(AN: Sorry for the wait, everyone! Work and life have been crazy, and I've been sick as a dog. Now, to answer some Reviews!)
(For Grz: Wind boosts slashing because it slashes! But seriously, that's just what I think, at least for that particular jutsu and some others. For some jutsu, like Wind Bullet or the drilling one, whose name eludes me right now, piercing will be added, but for weapon boosts, wind will enhance slashing instead of piercing. It just makes sense to me!)
(For Everyone else: Thank you so much for the reviews! I appreciate all of the comments sent! Hope you enjoy everything else.)
Naruto climbed the rest of the stairs, only a little out of breath as he continued his journey to complete as many quests as possible. "You know, system, you're definitely a taskmaster."
[You only had to complete three. Have you not found your Something yet?]
"Now, you answer me." Naruto huffed as he finally ascended the top of the monument. He doubled over, hands on his knees, and looked around cautiously. "I think I found it. But I need to be sure."
Silence greeted him, and slowly, he stood with a stretch and continued to the small red dot.
"Might as well check out those scrolls, at least." What had it been? It was a taijutsu scroll and an elemental, right? He claimed the quests and read through the rewards.
[The Damsel In Distress.]
[Rewards: 5 Relationship with Anko Mitarashi, 50 EXP, 1500 Ryo, 1 D Rank Skill Scroll.]
"Oh, right, I forgot about that one. Hopefully, that's something good." He wished it was something better than a D Rank skill, though. Maybe he'd get lucky, and it would upgrade. That would be sweet.
He claimed the next quest and—
[Sage Advice From the Monkey King.]
[Rewards: 1 Perk (Friend of the Monkeys.), 25 EXP.]
Friend of the Monkeys: Enma, The Monkey King, has given you his friendship and even offered to let you sign the Monkey contract.
15% Relationship gains towards all primates.
10% Learning Speed to all Monkey-based techniques
"Nice perk." The relationship part probably wouldn't be too good, but if there was a monkey-based taijutsu style, that would be sick to learn.
The rest of the rewards were deferred, apparently, so he went on the next quest.
[Your Jiji Always Knows Best.]
[Rewards: 25 EXP, 1 Random D Rank Elemental Ninjutsu Scroll]
EXP: 315/800
"Man, leveling is going to take forever later on." Especially if the EXP was going to be like this, another Jutsu would still be nice.
[Fated Meeting of Rivaled Steps.]
[Rewards: 1 D- Rank Taijutsu Style Scroll, 50 EXP.]
Now that he had all the scrolls, Two D ranked scrolls, and one D-, he used them all straight from his inventory. At least the long walk up the monument would be worth something.
[Cooking Skill obtained!]
[Due to past experience gained, your cooking skill has leveled up automatically.]
Cooking (Lvl 11 87%): Cooking is an art in of itself. The greatest chefs can take even the worst ingredients to make a masterpiece to soothe the soul. You're not quite there yet.
11% Bonus to all Health and Chakra gains from food you have cooked.
22% Bonus to all Health and Chakra gains from mastered recipes.
Master Recipies:
Instant Ramen
"Man, that's just a kick in the pants." All he had mastered was Instant Ramen. Sure, he knew the exact time to boil the water and how long to keep the top on, but… "You suck, system."
He eyeballed the next scroll and grinned at what he received.
Wind Style: Basic Wind Reduction (Lvl 2 0%) D Rank: Coats your body in a thin layer of wind chakra to counter wind resistance as you move. Grants a bonus to your Dex.
11% Increase to Dex
5 Slashing damage when hit physically.
50% Fire Damage received when in use.
Lasts for 30 seconds.
Costs 45 Chakra Per Use.
He could definitely use that. Just had to beware if someone ever started using fire jutsu. "Oh, those monkeys in the forest are gonna suck."
And finally, he used the Taijutsu scroll from the teme.
Interceptor's Fist (1/3): The go-to style for the Uchiha clan, made specifically for one reason: Improving the Sharingan. This style focuses on DEX above all other attributes and serves as a basis for all Uchiha skills and jutsu. A very aggressive style, with median defense. At Lvl 1, STR is passively increased by 1.5% and DEX by 2% when in use.
(Note: You have received 1/3 of the scroll. Find the other two pieces to unlock the beginner style, or purchase them in the skills list.)
Purchasing them would be interesting… if they weren't three points a piece. So, six total.
Sighing but storing that information away for later, Naruto finally made it to the top of the monument. He always loved coming up here, whether it was to be alone or while running from the shinobi chasing him after a prank.
It was nice to be back here.
"Too bad I've got work to do."
It took a minute, but sitting on the edge of the cliff was a small sign, one he had remembered in the past but had never bothered to actually read it. Just behind it was a small crack lit up by a myriad of colors. It was hauntingly beautiful. Or would have been without the creepy voices sifting through.
"At this site we remember the day the Hokage Monument Obstacle Course collapsed, killing three Academy students and injuring another ten. The sign for the course has been turned into a memorial, so that all may remember the fallen."
Naruto frowned. He had never heard of an obstacle course all the way up here before. But as he peaked around it sign, looking at the other side, he could read the faded words and numbers.
[Hokage Monument Obstacle Course.]
[Rankings]
[1. Minato Namikaze. Age 10]
[2. Hiruzen Sarutobi Age 12]
[3. Danzo Shimura Age 14]
The Fourth and the Third were on it? This course must have been ancient. Briefly he wondered who the Danzo guy was, but shrugged it off. He probably wasn't here anymore anyhow. But still, he was curious as to how an obstacle course could be up here. And how the fourth had gotten an 8.54! He wondered how big it had been.
Ignoring the sign, he moved closer to the shining crack in the air that hovered gently, and Naruto felt something tug on his body. He tried to step back, but a string of light shot out from the tear, grabbing him.
"Hey! What gives!?" He couldn't break the stream, and suddenly he was being yanked over the edge of the cliff. "Oh—"
"—Shit!" Naruto hit the ground and rolled as his stomach flipped upside down.
"Hey, are you alright?" A soft voice asked, and Naruto couldn't help but groan as his head felt like splitting open.
"Maybe…" Naruto groaned and tried to sit up. "Why is it so bright…"
"Probably because it's noon in the middle of summer?" The voice offered helpfully.
"Noon?" Naruto raised a hand to block that light and squinted his eyes through his fingers. Sure enough, that was the noon sun glaring down on him.
"Uh, yeah? Are you sure you're alright? I can run down and get someone."
Naruto finally forced himself to his feet and looked at the person speaking. It was a young boy, probably a little younger than himself, though just as tall. Or short, really. Damned Malnourished flaw. At least the boy looked physically weaker than him.
"I'm fine! Just a little tired is all, didn't think I'd sleep all day!" Naruto grinned and gave the boy a thumbs up. "I'm Naruto by the way! Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Uzumaki?" The boy leaned closer, staring at Naruto intently, almost creeping him out. "Are you related to Kushina Uzumaki, by any chance? She's in my academy class. Though she's two years older than me. So probably around your age."
Naruto grimaced and rubbed the back of his head, "No… no, uh. I'm an orphan. I just got given the name because it was put on the register."
"Oh, right, because of the… nevermind." The blonde looked away and muttered, "I'm going to go back to training them, if you're fine."
The blonde walked away, and Naruto followed him with his eyes, only to let his jaw drop at the large obstacle course that decorated the cliff side. Though it was odd, in that there was a large gap between the two sections. Maybe it was a spot to just run? "Oi! What is this spot?"
The other boy didn't seem necessarily annoyed at the question, but was definitely in a hurry to answer him as he blurted out, "It's an obstacle course. Normally only kids in their final year can use it, but I got permission since I'm on the fast track list. You can watch if you want. Just don't go stealing any of my moves." It was said only half serious, but Naruto nodded and watched as the boy took off.
"Holy hell." Naruto couldn't help but mutter as the boy moved. He was fast, and a quick observe only told him the stats, the name was blocked out by question marks and so was their relationship.
DEX: 44
The kid was definitely younger than him, but his DEX was way higher than Naruto's! Even with his extra attribute points, the kid was still higher. And that was with the familiar-looking seals on his wristbands. They looked almost identical to the ones that lined the inside of his hidden leg warmers.
He had to be faster than Lee or the Neji kid.
And then the kid fell off the cliff once he reached the empty spot.
"Shi—" Naruto cursed and ran to the edge, only for his jaw to drop as the kid leaped from poles that had been jammed into the wall of the cliff. He made his way over a woven rope bridge and swung himself back up onto the final third of the course. Below the course was nothing, not even a safety net. "No wonder it wasn't rebuilt." Something else caught his eye, however.
A bell was rung as Naruto looked over the village, and Naruto had to tear his eyes away from the much smaller version of his home.
"24.72 seconds!" A voice announced, and Naruto watched as a man walked up to the other kid.
"Is that good?" He asked while walking over to the two.
"Young man, what are you doing here, and do you have permission to be up here?"
Naruto didn't recognize the teacher or whoever it was, so he just simply replied. "Yeah, the old man said I could come up here for the obstacle course. Said it would be best for my speed. But enough about me, you were certainly fast, kid. Was that time any good?"
The blond boy smiled shyly and looked away. "It would only rank 17t on the list. Nothing like Lord Third's time of 9.17 Seconds."
Naruto's eyes practically burst out of his skull at that. Nine? "Are you kidding me? The old man did it that quickly?"
The blond frowned at his comment, and gave him a heated glare, "You shouldn't call him that."
"Eh? What? Old man? I mean, I could call him Jiji like I usually do."
Even the chunin in charge looked at him like he was crazy.
"You call the Third your grandfather?" the boy said in awe.
"Well… yeah? He's always been there for me when I needed it. Heck, I didn't even realize he was the Hokage until I was seven."
"What?"
"He was always just the old man in the funny hat to me. Especially back when I was in the orphanage."
"Right. I forgot you said you were in one of them, too."
"Too? Oh, got it." Naruto watched the boy look off to the side awkwardly. Another orphan, just like him, huh?
"I don't recognize you, though. Which one did you grow up in?"
Sheepishly, Naruto rubbed the back of his head, and answered, "The Vine Orphanage."
"Oh, really? I live in the Branches Orphanage on the west side. Are you training to be a ninja as well?"
Naruto watched the boy gesture to the pouches at his sides and grinned, "You bet I am! I'm gonna be the best ninja in the leaf! No, the world!"
His large smile was matched by his fellow blond finally, and he said back. "That's my goal too! I want to show everyone that an orphan like me can succeed! I plan on being the greatest Kage to ever live! And bring peace to the village."
Peace? To become the Hokage for peace in the village, the definitely sounded better than becoming one just for the recognition. "Then I guess that makes us rivals, huh!?" Naruto thrust his hand out.
"Rivals? Guess you Uzumaki are all the same." And he took it. "Want to try the obstacle course while you're up here?"
Did he want to?
Of course!
[Urgent Quest Unlocked!]
[A Tear In Space and Time. Catch the Ghost of Your Past.]
[Description: Get at least a 30 second time on the Monument Obstacle Course. Cement your Journey.]
[Rewards: 100 Relationship with ?, 50 EXP, 2 DEX, 3 Attribute Point.]
"So I'll get more speed? That sounded good." Plus the extra attribute point as well. But why did he keep getting DEX quests? "Does the game just want me to keep building DEX or something?"
He dumped his points into the attribute, but frowned. Was 34 even enough for 30 seconds? The other boy had an extra ten and was only able to get 24. Plus, he knew the course! "Even if I fail, at least I'll get some experience." What was it the old man used to always say?
"You look like you're thinking too hard." The boy said.
"The Journey is the greatest reward one can gain from any mission." Naruto would beat this quest, just like the rest. He'd show this kid that if he was going to be Hokage, then he'd have a rival at his coattails at all times. He turned with a smile. "Let me get two attempts!"
"Two?"
"It's my first time."
"I guess we can do two."
He got a notification that the quest updated and grinned. "At least the rewards didn't change." Still, he'd have to put some serious thought into this. "So you have to fall off and do that side ways bit, right?"
"Need me to run it again?"
"Nah, I got it." It seemed easy enough… probably. "OH!" He had that new skill, didn't he? He could use that for a boost. And it only had one hand sign. Would he be able to use it, though? And what was 11 percent of 34?
"Alright, first attempt!"
It was terrible.
Naruto activated the jutsu, which thankfully didn't set his two watchers off. He barely dodged the swinging ropes in the first obstacle and tripped leading into the second set, causing him to instantly be flattened by a falling wall. He stood fast, throwing off the foam material and dashed forward, staring at the fifteen seconds left on his jutsu. "Not even a third through and I'm already almost out." At least the course wasn't deadly. He fell to his stomach and crawled under the bell lined wires of the next part. Each time one was triggered, a rock was shot out of a bamboo pipe and slammed into his back or side. It was too cramped to dodge. Finally, he made it to the other side and realized he was at the end of the first section. Stepping over to the edge, Naruto noticed several painted rocks that looked like hand holds. But that other boy didn't use those, did he? He just jumped. So…
Naruto did as well. "I'm gonna live forever!" Naruto shouted while flinging himself off the cliff.
"I should have thought this through." He plummeted through the air, but quickly caught one of the poles jutting from the side of the cliff face. It bounced him up and down, nearly costing him his grip. Naruto swung his body up, catching the next one and the one after that, until finally he hit the rope bridge, only to nearly flip off of it as it spun.
"Why is this for academy students?!" He shouted while desperately hanging on. The bridge was only minimally anchored, and seemed to be more for balancing than speed. So, Naruto instead chose to place his foot onto the poll beside him, and launch off, hitting the side of the wall, and grabbing a hold as quickly as possible. "Now where?"
He couldn't balance on something like that with his current skills. So, reactivating his newest jutsu, Naruto leaped off the cliff face, and landed on the other side with a roll, where he then leaped onto the beams that made up the stairs to head back up. Leaping over the tight gaps, he made the trip in only a few seconds before he was back on top.
His next obstacle was a set of monkey bars with fast spinning bars he needed to pull himself up to dodge. The first one nearly took him off the bars, but he didn't get hit again til the final. Naruto grunted and swung from the last bar, landing on the ground awkwardly as his ribs protested the strain.
"You can do it, Naruto!" The blond boy shouted.
Rising, Naruto glared up at the final obstacle, a tall wall with a single, thin, light rope that didn't even look like it could hold his weight. It was more akin to a long piece of string than anything else.
"Why didn't I level my chakra control any more?" He muttered and slowly began the climb.
Just for the laugh, he activated his wind jutsu one last time and struggled to the finish line.
"One minute and seventeen seconds." The man in charge of the course said, noticeably wincing as Naruto slowly collapsed over the finish line.
"Well…" The blond tried to half heartedly cheer him up.
"Don't… even." Naruto wheezed.
"You don't have to keep going."
"I said… I would… And I don't go back!" Naruto rose from the dirt, rubbing his sore chest, "That's my ninja way! Believe it!"
Already the pain in his body was going away, and his HP was ever so slowly recharging. Something he hadn't noticed before. "Maybe because I'm not in a dungeon?" It would be nice to have something like that always activated.
"Want to take a break first?" The blond boy asked. "I brought lunch up, but I can split it with you."
He seemed sheepish and Naruto mirrored the look while glancing away. "Oh, that's fine. I'm not hungry." He was instantly betrayed as his stomach roared. And Naruto had to admit he hadn't eaten anything in a good while, especially with all the running around the village he had been doing. Was that why he was struggling with the obstacle course?
"You sure? It's just some instant ramen cups. I brought two just in case." The boy was embarrassed at the admission. But Naruto waved off his curiosity and instead jumped at the offer.
"Sure! I'll take it… If you're offering." What was the kid's name again? Had he even asked? He made to ask, but the boy interrupted him.
"Truth be told… I don't really like ramen too much. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'll eat it. It's not like I don't enjoy it… but…"
"But?" The kid really had some serious self-esteem issues.
"Well, I always keep two cups on me, just in case—no, you probably don't want to hear something like that."
The fast switch up made Naruto don his detective hat and narrow his eyes at the burning red boy now. "Don't just leave me hanging like that, man!"
Steam escaping his ears, the younger blond replied. "Well Kushina, the Uzumaki in my class, she really likes Ramen."
"OH!" It was just like when he always offered to split his cup with Sakura! Though, she didn't like ramen. The girl's one flaw.
"Yeah… I know it's kind of embarrassing—"
"No!" Naruto shouted, interrupting him. "Sharing food is one of the most romantic things a budding duo can do together!" That's what Jiji always said, anyway.
"Really?"
"Yeah!" Probably. "Jiji always says he and his wife met due to her love of tea! Even though he hated the type she liked, he always went to her favorite tea shop to drink it with her just to catch her attention!"
"So I should eat more ramen?"
"Definitely!"
The boy frowned at the dirt and stared at the now cooked ramen as he passed one cup over. "Maybe I'll offer her one next time."
"Wait? Have you not offered her one before?" What was the point of keeping the noodles?
"Well, I've never had the courage to do so… Even now, I'm not sure."
Naruto frowned before downing the rest of his ramen, ignoring the burn from the still piping hot broth, and stood with a flourish. He pointed at the course, then the boy, and finally himself while shouting! "How about this, kid! If I complete the course in thirty seconds or less! You have to ask this Kushina girl on a date!"
At least this way, maybe one of them could get their crush to go on a date… this was the way a man should live his life. For the sake of others… Was this what it meant to be Hokage? Nah, that was a stupid reason. Maybe something similar, though.
"I don't know if I could agree to this, Naruto."
"It'll be easy! And uh… if I lose, I guess… I'll wear a green jumpsuit and run around the village with Gai for a day. Or something."
"Gai?"
"A Jonin that's kinda crazy but really strong." His stats were definitely high, but what were they like not suppressed?
"I heard all the Elites are crazy over something."
"Maybe I need to become crazy about something. Pranking?"
Far away, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his paperwork, a cold shiver running down his spine as dread filled his heart. What horror was to be released upon the world?
"Alright, I'll accept your deal then." There was still doubt in his eyes, but Naruto would win this bet, and easily.
He glanced at his new skill and grinned at the EXP bar.
(Lvl 2 78%)
It definitely leveled faster than other skills, that was for sure. So while doing some stretching, he activated the jutsu, and watched as the Dex increase changed from 11% to 12%. Plus, in his notifications, he noticed a stat increase.
[Ding! Due to intense strain on the body, DEX has Increased!]
He was now at 35, and with the Wind Jutsu, he would hit 39! And now that he really knew what he was aiming for…
Naruto stood at the starting line as his new friend and rival stood off to the side with their watcher, a timer held tightly in his hand. The wind blew gently over the monument faces, and Naruto took a slow deep calming breath.
"When you're ready."
"I am."
"3… 2…"
His eyes were razor focused on the first of the obstacles ahead.
"Go!"
He activated the jutsu mid step and flew through the ropes this time, rolling under the first two falling walls of the course, and leaping just as the third fell to slide halfway through the bell wires.
A full seven seconds had passed compared to the twenty or thirty of the first time.
He didn't let a single bell chime as he climbed quickly under the traps. As he came from under the bell wires, he took a page from the other blond's book and leaped over the edge toward the next part.
But his hand slid right off the closest poll, shocking him. Naruto then bounced off the one below and he plummeted through the air.
"Naruto!"
He didn't have much time to think, and it was like he was moving on instinct as his hands fell into a familiar hand sign as a clone popped into being.
"Throw me!" He shouted to it, his mirror image responding lightning fast, grabbing his collar and flinging him through the air at the farthest poll. With his wind jutsu, Naruto soared through the air, a second clone forming and throwing him to the final post. He clutched it, swinging himself with the momentum and flinging himself over the rope bridge, landing in a roll on the other side.
"Nice!"
Naruto let the cheer fuel him, and he took the 'stairs' two at a time, leaping back onto the cliff top with surprising speed.
Fifteen seconds had passed.
He flew at the monkey bars next, swinging high with each jump, dodging the spinning bars completely until the thing rope was in his hand once more.
And he climbed!
"29.87 seconds!" The watcher was astounded, and Naruto couldn't help but grin.
"Believe it!" He shot a thumbs up at this friend.
"That was so cool!" the other boy was practically bouncing on his heels.
"Still not as fast as yours!"
The boy smiled at the praise, but quickly countered, "For your second attempt! I'm sure in no time you'll beat my record, maybe even lord thirds!"
"Oh please," Naruto waved him off, "If you took off those weights, I bet you'd flew through this mess."
Their watcher inhaled sharply at the words, and the boy turned red once more, something Naruto realized seemed to be a common occurrence.
"Eh heh, you noticed them?"
"I've got similar ones. Though they're leg warmers. Not activated right now, though."
"They're not allowed on the training course." Their watcher spoke, and the boy glanced away quickly.
"But still, your movements were interesting. I didn't think to skip the rope bridge like that."
"You simply have to hit the first and last obstacle of each course." Their watcher spoke.
A million thoughts seemed to run through the boy's blue eyes, but just as Naruto made to say something, a warning popped up.
[Warning: A Tear in Space and Time has been completed. Returning to your own space in three minutes.]
"This was fun." Naruto said, if he was going to leave, he'd at least make sure this other kid knew how great it was.
"Really?"
"Yeah! The other kids don't like me too much, so it was nice to do something fun like this for a change!" Sasuke always indulged his challenges, but the others…
"It was my pleasure! Hey! Maybe we can do it again sometime!" Gone was the shyness. This new attitude made the kid almost seem like a different person from before.
"Definitely!" Two minutes left. "Any hey, maybe next time we can hit ten seconds!"
"Ten? That seems way too fast."
"Nah, I bet we can do it!"
"I… maybe." A confidence burned in his eyes, one that Naruto was quick to fuel.
What had the fourths record been? 8.54? "Why not shoot for 8.53, huh? I bet you can do it!" Yeah, shoot for higher. Had the man even made that record yet?
"Sounds like a nice number." The blond smiled brightly at the other boy. "But I think I'll go lower than that! A solid 8 sounds even better!"
That was the ticket. "Of course! My rival can't be anything but the best!"
A hand was shoved in Naruto's face, causing him to blink. "Promise we can do this again sometime." The kid almost seemed… desperate.
"A promise?"
"Yeah!" Had Naruto created some kind of monster doing this? Who cares? He grabbed the hand firmly, holding it tightly with a grin.
"Of course! One day, we'll do this again! Or do some other challenge! I bet it'll be the best day of our lives."
"From one Hokage candidate to another."
Naruto's smile had never been brighter as the boy said those words. Finally, someone who understood. "You got it!"
The boy wanted to be Hokage in order to protect his village. That was definitely a better reason than to be seen. Should he do it? Would he be able to protect the village, a village that hated him? That was an easy question. The answer was obvious.
"When the old man retires, we'll fight for it."
"Then I'll see you at the top."
Starring into those bright blue eyes, Naruto realized for a moment that they were just like his. Exactly like his. Like he was looking into a mirror. And the hair as well, "Hey, what's your—"
[Warning, thirty seconds to departure.]
"Crud!" Naruto shouted and spun, throwing a wave at the boy. He didn't know what would happen if he just up and disappeared right in front of the two, so he needed a place to hide. "Anyway, I'll see you later, kid! I forgot something in my, uh, in my oven!"
"That's such a poor excuse!" The boy called out his lie easily. But Naruto didn't really care at being caught as he dashed down the stairs and ducked into a hidden alcove. Slowly, his body began to dissolve into a myriad of colored lights, one thought taking over his mind completely.
"I'll protect the village… no matter what. Is that what you were trying to tell, old man?"
The first thing Naruto did after materializing on the monument was check the back of that sign. Sadly, the top name was still there as Minato Namikaze, with 8.54 seconds on it.
"Dang, I was rooting for that kid, too." Or maybe it was all fake. "Hey, system! Was that all fake or was it real?"
[As I have stated before, I can only quantify data that already exists in this world. What just happened was in fact real, for you and that boy.]
"Who was that kid, anyway? He seemed… familiar. Warm. Nice."
[You should have asked his name.]
What was the quest name? A tear in space and time? "Well, it doesn't matter. He's my rival now. That's for sure. Whether we're separated by distance or time, it doesn't matter."
To be Hokage was their goal. And Naruto was going to win that competition, no matter what. "To protect."
He'd be a hero.
(AN: Again, everyone, I am sorry for the delay between chapters. So here's an early Christmas present, and I am striving to finish the next chapter on Christmas Day. I'm hoping to finish the Academy Arc within the next chapter or two, and then we'll be in the Genin section of the story. Anyway, don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think! These things fuel me!)
Name: Naruto Uzumaki
Title: Spring's Showers
Job: Academy Student
EXP: 415/800
Level: 9
Health: 49/49
Chakra: 1100(5500)/1100(5500)
STR: 23
CON: 25
DEX: 37
INT: 16
WIS: 16
LUK: ?
Attribute Points: 4
Skill Points: 2
Perk Points: 2