentice and I are more than enough to handle anything that happens along the way." He ranted about his poor business choices some more but in the end we were wasting daylight and grumbling all the way we set out. The guards manning the gate looked at my official shinobi photo, which I had taken earlier in the week, and waved us through.
The walls of Konoha faded away behind us as we began our journey. It was interesting being out of the village for all of half an hour before I wanted to go back. It wasn't the walking that got me, I could walk forever, or the boredom. No it was the huge amount of dust that the 5 wagons and horses kicked up as we moved along. It got everywhere and within 10 minutes I felt filthy. Groaning internally I set up a revolving patrol with random bursts from my Chakra Sense every so often. This would be a long day.
I was right after all the day was far too long for my taste. We stopped 3 miles out from the capital to avoid paying for hotels and the entire time the caravan master was still bitching about us. Give it a rest already man. I think he kept on complaining even as he was laying down in his tent but I tuned him out before that.
"Alright let's set up a watch schedule. Even though we're this close to the capital it doesn't pay to get complacent." I gave her a deadpan look.
"You do remember that I don't sleep right?"
"Oh, haha, right of course. I kinda forgot with all the other crazy stuff you do. Still I'll take first watch and there will be both of us up then." I shrugged.
"If you want to lose sleep be my guest. I won't say no to another pair of eyes to keep us safe." With that we went to opposite sides of the camp and set up watch. It was a boring night with nothing happening until a chakra flashed us the friendlies passing by signal. I sent an acknowledge back and that was the single moment of excitement for the entire night. Of course I never ever even in the darkest part of my mind thought the words 'I'm bored' or any variant.
Both of my sensei's had told stories about ninja that courted with Murphy. Most of them weren't alive anymore. I took those stories with a grain of salt but since one time Kushina had told one of the stories at Ichiraku's and the surrounding ninja had nodded along I was better off being safe than sorry.
The first hint of sunlight was peeking up from the horizon and the caravan took that as the sign it was time to wake up. The camp was broken down and packed up with an efficiency that spoke of long practice then we continued down the road.
The sun was rising above the horizon as we reached the gates of the capital. The guards there already looked bored as they waved us through. The capital was far different than Konoha. The biggest difference was the lack of trees growing between buildings and the smell. To my now highly attuned senses it smelled dirty. I turned off the Chakra enhancement and the smell wasn't so overpowering anymore.
We had running water and electricity in Konoha so I had assumed that these amenities had extended throughout Fire country but it seems I was wrong. The richer parts of the city had them but the lower class had to make due with subpar utilities. I stuck close to Kushina and the caravan as we trudged through the city to the market place.
The bazar was just setting up and the merchants left us with the carts to roam into the maze of tents and stalls for the best deals. Once again the time passed slowly and the merchants would occasionally come back with things they had bought until at around mid-afternoon everything was rounded up and we proceeded back out the gate. Being back on the road again was as dusty as before and I tried my best to just ignore it while focusing on patrolling. Nothing happened during the day and the night was equally uneventful.
Once more everyone rose at dawn and set forth again. This time something different then the routine happened. Further up the road I could sense 10 people off to either side of the road. Looking back at Kushina I signaled for orders. She decided on a wait and see approach. They might be friendly so we wouldn't attack until they did.
Drawing closer and closer I could feel them getting ready. The ones on the right spread out a bit while the ones on the left bunched together. Probable hostile, how proceed?
Target right. Hold attack.
We were in sight now and I could make out their figures hiding within the bushes near the road. I even saw a glint of metal reflecting off of a sword. Amateur bandits. How did they even survive this close to Konoha? The penalty for banditry is death and they should have been caught by now unless this was an extremely new band.
My suspicions were proven correct when the actual archer on the right yelled to charge before firing. The arrow went right for the caravan master and as tempting as it was to let it hit him I had a job to do. Snagging the arrow out of the air with a Chakra string I sent it hurtling straight back into the archer's throat. He went down clawing at it.
The other four hadn't seem to have seen their leader's demise or they were stupid and they charged. I spat and my hands blurred. My spit grew from a drop to a small pool of water where four whips grew from. Seeming to realize that charging was a bad idea they started to turn but it far was too late. Each whip was able to crack tree trunks when they hit. For an unenhanced human they hit hard enough to shatter bones. Two died instantly when the whip hit their skulls while the other two were 'lucky' enough not to die when they were hit.
One had his right leg shattered and he went down screaming. He was still mobile enough to be a threat so a moment later a kunai lodged in his skull. The other one had enough smarts to know when to run and had gotten the furthest away. My water whip had hit him on his spine paralyzing him from the waist down. I left him for now incase Kushina wanted one alive for whatever reason.
Even though I could sense everyone just fine I still looked over to where the other bandits had been. Kushina was calmly wiping the blood off of her tanto that she got from somewhere. I absently noted that the bandits on her side hadn't been able to take more than a single step towards the wagons. "Sensei do we need one alive for information?"
"No." Her voice was colder than I've ever heard it before and I shrugged before one of my kunai struck the paralyzed bandit who had been trying to crawl away.
"Strip them of everything useful and then I'll show you a technique on how to bury them." Her voice was still cold and I leapt to my task. The five bandits didn't really have anything useful on them. Four half pitted and rusted blades of iron, a few arrowheads worth taking and 320ryo. She pulled out a scroll and was about to seal it before she told me to put it all in my inventory and give it to Saiko later.
Watching Kushina as she performed the hand signs and the bodies sink into the ground I was confused at when I had grown strong enough to kill 5 men within 10 seconds. I think my views on strength have been warped by being next to people that are so much stronger than me all the time. Maybe spending some time around the village and limiting myself would give me perspective. If I grow totally detached from the common civilian it would be bad thing. Resolution made I tried to perform the technique Kushina used.
Ding!
Learned Earth Release: Moving Ground (E Rank – Active (150(127.5))) LVL 1 -0%
A simple earth release move that shifts the earth near the user as they desire.
Decrease casting speed 5%
My eyes widened at the cost of a simple E rank. That's 300% more than a clone. Is it because of my elemental nature? I preformed the jutsu and then turned to Kushina.
"Sensei why did that technique cost me so much to cast?"
"Well first off good job getting it your first try and secondly it's the opposite of your main element so it costs more." She turned to the caravan master. "The threat had been taken care of. Would you like to continue traveling?" He was staring at us with wide eyes and with a shaky nod set the wagons moving.
The rest of the trip was entirely peaceful and the caravan master had finally stopped bad mouthing us. It only took killing 10 men in front of him to do it a cheap price all told. I frown, wait that came out wrong. As soon as we were inside the Northern Gate they ran off leaving us behind.
"Come on Shiro I'll show you how to write a mission report and then we'll go turn it in to the mission office." It turned out to be pretty simple. Just write out the who's, what's and why's of each day then turn it in. That done we went to the mission office, which was in the Hokage's tower, and waited in line. Our turn came and we went through a door that closed behind us. Kushina handed over the report then spoke.
"Kushina Uzumaki, jonin, and apprentice Shiro, no last name, returning from C rank mission number 23948. Supply run from Konoha to capital city. No abnormalities. 10 bandits killed and location noted on report." The woman at the desk skimmed over the report gave us our pay slip and dismissed us. That was it. 10 men dead and they got a footnote on a report while we got a paycheck.
Ding! Task Complete
My percentage to next level went up to 14%. Good for me I guess. I don't know the levels and banked points are nice. I'll probably use them someday but right now I'm just letting my stats grow naturally so when it gets extremely hard to grow I might use them then or if I really need to earlier.
Kushina led me to another office that was nearby where we exchanged our slips for cash. I stuck mine in my pack for now with the intent to throw it into my inventory later. I did notice that she received a larger stack of money than I did and I figured that being a sensei has its benefits or no one would do it.
Kushina's hand latched onto my shirt. "Alright Shiro the best thing to do after a mission is head over to Ichiraku's and get a large helping of Ramen." She shouted joyfully as she dragged me through the streets.
"Ah, I can run myself sensei."
"No time, you're to slow." She proceeded to go even faster. Some people had to jump out of the rampaging Kushina's way or get crushed. In the end I just let it happen and eventually I was plopped down in a stool next to hers.
"Oi, Teuchi three bowls of miso Ramen for me and Shiro will have a bowl of chicken Ramen as well." That's fine with me. I liked the chicken one the best then followed by the miso.
"Hello you two back from a mission?"
"Yep it was Shiro's first C rank mission." She grinned widely.
"Really that calls for a celebration then. 50% off the first bowl for both of you."
"You're the best Teuchi." He's a nice guy isn't he? Probably sees a lot of ninja come back after having lost a squad member so he gives people something to celebrate when they all come back.
Our bowls are ready in short order and I dig in. It's as delicious as always and beside me Kushina is tearing through her bowls quickly. I decide to savor this one for a bit and eat slowly. Finishing my bowl I slide it away as Kushina finishes her third. Looks like she was savoring it as well. I try to pay for my bowl but she keeps insisting that she pay for it.
"Brat it's your first paycheck use it how you want but after your first mission the meal is on me." Fine. I put my money back in my bag. Paying for our meal Kushina and I left but not before saying goodbye to Teuchi.
"Where to now sensei?" Tilting her head to the side she considers.
"My house." Alright that's fine. We take the 20 minute walk in silence. It's a natural silence that isn't awkward just two people with nothing to really say to each other at the moment. As we draw nearer to the house Kushina seems to perk up and I can recognize the flavor of chakra coming from the house. It seems that Minato is home along with the other boy Kakashi.
Running forward she slammed the door open and shouted, "I'm home," then ran inside. I followed at a more sedate pace and closed the door behind me. Kushina was kissing Minato in the kitchen and I could see Hatake somehow eating through a mask at the table. He gave me a once over disinterested look before he went right back to eating.
Kushina disentangled herself from Minato and stood at arm's length. "I have to do something first." He gave her an odd look before his gaze landed on me and I could see the spark of realization then sadness appear on his face. Giving me a small sad smile he walked over and patted my shoulder before going upstairs.
Hatake had stopped eating and gave me another glance before nodding and resuming to eat. I looked quizzically at Kushina but she just gave me a smile before leading me upstairs to the bath. Ah, the first kill tradition.
"You know I've already killed before right?" The smile she gave me was filled with sadness.
"I know but it's your first kill while I'm your sensei so the tradition still stands." She began to disrobe and with a momentary pause I did as well. Stopping momentarily I put my money into my inventory for safe keeping and then stepped through the door into the bath proper.
I sat down on one of the stools and let Kushina wash me. Her hands were calloused from years of hard work yet they were gentle as they washed my back and hair. Just like Saiko's hands were. She stopped there and allowed me to do my front while she washed herself. Rinsing ourselves off we stepped into the hot water.
Gently she pulled me onto her lap and wrapped her arms around me. We sat there for a while before she began to talk. "Why did you become a shinobi Shiro?"
"My bloodline was too useful to be wasted and I was rather forcibly recruited." Her arms tightened around me.
"Maybe I should have phrased it better. Why do you want to continue to be a shinobi?" I gave the question some thought as the feel of her arms and hot water soothed me.
"I want to continue to be a shinobi to protect Konohagakure, eventually become strong enough to protect Sensei, you and survive."
"Survive?"
I let the silence stretch for a moment. "Yes survive. Right now almost every other ninja could kill me easily as I am now. If you put your mind to it I'm sure you could kill me by flicking me in the head with your finger."
"I would never-" She began before I cut her off.
"It's not a question of would it's a question of could. So could you kill me just by flicking me in the head? Bear in mind I just want you to be truthful and it won't affect the way I see you." She fidgeted for a bit then settled down.
"Yes I could." I nodded.
"Right now I lack power so I strive to gather it."
"So you work hard just to gain power?" I frowned was she purposefully not understanding?
"Power brought together Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Their power drew others until they ended the blood bath of the Clan Wars and brought about the relative peace of the Villages. Then the newly formed Villages fought for power over each other which continues today. Maybe someday someone powerful enough will bring an end to the Villages and usher in an age of even greater peace."
"Do you want to be that someone?" I frown at that.
"Kushina, my bloodline doesn't let me feel anything. Not anger, fear, sorrow, jealousy not even love sometimes I get flashes but nothing lasts. I can see and even emulate some feelings but I can never feel them. Even if I became a God I could never be that person. All the power in the world won't help if you can't understand the needs and wants of those who have less power than you." Her hug tightens even further and I felt something wet drop on my head. Is she crying?
"I think you can understand people just fine Shiro. You wanted power to protect your sensei and I. That's caring about people and what about Itachi? You're friends with him." This next part might be difficult for her.
"I've known you two long enough to want to care about you so I try to emulate caring. I know Itachi and I want to get to know him more but right now I don't know him enough to try to emulate caring."
"How do you choose who to care for?" Her voice is a whisper.
"The people that are kind to me. Sensei was kind enough to do what you are doing right now and you were kind enough to take on a troubled boy as an apprentice. To feed him with your own money and try to comfort him after he killed 5 people. These are the reasons I'm trying to care for you and Sensei." I could feel the tears drop onto my head faster now and her hug is almost painful.
"I'm going to have a baby someday and when that baby is born I'm going to make you an honorary big brother. Later when they're 2 and running around saying 'big brother big brother' you're going to pick them up and in that moment you're going to feel love. My baby will also never ever have a verbal tick."
I felt a smile at the mental image. "It sounds like a wonderful dream and I wouldn't be so sure about the verbal tick. I'm sure if you talk to Minato he would admit to liking when you say dattebane. Your flustered face is very cute." She burst out laughing at that then hiccupped.
"And you say you can't understand people. You're going to have all the ladies over you when you're old."
"If I survive." A smack and then a stinging sensation on the back of my head.
"Idiot I'll make sure of it." The water hadn't even rippled yet I know she hit me with her hand. Now that's skill right there.
"Okay then." Silence descended on us and we just sat there until the water became to cool. Sighing she nudged me to get up and we left the bath to get dressed. With what must be impeccable timing I felt Saiko's chakra outside the house. I turned to Kushina and she nodded. She walked me to the front door where Minato was waiting. He laid his hand on my shoulder again and I bowed before I left. Just as the door was closing I saw Kushina grab Minato's shirt and drag him upstairs.
I walked out with a small smile on my face towards Saiko. "What's got you smiling?"
"I think I just helped my sensei's boyfriend get laid." Her head tilted to the side and I could almost see the question mark above her head.
"I feel like this could be bad for my sanity but tell me back at base."
"Alright." She laid her hand on my shoulder and we disappeared yet the world didn't blur as much anymore.
Name: Shiro
Age: 3 year - 0 months
Title: Rookie Root Shinobi
LVL: 8 - 14% to next LVL
HP: 610/610
Chakra: 11,363/11,363
Elemental Affinity: Water
STR: 65(71.5)
VIT: 61
END: 66
DEX: 86(94.6)
INT: 57(58.71)
WIS: 54(55.62)
LCK: 13
Points: 40
Money: 800
Skills that were added or changed
Body Flicker (D- rank Active 100(85)) LVL 10 - MAX
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 800% over 100 meters.
Increases DEX by 10%
*With Clear Eyes(Passive) LVL 5 – 67%
Reduces blur when moving by 50%
Water Manipulation (Passive) LVL 25 – 56%
Allows for easier transitions between neutral chakra and water chakra as well as the manipulation of water.
Decreases cost of all water techniques by 6.25%
Increases control of water by 25%
Increases total chakra capacity by 2.5%
*Water Leaf exercise (Active 10(7.87)/min) LVL 10 MAX
Decreases time spent changing from neutral to water chakra and back again by 50%.
* Water Drawing (Active – 30(23.63)/min) LVL 10 – MAX
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 50%
*Water Propagating (Active – 30(23.63)/min) LVL 10 – MAX
Creates more water from existing sources of water through the use of chakra.
Increases water generated by 50%
Water Release: Water Bullet (C Rank – Active( 250(200))) LVL 10 MAX
Generates a high pressured ball of water which shoots forth from the mouth like a bullet.
Decreases casting time by 50%
*More Dakka (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Generates up to 10 water bullets per cast
*Silence is Golden (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Congratulations. You can cast the skill without shouting it like an idiot.
Water Release: Water Whip (D Rank – Active(100(89))) LVL 10 – MAX
Generates a whip of highly pressurized water that you can direct.
Decreases casting time by 50%
*I've seen enough Hentai…(Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Generates up to 10 water whips per cast. Anime girls beware.
* Silence is Golden (Passive) LVL 10 MAX
Congratulations. You can cast the skill without shouting it like an idiot.
Earth Release: Moving Ground (E Rank – Active (150(127.5))) LVL 1 -0%
A simple earth release move that shifts the earth near the user as they desire.
Decrease casting speed 5%
*Chakra Enhancement (Active 15(12.75)/min) LVL 10 – MAX
Chakra can be used to enhance the physical aspects of your body leading to an increased performance. Careful not to push too hard or you might break something.
Increases STR, DEX and END by 50%
*Enhance Senses (Active 15/min) LVL 5 – 64%
Instead of enhancing your body you enhance your senses
50% increase in senses
Language Comprehension (Passive): The ability to speak and understand languages.
English 100%
Japanese 100%
Chakra Signals 100%
Leaf Sign Language 100%