Chapter 4
I woke up to the feeling of my shoulder being nudged. While I instinctively tried to bat the arm away and return to my sleep the immediate PING! Of the system when my eyes opened ensured I stayed awake. I gave a quick nod of thanks to Itachi before looking down at the window that had appeared.
You have slept somewhere that is not your bed. HP, SP, CP have all been half recovered.
While temporarily that was a useless alert as none of my stats were high enough to take very long to recover it was good to know I would most likely be able to fully recover after a harsh day just by sleeping in a bed. I quickly dismissed the alert before remembering the quest I had received, had it finished?
[Attack of the Nine-Tails]
You are nowhere near strong enough to attempt to take on the nine-tails.
Survive!
Remaining time: 0:0:6
Rewards
-Level up x5
-New Perk
Failure
-Death
It seems Itachi woke me up just in time. My posture straightened and my eyes began to focus on the entrance of the bunker, something the Uchiha beside me noticed and began to copy. Soon my theory was proven true as the large door opened allowing sunlight to creep into the darkness of the bunker before the genin from the night before became visible again. Simultaneously the PING! Of the system resounded in my mind once more. While I originally wasn't going to take notice of the quest rewards until I knew more about the situation outside, the genin told everyone to remain seated while he took a survey of everybody in the room. He also assured everyone that the danger had been averted and the nine-tails had been defeated, something the majority of people began to cheer at. While the genin began making his way around the room I decided to dig into the rewards from my first ever quest.
-CONGRATULATIONS-
[Attack of the Nine-Tails] has been completed!
Rewards Achieved:
You have received a level up!
You have received a level up!
You have received a level up!
You have received a level up!
You have received a level up!
You have received a new perk!
-PERK UNLOCKED-
Tailed Beast Survivor
-Grants the player an extra 20% of damage resistance when fighting against a tailed beast or a jinchuriki.
Damn! That probably wasn't going to help anytime soon but in the future such a buff to my resistance was going to be incredibly useful. Who knew when I was going to run into another tailed beast. So far, I was 1 for 1 with a tailed beast appearing on my first day here. The genin was still on the far side of the hall so I took this opportunity to view my status once again.
Name: Ren Ebina
Class: Civilian
Title: The Player
Age: 5
Level: 6
HP: 100
CP: 100
SP: 100
Primary Stats
Strength: 5
Vitality: 10
Dexterity: 2
Intelligence: 8
Chakra: 10
Endurance: 10
Stat Points: 50
Ryo: 1,789
So, it appears that every level grants 10 free stat points of my choosing. Probably best to save them for when I could no longer grind out my stats on their own. Although, I didn't know when I was going to find the chance to start practising, no doubt I'd have to help in the rebuilding of the village. Wait. That would be a perfect chance for me to grind out some early stat points. Carrying equipment would probably raise STRENGTH while if I was able to solve some problems that would no doubt arise, I'd be able to boost my INTELLIGENCE. This disaster might be a slight blessing. I also decided to look through the rest of my system in the event I'd missed something, my inventory was still empty, no shop would appear when I thought about it, no new skills but then I opened my perks menu expecting to only find my recent acquisition.
Perks
Body of the Player
-Allows for the player to continuously evolve through the use of stat points and levels while experiencing no pain or side effects. Also, as long as the player's health regenerates to full, they can recover from all ailments and injuries.
Tailed Beast Survivor
-Grants the player an extra 20% of damage resistance when fighting against a tailed beast or a jinchuriki.
Body of the Player? When had I received that? Although, I guess I should have expected something similar due to how regularly the gamer had that ability in all of the stories I'd read. However, wasn't that usually paired with something like Gamer's mind or similar? I didn't hate the fact that I wasn't going to turn into an emotionless robot I didn't doubt that being immune to genjutsu would be incredibly useful especially considering who I was sat next to. Content with my new menus I refocused in on the world around me to notice that the genin had already made his way to the brothers beside me.
"Don't worry kid I'll get someone to send a message to your mother, she'll be here soon to look after you both."
Itachi just nodded before the genin turned to me. "What's your name kid?"
"Ren"
"Ren what? Don't make this difficult kid." While he glared at me
"Ebina, but I doubt it matters, I was an orphan before this anyway."
The genin's eyes softened. "Right, sorry about that, all children without carers are to head to the academy where you'll be given instructions on what to do next, understood?"
"Understood."
His eyes lingered on me for a second longer before he turned back towards the masses in the room. "RIGHT! FORM AN ORDERLY LINE AND EXIT THE BUNKER ONE AT A TIME!"
Me and Itachi both silently remained seated and waited for the majority of the people to exit before attaching ourselves to the back of the line.
Itachi turned to me. "You never told me you were an orphan."
I glanced back into his dark eyes. "You didn't ask."
"That's fair."
I just shook my head in exasperation, how was I being made to feel immature by a child a quarter of my mental age. "They died fighting in the war, since then I've been living on my own, happy?"
Itachi just gave me a small smile. "Slightly, and I'm sorry for your loss."
"It's fine, but I appreciate the sentiment."
With that silence resumed as we slowly made our way from the darkness and into the light of the outside world. As soon as I could see out into the village I froze. Over half of the village had been either flattened or all out destroyed, including if I had to guess, my apartment. Great, now I'm both an orphan and homeless.
It was only after Itachi walked past me that I noticed Mikoto stood waiting with a broad smile as she noticed her two sons approaching. A smile I slightly mirrored watching the family reunion. I began to look out into the village once again hoping to catch sight of what I remembered the academy looked like so I could begin to make my way there, but I must admit I was struggling. I half began to believe that it had been destroyed in the attack as well. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder alerting me to the presence of the three Uchiha behind me. I turned and looked at Itachi who had tapped me, while Mikoto held Sasuke slightly further behind.
"Ren, as a thank you for helping me save my mother I would like to invite you to dinner sometime soon."
I almost choked at the thought of eating a family dinner with the Uchiha. "Sure. Why did you ask so formally?"
Itachi's eyebrows furrowed. "Because it's an invitation to dinner, it's only right to ask you properly."
"Ahahahh, OK Itachi I'll be there. I'm seriously going to have to get you to lighten up." I extended my hand towards him. "Friends?"
Itachi gave a smile before accepting my handshake. "Yes, friends."
I returned his smile before giving the trio a wave and turning to continue my search for the academy. Another group of children were being led by a genin away from the mountain. It's probably smarter to follow them than to just walk around aimlessly so I slipped into the back of the group itself before letting my mind wander during the mind-numbing walk.
First of all, I now was friends with someone who would become known as the biggest betrayer of the leaf village of all time, well I guess there's an argument to be made for Orochimaru. Plus, from what I could tell we were the same age meaning we were also going to be in the same year in the academy. At least, for the first year, if my memory serves me right Itachi graduates after a single year, jeez what a monster. No need for me to follow in his footsteps with an early graduation. As long as I can slowly build my strength and abilities while flying under the radar of the big players, I should be ok.
Finally, we made it to the academy. Well, what was left of the academy. My guess had been right, nearly the entirety of the academy building had been destroyed with only the foundations being left visible, as such the other orphans and I were led round the back of the academy to the field where we were instructed to wait for the arrival of news. It wasn't long before news arrived, however it wasn't in the form of a scroll or a message from a no-named ninja. Instead, the orphans and I were shocked to see that the 3rd hokage had come to speak with us himself. The man still wore his battle armour from the night before and I doubt he'd had much chance to sleep, my respect for the man grew as despite all of this he was still here to talk to, and hopefully give some hope to a group of fearful children.
"Hello everyone, for those of you who don't know me, let me introduce myself, I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the 3rd hokage. It is with a heavy heart that I must announce to you that last night lord fourth gave his life fighting for the protection of this village and to protect you. In a similar way many of your parents also gave their lives in order to secure your future. Heroes, all. Now, today I must also announce I will be taking the role back on of hokage and despite my failures I will strive to be worthy of the legacy your parents and lord fourth left behind. That brings me to your future, I brought you all here to the ruins of a great institution in order to give you some hope. As, just like this academy will be rebuilt I hope you all are able to rebuild your lives to a level that satisfies you all. Actually, I hope that some of you also join or reattend the academy after it has reopened. As within you all I see the seeds of the will of fire, you are all a part of the hope of Konoha and are all key parts of it's future. As for food and lodgings for you all it will all be covered by the village however you must all stay with Miss Akane in the orphanage, until you begin to earn money for yourselves, which I am sure you will all achieve at some point. For any questions, please direct yourselves to either Miss Akane or myself."
Shit! I should have expected that I would no longer be able to live on my own now that the number of orphans had skyrocketed, this seriously put my plans in jeopardy. There was no way I was going to be able to hide my growth and my training under the watchful eye of a ninja matron and the other children. Looks like it's time to bargain. While the majority of the children appeared slightly appeased by the hokage's words a few did run up to Miss Akane while none approached Hiruzen. Damn children, forcing me to go and talk to someone who could kill me in an instant. Plucking up my courage I tried to appear confident while I made my way towards the hokage.
I bowed before him. "Lord Third, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I really don't want to go to the orphanage."
He gave me a small smile. "You don't need to bow to me child, Ren, isn't it?" I simply nodded in response; how did he know my name? "It's my job to know the people of my village." Damn, the hokage could read my mind. "No, I'm not a mind reader, your face just tells me everything I need to know." He said with a chuckle. "Why do you not wish to go to the orphanage?"
Time for the puppy dog eyes. "Well, I was just getting used to living on my own and I felt like I was finally getting back to being myself. I'm worried that if I go to the orphanage all of my progress will be lost."
Hiruzen sighed. "While I am incredibly happy that you were starting to feel like yourself again, I simply cannot pay for you to have separate accommodation from the other children. The village can't afford to house everybody separately."
Time to bring it home. "What if I got a job?"
Hiruzen's eyes widened. "What?"
"I'll help out with the rebuilding of the village while I stay at the orphanage but then I'm going to get a job. You said that we only had to stay at the orphanage as long as we weren't making money right?"
The Hokage chuckled. "Ok Ren, I'll make you a deal. If you help out with the rebuild and then go and get a job that earns enough for your rent and food. I'll let you live on your own. Happy?"
-NEW QUEST!-
The Hokage has struck you a deal.
Help rebuild at least 5 buildings. (0/5)
Get a job. (0/1)
Earn enough pay to cover both rent and food. (0/2,000)
Rewards!
-A place to live
-Level up
Failure
-Live at the orphanage until you become a ninja
Do you accept (y/n)
Quickly, giving a mental yes, I dismissed the quest screen. "Thank you Lord Third, I won't let you down."
Hiruzen gave a large smile. "Call me Jiji Ren, and I'm sure you won't. It seems you're going to be just the workhorse aren't you."
PING!
-NEW TITLE UNLOCKED-
The Workhorse
-Cost of SP is reduced by 20% for all skills
I laughed along with Hiruzen but internally I celebrated the incredible luck I'd had. While running into the Nine-Tails instantly wasn't the best, since then I've been on a hot streak.
I'm totally going to dominate this world.