[Wall walking exercise lvl 3:
Allows user to walk on vertical surfaces with skill according to lvl
Cost: 8 Chakra points per second]
I sighed as I continued to walk. I had been in a continuous cycle of tree walking and meditating after I ran out of chakra for a bit. Of course it wasn't that simple. I had to heal my self from chakra explosion wounds. Well not heal... I couldn't use medical jutsu. At least not yet... I might go for that avenue one day. Medical seals would be a huge boon for anyone. I alas had to focus on other things.
I continued to walk up the tree once again. I was getting tired again. I grabbed a kunai and cut a mark on the tree. 'Further than usual. Wonderful.' I then fell down off the tree and hit the ground. It was a familiar feeling now. I had been training like this for the last week or so. 'To believe its almost been seven months...' I was still too weak. I still didn't have enough power to beat those who I needed to beat. I sighed and sat down onto the ground.
Meditation helped me calm down.
I wasn't strong yet. I was still not able to beat Kiba in a spar. I wasn't confident at least. And Naruto and Sasuke are no go's. I was still weak and being strong was taking a long time to happen.
I was getting there though. Progress with my fire manipulation was going well and my sealing scroll wasn't going poorly either. And my Taijutsu was level 11 at the moment. It was becoming a bitch to level and I was beginning to tie with Tenten in spars. Someone stronger Taijutsu wise would be incredble to have. I wish I could befriend Kiba, Naruto, or Sasuke. But one was an asshole and I didn't know how to approach the other two.
But that was all I could say was good.
I was studying two seals at the moment. The Elemental seal was the first one and the hardest of the two. The actual theory of the seal was something I already had down. It was rather simple in layman's terms. Ink is embued with element. Ink has to have a specific ratio of elemental chakra in it. Perfect ratio equals perfect seal. I was still finding the perfect ratio of chakra to ink. So far Twelve chakra points to five ML of ink was giving the best results. Although I hadn't gotten a skill yet so it wasn't it. Plus five MLs was barely enough for a basic sealing scroll. Let alone a larger seal. So yeah I needed more ink.
I still was experimenting with it though. I predict that around 20 Chakra points it might work. But I need to experiment more. Maybe use less ink and more chakra. Tenten seemed to be having more luck than me with it but it was still speculation. I was just glad I had the help of my system to see how much chakra I used each time though. Without it this would be a complete nightmare.
On slightly brighter news though the second part of the seal I was working on was going better. The Output seal was commonly used in Sunagakure's puppets to make them not need to use heavier equipment or chemicals to keep their puppets light and quick. But Konoha thankfuly used them too. Although they were used a lot less and usually for ambushes.
The output seal was something that could be activated remotely. The ink used was chakra heavy. So chakra heavy that it is able to be felt by the user and thats how it was used remotely. The user pretty much connected their chakra very loosely from far distances to activate traps. It was the reason it wasn't used much. it was so chakra heavy. Luckily for me I wasn't going to use it from very far at all. The only reason why they were used in suna was because the chakra strings that connected the user to the puppets made the chakra cost go down immensely.
Now to actually make one I needed to basically draw a reverse storage seal. It of course wasn't that easy otherwise I'd be grinding it right now. it was much more complex than that. There were smaller seals within the seals that allowed the user to be the only one to activate and feel the traps.
Currently I was learning those as well.
They were complex and I was only beginning to wrap my head around them but I should be able to do the output seal within the month. And that made me excited. I'd be one step closer to finishing my art. Now I also had a third seal to study but I wasn't doing so at the moment. I needed to focus on what I was already doing. So Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, Elemental manipulation, Leveling up the Sealing scroll which was now level nine, and learning the two seals I mentioned earlier to finish the output seal whilst also finding the right ratio of chakra to ink to use.
I also had to finish tree walking.
[Meditation has leveled up]
I then realized I had been meditating for way too long and it was getting dark outside. "Well fuck." There was still some sunlight. I could try Tree walking one last time right? I nodded to myself and walked back up to the tree.
'Walk before you run.' A phrase I often chanted to keep myself from falling off. I looked at the tree and put my foor on it. Then another. And then I took a few steps. 'The most you have taken was about 25. The tree has about 76 steps before the top. So about a third of the way there. Lets see if we can beat that.'
Slowly I picked up speed.
'10.' I was used to this by now. The words ten "Ten steps" had been something I grew to know deeply yesterday. I wanted to just forget they ever existed together. '20.' Walking up the tree was faster than one would think. It was also a great workout when you went fast.
[Constitution has leveled up]
Talka bout convienence. I smiled as I reached my previous best. My control was begining to slip as I began to slide. '26.' I used more chakra to keep myself up. '27.' I walked up a step and felt myself sinking in a bit. '28.' I eased up on the chakra again and began to slip.
Once more I put chakra into the next step and then a chakra explosion occured. 'Damnit.' I threw a Kunai to where I was.
[Wall Walking Excercise has Leveled up]
[Wall walking exercise lvl 4:
Allows user to walk on vertical surfaces with skill according to lvl
Cost: 7 Chakra points per second]
At least my system knew when to cheer me up.
"Naruto Uzumaki vs Kukui Tanku." Iruka's voice sounded horrible at this exact moment. Why Naruto?
"Well I'm boned." I saw Naruto excitedly walk up to the ring. I much more dejectedly walked to the ring. My defeat was inevitable. Even if I somehow won it'd be a fluke. I had form over Naruto which was better in a lot of cases. But form over overwhelming power and speed wasn't happening. 'I can maybe survive with Running and lure him out of the arena.' In the last few months Naruto had gotten motivation. That motivation led him to become the second strongest in class. And the fastest. He couldn't use his chakra well because his control was shit and his Taijutsu sucked but like some fucked up Toji Fushiguro he was the physically strongest of us all in body. And he was quite frankly a battle genius. He was actually challenging Sasuke now. But he wasn't invincible. He could still fall to tactics.
That wasn't worrying.
Iruka looked at both of us and I saw a twinge of pity in his eyes looking at me. Like he didn't know what he was doing. Jerk would get whats coming to him soon via a prank from Naruto hopefully. "Alright you two are you ready?"
I looked at Naruto who was looking at me determinedly. I looked at the blond determinedly as well. I had a plan and I was gonna execute it. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Sensei," I wasn't even remotely ready for this ass kicking I was about to get. But I'd do my best to avoid it for as long as I could. Hopefully I could get him out of the ring.
Naruto nodded at Iruka's words, "Yeah I'm ready to kick his ass!" The excitement in his voice was very worrying to me. Especially as I was very interested in not breaking anything today. I couldn't engage him head on. Naruto then looked at me, "You've been getting really strong Kukui but I've been getting stronger. I'm gonna beat you like I did Kiba last week!"
Great.
Yeah I was boned. Kiba whilst he had power and skill was simply outmatched. I had power, speed, and tactics and some skill. But I was still weaker than Kiba although I was faster.
Iruka chuckled, "Please try not to seriously injure your classmate Naruto." He raised his hand, "Now! Begin!" Iruka jumped back and I called for my 50% running boost and barely dodged a punch from Naruto.
Naruto kicked at my side and I felt it graze me as I jumped back. 'He's strong.' That fucking hurt. I clutched my side. 'Over there.' Ducking under a punch from Naruto I quickly went for an uppercut with my foot and sent him into the air. "Holy shit that worked!"
My excitement was unfortnately short lived as Naruto grinned. Naruto's stance shifted and he axe kicked down. I moved out of the way as fast as I could but my arm got the brunt of a very powerful kick. Quickly Naruto grabbed me and then I felt a punch impact my face.
I kicked off of Naruto just before he could land another hit that probably would have knocked me out. 'This is an AU. Of course Naruto's stronger.' Not that I'd be complaining... Well I'd be complaining now as it pertained to my broken bones status. Naruto rushed toward me once more and feeling my impending doom I prematurely dodged. Naruto appeared where I was and grinned, "Your faster than usual! It has to be a jutsu!"
Naruto lunged at me. 'Fuck it. Strategy's taking a visit somewhere else today. ' I attempted to kick the blond in the chin which resulted in him grabbing me and pulling me closer. I grinned and spun mid air and brought him to the ground. "Suprise bitch!" I aimed a punch below his sternum.
His suprise was short lived and he grinned, "It just has to be a Jutsu!" He repeated his earlier words as he caught the punch I sent his way. "Teach me!" Man he really wanted to larn running huh? I felt a fist impact my stomach as he let me go and another one to the jaw.
A kick then said hello and sent me to the ground for my troubles.
I rolled out of the way of another attack and spat out some blood, "It isn't a jutsu, Naruto." I blocked an attack with my forearm and then kicked Naruto in the stomach as hard as I could. 'Only a few seconds left. I need to make them count.' This fight had gone on longer than anticipated. I had a bit of time. But not as much as I'd prefer. I then stood up again. 'Offense time baby.' I ran at Naruto and began a flurry of kicks at the blond who blocked them all quickly.
"Good joke Kukui!" Naruto grabbed my leg, "I think its time to end this!"
Oh shit. I blocked the first punch Naruto used but then quickly a flurry of punches wore down my defenses. Naruto raised one final fist as he pushed me on the ground and held my shirt in his fist. "Iruka I forfiet!' I lost. I didn't want to get my face beaten in.
Naruto lowered his fist, "Aww man." He then let me go and stood up, "That was a good spar Kukui! We should do that again sometime!" The next time we sparred I hoped to have my Tanto and special seals with me. No way in hell was I gonna fight this beast with fists or kicks. They weren't my specialty. Taijutsu wasn't something I was particularly adept at and it showed.
I groaned inteligently as I picked myself up, "Yeah sure but the next time we spar I'm taking my Tanto with me. Your way too strong, dude," I wondered if Iruka would let me if I begged. I was a lot more confident in my chances of winning with my Tanto.
[Basic Kenjutsu lvl 11:
Ability to use a sword according to level]
It was my fourth highest skill behind Meditation, Physical conditioning, and Running. My Sealing scroll skill was a bit further behind at fifth.
Naruto's grin dimmed, "Aww that'd been fun! I could have kicked your ass at full strength," Iruka had just called for the next fight by this point, "Next time make sure to bring i- Aw damnit Tanto's aren't allowed in spars. Damn Iruka-sensei and his rules,"
'Ah fuck it might as well shoot my shot here.' I grinned, "Well you could always train with me and a friend. She's stronger than me and we do a whole bunch of stuff in training. We can even spar with both of us at full strength!" Befriending Naruto had been a goal of mine for a bit. Might as well attempt it. And if this was my chance to get someone to help me get stronger Taijutsu wise then I wouldn't complain.
Naruto's face shifted from a massive grin to unsure, "What about your friend? Wouldn't they not want me there with you guys?" Tenten wasn't like that. At least I think she wasn't. At least not in this AU.
"If they dislike you then I will beat some sense into them with a stick until they get to know you a bit dude." I had to act like I knew Naruto a little bit at least. "So wanna come?" I extended a hand out to Naruto which totally didn't physically hurt to do still.
Naruto took the hand, "Yeah!"
"So whats that?" Naruto asked Tenten as I watched from a tree branch I made it too. I had introduced them a few minutes ago and I was watching them whilst having a leaf in my hand and training my fire manipulation. He was looking at a seal Tenten was working on. He looked genuinely curious as well.
Tenten looked up from the seal. An element seal in progress, "Its Fuinjutsu." Tenten was about to have a field day with Naruto and a seizure at the same time. If only I had popcorn.
I saw the gears turn in Naruto's head as he looked at the seal, "Whats Fuinjutsu? What does it do?" A lot of things. Fuinjutsu is confusing as fuck. Even to I who was mentally older. I had only managed to crack it through skills I gained in the void. Eternal paitence and finding everything exciting.
Tenten deadpanned, "It seals things." Naruto had a look that almost said "go on" on his face and I could tell Tentenw as wondering if Naruto was an idiot, "It can seal stuff and be used for a lot of things. Like barriers sealing parts of the world from the outside or Combat Fuinjutsu used for traps."
The word Traps made Naruto's eyes light up, "Traps? Like pranks?" Tenten nodded which made Naruto's eyes light up even more, "Could you teach me? Please please please, "He shook Tenten and I chuckled to myself. This was going better than expected.
Tenten pushed Naruto away before shaking her head a bunch, "Please don't do that again..." She then looked up at Naruto, "How good is your Caligraphy?" Naruto's reaction clearly dissapointed Tenten, "Your handwriting."
Naruto smiled proudly, "Its really good I think!" Wasn't it dogshit in canon? "I'd say its perfect!"
Tenten pulled out some paper and a brush with some ink, "Show me," She was a good judge of Caligraphy. She would be able to help him... Now i wondered. Did Naruto have the Uzumaki desposition for Fuinjutsu like Fanon said or nah? I'm tempted to say no. If only to preserve my pride. "Draw this." Tenten showed Naruto a basic storage seal and gave hi- Oh hey that was the Chakra ink.
Naruto in a matter of a minute drew the seal. "Here ya go! Sorry it took so long I had to focus," He rubbed the back of his head.
Tenten grabbed it and then looked at Naruto, "Hey..." She looked at a loss for words, "You wanna look at some stuff here? I think I can teach you a bit," Oh fuck he was good... AU's really sucked man. Next thing I'd be hearing about is how some of the Uchiha are still alive... I hadn't seen any Uchiha so far so that shouldn't be a reality.
Naruto looked positively ecstatic, "Really!" Tenten nodded, "Yatta!" Tenten began dragging Naruto to a different area of the training ground.
'He made a friend. Thats nice...' I then looked back to the leaf I was currently trying to burn. "Burn damnit."
Oh hey a small ember appeared on the leaf!
[Fire Manipulation has leveled up]
[Fire manipulation lvl 3
Increases control of Fire according to lvl
Fire jutsu use 3% less chakra
User is 3% more resistant to fire
Fire jutsu are 3% more effective]
'97 levels to go. Oh joy...'
Sometimes it was the simple things in life that mattered. Right now was one of those times. 'God I love this tea.' I had made a rabbit earlier and now I was enjoying some nice Midori-brand tea whilst experimenting with dangerous seals. Currently I was trying a ratio of 21 chakra points to 7 ML's of ink. It was working decently so far. Although not as good as I'd like so I might need to up it to 24.
I also had another hand practicing fire manipulation. It had been a few weeks since I had introduced Naruto to Tenten and the two had taken to each other like a fish to water. I watched them have a three hour long conversation on the storage seal yesterday... After Tenten explained the uses of one Naruto began thinking of wonderful ways to to- I mean prank people.
Did i regret it? Hell yes. I woke up yesterday with my house(Well apartment) covered in glitter and my pride in being the only person in our class to know and practice fuinjutsu was shattered. And Naruto learned a lot faster too. Would I do something about it? Hell yes I would. My revenge will be swift.
How would I get revenge for my house and the small amount of pride I had dying a painful death? I didn't know. But I didn't particularly care that much because I was happy for Naruto. But still I can't help but feel a bit bad knowing that the thing I've dedicated my entire new life too so far has just been done by Naruto in a few weeks.
How I convinced him to not steal my ideas I would never know but no way in hell am I sharing anything with him anymore because I wanted to have some cool stuff for myself. The stuff I rip off from anime is the stuff I wanna make.
I took another sip of my beautiful tea. 'At least this is nice.' Life had been hectic for the last few months. So any small respite was something I'd take with glee. Fighting, training, and practicing Fuinjutsu were all fun but damnit I just wanted to rest sometimes... Yes I was still experimenting with seals but that was with my right hand. My left had the Tea. I was still resting.
I was happy about being alive but still... This world is a cruel place. I'm not even in the worst place to be and I can still see it. It may be because I'm looking at this through my lens of morality but still.
It just wasn't a nice place to be in. I would still need to fight though. If I was going to live here then I'd need to be the strongest I could be with Fuinjutsu and Kenjutsu. I looked to my right and saw the seal had fallen apart again. I sighed and looked down. 'Another failure.' I grabbed a leaf as I threw away a failed seal. Sometimes it did this. Its how you knew it was a failed seal. Well besides not getting a skill for it of course.
Might as well train something else now.
I looked at the leaf and began channeling fire chakra into it. Like clockwork embers began to slowly burn the leaf. Slowly. I didn't have to focus greatly on it. I took a sip of tea and then looked at another project I had. The output seals components. I had memorized the first one already. The one that connected me to the seal. Pretty much I had to just key my chakra to it. The connector seal was a very situational but useful seal.
I had been taking a break from it for the past few hours since it was stressful to actually make. Not to mention all the chakra I needed to regenerate with Meditation. I am confident that once I got it done I'd need to use minimal chakra for it.
[Fire manipulation has leveled up]
"Nice." Soon I'd be done with the leaf. How soon? I didn't know.
One day I'd be a fire god. How soon I didn't know. But I would be.
So yeah... Naruto was the one Kukui "Befriended" Now I'm gonna be completely honest with you. This fic has not followed in the direction of the fic its based off of(Lets be honest. Its more of a spiritual successor than a rewrite) at all.
Anyways hopefully you enjoyed the chapter. I know that the spars haven't been long but Most of the time fights between shinobi aren't gonna be that long anyways. However, once we get to the bigger fights we will have longer ones. But yeah. Also I'm still pushing for that NaruTen ship in this incarnation of the fic.
Just wanna let you know thats the only ship I'll be pushing for atm. Still have no idea or are to do any ships right now but one of the endgame ships is NaruTen. So make of that what you will. Also please for the love of god do not ask for a harem.
Also wow. Seven chapters already. Pretty sweet if you ask me.
Edit: Sorry for the late chapter everyone! I forgot to upload today.
- Tobi.
