Authornote-Posting a little early with expecting a late work day tomorrow. I went looking through my old files for Magic Fletcher and thinking of rewriting it between working on this fic. I am currently stuck on whether I want to use an older version I wrote or keep going with the current Magic Fletcher posted on this site for the rewrite. It's currently a back-burner project I want to work on this year as the focus is Rising of the Shield Ninja right now. Still, hope ya'll enjoy this chapter!
"Thank you for the tea."
It was hard to keep a straight face, so I sipped on the tea the Governor's wife brought out for us.
All four of us heroes were decked in our armor, sitting around an outdoor table as awkward as we can be. I was trying to be composed… But the other three looked meek and out of place with our parties watching along with the Governor and Old Man.
'Thank goodness Filo and Lial are napping right now.' I put my teacup down and decided to get this impromptu meeting started.
"So, do you three know we can assign other parties to be summoned with us when the Waves hit?" That was an instant no as they looked at me with shock. "I only found out by reading Tate-chan's manual during the dinner party before…"
"You're the one who-Ouch!" Ren and Itsuki glared at Motoyasu. One of them must have nailed his foot with how they were positioned.
"And you never got a chance to tell us after… that." Itsuki sighed, "Is it safe to assume you've been preparing with such knowledge?"
"As best as I can. I was not expecting a mini-Wave, but it seems it has given us a little more time to prepare."
"Mini-Wave?" Moyotasu asked.
"Don't try to return to your worlds before finishing your jobs." I gave a serious glare at the trio. "This mini-Wave was caused due to others trying to return me to my world."
"You blaming others for-"
"No. I'm taking the full blame." All three looked at me with wide eyes. "If I hadn't done one thing, none of this would have happened. The mini-Wave included. I am just thankful to the… fellow adventurers there and I managed to take down the boss. It was a clone of a very dangerous monster from my world."
"Monster from your world?" Ren asked before going wide-eyed. "Are you not from Japan like the rest of us?"
"Japan?" I raised a brow. "No. I come from Konohagakure within the Land of Fire." I never heard of a place called Japan. I looked at the Old Man and he shrugged, just as confused.
"Who is the Prime Minister?" Itsuki frowned at me.
"I don't know. I can't even remember the Fire Daimyo's name." I honestly did not know. All that skipping of classes was sure paying off, wasn't it?
"Daimyo?!" Huh? What was surprising? "Wait. Do you have a map of your world?"
"No. Not at this-" The Old Man made me jump as he appeared next to me and laid out a map of the Elemental Nations. "Thanks, Old Man."
"No problem. It is best if they know the full situation."
"What situation?" Motoyasu narrowed his eyes on me.
"Instead of the mini-Wave summoning you three to where it started, it summoned a large amount of people from my world to this one." I sighed while motioning towards the village entrance. "You didn't see all the refugees I brought from where the mini-Wave broke out?"
I gave the three a stink-eye as they meekly shook a "no." Seriously? "Anyways, now I got a higher stakes with these Waves of Destruction. My people are now at risk." And hopefully, this World Eater didn't get a taste for my home world like it did for this world.
"It's your fault, anyways." Motoyasu's words stung, but I kept a neutral face. "Where is that boss's carcass now? I bet you hid it to keep it to yourself!"
"No. A seal master of my world sealed it away for convenience." All three looked at me oddly. "Like I said, I wasn't gonna let a tailed beast rot in this world. Who knows what side effects it could cause?"
These three stared at me like… Seriously. "You three never thought about proper disposal of your kills?"
"Yes, we do." Itsuki scoffed at me. Though Ren looked a little embarrassed. "Don't you summon a carving knife from the gem to gather what you need to unlock new weapons?"
"No." I looked to Tate-Chan. "Do you have such an ability?"
"Are you really talking to-" Motoyasu shut up as Tate-chan's gem glowed and an elegant-looking knife appeared and I grabbed it.
"That's good to know… But doesn't answer the question of what you do with what ya kill after that. Most monsters become food for my group as well and any useful materials are used." Though, not gonna share that I also absorbed the inners and such trash into Tate-Chan. It was a real lifesaver in that regard to not worry about.
"I don't need to tell a criminal like yourself!" Motoyasu scoffed before looking at the map. "The hell? Isn't this just Russia shown with China and Japan?"
"Now that you say that… It does kinda look like that, but the boundaries are different." Itsuki then went wide-eyed. "Wait. What if this is an alternative Earth where Japan expanded into China and Russia?"
"Possibly. I mean, my Japan is seen as futuristic compared to your Japans." Ren said crossing his arms. "Is your world called Earth?"
"Yeah." Wait a second. "We come from different Earths?"
"Yes. We found out the first night we were here." Itsuki sighed, "Sorry to ask this, but what monster did the mini-Wave summon?"
"A clone of the Ten-Tailed Beast." All three looked at me confused. "It was sealed away and turned into nine tailed beasts just to prevent its unsealing." Or at least, that was what Father told me. "I have sealed inside me the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama."
"Sealed? Fox?" Itsuki asked before his eyes widened. "So you already have a boost from another source?"
"Boost?" I scoffed. Hell, even Father snorted so loud I thought my ear drums were going to bust. "I can only use… Kurama's chakra for healing and protecting. Nothing more. And I would rather keep it that way."
"Is that how you outlast me in our duel?" Motoyasu snarled while we all gave him a nasty look back. "So you did cheat!"
"No! If I did, Kaus would be standing here instead of in a urn!" I slammed my hands on the table. The teapot jumped but landed back on its base. Motoyasu looked at me with horror… Wait, all three of the heroes did.
"W-What's with your eyes?" Odd… There were strange wisps of color around Motoyasu's mana, be it how little he had. They were odd muted colors.
"Look." Itsuki pulled out a… plate? He held it up and I heard a click.
"No fair! How is your phone still working?!" The colors flared red as Motoyasu glared down Itsuki.
"I have a solar charger in my phone case." Itsuki deadpanned, his muted tones being oddly purple. "Look, Naruto, you're eyes are kinda freaking me out." He flipped the plate around and I was stunned to see it had an image of me…
Wait… How?
"Seems you inherited my power of sensing negative emotions and you can see more than just the negative." Father huffed as I closed my eyes at the growing headache Father was adding to.
It seems when my temper flares, my new eyes' pupils form into off-white slits. When they do, they add a new sensory overload to my current situation. Thankfully, the three heroes didn't have chakra, so didn't hurt me so much… Compared to looking at the Old Man who was kinda blinding in my black and white world. The colors were now splotched around people…Along with odd floating limbs?
'I need those eye drops, stat.' Either I was losing my mind or I was seeing that phantom limb feeling I felt when I used magic. It was creepy when I willed one of the limbs on my back to move… It's almost like a wing with the…
"Tails?" I whispered, counting nine limbs… Only, they seemed more connected to my back than my butt. And I wasn't the only one… Iruka-sensei and Old Man had similar wing-like limbs on their backs.
"Hey! You called this meeting! Can't you even focus!" Motoyasu instantly went pale as I opened my eyes and glared at him.
"Sorry. It's kinda hard to focus with the side effects of eating myself out of the Ten-Tailed Clone's gut." And the colors on all three turned green. "Thankfully, it wasn't as poisonous as I thought, but made sure to give antidotes to Filo, Lial, and myself to be sure."
"Filo? Lial?" Ren and Itsuki asked before Motoyasu burst into laughter.
"You mean your stinky filolial and dragon ate poison?!"
"They didn't know better. I was eaten alive and had to eat through nasty tree jerky to get out." I stuck out my tongue at the disgusting memory hitting my tongue.
"You… got eaten?" Itsuki groaned while nursing his forehead.
"Hey, you try forcing a living tree monster to drink herbicide!" I huffed. "It was the only thing I could get to work on killing it!"
"Wait… You used herbicide… to kill a boss?" Ren asked with a raised brow. "Why not poison?"
"It was a living tree-turned-tailed beast. Herbicide was poison to it." Well, got that win with Ren smacking his forehead. "Still, even with help… There were a lot of causalities. Hence why I wanted to let you three know of the preparations that can be made… I know the King or Knights would never believe me, so I need you three to gather allies from their side while I gather my own through my means."
"By your means?" Motoyasu asked before going wide-eyed. "Damn, that's a large sword. He must be compensating for-"
"Another word brat and you'll find your head cleaved by my Kubikiribōchō." Zabuza snarled, making all three heroes flinch. The creepy Kiri ANBU seemed to giggle behind her mask. "Boss, you got any work for Haku and me?"
"Ah, best gather some food before we leave." I snapped my fingers and looked at Iruka-sensei. "Sensei, can you take these two to the marsh and hunt down some of the monsters? That way we don't have to rely much on buying food supplies at Castle Town."
"Sure. You want Matthew and Raphtalia to stay here?"
"They can go, too. That way if something happens, Zabuza and his companion have backup."
"You think I'm-"
"More the monsters of the marsh use poison and venom as their main means of attack. My companions keep extra medicines and antidotes on them, so handy in case one does get a scratch on ya."
"I see. That's a smart move. Though, are they alright to eat if poisonous?"
"Yes and quite tasty once properly prepared." I hummed feeling my anger subside a little. "The villagers here have been living off them due to the Wave wiping out their crop and most of their livestock."
"Understood. Anything to get away from that smug Kisame." Zabuza nodded to Iruka-sensei and he disappeared in a whirlwind of leaves with Iruka-sensei and Matthew. Raphtalia stayed put but had a smile on her lips.
'What is she happy about?' I pondered before Motoyasu opened his mouth. "I am recruiting ninja from my world. Hoping to also do the same with adventurers here in this world."
"So, how are… Wait…"
"Ninja?" All three asked in unison.
"Why do you think I ran from that sketchy situation that summoned us here?" I stared the three down with disbelief. "Usually a seal that big on the ground is never good in the eyes of ninja. How do you think we deal with Tailed Beasts?"
"You seal… Oh." Good. They got the idea when I motioned at myself. "So you thought someone was trying to unseal…"
"No. Just big seals like that aren't always used in good situations." I sighed, "And Sensei and I were right in that regard."
"What does that mean?" Motoyasu snarled.
"Oh, just that King summoned all four of us behind his Queen's back while she was at a conference of nations to decide who would summon who."
"Lies!" Malty stepped forward. "My father did what was best for our world! We couldn't waste any more time with petty debates!"
"You know your mother is burning portraits of your father and you for all the political mess you two created, right?" That made Malty pale a bit. "You could say while you three had the King's support, my support came from the Queen… Even though I repaid that support with not wanting to owe anyone in this world."
"Why the hell would my mother support a criminal like you?" Malty snorted before being startled by the masked lady. "You! Why are-"
"The proclamation our Liege has ordered to be spread across the land." The masked lady held up a scroll. Malty snatched it and pulled it open. She read it and I was shocked to see the muted colors turn into a nasty black around Malty's mana. "Lies! Lies!" She threw up the scroll and then pointed at me. "There is no way the Queen has appointed you to arch-duke! Or that-"
"The hell!" Motoyasu fumed with dark red. "What kind of joke is this?! How the hell do you have a title?!"
"Because the adults of this world are shit stupid!" I fumed right back into Motoyasu's face. "Why the hell do I have to fix the shit show they started? I'm only twelve years old!"
"Tch. Lies!" Motoyasu pointed his spear at me. "All you spout are lies! I bet you can't even do those preparations you told us!"
"I have! Zabuza is already part of my second party!" I opened my status before biting my lip. Of course, I can't prove it! I can't show the other heroes my status!
"Huh?" I got experience even with Zabuza and Haku in the other party… Wait a second.
Second Party
Zabuza - Level 50
Haku- Level 44
I saw Haku gain experience, yet Zabuza's portion was zero.
"Hey, Old Man, join my party!" I turned to the Old Man as I sent him a party request.
"Why… Okay?" The Old Man looked perplexed in space but his invite put his information on my status.
Naruto Uzumaki Lv.59
Raphtalia Lv.40
Matthew Lv.40
Iruka Umino Lv.50
Filo Lv.40
Lial Lv.40
Old Man Hiruzen Lv.50
"Shit! The level cap!" I cursed while nursing my head. Did the defeat of the Ten-Tailed Clone push everyone to the limit? And what about Zabuza and the Old Man? How are they at the level cap like Iruka-sensei?
"Your party just hit the Class Up level?" Motoyasu snorted while getting up. "We all classed up our parties before the Wave! If you are not serious about your levels, then I don't want to talk anymore."
That bastard!
Fine!
Go! See if I care if you end up regretting not listening to me!
My lip bled as I held my tongue. If I said anything, it would be for nothing. Motoyasu was not gonna believe me.
"Go then," Itsuki growled. "Just remember Naruto's been doing this with no extra help. Of course, his levels are lower."
"More like you don't take this seriously," Ren added in. "At least Naruto is trying to do his best."
"Bet he's still lying." Motoyasu huffed as his party met up with him and followed him out of the gate.
"Well, he just left a sour taste in my mouth." I agree, Itsuki. Huh? Why was I seeing an icky black around my chakra and shield? Was it because of my anger as it slowly ebbed back at my confusion?
"Your hatred is nastier than mine… You might want to keep your emotions in check."
My hatred?
I don't understand…
Or, maybe I do… But I didn't want to accept it. Not after all I did to the villagers after what Father did. But… Did I deserve what I got in return with only now knowing the truth?
"I'm so confused." I sat back down as I felt the veins around my eyes recede. The colors and limbs went away even though I still saw chakra and such.
"Tell me about it. Your party only now reached level 40?" Ren said with a frown. "How did you defeat Motoyasu at, what, half his level?"
"Was it from the boost your demon gives you?" Itsuki asked while resting his chin on his hands. "It must be a more passive boost, like Job level?"
"Job level?" Ren and I both asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you mean Rarity Up as the passive power-up?"
"Rarity Up?" Itsuki narrowed his eyes at Ren. "I wish with my main method of Weapon Rarity. What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Huh? Don't your Bow grow with your levels?"
"No! The rarer the bow and materials making it makes it stronger." Itsuki bristled. "Equipping ores and turning items into energy to enhance bows allows for Weapon Rarity to work proficiency."
"No. Mastery over the sword and transferring energy between the weapons adds extra power to levels." Ren scolded back.
"You can't be right. Tell me, Naruto, what strengthens your shield?" Itsuki and Ren turned to me.
"I just absorb materials into Tate-chan and unlock shields." Both just stared at me in disbelief. "Seriously? Is that not-"
"No, no. That's just the basic system." Ren nursed his forehead. "The power-up methods unlock the potential of the weapons unlocked from… Wait, what do you mean materials? Like in monster parts?"
"Yeah and whatever I find. I'd unlock a lot of useful stats, recipes, and abilities due to how many shields I unlocked."
"Recipes?" Both asked before staring into space. "Well, they are needed to make items in my sword."
"Why would recipes be useful outside when I can craft the items through the bow's inventory?" Itsuki gave a tired sigh.
Wait…
"Inventory?" Both looked at me with confusion. "What is this inventory, Tate-Chan?" Tate-chan summoned up a screen and… there were all the items I had absorbed into Tate-chan. I noticed a side tab for crafted items. I focused on it and saw all the items I could craft and focused on Healing Salve. I was shocked when a jar fell out of Tate-chan's gem.
Success! Healing Salve created!
Healing Salve: An ointment that heals scrapes and cuts ; Quality 50; Element: Water ; Effects: HP Heal(Small) ; Ether Effects: Healing Up (Small)
"Just like with the Cure Jars." I frowned. So this whole time, I could have used Tate-chan to make the item. I made another Healing Salve and another jar popped out.
Wait… It was the same as before. I tried the recipe of Heal Jar knowing I never made one.
Success! Healing Jar created!
Healing Salve: A healing liquid that can heal injuries efficiently; Quality 50; Element: Water; Effects: HP Heal(Medium); Ether Effects: Muddy, HP+
"So it sticks the quality to fifty if you use your weapon whereas the quality can change if crafted by hand." And it seems I could use trash items to craft from Tate-chan while the item quality mattered if I crafted it on my own. "If only I can use this to strengthen my shields…"
With all the items I make, shouldn't I be rewarded for such?
I heard a bing and Tate-chan opened up the Shield web. A new web appeared with spots lit up with an icon of an item I made between the shields.
Growth Book has been added to the Weapon Book.
Action Points are now visible.
The number next to this "AP" thing showed to be a high number. Damn.
Let's see… Ah! It expanded when I focused on a lit icon.
Medicine: A general medication good against common ailments like colds.
+20 SP: Required AP 200
+10 Defense: Required AP 100
Fairy King's Blessing a: Required AP 1000
I choose to spend AP on all three. To my shock and checking stats, I did get two boosts to my stats…
But what was "Fairy King's Blessing a"? I saw no stat change for that.
"You there, Naruto?" Itsuki snapped me out of my musings. Wait… Ren said levels powered up his sword while Rarity did it for Itsuki.
"I think you're both right. I just unlocked the Growth Book for my shields." Both looked at me in shock. I pulled out some loose papers I kept in my hip pouch. "Write down your strengthening methods. Then we can compare."
"Right." Both nodded while I focused back on the Growth Book. What other strengthening methods did Tate-chan have?
Wait. I saw another tab and focused on it.
Professions:
Medic … Rank S
Alchemist …. Rank S
Doctor… Rank S
Chef ... Rank A
Shielder… Rank A
Fighter…Rank B
Ninja …. Rank D
My eyebrow twitched. Why the hell was "Ninja" at Rank D?
Wait. Was those the Job level thing Itsuki mentioned, yet why was it ranks instead of levels? Was I missing something?
I watched as the screen flickered and focused on Medic. A new screen appeared.
Medic Rank S
Jobs
Defense Job level 1: Defense gauge 0/5
Healing Job level 1: Healing gauge 0/5
Herb Identify Job level 1: Herb Identify guage 0/5
…
It seems Itsuki's Job Level unlocks more abilities in the professions.
There was more, but I had to stop. My head was aching from the overwhelming information. I quickly wrote down what I had. I added question marks near stuff I was confused about.
"Okay. Let's see what we got." Ren and Itsuki nodded and turned their papers around.
Ren
Strength is determined by your level.
Mastery: using the same weapon would improve your proficiency with it.
Energy transfer: when you finished using a weapon, you could reset its mastery level and release the amount of energy you had invested in it.
Any items that you had absorbed into the weapon could also be turned into energy.
Increasing rarity: by imbuing a weapon with energy, you can increase its rarity level. This tends to increase the weapon's abilities.
Weapon Copy: copy similar weapons to use.
Monster Drops: Monster drops are in the menu and allow you to get useful items.
Itsuki
A weapon's rarity is the most important thing. The enchantments are just an extra boost. When you have something rare, it makes more sense to call it a rare weapon.
Power up: the power of a weapon can be raised by equipping it with certain ores. This never fails.
Item enchantment: items that have been absorbed into a weapon can be turned into energy, and that can be used to raise the percentage of various stats. Success is based on probability, and therefore there is a chance of failure.
Job level: you can increase your stats by using the energy contained in absorbed monsters or items.
Weapon Copy: copy similar weapons to use.
Monster Drops: Monster drops are in the menu and allow you to get useful items.
Naruto
Growth Book: Spots are unlocked based on items made. Each item spot has three nodes that can be unlocked through the cost of AP(Action Points) that gives buffs and seemingly skills(?) Do not know where Action Points come from.
Profession: Various jobs that have a ranking system.
?Maybe helps with various talents one has like Medic like me for healing.?
May have more, only found these two right now
"Wait… You can use Job Leveling, too?" Itsuki beamed with pride. I focused on Ren's and Itsuki's paper. I have a hunch what Weapon Copy was, but avoided it with not wanting the only weaponsmith on my side to get angry.
But monster drops? Monsters drop useful items? I never…
No. I must just not know.
"Tate-chan, do you collect drops from monsters?"I asked Tate and was surprised when a long list of all the items dropped by monsters I'd defeated up until that point. "What about Ren's Mastery?"
Tate-Chan pulled up my favorite offensive shield: Chimera Viper Shield.
Chimera Viper Shield 0/30:
ability unlocked:
equip bonus: skill "change shield" antidote compounding up, poison resistance (medium) special effect "snake fang (medium)," "hook" mastery level: 100
Woah! The stats boosted for that shield with having full mastery of it! What was the 0/30 for… Oh, yeah! Itsuki's ore thing! Seemed I didn't have a compatible ore right now for that. I tapped on the menu option…
Reset mastery level?
I clicked yes without hesitation. The stats returned to what I had seen before.
Received 2000 mastery level energy points.
I assigned them to the Chimera Viper Shield… Damn, I needed 4000 points. I quickly went through shields I didn't use often and reset their mastery level till…
Chimera Viper Shield (awakened) 0/30 C: ability unlocked:
equip bonus: skill "change shield," antidote compounding up, poison resistance (medium) special effect "snake fang (large)," "long hook"
mastery level: 0
Damn?! The basic abilities rose a lot. "C," I think means common, so gathered more energy from shields.
Success!
Chimera Viper Shield (awakened) 0/30 UC
ability unlocked:
equip bonus: skill "change shield," antidote compounding up, poison resistance (medium)
special effect "snake fang (large)," "long hook"
mastery level: 0
Ether Effect: None
Huh? Where does this Ether Effect come from? I tapped on the menu and a new prompt appeared. It asked if I wanted to use alchemy to equip an Ether Effect.
Oh! I looked at the Heal Jar I made. It had two Ether Effects! I absorbed it back into Tate-Chan and tried to add both… Damn. Only one slot, so I put HP+ into the slot.
…What the? Nothing happened…
Wait, it says effect, so-
"Why did you change your shield?" Ren asked, but there it was! My base HP rose greatly by equipping the shield! I checked with another shield that was lower quality to see…
Yep! Raising it from Common to Uncommon unlocked Ether Effects!
I scribbled down the Ether Effects on my sheet. "Both your systems work! I needed Ren's to unlock Ether Effects and Itsuki's Job Level to unlock my Professions!"
"Huh?" Both asked before switching their sheets with each other.
"You got to believe in it for it to work! Just like I believe in Tate-chan!" I pumped my fists cheering them both on. Slowly their eyes staring in the distance turned to shock and awe. "See! See! Try mine!"
"Got it." Both looked at my paper. However, perplexing expressions hit their faces. "We need alchemy?"
"You, too, Itsuki?" Ren frowned. "I haven't unlocked anything involving alchemy."
"Odd… Ah! One sec…" Found the scroll I was looking for and pulled out two jars of Healing Salve. They were one of my few successful experiments with imbuing mana… Though it didn't increase the healing power, it made the salve last longer. It was what unlocked Beginner Alchemy Recipes to my surprise. "Absorb these into your weapons."
Both looked at me skeptically but did as told. They went wide-eyed before frowning. "It's still not letting me use the alchemy for crafting."
"You need to imbue mana. Try using some." Both looked at me oddly. "You know, the power behind magic."
"So like casting a spell?" Ren asked and tried again and frowned. "I tried to will my MP, but it's not working."
"I might need to show you how." I sighed before something caught my eye. "Though, can you answer something for me?"
"Sure."
"Why the hell does an Usapil have a sword?"
It was when Ren's and Itsuki's Magic users helped me explain imbuing that the chaos started. Screams tore through the town. Ren, Itsuki, and I bolted towards the source, our parties following our tails.
"Is it a monster?" We came across a crowd forming around the screams. I recognized the sound of agony as we pushed through the crowd.
"Noooo!" Ah, Hinata was next to several collapsed people who were holding their heads while screaming. "I… I can't stop-Naruto! Please help!"
"What is-"
"Their Cage Bird brands activated!" Neji rushed over and grabbed my hand. "You have more of the curse-lifting medicine."
"Yes." I quickly pulled out two remaining Cure Jars I had. I handed them to Neji while holding up Tate-Chan. "Come on, Tate-chan, we need more Cure Jars." I selected the materials needed, but quickly pale at the timer it had. "Ren! Itsuki! Do you have Holy Water?!"
"Huh? Why would we-" One man stopped screaming, his body going limp.
"Shit!"
"Wait! Let me do-" Neji scattered the contents of one of the Cure Jars on several people. I snatched the second from him seeing no effect with my eyes. Dark splotches scattered across their heads.
"Potion Efficacy Up! Potion Efficacy Range Expansion!" I shouted to make sure those skills activated as the splattered Cure Jar hit the affected people. Only two people glowed as the others died off one by one before the medicine could remove the curses. The two survivors collapsed out of pure exhaustion. I checked their pulses and confirmed the man and woman were alright. Breathing harshly, but okay.
"Natsu-san," Hinata cupped the face of the woman. "T-Thank you… For trying…" Hinata sobbed.
"Is everything-oh." The Old Man looked tired as his eyes landed on the downed people. "The Cage Bird brands…"
"Dammit, Hiashi did this." Neji gritted his teeth.
"No… It had to be the Hyuuga Elders." Neji looked at the Old Man with shock. "Hiashi told me the Elders are the only ones who can activate multiple Cage Bird Seals at one time. He doesn't know how as the leaders are never taught the method to avoid one person controlling the fate of the Branch Family…" The Old Man closed his eyes and did a prayer for the dead. "Neji-san… How were you spared from-"
"Lord Naruto's medicine removed my Cage Bird brand." Neji touched his forehead where his headband was covered. "Sadly… I foolishly wasted his precious medicine on myself and threw it… If he has done both medicines…"
"You didn't know." I sighed while closing the eyes of the dead. "Why did the Hyuuga Elders do this?" I guess all these dead were Hyuuga. They looked similar to Hinata and Neji.
"To protect the Byakugan from falling into the wrong hands." The Old Man rubbed Hinata's back as she greaves. "Hinata-chan was always too soft in the eyes of her father. I'm amazed he managed the Hyuuga clam to disinherit her without putting a brand on her."
"Lady Hinata… is too weak," Neji said before going wide-eyed as I stomped over to him. "Lord Naruto-"
"Hinata is kind, not weak." I felt rage building inside me. "No one is weak unless they allow themselves to be. Would you see yourself as weak for grieving over your fellow clansmen's deaths?"
"... And she did try to stop…" Neji dropped to the ground and dogeza before me. "I am sorry, Lord Naruto… And Lady Hinata. I apologize for my rude words."
"What happened?" Ren asked, somewhat pale.
"The Hyuuga Clan is split into two branches: The Main Family and the Branch Family. All of the Branch Family are branded with curse seals that they use to keep their dojutsu bloodline out of the hands of their enemies… I see it as an unnecessary evil just to keep the Hyuuga clan in control of each other."
"What kind of injustice is that?!" Itsuki roared at the Old Man. "How could they-"
"Stop, Itsuki." Itsuki glared at me. "The Old Man Hokage has no control over anybody here. And certainly can't stop it with being stuck in this world."
"But-" Itsuki clicked his tongue while turning away. "How are you not mad?"
"I'm mad." I sighed while putting my hand on his shoulder. "But… It's something we can't control." And it started to sink in for me.
Was I really at fault for Kaus' death? Was I really at fault for the Mini-Wave?
Was I really at fault for being born at the wrong time and place?
I felt oddly numb as I helped move the two survivors to a tent. I made my vision expand and saw the two had head injuries. I made some more Heal Jars and treated them the best I could. There was no knowing what permanent damage was made by the curses activating.
"Kid. You did good saving at least somebody." Tsunade padded my back. "Never let-"
"I know." I had let my past experiences blind me. I always thought I was the one to be blamed… Much like all the mischief I caused for attention.
Yet, why does it hurt more to realize my mistakes? Or were they mistakes?
"Why is life so confusing?" I weakly chuckled as Ren and Itsuki walked up.
"What do you mean?" Itsuki asked, "Are you worried about dying? We are protected as heroes."
"What?"
"Yeah. We can't die. We are protected by the Legendary Weapons." Ren added.
"What nonsense are you two spouting?" Tsunade growled. "There is no way anyone is protected from death!"
"An NPC can't understand." Itsuki sighed while shaking his head. "Due to the story, we are protected from dying."
"The story… You think this world is a fairy tale?" I slowly spoke.
"No. This world is just like a video game I've played." Itsuki corrected me. "There are some differences, but so far it's just like Dimensional Wave."
"Same here with Brave Star Online. Doesn't this world reflect a video game you played?"
"No. I read a book." I couldn't remember a lick of the book outside the scummy princess. I wish my memory was better.
"A book?... Wait, do video games even exist in your world?"
"No… Or, at least, I never knew of such a thing." I snorted. "You really think you are immortal?"
"Of course. If we are defeated, we will just wake up in the hospital."
"And that's only if the story makes it a necessary defeat."
"What kind-You two are off your rocker!" Tsunade screamed while I felt something inside me snap.
Yet, instead of anger… I broke into laughter.
"What's so funny?!" Itsuki snapped at me…Yet…
"I don't give a shit anymore." If Motoyasu thought the same as these two… "The world is gonna end because of our stupidity." I snorted out.
I still felt my hatred… But a strange new feeling filled me.
Maybe I was just accepting that I can't win alone against the odds. Or was it just the absurdity of it all?
I just felt numb was the best I could describe it... Or like a great weight was taken off my shoulders?
"Where did that peppy side from earlier go?" Itsuki said and I felt ready to smack him…
But wouldn't that do nothing to improve the situation?
What could I do? This world is threatened by an unknown thing called the World Eater and it was causing the Waves of Destruction.
'I can protect and heal… Others can fight for me while I do my best with those two skills.'
And there was a possible route out of this situation, but I will be damned if I use it to save as many people as I can. In fact, what if I proved everyone wrong, even myself?
"Keep being delusional." Both heroes went wide-eyed at me. "Even if I have to do it all by myself, I will save the people of this world. I'll be the best Shield Hero and make sure your sorry asses stay alive. All I ask is you two get proper training so as not to embarrass me like ya did with the Chimera boss!"
"Training? We don't-"
"Prove it to me." I was shocked as Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "Come outside."
"You want to fight us?" Ren asked with shock.
"Yes. Both of you. Naruto, you will judge the battle as a referee."
"Ah… Tsunade-sensei, go easy on them." I sweated as we exited the tent. "They are just civilians."
"Don't care. I plan to knock some sense into these two brats." Damn. There went using an honorific to try and save Ren and Itsuki. Both stood across from Tsunade.
"Don't you need to pull out a weapon?" Ren asked as he got into a horrifying stance. Itsuki did the same. Tsunade held up one finger.
"I don't need a weapon. I just need one finger."
"Then it is your funeral, NPC." Itsuki sighed while pulling his bowstring back and unleashing a barrage of arrows. Tsunade easily evade the arrows and Ren dashed head on to the lady.
"Haah!" Ren slashed at Tsunade but shocked Ren by nimbly dodging and getting in Ren's face.
"Strike one," Tsunade said as she flicked Ren in the forehead and sent him flying straight into a tree.
"Ren!" Itsuki didn't have a chance to counterattack.
"Strike two!" Itsuki tried to dodge and got the flick in his stomach. He spat out as he flew in a curve in the air and landed a ways from Tsunade.
"The hell?" Ren grunted as he struggled to get up. "How?"
"Ugh… It's like she's a secret boss!" Itsuki got shakingly back on his feet. "Even with being a few levels over, she hits like she's way stronger!"
"I forgot to introduce myself." Tsunade cleaned out her ear. "I'm Senju Tsunade. One of the three Sannin and granddaughter of the First Hokage."
"Sannin… As in legendary ninja?" Both looked at me in confusion. "What does that mean?"
"She is a very strong ninja." Sannin? How did I get someone with such a title as my sensei?! I found my status magic let me see Tsunade's level.
It was at 60.
She was even stronger than Ren and Itsuki in levels?
"She's not what a ninja should be!"
"I'm a medic-nin, thank you very much." Tsunade huffed. "Now, are you going to stand there and talk or ya gonna show me what you immortal heroes can do?"
'Please don't kill them.' I prayed in my head as both the Bow Hero and Sword Hero ended up surprised when Tsunade created a fissure in the ground with just her finger when charging at her again.
"Tch. The game made her an impossible boss." Ren scowled. Itsuki and he took treatment from me. "How can a level 60 NPC be stronger than us? We are the Heroes!"
"You two tried to duke it out with the Slug Princess?" Ah, that Jiraiya fellow laughed while walking up. "She might be the Legendary Sucker, but she can destroy castles with her bare fists if she wanted."
"Who are you?" Itsuki growled, still bitter about the smashing defeat.
"Why, I am Konoha's Toad Sage and Sannin, Jiraiya." In a puff of smoke, Jiraiya posed on top of a large toad.
"Toad Sage?" Ren snorted.
"What's so funny about us toads?" All three of us were shocked when the toad spoke. I nursed my forehead…. I really need to stop being surprised by talking animals and monsters.
"Sorry. My fellow heroes are not used to… What are you? You can't be a normal toad." I crossed my arms in thought.
"Smart man! I am one of the toads of Mount Myoboku. We are summoning that can be summoned by humans that have a contract with us." The toad answered with pride before blinking. "Wait, Jiraiya… What's with this place? There's almost no chakra whatsoever in the air and ground here."
"What does that mean?" Jiraiya looked the toad in the eyes from atop its head.
"Like, there'd be no chakra. I'm not a sensor toad, but you should feel the lack of it."
"Now that you say something… I feel eerily lighter than back home." Jiraiya sighed, "So might not be a good idea to try Sage mode here. But, I saw your battle with Tsunade. You two reek in fighting and using your weapons."
"The game only scripted us to be defeated. We are probably not supposed to battle her til way stronger." Itsuki reasoned and I smacked my forehead.
"What the hell does-"
Wait.
"Are you idiots?" Both heroes glared at me while I grinned. "Why do you think the game is making this an impossible battle?"
"We challenged her too soon. She is higher level, after all."
"Shit no. You said she wasn't too far off your levels." I chuckled, "I should know. She is my sensei in the ways of being a medic-nin."
"So, you're Tsunade's new apprentice," Jiraiya grumbled. "I was supposed to become your mentor as I was made your Godfather, Naruto."
"Godfather?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah. Sorry for not being around. I had to keep up Konoha's spy network and also didn't want your father's enemies recognizing you. You look like a split image of your father if he had longer hair. Only your jaw and eye shape seem like your mother's."
"... So you…" I felt bitter but only chuckled it off. "Oh well. Guess you missed the mark, you creep."
"Creep?!" The toad laughed at Jiraiya's tearful reaction to my words.
"Yeah. That getup doesn't fit a ninja. You just seem like a slimy guy." I could see the arrows through the man's heart. "But, think it through more… What if this is a needed loss?"
"It is… Wait, you mean a purpose for the loss?" Ren asked in shock.
"Ding ding ding!" I clapped my hands. "We got a winner! Think. You think you are at your strongest. I think the game decided it was time for a reality check and show you you have far much more to go to truly be heroes."
"Like… God smacking our egos down a notch." Itsuki laughed while resting his head in his hand. "But we are… The other strengthening methods!"
"Yes. But that's not all." Both looked at me. "Didn't you see how sloppy your moves are compared to my sensei? There is more to this game world's workings than just throwing out attacks and skills."
Please be right. Please be right.
"That's why you keep telling us to get training!" Yes! They bought it!
"Yes. Think about it. Your party members probably have been training since a young age." I lied right through my teeth. "So, they unknowingly know the best way to fight. However, no average adventurer is good enough to help a hero in training."
"So, we need a specialist." Itsuki nodded at Ren's words. "I think we can ask the King about that."
"True, but I want you to be careful with that." Both looked oddly at me. "More don't settle for subpar trainers who just coach. Tell the King you are serious about improving."
"Understood." Itsuki perked up. "Thank you for opening my eyes to this new storyline!"
'I don't understand you… Just smile, Naruto… Going along with their delusions seems to work wonders!' I hummed out. "Though, can we join our parties?"
"Huh?"
"Why are we all separated? Wouldn't it be better for us to travel together?" It was something that was nagging me for a while.
"Our weapons repel each other. We won't gain levels if we are fighting near each other." Ren sighed, "But you weren't there, so I guess you didn't know."
"Is that so?" I looked at Tate-chan and a window popped up.
Attention: The Legendary Weapons and their owners will experience adverse effects if they fight together.
Caution: The heroes should remain separated when possible.
"We should be separated… Wait! Accept my invitation for secondary parties!"
"What do… You just thought of something about the game, didn't you?" Ren and Itsuki quickly accepted and I designated them as leaders of their respective parties.
There! Zabuza and the others were still hunting. The parties got a little EXP, but all three of us got 0 EXP.
"Let's move away from each other and track how far we need to be apart."
"How… Oh! You have your party still hunting!" Itsuki chirped as we slowly moved away from each other. It was about when we were a ways apart, like on a battlefield, I noticed something. I gained EXP while Ren and Itsuki didn't.
"We can still travel together!" Both heroes nodded in understanding. "We just don't get EXP from the other heroes' party they lead. We just can't help each other in battle unless it is necessary."
"And it gets extra experience for all parties." Ren smiled, "That makes it easier for our companions to level up and stay with our strength."
"Naruto, you're a genius!" Itsuki padded both my shoulders. "You must be kidding about not being a gamer!"
"No. I seriously only read a book… But when I thought about what you said… The protagonists of books always seem to survive what is thrown at them. I just changed my way of thinking to try and see this world as a book." Again, I'm a liar liar pants on fire. But if it works to save this world, then I'll gladly spew lie after lie to achieve my goal.
No longer will I reach for the title of Hokage. No longer will I reach for recognition and attention.
"I'm just the plain old shielder that is the Shield Hero." I laughed with a stretched-out grin.
"Naruto…" Huh? Why did this Jiraiya guy look oddly sad? "... I'll make things right for you. You have been framed and-"
"Don't care anymore. We are in another world and can't change the past." Still fucking angry and seething… But I got to survive. I got to keep the heroes alive. I got to keep as many people alive, like them or not.
I have no time for petty dreams. Especially ones that are so far away now.
"Another world?!" The toad shuttered and seemed to pale from horror. "This is bad. Very bad. Sorry, Jiraiya, but I must report this to the boss right away!"
"What?" Jiraiya yelped as the toad puffed away in smoke and he hit the ground. "That… can't be good."
"Why did…" I went wide-eyed. Do summonings know something we don't? "Excuse me, does Tsunade-sensei have a summoning?"
"Yes. She summons slugs… Hey, wait! Where are you going?!"
"Thanks!" I rushed back to the medical tents and quickly found Tsunade. "Tsunade-sensei! Can you summon a slug!"
"Huh? Why do-Did Jiraiya tell you?"
"Yes, but it's urgent!"
"Sure." Tsunade bit her thumb and made several hand signs. "I need to look into you signing the scroll." She slammed her hand on the desk and in a puff of smoke, a small slug appeared with a scroll. "Hey, can my apprentice-"
"Hey, hey! What do you know about other worlds?" I hummed out with a big smile. "Like in this world without chakra?"
"Why?" The little slug squeaked in terror before moving its eyes. "Wait… There's no chakra here. Is this the past?"
"So… Our world didn't always have chakra?" Tsunade looked shocked at me.
"Yes. Though I'm too young, you would have to talk to the Elders about the time before the chakra. However, they gave us a warning to alert them if a summoner ended up in another world or came in content with another world. Something about the Dragon's Hourglass hidden throughout the world could once again begin dropping sand."
I couldn't help it.
I doubled over in laughter.
Tsunade put her hand on my back, but I was fine.
There WAS a way to stop the Waves.
Seems my world successfully did it and avoided the World Eater.
"Heh… I'll be damned." I hissed through my laughter.
I will save the people of this world as their Shield Hero… Even if it may result in my world getting involved due to having to evacuate this world's people from its world's demise.