DISCLAIMER:
I own neither Naruto nor Solo-Leveling in any way, shape, or form unless it is an OC or a concept not present in the author's original work. Otherwise, many things would have been different.
Also, I will use Japanese names and techniques and write English translations using parentheses. Or I will do the opposite, with the English name and the Japanese version in parentheses. (It will depend on me.)
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hi everyone! It's me again.
Onto things that need to be addressed, I saw the two commentaries about the percentages and regeneration when I published the previous chapter.
I have re-read and made sure to rewrite the percentage to ensure that it better represents what it is meant to be. I have also lowered the regeneration for Naruto and the rest of the characters to ensure that it better fits within the whole fiction I'm writing.
Without further redo, we should dive into this chapter.
"Normal speech" / 'thought'
"Biju/Summons/Game System speech"
'Biju/Summons/Game System thought'
Previously, in the last chapter …
Thus, I foresee that the Exams to come will reshape everything that we know of today and the past. So get prepared to the best of your abilities," ordered Hiruzen. Everyone answered positively before leaving, except Kakashi.
"I'm glad you saw my hidden message for you to stay here; we are to go see Naruto and get you on board with what he has been doing for the past year and a month." Said Hiruzen.
"Let me guess, he became more wholesome or something?" asked Kakashi, with Hiruzen chuckling at it.
"You'll see that in a bit … he became far more wholesome than you can even think." Answered Hiruzen.
To be continued …
Current Chapter: Pilgrimage of the Leveling-One.
Kakashi and Hiruzen went to the spot that is used for people to go in and out of my property; a shadowy figure with glowy eyes appeared and said that they were expected in a ghostly voice.
Once they went inside, the two comers were welcomed by a sight they hadn't seen in a very long time: the same hallway as when Minato and Kushina were alive.
I was on the couch with a table in front of me with papers and pens on it; all the while, I was deeply thinking.
"So many memories are coming back, isn't it right, Jii-chan, Kakashi?" I said with a genuine smile while turning my head toward them.
*tear* "I would never have thought I would see this face that you are making again, Naruto-kun … you look so much like your father with the eyes of your mother." Said Hiruzen, with Kakashi agreeing to it.
"Indeed, to top it off. Both you and him were seen working a lot on things with the scene we are seeing now. I'm glad that you were able to access this place." added Kakashi with teary eyes.
Thanks to my seals and me, Kakashi can now see with both eyes without his left eye being the Sharingan from Obito.
"Coffee? Tea or anything else? I have varieties for Tea, coffee, and some other beverages," I asked.
"Oh! Did you get some coffee? It's quite a rare beverage with some quite bothersome environmental requirements for growing up. And what do you mean varieties?" asked an incredulous Hiruzen.
When asked, I explained my beverage selection. To say that my guests were only flabbergasted would be to say that Jiraiya never lusted on Tsunade's body.
"My goodness, with the knowledge of your world's beverage and the genius of Tesla, I'm not surprised in the slightest that you are able to create all this. I'll take a single cup of coffee of that variety and tea of this kind." Said Hiruzen.
"Well, I'd like coffee with this kind for me. By the way, I heard about this Tesla's name. Who is it?" asked Kakashi.
Just after he said it, I pushed onto my shadow pin on my collar, and five minutes later, six clones came that resembled me.*
"Here are my six Shadow Clones turned Blood Clones, which are the High Lords, my most trusted persons in addition to you two and Hinata. They are as follows:
Kael Kyrian, 1st High Lord and Civic.
Steven Cohen, 2nd High Lord and Diplomat-Trader Lord.
Nicholas Tesla, 3rd High Lord, and Arch-Magos.
Belisarius Cole, 4th High Lord and Fabricator-General.
Macharius, 5th High Lord and Lord-Commander.
Said Mathrac, 6th High Lord and Supreme Master of Silence.
They are here to help me proceed with so many things I would only be able to do by overexerting myself to the ground. The complex under Konoha is merely a place that is used until Uzu is fully restored.
When done, the installations will be transferred there in order better to protect our secrets to my council and myself. Even though many will know that I will use this place when my case is revealed,
Which I know will be at some point or another." I said while each clone raised their hand when called with a brief presentation of themselves.
"Incredible to even think that such intricate web was made under a year and our very noses. Not even Jiraiya could make such a thing up, maybe the spy network, but the extent of it and the way it is made. I can definitely say that you are a true Spy Master, Naruto and that your parents would be proud of your accomplishments." Said Kakashi with a smile.
"Indeed, they would be proud of you. Now, onto that [Gamer] ability of yours. Could you show us more details about it?" asked Hiruzen.
"Hai!" I answered while I made a move with my right index.
It made them raise an eyebrow, asking what I had done, until the infamous blue screen appeared in front of them.
[The Player, Uzumaki Naruto, invited you to join his party]
[Do you accept his invitation?]
[Y/N]
…
*Incredulous stares*
…
*thump*
…
"One of these days, you'll "kill" him with your new stuff, Naruto." Deadpanned Kakashi.
"Is it truly my fault that his age caught up to him?" I rhetorically asked, and he answered: "Nope."
…
"What a strange vision I had, like some blue stuff appeari … Oh, it's not a dream or anything in the like. So, I do suppose that it is your way of showing us your power, Naruto?" asked Hiruzen when I woke up with a cup of tea I gave him.
"Indeed, once you accept, it will be easier to show it to you," I replied.
"We accept," said Kakashi and Hiruzen.
[Invitation accepted]
"Welcome to the system, Hatake Kakashi and Sarutobi Hiruzen." Said a voice that seemed to appear out of nowhere to both of them except me, for whom I saw Gaia there.
"Where does this voice come from, Naruto-kun." Asked Hiruzen.
I snapped my left finger, and Gaia appeared to my left.
"This is Gaia, the physical manifestation of my power. She'll explain more about it." I said, thus calming them.
"Thanks Player. As he said, I'm Gaia, Naruto's Gamer's System helper. I usually help him by tracking the current state of his skills, levels, and health, among other things. You may ask yourself what I meant by level.
Well, to summarize it in simple terms, it's engulfing your overhaul of the life experience you have accumulated throughout your life. This includes good and bad events, love interests, skill learning, physical conditioning, etc…
If, say, [Status Window], it will open a "window" like you had when Naruto "invited" you to his party. But there, you will see many things that will speak volumes of yourself." Said Gaia.
"Honor to the eldest, "Status Window," said Hiruzen, and a blue screen appeared, making both men gasp at it.
[Status Window]
[Name]
Sarutobi Hiruzen
[Age]
68
[Level]
Level 150
[Title]
Kami no Shinobi | The Professor | Sandaime Hokage | Old Man
[Race | Gender]
Human | Male
[Allegiance]
Konohagakure no Sato | Sarutobi Clan
HP: 1,250,000 600,000* | Regen: 17,142.86/h 1,714.29/H*
CP/MP: 1,250,000** | Regen: 3,500 per 5 min**
CC: 99.9%
STR: 12,000 | VITA: 15,000 | DEX: 20,000 ***
INT: 50,000 | WIS: 75,000
CHA: 100/100 | LUC: 56%
DMG RDCT: 25%
SPD: 50 km/h
* Your health pool is reduced by 48% due to advanced age, and your regeneration has been divided by ten due to advanced age. This means that Hiruzen would require ~14.58 days to recover to full health.
**Your chakra pool was divided by ten since your prime at the age of 30, and it would take ~29,76 hours to recover from 1 point of chakra to full chakra.
*** All the physicals are limited to 20,000 due to your age.
"My goodness, I'm still not completely out of shape, isn't it?" said Hiruzen with a smile while internally crying anime-style tears for his chakra reserves being cut by ten and his health is reduced by "literally" 50%.
"Indeed, and I do suppose that this "health" represents how much damage you can tank or how much resilience you have?" rhetorically asked Kakashi.
"Indeed, in fact, the stats are really an abstract notion since the basis to understand them isn't that innate all by itself. It requires much thinking to truly grasp and fathom its meaning and get it on an understandable level.
As for your strength, for example, it says "12,000," – but is it at full strength? On average, each time you strike? Then, how much destructivity does it translate into?
There is so much thinking and abstract thinking that, frankly, I'm glad to have my anti-mental backlash passive that enables me to spam shadow clones without any constraints on chakra and mental backlashes.
But, in the end. They are just numbers that, for me, measure your overhaul peak performance at any time." I said.
"Those are indeed some valid points that you gave. Yet, I'm glad you continue counting each of these points. If I were to put my grain of salt on this, I would say that if analyzed in conjunction with what you can do. You can get what you can do overhaul.
Now, I'd like to see what I have in reserve. "Status Window," said Kakashi.
[Status Window]
[Name]
Hatake Kakashi
[Age]
26
[Level]
Level 100
[Title]
Copycat Shinobi | Kakashi to the 1000 techniques | Kakashi of the Sharingan.
[Race | Gender]
Human | Male
[Allegiance]
Konohagakure no Sato | Hatake family
HP: 680,000 | Regen: 2,250 per 5 minutes*
CP/MP: 900,000** | Regen: 3,213/min**
CC: 78.9%
STR: 15,000 | VITA: 12,500 | DEX: 19,000 ***
INT: 17.896 | WIS: 21,652 ***
CHA: 85/100 | LUC: 24%
DMG RDCT: 15%
SPD: 75 km/h
* It means that Kakashi would require ~25.185 hours to recover from 1 hp to full hp.
** Due to your continuous activation of the Sharingan for so long. Your chakra reserves did not grow up to what they could be = 4 to 6 million-ish. It would take ~23,34 hours to fully recover your chakra to be full from 1 point of chakra.
*** Due to your slacking off on your training, you could/should be somewhere else.
(A/N: for the case of Hiruzen, Kakashi, and everyone else than Naruto. I'm speaking about physical damage, not mental damage caused by an illusion like the [Tsukyomi] of Itachi. Such damage would require far more time to heal while being another thing altogether, which I will explain later when such an occurrence happens.)
"Well, it seems that you know what to do, Kakashi-kun, neh?" playfully asked Hiruzen while we suddenly found Kakashi sulking in a corner and on his but with his legs pressed against his chest and arms around them with rain and storm hovering above his sloping head.
All the while, I giggled, and Kakashi muttered: "Why? Why have I ever done to you to earn such ire kami-Sama! Even this system slapped my face with the fact that I shouldn't lose myself on the road of life."
"Such a great question that may require some more losing oneself on thy road; yet, make sure that while you are lost, be as strong as possible to ensure the safety of those precious to you. Don't you think?" I retorted.
"Indeed, that's a good quote! I'm taking notes so that one day, someone may do a book about all the quotes you professed during your lifetime, Naruto! Will you do the same for me?" asked Kakashi, and I answered the request positively.
*happy laughing* "Such a magnificent moment, my boys; even though my age can be immensely burdensome on many occasions, to have such a moment as now, it is totally worth living this far. I do wish you both magnificent, prosperous, and long lives ahead of you!" said Hiruzen with heart and weight behind each word.
"Thanks Old Man/Hiruzen-Sama." Kakashi and I answered.
"Well, let's go test ourselves. Shall we not?" he asked back.
With this, we went to a training ground of the hidden facilities for testing our capabilities and furthering our knowledge about my gamer abilities.
"I should have done it after you, but here is my window." I said while saying, "Status Window."
[Status Window]
[Name]
Uzumaki Naruto
[Age]
43 years old – in Shadowlands time | 12 years old in the realm of the living
[Level]
Level 75
[Title]
Gamer | Kyûbi Jinchuriki | Death Knight
[Race | Gender]
Human | Male
[Allegiance]
Yourself | The Maw – near full allegiance from it.
HP: 2,402,325 | Regen: 68,637.86/min*
Energy: 16,177,875 | Regen: 95,163.97/sec**
Runic Power: 0/150 – Runes: 6/6
CC: 75%
STR: 11,125| VITA: 32,031 | DEX: 11,125
INT: 6,163 | WIS: 6,163 | CHA: 100/100
LUC: Lucky B***ard | DMG RDCT: 25%
SPD: 40 km/h with weights | 80 km/h without weights.
FSP = 7,000
* At this rate, your health will need 2 hours and 50 minutes to go from 1 HP to full.
** At this rate, your health will need 2 minutes and 50 seconds to go from 1 Energy Point to full.
…
*THUMP*
…
*sigh* – "Well, at least I have some couches to put them on." I said.
- Five minutes later -
"I had this weird dream in which you were nearly physically on par with Kakashi-kun, Naru … Damn! It wasn't a dream; you are truly near his physical level." Said Hiruzen, who had just woken up while taking a sip of tea.
"It just goes to show how much I wasted my time during this last decade if a youngling of half my age is near me in physical strength.
While the intellectual part is satisfactorily lesser than mine, no offense meant. I still need to reshape myself physically." Said Kakashi.
"Indeed, with Tesla, we developed some equipment that should give you physical conditioning and chakra control. While seemingly, the equipment seems to be oriented toward civilians who want to be physically fit. They aren't!" I said with a grin while popping a shadow pin on my collar.
Following this, Tesla came with bodybuilder equipment – which only I know fully – and put them in a distant position from one another.
(A/N: It was never really confirmed if there were dumbells or any other kind of bodybuilding equipment. Thus, in this fiction, there are only dumbbells.)
"Well, here is what I call the full bodybuilding equipment. It might look like some civilian stuff, but if they take this version of it.
They may experience what a genin or any ninja may experience when they do a technique that consumes far too much of their chakra reserves. Here, Kakashi, take this one-handed dumbbell." I said.
Kakashi just put his hand on it and immediately felt the tingling in his chakra reserves, prompting him to jump backward immediately.
"What was that? I felt as if my chakra was sucked when I put my hand on it to then … Oh, I see! It's quite ingenious; this equipment can feed on your chakra to get heavier.
If I were to guess, the more chakra you pump into it, the heavier it gets, but you need more chakra to sustain it?" asked Kakashi
"Indeed, that is the aim of the equipment. It enables you to do both body conditioning and chakra control exercises at the same time. Also, your stamina will increase, by the way.
Finally, once you finish an exercise, the little circle mark on the ball of the dumbbell will create a chakra pill out of the chakra used during the training." I replied.
The two of them went wide-eyed at the mere concept of creating chakra pills while physically training themselves.
"Incredible, just outright majestic! Would it be possible to have a couple of this training equipment to see if it would work with the Anbu?" asked Hiruzen.
"Hai, just tell me how many you want, and I'll get Belisarius to deliver it to you and the place of your choice," I replied.
With that said, Kakashi and I went to make a little routine of exercises with the weights, with Hiruzen looking with a keen eye to analyze how to have the best routines for the physical conditioning portion of the different parts of the Shinobi program.
After an hour of discussions with Hiruzen and the Chief Medic Blood Clone – which I count to name at some point – about how best to approach all the exercises, we wrapped it up in the early evening.
"Well, my dears. It was a good day, and much progress was made for the betterment of our forces. I hope you will consider sending the Chief Medic to the Konoha hospital to possibly reform it and allow Kakashi or me to reform it without Tsunade if things go south." Said Hiruzen.
"I did and still consider it; I'll need to speak to the High Lords. But it should be a formality at that point." I replied.
"Oh, by the way, my boy. There is some mayhem happening in Kusa, according to what my Anbu agents could tell me. A red-haired girl appears to be there if I follow my gut feeling.
She is likely a Uzumaki, and from what you told me about this "Original Timeline," saving her will most likely hinder Orochimaru's advances if we play our cards well. We could save him from his darkness and unveil the betrayal of the other two. We were sternly said Hiruzen with underlines.
"Understood, just send the green light, and it shall be done!" I answered with an inner fire.
- Next week | Hokage's Office -
"Ah, my boy, the man I was about to send an Anbu to search for!" said Hiruzen once I entered after announcing myself.
"What is that you want, Jii-chan?" I said with a smile.
"Baka! Show respect to the Hokage!" yelled Sakura.
"Hu … sorry you said something?" I deadpanned.
"You …" said Sakura while cocking her fist back to hit before I added: "Why are you getting offended for our Hokage instead of letting him do it instead? Are you insinuating that he is incapable of doing anything alone? Are you insinuating that you are his wife or something?".
…
*Silence*
…
"That's what I thought, so now. Please, do let adults talk, girl. As Jii-chan ordered me to get there to get an urgent assignment." I reply.
Before Sasuke could retort, Hiruzen said: "Indeed, while Team 7 is here. I got news that required your skills and talents; I'm sure you'll get the best out of it! Don't disappoint me."
"As if I would disappoint you, old man! Thinking out of the box is my specialty!" I said with a grin before I took the scroll Jii-chan put forward while speaking to me, and I shunshin after winking at Hinata and nodding at Shino.
"Lord Hokage, why is the Dobe granted an urgent mission that I do presume to be at least C-Rank, if not higher?" asked an irked Sasuke.
"As Iruka said during the team's placements, Naruto is our War deterrent and War Potential. Thus, he is sent off onto matters that could lead to war if left unchecked." Calmly answered Hiruzen.
- Konoha North Gate -
"Ah, La La, not two months in, and you already have a B-Rank mission for yourself. I'm feeling jealous, honestly." Said Kotetsu.
"Don't complain, from the description I can read. Its area is near Kusa no Kuni. Thus, it's highly important and has to be dealt with." Said Izumo.
"Indeed, all is in order, Naruto. I do wish you good luck on it, and make sure to rock this mission to the sky!" said Kotetsu with a smile, and Izumo nodded to it.
"Thanks, everyone! I sure will!" I answered before darting off toward Kusa to save my cousin.
Important Quest issued!
[Save the Crimson Maiden!]
[Objectives]
Locate Karin.
Could you put her in a safe location?
Retrieve the remains of Karin's parent(s).
Could you please retrieve any intel, scroll(s), and other material about the Uzumaki clan in Kusa?
[Rewards]
1,000,000 Ryo
25,000 Exp
Pickable Mythical Item among a selection.
One shop reduction coupon
"It seems you'll be able to save your kin here, Naruto. Let us hope that you may be able to accomplish all your objectives." Said Kurama.
'Indeed, my dear. She doesn't deserve to be in such a mess. I am also hoping to obtain incriminating intel about Danzo or Jiraiya on her parent's death.' I thought.
"Indeed, even though it is a grim thought to have. It would allow her to mourn properly and let her grow past any grief she may have." Replied the Fox.
After I sped up with my weights off, I arrived at the border between Kusa no Kuni and Hi no Kuni in an hour or two.
"Well, now is unknown territory! Let us see our equipment and gear." I said while activating my inventory.
[Inventory]
Gear in possession:
*10 Kunai
*10 Shuriken
*10 Senbon
* 2 flasks of Paralyzing Agent.
*10 Soldier Pills
*10 Chakra Pills
* 1 Bobine of 2-meter wire.
*10 Explosive Tags.
* 5 Storage Scrolls
*10 Chakra-Suppression Seals
* 1 set of camping equipment.
Gear equiped:
[Two-handed Runeblade]:
Damage: 250 per hit.
Durability: 100 %
Sharpness: 100%
Description: A common weapon used by Death knights, it's impregnated with runes and death magic.
Effects:
-15% damage if used one-handed.
A secondary effect was obtained in the function of the current rune applied.
15% crit chance.
-50% sharpness and durability loss.
[One set of dual Hidden Blades]
Damage: One shot if assassination done | 65 damage per hit.
Durability: 100 %
Sharpness: 100%
Effects:
Can inject poison at the tip of the blade
You can one-shot people if you are undetected and the target isn't in research mode of any kind.
It can be repaired by sending a chakra into it.
+50% damage if used on the back or any vital place
50% crit chance to deal a status problem each strike to the opponent.
Once the hurl dissipated, everyone could see someone measuring 1.85m cladded in a dress made of dark blue or blackish tissue for pants, a belt bearing a skull that seemed made of leather, and a rectangular piece of cloth hanging down from it was to be seen.
The shoes were made of bandages that covered the whole foot up to the toes, with what looked like plates covering the foot and lower part of the leg.
The plastron was a mix of leather and some metal with another skull, whose color was dark blue with a patch at the belly level that was dark purple. Shoulder pads with some little spikes were on the shoulders of the person, and a dark purple hood was covering the head.
[Death Knight Baggy Pants]
Armor: 100
Durability: 100 %
Description: It is a common pant that newly dubbed Death Knights of the Ebon Blade earn after their final rite to be a confirmed member of the Order.
Effects:
It can be repaired with chakra.
-35% damage from bludgeoning attacks.
[Death Knight boots]
Armor: 60
Durability: 100 %
Description: It's a pair of leather bands covering the major part of the foot.
Effects:
It can be repaired with chakra.
+20% of additional effect duration/damage for kicking attacks.
-25% stamina consumption for any walking/running activities/abilities
[Death Knight Breastplate]
Armor: 125
Durability: 100 %
Description: This plastron is a mixture of necrotic imbued leather and imbued steel. I am rendering it far sturdier than most pieces of this type.
Effects:
It can be repaired with chakra
-20% damage from Ninjutsu.
Turn off the sight of the chakra pathway or chakra of the wearer to any onlooker.
[Death Knight cape]
Armor: 20
Durability: 100 %
Description: This dark, purplish cape is embedded with runes to give several properties.
Effects:
It can be repaired with Chakra.
It can be used as a blanket to sleep.
It can be used to meddle with the Shadows.
[Death Knight gloves]
Armor: 60
Durability: 100 %
Description: This pair of dark purple gloves is the standard issued gloves and has runes embedded in them.
Effects:
It can be repaired with chakra.
+25% damage to bludgeoning attacks.
+15% to deviate any non-stabbing attack
[Death Knight Hood]
Armor: 20
Durability: 100 %
Description: This dark purple hood is the standard issued one for Death Knights and has runes embedded in it.
Effects:
It can be repaired with chakra.
It can hide the face of the wearer.
Set of effects:
1+: +2.5% chance to activate an enhancement ability for one of your main death knight abilities on each normal attack.
2+: -5% Runic Power usage required for your death knight techniques.
3+: 5% of resetting your cooldown of your [Obliterate] ability.
4+: 10% of not consuming a Rune on the next rune ability with each runic power ability.
"Good, this gear will give me an advantage on this oncoming mission," I said while using my [Shroud of the Shadowlands] item.
[Shroud of the Shadowlands] Legendary item:
Description:
It is a legendary item that is only found in the deepest parts of Torghast, which enables the bearer to store a certain amount of the essence of the Shadowlands and use it in order to meddle in the shadows, even when there are no shadows around.
But it requires going back to the Shadowlands to recharge it.
Effects:
Meddle in the shadows.
The user becomes undetected by any Dojutsu.
Have true sight.
+15% to speed.
Duration:
Last from 1 to 3 hours.
Cooldown:
1 to 3 months of cooldown, depending on the duration used.
With speed and shadows on my side, I went undetected inside Kusa no Kuni and went up to Kusagakure, no Sato, in 30 minutes.
Once in sight of the hidden village in the grass, I used my [Kagura Shingan] sensory ability to map out the town and spotted Karin near the Hospital while being in quite a bad mental state.
I continued to use it to spot where the bodies of her parents were, a locked-up mortuary room with seemingly preservation seals to preserve them, surely for Orochimaru's perverse ambitions.
I finally finished the inspection by locating the key spot to ensure chaos would happen while making sure to smuggle my cousin, the remains of her parents, and any Uzumaki stuff out of there.
After I finished planning out in 5 minutes, I made a quick scan of the surroundings to locate any Jiraiya, Danzo, and Orochimaru's goons.
I found out that all three had some agent who seemed interested in her, making the whole operation far more difficult.
Yet, there was hope to ensure that everything was good – Assassinate everyone while incriminating each other. I planned out things for 15 additional minutes for everything to happen right.
Once done, I went inside the village, which triggered some interest in the sensory barrier of the village. Thus creating some agitation in it.
I used my shadow clones to create 100 clones, which then dispersed themselves throughout the village to do their diverse tasks.
As for myself, I immediately went for Karin, which marked the first hour of usage.
'I have to move with haste as if I take another hour. It will take more than a month to recharge, and it might disadvantage me heavily later on.' I thought.
Once I reached Karin's position, who was in her house, I was nervous
I popped out another Shadow clone pin to indicate the beginning of my plan.
"What's going on!" cried Karin as she felt a massive outburst of chakra out there while hearing an explosion outside.
As she was about to get out, I used a mixture of silencing seal and illusion seal to shut anyone in or out and to hear or see what was going on inside. All the while, I made a shadow clone of her leaving the building and doing whatever the clone wished, which resembled what Karin would do.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" yelled Karin when she saw a clone of herself appear and leave the apartment.
"Don't yell; it can be bothersome," I said while stopping my item effect.
"Who are you? What do you want from me? Kidnap …" Karin tried to say erratically, beginning to panic at such a sight of mine.
"Don't worry, Itoko (= cousin), I'd never hurt a family member. It would break our sacred oath of the Chōseki no sokoku hogo no chikai (= Tidal Homeland Vow of Protection). Which is always to protect and make the family our top priority." I replied while taking my hood off, thus revealing my face and red hair.
Karin tore up as she finally got up before rushing at me and openly sobbing; the sacred oath was never told to anyone outside the clan, with the two sole exceptions being Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, who never betrayed their oath of secrecy.
*Intermittent sobs* "Finally, I've been reunited with my family. I've dreamed of it for so long since my parents died." She said between sobs.
"Don't worry, Karin-chan! I won't let you down in any way, shape, or form unless you ask." I said while she chuckled at the last part.
"Is … is the whole mess outside caused by you?" she asked.
"Hai! But there is a feeling that something else might be at work. My shadow clones are there to investigate it. But you'll finally come with me to Konoha.
Yes, I know that some … elements in there have plotted against our clan and likely your family. Yet, I was assigned by the Sandaime to investigate there; thus, I'm your legal protector if anything goes wrong." I reassured her.
"Thanks, but are you referring to these other individuals that I felt in the shadows? Like at least two who seemed to be unemotional, two who had a musical note headband, and two who I cannot really affiliate to." She asked.
"They are goons for Danzo, Orochimaru, and Jiraya in this order. For the former, he would want to a breeding stock out of you, likely the same for the latter and … the middle one – possibly a breeding stock and a subject experiment.
For the first and third individuals, they are going against the 3rd Hokage's orders and will." I said, which made her go wide-eyed at the thought of becoming a breeding stock and subject experiment.
"That's some additional thanks, I have to say, so what's now?" she asked.
"Wait, a sec. I'll get some intel about one or two things." I said while popping another shadow clone pin
(A/N: If I didn't explain it or already have done so, the Shadow Clone Pin or SCP is the concept of a shadow clone being henged into a pin that is used for instant communication between anyone and any shadow clone made by them or anyone else that made the pin by popping out the said pin.
Any intel is transmitted not only to the clone's original creator but also to any other clone made in the same batch as the SCP.
I got this trope of the Shadow Clone Communication from the fiction: "Naruto Re-Purposed" by Kassien – where Naruto used it to its advantage. Just write Re Purposed Naruto to get to the fiction if interested.)
*humming* "Well, it seems that a Wild Dungeon's gate is about to break. If I go there, I'll be able to close it and get out of there. Gaia, is it possible to enter from a point inside of a Wild Dungeon and leave to another point?" I asked, confusing Karin by speaking alone to seemingly no one.
"Indeed, but there is an initial fee of 250,000 Ryo and an additional 30,000 Ryo for each kilometer away from the entrance of the Dungeon." Said Gaia.
"What is going on? What's a Wild Dungeon, and who is Gaia?" asked a frightened Karin.
"A W.D. is a pocket dimension filled with wild beasts that can get you items or money, possibly both. And Gaia is my … spiritual companion that I received since last year when I was eleven years old.
Now, please don't freak out even though you are entitled to it. But I'll ask you to fully trust me on that one and say yes when a blue rectangle appears." I said, confusing her even more at the end while making a gesture with my right pointing finger.
Before she could ask anything, a blue rectangle with the following written on it:
[Naruto invited you to his party. Do you agree?]
[Y/N]
"Okay, that's creepy, but yes, I accept," said Karin.
Then, her world changed forever as she felt three distinct sensations going inside of her, which are the [Gamer's Mind | companion], the [Gamer's Body | companion], and the [Gamer's Companion] perks.
"What's going on … why don't I feel any panic and have clarity of mind?" asked a surprised Karin.
"You've received a reduced version of two of my abilities known as the [Gamer's Mind] and [Gamer's Body]. The 3rd one is the [Gamer's Companion] perk; it allows you to experience a fraction of what I live, and you can do some of the things I can do.
Among them is to see Gaia." I said while Karin could see a majestic woman in battle Kimono appear before her – making her blush at her beauty.
"Hello Karin, I'm Gaia. The "Assistant" of Naruto. I know that you are totally confused, but once you too are inside the W.D., You'll know what is going on," said Gaia with a smile, thus calming Karin by a bit.
"I just received the memory that the remains of your parents were secured, as well as any Uzumaki items. We'll need to go straight to the W.D., and I'll explain everything to you there," I said while popping up the second-to-last SCP to statute everyone on the course of the operation.
After that, since my camouflage item was out, I used the [Meisagakure no Jutsu | Hiding with Camouflage Technique] skill to smuggle both of us out of the apartment and up to the entrance unnoticed.
Chaos was everywhere as the W.D. was about to be revealed to this world by appearing in the sight of everyone, while I put some more chaos into it.
We had to get to the entrance quickly and close it by entering it, so I piggy-backed on Karin to the portal.
*whisper* "There, I see a strange circle that you called the entrance." Said Karin, to which I nodded before popping up the second to last SCP to warn of what happened.
Just before entering, a clone threw the scroll I presumed to possess everything required.
As we entered just in time, the chaos stopped, from its appearance to everyone's. If we took an additional second, oh boy, that's the Elemental Nation, which would be in for one round of madness.
'Something was coming out from there, yet it didn't. Has someone closed it while being unseen by us?' thought many hidden people before returning to their master to report on it.
Wild Dungeon: Eastern Plaguelands.
Duration: 5 years | Time dilatation: 1 year = 1 week.
Loot: unknown.
I put Karin down at the foot of a tree, and at this point, Karin sighed in relief, saying, "Ouf! It feels good to be able to leave that septic situation and hellhole of a place!"
"Indeed Karin-chan, we did it! Oh, by the way, this scroll contains everything your parents and you brought to Kusa in one scroll, while the other one inside has the remains of your parents." I said, while handing her a gourd of fresh water and said scroll.
"Thanks a lot, Naruto-kun. It means the world to me that I finally have all our belongings and the remains of my parents so I can bury their remains." She said while tearing up.
I went to her and hugged her, which she reciprocated back.
After five minutes of silence, she asked for the explanations she had been waiting for. I warned her that it would be hard to listen and that she could interrupt me with any questions.
For the next hour and a half, I explained everything, taking pauses or answering her questions from time to time.
In the end, she sobbed uncontrollably while she cursed: "Damn them! Why do people always do that to our people? We … we never had any malicious intent to overtake the world or some shit like this! Damn them for taking things away from us! …".
I hugged her and patted her back to comfort her while I teared up, knowing full well what pain she was traversing: To be on the receiving hand of unwanted abuses.
After another half an hour, she was able to calm down by crying herself to sleep. At this point, I was already scanning the surroundings and felt a massive building that seemed to require some reparations, which I recognized as Archerus: The Ebon Hold. The floating Necropolis was the moving general quarter of the Death Knights.
'Can I repair it? Can it be used to reinstate the Death Knight Order further?' I thought before my senses went haywire.
'Oh shoot, this is more than a simple dungeon where you kill everything on sight up to the boss! It's a scenario dungeon that makes the person replay certain event(s)!' While it took 2 hours for the scenario to set up!
"Easy Life is overrated, you said? Well, it seems that you'll need to finish this scenario up to the end for the dungeon to be completed. But I have to question, is it a time loop, or does it have some incidence on the timeline?" asked Kurama.
"It is a one-time scenario time loop, Dungeon. Dear Kitsune and Naruto, it won't have any incident on your timeline." Answered Gaia.
"Thanks," Kurama and I replied.
Now, the "NPCs" began to appear but didn't see or sense us immediately. I took this opportunity to use the [Meisagakure no Jutsu] to get us both out of sight of anyone just in time, as some Wizards that appeared just felt the disturbance but saw nothing.
The one shambled flying necropolis disappeared to let place to a functional and flying one with a sensation that I recognized as the Lich-King itself. I then felt a blazing, hidden stare at us, which I also recognized.
'Well, it seems that the Lich-King sensed us and used the Archerus Eye device to spot us. I know that he is sensing my Runic Powers and will send an emissary to us. I'll play diplomatically this all thing to detangle us from this situation.' I thought just before I stopped ten kilometers from the flying fortress due to the presence of what I foresaw.
Multiple Death Knights, with the leader of the Ebon Blade, Darion Morgraine, arrived to encircle us.
Darion emerged from the circle and said, in a reverberating voice, "Stop here, stranger; thanks to our gear, we can see you and the girl you are transporting. Our orders are to bring you two to our master. Please do it without resistance, and everything will be fine."
"I wouldn't have resisted, dear brethren. I know that the Lich King sensed us, me more precisely and more than likely wish to know and understand my presence as it is something that I know leverages many questions." I said with the same reverberating voice, indicating to them that I was also a Death Knight.
This surprised them a lot, but they shrugged it off, thinking they would get the answers they wanted after my discussion with their master.
When one of them handed me the harness for an additional Acherus Deathcharger, I surprised them by summoning my own, and we went on to the fortress after I installed Karin behind me on the horse.
After fifteen minutes, we arrived at the foot of the fortress, which is far more impressive than the one in-game.
"Ah, Darion, you arrived just in time. Our liege arrived just a little minute beforehand … to welcome these two indivi … what is this? This boy seems to be a Death Knight, too. I don't recall his intronization as one of you. And the girl seems to have such a great life force and an unknown energy inside her, same for the boy." Said a skeletal Lich.
"Those are questions that our master will find out the answer to with their discussion." Said Darion while making the hand gesture for everyone to dismount our mounts.
After we dismounted, Darion led me and Karin, who awoke during the ride, while the [Gamer's Mind | companion] enabled her to stay somewhat calm during it.
We finally arrived at the imposing figure of the Lich King "in all his splendor," and Darion fell to his knee, followed by Karin and me announcing our arrival.
"Thank you, my dear Darion. You have accomplished your mission with success. Now you can let me know our guesses; an important discussion is about to unfold," said the figure in a deep guttural voice that sounded like it had come out of the afterlife.
"It is an honor to meet such a mighty and powerful person as you, Your Highness. I wanted to have an audience with … to speak about certain things…" I said with my head bowed down.
"Things to speak about? Is the fact that you are a death knight part of it, as I do not recall making you one?" asked Arthas.
(A/N: The Lich King's name is Arthas Menethil)
"Indeed, my liege …" I said before going on with why we were there and why I was a Death Knight.
It took thirty minutes to explain it, and by the end of it, I felt displeasure rolling from Arthas. Not aimed at us, but aimed at the whole explanation part about the Shadowlands, the Jailer, Kel'Thusad, etc…
"I felt no lies in your words, young one; it brought light onto my mind. Yet, I cannot act so harshly and hastily; I will need time to prepare for it properly.
With your help, I will make sure to change my destiny. As too long I was the puppet of greater ploys, too long it lasted. Now, it will end once and for all, and by your hand, you will help me." Said Arthas.
'Gaia, if things go along, what he plans out. Won't it create another alternative timeline?' I mentally asked her.
'Indeed Naruto. As the time loop was taken out from the timeline, another alternative timeline will be born.' She answered.
"Well, we don't really have a choice to refuse. For my part, I do accept to help you in your endeavor to end this futility," I said, which worried Karin.
"Are you sure about this Naruto-kun? Is this the only way?" she asked with worry in her voice.
"Indeed, the time limit is five years. We cannot leave until it is completed, unlike a "Normal dungeon.". We are surrounded by him and others that serve him; thus, we won't be really able to do shit about it.
Besides this, I would be able to further my martial prowess and knowledge of my art here. I do understand that you are not enticed by it, but it is our only way out." I said, which made her more worried.
"Understandably, you are repulsed by such things we are capable of doing. Yet, I won't force you into it. If I were to say, I know a "specialization" that will fit for you.
If we can further refine our planification and everything goes well for the first year or so, we'll be able to contact an old acquaintance of mine who is in this domain of expertise." Said the man
"Thank you a lot; all this death is too much to bear with the memories of my parents' death. And if this acquaintance of yours truly has a specialization I can thrive in and would fit me well, I'll take your word on it.
Besides, Naruto-Kun will be there to make sure it is true," she said, blushing a bit at the end because she noticed that she was speaking of me as if I were her boyfriend.
Arthas and I chuckled at it.
"I do think we have some … preparations to do?" said the Lich King.
"Hai!" Karin and I said before we went to the personal chamber of Lich King inside Archerus.
All the while, we knew that some of the spectral shadows followed us with their glowing bright eyes before reporting our discussion to Kel'Thusad.
I've used a subtle hint that someone spied on us, which alerted Arthas. Thanks to a subtle combination of efforts, we were able to ensure that the specters heard another version of the discussion.
After a while, the training regimen of Karin and I was done with me having the following routine:
6:00 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.: Tribulations and breakfast.
6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.: Communion with the spirits of the deceased people.
7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Runeblade training
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.: Runes and Glyphs training.
12:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Launch + discussion about the morning routine for further refinement of it.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Battle Strategy in open-field training.
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Necrotic Arts training with the Necrotic Apothecary.
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Frost manipulation training with a Lich.
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Free time + dinner.
Some changes will be made to the Frost manipulation, Runes & Glyphs training, and Battle strategy training will be removed after the first two years.
The Necrotic Art training will take the spot for the Runes & Glyph training from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., leaving all afternoon free for field operations.
As for Karin, she has the following routine:
6:00 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.: Tribulations and breakfast.
6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.: Meditation + unlocking of the magical potential until obtention of it.
7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Physical conditioning
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.: Glyphs training.
12:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Launch + discussion about the morning routine for further refinement of it.
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Battle Strategy in open-field training.
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Lectures about magic.
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Alchemy training.
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Free time + dinner.
Once the magical potential is unlocked, the Lectures about magic will be replaced with Magical training that lasts from 2 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., with the alchemy training time reduced to 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
When I saw the magic part, I immediately knew who Arthas referred to as his "Old Acquaintance.".
Let us also say that Karin was totally in for the magic and alchemy parts of the program and would give her all. Many chuckled at the sight of such … enthusiasm and the fire in her eyes that spoke volumes of her eagerness to learn and harness such an art.
Waves of laughter were heard when a smack was heard because I said that she'd possibly be able to use magic to stop having a certain insecurity about a certain part of her body, which prompted her to smack me on the head pretty hard, causing my head to make a small crater on the ground.
"Well, it seems that the next years shall be entertaining … Maybe it was destined that the Lich King of the past and the future meet one another in such conditions. Maybe not everything is lost … but I'll need to rectify as much as possible. If only you hadn't abandoned me and seen Stratholme as a lost cause that required an iron hand to deal with … Maybe, just maybe, things would have gone for the better." Said the Lich King, with him speaking as Arthas Menethil at times.
Ding! Mission completed!
[Quest: Save the Crimson Maiden!]
[Objectives]
Locate Karin - ü
Could you put her in a safe location? - ü
Retrieve the remains of Karin's parent(s) - ü
Could you please retrieve any intel, scroll(s), and other material about the Uzumaki clan in Kusa? - ü
[Rewards]
1,000,000 Ryo - ü
25,000 Exp - ü
Pickable Mythical Item among a selection - ü
One shop reduction coupon - ü
- Elsewhere in another time –
"Damn this child, he is such a nuisance to the grand "Order" of things!" roared an entity traveled by green glowing marks.
"May the light enlighten the right path to equilibrium!" Said a radiant being
*humming* "It seems that our chosen is coming sooner rather than later. All thanks to Death itself; hmm, maybe a common ground can be found to have harmony? Our way of things o
So many questions, yet so many more come from answers. I shall go in contemplation to find what I need." Said the hollow voice of a Titanic being
* Joyous Chuckle* "If the Order's chosen came from Death, I would not be surprised that ours will come from there too." Said a pleasant and Lively voice of a being.
*Sinister Chuckle* "Mine is chosen all along; Void and Death are two distinct endings. Thus, I knew whom I had to choose; I'll whisper more and more with more gifts, I guess." Said a disembodied void.
To be continued …