Author's Note: A lot of people have been asking about the Observe ability and I will say this now. I don't think I'm going to give it to him simply for the fact that doing so interrupts the story when he inevitably uses it on someone and you get to read a wall of stats and backstory about random characters. Plus I'm way too lazy to make up everyone else's stats as well even if I included others under the Gamer's power which I won't. Shiro is the only person with that power and there will be no parties or sharing of that power to train people up. I literally stayed up all night to write this so enjoy.
~Interlude~ Minato
I swore as Ero sensei opened the window and sent a small gust of wind chakra in as he left, scattering the papers everywhere. 'And I just got them organized as well.' I motioned my loyal slaves- I mean minions- no I meant helpful servants? Shrugging off the odd tangent my brain took me on I had the ANBU stationed in the room to help tidy up and got back to work.
About an hour later Jiraiya reentered my office and I looked up to berate him for sending my paperwork flying everywhere but stopped as soon as I saw his face. I've seen that face made before. Hell, I've made it several times as well. Shiro is being impossible again I just know it.
"So how's the new technique working out?" I inquired politely.
He gave me a sour look. "You knew something like this was going to happen didn't you. That's the real reason you didn't come with us isn't it?" I winced internally but kept my cool.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." I gestured to the mounds of papers. "As you can see I am quite busy at the moment what with being the Hokage and all that." He made a dismissive gesture and plopped down in one of the chairs with a sigh.
"I need another squad of ANBU. Shiro's supposedly safe version of his jutsu gave Tiger multiple brain aneurysms when he tried to copy it with the sharingan." What? The ultimate copycat eyes of the Uchiha have been defeated?
"Is he okay?"
"He was puking out his guts the last time I saw him but other than that he seemed fine. The trip is a bitch and a half to go through though. I nearly vomited as well each time." He shook himself and stood up. "I'll fill you in on all the details later. I need to get back soon."
I gave him a nod. "Alright, pull back if you need to. There's no need to get yourself killed testing out a jutsu." Giving me a lazy wave he hopped back out of the window to go recruit an ANBU squad and I tried to go back to my work but worry slowed me down.
The next time he hopped back into the window he just looked unsettled. "How you're able to stay around that kid without breaking down is amazing. How do you do it?" I wordlessly reached down and pulled out an expensive bottle of sake.
"Hehe, yeah that'd do it." He opened the bottle as I reached back down for two glasses.
"So why don't you start from the beginning then?" Pouring the sake into both cups and then taking a big sip he began.
"Right. So first off his 'safe' portion of his technique creates a reflection of reality of about 5kms all around him. As he moves through the land the bubble follows him and creates new things in front of him while the old portions are destroyed. The bubble is just surrounded by nothing and I had a clone jump off the edge. It just fell and fell until even the light coming from the bubble faded away until there was only blackness." He took a large sip and refilled the glass.
"What do you mean by a reflection of reality?"
"Just that. I found things laying around like warm meals, opened scrolls and books that I could interact with. Anything that was unopened was simply blank but it was right where I found it when I returned. That's another thing. His jutsu allows him to leave and enter where ever he is standing at the moment." I simply blinked at that.
"Are you telling me I could send a hit squad with him and assassinate anyone by just having Shiro walk past all the guards?"
"No, probably not. Everyone besides Shiro experienced a pulling sensation after staying in his jutsu for a small amount for time and his mode of switching between realities leaves you reeling for a good five or six seconds. Pa told me not to stay in it for more than an hour and after 45 minutes I was experiencing a mild discomfort just standing." He takes another sip.
"Then there's the problem that everyone needs to be touching Shiro to leave or enter his reality. I left a shadow clone with orders to pop when we exited the first and I haven't gotten any memories or chakra back. It's simply gone and I don't know where it is." Filling the glass and draining it he continued.
"Finally you have his 'dangerous' portion of his technique. The entire dimension looked like it was out of a horror genjutsu and there were things there." The last part was strained and he refilled his glass.
"Things?"
"Dead people." He said simply. "Almost as soon as we arrived this thing walks out of the woods missing an arm and most of its face. It saw us and let out the most horrible wail I've ever heard in my life." Draining that glass as well he poured another.
"Then the damn thing took a kunai to the heart and just shrugged it off. Shiro ended up killing it with a kunai to the head and then it just up and disappeared into little moots of light."
He gestures wildly. "So I'm standing there trying to wrap my head around what just happened when he pipes up about 10 more of these things closing in on us at genin speeds and sure enough I could feel them approaching." He eyes the glass and the bottle before grabbing the bottle and drinking from it.
"Right behind them were another 20 or so and I made the decision to get the fuck out of there because it felt like there was a wave of death heading right for us. As soon as I said it I could see disappointment in Shiro's eyes like it would have been the most natural thing in the world for him to go fight 30 reanimated dead ninja in a hell dimension." He gave the bottle a good shake and scowled. "Do you have another?" I pulled out another and handed it to him.
Giving me a cheeky grin he started drinking straight from that one as well. "I'm off to go find Tsunade. She's always up for a drink and this is the good stuff right here." He dashed out the window before I could say anything.
"Oi." I knew it was pointless but the fucker stole my Shiro drinking stash. By the time I got to the window to look out he was long gone. With a sigh I sat back down and eyed my still full cup. Shrugging I drank the whole thing and put the glasses away. Time to get back to it I suppose.
The sun had set by the time I left the office and teleported back to the ANBU base Kushina, Mito and Karin were staying at. They would stay there until I killed the bastard that attacked us or either Kushina or myself could come up with a barrier that stopped space-time ninjutsu. Kushina said she was making progress on it and I could feel a smile grow on my face when I saw both Mito and Karin sleeping.
Kushina looked up from her seal work as I arrived and smiled at me. I could see that her eyes were a little red from crying but I didn't mention it right away. "Minato!" Her cheerful demeanor vanished as she caught sight of me. "What did Shiro do this time?" I do so love that she can read me like a book.
"Well this time he got Ero sensei…"
~Interlude End~
My thoughts were still scrambled by the time the sun had risen over the horizon. All throughout the night I had wanted to go back into the dungeon and I guess just go wild really. The chance to be free of all the scrutiny from the past four years was a tempting fruit that hung just overhead. All I had to do was raise my hand and I could be free for a little while.
It almost proved to be too tempting but in the end I resisted. A few hours of freedom wasn't worth the potential consequences of my actions when I returned. I let out a wistful sigh as I hopped over the roof tops towards training field three. Hina Hyuga had returned to Konoha yesterday night and I was to meet her there to begin the process of turning us into a team.
I could feel someone's chakra in the clearing and I stopped just outside of it to mold my body to the tree and just observe my teammate. She was about 140cm tall(55 inches) and had black silky hair that was currently in a tight bun on the back of her head. I approved of that. Long hair was almost a status symbol for kunoichi as it meant you were skilled enough to protect it or you were a fresh genin that didn't know better.
She was wearing a cream colored jacket with her head band tied around her waist leaving her forehead bare. I idly noted that the lack of a seal on her forehead meant that she must be part of the main house. Rather brazen of her for simply giving that information away but if it got to the point where people were scooping out her eyes she'd probably be dead already. The rest of her outfit was a simple pair of blue pants and open toed sandals not to mention the iconic lavender eyes that contained no visible pupils.
"Are you going to come out or just hide up there in the tree all day long?" Hina's slightly haughty voice drifted up to me. How did she… Ah, I saw the slight bulging of the blood vessels next to her eyes. Apparently she was checking me out at the same time. I jumped down to stand in front of her.
"What gave me away?" A thought came to me and my head tilted slightly. "Or was that just a random scan of your surroundings?" She tried to maintain her superior attitude but I saw the slight flush of color in her cheeks.
"Hmph, I heard you coming of course." Bullshit, I make less noise than a leaf hitting the ground when I move nowadays. It was totally a random sweep. I noticed she still had her byakugan going as she looked at me.
"Has anyone ever told you that your chakra is very structured? It's almost like you have full control of it." 'I do' I thought, my mind flashing to my mastered chakra manipulation. A wicked thought came to me and I nearly grinned. Crossing my hands over my chest I turned slightly away from her.
"You're one of those people aren't you?" I saw confusion in her eyes.
"What? One of what?" Nodding my head decisively I continued on.
"Yep, my sensei warned me about people like you. She said to look out for people who try to see you without your clothes on because they're perverts."
"What!? I am not a PERVERT!" Her haughty attitude was completely gone as she screamed at me her entire face red as a tomato.
"She said that all of them say that but they're just lying to try to see me naked and you're using your eyes to see my chakra which is under my clothes so that makes you a pervert." There was an inarticulate gurgle of rage coming from her before I saw her visibly take a deep breath and center herself.
"A Hyuga would never lower themselves to such pastimes." I almost snorted at that. You have eyes that can see for kilometers all around them and they can see through things. What's next are you going to tell me water is red and grass is blue?
"Then why are your eyes still active?" She blinked heavily at that but kept them active.
"Because this might be a trap and you're the distraction." I mentally applauded her but that was still a little extreme when she was right next to Konoha. Instead I let out a heavy sigh.
"Sure." I drawled then let out another sigh. "Pray for me sensei. I'm stuck on a team with a pervert." Her cheeks colored again but she was able to maintain her haughty posture.
"We're on a team now?" This time I was the one to blink heavily.
"Did they not tell you why you were sent out here?" Shifting minutely she shook her head. Joy, I get to explain everything then. Where's Jiraiya anyways?
"Both of us and one other were selected to participate in the Chunin Exams that are taking place one month from now. We are expected to dominate the entire Exam and show off Konoha's strength." Her posture changed to disbelief.
"How old are you anyways?"
"Almost 6 years old." Her skeptical look grew even more pronounced.
"And how long have you been a shinobi?"
"Almost 3 years now." She actually snorted at that.
"And I'm sure you went on soooo many high ranked missions during that time." I thought back. Recently I hadn't gone on a C rank mission for almost half a year. It was all B to A rank recently excluding the time I sorted rubble.
"Classified." Letting out a laugh she glanced around as though expecting something. When nothing happened she turned back to me.
"Sure you did. So how did you get those shinobi to tell me to go here?" I stared at her blankly. 'Did I choose wrong? No, she's still a child really and thinking back it does sound ridiculous.'
"How would I get you to believe me?" I cut right to the chase. I have better things to do than try to convince a 10 year old girl that she is wrong. A dismissive wave was given to me.
"Oh, I don't know maybe get Lord Hokage involved." I shrugged and turned around.
"Alright then follow me." My statement startled her.
"Wait where are you going?" I turned back to look at her.
"To the Hokage of course. Our sensei should have been here and as you have not been informed of the nature of our mission it is best to get it from the source." Her blank gaze met mine as she stared at me.
"You're crazy, you can't just go see the Hokage. Just admit this was a joke."
"This is not a joke and you can either follow me to the Hokage or let your career as a kunoichi end here." She seemed less sure of herself now but a stubborn part of her still clung to her idea. "I'm going to leave now. You can either follow me to the Hokage or I'll go to him and request a new teammate. It doesn't matter to me which it is."
I turned and left the clearing and Hina behind. Shortly afterwards I felt her run to catch up and I slowed slightly to allow her. "If this is a joke I'll close all your tenketsu."
"You can try." I drolly stated. As we got closer to the Hokage's tower her objections got louder and louder. It was kind of annoying really.
"Really this is taking it too far. Disturbing the Hokage for nothing but a joke is a serious offense especially after what just happened. He must be really busy." I ignored her and just went inside to the 'secretary' outside the Hokage's office.
"Shiro, no name, and Hina Hyuga requesting an audience in regards to a mission's parameters." While I was talking I was making hand signs at her.
She glanced down at a schedule and ran her finger down it. "I have an open slot in ten minutes if that works for you?"
"Perfect, thank you."
"Refreshments are to your right if you need anything." I gave her a bow and went to get some tea. Might as well if it's free. I got a cup of hot green tea and sipped at it as Hina got more and more nervous next to me. Our names were called just as I finished my cup and I gave it back to the people at the refreshment stand.
Right before we walked in Hina whispered to me, "This isn't a joke is it."
"No." I walked in to see Minato surrounded by paperwork as per usual just as I knelt in front of his desk as usual.
"Shiro, and you must be Hina. What are you doing here?" As he talked to us he was rubbing his wrist. It must suck having to go through all those papers.
"Lord Hokage, Hina was not explained the nature of our mission and as Lord Jiraiya was not at the meeting place I decided the quickest way to resolve this was to speak with you."
"Jiraiya wasn't there?" I shake my head and an ANBU appeared to whisper something into his ear. As soon as they were done they vanished leaving Minato rubbing his head. "Damn it Ero sensei." He muttered before giving us his full attention. "What do you need explained?"
I gave a shrug. "All of it." He nodded at that and turned to Hina.
"You were selected along with Shiro and Shisui Uchiha to participate in the Chunin Exams and show Konoha's dominance when such a young team of genin stomps all over everyone else's. Jiraiya of the sannin is going to be your sensei but he's a little tied up at the moment." He coughed briefly at that but continued. "This mission came straight from me and I'll have to find out why you were not informed of it later." His eyes narrowed at that and he began to tap on his desk.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see a bead of sweat roll down Hina's face. She probably realized how close she came to ignoring a mission from the Hokage even if she didn't know it at the time. I wasn't kidding when I said it was a career ending move even if she didn't know the full nature of it.
"Of course Lord Hokage. I am honored you would select me for such a mission."
"I didn't. Shiro did and I merely approved of it. He will be the leader of your team for the duration of the Exams." Another bead of sweat joined the first.
"I-I see."
"If that is all I need to return to my work now."
I gave a bow. "Of course Lord Hokage." I retreated from the room with Hina close on my heels. She was silent until we exited the building before rounding on me.
"Why didn't you do more to convince me about the mission before I was made a fool of in front of the Hokage?" Being glared at by pupil less lavender eyes didn't even faze me after seeing Kushina's beast mode or Saiko's cold fury.
"Your anger is misplaced and everything I told you was the truth yet you simply didn't believe it. Time is precious and I would not waste it trying to argue with you to convince you of my sincerity. The Hokage did not take you for a fool and I don't either. In addition, when you told me you were not informed of your mission I had to take it to the Hokage anyways." I paused for a moment. "What I told you before beggar's belief so let's start over now shall we?"
Giving her a bow I spoke. "Hello my name is Shiro and I shall be your leader and teammate for the near future. It is a pleasure to meet you." I could see the war between anger and the ingrained habits drilled into her by her clan fight before the latter emerged victorious.
She gave me a light bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you Shiro. My name is Hina Hyuga and you may call me Hina since we will be teammates."
I gave her a slight smile. "Great, now should we go get something to eat and we can get to know each other better?" She gave a slight nod so I continued. "Then let's go to this place called Ichiraku. It has wonderful ramen." As soon as I said that I wanted to slap my forehead. I prank people and eat nothing but ramen it's like Kushina's habits are infecting me.
Her nose wrinkled at that. "I suppose it will do." Turning away and rolling my eyes at her princess attitude I led her over the rooftops to the restaurant. Miraculously the shop itself was untouched and I walked under the flaps.
"Hello Teuchi, I'm sorry I haven't visited yet. There was lots of things that kept me from coming." I caught sight of him and while his smile was still on his face his heart didn't seem to be in it. Oh no, who died?
"Oh, Shiro, it's good to see you. I haven't seen you in days and I was thinking the worst. Do you know where my favorite customer is? I haven't seen her either."
"She and the girls are fine but they can't come right now. Is everything all right with you?" I sat down on one of the stools and Hina sat next to me. His face formed a mask of grief.
"My wife lost her life in the attack and now it's just me and my daughter Ayame. I can't afford to take the time off right now so here I am."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." He visibly pulled himself together and turned to Hina.
"So who's this? Your girlfriend?" I could see her building up a storm but before she could talk I interjected.
"Nope. She's just a pervert that keeps on looking under my clothes and now she's following me around."
"What!? No that's not-" I leaned in as though to whisper something but ended almost shouting to be overheard.
"She says I'm very structured."
"-that is taken out of context." She suddenly halts and I could almost see the lightbulb go off over her head. "You, you're doing this on purpose aren't you? You're acting just like my sensei did when he was testing me." Ah, ruin my fun why don't you.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Everything I've said is true." My picture of innocence doesn't seem to affect her and Teuchi's laughter didn't seem to help.
"If you're not going to take this seriously then I'm leaving." She made to rise from her stool but my hand clamped down on her shoulder.
"Stay." It was command and not a request. She reluctantly sat back down. "I was seeing how you'd react to different stimuli but I'll stop for now. Would you like something to eat before we begin?" I released her shoulder to turn to Teuchi. "I'll have a Miso Ramen please."
Teuchi's eyes darted between us but he nodded pleasantly. "Coming right up, and for you Miss Hina." Her eyes glanced from me to the menu before she answered.
"A bowl of your Pork Ramen please." He nodded and turned away from us.
"Alright then, let's start with the classics shall we? What do you like? What are your hobbies? What are your dreams? I'll even go first. I like training, my mother, my sisters and my sensei. My hobbies are learning new techniques and growing stronger. My dream is to travel." Vague, yet specific, and partial truths. Let's see how she does.
Hina eyed me before she began. "I like learning my clan's arts, my mother, my father and my clan. My hobbies are painting and creating flower arrangements. I dream of becoming a famous kunoichi like Tsunade." Eh, she seemed like a drunk to me but you know what they say about appearances and all. I nod none the less and continue.
"Interesting. Now you were picked because of your clan's dojutsu and your relative experience in taijutsu making you the close quarters specialist and tracker of our team." The ramen arrived and I dug in. "The third member, Shisui Uchiha, was chosen for his genjutsu specialty and back up ninjutsu." I finished the bowl and motioned for another. God her habits have infected me. I don't even need to eat this.
"I was selected for my ninjutsu specialty along with my iryojutsu."
"You know medical jutsu?" I nod as I ate my second bowl.
"I can heal up to broken bones and major cuts right now." Ignoring the coughing of the surrounding people I kept eating.
"What about ninjutsu?"
"I know three different elements with techniques ranging from F to A rank in all of them but one which I only know up to B rank." I once more ignored the sudden fit then silence that had descended around me. Being able to never sleep left me with a ton of time to think and I had been able to parcel out why Lord Danzo was being so public with me after all these years.
Yes, I was apprenticed to Kushina but that was more of a display that made me visible to the shinobi of the village or at least it was until I displayed my healing technique and Minato became the Hokage. From then on I had a bigger target painted on my back just for the fact that I'm close to the reining Hokage so I had spent less time with Kushina and more with Root to try to distance me slightly.
Then the Kyuubi happened and he needed to show that Konoha was strong. I just happened to be the right mix of young, strong and already having a target on my back. Since the connections I had would allow me to be protected in the village I assume he decided to make my arrival on the 'public' side of the shinobi world as large a splash as possible.
This would allow me to be recognized later in life when I was inevitably made to try to see if my 'bloodline' ran true or not. It might even allow me enough recognition that the clans might try their hand at snaring me into their fold and mixing the two lines as the Uchiha had begun to do. In recognition of this I would allow certain tidbits of gossip and information to spring up about me which would be true but vague enough to allow me some element of surprise. Slurping the remainder of the bowl I looked over at Hina.
The veins around her eyes were bulging again as she looked at me. "I can't tell if you're lying or not." Her voice was a whisper.
"As I told you before everything I've said is the truth." With a portion left out or taken out of context but the truth none the less. I let my chakra dampening technique activate and the widening of her eyes showed me she knew I was doing a technique that was actively discouraged for anyone other than a jonin or above. "Nothing but the truth. Just like the fact you're looking under my clothes again you pervert."
A hint of color grew on her cheeks but she held up wonderfully. "But that's insane. How could you learn all that?"
I shrug. "I just learn quickly." Massive understatement but everyone around me would recognize it for what it was, a deflection.
"May I leave? I need time to process this." More like you're going straight to mommy and daddy to try to find out anything you can on me. I still nod graciously.
"Of course meet me back at the training ground we were at tomorrow at 8. Jiraiya sensei should be there then along with our other teammate as well. Don't worry, I'll pay for the meal even though you keep looking under my clothes." Another tidbit of information thrown out for the wolves.
"Thank you." She gave me a shaky bow and left in a hurry. I watched her leave and then turned back to Teuchi to pay for the meal. Doing so I made to leave yet a thought made me pause in the doorway. Turning around I marched back to the counter and slammed my hand down on it.
"Teuchi I want you to have this." My hand moved away from the large stack of bills I had removed from my inventory. His eyes widened in disbelief at the amount.
"Shiro I can't accept this I don't need the money and I'm not a charity case." He pushed it back towards me.
"I know you're not but you're always giving out a free bowl of ramen or a half priced one all the time. You always have a kind word to say and if you can't accept charity think of it as a bride." I stated plainly and pushed the money back towards him.
"I'm bribing you to close the restaurant and go spend time with your daughter Ayame." He seemed to be struggling and sensing blood I moved in for the kill. "Don't make me get Kushina involved in this."
That drew a laugh from him even as his eyes watered. "Ha, she would just nag me until I closed. Saying how her ramen is extra salty and she needs her chief to go cheer up so it isn't so salty anymore." He paused then pushed the money back at me but stopped as an equally large stack was slammed down next to it.
"Don't you dare test me on this. Money is almost worthless to me and I will make you accept this so you can spend time with your daughter without worry." He tried to say something but was interrupted again by an older man slapping more money next to mine.
"I agree with the kid. Your child is more important than feeding us right now. Go spend time with her. She just lost her mother, don't make her lose her father as well." More people got up to put down money next to the pile.
"You guys." Tears were now openly streaming down his face and he wiped at them furiously before beaming at us. "I'll do it but they'll be free ramen for everyone once I get back." The group of people let out a cheer and I was content to slip away out the front while Teuchi was distracted. The sun hit my eyes as I stepped out and I raised a hand to shield them. 'Hm, it's a beautiful day today.'
Age: 5 year - 11 months
Title: Rookie Root Shinobi
LVL: 19 - 12% to next LVL
HP: 1,230/1,230
Chakra: 34,648/34,648
Elemental Affinity: Water
STR: 130(156)
VIT: 123
END: 110
DEX: 140(154)
INT: 115(121.9)
WIS: 96(101.76)
LCK: 18
Points: 33
Money: 224,244