Naruto : The System Files

by Adamos amet

Naruto has always had video games to fall back on growing up while the rest of the village pretty much treated him like garbage. What happens when Naruto wakes up to find his life has become one of the video games he loves so much.

10. Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Any similarities between real people, living or dead, or places, standing or demolished, in this story are just coincidences.

But if you like what I do and want to support me, you are more than welcome to donate on Place of Patrons.

---

Tenten had always wanted a cute little kouhai.

There was the appeal to picking up a junior that she could buy sweets, pet, pamper and have him/her help her sharpen her weapons with a big loving smile.

Perhaps it came with the fact that she had been the 'nee-chan' of the orphanage she had grown up in, not in the motherly, caregiver sense, but in the tomboyish, 'you mess with me, you enjoy the taste of sand' manner.

Her somewhat crass manner and a slight tendency for violence had probably what had inspired her obsession with blades and weapons of all sorts, and it of course helped that she thought playing with dolls was the most ridiculous thing in the freaking world.

She still remembered the first doll she had been given, considering the fact that she had given it an extensive surgical process by retrofitting the hands with sewing needles and the legs with scissors. Of course, the other girls had not appreciated the beauty of Princess Scissorhands, abbreviated to, Si-hime, the scissor-handed, needle-legged princess doll. Then, she had not understood why the matron had been so appalled, Si-hime was far more useful that way to help in cutting and sewing together what little clothes they had possessed as of then.

When she found out that she was being adopted by a ninja, she was excited, and her excitement went over the roof when she found out her adopted dad was a blacksmith, and her adopted mom was a kunoichi.

The first few years were fun; she could still remember a memory where her dad had replaced Si-hime and all the other stuff she had with rounded dull things.

She could still remember how she argued with her parents about the dull things.

It is too round on the top.

It needs to be pointy.

Round is not scary.

Pointy is scary.

This will put a smile on the faces of the enemy (Boys in her class)

Her parents laughed at her; she, in her anger, had told them, "I hate you."

It was the tantrum of a child, and she regretted saying it because, in the next week, her mom was KIA on a mission.

She could still remember how her dad gave her Si-hime back.

What did you say that time?

'Round is not scary.

Pointy is scary.

Get ready to learn all the pointy, scary things in the world. I am going to make them all not scary.'

From then on, she began training to be a weapon specialist.

Maybe it was the regret of the last fight she had with her mother, or maybe it was her father's actions to start teaching her about weapons to train her to be strong.

All in all, Tenten never got over her love and somewhat obsession with pointy things. Regardless, the weapons enthusiast wanted someone who was also equally passionate and shared a love of the sharp and pointy.

Of course, this was somewhat of an idealistic wish that she would sigh and ponder, than something that she ever saw coming into fruition.

Right up until the moment that she had found Uzumaki Naruto and taken him under her wing.

Except, well, Uzumaki Naruto was not the cute little kouhai she wanted, but quite possibly the one she needed.

"COME BACK HERE YOU!"

Assuming she did not kill him first.

"I'M SORRY!"

"HELLO SORRY, I'M TENTEN - GET READY TO EAT POINTY METAL!"

As it had turned out, she really wanted to find out if she had been a little bit too enthusiastic in seeing his display, and then she wondered if it was mere, simple, dumb luck that had saved her career as a kunoichi from coming to a terrible end.

So of course, she had needed to confirm that hypothesis by re-creating the scenario and seeing if indeed, Uzumaki Naruto could curve and redirect shuriken with a headbutt.

Of course, this time around she had tossed rubber shuriken at him, because attempting to use the real ones could most possibly end in disaster.

The results had been outstanding.

Seven out of ten times, Uzumaki Naruto had successfully pulled off a ricocheting magic tricks with the shuriken that were thrown at him, and seven out of ten was a very promising result.

So then, it came her own turn to practice and see how to pull off the same tricks, and she had asked him to stand and toss the rubber shuriken and kunai at her.

She had closed her eyes, took in a deep breath, and then steeled her gaze as he said he was going to launch, only to open her eyes and see a rubber chicken flying through the air.

She was not kidding.

A. Rubber. Chicken.

With its beak out in front, its wings spread to the sides like an eagle.

She had been so stunned at the sight of the flying avian toy, she could not react when it had smacked beak first into her eye and sent her tumbling to the ground.

Chicken - 1, Tenten - 0.

Of course, Naruto's cacophonous laughter had merely added insult to the injury, which led to her current situation of her chasing the blond around the field while unloading the full wrath of her weaponry.

Was it overkill?

Maybe.

But you try explaining to Maito Gai, Rock Lee and Hyuga Neji that the reason you now had a large black eye was because an academy student clocked you in the face with a rubber chicken.

She grinned as she caught a hold of the fleeing blonde's legs with her kusarigama, the chain tying neatly across his left ankle, as she jerked the chain back and proceeded to quite literally reel him in as though she was a fisherwoman on a croaky old boat in the middle of a vast lake.

"Well, look what we've got! The catch of the day, the famous orange flopper."

She grinned as she watched him futilely scrape his nails against the grass in an attempt to escape. Eventually he just stopped bothering and let himself be dragged, until he came to stop directly beside her foot, and she gave him her 'kindest' grin.

"Uh... you know, I kind of feel really bad for fishes right now."

She rose an eyebrow.

"Just for fishes?"

"Ah, no no no! I mean, yes, I mean - well, you know what I mean, but I kinda also don't know what I mean -"

"If you were any more eloquent, I'd need a dictionary."

He gave a sheepish grin.

"Uh... that black eye goes really well with your hair-ttebayo?"

"I'm not taking fashion compliments from someone who thinks wearing burnt orange clothing is fashion."

She sighed as she shook her head, paying little heed to his chant about how orange was the best.

And he was a fashion icon.

The sun had barely peaked over the horizon, due to both of them arriving bright and early for the training.

Dressed in her training clothes that was more or less a refitted martial arts gi, rather than her normal attire, she really shuddered when Naruto showed up, fully clad in his orange clothing at least it wasn't an orange jumpsuit.

Speaking of which, how in the world did a rubber chicken have enough force to give her a black eye?

For Kami's sakes, the only thing that was capable of doing that was one of Rock Lee's punches or kicks, but of course, Lee was a 'gentleman' at heart, and his attacks never aimed for her face.

"Wait, why in the world do you even have a rubber chicken in the first place?"

Naruto had stopped listing off the vague uses and benefits of the color orange in civilian fashion to stop and gave her a stare.

"Oh yeah! That! I was just trying to see fate will answer my question!"

She blinked.

"What?"

Was this providence?

Was the fate-douche, a cute douche, but a douche nonetheless, onto something when he kept insisting that there was a divine will in place for each and every being?

She shook her head; kami forbid Neji was right.

"Why?"

"Because I want to see if I can get some trap master skills by using unconventional things as traps and stuff."

"You want to become a trap master meaning you want to become a shinobi that uses traps to fight?"

He gave an enthusiastic series of nods.

"I don't see that working out well for you at all."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

She pinched his cheek, dragging it, only to blink as she realized that the whisker marks felt like grooves in his skin, and as he gave an incoherent grumble.

"What I'm saying chicken-man is that you look more like someone fit for flashy ninjutsu or taijutsu."

She grinned.

"Though mostly ninjutsu, because you need to grow about a dozen a couple of more inches to make sure your opponents don't lose sight of you in a taijutsu brawl, chibi."

"Oi! I'm not short!"

"And the Hokage is a young bachelor with women vying for his attention."

Naruto frowned, he opened his mouth for a second as if to say something, but then changed his mind and closed it as he grinned.

"I don't think jiji would find that funny."

She shrugged.

"His inability to see the comedic value doesn't mean it's true."

Naruto gave another wide grin.

"Well, it was true... once upon a time. It's not like Hokage-jiji was born old."

Tenten sighed.

"You're missing the point. Being an Ensnarement Specialist is something that takes time, dedication and planning. If you want to plant a trap for your enemy, you are working on the assumption that you know where your enemy is, how he will react, and a plethora of different uncertain variables that will contribute to the success of your traps. And that is almost never the case in a battle."

"Ensnarement Specialist? Awesome! I didn't know there was already a title for it dattebayo! I am going add to the list."

"List?"

"Yeah, if I am going to become the best hokage, I need to have some kind of skills in Taijutsu, Ninjutsu -"

Her left eye twitched slightly.

"First of all, the term ensnarement specialist doesn't exist... I just made that up on the spot, and I think you're still missing the point -"

"Huh? No, no I get it!"

She gave him a flat look.

"Really now?"

He placed a finger on his chin.

"Say, I'm on a super-secret mission to guard the greatest bowl of Ramen in the world, but then, shinobi from the hidden village of noodle broth, are trying to steal it. If all I've got is my traps and stuff with me, I need to know which road they'll use to try and get the ramen, how many of them they are, and whether my traps can stop them all and keep the ramen safe all at the same time! Cause if I don't know all of it, my traps could fail to even catch them, and they'll get away with the ramen-ttebayo!"

She blinked.

"That's... one way of explaining it. But yes, you need foreknowledge if you intend to succeed as a shinobi using traps. If you work on a team that has a Hyuga, a sensor or a tracker of any sort, you'd have that aspect mostly covered, but even then, there exists the possibilities of the traps failing, or of them missing your targets all together."

Successful trapping of opponents was something she knew about because she had dabbled a bit on it earlier, utilizing things such as bear traps and paper bomb mines. Even with Neji's Byakugan telling her where the opponents were coming from in order for them to plant down her traps, it had still not done much good. Their opponent had attempted to flank them, missing her traps completely and going all the way around to attack them from behind. Any attempt she had made to lure them towards the traps had only succeeded, until they realized they were traps there, and then proceeded to avoid it like the plague, making most of her work pointless.

Sensors and ninjutsu experts were also the bane of all trap settings, because your opponent either sense the traps miles away or simply barrel through it with ninjutsu.

"So, should I remove it from this list? What do you think I should do?"

She turned her gaze back to the boy, his two brilliant blue orbs looking bright and eager as he playfully tossed a rubber chicken in his hands.

"Me?"

"Well yeah, you're the expert." He rubbed the back of his head, "Should I still try and get an... uh, Ensnarement Specialist Feat? Or... well, should I... you know?"

Tenten scratched her head as she glanced around the area. It was strange for someone to come for her for advice on specializations, as Lee had never done it, Neji would never do it, and Gai did not need to do it. Still, she stared around her team's training ground as she contemplated a way to make Naruto's goals of utilizing traps become more effective.

Training ground nine was nothing special.

There was a small pond, numerous trees, and a kicking post that had been abused to hell and back by the furious feet of Lee. The training grounds were somewhat large, as expected from Konoha, and it was filled with the luscious green trees and a thick forest covering.

She turned her attention to the several bull's-eyes and stationary targets that she had also abused to hell and back by puncturing them with as many shuriken and kunai as she could.

All of them hit the center though, now having extraordinary aim, although it had not always been the case, and once upon a time she couldn't even toss a rolled-up paper ball into a basket three feet in front of her.

There's an old saying, 'The heart finds its morning and is refreshed.'

Many people interpret this as the idea of inspiration finding us in our most cherished place or act.

For Tenten, that place might have been the training ground where she relentlessly practiced on her training dummies, unleashing the full extent of her arsenal. Yet, as she stood there, surrounded by the familiar sights of punctured targets and the comforting weight of shuriken in her hand, inspiration was as elusive as a shadow in the night.

How can I help this orange idiot?

Traps, after all, weren't the most glamorous aspect of being a ninja.

They were seen as a means to an end—slowing down pursuers or securing an escape route.

Not exactly the stuff of legends.

Naruto's ambition to become a "trap master" seemed, at best, a quirky diversion from the traditional shinobi path.

At worst, it was a one-way ticket to obscurity.

After all, how many tales of heroism sung praises of traps over the direct confrontations of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, or the elegance of Kenjutsu? Traps were practical, yes, but hardly the making of a Hokage.

As she mulled over these thoughts, Tenten couldn't help but feel a growing frustration. Traps, by their nature, were defensive, strategic. Against an average person, perhaps they held some surprise. But a high-level ninja? Most would dismantle or outright destroy a trap with a mere flick of their chakra-infused fingers. The reality was harsh—physical traps, especially those devoid of chakra, seemed fundamentally inferior to the other, more robust techniques in a ninja's arsenal.

"Uh… hello? Tenten, you still in there?"

Her attention rapidly turned back to the blond, gazing at her up with eager eyes.

She wanted to tell him that he was still an academy student, and he should not be bothering so much about any of this now, considering his Jonin sensei could just come up one day and kick all of his hard work to the curb. She likewise wanted to tell him that utilizing traps was not in his best interests, considering how he seemed to be a walking ball of chakra, and he would excel at becoming a ninjutsu tank.

She wanted to shake her head and contemplate what in the world she was doing, spending her Saturday morning off tutoring someone.

This was one of the only two days when she was usually free from Gai, his eccentric mini-me and the fate-douche.

What had spurred her to come out so early, and start training to learn how to deflect shuriken with a headbutt? It sounded like something Lee and Gai would do when they were fired up and did not think about the larger picture.

"Um… Tenten… You … uh, you never really wanted to be a weapon specialist did you?"

Naruto's voice had drew her from her thoughts, and she turned back to the blond, who's eyes were the same blue, but rather than sparkle, they seemed to have a curious depth to them, like someone had dipped their hands into water and caused continuous wavy ripples.

Then her mind interpreted the words and identified their semantic meaning together as sound around her started to slowly go mute.

"Well..."

She had never wanted to become a weapons specialist, even though she did like the sharp pointy objects.

No, her true dream was to become like her role model, like Senju Tsunade, one of the Densetsu no Sannin, and the world's greatest and foremost medical practitioner. She had wanted to become a medic, a healer, someone who would aid her companions on the battlefield when they were wounded, someone who would ease and comfort bruises and pain.

There were a thousand people who could kill and there were a dozen kunoichi who only knew how to seduce, but there were very few individuals who could heal and restore, because that was a truly difficult task.

One that had been too difficult for her, so it had seemed.

Dreams were fragile, and reality came crashing upon the realization that she did not have the chakra control to become a medic.

There was no hopes of her ever saving life in a profession that demanded all she did was to take it. So in the end, her dream tarnished, realization that her lifelong idol was a person she could never work to become, she had thrown herself into Weapons instead.

It was also around time she lost her mom.

She did love and care for weapons, she really did, but there was always the nagging reminder at the back of her mind that the only reason she was a weapons specialist in the first place was because she had failed her original dream.

Her goal of becoming a weapons master was just a cheap substitute.

Still, no one should have known this, or at least, remembered it.

Not her sensei, not her teammates, and not even her adoptive father.

She gave him a steady gaze. "Why do you ask?"

"Huh? Whadd'ya mean?"

"No one has asked me that before. Ever."

She would remember easily if there had been anyone that had brought it up, but there was none.

Questions she had gotten instead was about how she got so good at weapons and why she seemed to love them so much, but not one person had looked upon her and asked, 'you didn't really want to do this, did you'.

It was like looking at a pro-fisherman, smiling with a giant shark in his hands, and then telling him that he never wished to be a fisherman and then somehow being correct.

What could possibly even draw that conclusion?

"Well I noticed that –" he looked as though he was going to continue, before shaking his head "Uh… never mind. It – it's not important."

Her lips pursed.

Not important?

No, there was not a chance in hell that she was going to take that.

"Oh no you don't. If you've got something to say, you'd better say it."

He seemed doubly reluctant and it made her more annoyed.

What was he hiding?

Was he secretly some kind of stalker that had been following or was obsessed with her?

It seemed unlikely for that to even be the case because she was certain she was a good enough kunoichi to have noticed someone wearing bright orange with bright blond hair stalking her.

"So what, you just looked at me and it came to you just like that? That's not possible. What tipped it off?"

"Well…" he rubbed his chin, his eyes still giving that strange depth "It's kinda in the way you throw."

She rose an eyebrow.

"In the way I throw?"

What kind of vague ridiculous statement was that?

How did the way she threw her kunai and weapons indicate anything of the sort?

That was like saying that you could tell a husband was cheating because he always hoarded family funds, or a woman was a murderer because she cut meat at ungodly speeds.

She grabbed him softly by the collar and gave him the 'nicest' smile she could muster.

"Naru-chan, would you kindly mind explaining what that means?"

"Gah! That's t-the only way I can explain it dattebayo!"

A pair of scissors was rapidly in her hands, summoned easily from her scroll in a puff of smoke, and her smile was becoming strained further and further as the seconds ticked by, and Naruto's face still looked reluctant.

"Try harder, or the orange gets it."

"Wait! H-hey now, t-there's no reason for that –"

She gave him 'the' look.

The one she had first given Neji when he thought he could get away with talking down to her the same way he talked down to Lee, the one she got whenever someone insulted or called her one-dimensional for her choice in relying only on weapons, and the one that had usually sent tall bullies twice her size reeling back before her fists and even began to shatter their noses.

There was no mirth in her eyes at this point.

"I don't mind getting a black eye because of hijinks, but what I do mind, is when someone who literally met me yesterday can give me the googly-eyes, and then suddenly come to conclusions about things that not even my own teammates and Jonin-sensei realized. So either you start talking, or I start snipping."

His reluctance seemed to remain strong as his face squirmed in a myriad of expressions, right until the snipping of the scissors took off a large portion of the orange jumpsuit.

"Alright! Alright! You throw like Sasuke-teme!"

She blinked, the scissors coming to a stop in her hands.

The name was infamous at this point, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone who did not know Uchiha Sasuke, sole survivor of the Uchiha Massacre.

"Explain. Now."

He groaned.

"When you throw, you don't really give off that super awesome vibe of you saying 'I can do this' even though you really can, you give off that vibe saying 'I have to do this'."

"And what's the difference?"

Uzumaki Naruto gave her a shrug, his shoulders raising and dropping in rapid succession, and his depth-filled blue eyes hit her brown straight on.

"I can become the Hokage, but I don't have to become the Hokage."

Not a word was uttered as she gazed into his eyes, and then eventually detached her grip from his collar, as she snapped the scissors close with a flick of her wrist.

"I think we're done here."

"Oi! Oi! Oi! What's that supposed to mean? What d'ya mean we're done?"

She dusted off her training attire as she gave the annoyingly perceptive blond a final look. She wasn't even sure if the blond understood the insinuations of his own statement, or perhaps he did, and maybe he was pretending not to.

"Hey! Tenten! Tenten! Where are you going-ttebayo?"

The clearing was left with only a blond boy within it, slowly scratching his head.

"Was it what I said? But she's the one who wanted me to say it! So why'd she get angry-ttebayo?!"

He proceeded to irritably scratch his head.

[ Skill "Spirit Possession" has been deactivated ]

[ Quest Completion: Tenten's Ambition ]

[ Status: Successfully Completed ]

[ Rewards Granted: ]

- [ Dungeon Key ]

- [ Feat "Weapon Master" ]

---

Tenten walked.

One foot after the other, mechanically, her mind a cacophony of thoughts and echoes. Naruto's words reverberated in her head, each repetition like a hammer striking the same spot, over and over.

She tried to push them away, to find a counterargument, a rebuttal, but nothing came.

His observation, innocent yet so piercing, had unearthed something she had buried deep within.

The morning air was cool, but she barely felt it.

Her steps, initially slow and pensive, gained momentum.

Her hands, clenched into fists, swung by her sides.

The training ground, usually a place of focus and discipline, now felt like a cage, trapping her with her own swirling thoughts.

"Why did it have to be him?" she thought bitterly.

Why did Naruto, of all people, have to see through me?

Everything about her suddenly seemed empty now.

Tenten hadn't just settled for becoming a weapon specialist; it was more than that—it was a connection to her mother.

But as she reflected, it all felt like a hollow justification.

Even though she had a passion for weapons, it didn't mean she couldn't have pursued healing instead.

But circumstances held her back, similar to how Lee was unable to use chakra, and Neji lacked the resources to fully utilize his talents.

The realization that she might have settled for what was within reach made Tenten's blood simmer with frustration. It felt like an insult, a dismissal of her potential.

In her team, she had felt somewhat normal, but the truth hit her hard: she was just like them, individuals whose ambitions were restrained by fate's cruel grip.

"Damn you, Neji, and your damn fate nonsense," she muttered under her breath.

Tenten had prided herself on being unreadable, on keeping her dreams and disappointments locked away.

Yet, this boy, hardly more than a stranger, had unwittingly cracked her facade.

As she walked, her gaze fell upon a tree. It was tall, robust, its bark rough and scarred from numerous training sessions.

Without thinking, she stopped in front of it. Her breathing was heavy, not from physical exertion, but from the weight of unshed emotions.

Her hand instinctively reached for a kunai, a movement refined by countless hours of practice.

With precision, she launched it, watching as it buried itself into the tree's bark.

She retrieved it, only to strike once more. Each thrust carried a storm of questions: why, how, what if.

What if she had broadened her focus within the medical field beyond just medical Ninjutsu? She could have been an on-field surgeon, providing critical care in the heart of battle. Or perhaps a poison maker, crafting toxins that could turn the tide of conflict. Maybe even a pill pharmacist, developing medicines that could bolster her comrades on the frontline.

And what if she had taken a year to hone her control further? What if she stopped shackling herself with the mindset of defeat?

As Tenten continued to hurl her kunai and shurikens with increasing speed, her thoughts were interrupted by a memory of Naruto's words.

When you throw, you don't really give off that super awesome vibe of you saying 'I can do this' even though you really can, you give off that vibe saying 'I have to do this.'

The recollection fueled her anger, sending her weapons flying faster and with more intensity.

"Why?" she thought with each strike.

Why couldn't I be what I wanted to be?

Why did I have to settle?

The kunai's rhythm was relentless, but the tree remained, steadfast.

With each strike, her frustration grew.

The physical exertion began to take its toll, her arm aching, her breath ragged.

But she couldn't stop.

The tree was her opponent now, a stand-in for all the dreams she couldn't reach, for the healer she couldn't become.

"I am strong," she thought, her strikes growing more forceful.

"I've worked hard. I've made a name for myself. Why isn't that enough? Why does his observation unsettle me so?" She wanted to scream, to let out all the frustration, the anger, the sense of inadequacy.

But then, as her arm raised for another strike, she paused.

The kunai hovered in the air, her arm trembling.

The tree in front of her bore the marks of her outburst, the bark chipped and scarred. But it was still standing, still strong.

Not like her.

Tenten lowered her arm, the kunai slipping from her grasp.

Her breaths came in short gasps, her body covered in sweat.

She leaned against the tree, its rough bark pressing against her back.

Her eyes closed, and for the first time in what felt like hours, she allowed herself to feel the full weight of her emotions.

"I am not who I wanted to be," she admitted to herself.

"But that doesn't mean I've failed. I've just...

---

The bell above the door jingled as Naruto pushed his way into Higurashi Weapons, the familiar scent of metal and oil greeting him. The shop was lined with all manner of weapons, from sleek kunai to massive swords. At the counter stood Mr. Higurashi, polishing a particularly menacing-looking axe.

"Oh, Naruto, why are you here?" Higurashi asked, a playful twinkle in his eye.

"Don't tell me, my daughter has caught your eye."

Naruto looked genuinely confused, his brows knitting together.

"Higurashi-san, how else would I see your daughter if she didn't catch my eye?" he asked earnestly.

Higurashi couldn't help but sweat drop at Naruto's response.

Of course, the academy student was too dense to understand the subtle implication. "What do you want?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"I want to get a weapon," Naruto said, his voice filled with a determination that seemed at odds with his usual cheerful demeanor.

"A weapon?" Higurashi looked surprised, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Did my daughter rub off on you?"

Naruto's cheeks flushed a bright red. He had come to buy a weapon to test out his new 'Weapon Master' feat.

[ Feat: Weapon Master - Passive ]

[ Level: N/A ]

[ Description: The 'Weapon Master' feat grants the user unparalleled mastery over any chosen weapon, transcending conventional combat skills. Upon wielding the selected weapon, the user gains instant proficiency and heightened combat capabilities. ]

[ Passive Boosts: ]

- [ Instant Mastery: Immediate, intuitive understanding of the chosen weapon. Attack precision and skill with the weapon are maximized. ]

- [ Weapon-Related Skills: All skills related to weapons are upgraded to Level 10, achieving mastery without specific form. ]

[ Active Boosts ]

- Master's Strike: Once per combat, you can declare a Master's Strike. This attack automatically hits and deals critical damage. This ability resets after a short or long rest. ]

- [ Enhanced Combat Efficiency: Attacks with the chosen weapon are executed with supreme proficiency and effectiveness. ]

Before either could continue their conversation, the door creaked open again. Both men turned to see Tenten standing there, her appearance strikingly different from her usual composed self. Her hair was disheveled, strands sticking out at odd angles, and her clothes were stained with sweat and bits of bark. There were traces of dirt on her face, and her eyes held a mix of exhaustion and lingering frustration.

"You got some nerve coming here asking for a weapon," Tenten said, her voice carrying an edge that confused both her father and Naruto.

Higurashi looked between his daughter and Naruto, a puzzled expression on his face. "Tenten, is everything alright?"

Naruto, still red-faced and now slightly intimidated, stammered, "I-I just came to buy a weapon, Tenten. I didn't mean to-" Naruto began, but Tenten's voice thundered through the shop, cutting him off.

"Shut up!" she shouted, her voice sharp as the blades surrounding them. She marched up to the counter, her movements swift and decisive. Her hand reached out, gripping a sword that lay there.

"You think I wanted to give up?" Tenten's voice cracked with emotion, her eyes fiercely locked onto Naruto's. "I never did, Naruto. I never gave up. My dream wasn't just to be a medic like Tsunade. No, it was to be like Tsunade-a woman of strength, a legend, a beacon for others. I didn't give up on being a medic. I chose my own path!"

She unsheathed the sword with a flourish, the metal gleaming under the shop's lights. "You see this sword? I made it. I poured my heart and soul into it. So, tell me, am I abandoning some childhood dream, or am I forging my own destiny?"

Her voice crescendoed, filled with a passion that shook the very air. "In 3 months, Naruto, at the Chunin Exams, I will show you and the world-I haven't settled. I haven't given up. I chose to be a weapons specialist, not because it was all I could do, but because it was what I chose to do!"

With a swift, fluid motion, she cut her own hand with the sword, a line of red appearing against her skin. Her father gasped, and Naruto's eyes widened in alarm. She threw the bloodied sword towards Naruto, who caught it instinctively, his hand trembling.

But Tenten's voice rose above their concerns, filled with a furious determination.

"Naruto, I never gave up on anything. I didn't settle for second best. I chose this path to become my own kunoichi, to be a woman that others would look up to. I will be Tenten, the strongest weapon specialist in the world!"

Her declaration reverberated through the shop, the weapons on the walls seeming to resonate with her words.

As Tenten's glare met his, a system notification flashed before Naruto's eyes, startling him.

---

[ Naruto's POV ]

[ Alert: Chain Quest ]

[ Quest Name: Tenten's Awakening ]

[ Description: Tenten is on the verge of unlocking the class "Herald of Hephaestus." Fight her and force her to awaken ]

[ Reward: A Loyal Ally in Tenten, ? ]

[ Failure: Tenten's Death ]

[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]

I took a deep breath, the weight of the katana feeling just right in my hands.

Time for reflection was over; it was time to act.

Even though I had only known Tenten for about a week, she had quickly become a cool friend—one I respected and trained with.

A fleeting thought crossed my mind—Isn't death because of some words a bit much?—but I pushed it aside and focused on the moment as I watched Tenten walk away.

"Fight me," I called out firmly.

Tenten stopped in her tracks and turned to face me.

"What?"

I swung the katana back and forth, feeling its balance and edge.

As I did, something clicked inside me, activating the weapon master feat. My stance shifted instinctively, morphing into that of a seasoned swordsman. I gripped the katana with both hands, my knees slightly bent, the blade angled forward, poised and ready.

"Why wait for the Chunin exams? Show me the true power of the weapon specialist, Tenten," I challenged, my voice serious and steady.

Tenten's expression hardened in response, her eyes narrowing with focus as she gripped her own katana, mirroring my stance.

Mr. Higurashi, witnessing the unfolding scene, took a deliberate step back, his expression a mix of concern and understanding.

This was a pivotal moment for his daughter, a clash that seemed necessary for both her and me.

I launched into the duel with a burst of speed, my katana cutting through the air as I closed the gap between Tenten and me in an instant.

My blade arced down in a smooth, controlled strike aimed at her midsection.

Tenten's reflexes snapped into action, her blade rising swiftly to intercept mine. The sound of metal clashing echoed sharply as our swords met.

Without missing a beat, I unleashed a series of three rapid strikes, each aimed to test her defenses.

Tenten moved with a fluid grace, her katana an extension of her will, perfectly synchronized with her movements. She parried each attack, her blade redirecting mine with precise, clean motions. The force of my assault briefly pushed her hand upward, but she skillfully used the momentum to pivot her body, countering with a swift, powerful horizontal swing aimed back at me.

Our swords clashed once more, the impact resonant enough to send a shockwave through the shop around us. Shelves rattled, and the hanging weapons vibrated from the force of our exchange.

"This is the first time I'm experiencing this," I thought, gritting my teeth as I maintained my focus.

Sword duels were intense, and every move had to be precise.

With a resounding boom, Tenten and I both stepped back, granting ourselves a brief respite.

The tension hung heavy in the air as she lunged forward again, her katana slicing through the air with lethal intent.

I found myself driven back, each block and parry I performed pushing me further toward the defensive.

Tenten's strategy was clear; she was trying to control the flow of the fight, dictating the pace and direction with her aggressive approach.

I kept my footing light, shifting my weight from one leg to the other, ready to change direction at a moment's notice.

My arms worked in tandem, my right hand gripping the katana firmly for slashes and cuts, while my left hand assisted in guiding the blade for more controlled blocks.

As Tenten's blade came at me in a diagonal slash, I sidestepped, redirecting her momentum to throw her off balance. This opened her up for a counterattack. Seizing the opportunity, I aimed a quick thrust towards her side, trying to slip past her defenses. But Tenten was quick to recover, twisting her body to let my blade slide harmlessly away, her counter-move a mere blur.

My movements melded agility with precision, narrowly dodging Tenten's relentless strikes.

In a fierce display of her skill, Tenten's blade sliced through a display stand, severing it cleanly in half.

Debris clattered to the floor, yet she didn't pause, her katana a continuous blur as she pressed her assault.

As Tenten executed a complex wrist twist, her katana arced swiftly towards my head. Reacting in the nick of time, I raised my sword, the guard intercepting the blow.

The force jolted me backward, but I quickly regained my balance and countered, my blade sweeping upward to leave a shallow cut across Tenten's shoulder.

"Do you want to continue?" I asked, my concern breaking through as I noticed her determination not waning.

Her eyes narrowed, flames of determination igniting within them. She responded with an Iai attack—a swift draw-and-cut technique from the scabbard—that caught me off guard. The sheer power of her strike overwhelmed my defenses, pushing me back and nearly toppling me over.

Switching tactics swiftly, I dropped my katana and unleashed a barrage of shurikens and kunai. Tenten, with astounding speed, sliced through each one, her katana moving in a rhythmic, deadly dance.

Not done yet, I threw a scroll towards her, which she instinctively cut, releasing a billowing cloud of smoke into the air. I seized the moment and lunged forward from behind the smokescreen, but Tenten was ready. She parried my attack, yet the force of the master strike sent her skidding across the shop floor. Using her katana, she managed to stop herself, digging the blade into the ground to halt her backward momentum.

I let my katana glow with an ominous energy as I issued a stern warning, "Defend or else, you'll die."

"Why didn't you use your last attack?" Tenten asked, dusting herself off as she rose from the debris.

"Last thing I checked, a weapon specialist isn't limited to a katana," I shot back, knowing full well Tenten had more tricks up her sleeve.

Without a moment's pause, Tenten hurled her katana straight at me. I raised my own blade in response, clashing against hers mid-air, sending a shower of sparks flying around us. Before I could regain my footing, Tenten unfurled two scrolls, each spilling forth a dense cloud of smoke that swiftly enveloped the area.

As the smoke cleared, I was taken aback to see hundreds of weapons embedded into the ground around us, transforming the battlefield into an armory laid bare. Tenten wasted no time. She grabbed a kusarigama — a weapon consisting of a weighted chain linked to a sharp sickle — and swung it with practiced ease. The weighted chain flew towards me first, which I managed to block with my katana, the sound of metal striking metal ringing sharply. But the sickle followed a swift arc, slashing across my face and leaving a stinging, bloody mark.

"Let's do this then," Tenten declared, her voice thick with resolve. "A fight where either you kill or be killed."

Determined not to be outdone, I steadied myself as Tenten wielded the kusarigama with deadly precision. She spun the chain expertly, creating a dangerous zone around her that was difficult to penetrate. The sickle whizzed through the air, aimed repeatedly at my vitals, while I parried and dodged, feeling the air slice as the blade passed dangerously close.

I knew I had to close the distance, negate the reach of her chain. Waiting for her next attack, I anticipated the swing of her sickle, stepped inside the arc, and with a quick, upward slash of my katana, aimed to sever the chain connecting the sickle. Metal clashed against metal with a grating sound. Sparks flew as my blade met the chain, and with a forceful twist of my wrists, the chain snapped, rendering the sickle harmless as it clattered to the ground.

Now disarmed, Tenten was quick to react, backflipping away to reach for another weapon from the ground. I didn't give her the chance. I advanced, slashing and thrusting with my katana, forcing her to dodge and weave, picking up smaller throwing weapons and hurling them in quick succession. I deflected them with the flat of my blade, my arms working tirelessly.

Tenten swiftly grabbed a handful of Makibishi—sharp, caltrop-like spikes—and scattered them across the ground in a strategic pattern, aiming to restrict my movements.

I noticed the trap just in time and leapt gracefully over the spikes, landing lightly with my katana poised and ready.

Next, Tenten grabbed a shuriken, her fingers positioning it with practiced ease.

She threw it with a spin that turned it into a whirling dervish of death, slicing through the air towards me.

As the shuriken approached, she used the Academy shadow clone technique to multiply it, creating a barrage of deadly projectiles swirling around me. I readied myself, my sword sweeping through the air in broad, swift strokes, deflecting the incoming shuriken with precision.

I knew this onslaught was just a diversion.

Seizing a pair of Sai from the ground.

The light glinted off the metallic prongs as she brandished them confidently.

She lunged forward, thrusting and jabbing with the sai, each strike precise and aimed to disarm or incapacitate.

As she advanced, I readied my katana, understanding the unique challenge the sai posed.

Unlike a sword, the sai could trap and manipulate an opponent's weapon with its prongs.

I had to be careful not to let my blade get caught between them.

Tenten thrust one of the sai toward my midsection, a direct and dangerous attack. I sidestepped, using the length of my katana to maintain distance, and parried the thrust to the side.

The metal clanged loudly as our weapons met, sparks flying from the force of our contact.

She switched tactics rapidly, attempting to hook the hilt of my katana with her sai to disarm me. Anticipating her move, I twisted my katana at an angle, avoiding the hook and bringing my blade down in a swift motion aimed at the shaft of her sai. The impact was precise, and the sai's shaft buckled under the force, rendering it less effective.

Tenten didn't pause, however.

With her remaining functional sai, she executed a series of quick, stabbing motions, each one faster and more aggressive than the last.

I parried each attack, the sound of our clashing metal a constant echo in the charged atmosphere.

Recognizing an opening as Tenten overextended one of her thrusts, I stepped in closer, inside the reach of her sai. This was risky, as it put me dangerously close to her secondary weapon, but it also gave me a chance to destroy the weapon. With a quick flick of my wrist, I maneuvered my katana in a sweeping motion aimed at disarming her. The blade of my katana struck the handle of her sai, knocking it from her grasp with the impact.

Now unarmed, Tenten stepped back, assessing the situation with a quick, calculating gaze as she transitioned to metallic nunchaku.

She wielded them with such grace and fluidity, they seemed like mere extensions of her arms.

Each movement was a mesmerizing display of her skill; the nunchaku arced and whipped through the air, forming both a shield and a weapon as she spun them deftly around her body.

Facing her, I tightened my grip on my katana, my focus narrowing to match her tempo.

As Tenten launched her attack, her nunchaku slicing towards me in swift, calculated arcs, I used the blade to parry with precise timing.

The metallic clang of our weapons meeting filled the air.

She was relentless, each swing of her nunchaku aimed to exploit any opening. However, I stayed close, limiting the swing radius of her nunchaku, which required space to be most effective.

Each time her weapon came toward me, I countered, my katana moving in a controlled blur, aimed at disrupting her rhythm and finding a gap in her defense.

In a rapid exchange, Tenten's nunchaku swung towards my left side—a quick, sharp movement aimed at catching me off guard. Anticipating her strategy, I stepped forward instead of back, closing the distance even further and angling my blade towards the chain of her nunchaku. With a swift, targeted strike, I aimed not at Tenten but at the connecting chain of her weapon.

The sound of metal on metal was sharp as my katana met the chain. The force of my strike was enough to break the chain, severing the connection between the nunchaku's two sections. The broken weapon clattered to the ground, rendering her attack incomplete and throwing her momentarily off balance.

As Tenten advanced, her Sunetetsu—a slender, needle-like weapon—flashed in rapid jabs, each thrust aimed with precision at the weak points in my guard.

She moved like a dancer, her steps light and her strikes sharp, trying to target the vulnerable spots beneath my arms.

Suddenly, Tenten shifted tactics, blending her weapon strikes with smooth, grappling movements reminiscent of jujutsu. She aimed to unbalance me, her body twisting in close to leverage my own weight against me. I jumped back, dodging her piercing strike, and as I landed, my katana met her Sunetetsu in a powerful, sweeping arc. The master strike activated and with a resonant boom, Tenten was propelled backward, crashing into the scattered arsenal behind her.

As Tenten slipped on her Tekagi-Shuko, the metal claws glinting menacingly, she lunged forward.

Her hands, transformed into deadly weapons, swiped at my katana, aiming to disarm me.

I sidestepped smoothly with her claws scraped against the air, missing me by mere inches.

In response, I countered with a rapid thrust, my blade slicing through the tense air towards her.

Tenten ducked under my attack.

Just as I prepared another strike, she dropped a smoke bomb at her feet.

The area instantly clouded with thick smoke, obscuring my vision.

Despite the sudden blindness, I relied on the mind's eye.

With a swift motion, I struck where I predicted she'd be, my sword meeting resistance.

There was a metallic clang as my blade connected with her Tekagi-Shuko, the force of my strike overwhelming the claws, breaking through the metal.

As the smoke dissipated, I noticed the remnants of Tenten's Tekagi-Shuko scattered on the ground. I spun around just in time to see her seizing a Kama, its curved blade gleaming ominously. She swung the sickle weapon in a broad, sweeping arc, intending to catch me off-guard. I ducked swiftly, feeling the air shift above me as the blade sliced through it.

Rising quickly, I responded with a rapid slash from my katana, aimed directly at the handle of her Kama. Tenten, anticipating the counter, leapt backwards, narrowly avoiding my strike. Her movements were fluid, yet each step was calculated, using the Kama not just to attack but to control space, hooking and pulling at defenses to create openings.

Despite her skill, I pressed on, my own blade moving in a blur. I parried another swing of her Kama and followed up with a forceful thrust.

As Tenten hurled the kama at me, I pivoted swiftly, executing a swirling kata to evade the spinning blade. She didn't pause; retreating slightly, she grabbed a chigiriki—a chain weapon with a weighted end—and swung it with lethal intent. I countered instinctively, my katana slicing through the air, catching the chain mid-swing and redirecting it with a flick of my wrist, steering the weight away from me.

In the same fluid motion, Tenten drew a jitte, a pronged weapon designed for disarming. She thrust at my katana, aiming to catch and control my blade. Anticipating her move, I sidestepped, the jitte passing harmlessly by. I spun around, my counterstrike swift and precise, targeting the jitte itself. My blade struck the jitte near its base, the force of my strike snapping the weapon in two.

The rapid exchange was a blur of motion and metal.

Tenten lunged at me with her Neko-te, claws affixed to her fingers like deadly extensions of her own hand. Each swipe was aimed with deadly precision, designed to slash or grab at an opponent. I responded with rapid, sweeping movements of my katana, parrying her strikes just inches from my face. The air hissed with the sound of our weapons meeting.

In the heat of our exchange, I noticed a pattern to Tenten's attacks. Seizing a fleeting moment, I adjusted my stance, ready to exploit her next move.

As she swiped again, I stepped closer, inside the reach of her claws, using the flat side of my blade to redirect her arm to the side.

With her defenses momentarily open, I executed a swift, controlled slice, targeting the straps that secured the Neko-te to her hands.

My blade cut through the material, and the claws clattered to the ground, rendering her momentarily weaponless.

As Tenten's hand closed around the Kusari-Fundo, a weighted chain, she snapped it forward with a fluid motion. I responded instantly, my katana slicing through the chain, severing it with a sharp clang. The severed pieces clattered to the ground, a brief pause in the relentless tempo of our duel.

Without hesitation, Tenten picked up a Tonfa. She wielded it expertly, using it to both attack and defend. Her movements were sharp and precise, but my swordplay matched her skill. I circled around her, my blade parrying and then countering, exploiting the brief openings in her defense. Our weapons clashed repeatedly, the sound echoing around us.

The duel escalated as Tenten reached for a Tetsubo, a massive war club. Despite its size, she swung it with surprising agility. However, my katana, honed and swift, met the heavy weapon mid-swing, slicing through it and breaking the club in two. The halves thudded to the ground.

Unyielding, Tenten then grabbed a pair of Tekko—metal knuckle guards. Her fists flew towards me, a barrage of rapid punches. I countered each strike with my katana, the metallic ring of our weapons a constant backdrop to our fierce combat.

Next, she seized an Ono, a traditional battle-axe. She swung it in wide, powerful arcs. I dodged and weaved through her attacks, my counterstrikes chipping away at the axe handle until it finally snapped under the relentless assault.

In rapid succession, Tenten switched to a Kuwa, a short-handled hoe. She slashed at me, her movements aggressive and desperate. I met her attack head-on, my blade striking hers with such force that the Kuwa's blade shattered.

Moving swiftly, Tenten picked up a Masakari, a broad axe, and aimed a heavy blow at me. I parried it skillfully, sparks flying from the contact. With a swift and clean strike, I cut the axe's head off, rendering it useless.

Her determination unquenched, Tenten then wielded a long staff, spinning it with practiced skill. I was faster, my katana slicing through the staff, splitting it in two.

She wasn't done yet. Grabbing a Kyoketsu Shoge, a hooked blade with a rope, she swung it toward me. I deflected the hook and swiftly closed the distance between us, severing the rope with a sharp flick of my blade, neutralizing another of her weapons.

Tenten then took up an Eku, a boat oar, using its length to try to keep me at bay. But my blade was relentless, cutting through the wood effortlessly.

She picked up a Nagamaki, a long-bladed polearm. She thrust and slashed, each move swift and calculated, but my agility and swordplay were superior. I dodged her strikes and countered, my katana a blur of motion as I maneuvered around her relentless attacks.

Tenten gripped the Naginata, its long pole topped with a curved blade that glinted menacingly in the light.

She launched into an assault, the blade slicing through the air with precision.

Her movements were fluid, utilizing the Naginata's reach to keep me at a distance, sweeping the blade in wide, arcing strikes aimed to cut or push me back.

Her movements were fluid, utilizing the Naginata's reach to keep me at a distance, sweeping the blade in wide, arcing strikes aimed to cut or push me back.

From my perspective, each of Tenten's maneuvers was a lethal dance, demanding my utmost attention. I wielded my katana defensively, the shorter blade requiring me to be agile. I parried her sweeping cuts, sidestepping the slicing arcs, and ducking under the high swings.

As Tenten switched to thrusting, aiming the sharp point of the Naginata directly at me, I recognized my chance. She was extending herself slightly with each thrust, an inevitable vulnerability given the weapon's length. Waiting for her next forward push, I deflected the tip of her Naginata to the side with my katana, using a classic redirection technique.

The moment her weapon veered off its intended path, I stepped inside her guard, the proximity negating her weapon's advantage.

With a quick pivot, I brought my katana up in a swift, rising slash aimed at the shaft of her Naginata.

The blade cut deeply into the wood, severing the pole, and effectively halving the reach of her weapon.

Tenten quickly snatched up an Uchiwa, a rigid fan traditionally used for defense, and started using it to parry my sword strikes. Her movements were precise, the fan snapping open and shut with a sharp flick of her wrist, creating a barrier that momentarily diverted my attacks. Each time my katana came slicing through the air, she maneuvered the fan with skill, attempting to deflect the blade and create openings for her counterattacks.

Despite the rapid pace, I could see the fan straining under the force of my sword. The Uchiwa, while adept at redirecting lighter blows, wasn't built to withstand the sustained assault of a sharp-edged weapon like my katana. With each strike, I increased the intensity, my blade cutting closer and closer to the fan's delicate structure.

I feinted a strike to her left, and as she moved the fan to block, I quickly reversed my grip and swung with a backhanded slice. The katana met the fan with a resounding crack, slicing through the bamboo ribs and shredding the paper. Pieces of the destroyed fan fluttered to the ground like fallen leaves in a storm.

Tenten's next several choices, including the Su Yari, Tsuki Nari Yari, Tajiri Nari Yari, Ōtsuchi, Bishamon Yari, Tantō, Kagi Yari, Wakizashi, Kama Yari, Dansen Uchiwa, Kata Kama Yari, Ninjatō, Ju-Monji Yari, Daītō, Kikuchi Yari, Ōdachi, Sasumata, and Tsukubo, were all met with the same fate. Each weapon was wielded with incredible skill and precision, but Naruto's mastery of the sword and his keen awareness allowed him to counter and destroy each one.

"How?" Tenten asked, breathless and incredulous, staring at the katana in Naruto's hands.

"This," Naruto said, holding up the katana with a sense of reverence, "is an amazingly made weapon, crafted by someone strong."

Tenten's expression hardened into a growl, but before she could react, Naruto tossed the katana towards her. She caught it reflexively, her confusion evident.

"You want to show the world your strength? Do it with a great weapon. Not a mediocre one," Naruto said firmly, his eyes locked on hers.

At that moment, Mr. Higurashi, having watched the duel with a mix of apprehension and pride, threw another katana towards Naruto. With swift reflexes, Naruto caught it mid-air, the blade gleaming in his grasp.

The air crackled with tension, both Tenten and Naruto understanding the gravity of the next move. It would end with one decisive attack.

Naruto watched as Tenten's katana began to hum, a soft glow emanating from the blade. Suddenly, the sword burst into blue flames, its light casting a surreal glow on Tenten's determined face.

[ Tenten's Awakening has commenced ]

[ Conditions have been met. Tenten's class has been changed from 'Blacksmith' to 'Herald of Hephaestus' ]

[ Tenten has activated her martial spirit, the 'Flames Of A Blacksmith' ]

With a shared nod, they lunged towards each other, their movements a blur of speed and precision.

Their katanas met in a single, earth-shattering clash.

Naruto's sword, overwhelmed by the sheer force and newfound power of Tenten's blade, shattered into pieces. Tenten's katana, now glowing intensely, stopped just at Naruto's neck.

"I win," Tenten declared, her voice steady but her eyes shining with triumph.

Naruto smiled, his expression one of genuine respect and a touch of chagrin.

"Of course you won, Tenten. I'm sorry. I'm an idiot who doesn't know when to shut up. I'm sorry if my words hurt you."

Tenten's expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on his head.

"You'd make a great Hokage someday."

"And you," Naruto replied with a grin, "will earn the title of the world's strongest weapon specialist."

"Ahem," Mr. Higurashi's voice cut through the air, pulling the duo's attention towards the wreckage that was once a perfectly good shop.

With a simple point of his finger, he made his expectations clear.

"You two are paying for all the damages."

"But Dad..." Tenten began, deploying her most powerful weapon—her doll eyes, hoping to melt her father's resolve. But Mr. Higurashi stood as unfazed as a mountain, immune to the charm that would sway most.

Meanwhile, Naruto fished in his pocket and pulled out a single Ryo, accompanied by a coupon for one free ramen. With a grin that could light up the Hidden Leaf Village, he offered his treasures to Mr. Higurashi as if presenting a royal decree.

"Well then, I should go now!" he announced, matching his words with a nervous grin, attempting a casual, backward retreat.

Before Naruto could make his grand escape, Mr. Higurashi's arm shot out, landing heavily on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto glanced up to see the veins and muscles in Mr. Higurashi's arm standing out like the roots of an ancient tree, a silent but clear message. Naruto let out a nervous chuckle, the sound a mix between a squeak and a gulp.

"You are paying for it."

"Yes, sir," Naruto squeaked out.

[ Quest Completion ]

[ Reward Granted ]

- Ally: Tenten now a loyal ally.

[ Hidden Reward: ]

- Destroying all of Tenten's weapons has earned 1000 Experience Points.

- Additional Quest Unlocked: Paying Back Debt ]

[ Chain Quest Alert ]

[ Quest: Paying Back Debt ]

[ Objective: Earn 50k Ryo to pay for the damage to Mr. Higrashi's shop, with the assistance of Tenten. ]

[ Rewards: ]

- [ +500 Reputation with Higrashi Shop ]

- [ Friendship with Tenten ]

- [ 1000 Exp ]

- [ Special Item from Higrashi Shop ]

[ Failure: No monetary loss, but -700 with Higurashi Shop and missed opportunity for a loyal ally in Tenten. ]

[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]

---

Hinata was not usually one to look forward to school, seeing it as yet another stage to showcase her lack of success in pretty much everything.

However, there was one, brightly shining exception to this dreary outlook: Naruto-kun.

Just the thought of him could light up her day, and today, she was determined to make a Bento for him, hoping to capture his heart through his stomach.

In the Hyuga household kitchen, Hinata stood surrounded by an array of ingredients, meticulously planning the perfect meal. "Naruto-kun loves meats," she murmured to herself, carefully selecting the juiciest cuts while purposefully ignoring most of the vegetables.

"But he hates vegetables... except for red beans," she continued, remembering his peculiar taste.

"Only in red bean soup, though."

With a smile, she began to assemble the Bento, her movements graceful and filled with care, imagining Naruto's delighted face.

In her head, the scene played out perfectly. "Naruto-kun, I made you this meal!" she would say, her voice filled with hope.

And he, with stars in his eyes, would reply, "Hinata, I couldn't have asked for a better wife." At that thought, Hinata blushed a deep red and let out a giggle, lost in her daydreams.

"What are you giggling at, big sister?" a curious voice interrupted her fantasy. Hinata spun around to find her little sister, Hanabi, along with a few of the household servants.

"N-Nothing," Hinata stammered, her face now matching the color of a ripe tomato.

"I was just making a few bentos."

Hanabi's gaze drifted to the small mountain of bentos Hinata had prepared.

"Are you trying to gain weight?" she asked innocently, her question loaded with the naivety only a younger sibling could possess.

Hinata's heart sank, and her imagination took a nosedive.

"Do I look fat? Does Naruto-kun like fat girls? Ahhh! Does he hate me because I am the fattest woman in the world? No!"

Observing Hinata's sudden shift from dreamy bliss to utter despair, Hanabi could only sweat-drop at the dramatic change.

"Typical," she thought, understanding all too well her sister's tendency to overthink and take the words of others a little too seriously.

---

Hinata tiptoed into class, her eyes scanning every corner for that unmistakable mop of blond hair.

But Naruto-kun was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, I thought he was getting more punctual," she sighed to herself, a little disappointed.

The day dragged on, each tick of the clock stretching longer than the last, but Naruto-kun never showed up.

"Was he sick?" she worried, her imagination conjuring up images of Naruto laid up with a cold.

As soon as school ended, Hinata dashed off to the one place she was sure to find Naruto: Ichiraku Ramen.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him, but it plummeted the next instant.

There he was, with another girl.

The girl's dress was vibrant, hugging her form with elegant lines and a high collar. It was adorned with intricate patterns, swirling designs that seemed to dance with each movement she made.

"No! I was too late!" Hinata's heart ached, a lump forming in her throat.

But then, the girl spoke, "Can I get a vegetarian ramen?"

Hinata's eyes widened.

"Gah! What unholy monstrosity is that? You have defiled the sanctity of ramen!" Naruto's accusation cut through Hinata's despair, bringing a bizarre sense of relief.

The girl, unfazed, pulled out a giant page that looked suspiciously like a contract. "Anything else to say?" she asked Naruto, who could only grumble in response.

"I am helping you," she insisted, to which Naruto protested about the "unholy vegetable."

Their argument was cut short by Ayame, who wielded her wooden spoon like a weapon of justice, smacking Naruto on the head.

"That hurt!" Naruto complained, rubbing the sore spot, only to notice Hinata standing there with a look of utter confusion.

"Oh, Hinata, I didn't see you there. Please tell me you came to order something holy," Naruto said, eager to restore some sanctity to his ramen sanctuary.

Hinata, however, was stuck on a different thought.

"You didn't come to class today," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Oh, yeah, I was helping Mr. Higrashi and Tenten clean the *ahem* mess in his shop," Naruto explained, coughing awkwardly. "Which you caused," Tenten chimed in, accepting her vegetarian ramen with a smirk.

"Excuse me, it was both of our mess," Naruto shot back, turning his attention back to Hinata.

"Anyways, Tenten and I are trying to figure out a way to make some money to pay for the damages," he said, taking his ramen from Ayame.

"Can I help?" Hinata blurted out louder than she intended, her cheeks flaming red. "Thanks, Hinata, you are a true friend," Naruto beamed, sending Hinata's heart into a fluttering mess, almost ready to faint. Meanwhile, Tenten raised an eyebrow, her expression saying clear as day, "No way."

Naruto, slurping his noodles with unabashed gusto, broke the silence. "Okay, any ideas? Because frankly, I have none."

"Don't speak while eating," Tenten scolded, then quickly shifted gears. "Do you have some skills we can use?"

"I can make seals," Naruto offered, a bit of noodle dangling from his mouth.

Tenten paused, weighing the confession. "I know I should be surprised, since Fuinjutsu isn't easy, but... yeah, I think I can sell a few storage scrolls to some Genins and Chunins I know."

"Yatta, we're done," Naruto declared triumphantly, taking another victorious bite of his ramen.

"No, because I can probably get around 5k Ryo from selling low-grade storage sealing scrolls," Tenten mused, a plan forming in her mind.

"Excuse me, but I can make medium-grade storage seals," Naruto interjected, his pride wounded.

"And how long would that take you?" Tenten prodded.

"Depends on the yield," Naruto replied.

"About 20, give or take," Tenten estimated.

"A week," Naruto concluded, and both sighed in unison, realizing the enormity of their task.

"A-Ah, how much do we need?" Hinata chimed in, her voice tinged with worry.

"50k," Tenten dropped the bomb, causing Hinata's eyes to widen in shock as she glanced at Naruto, her expression screaming, "What the hell kind of damage did you do?"

Naruto just silently ate, avoiding the question altogether.

"What about you?" Tenten turned her attention to Hinata, who gulped nervously.

"I-I am not that good at anything," Hinata confessed, her confidence faltering.

"That's not true, you're amazing," Naruto said, causing Hinata to blush furiously, while Tenten wore a knowing smirk.

"Like what?" Tenten prodded further.

"Well, she has this weird eye thingy, like your jerk of a teammate who you like," Naruto teased, enjoying the moment.

"I don't like Neji," Tenten stammered, caught off guard.

"And you were looking at him and blushing when we first met," Naruto added, his voice deadpan, leaving Tenten scrambling for words.

"I just think he's good-looking. Annoying to listen to, but good-looking, so it balances out," Tenten tried to explain, but Naruto just looked at her, his eyebrows twitching in disbelief.

"First, it was Ino, and now Tenten. Why do girls only care about looks?" Naruto lamented, turning to Hinata with a mock-serious tone. "Hinata, please tell me you don't go for looks, unlike some shallow people."

In her mind, Hinata crafted a heartfelt defense, "But Naruto-kun, you're the most handsome to me. Does that mean I shouldn't like you? Of course not! I adore Naruto-kun for so much more than your looks. Your kindness, your bravery, your caring nature... and, okay, maybe your handsome face a little bit." Her internal monologue painted her cheeks a vivid shade of red, though none of her passionate thoughts made it past her lips.

Naruto, misinterpreting Hinata's flustered silence and rosy complexion, sighed, believing he had proven his point.

"See? Everyone goes for looks," he concluded, placing his face in his palm, unaware of the epic saga of admiration and love Hinata had just silently narrated in her head.

"So, skills?" Tenten asked, turning the conversation back to their money-making dilemma. Hinata, feeling a bit lost, glanced down, only to notice the Bento she had packed earlier.

"I can... cook," she whispered, almost too softly for the others to hear.

Tenten acknowledged the suggestion with a nod.

"Great skill, but I don't think we have the budget or time to make a food stand," she reasoned, shooting down the idea gently.

At his wit's end, Naruto, fueled by frustration, tapped into Spirit Possession, sparking a sudden burst of inspiration. "I know how we can make money.

"How?" Tenten inquired, clearly skeptical, taking another slurp of her soup.

"E rank missions," Naruto declared, as if it were the most obvious solution in the world.

"Don't worry, Hinata, I'll think of something. Naruto clearly doesn't have a brain," Tenten muttered, dismissing the idea before Naruto could even elaborate.

But Naruto was undeterred. "I'm serious. You're a Genin, so you can get E rank missions. All we have to do is select a bunch of E rank missions and divide them amongst ourselves. We use the Transformation Jutsu to disguise ourselves as Tenten so no one gets suspicious," he explained, his plan unfolding with each word.

Tenten opened her mouth to protest, to point out the sheer absurdity of the plan, but the longer she thought about it, the more it seemed to make a weird kind of sense.

"Okay, but we have to avoid any missions where we're in close proximity to other ninjas so that we don't get caught," she finally conceded, laying out the one condition that made this bizarre plan somewhat palatable.

Naruto and Hinata nodded in agreement.

---

Missions are the bread and butter for any ninja, assigned by the village or a contractor.

They are divided into six categories based on numerous factors; in fact, an entire building in the ninja village is dedicated solely to assigning a rank to each mission. These are categorized as S, A, B, C, D, and E rank.

E rank missions are the most numerous, primarily because they consist of simple tasks around the village that villagers are willing to pay for.

Want your dogs walked? Simply head down to the Hokage Tower, fill out a form, and within about an hour, a lone Genin will arrive to complete the mission.

Normally, E and D rank missions are interchangeable, the only difference being that D ranks are completed by Genin teams, while E ranks are handled by lone Genins. Most Genins despise these missions, having dreamed of saving princesses or battling dragons, yet find themselves cleaning toilets and locating lost cats instead.

"I thought my first mission would be me traveling to a distant land to find a mythical sword in a lake and becoming the queen of that land," Tenten chuckled at the thought.

---

Tenten strode into the Hokage's office with a mission—literally.

She was armed with a form for a dozen E rank missions, her mind spinning with the elaborate plan she and her friends had concocted.

To get the necessary approval, she'd convinced Gai-sensei that these missions were part of an intense solo training regimen he'd be proud of.

With his signature gracing the form, she felt confident, even though she knew bending the truth was a risky game.

The office was bustling, clerks moving back and forth, papers flying as if caught in a gentle breeze.

She approached the counter, form in hand, and was greeted by a clerk who looked as though he'd seen too many forms and not enough daylight.

"Good afternoon."

The clerk peered over his glasses, eyeing the form and then Tenten with a mix of surprise and amusement.

"A dozen E rank missions? Planning to conquer the world of weeding and cat-finding, are we?" he joked, trying to inject some lightness into the process, well aware of the rigorous nature of shinobi missions, regardless of their rank.

Tenten chuckled nervously, playing along. "Yes, you know, just trying to keep Konoha safe from unruly gardens and stray animals. Someone's got to do it," she replied, hoping her attempt at humor didn't sound as forced as it felt.

The first clerk finished up with a nod. "Alright, you're all set. Jonin Maito Gai's signature checks out, and your missions are approved. Good luck out there, Tenten. Konoha is counting on you to keep those gardens in check," he said, handing back the form now stamped with approval.

"Thank you, I won't let you down," Tenten said.

Tenten left the Hokage's office with her new mission documents in hand and headed straight to the nearest shop.

There, Hinata and Naruto were attempting to blend in inconspicuously.

Hinata, her Byakugan activated, was pretending to read a newspaper upside down.

Next to her, Naruto was sipping water, donning a pair of comical glasses, featuring large bushy eyebrows, a bulbous nose, and a thick mustache attached to the frame, masking his recognizable features somewhat clumsily.

"You guys are taking this seriously."

"A ninja must maintain discipline and secrecy during a mission," Naruto declared, his glasses slipping off his face as he spoke. Hinata quickly caught them and handed them back to him.

"These are E rank missions, there's no need for all of this," Tenten countered, her tone light and dismissive as Naruto shook his head in disagreement.

"We can still get into real trouble here," Naruto insisted, his seriousness echoed by Hinata's nod of agreement. Tenten glanced at the document in her hand, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.

"Sure," she replied nonchalantly, barely concealing a smirk.

She was clearly looking forward to seeing their reactions.

"Okay, what's on the plate? Finding a legendary treasure hidden at the end of the sea, or maybe rescuing a soul reaper trapped in a society of souls?" Naruto said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Tenten, trying to keep a straight face, handed him the mission scroll, which brought him crashing back down to earth.

"Cleaning the public toilets," she announced, almost apologetically.

"This is shit." Naruto looked ready to cry as his dreams were broken, with Hinata patting him on the back and Tenten ignoring the heartbroken boy.

"Okay, we've got to find a spot where we can switch in and out without anyone catching on that we're all playing me for the day."

"How about we use my place as the take house?" Naruto threw in, slightly off with the terminology.

"Safe house, Naruto. And sure, let's do that," Tenten corrected him with a nod, already on board with the idea.

At the mention of heading to Naruto's apartment, Hinata's face blossomed into a deep red, her imagination likely spinning wild scenarios about the significance of being in his personal space.

---

A few minutes later, Naruto led the way to his apartment, giving the door a hearty kick to swing it open.

Tenten and Hinata cautiously stepped in, immediately met with the sight of what could generously be called 'organized chaos.'

"What?" Naruto looked back, sensing their hesitation.

"It's surprisingly cleaner than a pigpen," Tenten remarked, her voice dripping with genuine surprise—a compliment so backhanded Naruto wasn't sure whether to say thank you or start an argument.

As Tenten navigated through the clutter, her foot nudged something on the floor. Bending down, she picked up a book, "The Pillow Book."

Her laugh filled her head.

Haha, no way.

Flipping it open, she found it to be the genuine novel, not some knock-off or a parody.

"Guess even idiots recognize art," she mused silently, placing the book on the nearest stable surface—a table that had seen better days.

Hinata, meanwhile, gathered a small collection of books scattered around. "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves,"

"The Narrow Road to the Deep North,"

"Tosa Diary," "Tales of Ise."

Hinata, holding the poetry books, felt a twinge of annoyance.

"How come I didn't know Naruto-kun was into poetry?" she mumbled under her breath, slightly irked that this facet of his personality had eluded her. It was a revelation that both surprised and somehow, vexed her—after all, wasn't she supposed to be the one who knew him best?

But then, as quickly as the annoyance had bubbled up, it transformed into something softer, warmer.

She imagined Naruto, the village's most unpredictable ninja, standing beneath her window, reciting verses of love with the same intensity he applied to his training.

"Naruto-kun, my very own Romeo," she thought, a dreamy smile spreading across her face.

"Guys," Naruto tried to get their attention, only to be met with a sharp glare from Tenten.

"Female guys?" he corrected, though it didn't seem to improve his situation.

"Keep trying," Tenten muttered, rolling her eyes as she took the opportunity to survey the rest of Naruto's living conditions.

How can someone keep living in such a broken-down home?

She pondered, her gaze sweeping over the room.

"I can see that fridge is completely broken, the doors hardly stay on their hinges, those windows are too moldy to let in any light," she continued, ticking off the apartment's many, shall we say, 'quirks' on her fingers.

"What's the plan that doesn't involve you two making judgments about my home?" Naruto asked.

Tenten, while tracing the Kunai marks along the bathroom door with her finger, laid out their mission strategy.

"The plan is that you two are going to transform into me. We'll take on missions as far away from each other as possible, come back here, and I'll go and collect the mission payments at the Hokage Tower. After that, we use the money to fix this place up."

Naruto had been nodding along, absorbed in the plan's logistics, until Tenten's final remark hit him like a rogue wave.

His expression shifted from understanding to shock, his eyes widening.

Tenten, meanwhile, was already calculating the costs, mumbling to herself about a new fridge and repair expenses.

"Why?" Naruto interjected, his curiosity peaking as he interrupted Tenten's calculations.

"Why not? We're friends, aren't we? I don't want my friend living like this when I have the ability to help him. I'm sure Hinata feels the same," Tenten replied, her gaze shifting to Hinata, who nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Naruto struggled to keep his composure.

His lips quivered, and his eyes glistened as he fought back tears, looking down to hide his vulnerability.

"Thank you," he whispered, the words barely escaping his lips.

Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head and said it louder, with more force, "Thank you!" His voice cracked, betraying the emotional turmoil swirling within him.

"Ouch," Tenten grimaced, covering her ears, but her eyes softened at the sight of Naruto's tears.

For Naruto, it was more than just the promise of a better living space; it was the realization that he wasn't alone, that he had friends who cared deeply enough to intervene.

"Okay, you big orange baby. Show me your transformation jutsu," Tenten commanded.

In a puff of smoke, Naruto transformed, and suddenly, another Tenten stood before them, mirroring her stance.

"Good! Now show me the mannerisms!" she demanded next.

"What?" both Naruto and Hinata echoed in confusion.

Tenten let out a heavy sigh, her patience thinning.

"There's so much more to a person than just an image. I want to see if you can actually come across as me," she explained, trying to instill in them the importance of the finer details.

Naruto whipped out his Kunai and started mock-stabbing the air.

"Stab Stab."

Suddenly, a notification appeared before Naruto's eyes.

[ Congratulations! Skill Transformation Jutsu has leveled up ]

He paused, taken aback.

Wait, why?!

Naruto stood there, scratching his head, deep in thought.

He was trying to piece together the puzzle of why his Transformation Jutsu had suddenly leveled up.

Was it really because of his playful, albeit simplistic, imitation of Tenten's fighting style?

Or was it something else entirely? He pondered over the possibility that maybe, just maybe, it was simply a matter of timing.

Perhaps he had used the jutsu enough times already, and this moment, right after his "stabby" performance, was just when it happened to level up—pure coincidence.

His contemplation was rudely interrupted by Tenten, who, armed with the 'stupid stick,' whacked him back into his original form. "What was that for?" Naruto groaned, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit.

"I am more than just a stabby girl," Tenten huffed, clearly unamused by Naruto's reductive portrayal of her.

"Like what?"

"I am an elegant weapon-wielding mistress of steel and..." Tenten began, puffing up with pride.

"Delusions," Naruto interjected, earning himself a glare that could freeze lava.

Tenten raised the stupid stick.

"Mind repeating that?" she asked, her voice dangerously low.

"No, I sense that I've made a mistake," Naruto quickly backpedaled, realizing he might have poked the bear one too many times.

Amidst the exchange, Hinata felt an unexpected twinge of jealousy. Watching Naruto and Tenten bicker with such ease, she couldn't help but wish she could interact with Naruto-kun in the same lighthearted, bantering way.

Why can't I be like that with Naruto-kun? she wondered, her heart longing for the kind of camaraderie that came so naturally to others.

---

[ Notification: This is the first time you have accepted a quest not directly issued by the System. Further details will be provided. ]

[ Info: Upon accepting missions, jobs, or tasks from organizations outside the System's purview, the details will be analyzed by the System and an equivalent quest will be issued for tracking purposes. The System is not responsible for rewards from these quests other than experience points unless actions qualify the player for hidden rewards. Normal rewards are provided by the organization; hidden rewards are granted by the System. ]

[ Parameters have been established ]

[ Alert: World Quest ]

[ Quest Title: Restore Order ]

[ Objective: Repair the vandalism in the public bathroom to ensure safety and hygiene for the community. Use any necessary means to clean, repair, and restore the facility to its original condition. ]

[ Rewards: 100 Experience Points, 500 Ryo, Mission Completion Stamp (awarded upon successful restoration of the public bathroom) ]

[ Penalty for Failure: Failed E rank mission, -100 Reputation with Tenten, 50 Exp ]

Naruto stood before the public bathroom, his expression far from amused.

To call it a bathroom was a stretch—more like a disaster area that had once seen better days.

The walls were covered in graffiti, ranging from nonsensical doodles to rude remarks. The mirrors were cracked, and the smell... well, let's just say it would be kinder not to describe it. It was such an unwelcome assault on the senses that had Naruto wishing for a jutsu to clear his nostrils.

It was clear this place had seen more vandalism than cleaning in its time.

"Okay then, Genin, I'm sure you can clean up that damn fox demon's mess," the mission giver had said, with a dismissive wave of his hand.

The comment hit Naruto harder than expected.

He knew civilians used that nickname for him, mistakenly attributing his whisker marks to some fox-like nature.

Naruto could hardly believe the absurd reasons people found to blame him for things completely out of his control. First, there was his association with the Uzumaki clan, then the sabotage from teachers because he was born on October 10th, and now even his birthmarks were a target for disdain.

It all seemed so ridiculous.

"Is there anything they hate me for that I actually chose?" he wondered silently, the frustration evident in his sigh. It felt like no matter what he did, he was always seen in a negative light for reasons beyond his choice or control.

I don't do vandalism, I only do pranks. Naruto corrected the man in his mind, already plotting a harmless but fitting revenge prank for the man who dared to tarnish his reputation.

With a heavy sigh, Naruto decided to focus on the task at hand.

"Let's just get this over with," he muttered, rolling up his sleeves.

---

As Hinata stepped into Naruto's home, she found Tenten knee-deep in what looked like a construction site, right in the middle of the living room.

Tools were scattered everywhere, and the air was filled with the distinct scent of effort and wood shavings.

Tenten was in the process of wrestling with the bathroom door, a new one leaning against the wall, waiting to take its place.

"Oh, Hinata, you done with the mission?" Tenten asked without looking up, her focus on prying the old door off its hinges.

"Y-yeah," Hinata managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Place the mission documents on the table," Tenten instructed, and Hinata complied, sitting down to watch Tenten work her magic with the tools.

"What do you like about Naruto?" Tenten suddenly threw the question into the air, as casually as one might comment on the weather.

The question caught Hinata off-guard, sending her into a flurry of nervous flailing, desperately wishing for the power of invisibility.

Her face turned the shade of a ripe tomato.

"Oh, must be love," Tenten teased, a giggle escaping her as she yanked the old door out with a final tug and set it aside.

Hinata was beyond red at this point.

"Come on, no need to hide it from me. What do you like about Naruto?" Tenten prodded, not really expecting a serious answer—just aiming to tease Hinata, maybe make her feel more at ease.

But then, Hinata began to answer, with a voice so steady and sure it seemed out of character for her, as if her love for Naruto was the only thing she was confident in.

"First, it's definitely his kindness," she stated, her confidence surprising.

"Or how considerate he is..." Hinata continued, painting a picture of Naruto that seemed to confuse Tenten.

"Huh?" Tenten blinked, not following.

"Or his subtle humor..." Hinata added, her description veering into uncharted territories for Tenten.

"Wait right there, Hinata. Sorry, there must be some misunderstanding," Tenten interrupted, her hands pausing in their work.

"Yeah? What?" Hinata looked puzzled.

"Are we talking about the same Naruto? Like, the one whose apartment we're in?" Tenten questioned, her tone filled with incredulity.

"Of course, there's no one with the same name, since it's so unique. And there's no one aside from Naruto who has such amazing fashion taste. It's not just his fashion and handsomeness but even if he had none, I just fell for his bravery!" Hinata explained with a smile, her adoration for Naruto shining through.

Tenten stared at her with a deadpan expression.

'Being in love is scary,'she thought to herself, 'Naruto and fashion?'

The concept seemed so alien, so wildly implausible, it could only be explained by the irrational, unfathomable nature of love.

Tenten, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, leaned towards Hinata.

"Hey, how about I help with your love life?" she offered, a grin spreading across her face.

"Really?" Hinata asked, her voice a mix of hope and surprise. Then, with a hesitant voice, she added, "But don't you like Naruto-kun?"

Tenten's expression froze for a moment before she burst into laughter.

"Hahah, that's a good one, but no, I don't like Naruto. He isn't cute enough, unlike Neji," she managed to say between giggles. Hinata's relief was palpable; she had gained an ally rather than a rival.

"How are we going to do this?" Hinata quickly asked, eager to hear the plan.

Tenten, now focusing on the task of screwing the new door's hinges, mused, "A relationship is like a three-legged race; both of you have to put in the work." Hinata looked on, puzzled by the analogy but attentive.

"Okay, try to do something that Naruto will notice," Tenten suggested after a moment.

"Cooking?" Hinata ventured, hopeful.

"Probably not. That Ayame girl from Ichiraku Ramen cooks for Naruto, yet he doesn't seem to see her as much more than the food," Tenten pointed out, her pragmatism slicing through Hinata's idea.

"What do I do then?" Hinata's voice was tinged with desperation.

"What's something you can help Naruto with that he would probably never forget?" Tenten prodded, screwing the last hinge in place.

Hinata thought for a moment before her face lit up.

"I can help him with the clone jutsu."

"He can't do the clone jutsu?!" Tenten looked at Hinata in disbelief, pausing her work.

"He has too much chakra and too little control," Hinata explained, her voice firm.

"Okay, so you're going to help him with chakra control exercises," Tenten concluded, giving the new door a final, approving nod.

"Yeah." Hinata nodded, the plan taking shape in her mind. After all, the Hyuga were known for their impeccable chakra control. Helping Naruto could be the perfect way to grow closer.

Just then, Naruto burst into the room, slamming the mission documents on the table.

"Finally done!" he announced, flopping down in exhaustion.

"I am never doing these missions when I'm Genin," he huffed, his resolve firm.

"Everyone thinks like that. Now, get up and take that old door out. I'm tired," Tenten commanded, rolling her eyes at Naruto's dramatics.

Naruto, with the old door in his grasp, started to wobble forward, the weight seemingly too much for him.

Setting the door aside, Naruto captured Tenten and Hinata's attention with his next move.

He started rolling up his shirt, revealing his midriff, much to Hinata's shock—and apparent delight, judging by her immediate nosebleed.

"What are you doing?!" Tenten exclaimed, her voice a mixture of confusion and concern.

"Hacks," Naruto declared triumphantly, tying the jacket sleeves around his waist like a makeshift belt, his mind clearly ticking with mischief.

"Give me your katana," Naruto then demanded, turning to Tenten with an expectant look.

"No," Tenten flatly refused.

"Yes."

"No."

"No," Naruto suddenly reversed tactics.

"Yes."

"Shit, you tricked me," she grumbled, handing over the katana with a reluctant frown.

Naruto, with a victorious smirk, bit into the hilt of the katana, earning a look of horror from Tenten.

He wasn't really going to—?

But before she could finish the thought, Naruto was already checking his system window, marveling at his "enhanced" stats.

[ Stats: ]

- [ STR: 20 ] ( Base 12 + 8 )

- [ DEX: 17 ] ( Base 14 + 3 )

- [ CON: 10 ]

- [ INT: 13 ]

- [ WIS: 12 ]

- [ CHA: 9 ]

- [ VIT: 26 ] ( Base 11 + 15 )

- [ LUK: ? ]

With the boosts in stats, Naruto picked up the door as if it were made of paper, shouting "Hacks!" in victory.

However, his triumph was short-lived. In his excitement, he forgot a fundamental truth: one cannot effectively speak with a katana in one's mouth.

The katana slipped from his grasp, leading to a swift [Item Katana has been unequipped] notification.

In the blink of an eye, Naruto found himself on the floor, the door crashing down on top of him.

"Idiot," Tenten thought, shaking her head at the spectacle.

---

[ Author Note ]

A few things I wanted to mention about this gigantic 15k word count chapter:

—In "Within Interest" by Silent Songbird, a similar situation unfolds between Naruto and Tenten. They experience a falling out due to Naruto's comment. In Silent Songbird's version, Tenten becomes depressed and Might Gai brings in Kurenai to help her. Unfortunately, Silent Songbird stopped uploading, so we never got a conclusion to what happened. I, however, took a different route for this storyline. Instead of Tenten becoming depressed, I had her introspect and resolve why she admired Tsunade—not because she wanted to be a medical ninja, but because she aspired to be what Tsunade represents: a powerful kunoichi and a role model.

—The giant fight between Tenten and Naruto—I hope you all liked it. It was a lot of work to write, and I included many unconventional weapons like a boat oar, reflecting how real-life ninjas used stealthy weapons that could be hidden in plain sight, similar to how a kunai is also a gardening tool.

—Thirdly, E rank missions don't exist in canon, but I created them for one reason: world-building. In what sense? It provides the villages' Genins more independence. These Genins are essentially child soldiers, so why should their first missions be limited to team activities? I think it would be interesting to introduce a type of D-rank mission that a Genin can do alone—an E rank—so that those who are a bit too uncooperative or seek more independence can tackle them. D and E ranks are interchangeable; if the workload requires many Genins, it's D rank, but if one Genin can manage it, it's E rank. Some of you may think it's lame or unnecessary, but I have already incorporated it into the story.

—I want to address the name drops of novels throughout this chapter:

"The Pillow Book" isn't just any book; it's a classic of Japanese literature written by Sei Shonagon, a lady in the Heian court, filled with personal musings, lists, and observations that offer a glimpse into the life and customs of that era.
"Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves" is actually the earliest anthology of Japanese poetry, providing insights into the poetic heart of ancient Japan.
"The Narrow Road to the Deep North" by Matsuo Basho is a celebrated travel diary that blends prose and haiku to explore the beauty and spiritual depth of Japan's landscapes.
"Tosa Diary" is one of the first works of Japanese literature written in kana (Japanese script) rather than Chinese characters, marking a significant development in Japanese literary style.
"Tales of Ise" is a collection of poems and narratives that reflect the ethos and aesthetics of the Heian period.
All these books are subtle hints about Naruto's interests beyond ramen, aspiring to be Hokage, and his pranks. They are meant to suggest that Naruto engages in reading in his free time—that he has interests beyond what is typically shown, like a penchant for poetry and literature. This is a way to make him feel more human and relatable.

Some of you might ask, "Hey, why reading or poetry? Naruto is an idiot in canon and by extension in this fanfic." While I disagree with that notion because I have already established that Naruto was sabotaged by his teachers, hence why he isn't academically smart, how could I include him having a hobby of reading poetry, literature, etc.?

Here is the reason: Remember Fuinjo Omori from Chapter 4? She was Naruto's Kokugo teacher. Kokugo encompasses Japanese grammar, literature, and reading skills. Remember in Chapter 4, Naruto's reaction to her being on the list? He didn't care about others on the list like Mizuki; he just went to confront her because she was the nicest teacher to him. Essentially, his interest in literature came from this connection he had with Fuinjo.

---

Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work. I upload every week on Sunday.

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I hope you have a blessed rest of the day, and please share your thoughts in the reviews!