Timber! [Naruto - Male SI]
- Thread starter DerHesse
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- naruto self insert konoha
Then don't read? Personally I like that the MC is a little messed up, it makes him feel more realistic. Different strokes for different folks.
I agree, flaws makes characters more lively. In the end if it's not your cup of tea, don't drink it. But this is also a forum, and an engaging dialogues should always be encouraged.
He used to be a fun character to read but at this point he is basically completely flawed and while flaws are important, too many can be turn a character unlikeable which as the mc is not the best trait
Chapter 3.1.8
- Location
- Germany
Chapter 3.1.8
Skikaku Nara didn't question why his son was waiting for him in the middle of a road on which he currently should have no business in.
Shikaku Nara didn't question why his son was radiating unease despite his painfully obvious attempts to pretend the opposite.
So Shikaku Nara remained silent as his son fell into step next to him.
"Why do some shinobi…," Shikamaru began only to pause.
"I mean," he began anew. "There's been Orochimaru, then Itachi Uchiha. And now…" Shikamaru paused yet again, but this time an uncharacteristic scowl was barely disguised by his mask of apathy.
Perhaps, Shikaku reckoned, he thought it unfair of him to group the obvious subject of this conversation into the same bracket as these high-profile criminals. By all accounts, he was a great shinobi and friend.
"Let's imagine shall we," Shikaku took over, his tone suggesting an academic topic. "You are a young, have talent and drive to spare."
"Quickly, you are head and shoulders above the peers your age."
A quiet sigh from his father made Shikamaru look up.
"Perhaps some context first."
"Missions are given to those who should be able to handle them. In administration, the best-case scenario is when a mission difficulty correlates just right with the capabilities of the shinobi tasked with it." Shikaku explained.
"We could obviously send our best on every mission to guarantee success, but what do we do when suddenly something urgent, something vital, pops up?" He asked his son the rhetorical question, knowing he already understood his point.
Still, it never hurt to elaborate.
"We send those who should be able to handle whatever task, so that we have the very select few on hand to handle emergencies."
"Now," he reverted to the academic tone. "You are still a boy, but now you have medical ninjutsu under your belt, you can fight with most adults, you are as professional as you can be." Skikaku grew silent to let that little summary sink in.
"You receive a tough and dangerous mission, you exceed expectations. You come home and train hard to be prepared for the next mission. Your next mission is different, but just as difficult, and yet again, you exceed expectations. On and on it goes."
"Some day you are on a team," here Skikaku halted, forcing Shikamaru to stop and turn, eyes rising to meet those of his father.
"It's war, a battle, whatever," Skikaku's gaze was flat, not unkind, but steely. "You trained your whole life, you bore expectations and responsibilities without complaint or failure. Now you have to take care of people who, instead of training, had spent their time gazing at clouds."
Skikaku remained expressionless. His son was a different story, despite his best efforts.
"'This is Konoha. We fight and die for each other, right?' You can see the desperate thoughts as the cloud-gazer looks at you, almost begging."
The words were left hanging until...
"Well," Skikaku shrugged and continued his leisure pace past his son. "It's either that, or perhaps trauma. Maybe it's the unbearable weight on your shoulders or simple tiredness. Who knows?"
"He's not unstable," Danzo said with an air of finality.
His gaze was on the village outside the windows. The back of the Third, who was doing the same a few paces in front of him, was largely ignored. Just like Inoichi Yamanaka, who had just finished his report, and now stood silently to the side.
"Do you begrudge him his anger?" He asked. "His understandable frustration?"
"If we were to push every young student to such lengths, would we still live in the village of Hashirama Senju?" Hiruzen countered, face still toward the window with his desk at his back.
"No," Danzo answered without hesitation. "But we don't have such luxuries he had, not anymore."
"No Hashirama, no Madara, no Tobirama, no God of Shinobi," Danzo paused, his weighted gaze briefly shifting toward his old rival.
"No Sannin, no Hatake," he went on. "No Namikaze, no Uchiha, the Hyuuga content without rivals, and the clans pampered by peace and prosperity." He finished. Frustration hadn't been heard by those present, but it was undoubtedly there. The glance the Yamanaka clan head had received at the end had been drenched in disappointment. Danzo's opinion was crystal clear. The continued and increasing loss of talent over the decades like a festering wound to the old veteran.
"Let me ask you this," Danzo's voice gained an animated edge as he stepped toward the desk. His eyes were now squarely on the Third Hokage. "If we do nothing, will we still live in Hashirama's village?"
"Five years, imagine your daughter in a war, Inoichi, brutal open conflict against hardened shinobi taught to hate and envy everything Konoha!"
Before the blonde could answer, the Third finally turned, face unreadable. That there was no reproach toward Danzo, however, was rather telling.
"I believe we strayed from the topic," he said, and despite the situation, the tiniest smile worked at the corner of his mouth for just a heartbeat.
"I have another appointment approaching, so let's conclude this."
"From now until the end of the Chunin Exam, Daiki Ito will be part of the village ANBU-patrol, one shift per day."
"Away from the general Shinobi population, a straightforward daily purpose to keep his mind from wandering too frequently, and to give him a chance to build a routine with his friends and acquaintances." Hiruzen finished with a nod toward Inoichi and Danzo.
"Acceptable," Danzo bowed and turned, the dismissal and the end of the meeting obvious. There wasn't a point in arguing this matter, anyway.
Hiruzen sighed, just loud enough for the exiting Inoichi and Danzo to hear.
"Now the hard part."
"OLD MAN!" An angry shout rang through the hallway.
"What do you see beyond our walls?" The Third asked his young companion. The top of his own rocky likeness providing the perfect vantage point and the preferred privacy for such talks as these.
"Forest," Naruto answered by pointing out the obvious. His mood was still sour, but as brash as he was, even he knew that when the Old Man spared the time for him, the least he could do was show a minimum of respect. That he barged in unannounced and without appointment was simply more reason for his current calm and civility.
"Lush, fertile green as far as the eye could see," The Third agreed in a manner. "The Land of Fire has always been blessed by abundance. Long coasts, large freshwater rivers, and land as if made to provide for the people."
Hiruzen glanced at the young blonde at his side. Pleased when he saw him suitably attentive, he continued.
"People came and settled. And after a while," he said in a voice as if he was seeing a bygone scene play out in front of him. "Other people came, their need perceived as greater, so they simply claimed what was someone else's. Like animals squabbling over hunting grounds, they fought, and the stronger remained while the weak were forced to settle with less."
"Harsh mountains, inhospitable deserts, and unpredictable weather."
"The strong, the Senju, the Uchiha, grew even stronger, helped by their fortune. More came and accepted their place and joined. Yet again, the strong grew even stronger."
"The rest had to make do with the little they had, and only the memories of a better time remained. All the while, these memories and dreams were slowly becoming fertile ground for envy and resentment."
The entire time, Naruto didn't dare to interrupt. This felt like something else.
"The weak, fueled by this envy and resentment, weren't foolish, however. They banded together when they saw opportunity…" Here Hiruzen paused again and his gaze settled squarely on Naruto.
"We made them pay in blood!" The Third went on, voice grave. "They attacked, and we defended our home viciously."
"I lost my teacher, family, and many friends, but they lost more."
"Still weak, resentful and envious, but now vengeful because of the loss of loved ones as well."
"Again and again, whenever they taught us weak, they saw an opportunity to take revenge, land, resources, and again and again we had to remind them of our strength."
"Naruto," the kind old man stepped up to the boy and looked him straight in the eye. "I was strong." The sheer conviction he said that with made it obvious that he was talking about a scope the blonde couldn't even begin to comprehend. Not yet, hopefully.
"And yet, even I wasn't strong enough to care about every man and woman in every corner of the world. I was, however, strong enough to care for the people entrusted to me, to do what I thought best for them, to ensure their safety and prosperity, to be worthy of their faith."
"I had hoped to ensure the safety of future generations as well," here he put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and his gaze softened. "But that was perhaps a bit too ambitious. Time just seems to get away from us."
"That's why I need you, why I need your strength, young Daiki's strength, to bear the weight of the village and be able to do the things that need to be done."
"The world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean, and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it isn't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward."
Skikaku Nara didn't question why his son was waiting for him in the middle of a road on which he currently should have no business in.
Shikaku Nara didn't question why his son was radiating unease despite his painfully obvious attempts to pretend the opposite.
So Shikaku Nara remained silent as his son fell into step next to him.
"Why do some shinobi…," Shikamaru began only to pause.
"I mean," he began anew. "There's been Orochimaru, then Itachi Uchiha. And now…" Shikamaru paused yet again, but this time an uncharacteristic scowl was barely disguised by his mask of apathy.
Perhaps, Shikaku reckoned, he thought it unfair of him to group the obvious subject of this conversation into the same bracket as these high-profile criminals. By all accounts, he was a great shinobi and friend.
"Let's imagine shall we," Shikaku took over, his tone suggesting an academic topic. "You are a young, have talent and drive to spare."
"Quickly, you are head and shoulders above the peers your age."
A quiet sigh from his father made Shikamaru look up.
"Perhaps some context first."
"Missions are given to those who should be able to handle them. In administration, the best-case scenario is when a mission difficulty correlates just right with the capabilities of the shinobi tasked with it." Shikaku explained.
"We could obviously send our best on every mission to guarantee success, but what do we do when suddenly something urgent, something vital, pops up?" He asked his son the rhetorical question, knowing he already understood his point.
Still, it never hurt to elaborate.
"We send those who should be able to handle whatever task, so that we have the very select few on hand to handle emergencies."
"Now," he reverted to the academic tone. "You are still a boy, but now you have medical ninjutsu under your belt, you can fight with most adults, you are as professional as you can be." Skikaku grew silent to let that little summary sink in.
"You receive a tough and dangerous mission, you exceed expectations. You come home and train hard to be prepared for the next mission. Your next mission is different, but just as difficult, and yet again, you exceed expectations. On and on it goes."
"Some day you are on a team," here Skikaku halted, forcing Shikamaru to stop and turn, eyes rising to meet those of his father.
"It's war, a battle, whatever," Skikaku's gaze was flat, not unkind, but steely. "You trained your whole life, you bore expectations and responsibilities without complaint or failure. Now you have to take care of people who, instead of training, had spent their time gazing at clouds."
Skikaku remained expressionless. His son was a different story, despite his best efforts.
"'This is Konoha. We fight and die for each other, right?' You can see the desperate thoughts as the cloud-gazer looks at you, almost begging."
The words were left hanging until...
"Well," Skikaku shrugged and continued his leisure pace past his son. "It's either that, or perhaps trauma. Maybe it's the unbearable weight on your shoulders or simple tiredness. Who knows?"
"He's not unstable," Danzo said with an air of finality.
His gaze was on the village outside the windows. The back of the Third, who was doing the same a few paces in front of him, was largely ignored. Just like Inoichi Yamanaka, who had just finished his report, and now stood silently to the side.
"Do you begrudge him his anger?" He asked. "His understandable frustration?"
"If we were to push every young student to such lengths, would we still live in the village of Hashirama Senju?" Hiruzen countered, face still toward the window with his desk at his back.
"No," Danzo answered without hesitation. "But we don't have such luxuries he had, not anymore."
"No Hashirama, no Madara, no Tobirama, no God of Shinobi," Danzo paused, his weighted gaze briefly shifting toward his old rival.
"No Sannin, no Hatake," he went on. "No Namikaze, no Uchiha, the Hyuuga content without rivals, and the clans pampered by peace and prosperity." He finished. Frustration hadn't been heard by those present, but it was undoubtedly there. The glance the Yamanaka clan head had received at the end had been drenched in disappointment. Danzo's opinion was crystal clear. The continued and increasing loss of talent over the decades like a festering wound to the old veteran.
"Let me ask you this," Danzo's voice gained an animated edge as he stepped toward the desk. His eyes were now squarely on the Third Hokage. "If we do nothing, will we still live in Hashirama's village?"
"Five years, imagine your daughter in a war, Inoichi, brutal open conflict against hardened shinobi taught to hate and envy everything Konoha!"
Before the blonde could answer, the Third finally turned, face unreadable. That there was no reproach toward Danzo, however, was rather telling.
"I believe we strayed from the topic," he said, and despite the situation, the tiniest smile worked at the corner of his mouth for just a heartbeat.
"I have another appointment approaching, so let's conclude this."
"From now until the end of the Chunin Exam, Daiki Ito will be part of the village ANBU-patrol, one shift per day."
"Away from the general Shinobi population, a straightforward daily purpose to keep his mind from wandering too frequently, and to give him a chance to build a routine with his friends and acquaintances." Hiruzen finished with a nod toward Inoichi and Danzo.
"Acceptable," Danzo bowed and turned, the dismissal and the end of the meeting obvious. There wasn't a point in arguing this matter, anyway.
Hiruzen sighed, just loud enough for the exiting Inoichi and Danzo to hear.
"Now the hard part."
"OLD MAN!" An angry shout rang through the hallway.
"What do you see beyond our walls?" The Third asked his young companion. The top of his own rocky likeness providing the perfect vantage point and the preferred privacy for such talks as these.
"Forest," Naruto answered by pointing out the obvious. His mood was still sour, but as brash as he was, even he knew that when the Old Man spared the time for him, the least he could do was show a minimum of respect. That he barged in unannounced and without appointment was simply more reason for his current calm and civility.
"Lush, fertile green as far as the eye could see," The Third agreed in a manner. "The Land of Fire has always been blessed by abundance. Long coasts, large freshwater rivers, and land as if made to provide for the people."
Hiruzen glanced at the young blonde at his side. Pleased when he saw him suitably attentive, he continued.
"People came and settled. And after a while," he said in a voice as if he was seeing a bygone scene play out in front of him. "Other people came, their need perceived as greater, so they simply claimed what was someone else's. Like animals squabbling over hunting grounds, they fought, and the stronger remained while the weak were forced to settle with less."
"Harsh mountains, inhospitable deserts, and unpredictable weather."
"The strong, the Senju, the Uchiha, grew even stronger, helped by their fortune. More came and accepted their place and joined. Yet again, the strong grew even stronger."
"The rest had to make do with the little they had, and only the memories of a better time remained. All the while, these memories and dreams were slowly becoming fertile ground for envy and resentment."
The entire time, Naruto didn't dare to interrupt. This felt like something else.
"The weak, fueled by this envy and resentment, weren't foolish, however. They banded together when they saw opportunity…" Here Hiruzen paused again and his gaze settled squarely on Naruto.
"We made them pay in blood!" The Third went on, voice grave. "They attacked, and we defended our home viciously."
"I lost my teacher, family, and many friends, but they lost more."
"Still weak, resentful and envious, but now vengeful because of the loss of loved ones as well."
"Again and again, whenever they taught us weak, they saw an opportunity to take revenge, land, resources, and again and again we had to remind them of our strength."
"Naruto," the kind old man stepped up to the boy and looked him straight in the eye. "I was strong." The sheer conviction he said that with made it obvious that he was talking about a scope the blonde couldn't even begin to comprehend. Not yet, hopefully.
"And yet, even I wasn't strong enough to care about every man and woman in every corner of the world. I was, however, strong enough to care for the people entrusted to me, to do what I thought best for them, to ensure their safety and prosperity, to be worthy of their faith."
"I had hoped to ensure the safety of future generations as well," here he put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and his gaze softened. "But that was perhaps a bit too ambitious. Time just seems to get away from us."
"That's why I need you, why I need your strength, young Daiki's strength, to bear the weight of the village and be able to do the things that need to be done."
"The world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean, and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it isn't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward."
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...That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!
This is a character that had no schooling and can barely read. The only education he got is the university of life...damn awesome character Rocky Balboa.
Yeah Daiki is strong as hell and a vicious little shit but he's no Itachi or Orochimaru, he's actually good with people and he isn't a traitor. (I know Itachi had the whole "was ordered to do it, but Shikamaru doesn't know that)
This is Daiki's problem with most shinobi in general they aren't really "proper" shinobi in his mind just a bunch of hacks fumbling around with Chakra.
You know things are a mess when you agree with Danzo of all people. Also it makes sense given Konoha's reliance upon Monsters to survive and thrive, they don't have any right now. There's three people who have the potential to become strong enough, Kakashi who's rusty and sducidal, Gai who's getting there but isn't really suited to the more subtle aspects of being a shinobi, and Daiki who's frankly a mess.
Also he's right about the comment to Inoichi, the Clan Heirs are meant to be the best and brightest of Konoha due to all the resources they have at their disposal, but they aren't ready for war and they won't be for a long time.
Seeing a butchered summary of the Land of Fire and Konoha's history from Hiruzen is pretty neat.
This was great, there was the flashes of the God of Shinobi when he was giving that speech to Naruto. It also showed just how old and tired he is, Hiruzen has lost almost everything, has been through all the Shinobi Wars. He lost his position as Hokage due to following through on his ideals, but he got to rest, then the Nine Tails attack happened and he had to become a leader again. He's old and worn down by the world but the dude keeps on trying.
- Location
- L3 X-18999
This was a great follow-up chapter. Loved the reactions from Shikaku & Danzo and Hiruzen's explanation to Naruto was just at the right level. I also like the implication of just how strong the God of Shinobi was. It is rarely acknowledged in the fandom, but in canon he was stronger than even the 1st or 2nd, 1st beating Madara even.
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Ah, the joys of child soldiers. Fun mental health problems, moral quandries, justifications
Chapter 3.1.9
- Location
- Germany
Chapter 3.1.9
Groceries in hand, and thoughts in an unexpectedly content place, I continued to munch on my dango-stick.
It had been surprisingly easy to shelve this morning's 'events' in the back of my mind. A large factor, no doubt the generous filling of ramen that still filled me to the brim. Comfort food indeed.
Speaking of quality of life, my Kakashi-style facemask was already gone again.
The sheer impracticality just wasn't worth the imagined anonymity.
My general appearance was as nondescript as it could be, anyway. So after the initial shock of my bounty had faded, I had gone back to a more sensible look rather quickly. Namely, the forehead-protector turned bandana-style a couple of people were rocking.
Trains of thought going nowhere, and no plan or appointment in sight, my feet somehow carried me to an intersection with a rather tempting offer next to it.
A tasteful wooden customer stopper, which obviously was doing its job, caught my attention and pointed down a narrow cobblestone path.
Trees and the sound of a little stream gave the impression of something tranquil.
According to the sign, one of the hot springs had just finished an extensive refurbishment and was now offering some sort of loyalty slash bonus ploy.
"She had said I had to unwind," I muttered under my breath.
Maybe they had mixed zones, or perhaps even a private area. My mind involuntarily took a detour in a less innocent direction before it quickly course corrected as a familiar presence made its way toward me.
And…
…there she was.
"It would do you good," she commented instead of saying a proper hello. Her smile, however, more than made up for it.
"I thought so, too," I nodded in agreement, a genuine smile firmly in place.
"Do you have time for a walk?" Kurenai asked and despite her calm manner, I had a feeling or two about what this was going to be about.
A shadow-clone with my groceries later and I gave her an easy nod.
"Now I do," I answered, and motioned for her to lead the way.
The walk toward one of the nearby outskirts, that had a handful of smaller training-grounds, had been surprisingly quiet safe for the occasional bout of small-talk.
She had commented that I had grown taller; I had said thank God for that.
She had mentioned that it had been relatively quiet here in Konoha; I had responded rather drily that Kiri hadn't been.
So on and so forth until she had finally started with one of the many topics that was burning inside of her.
Kakashi.
By now, we reached the edge of a little clearing where I could see her little team have a go at each other. Practice, obviously, as I couldn't detect even the faintest whiff of urgency or tension.
Kiba versus the Aburame boy and the Hyuuga girl. He wasn't even pushed in the slightest.
I refrained from commenting, observed, and thought about her question instead. A simple question, really.
Would I visit him?
There had been no judgement in her tone. It sounded more like she was curious if there was going to be some further dialog, perhaps to clear the air or some such.
I knew she was probing, trying to get the conversation into an easy flow while looking for hints regarding my feelings, intentions, and my underlying reasoning.
The funny thing was that there simply was nothing to probe. I had been pissed, went along with what felt 'right', and when the match had been called, the whole thing had been already brushed to the side.
Back to the question, my eyes still on the Genin, fully aware that Kiba might be listening in with his Inuzuka hearing.
"Would you believe me, if I told you it was a legitimate course of action against a supposedly top shelve Jonin?" Here I paused and readied my fingers for air-quotes. "With allegedly over a thousand jutsus and the Sharingan."
"I mean," I continued, and shrugged. "I prevented any chance of him doing any form of nin-jutsu and tai-jutsu."
"I forcefully averted his gaze and broke his concentration to prevent gen-jutsu," I went on with my brief list of 'achievements.'
The further I went and the lighter my tone got, the more did I feel her gaze on me. And sure enough, there it was, raised eyebrow included.
Smiling, as I was enjoying myself a bit, I put a little cherry on top.
"And since it was an evaluation of my skills, I had put in a small psychological element as well. Quite successfully, I might add."
"Care to explain?" She asked, and I was immensely pleased that I heard her sigh in exasperation.
"Absolutely." My hands fell in my pockets, followed by a relaxed shrug. "I provoked a third party into revealing himself."
"I was unpredictable enough that Might Guy felt the need to step in."
"An unplanned and uncoordinated action that could prove costly in an ambush, a trap, or something along those lines," I reasoned and was proud to say it wasn't all bullshit I was sprouting right now.
"It worked on Unmo Samidare," I revealed that tidbit while I calmly met her gaze. Something that earned me another resigned sigh and marked the end of her attempt to understand me.
"So," I began and nudged my head toward her team, intent on changing the topic. "What about them? Any plans regarding the exam?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," she followed my gaze and nodded once. "We intend to have the Konoha teams of the recent graduation class work together."
I swallowed a grimace. "Safety in numbers, I guess," I muttered instead.
Despite my best effort to drop the subject, I simply couldn't help it.
"I'm no teacher, and don't want to presume," I began hesitantly and tried to bury my bitter disappointment as I continued to watch them. "Are they really ready? I mean," I chanced a glance at my former teacher as if to say 'look at them!'.
The more I watched Kiba hold back, the heavier the sinking feeling in my stomach got. The sour taste of genuine frustration welling up in my throat was quickly becoming a killer for my mood, too.
"When was the last time they had the ever-loving shit beaten out of them?" I asked loudly and noticed the subtle tensing of the Aburame and the Hyuuga.
Yet again, I swallowed my grimace, but this time I stood straight and took a mental step back. I had to get away before I flew off the handle.
Only for a hand on my shoulder to stop me in my tracks, physically and mentally.
"It's a month until the exam starts," Kurenai revealed, her hand still firmly in place. "And I think you are right."
"Your evaluation, as you might have realised given the audience, hadn't been simply a test to gauge your talents, but also a message by Hokage-sama."
"Too many of us have been stuck in a comfortable routine, myself included," she admitted. I couldn't help but look up and caught a subtle shake of her head.
"I want you to help me prepare them," she revealed and met my gaze.
Wait, what?
"I believe there is a fantastic teacher hiding inside of you. You just need a bit of practice with your empathy."
"Excuse me, but have we met?" I asked in disbelief. She wanted me to mellow out? Using her team?
"Blades need a hammer, too, don't they?" She simply responded, and I was left staring.
Groceries in hand, and thoughts in an unexpectedly content place, I continued to munch on my dango-stick.
It had been surprisingly easy to shelve this morning's 'events' in the back of my mind. A large factor, no doubt the generous filling of ramen that still filled me to the brim. Comfort food indeed.
Speaking of quality of life, my Kakashi-style facemask was already gone again.
The sheer impracticality just wasn't worth the imagined anonymity.
My general appearance was as nondescript as it could be, anyway. So after the initial shock of my bounty had faded, I had gone back to a more sensible look rather quickly. Namely, the forehead-protector turned bandana-style a couple of people were rocking.
Trains of thought going nowhere, and no plan or appointment in sight, my feet somehow carried me to an intersection with a rather tempting offer next to it.
A tasteful wooden customer stopper, which obviously was doing its job, caught my attention and pointed down a narrow cobblestone path.
Trees and the sound of a little stream gave the impression of something tranquil.
According to the sign, one of the hot springs had just finished an extensive refurbishment and was now offering some sort of loyalty slash bonus ploy.
"She had said I had to unwind," I muttered under my breath.
Maybe they had mixed zones, or perhaps even a private area. My mind involuntarily took a detour in a less innocent direction before it quickly course corrected as a familiar presence made its way toward me.
And…
…there she was.
"It would do you good," she commented instead of saying a proper hello. Her smile, however, more than made up for it.
"I thought so, too," I nodded in agreement, a genuine smile firmly in place.
"Do you have time for a walk?" Kurenai asked and despite her calm manner, I had a feeling or two about what this was going to be about.
A shadow-clone with my groceries later and I gave her an easy nod.
"Now I do," I answered, and motioned for her to lead the way.
The walk toward one of the nearby outskirts, that had a handful of smaller training-grounds, had been surprisingly quiet safe for the occasional bout of small-talk.
She had commented that I had grown taller; I had said thank God for that.
She had mentioned that it had been relatively quiet here in Konoha; I had responded rather drily that Kiri hadn't been.
So on and so forth until she had finally started with one of the many topics that was burning inside of her.
Kakashi.
By now, we reached the edge of a little clearing where I could see her little team have a go at each other. Practice, obviously, as I couldn't detect even the faintest whiff of urgency or tension.
Kiba versus the Aburame boy and the Hyuuga girl. He wasn't even pushed in the slightest.
I refrained from commenting, observed, and thought about her question instead. A simple question, really.
Would I visit him?
There had been no judgement in her tone. It sounded more like she was curious if there was going to be some further dialog, perhaps to clear the air or some such.
I knew she was probing, trying to get the conversation into an easy flow while looking for hints regarding my feelings, intentions, and my underlying reasoning.
The funny thing was that there simply was nothing to probe. I had been pissed, went along with what felt 'right', and when the match had been called, the whole thing had been already brushed to the side.
Back to the question, my eyes still on the Genin, fully aware that Kiba might be listening in with his Inuzuka hearing.
"Would you believe me, if I told you it was a legitimate course of action against a supposedly top shelve Jonin?" Here I paused and readied my fingers for air-quotes. "With allegedly over a thousand jutsus and the Sharingan."
"I mean," I continued, and shrugged. "I prevented any chance of him doing any form of nin-jutsu and tai-jutsu."
"I forcefully averted his gaze and broke his concentration to prevent gen-jutsu," I went on with my brief list of 'achievements.'
The further I went and the lighter my tone got, the more did I feel her gaze on me. And sure enough, there it was, raised eyebrow included.
Smiling, as I was enjoying myself a bit, I put a little cherry on top.
"And since it was an evaluation of my skills, I had put in a small psychological element as well. Quite successfully, I might add."
"Care to explain?" She asked, and I was immensely pleased that I heard her sigh in exasperation.
"Absolutely." My hands fell in my pockets, followed by a relaxed shrug. "I provoked a third party into revealing himself."
"I was unpredictable enough that Might Guy felt the need to step in."
"An unplanned and uncoordinated action that could prove costly in an ambush, a trap, or something along those lines," I reasoned and was proud to say it wasn't all bullshit I was sprouting right now.
"It worked on Unmo Samidare," I revealed that tidbit while I calmly met her gaze. Something that earned me another resigned sigh and marked the end of her attempt to understand me.
"So," I began and nudged my head toward her team, intent on changing the topic. "What about them? Any plans regarding the exam?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," she followed my gaze and nodded once. "We intend to have the Konoha teams of the recent graduation class work together."
I swallowed a grimace. "Safety in numbers, I guess," I muttered instead.
Despite my best effort to drop the subject, I simply couldn't help it.
"I'm no teacher, and don't want to presume," I began hesitantly and tried to bury my bitter disappointment as I continued to watch them. "Are they really ready? I mean," I chanced a glance at my former teacher as if to say 'look at them!'.
The more I watched Kiba hold back, the heavier the sinking feeling in my stomach got. The sour taste of genuine frustration welling up in my throat was quickly becoming a killer for my mood, too.
"When was the last time they had the ever-loving shit beaten out of them?" I asked loudly and noticed the subtle tensing of the Aburame and the Hyuuga.
Yet again, I swallowed my grimace, but this time I stood straight and took a mental step back. I had to get away before I flew off the handle.
Only for a hand on my shoulder to stop me in my tracks, physically and mentally.
"It's a month until the exam starts," Kurenai revealed, her hand still firmly in place. "And I think you are right."
"Your evaluation, as you might have realised given the audience, hadn't been simply a test to gauge your talents, but also a message by Hokage-sama."
"Too many of us have been stuck in a comfortable routine, myself included," she admitted. I couldn't help but look up and caught a subtle shake of her head.
"I want you to help me prepare them," she revealed and met my gaze.
Wait, what?
"I believe there is a fantastic teacher hiding inside of you. You just need a bit of practice with your empathy."
"Excuse me, but have we met?" I asked in disbelief. She wanted me to mellow out? Using her team?
"Blades need a hammer, too, don't they?" She simply responded, and I was left staring.
Daiki has a point his go to option when it comes to facing people stronger than him is physiological warfare, sure it may be dirty but he's a shinobi and he's good at it. Though Daiki is notably unstable but he does seem to have a bit of a handle of it given he knew it would be best to remove himself from the situation of seeing Hinata and Shino being weak, which triggered his overprotectiveness of Kiba. I think Daiki could be a good teacher given that he's willing to push his students but Kurenai is right that he could use a little work on his empathy skills, it's good preparation for becoming a Jonin-sensei.
Chapter 3.2.0
- Location
- Germany
Chapter 3.2.0
I dragged my hand slowly across my face in defeat and couldn't help but glance at my former teacher in silent suffering.
"Let it be noted that I do this against my better judgment," I said solemnly.
The hint of humor vanished quickly thereafter. Something Kurenai picked up on as she thankfully remained quiet.
"My conditions!" I intoned and fully faced the Jonin. She asked, and that was the only reason I was even entertaining the idea. I didn't like this one bit, and would reserve myself the option to jump ship the second I saw hesitation or something similar.
"I will be harsh, direct, and unapologetic," it wasn't a warning, nor I was asking for permission. It was a simple fact, which they had to deal with.
"When I cross one of your lines and you decide to step in, I'll quit and you can carry on with your job." That was a warning.
Perhaps it was unfair, but I had no desire for needless drama when Kurenai would eventually realize that a lot of time had passed since she last saw me.
Now for the last condition slash warning.
"I want the rest of the new meat as well! I've seen their teachers, may as well try to get the most mileage out of my precious time, shall we."
I was about to ask if we had an agreement before a thought crossed my mind and I felt the need to tag on another little warning.
"I see one of them slacking; I drop them like a hot potato!"
"Deal?" I asked all business-like. This was her chance to rethink, something I secretly hoped she would do.
Alas…
"Deal," she confirmed immediately, with a resolute nod on top.
'Dammit!'
I simply listened with a blank face and nodded once when they were done.
The whole time the three little Genin explained their capabilities, I remained stoic. It was a conscious effort on my part since I'm a nice guy and all, but more so because I didn't want to traumatize them in the first five minutes. Them being sheltered little kids, and me being fresh out of the Zabuza Momochi School for gifted youngsters.
Still, Kiba was uncharacteristically serious instead of boisterous. The Hinata girl was looking at me like I was a Kumo shinobi in her bedroom, and even the Aburame boy was as rigid as a pole.
Did I have crazy eyes or something?
"Thank you." I inclined my head in thanks and gave them a smile. A corporate smile, a smile that didn't reach my eyes. Wouldn't want them to get too comfortable.
"Now, I want you to grab something to eat and then head to the Konoha library. I want you to think of every skill or technique that might suit you or your team's dynamic." Despite the reasonably friendly words, my tone was no-nonsense.
What's a teacher without homework, after all?
"Before you go, however, a few friendly words of advice," I began before I stared directly at the Aburame.
"You have an earth affinity, your chakra capacity and control, as well as your physical combat, are average…at best! Your bugs are too limited, I've seen better."
Then at Kiba.
"You too have an earth affinity. You lack variety and an edge. Akamaru at his current size, is still a liability for your combat orientation. Rectify that!"
And finally Hinata Hyuuga. Just gotta keep calm and carry on.
"You have a lightning affinity," I began before I took a small breath to lay my thoughts out in an orderly fashion. "While you lack strength, resilience, and stamina, your speed is passable and you are decently nimble. You have superb control and your chakra is quite potent. You simply don't have enough of it to make it count."
That was alright, wasn't it?
Anyhow…
I took a step back and surveyed the team as a whole, grateful to note that nobody was crying.
Time to hammer home a truth, one particularly important for the girl in the team.
"We are shinobi, as long as there's human nature, there will always be work for us!"
"And a wide variety at that. Assassination," I held up my finger with a deadly chakra scalpel on the tip. "Straight-forward combat," The rest of my fingers extended and were coated with rotating wind chakra until I held my Kaze no Yari, my spear of wind.
"All the way to healing and saving lives," I finished, pointedly not looking at Hinata, while I gazed at the medical chakra coating my hand.
Eyes still on my palm, I carried on.
"You have the potential and the means, but you are still fresh and young. Do you know what that means?" I asked.
My eyes finally slid past my hand, and I stared at the teens again. Almost listlessly, absolutely unwilling to confront my past actions and explore what I thought about them.
"You are high-value targets and easy pickings neatly rolled into one!" I answered the rhetorical question with a sudden edge in my voice, desperate to drive the point home, and to make them understand how fragile they were in the grand scheme of things.
"There was an exam not too long ago where children such as you were butchered by the dozens for exactly those reasons," I finished savagely and watched the boys swallow uncomfortably while the Hyuuga girl tried to shrink into herself.
"My first lesson!" I said and stood straight, my tone that of a superior in front of his subordinates.
"You put on the headband, you have a duty. For family, friends, and home, you owe everybody the effort to be the best that you can be in whatever position you chose, frontline or hospital."
The second the words left my mouth, I winced internally. So bland, so generic, so cookie-cutter and cliche, that I had to force myself to stop so didn't embarrass myself even further. Less is more, I remembered, sadly too late.
At least it got the job done, I reckoned, since I saw hints of determination between the nervousness and trepidation, which was a win in my book.
"Now then, chop chop!" I shouted and clapped, smiling brightly. "Or I'm going to get violent!"
"That was such a good idea," Hana said quietly next to me, her entire presence radiating pure bliss.
With both of us wrapped in our light and super comfy Jinbeis, old-school woolen loungewear that's typically seen around summer festivals, I couldn't help but sigh in agreement.
The warmth and sheer relaxation of the onsen still lingered within us.
"I wouldn't mind doing this as a regular thing," I mumbled suggestively as I snuggled up closer to her side. Early evening, the streets quiet, and a feeling of contentment that should be illegal. I felt ten feet tall and light as a feather.
Jitters, a feeling of oppression and weight, all those things I didn't even know were there in the first place, suddenly gone.
The no-work-talk rule right at the start of our day probably helped just as much as the mixed zone in the hot spring.
After her quiet humming, which was a resounding yes in my books, I suddenly felt a light tug from our interlinked arms and suddenly found myself gently pulled down an unfamiliar path.
"I wanted to show you something," she simply said and answered my questioning gaze, which left me content to remain silent and just follow her lead.
As a starry night sky slowly replaced the orange glow of the setting sun, I found myself for the second time today in a district on the outskirts of Konoha. Instead of staring at a training ground, however, I stood in front of a cozy little single-story house with a tiny flowery front lawn and woods behind it.
It was… nice, just like the dozen others we had already gone by at this point. If I wasn't mistaken, a civilian cemetery was further down the road and Hifumi's orphanage should be at the edge of this very forest.
My questioning stare was back in full force and silently prompted Hana to reveal the secret.
"It's the house of my cousin," she began, voice quiet, fully aware that some people in the neighborhood might already be sleeping. "Still."
The little appendix got her a raised eyebrow and the wordless info that I wasn't following.
"He's expecting his second child with his wife and wants to move into a bigger house," she explained, and more and more I felt like the slow kid in class.
"It's got a nice open kitchen, a big bathroom," she went on, and suddenly I heard nervousness, which got me all kinds of nervous. "A nursery that could be turned into a study."
'Okay?'
"And the back is open to the forest, which would be perfect for the triplets."
'For the tripl…Ooooohhh!'
###
Hope you guys still enjoy it, I certainly am quite happy that I'm back in the flow of things. Baby steps, but steps in the right direction nonetheless.
Your thoughts and even ideas are as always a welcome sight.
Cheers!
I dragged my hand slowly across my face in defeat and couldn't help but glance at my former teacher in silent suffering.
"Let it be noted that I do this against my better judgment," I said solemnly.
The hint of humor vanished quickly thereafter. Something Kurenai picked up on as she thankfully remained quiet.
"My conditions!" I intoned and fully faced the Jonin. She asked, and that was the only reason I was even entertaining the idea. I didn't like this one bit, and would reserve myself the option to jump ship the second I saw hesitation or something similar.
"I will be harsh, direct, and unapologetic," it wasn't a warning, nor I was asking for permission. It was a simple fact, which they had to deal with.
"When I cross one of your lines and you decide to step in, I'll quit and you can carry on with your job." That was a warning.
Perhaps it was unfair, but I had no desire for needless drama when Kurenai would eventually realize that a lot of time had passed since she last saw me.
Now for the last condition slash warning.
"I want the rest of the new meat as well! I've seen their teachers, may as well try to get the most mileage out of my precious time, shall we."
I was about to ask if we had an agreement before a thought crossed my mind and I felt the need to tag on another little warning.
"I see one of them slacking; I drop them like a hot potato!"
"Deal?" I asked all business-like. This was her chance to rethink, something I secretly hoped she would do.
Alas…
"Deal," she confirmed immediately, with a resolute nod on top.
'Dammit!'
I simply listened with a blank face and nodded once when they were done.
The whole time the three little Genin explained their capabilities, I remained stoic. It was a conscious effort on my part since I'm a nice guy and all, but more so because I didn't want to traumatize them in the first five minutes. Them being sheltered little kids, and me being fresh out of the Zabuza Momochi School for gifted youngsters.
Still, Kiba was uncharacteristically serious instead of boisterous. The Hinata girl was looking at me like I was a Kumo shinobi in her bedroom, and even the Aburame boy was as rigid as a pole.
Did I have crazy eyes or something?
"Thank you." I inclined my head in thanks and gave them a smile. A corporate smile, a smile that didn't reach my eyes. Wouldn't want them to get too comfortable.
"Now, I want you to grab something to eat and then head to the Konoha library. I want you to think of every skill or technique that might suit you or your team's dynamic." Despite the reasonably friendly words, my tone was no-nonsense.
What's a teacher without homework, after all?
"Before you go, however, a few friendly words of advice," I began before I stared directly at the Aburame.
"You have an earth affinity, your chakra capacity and control, as well as your physical combat, are average…at best! Your bugs are too limited, I've seen better."
Then at Kiba.
"You too have an earth affinity. You lack variety and an edge. Akamaru at his current size, is still a liability for your combat orientation. Rectify that!"
And finally Hinata Hyuuga. Just gotta keep calm and carry on.
"You have a lightning affinity," I began before I took a small breath to lay my thoughts out in an orderly fashion. "While you lack strength, resilience, and stamina, your speed is passable and you are decently nimble. You have superb control and your chakra is quite potent. You simply don't have enough of it to make it count."
That was alright, wasn't it?
Anyhow…
I took a step back and surveyed the team as a whole, grateful to note that nobody was crying.
Time to hammer home a truth, one particularly important for the girl in the team.
"We are shinobi, as long as there's human nature, there will always be work for us!"
"And a wide variety at that. Assassination," I held up my finger with a deadly chakra scalpel on the tip. "Straight-forward combat," The rest of my fingers extended and were coated with rotating wind chakra until I held my Kaze no Yari, my spear of wind.
"All the way to healing and saving lives," I finished, pointedly not looking at Hinata, while I gazed at the medical chakra coating my hand.
Eyes still on my palm, I carried on.
"You have the potential and the means, but you are still fresh and young. Do you know what that means?" I asked.
My eyes finally slid past my hand, and I stared at the teens again. Almost listlessly, absolutely unwilling to confront my past actions and explore what I thought about them.
"You are high-value targets and easy pickings neatly rolled into one!" I answered the rhetorical question with a sudden edge in my voice, desperate to drive the point home, and to make them understand how fragile they were in the grand scheme of things.
"There was an exam not too long ago where children such as you were butchered by the dozens for exactly those reasons," I finished savagely and watched the boys swallow uncomfortably while the Hyuuga girl tried to shrink into herself.
"My first lesson!" I said and stood straight, my tone that of a superior in front of his subordinates.
"You put on the headband, you have a duty. For family, friends, and home, you owe everybody the effort to be the best that you can be in whatever position you chose, frontline or hospital."
The second the words left my mouth, I winced internally. So bland, so generic, so cookie-cutter and cliche, that I had to force myself to stop so didn't embarrass myself even further. Less is more, I remembered, sadly too late.
At least it got the job done, I reckoned, since I saw hints of determination between the nervousness and trepidation, which was a win in my book.
"Now then, chop chop!" I shouted and clapped, smiling brightly. "Or I'm going to get violent!"
"That was such a good idea," Hana said quietly next to me, her entire presence radiating pure bliss.
With both of us wrapped in our light and super comfy Jinbeis, old-school woolen loungewear that's typically seen around summer festivals, I couldn't help but sigh in agreement.
The warmth and sheer relaxation of the onsen still lingered within us.
"I wouldn't mind doing this as a regular thing," I mumbled suggestively as I snuggled up closer to her side. Early evening, the streets quiet, and a feeling of contentment that should be illegal. I felt ten feet tall and light as a feather.
Jitters, a feeling of oppression and weight, all those things I didn't even know were there in the first place, suddenly gone.
The no-work-talk rule right at the start of our day probably helped just as much as the mixed zone in the hot spring.
After her quiet humming, which was a resounding yes in my books, I suddenly felt a light tug from our interlinked arms and suddenly found myself gently pulled down an unfamiliar path.
"I wanted to show you something," she simply said and answered my questioning gaze, which left me content to remain silent and just follow her lead.
As a starry night sky slowly replaced the orange glow of the setting sun, I found myself for the second time today in a district on the outskirts of Konoha. Instead of staring at a training ground, however, I stood in front of a cozy little single-story house with a tiny flowery front lawn and woods behind it.
It was… nice, just like the dozen others we had already gone by at this point. If I wasn't mistaken, a civilian cemetery was further down the road and Hifumi's orphanage should be at the edge of this very forest.
My questioning stare was back in full force and silently prompted Hana to reveal the secret.
"It's the house of my cousin," she began, voice quiet, fully aware that some people in the neighborhood might already be sleeping. "Still."
The little appendix got her a raised eyebrow and the wordless info that I wasn't following.
"He's expecting his second child with his wife and wants to move into a bigger house," she explained, and more and more I felt like the slow kid in class.
"It's got a nice open kitchen, a big bathroom," she went on, and suddenly I heard nervousness, which got me all kinds of nervous. "A nursery that could be turned into a study."
'Okay?'
"And the back is open to the forest, which would be perfect for the triplets."
'For the tripl…Ooooohhh!'
###
Hope you guys still enjoy it, I certainly am quite happy that I'm back in the flow of things. Baby steps, but steps in the right direction nonetheless.
Your thoughts and even ideas are as always a welcome sight.
Cheers!
Zabuza isn't exactly the best source for teaching normal kids, but he was a surprisingly effective teacher.
To late Daiki you already traumatized them before even properly meeting them.
Torune is Shino's adoptive brother which makes this whole thing a bit weird, but solid advice.
Akamaru is awesome but yeah he's kinda a big vulnerability at their strength level.
Hinata has the talent and the skills to be a good ninja the problem is the mindset.
Daiki laying out that they all have options in where they want their career to go is great. Also these three things are kinda Daiki's main focuses so he'd be good at teaching them.
Baby Shinobi are very fragile and squishy, the fact that they are all clan kids who are children of Clan Heads makes them attractive targets. Also him referencing the time he butchered a bunch of kids is a big oomph and Kurenai probably cringed from hearing it.
I like seeing him trying to slowly adjust back to a relative normal. I would like to see him training, tinkering with stuff, and maybe try out summoning, since he still wants to get strong enough to kill Orochimaru.
I'm sorry, I am as dense as an Isekai harem protagonist, and I need this to be spoon-fed to me. Is she just telling him that she is moving away from her clan compound or is it a roundabout way to ask him if he wants to move in with her there?
- Location
- United States of America
Porque no los dos?
I'm with you bud. I'm also confused about the mention of triplets.
- Location
- United States of America
The "Triplets" is a reference to her trio of Inuzuka nin-dogs. She's got 3 of em, the Three Haimaru Brothers.
Feels like she proposing the possibility of them moving in together while still presenting the facts that even by herself its a good choice. I think if she did not want to give the wrong message then Hana would have simple stated that she moving into her cousin's old house rather than presenting the perks as if to sell Daiki on the idea.
Chapter 3.2.1
- Location
- Germany
Chapter 3.2.1
The original would not like that, I reckoned, as I gazed at Hifumi. After the touchy-feely part was done with, I did my level best not to stare too much.
Her hair was now fully grayed, wrinkles now more pronounced, and the limp was ever-present.
I couldn't help but note how my old caretaker had seemed to have aged more than she should have given the few years I had been gone.
People grow old and died!
I forcefully reminded myself of a simple rule. There was no point in getting worked up over a fundamental law of nature.
Still, it was a bit of a shock to the system that her big and genuine smile only softened so much.
"Come in, come in," she said and almost giddily steered me inside.
Remaining quiet, I just smiled and followed her, secretly glad that I henge'd my ANBU getup into some normal clothing. This early, after breakfast, the kids should do their various lessons, but I didn't want to risk it and cause a scene with some random tyke wandering the halls. I was considerate like that.
Anyway.
I followed Hifumi toward the mess hall, if I remembered correctly, and sure enough, through the open doorway, I heard a faint clinking of dishware and cutlery, and then saw an unfamiliar caretaker at the sink.
Seemingly unbothered with the audience, Hifumi went to the nearest table and motioned for me to take a seat, too.
I wordlessly deposited the box of her favorite dango sticks in front of her, which she thanked me for with another broad smile and a grateful nod, and sat down opposite her.
"Look at you, all grown up," she said, and I detected genuine pride in her voice. I answered with a smile, just to hide the wince.
"How has it been around here?" I asked instead, intent on steering the conversation away from my questionable self.
"Loud, hectic," Hifumi began with a laugh as if it was hilarious that I thought it could have been anything else. "But a joy all the same."
"That's good," I mumbled with a sigh, relieved that she was happy.
"So, was your mission a success?" she asked good-naturedly, but oblivious.
"Mostly," I answered with a shrug. Until it wasn't, remained obviously unsaid.
"I'm a bit of a teacher now," I continued with more enthusiasm since it was partially the reason I was here.
"At the academy?" Hifumi perked up, clearly not expecting this course of action by me.
"More like a remedial teacher for some of the Genin to prepare for the exam," I answered. Why and how that came to be, I glossed over in favor of getting to the point.
"I have nine kids in desperate need of a wake-up call," I continued.
"And I thought about sending those with the needed requirements control-wise to you for some lessons," I said and watched Hifumi's eyes widen. To keep an initial negative reaction at bay, given the responsibilities and the workload every student was going to bring with them, I hurriedly plowed on.
"In exchange, they would help around here in any way or form you see fit. Groceries, gardening, playing with the kids, they would do as you say."
"Oh, dear," Hifumi said, biting her lip, and clearly unsure of the sudden proposition.
"They are good kids, pampered clan kids, but still alright," I revealed with a shrug. "It isn't the reason I'm asking this."
I turned serious, almost pensive.
"Things have been going too smoothly for too long," I said and absently scratched my forehead. "I have this uneasy feeling that something is on the horizon."
"Has this to do with your time in Kiri?" Hifumi asked quietly, perhaps sensing that things hadn't been as swimmingly as I had made it out to be.
"Among others," I answered tiredly. "Let's just say that I'm not the only one that's uneasy."
"So…?"
I sighed and tried again.
"The absolute fundamentals, chakra-based first aid, stuff they can learn within a month," I said, and again I shrugged. "Like I said, the ones I have in mind aren't stupid."
"What about their senseis?" Hifumi asked warningly, and I sensed a winning battle.
"On board," I answered without hesitation.
"They will be on their best behavior around the children and no arguments," the old lady warned, and despite the words, her tone suggested weary acceptants.
"You can bet on that!"
After some chitchat that somehow ended with Hifumi blushing and clapping giddily at the news that I was moving in with Hana, I sadly had to decline tea and treats in favor of going to work.
At least that's what I told Hifumi.
Waving goodbye as I rounded a corner, I popped out of existence the second I was out of sight.
The slight widening of eyes of my twin was the sign that he, too, got the memo from our recently departed brother.
"Original will be pleased," he said, mirroring my own thoughts.
"All the more reason we master this fully," I answered and concentrated.
'Temporary Paralysis Technique!'
I projected my chakra at my twin and watched.
His eyes widened, and then a fraction of a second later, he nodded. Despite the lackluster results, the shadow clone looked satisfied.
Unsurprisingly.
It was one of the most basic jutsu, and only true mastery made it viable, inexperience even made it a liability. And, yet, I found it to be endlessly fascinating.
The execution of the technique was heavily borrowed from Genjutus, but it was considered a Ninjutsu. It's said that a target or targets would be physically immobilised, as though they've been tied down with invisible steel ropes.
But that wasn't true. It was a mental attack, which would be another point in favor of Genjutsu.
Long, long ago, Hifumi had once explained the sensing of a regular shinobi as simply picking up the ill intention of an enemy. A sixth sense that made the hairs stand up.
I was fairly certain it was simply the unintentional and mostly unwitting use of the jutsu. The desire to attack was accidentally projected via chakra, and picked up by the victim.
Why did I know all this?
Mastery had made it a tool for ANBU like me and a toy for guys like Zabuza. You could literally scare someone stiff simply with your intentions. Just a heartbeat or two, but that was more than enough for a professional to do their deed.
Why was this jutsu so interesting?
It was a gateway for a skill.
The conscious projection of killing intent. It was the Temporary Paralysis Technique dialed up to eleven.
It sounded simple, just project absolutely murderous and true intent on your victim. Perhaps it was for the likes of Orochimaru and Zabuza, but for me it thankfully wasn't.
What could I do to beef up my presence?
Could I project the crude visualisation of a gruesome genjutsu and disguise it as my killing intent? Scare someone shitless at the drop of a head with no overt genjutsu, without the express desire for the death of my opposite?
Fantasy for honest malice?
Let's find out.
This was the good kind of boring, I reckoned.
I could live with that, at least for the time being.
We were the shadows of Konoha, the silent protectors. It's what I would say if I was trying to be dramatic.
In truth, we were a glorified police force that patrolled the village without being seen. That's what we were, and why this was also meant as an exercise for ANBU rookies.
It was fairly relaxing, but slacking off was still a big no-no.
In hindsight, police was perhaps the wrong classification, I thought, as I hid with my three-man squad in the shadow of an apartment block.
Shinobi rarely steered up trouble because they knew we were there, and more often than not, other nearby shinobi could handle the situation. Same went for civilians.
If we truly had to step in, there would be serious consequences for the offender. Everybody knew that, and that made things thankfully quite uneventful for us.
What we did was keep an eye out for unsavory foreigners, spies, saboteurs and so on.
Unlikely, but that's what Iwa had thought as well when I had sat through their exam.
Or the Hyuuga for that matter. The fucking idiots!
"Well!" I perked up from my musings when my squad leader turned around. "Ten o'clock. Another good day at the office!" The guy cheered with faux enthusiasm, which I appreciated at least for the effort.
"Same time, same place tomorrow," he ordered while giving me a thumbs up, which was probably meant to ruffle my feathers in a good-naturedly manner. "Good job, newbie." Case in point.
I took it in stride. I honestly didn't even mind it.
I had genin to motivate.
#
#
#
Serious-question-time, guys!
After some comments, I'm toying with the idea of a Pa tr e on-page.
Are there people willing to support me?
People, as in adults, who don't mind the occasional buck or two with reasonable expectations toward an idiot like me.
Currently, I'm just writing to get ideas out of my head. Such an endeavor would change this to a degree.
As an absolute beginner author with English as my second language, I could offer (as of now):
chapters early
a rigorous exchange between writer and reader (genuine input, ideas, corrections, improvements, etc.)
the posting/adding of omakes with the respective credit
a million and a half plot-bunnies, that I would like to explore with you
The original would not like that, I reckoned, as I gazed at Hifumi. After the touchy-feely part was done with, I did my level best not to stare too much.
Her hair was now fully grayed, wrinkles now more pronounced, and the limp was ever-present.
I couldn't help but note how my old caretaker had seemed to have aged more than she should have given the few years I had been gone.
People grow old and died!
I forcefully reminded myself of a simple rule. There was no point in getting worked up over a fundamental law of nature.
Still, it was a bit of a shock to the system that her big and genuine smile only softened so much.
"Come in, come in," she said and almost giddily steered me inside.
Remaining quiet, I just smiled and followed her, secretly glad that I henge'd my ANBU getup into some normal clothing. This early, after breakfast, the kids should do their various lessons, but I didn't want to risk it and cause a scene with some random tyke wandering the halls. I was considerate like that.
Anyway.
I followed Hifumi toward the mess hall, if I remembered correctly, and sure enough, through the open doorway, I heard a faint clinking of dishware and cutlery, and then saw an unfamiliar caretaker at the sink.
Seemingly unbothered with the audience, Hifumi went to the nearest table and motioned for me to take a seat, too.
I wordlessly deposited the box of her favorite dango sticks in front of her, which she thanked me for with another broad smile and a grateful nod, and sat down opposite her.
"Look at you, all grown up," she said, and I detected genuine pride in her voice. I answered with a smile, just to hide the wince.
"How has it been around here?" I asked instead, intent on steering the conversation away from my questionable self.
"Loud, hectic," Hifumi began with a laugh as if it was hilarious that I thought it could have been anything else. "But a joy all the same."
"That's good," I mumbled with a sigh, relieved that she was happy.
"So, was your mission a success?" she asked good-naturedly, but oblivious.
"Mostly," I answered with a shrug. Until it wasn't, remained obviously unsaid.
"I'm a bit of a teacher now," I continued with more enthusiasm since it was partially the reason I was here.
"At the academy?" Hifumi perked up, clearly not expecting this course of action by me.
"More like a remedial teacher for some of the Genin to prepare for the exam," I answered. Why and how that came to be, I glossed over in favor of getting to the point.
"I have nine kids in desperate need of a wake-up call," I continued.
"And I thought about sending those with the needed requirements control-wise to you for some lessons," I said and watched Hifumi's eyes widen. To keep an initial negative reaction at bay, given the responsibilities and the workload every student was going to bring with them, I hurriedly plowed on.
"In exchange, they would help around here in any way or form you see fit. Groceries, gardening, playing with the kids, they would do as you say."
"Oh, dear," Hifumi said, biting her lip, and clearly unsure of the sudden proposition.
"They are good kids, pampered clan kids, but still alright," I revealed with a shrug. "It isn't the reason I'm asking this."
I turned serious, almost pensive.
"Things have been going too smoothly for too long," I said and absently scratched my forehead. "I have this uneasy feeling that something is on the horizon."
"Has this to do with your time in Kiri?" Hifumi asked quietly, perhaps sensing that things hadn't been as swimmingly as I had made it out to be.
"Among others," I answered tiredly. "Let's just say that I'm not the only one that's uneasy."
"So…?"
I sighed and tried again.
"The absolute fundamentals, chakra-based first aid, stuff they can learn within a month," I said, and again I shrugged. "Like I said, the ones I have in mind aren't stupid."
"What about their senseis?" Hifumi asked warningly, and I sensed a winning battle.
"On board," I answered without hesitation.
"They will be on their best behavior around the children and no arguments," the old lady warned, and despite the words, her tone suggested weary acceptants.
"You can bet on that!"
After some chitchat that somehow ended with Hifumi blushing and clapping giddily at the news that I was moving in with Hana, I sadly had to decline tea and treats in favor of going to work.
At least that's what I told Hifumi.
Waving goodbye as I rounded a corner, I popped out of existence the second I was out of sight.
The slight widening of eyes of my twin was the sign that he, too, got the memo from our recently departed brother.
"Original will be pleased," he said, mirroring my own thoughts.
"All the more reason we master this fully," I answered and concentrated.
'Temporary Paralysis Technique!'
I projected my chakra at my twin and watched.
His eyes widened, and then a fraction of a second later, he nodded. Despite the lackluster results, the shadow clone looked satisfied.
Unsurprisingly.
It was one of the most basic jutsu, and only true mastery made it viable, inexperience even made it a liability. And, yet, I found it to be endlessly fascinating.
The execution of the technique was heavily borrowed from Genjutus, but it was considered a Ninjutsu. It's said that a target or targets would be physically immobilised, as though they've been tied down with invisible steel ropes.
But that wasn't true. It was a mental attack, which would be another point in favor of Genjutsu.
Long, long ago, Hifumi had once explained the sensing of a regular shinobi as simply picking up the ill intention of an enemy. A sixth sense that made the hairs stand up.
I was fairly certain it was simply the unintentional and mostly unwitting use of the jutsu. The desire to attack was accidentally projected via chakra, and picked up by the victim.
Why did I know all this?
Mastery had made it a tool for ANBU like me and a toy for guys like Zabuza. You could literally scare someone stiff simply with your intentions. Just a heartbeat or two, but that was more than enough for a professional to do their deed.
Why was this jutsu so interesting?
It was a gateway for a skill.
The conscious projection of killing intent. It was the Temporary Paralysis Technique dialed up to eleven.
It sounded simple, just project absolutely murderous and true intent on your victim. Perhaps it was for the likes of Orochimaru and Zabuza, but for me it thankfully wasn't.
What could I do to beef up my presence?
Could I project the crude visualisation of a gruesome genjutsu and disguise it as my killing intent? Scare someone shitless at the drop of a head with no overt genjutsu, without the express desire for the death of my opposite?
Fantasy for honest malice?
Let's find out.
This was the good kind of boring, I reckoned.
I could live with that, at least for the time being.
We were the shadows of Konoha, the silent protectors. It's what I would say if I was trying to be dramatic.
In truth, we were a glorified police force that patrolled the village without being seen. That's what we were, and why this was also meant as an exercise for ANBU rookies.
It was fairly relaxing, but slacking off was still a big no-no.
In hindsight, police was perhaps the wrong classification, I thought, as I hid with my three-man squad in the shadow of an apartment block.
Shinobi rarely steered up trouble because they knew we were there, and more often than not, other nearby shinobi could handle the situation. Same went for civilians.
If we truly had to step in, there would be serious consequences for the offender. Everybody knew that, and that made things thankfully quite uneventful for us.
What we did was keep an eye out for unsavory foreigners, spies, saboteurs and so on.
Unlikely, but that's what Iwa had thought as well when I had sat through their exam.
Or the Hyuuga for that matter. The fucking idiots!
"Well!" I perked up from my musings when my squad leader turned around. "Ten o'clock. Another good day at the office!" The guy cheered with faux enthusiasm, which I appreciated at least for the effort.
"Same time, same place tomorrow," he ordered while giving me a thumbs up, which was probably meant to ruffle my feathers in a good-naturedly manner. "Good job, newbie." Case in point.
I took it in stride. I honestly didn't even mind it.
I had genin to motivate.
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Serious-question-time, guys!
After some comments, I'm toying with the idea of a Pa tr e on-page.
Are there people willing to support me?
People, as in adults, who don't mind the occasional buck or two with reasonable expectations toward an idiot like me.
Currently, I'm just writing to get ideas out of my head. Such an endeavor would change this to a degree.
As an absolute beginner author with English as my second language, I could offer (as of now):
chapters early
a rigorous exchange between writer and reader (genuine input, ideas, corrections, improvements, etc.)
the posting/adding of omakes with the respective credit
a million and a half plot-bunnies, that I would like to explore with you
It's been a bit since Daiki has seen Hifumi but I'm happy he's still in contact with her.
Looks like Daiki is abusing the Shadow Clone technique, can't blame him even though it seems like bad form.
Daiki seems to be experimenting with the fundamentals which is good.
So he's experimenting with intent both how to wield it as a weapon and how to hide it. That seems like a very potent skill and for Daiki to learn how to increase his already potent Killing Intent would be very powerful.
So he's trying to get an actual killing intent aura, that's so awesome.
I'm a poor college student so I won't be able to help on that front. But I see no negatives to it should you start a Patreon. Unless setting it up is too tedious, I'd imagine even just a few patrons would help a lot. I know I'd be happy if I got even 5 bucks a month. Maybe I wouldn't have to pirate games then.
Chapter 3.2.2
- Location
- Germany
Chapter 3.2.2
"You are already up," Gai stated, surprised as he saw Kakashi stand at the window.
"Yeah," the masked Jonin responded, gaze on the rising sun behind the village walls. "Kurenai and the healers did a great job."
"And thanks, by the way."
"Don't mention it," Gai brushed his injured friend's thanks off and came to stand next to him.
"Kurenai arranged some lessons for the rookies led by Daiki," Gai said offhandedly. His eyes were on Kakashi, curious about his reaction.
"Hmmm," Kakashi simply hummed.
"I thought so, too," Gai joked at Kakashi's non-answer before he grew serious again.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"To tell you the truth," Kakashi began and shifted slightly so he could meet his friend's gaze in the window's reflection. "Way too much about everything."
"How about we start with the here and now?" Gai suggested softly, fully aware that this might be the one and only time Kakashi Hatake was opening up.
"I guess," Kakashi gave a one-shoulder shrug, and his gaze went back through the window.
"Regarding yesterday, I don't hold a grudge or anything," Kakashi revealed easily. "There's a pensiveness and pity for Daiki more than anything else, you know."
"As a child," he continued, eyes far away now. "I was dedicated and serious. I thought I knew what shinobi-life was all about."
"And yet, deep down, when the… hits… kept coming, they somehow always felt like they came out of the blue."
"Things happen, I knew that, but I could never handle the 'hows' and 'whys'. That's the difference between knowing and understanding, something I realized too late."
"Daiki, despite no traumatic loss, as far as I know, shows at least hints of the latter already."
"This plus the fact that he knows, has seen, what villages can inflict upon each other in peacetime no less, is," here Kakashi paused, perhaps searching for the right word.
"Worrying?" Gai tried.
"I honestly don't know," Kakashi stated and exhaled.
"I can't even begin to predict how he would react when the day comes and someone close to him dies," he said and turned, gingerly walking past his bed and the crutch toward the door.
"It that why he's so capable for someone his age?" Gai asked as he fell into step behind Kakashi, gaze lingering on the crutch, and Kakashi's apparent decision to ditch it.
"Desperate to take the bull by the horns to stave off what he knows is actually inevitable?"
"We work with what we got, not with what we wish we had," Kakashi simply said, the question remaining unanswered for the time being, it seemed, as he stepped out into the hallway.
As Gai followed, he watched as Kakashi's right hand gained a soft green glow and shortly after disappeared in his pants pocket on the side of his recent injury. Already acting cool again, he thought with some humor, despite the subject.
"Don't get worked up over things you can't control," Kakashi continued.
"All these unwritten rules we pick up during our careers on one hand," for emphasis he held up his left hand.
"And yet, we live in a world where a dedicated shinobi can move a mountain in a week or two," he finished and gave his left hand a leisure twirl. Signifying that, at least in theory, it was impossible to tell when something was truly impossible for a shinobi.
"Another thing, perhaps it's unfair to assume," Kakashi carried on, only to pause at the stairs. A deep breath, and he began his descend.
"After my father, Obito and Rin almost felt like siblings." The way he talked, you wouldn't think it was a tough subject, Gai thought absently. "And Minato-sensei and Kushina almost like," this time he trailed off.
"Apart from the romance with the Inuzuka girl; is, or was, there anybody that isn't at least at an arm's length?"
"You weren't lying when you said you thought too much about things," Gai answered, and weary from the mystery, couldn't help but scratch his forehead, immensely glad he wasn't a Yamanaka and responsible for things like that.
"When are we supposed to meet up again?" Chōji asked between bites of BBQ.
"11 o'clock," Shikamaru answered, aura tense.
"Aren't you a bit melodramatic?" Ino asked, roasting the slice of zucchini over the heat to her satisfaction. "That gloomy stuff is Asuma-sensei's part for when he's missing Kurenai-sensei again."
The man in question simply gave his blonde charge a side glance. Shikamaru was right to be weary, although he wasn't entirely sure how the boy had gotten any foreshadowing toward what was coming for them.
"I don't get it," Chōji stated and looked at Asuma in question. "Why is a chunin, barely older than us, preparing us for the exam instead of our jonin-sensei?"
"He's helping to prepare you," Asuma corrected, absently taking a sip from his tea. "He's mainly there to provide an outside perspective and drag you out of your comfort zone."
"How far out of our comfort zone are we talking about?" Shikamaru asked tersely.
"Don't be such a baby! Sasuke and the others will be there, too, right?"
Asuma couldn't help but chuckle at the display. He liked his team, he quietly admitted to himself, before he sighed. They needed this. And perhaps he needed it, too.
"Time for some wisdom and common sense, so listen up!" Asuma spoke, his tea cup now empty.
"Don't think just because the exam is held in Konoha it's suddenly safe. Bad things have happened and will continue to happen," Asuma warned, tone perhaps for the first time today serious. So much so that even Ino gave him her undivided attention.
"Secondly, you have a month to prepare. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it?" His tone suggested a rhetorical question, so the genin remained quiet.
"It isn't!"
"And last but not least, Daiki Ito won't be the only one pushing you," he stated and leaned slightly onto the table, a clear warning in his tone.
"Whatever he won't cover, I'll handle instead!"
Yesterday's embarrassment apparently had lit a fire, that he hadn't known was still there.
#
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#
Since I don't want to announce my patreon (/DerKopfloseHesse) with empty hands I cobbled together this little offering as a little thank you in advance.
That said, I won't hide my work behind some paywall. Eventually, when I deem it ready or after some constructive feedback, everything will be published on the regular channels. This is for you to donate money if you like my work enough that you're willing to support my passion for writing, a little tip only if you can spare it.
Another thank you is the 2.5k words (of 6.2k) of a One Piece story I'm genuinely quite proud of and one that has the best chances in the future.
Let's aim for the next 100,000 words together!
"You are already up," Gai stated, surprised as he saw Kakashi stand at the window.
"Yeah," the masked Jonin responded, gaze on the rising sun behind the village walls. "Kurenai and the healers did a great job."
"And thanks, by the way."
"Don't mention it," Gai brushed his injured friend's thanks off and came to stand next to him.
"Kurenai arranged some lessons for the rookies led by Daiki," Gai said offhandedly. His eyes were on Kakashi, curious about his reaction.
"Hmmm," Kakashi simply hummed.
"I thought so, too," Gai joked at Kakashi's non-answer before he grew serious again.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"To tell you the truth," Kakashi began and shifted slightly so he could meet his friend's gaze in the window's reflection. "Way too much about everything."
"How about we start with the here and now?" Gai suggested softly, fully aware that this might be the one and only time Kakashi Hatake was opening up.
"I guess," Kakashi gave a one-shoulder shrug, and his gaze went back through the window.
"Regarding yesterday, I don't hold a grudge or anything," Kakashi revealed easily. "There's a pensiveness and pity for Daiki more than anything else, you know."
"As a child," he continued, eyes far away now. "I was dedicated and serious. I thought I knew what shinobi-life was all about."
"And yet, deep down, when the… hits… kept coming, they somehow always felt like they came out of the blue."
"Things happen, I knew that, but I could never handle the 'hows' and 'whys'. That's the difference between knowing and understanding, something I realized too late."
"Daiki, despite no traumatic loss, as far as I know, shows at least hints of the latter already."
"This plus the fact that he knows, has seen, what villages can inflict upon each other in peacetime no less, is," here Kakashi paused, perhaps searching for the right word.
"Worrying?" Gai tried.
"I honestly don't know," Kakashi stated and exhaled.
"I can't even begin to predict how he would react when the day comes and someone close to him dies," he said and turned, gingerly walking past his bed and the crutch toward the door.
"It that why he's so capable for someone his age?" Gai asked as he fell into step behind Kakashi, gaze lingering on the crutch, and Kakashi's apparent decision to ditch it.
"Desperate to take the bull by the horns to stave off what he knows is actually inevitable?"
"We work with what we got, not with what we wish we had," Kakashi simply said, the question remaining unanswered for the time being, it seemed, as he stepped out into the hallway.
As Gai followed, he watched as Kakashi's right hand gained a soft green glow and shortly after disappeared in his pants pocket on the side of his recent injury. Already acting cool again, he thought with some humor, despite the subject.
"Don't get worked up over things you can't control," Kakashi continued.
"All these unwritten rules we pick up during our careers on one hand," for emphasis he held up his left hand.
"And yet, we live in a world where a dedicated shinobi can move a mountain in a week or two," he finished and gave his left hand a leisure twirl. Signifying that, at least in theory, it was impossible to tell when something was truly impossible for a shinobi.
"Another thing, perhaps it's unfair to assume," Kakashi carried on, only to pause at the stairs. A deep breath, and he began his descend.
"After my father, Obito and Rin almost felt like siblings." The way he talked, you wouldn't think it was a tough subject, Gai thought absently. "And Minato-sensei and Kushina almost like," this time he trailed off.
"Apart from the romance with the Inuzuka girl; is, or was, there anybody that isn't at least at an arm's length?"
"You weren't lying when you said you thought too much about things," Gai answered, and weary from the mystery, couldn't help but scratch his forehead, immensely glad he wasn't a Yamanaka and responsible for things like that.
"When are we supposed to meet up again?" Chōji asked between bites of BBQ.
"11 o'clock," Shikamaru answered, aura tense.
"Aren't you a bit melodramatic?" Ino asked, roasting the slice of zucchini over the heat to her satisfaction. "That gloomy stuff is Asuma-sensei's part for when he's missing Kurenai-sensei again."
The man in question simply gave his blonde charge a side glance. Shikamaru was right to be weary, although he wasn't entirely sure how the boy had gotten any foreshadowing toward what was coming for them.
"I don't get it," Chōji stated and looked at Asuma in question. "Why is a chunin, barely older than us, preparing us for the exam instead of our jonin-sensei?"
"He's helping to prepare you," Asuma corrected, absently taking a sip from his tea. "He's mainly there to provide an outside perspective and drag you out of your comfort zone."
"How far out of our comfort zone are we talking about?" Shikamaru asked tersely.
"Don't be such a baby! Sasuke and the others will be there, too, right?"
Asuma couldn't help but chuckle at the display. He liked his team, he quietly admitted to himself, before he sighed. They needed this. And perhaps he needed it, too.
"Time for some wisdom and common sense, so listen up!" Asuma spoke, his tea cup now empty.
"Don't think just because the exam is held in Konoha it's suddenly safe. Bad things have happened and will continue to happen," Asuma warned, tone perhaps for the first time today serious. So much so that even Ino gave him her undivided attention.
"Secondly, you have a month to prepare. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it?" His tone suggested a rhetorical question, so the genin remained quiet.
"It isn't!"
"And last but not least, Daiki Ito won't be the only one pushing you," he stated and leaned slightly onto the table, a clear warning in his tone.
"Whatever he won't cover, I'll handle instead!"
Yesterday's embarrassment apparently had lit a fire, that he hadn't known was still there.
#
#
#
Since I don't want to announce my patreon (/DerKopfloseHesse) with empty hands I cobbled together this little offering as a little thank you in advance.
That said, I won't hide my work behind some paywall. Eventually, when I deem it ready or after some constructive feedback, everything will be published on the regular channels. This is for you to donate money if you like my work enough that you're willing to support my passion for writing, a little tip only if you can spare it.
Another thank you is the 2.5k words (of 6.2k) of a One Piece story I'm genuinely quite proud of and one that has the best chances in the future.
Let's aim for the next 100,000 words together!
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