Chapter 6: Old Friend
xxxx
Author's note: I would like to reiterate that Royal Road's time passes four times faster than in real life. Four hours in RR is one hour irl. This means that, despite being shown playing a lot, he actually has plenty of time when he isn't or can't train in-game to train irl, either by practicing his chakra control or just keeping his body in shape through daily morning runs.
Also, I may edit this chapter at a later date, because I've essentially uploaded it un-beta'd. Honestly, once you stare at a chapter for upwards of 20 hours, it's easy to not want to look at it any longer, but I also wanted to keep up with my upload schedule (Which may become longer, pending getting a job).
Finally, do drop a review of what you think I'm doing right, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, things I'm doing wrong or can improve on. I'm not perfect, and I can make errors.
xxxx
Veritas logged on just early enough to see the sun set. Tonight, he let the four elves sleep in. Since the first night, they'd gone out every night for three weeks, gathering and defeating increasing numbers of Arachnid Scouts. He was level 54 now, and the elves were level 66. He'd made up a lot of the level difference because the elves received greatly reduced exp from the level 63 Scouts after passing their level. Veritas was pretty confident that they were now ready to clear the ley line.
"Stat window."
::::
Character Name: Veritas
Alignment: Neutral
Level: 54
::
Class: Warrior
Title: None
Reputation: 20
::
Health: 2830
Mana: 100
Strength: 160
Agility: 205
Stamina: 70
Wisdom: 10
Intelligence: 10
Fighting Spirit: 58
Endurance: 78
Fortitude: 37
Leadership: 52
Luck: 5
::
Attack: 145
Defense: 45
::
Magic Resistance
Fire: 0%
Water: 0%
Earth: 0%
Black Magic: 0%
::::
Looks good. Six more levels till I can use the throwing knives, yay. I've been putting a lot of my points into Strength so that I can deal more damage, faster. I think I'm good on Strength until like level 70 or 80 now, I'd say. Anyways, I should restock on my supplies and prepare for the morning. I took a nap before logging on so I'm good to go.
These three weeks, he'd managed to level his Repair skill to 4. While normally it would take longer, the unimaginable speed with which he decreased the durability on his equipment – from essentially solo fighting superior mobs constantly – meant that he also repaired his equipment at an abnormally high rate. With applying first aid to himself in the same state, he also received the Bandage skill that increased the effectiveness and efficiency of bandages.
Another positive factor of the intensive training they'd been undergoing was the abundance of dropped loot. For the moment, he hadn't pawned any of his loot at the NPC stores, figuring he might be able to haggle out a better price with player merchants. Still, he'd collected a reasonable sum of gold from hunting spiders, so Veritas appropriated a portion of those funds to buy 600 arrows. The arrowheads were made out of premium Ironleaf wood, which cost a fair bit to purchase.
Still, we'll need a lot of arrows to deal with the enemies today. Our largest pull at one time was sixty spiders, but this time we'll be going up against well over a hundred, maybe even two. This is for my sake too, because if they run out of arrows to shoot, I won't have anything between me and the spiders.
He walked back to his usual spot on the grass, wondering what he should do next. He carried all of the supplies in a rucksack. It looked exceedingly bloated with items, but Veritas hefted it easily. The maximum weight a player could carry depended on the user's Strength and Stamina stat, so a person with thousands of stats could hoist a building-sized backpack with ease. If a player tried to hoist something that exceeded that maximum though, he'd take a large cut to the internal stamina meter that determined fatigue.
Veritas eventually decided to meditate, if only to level up the skill some more. Before he could get started, he was approached by Nylinas.
"Human Veritas, I know you usually sleep outside, but the day is the day, and the night is the night. If you rest here too often, when the village is at its coldest, you will catch a cold and be unable to fight properly. You've done much for our village, and the least I can do is offer you a place to sleep during the evening."
"Wow, thanks!" Veritas stood up and smiled widely. "You're the first one to offer, so I really appreciate it, Nylinas." He held out his hand.
The elf raised an eyebrow questioningly at the action.
"Oops, hehe, sorry about that. I guess I keep forgetting that shaking hands is a human custom." He scratched the back of his head in mild embarrassment. Every now and then, Veritas had received bits of schooling here and there from his four charges.
"No matter." Nylinas reached out before Veritas could withdraw his hand and shook it. "I don't mind occasional acts of friendly skinship such as this."
"You're pretty cool, Nylinas."
He smiled. "I try."
In a few minutes, they were sitting around a table next to a crackling fire.
"That fireplace, it's made out of wood. Why doesn't it burn as well?" Veritas leaned forward, absolutely mystified as to what was happening.
"The fireplaces are made out of Ironleaf. This wood has a tolerance to burning under a certain temperature, just like a metal."
"I see, I see. Speaking of things I don't know much of, why is it that the arachnids only appear at night?"
"We're not too sure of that ourselves. From what we've seen though, we believe that each arachnid is under the direct control of the witch of the forest, the Spider Queen."
"What do you mean?"
"You see, the webs that the spiders secrete all burn away when exposed to sunlight. We believe that the witch controls them using a similar secretion, which would limit her activities to the darkness. Following this reasoning, the arachnids you will face at the ley line are likely feral, left there to garrison the area even without control."
"Huh. So, uh, where did the witch come from?"
"The witch is, we believe that she is the incarnation of the forest's wrath. You see, Ahrah Forest used to be much larger than it is now, but about a century ago, the humans of Rosenheim Kingdom began to deforest it." Nylinas twiddled his fingers idly. "We were helpless to prevent it without exposing ourselves to them. Perhaps it is the forest's will deciding that it can do a better job of protecting the forest than we can."
"Hmmm..." Veritas didn't look too convinced.
Will of the forest? What the heck. Sure, we had a Will of Fire, but that wasn't literal. Then again, this is a game with stuff like elves and magic. Though, is magic really that nonsensical? I bet a lot of people in real life wouldn't believe that I could run up buildings. Hm...
"Okay, let's say that the witch is a product of the forest's wrath. Is there any way to reason with the forest? Like, convince it to stop being so hostile?"
"There is." The elf's gaze suddenly seemed distant. "The Spirit of the Forest. We used to be able to speak to her through the High Priestess, but when the priestess disappeared, we lost our only link to the forest. It was always our custom to have the previous priestess ordain the next. We protected them fiercely so that a situation like this wouldn't arise. But one day, she simply disappeared. The sentries did not see anyone pass, and none of the sensor runes detected abnormal movements."
"..."
"I believe we've talked enough. You should rest, I believe you have a busy day starting from the morning."
"Thanks Nylinas, and good night."
xxxx
Veritas stood just outside of what the elves called the boundary of the ley line. To him, it looked like any other patch of forest, but maybe they had the ability to see something he couldn't. Whatever the case, they promised him that as long as he didn't enter the boundary, the spiders wouldn't attack. When asked how they knew that, he found out that the wood elves had probed the arachnids' defenses multiple times.
In the end, they'd come to the conclusion that the cost to retake the ley line would be too great, and the elves abandoned the notion of committing to a Pyrrhic victory.
The four elves, Velyn, Ylissia, Fyora, and Ayla, were above him, waiting for the signal to advance into the ley line. Unlike at the grove, the area here was very dense. While it wouldn't impede his mobility much, it would restrict his line of sight and create opportunities for ambushes.
Still, it had to be done sooner or later. The elves had already reached the upper limit to training on the Scouts, and he was quickly approaching that limit as well.
Personally, we won't be able to get that much stronger even if we trained another week or two. These four were also getting pretty antsy and fidgety. Well, so was I. I'm not so dumb that I won't prepare for a fight, but I'm also not the type to think of every contingency. I always left that kind of stuff to Kakashi-sensei or Yamato. Though since I'm on my own now, I really should start doing that myself, huh...
An arrow thudded into the ground in front of his feet. As per their plan, this meant that they were ready and in position, with the arrows evenly distributed and within reach. Veritas took a deep breath, then darted forward.
Immediately upon entering the ley line, he was intercepted by four enemies. Startled by the speed of the enemy's response, Veritas took a graze to the side as he dodged. He got his wits about him and counterattacked with a fusillade of blows, killing all four in as many minutes. His Strength tripled with recent stat distributions and his Sword Mastery skill leveled up once more, Veritas' significantly increased damage output was enough to dispatch the tough arachnids quickly.
But he could only maximize his damage when up against a few enemies. Too many, and he had to dedicate a large portion of his time, effort, and focus to dodging.
Over the thundering of a mass of charging spiders, he could hear the sharp twangs of elven bows from behind him. Reassured that it wasn't him alone against an army, Veritas stayed his ground and waited for the inevitable attack to come. If he retreated, the bows would be unable to cover him, and if he advanced, he risked going beyond their range.
They came at him in droves, their increasing numbers threatening to surround him completely. Veritas fought wildly to prevent that from happening, for that would signal his death. He concentrated on realizing the fullness of his shinobi skills as best he could. All around him, arrows pierced the sea of spiders with sickening squelches. He could feel his frustration mounting as two spiders took the place of every fallen one. Dozens became hundreds, as every arachnid within the Hearthwoods rose up to swarm their foes. No matter where Veritas turned, there was always a slobbering maw waiting for him, trying to spell his doom. Not an hour had passed when the sound of twanging bows ceased, with less than half of the monstrous spiders killed.
So this is what it feels like to be on the receiving end of my Tajuu Kage Bunshin?
Though he weaved and dodged to the best of his ability, he could see his Health bar diminishing piecemeal. Veritas didn't have to be a genius to know that, at this rate, he'd die before the spiders did. The realization that he was being slowly killed by the same tactics he exercised back home was both ironic and humiliating.
So this is my limit? I never thought I'd be so easily overrun... Shit... shit, shit, shit, Shit, SHIT! Is this all I'm capable of? Is this all I can manage!? Pathetic!
Within him, his frustration became a rising rage.
I'm better than this. I should have been able to wipe out all these bastards without taking a scratch. God damn it!
How could he simply sit still and do nothing after taking this insult, this affront to his life and self as a shinobi? To the loving parents and close friends that had given their lives for his sake? That their sacrifices could be made to become so meaningless. That all of his training could be so easily invalidated. That everything he'd learned, how to move, think, react, and fight, was useless in the face of superior numbers. Everything that comprised him and made him who he was, denied from him... All at the whim of a mere program, restricting his true abilities.
He couldn't. He simply could not accept that. That this was his limit, as far as he could go. He would step forward, no matter the cost, just as he'd always done. Veritas' anger, compounded by his bouts of depression from homesickness, bubbled to the forefront.
When the four elves dropped in around him, sabers drawn, he barely acknowledged their presence.
What he did do, was draw on a familiar primal fury from deep within his soul.
::::
New Skill: You have learned Dying Rage
Dying Rage
On the verge of death, the injustice of defeat temporarily raises all stats by 30%.
::::
The floodgates had been opened, and nothing could stop the raging torrent of emotion now. Veritas unleashed his indignation with a howl and leaped headfirst into the swirling mass of foes. He became destruction itself, straining his mind and body to the limits defined by the system. He twisted and coiled his body into positions no normal person would attempt, and fought with a ferocious combination of sword and fist, striking so hard that the dampening system could not fully compensate for the feedback of pain. There was no way to truly replicate his real strength in this virtual world. Not yet.
But he'd damn well try.
Kyuubi... Kurama might not be here, might not have even transferred with him between the worlds, but his body and soul remembered the indelible influence of his chakra and wild ferocity. Veritas let out all of his pent-up frustrations, fears, and worries in an explosion of emotion. He let his emotions run freely and take control of him. It was almost as if he was letting Kyuubi's chakra run rampant in his body again, the way he lost perception of what was around him as he lashed out at everything. At the peak of this intensity, Veritas lost control of his self and could only watch as he seemingly drifted from his fighting body, vision slowly fading to black.
When he could feel solid ground under him again and opened his eyes, Naruto found himself in a dark, damp passageway. He didn't even need to think about where he was. Oh, he knew where, but how?
How... how am I here? I was just... I was in Royal Road. Is it even possible to lose consciousness in a virtual world?
Naruto walked knowingly through the passages. He never stopped to get his bearings, because he'd come so often that he knew the labyrinthine halls as well as he did his own home. His walk soon became a jog, a run, and then a sprint. He was here, where it'd all started. This was his mindscape, one that he shared with one other. He who'd been connected to him from birth. His companion, friend, and equal.
Please, be there! Kurama!
He pushed open the doors to the Kurama's chamber. As the sound of the slammed doors reverberated throughout the room, Naruto peered in, into the darkness. Not one single candle remained lit, not a trace of the usual red miasma that hung around the room could be seen. Naruto placed one foot forward, and then another, and another, walking towards the giant bars at the far end of the chamber. Though the prison remained closed and sealed, the darkness within remained unmoving.
C'mon Kurama, where are you? You gotta be in there, you just have to. I... I need you. You're my one and only connection to our world. As long as you're here, I can remain who I am, a proud shinobi of Konoha. This world, its normalcy is eating away at me. If you're with me, I can continue to hope. Hope beyond hope that we'll get home again some day.
Naruto reached out, expression full of want. He placed a hand on the seal. His breath hitched, hoping for any sort of reaction. But when it became obvious after some time that nothing would happen, Naruto turned to leave his mindscape, dejected. ==
"What, leaving so soon?"
He whirled around, eyes wide. From within the darkness of the sealed cage, two glowing red orbs appeared.
"How's it hangin', Naruto?"
"You... youuuu..." Naruto stomped the ground fiercely and shouted, "You idiot, where have you BEEN?! For months, I tried to talk to you! I thought you didn't make it! Yet, you've been sitting here this entire time?! Why didn't you say something! How can you just act like nothing happened! After worrying me so much?!" He huffed and puffed as he unloaded everything.
"..."
"Say something, Kurama!"
"... I've been thinking."
"About what!" Try as he might, he couldn't calm down. All Naruto could think about was why Kyuubi hadn't said a single word these past months. He wouldn't take such a simple excuse for an answer.
"Just like you, I was at a loss for what to do when we landed in this world. That was my home as well, Naruto. I've been trying to think of a way back."
"But did you have to be so silent?"
"Anyways," continued Kurama, pointedly ignoring the blond, "I think I might possibly have a way. It's a long shot, but it's worth a shot."
"Really?!" Elation surged through him.
"Yes. I know some techniques that can rip holes in the fabric of space, though I don't know where they lead, if they lead anywhere at all."
"Well? What are they?"
"Hold your horses. First off, techniques that alter time and space are very delicate and prone to fluctuations. These techniques of mine were meant as a final resort, not to be used whenever I felt like it. Second, the techniques require a highly concentrated discharge of chakra focusing on a single point, enough to distort the space there. The amount of chakra needed is no simple matter, even for myself." Kurama closed his eyes, apparently thinking for some time. "Finally, this world has almost no chakra present on it, because no one knows how to mold and release chakra. The techniques in question only worked because the chakra present in our home world served as a counterpoint to my emitted chakra, creating an unstable reaction between the two types. Also, the only method for myself to output that much chakra was by taking in chakra from the world."
"You... can do that?"
"I am a bijuu. Although our chakra capacity is large and beyond the comprehension of most humans, they aren't infinite. Our seemingly endless reserves of chakra were only made possible because we could draw chakra from the planet. The Rikudou Sennin planned us that way when he split us from the Juubi, so that we wouldn't be easily captured and his work undone before the proper time."
"Which means...?"
"What it means is that, because there is no chakra residue on this world, I'll need to mold and release huge quantities of chakra to simulate it. Our world had the accumulated chakra of the Juubi and the Bijuu, countless samurai, and hundreds of thousands of shinobi. The amount of time I'd need to release that much chakra is considerable."
"How long do you think it would take?"
"About three years."
Naruto grimaced. "Well, shit."
"Shit is right. And it'd be nice if you didn't forget that this is all theoretical. Although I can rip space, there's no way to define where it leads. That's why I'll need more time to think up a solution to that. If there isn't any way to stabilize the rip and set a desired destination, then we're not going anywhere."
"And how long would that take?"
"It'll be ready when it's ready. Time won't be much of a concern. If we fail, we'll still be stuck here, so it will be better to just take our time and make sure that everything's in order before proceeding. So, until then, I need you to survive. If you die on us, it's the end. Also, you need to stay in the same general area, else releasing all this chakra isn't going to mean squat if we can't concentrate it."
"Got it." The blond smiled at his huge friend. "I'm glad you didn't disappear, Kurama."
"Sometimes I wish I had, given what you always get us into."
"And... well," He scuffed his feet sheepishly, "sorry, for... y'know, shouting at you."
Kyuubi bared his mouth in an attempt to smile. "Don't worry about it, Naruto. Loneliness happens to even the best of us. They say that loneliness is the most terrible form of poverty. Even the great me was a victim of it at one point. Anyways, get going. You've been lying in that thing all day."
"Err..."
"What."
"No, it's nothing really. Just that when I'm lying in the capsule, it means I'm in a virtual world."
"What."
"They call it a video game, see. It's a form of entertainment where you live another life in virtual reality."
"What."
"Listen, just sift through my memories, okay? Everything should be there. I'll see you later, Kurama."
At his will, his perception returned to his virtual self. Now Veritas, he looked around at the scene of destruction all around him. His Health bar flashed a deep red, warning that it was at a critical level.
Wow, did I do all this? Smirking, he thrust out his chest. Now this is more like it! This is how strong I should be, a demon compared to everyone else. Oh, what happened to the elves?
They were a ways off, recuperating from the battle. Bandaging wounds, staunching bleeding, putting ointment on cuts. They'd been in as perilous as situation as he'd been in, after all. He wouldn't be surprised if each of them had barely made it out of the battle alive, just like him. Veritas couldn't help but notice that, as he approached, they looked towards him with wide eyes. Without a doubt, he knew they were in awe of what he'd done. If he had to make a comparison, it'd be to the time when he'd first seen Kakashi fight seriously, against Momochi Zabuza as they endeavored to take the bridge builder Tazuna back home safely. The killing intent, the high level combat and ninjutsu, of reading through and beyond every move, all of it had left him amazed and desirous of the same prowess.
"It was quite the battle, wasn't it?" he asked airily. "But we managed to do it, we cleared the ley line."
"We did, and you were amazing, Veritas," replied Velyn. "I'd never thought a human to be capable of such feats." For the first time since meeting the elves, she smiled. "You're really something. It's no wonder the elder appointed you with this task."
"I think the same," Ayla volunteered. "Even though you have no stake with us wood elves, you fought to the bitter end for our people. You have my respect."
Fyora and Ylisia nodded their heads in agreement.
Veritas felt some amount of joy in his heart. Finally, the respect he deserved, on top of restoring contact with Kurama and finding that there might be a way home, never mind that it'd take years of diligence to accomplish it. He was used to not sweating the small stuff. After pillaging the bodies of loot, which took near thirty minutes, the five of them returned to the village. They were received with much fanfare, and a unit of wood elves was dispatched immediately to garrison the ley line. As with what happened after clearing the grove, Veritas stood in front of the elder and surrounded by the villagers. This time though, he was flanked on either side by his four elven companions.
"Veritas, truly you are an ally of the elves. Few of your kind would have sought friendly relations with us, and fewer still would have risked their lives for our livelihood. For your selflessness and bravery, I commend you."
::::
Quest Complete!
Ley Line Recovery
The ley line has been retaken and the elves' trust gained. Though once rendered defenseless by the Spider Queen, they can once again rise as the protectors of the forest.
Reputation increased by 20.
Familiarity with the Elves of Ahrah increased by 25.
You have received Elven Horn.
Level up.
::::
Veritas received the horn from the elder, who placed it in his hands respectfully.
"This ancient horn is one among many, once used to call upon the aid of the other elven races. Though we have all separated from one another, every elf is compelled to follow the horn's call, though whether they'll render assistance is an entirely different story. This is an artifact given only to those trusted to use it responsibly, for the betterment of the elven people."
"Thank you, elder. I'll use it well."
"However, our work here is not done. These lands will never truly be safe until the Spider Queen is defeated and her brood eliminated." The elder paused to look behind her. "However... if our worst fears are true, and the witch is truly the realization of our noble forest's wrath, then defeating her will not be the end of our troubles. The forest would raise another to take her place. In order to prevent that, we must be able to establish a rapport with the forest once more. To do so, we need a High Priestess. Whether searching for our last, or appointing a new one, a priestess is needed to speak with the forest's spirit.
::::
Ahrah Forest
Defeat the Spider Queen and end the immediate threat to Ahrah Forest. Then, drag out the previous High Priestess' fate from the witch or find a suitable member of the village to be appointed the position. Without that, the Wood Elves of Ahrah will never be at peace.
Quest Difficulty: C
Rewards: Spirit Stone
Ironleaf Compass
::::
"I accept the mission, elder. Without fail, I'll see our races reconciled with one another."
And I'll see myself stronger and enriched with rare items and loot. Money makes this world go 'round.
"As I'd expect from a human of your caliber, Veritas. I warn you however, the witch's den will be a perilous place with danger around every corner. To that end, you'll need greater support. For this mission, I will assign a task force to accompany you." She then looked at each one of the adjacent elves. "Velyn, Ayla, Fyora, Ylisia, well done. Your efforts and achievements have not gone unnoticed. With today's victory, our people once again have the means to defend ourselves and the forest. Kneel." Simultaneously, they all knelt down on their left knees. "Once, you were trainees, sworn to protect our land and its people. Now, you've become warriors, battle-tested in the fires of actual combat, and heroes, giving hope to our people once more. I now bestow upon you the rank of Ranger. From this point on, you and your fellow Rangers will risk your lives once more, and I and the village shall pray for your safety."
Every elf in the village placed their right fist over their heart and stood in solemn silence.
xxxx
Naruto stretched, as he always did upon leaving the capsule. Though it never seemed stifling when he online, the moment he returned to a body full of aches and cramps from lack of motion was an unpleasant one. He heated up a cup of ramen as he changed to go out. As he ate, he thought about how he should proceed with his training, or lack of it. He'd been in a right state for some time, and he hadn't been in a state, emotional or mental, to be training.
I can do chakra control on my own at home. To practice or make jutsu I'd have to go somewhere really remote where no one would see me. I could learn some sort of taijutsu or maybe even learn to use a weapon. It's not as cool, but it should help in battle and in Royal Road. I remember how Kakashi-sensei would switch up styles in the middle of a fight and catch me off guard. Man, Kakashi-sensei sure was cool.
Finding the right place to learn a combat-appropriate style would take some time and effort, so that'd be for the long term. For now, merely maintaining and bettering his physique would have to be enough. And he'd better spend some more time outside of the game to do so. Just running in the mornings wouldn't cut it if he wanted to improve himself. True, the game was his chosen method of bringing in income, but there was the future to think of. Improving his skills in reality would also trickle over into the game.
Naruto ran to a secluded corner of a nearby park, where he practiced his frog kata. Though he'd mastered harnessing the natural energy, he realized that he could use some improvement with the speed and accuracy of executing the fighting style.
Dang, I'm a bit rusty, he realized minutes into practice.
Thankfully, he'd been taught well. Though his skills had dulled slightly, he still knew how to properly run through the frog kata. Naruto took his time in correcting his stance and form, making absolutely sure that he'd be using the kata correctly in the future. A small mistake now could lead to a huge mishap later. This was one of the pieces of wisdom ingrained into him by his teachers and his godfather. Though he may have learned improperly in the past, whenever he was shown the correct method, he'd never hesitated to fix his ways.
Naruto smiled bitterly, remembering the loss of Jiraiya. It'd been too soon, much too soon. And truthfully, he'd never completely gotten over that loss. The perilous situation the world had been in had demanded he put his grieving aside for the greater good. Losing Neji not much later hadn't helped things.
In the end, I think we were really alike, Neji and I. We'd both had our fates dictated to us, and we both denied them, reaching out for our happy endings. I think... I think Neji did defy his fate. He died on his own terms, of his own will, for a peace he believed in. I think that, for a shinobi, that kind of death is the best we can ever aspire to.
He paused, feeling like he was being watched. Naruto maintained his posture, but closed his eyes and expanded his awareness. He whirled and pointed in the direction of the presence.
An old man stepped out from behind a tree. His spectacles flashed as he approached, a smile on his face.
[I see you've interest in the martial arts, young one.]
Naruto recognized that it was Korean from the way the syllables rolled off the tongue, distinct from Japanese. "Sorry, but I don't understand."
"I see, I see. I'll say again, I see you've interest in the martial arts, youngster."
"You... know Japanese?"
"Haha!" laughed the man, "Yes, I know Japanese. My grandparents taught me, you see, they were around during the Japanese occupation of our country over a century ago. They were forced to learn their language as the Japanese tried to eliminate our identities. Though the Second World War ended that and gave them their freedom back, my grandparents were petty people who taught me the language so that I could rub it in the Japanese's faces when I defeated them in swordsmanship competitions." He looked Naruto up and down. "You don't look like a Japanese though."
"I'm not. I grew up somewhere that spoke the language."
"Indeed? Indeed? It's quite a beautiful day, isn't it? A perfect day to be out in the open, if I do say so myself."
What the heck's up with this guy? Naruto was confident he could handle anything that might possibly happen, but he didn't lower his guard. Something about the person made him wary.
"Yessir, a perfect day to be out training. So, what was that kata you were practicing?"
Here's the curve ball. Errr, think fast, Naruto. "... It's nameless, my godfather's... close friends taught it to me. Apparently it'd been a one-off style of his before he died."
"Godfather? No parents? Tragic, how tragic, the young these days are so cruelly mistreated. Well, on the matter of your style, it certainly doesn't look ornamental, that's for sure. Surely it's not meant to kill people?" Despite the slight accusation, the old man did not stop smiling lightly, which added to the blond's wariness.
What does this guy want? Why is he asking these questions? "I don't really like to hurt people, but yeah, it's supposed to have the potential to kill people. In a worst-case scenario," he added.
"Ho! But surely there are better methods of harming others." The old-timer adopted a thoughtful expression. "Perhaps by a sword? Have you ever considered sword arts?"
"I... have..." This conversation is... why is it heading this way? What's your purpose, you geezer?
"Good. I can see you have skill and talent, just not the means to bring out to its fullest. I believe I can provide the means to do so." He bowed. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kim Chung-hee. It may be a little arrogant of me to say this, but I am the ninth-ranked swordsman in Korea."
… Is this guy for real? Shouldn't he be in some sort of retirement home...?
"Ah, I can see by that doubtful look on your face that you don't believe me. Oh, you look a tad surprised. I suppose you didn't realize just how clearly your face showed what you were feeling. Well, if you don't believe me," He withdrew a business card from the breast pocket of his coat, "come to the address of this dojo. It is a genuine dojo, and you will find that I am a genuine master of the sword arts. If you desire to become stronger, even just a little bit, seek me out. I am at the dojo on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, though I do believe I could make an exception for you. Call ahead and make an appointment, and I'll be expecting you, brat, haha."
Naruto watched the self-proclaimed sword master turn and leave. He looked down at the business card, which read 'Kangha Kumdo Dojang', with the stated master indeed named Kim Chung-hee.
Well, it couldn't hurt to visit it. I mean, what could they possibly do, try to kill me? I'd beat them to a pulp.
"They could scam you out of all your savings."
I'm not that much of an idiot, Kurama. Even I can recognize things that are too good to be true. And even if I do fall for a really clever scam, I'll be relying on you.
He could imagine Kyuubi's face distorting into a twisted grin as he replied, "Think you can really trust me? We might have made up our differences, but I'll never stop enjoying watching you in a pinch."
You wouldn't do that, thought Naruto, confidently, Because if I lose my savings, we're as good as dead. You want to return home too, don't you?
"... Hmph... Well played. Well played indeed."
Smiling, Naruto returned to his training.
xxxx