Pov: ???
My little Lesser Mortal is very entertaining... The watching council was right... 'systems' are quite fun to build.
Though he has stagnated recently... I would love for him to do anything but attend csses and buy flowers on repeat.
How to motivate him I wonder? I do not wish to intervene more than I have to, Elder ones forbid I make 'quests' for him to blindly follow... I am not the NameMaker after all, he can be whatever he so chooses- he just needs to do that thing with a bit more... pow!
I guess the new csses with the greedy mortal will be fun... but nothing too exciting considering the stuff he goes through to learn his skills.
!
I turn away from my box and gaze into the space behind me, it is being torn to shreds as an old friend crawls from it.
"How goes the new project... is it as enticing as they said?" The hollow and depressing voice seeps from the thing before me.
"Very. But it has currently stopped being so... exciting" I relent in calm and bored tone.
"Bah! Give me a look!" He stretches his rot and tendrils to my orange box and I open it.
Inside we view the entirety of my mortals life in an instant.
"Haha! You put him in that bore of a vilge! Nothing to use such terror on!" The depressing voice mocks me and I rattle my bones as they snap in annoyance.
"The Watchers told me such a vilge would become interesting in time... I can view his life within a moment but not a second further... it annoys me" I crack my fingers individually.
"Why not challenge it?" My old friend suggests and rex my self.
...
Challenge...
"Bah! This one sees that you are already in deep thought, I will come by another time" My old friend says something but I focus on my idea.
A Challenge scroll? A Challenge scroll.
---
Pov: Kenzo
...
...*Click*
Sound three hundred and forty two is a click... which lines up with my current image....
A canvas is getting eaten by a giant horse who is sad his mother died ten years ago- a firearm is clicked and it misfires... the dy who lies about not wearing makeup sps the horse for interrupting the painters work and the horse kicks back at the dy and kills her- the painter, which is the dies lover and the armed mans brother cries in shock before drinking poison that kills him, the armed man clicks again... but nothing happens...
*Scratch* *Scrawl*
'D-rank hearing complete'
Finally, that was five thousand too many soundscapes to picture... and some of them where very odd, at least I succeeded.
I blink and I stretch, I am sitting on my bed again and I get up... huh, it's weird how I can hear my room to the point I need not worry where I am going.
I could probably walk the streets without running into anything now- that is a major upgrade.
Ahhh~ this is- what is that?
I feel something... what is it... I cannot describe- wait, it's like the scrolls- the feeling before they are used.
I approach the scroll within my apartment and I press my finger onto it, it rests against the wall.
------
Discovered Challenge Scroll!
Face the Tailed beast: Nine Tails.
Rewards: Five statistic scrolls and two instant S-rank skill scrolls.
------
...?
Accept...?
I blink and immediately start staring through my blindfold- Konoha is in shreds, streets destroyed and devoid of any life.
Above it.
Ohoh! Above it stands tall a giant fox with Nine tails... it gazes down at me.
...
*Woosh!*
I do not hear the impact as the tail swipes at me so fast- *Crash!* I crash into my apartment floor as I am flung from the scroll and I watch it dissolve from its pce hanging on the wall... it disappears.
------
Challenge Failed!
Challenge removed!
------
I failed...? Oh. I died.
...
Challenges huh? This is going to be fun... where else will they be I wonder? I should probably look for more... did I get sent into the scroll? I was flung back into my apartment and it felt like I was sucked into that area suddenly...
I cannot do these challenges while I am being watched- they will notice me disappear and I have no excuse for that.
I smile.
Lets go find something more my speed in town- I hope there is more challenges in town.
I get up and leave my apartment.
There was also a new scroll in that reward section- Instant Skill scrolls... does that make a skill instantly S-rank no matter the current level? Or I get an S-rank skill? That sounds amazing.
I need those and I want them now.
I should not pick something above my level- I cannot risk losing the scroll and its fun- I mean rewards.
---
Pov: Danzo
"He is no longer in his house- should we find and bring him here?" One of my agents ask and I nod.
...
Time passes and I think upon my deal.
I cant even bring this child out of Konoha... I only have a few hours every evening to tutor him.
We must treat this as an investment- he might not be useful now but once trained he can be put to use for Konoha at a ter date.
...
Tch- still an annoyance that I personally have to take care of his training, I shouldn't have emphasised his 'loyalty' so much that Hiruzen made sure his most trusted old friend was in charge of Kenzo.
*Flicker*
"Woah- careful creep" The child arrives as my Root agent flickers him in, he stumbles and looks around.
"Where am I?" He asks.
"Young Kenzo, the Hokage asked me to test your loyalty and help you in your... various skills- you are in an undisclosed location and my Root agents will come to get you every day around this time" I say.
We are currently in a private training ground provided by Hiruzen so he may make sure that I am 'properly' taking care of Kenzo.
I sigh as he ignores me and raises his finger to a training post.
...? Lets get this over with.
"I will be training you- brutally, do not whine and do not compin, I will also mark you as part of Konoha's secret Root that protects Konoha from the shadows, I will ensure that you are worthy enough to be a part of Root... Kenzo! what has you so distracted!?" I get annoyed with the brat as he tilts his head curiously at the wooden post.
...
Haaa- this child- maybe I should of left him with Hiruzen in the light like I said so long ago.
"Hey... do you think you could train me to beat a standard team of Genin by the end of the year?" He asks.
"Of course- standard does not exist in Root" I reply.
"Then lets get started old man" He replies.
"You will refer to me as Lord Danzo" he approaches and I grab his face and pull his tongue out.
*Sizzle*
My mark burns onto his tongue and he raises a brow... good- he isn't flustered by such pain.
"Nah" He replies and I push him away and onto the ground.
"Break his arm and heal it" I order my agent and he complies.
*Crack!*
He immediately steps on the arm and starts to heal the wound- Kenzo groans out in pain and breathes heavy.
"Lord Danzo" I command.
"I said nah... you wont be as harsh if I am friendly... and I work better under harsh trainings..." Kenzo smirks and breathes out these words.
I cant help but smirk.
Maybe this will be much more interesting than I thought?
---
-two months ter-
Pov: Kenzo
"Up. Again" I am ordered and I follow the old mans orders.
I get up and reset my arm- *Snap!* it snaps back into pce and I smile.
------
Complete: Training with a lunatic.
Reward: Statistic scroll.
------
I look to my current instructor and I look around the training ground- we have been going over Taijutsu basics and it is much faster than the Academy, I find it insane how Lee can keep up with me despite my extra training... then again Taijutsu is all he trains.
The wooden pole is broken and the challenge scroll on it vanishes... appearing on the undamaged pole next to it.
Lucky.
...
"Hm. The basics of the academy can only do so much- understand that every ninja grows into their own style of fighting and that my Root agents memorise multiple. You could probably face a standard genin now... but no one of worth" He lectures and I roll my eyes.
I believe I should invest in genjutsu affinity when I get home, I have such a small chakra pool that I need all the efficiency possible.
"We will be finished today- enjoy cleaning up after you brother" He mocks and flickers away.
Psh- show off, I need a skill scroll that allows me to move like that flicker technique...
I groan in pain as I stretch my body and make sure I am not bleeding from anywhere... the knuckles are bloody- damnit, I am gd I got gloves recently.
I approach the unbroken wooden pole and I sit with my back to it before accepting my scroll.
I need to deal with this upgrade before heading home.
...
'Genjutsu Affinity'
My body lightens... my muscles loosen and my organs feel bloated...
One...
Two...
Three...
Now!
My body then restricts, muscles all cramp at once everywhere and my organs feel as though they are being strangled... haaa... and I... feel light headed...
I stay awake and feel the pain.
It doesn't feel like my chakra lines are thinning and becoming more precise anymore...
I focus on my chakra and see what is happening to the inside of myself.
...
My chakra points are changing pces- they shift and slide along my lines and find the most optimum pce for casting Genjustsu... I wont have to mould a solid chunk of my chakra to start casting Genjutsu now...
The chakra points finish rearranging after an hour and I relent... breathing heavy and sweating harder.
Good. It was not as painful as the ones before it... though I have a feeling the next few might be different.
Perhaps I should y down for a minute.
My muscles growl in annoyance and my organs feel as though they are trying to revolt.
My chakra... it still hurts to touch or try to mould.
...
Haaa- haaa-
Just another hour...
---
Pov: Naruto
*Scrub* *Scrub*
"I don't want a speck of paint left on my chalk board understood" Iruka-sensei lectures and I nod for the fifth time.
Pft- I should have used an easier to clean paint.
*slide*
I turn to see who entered the cssroom and I perk up.
"Kenzo!" I greet.
He nods his head and readjusts his sweater before approaching me and Iruka-sensei.
"Mind if I help Iruka-sensei?" Kenzo asks and Iruka nods.
Woohoo! I can leave early!
I scrub harder and Kenzo picks up a sponge and starts to scrub with me, I chuckle in happiness.
Always great to clean a prank with my brother!
"So Naruto, there was a test today... did you do well?" Kenzo asks and I gulp.
"Ah- O... ya' know how I am with that stuff..." I look away and scrub harder.
"Right... so bad huh?" He decres and I sweat.
"It was a maths exam wasn't it... cant be helped considering your capacity for that stuff..." he says and I take a breath of relief.
"Well... if it cant be helped we will have to study it all tonight then-" I interrupt Kenzo with a quick "No! Dattebayo!" And he stops scrubbing.
"Sorry?" He asks.
I look to Iruka-sensei for help. He is focused on his paperwork but I see him smirking.
"Ah- I mean of course O!" I reply with and awkward chuckle.
"Alright then its settled! If you complete my homework by dinner we can get Ichiraku's" O says and I smile with glee.
*Scrub* *Scrub*
I need to go faster!
---
-tomorrow-
Pov: Ino
I am watering the flowers in the front of our shop and gncing to the entrance every other second.
...
"Is she still watering? Ino-" my dad starts to speak but mum pces a hand on his mouth.
"Just let it happen dear..." She says.
".... she has been watering for an hour..." He pouts.
"And she will continue until her friend gets here so don't bother- it isn't the end of the world" Mother lectures dad and I gnce to the entrance again.
...
Is he te? He usually comes by now... what am I going to say? My heart is pounding!
"But birthdays were always our thing- cant this kid take tomorrow or something?" Dad whispers loudly and I roll my eyes.
"This 'kid' isn't a stranger, you are celebrating tomorrow anyway, unless you lied and that T&I does not need you today?" Mum lectures and dad sighs.
...
Come on Ino! You can do this! Don't get shy when its time to ask!
"But... but..." Dad struggles to find a reason to intervene with my birthday wish.
"Go. To. Work. I am here keeping a watch over them" Mum decres and I watch dad gnce at me before sighing and leaving.
I smile brightly at Mum and she responds with a thumbs up.
I gnce back at the entrance...
Kenzo!
Yes! He is here!
I get up and approach him.
"Kenzo! Are you are here for more flowers?" I ask.
"Yeah, vase is running low and I need something that will stop the... Spicy ramen from overwhelming my sense of smell" He chuckles and I giggle.
I grab his hand to lead him around the shop- nice, its so easy to lead him around since he went blind~ I mean- wait- I meant that this id fortunate not- I didn't mean that him being blind was a good-
"Ino? You alright? You are leading me out back?" Kenzo asks and I look up.
Ack- I was in such a panic I didn't notice, I pull him around the front and stop at the lilies.
Phew.
...
I look over at Kenzo and watch him slowly approach each flower and start to smell them... does he like them? Oh! He did the nod of approval... that's good.
...
How do I invite him to my birthday... I haven't even invited anyone else... should I invite his brother too? Am I dirty from watering pnts? Do I smell from sitting in the heat? Maybe I should have invited other friends so it would be more natural to invite him- did I mess up? I should just cancel- yep I am cancelling all pns.
I should just invite him to the birthday sleepover I am having with my friends in two days... hehe, then I can see him in his pyjamas- I wonder if he wears something cool or cute?
...
He picks out a few flowers and I keep sighing and shuffling as he goes around the shop.
"Are you... okay Ino?" Kenzo slowly asks.
"Hm?" I reply having no clue what he is talking about.
"The sighing and shuffling... did you want to pick my flowers today?" He asks and I wince.
I am an idiot- why am I panicking so much!
*cough* I clear my throat and look at the flowers he picked out.
"Its nothing! Is this what you want? Lets go get this all paid for..." I reply and lead him to the counter where he pces the flowers on.
...
I watch as Kenzo pays for his flowers and right before he leaves after grabbing them my mum interjects.
"Hey, Ino's birthday is today and she was wondering if you would like to have some birthday cake and eat some dinner tonight?" My mum asks and I am gd Kenzo-kun cannot see me as I have gone completely red.
I weakly smile at my mother who winks back at me.
...
Abort! I cant abort! How do I abort! I cant do this! This is like a date- I don't know how to do any of the- the- damnit Ino! How can you be such a wimp around Kenzo but be completely cool around everyone else!
"That sounds lovely, is it tonight?" He asks and I sweat.
"Yes, we would love it if you came- Ino is proud to call you her friend after all, please come by after six if possible" Mum responds.
"Alright- I will be there, thanks for the flowers!" Kenzo waves and leaves the shop.
I walk behind the counter and drop to my knees.
"Ino?" My mum asks.
"I cant do it... I suck at being cool around him" I sigh and my mother giggles.
"That's fine Ino... I know how sociable you can be with your other friends! Just channel that energy... maybe take a nap before he comes" My mum hugs my shoulder and I nod my head.
I get up off the floor and head to my room... I need to stop panicking.
Thanks for reading :)
