-Kenzo age 9-
"Lee, how goes the running?" I ask Lee as I arrive to the academy training grounds, his favourite pce.
"Kenzo! It goes well, want to join?" He shouts back and I nod my head before starting to run up next to him.
"You seem to be growing quite string Lee- told you that your effort would be noticed, Oto-sensei even used you as an example to be better today" I compliment Lee and he smiles while chuckling.
"Of course, I have to do my best in Taijutsu if I cannot do anything else" Lee replies.
"That's certainly the way, and with the effort you put into training I can see that no one will be capable of beating you in Taijutsu in the future" I say.
"Yeah... but I do keep losing to everyone above the top ten..." he relents and scratches his cheek with an awkward smile.
"Greater the hurdle" I start.
"Greater the jump" he finishes with a sigh of understanding, usually he has these moments or bouts of sadness in the face of reality- but that little saying keeps him focused.
"Then lets do ten more ps than usual today" Lee decres and keeps running ahead at a full sprint.
I chuckle and run full sprint as well, I do like the friendship I have with Lee- its something easy to cultivate and great to help grow, he pushes himself in training as much as me if not harder as well as being an alright guy.
Shame he isn't interested in learning other nguages or memorizing town names with me, but that's fine.
It takes us half an hour to finish our ps- I do take another few because I arrived te due to Danzo's training.
But after that we both sit down on one of the benches and take a break... I got to go eat dinner with Naruto, we are fishing in an hour for food.
...
"Hey Lee I got to go, but ill stay longer for training tomorrow alright?" I say to Lee and get up.
"No problems here- I will see you tomorrow then" Lee nods his head to me before getting up to train again.
I head through the streets of Konoha to my apartment, lets hope Naruto isn't off somewhere else and if he is lets hope we don't have to clean too much after him.
---
-One week ter-
Pov: Danzo
"Faster" I order.
Kenzo starts sprinting faster, dodging the incoming kunai and leaping over wooden spikes- I have been making this obstacle course harder and harder, the child has managed to perfect it.
Kenzo dodges two more kunai traps before jumping up and cutting the ninja wire that holds the next trap in pce.
He has been getting better and better- unfortunately no matter how much I try to crack that brain of his he always stands off against me, my mark does not work due to unknown reasons and I cannot kill the child due to Hiruzen breathing down my neck with this whole situation.
I should of left him for Hiruzen to deal with but I was blinded by the opportunity and power Oorochimaru had gained interest in.
Kenzo completes the course in record time and I grimace as he gives me his brightest smile just to mock me.
"Spar for three hours, do not heal until the time is up" I order and start walking away.
My root ninja in the shadows walks over to Kenzo and unsheathes his Tanto, I hear combat start as I leave these halls- Kenzo has become very proficient with unarmed combat and taijutsu, its a shame he has to rely on pure physical strength for most arts and manoeuvres.
Speaking of his physical strength, he does seem to hold a greater amount and not due to training at all- his body is naturally talented in condensing his muscles and giving them more power... I have been studying it when possible to see if I can replicate what he does to himself.
Whatever he does is not natural at all, in fact his body can barely be considered human with all the change- chakra structures all off, muscles and flesh growing stronger in an odd fashion as well as his blood turning bck and exploding if you try to mess with it too much.
He doesn't seem natural at all- and the worst part is how calm he is.
Calm.
Someone so outrageously calm that it actively hurts not to call him suspicious, torture doesn't affect him and he revels in the most difficult of trainings, the only reason he isnt the top of his css is because of the inability to cast ninjutsu and most forms of chakra usage, he could also be the smartest child in his css if he decided to spend just a few more hours learning rather than focusing heavily on the training I give him.
He does it to spite me and I hate it so much.
In terms of graduating? It will be odd, and the poor Jonin who inherits him as their genin will be stuck lugging around someone who cannot even tree hop effectively due to the very fine and thin chakra nerves he has grown to have.
Perhaps they will stick him with a genjutsu master to polish his skills and then shove him within a suitable job inside Konoha, it seems he has a desire to work in T&I anyway.
---
Pov: Kenzo
*Sm!*
I punch the root ninja in the side before stepping- *Ssh!* the root ninja's bde stops before my neck.
"Sixty seven" The root ninja decres and I roll my eyes.
I push his bde off and I kick him in the stomach- using him as a unching pad to jump several feet behind me, I nd and pry two Kunai embedded in the floor before throwing them at the ninja.
He catches both Kunai and drops them to the floor before starting up some hand signs- I *Snap!~* and make him weave the hand signs wrong with a genjutsu, he snaps out of it the second I reach him with a short sprint and I knee him in the stomach before jumping above his head and- *Ssh*
His bde rests on my chest as I drop to the ground with his stalwart push back.
"Sixty eight" The Root ninja decres and I take a breath before giving him an annoyed stare.
"Your stare lost its meaning the fiftieth time you used it" The Root ninja reminds me and I deadpan.
Its true, my stare makes first encounters a nightmare for the enemy, but with time someone can get used to it- in fact this Root ninja has been training to do just that.
Always finding a counter to my abilities and always trying to give me wounds and scars, none stay much like the ones Oorochimaru gave and that is a testament to the abilities of that man.
I get up off the floor and walk five feet away before *Snap!~* snapping my fingers and unching at the ninja- he looks around for a moment before realising that I didn't actually use genjutsu and catches my punch- *Ssh!*
"Sixty nine, I fell for that only once" he reminds me and I sigh.
This is what most of my training consists of, this man countering everything I can do- is it effective to learn and remove my weaknesses? Yes, but it's also very annoying.
This goes on for another hour before I can leave and heal all the wounds accumuted throughout today, and today being a weekend without a full afternoon.
That means I will try the Genin challenge, see if I can beat three standard genin, which I should be capable of considering my selection of abilities at my disposal.
I exit from the secret entrance in the boulder that Danzo showed me to and I walk my way over to the old training ground I used to use... I find that wooden pole and I look at the challenge.
------
Fight and defeat three standard genin of Konoha!
Reward: Permanent Challenge scroll, statistic scroll.
------
These rewards change every so often and most of them change for the better, this one swapped out its previous rewards for what it currently is and Permanent challenge scroll sounds mighty tempting if I am honest.
I don't know what they do, but challenging something on my level is always nice... at least that's what I assume this is.
I look to the sky and note the time... Danzo taught me how to read the times with my environment and I use it to see if I take some time within this scroll.
I enter.
...
Opening my eyes to the exact same pce as I was standing, the small grassy area with wooden poles to hit surrounded by forest... three genin stand opposed to me.
*Flicker!*
They all flicker away and retreat into the safety of the forest... damn, I am certainly not fast enough for this hide and seek bullshit.
*Wobble*
A genjutsu starts to affect me, the area starts to wobble and wave, something like feeling drowsy or vertigo.
I stare and the Genjutsu is gone- that's the best thing my eyes can do, be unaffected by someone else's genjutsu.
Staring around the forest I wait so see signs of flinching or panicking... I listen intently for heavy breathing- *Haaa-* a long exhale from the eastern direction... I stare directly at that position and start to walk slowly over to it.
*Flicker*
The genin flickers out of the tree he was hiding in and unches himself at me- *Ssh!* he aims a kunai at my throat and I breathe three times in quick succession- my blood pumps and adrenaline surges as I duck under the kunai and grab his ankle... *Woosh!* I pull on it and he tumbles backwards.
*Crash*
He sms into the dirt and I get into his face before headbutting him- *Sm!* I am kicked off by what seems to be the Taijutsu focused genin and I can certainly tell you he has nothing on Neji.
Perhaps I waited too long to fight these three.
I use [Burst Breathing] and sprint at the taijutsu genin before kicking his guard away with my strength, it lowers and I spin around to kick him in the head.
*swish*
The genin on the ground does some handsigns and I ignore it as its a genjutsu.
*Swipe* *Sm!*
I miss an attack on the taijutsu genin and sm my next attack into his gut, he doesn't have time to react and my [Burst Breathing] seems faster than I initially thought- *Smack* *Sm* I barrage him with fists and the genjutsu is cast... but does nothing as I death stare the Genin into tripping over.
I pce a knee on the fallen Taijutsu genin and open my mouth, [Dragons Breath]! Double the size of a blowtorch now my lightning breath scatters across the poor genins face as he succumbs to its very dangerous crackling.
I continue my breathing and accelerate off the Taijutsu genin as a kunai is thrown by the Genjutsu genin, dodging that I- *FFWOOOSH!* A ball of fme interrupts my charge and I turn to see that the Ninjutsu genin has shown himself.
I stand between the two as they arm themselves with kunai- I *Snap!~* my fingers and use all my chakra on my highest level genjutsu... it takes affect on the Ninjutsu genin and he begins to throw kunai at the genjutsu genin.
I lower my body and dash under the thrown kunai before watching the Genjutsu genin panic and take a hit from the Ninjutsu one... I jump and kick the genin in the jaw- he gets knocked out.
I turn to the Ninjutsu genin who is looking around in confusion- I made him see me rushing around just fast enough for him to see... I also pced myself temporarily in front of the other genin so he would attack.
I walk over to the st genin and take his kunai from his hands... in his view I was going so fast he could only see a blur... and suddenly I appear before him and grab his kunai.
I death stare him and he drops to the floor.
So it seems that genin mostly ck experience... and have trouble with moral and mental strength, if they all pressured me at once and weren't terrified of my passive gaze they could have one with a coordinated attack, the genjutsu genin should have realised my immunity to genjutsu with his first use of one and the taijutsu genin should have struggled even when on the floor.
They all ck experience... that's why they are standard genin.
I suppose I should have gone in here sooner, this was good training though- I don't get to use my breathing techniques against anyone outside of here.
I blink and am ejected from the scroll, I look to the sky... and then the shadows, hmmm... I spent roughly five minutes in there and this has barely moved at all... it seems that time is slowed, probably by half or more on the inside of these scroll.
I check the rewards and accept them.
I instantly use the stat scroll on my Lightning Mana and feel my blood boil in horrifically painful manner, I take a few breaths and rest against the pole... I check for the challenge scroll and it seems that it is apart of my status screen now.
Under statistics stands a new section called 'Challenges' and from what it looks like I can re-challenge the same three genin again... but without reward.
Handy for training.
Actually, I need to start getting used to using my other skills that I have kept hidden so this is a mighty boon to my arsenal, just being able to learn how to use a dragons breath properly in battle will be nice.
I take a few breaths and I close my eyes as my body overheats from the stat scroll.
I need to go get dinner sorted. Ramen? Nah... we have that way too much, Naruto will be disappointed but I think we should start having healthier meals, and by we I mean Naruto should start joining me in eating with a healthier diet.
I get up and head over to Konoha's streets my legs wobbling along the way as my blood tries to assimite to the new Mana levels in my body, this is easily the easiest statistic to upgrade- worst to get as that was mightily painful, but easiest to improve by far.
My dragons breath has improved to be a bit more worthy of the title 'Dragons breath' but nothing so good thus far, I will probably need to get it at +10 before it can go ten feet ahead of me and slice through trees with ease... technically I can slice through a tree now, but I would have to walk around it a lot as the breath isn't so long.
Burst breathing was incredible and I forgot how good it could be, surprisingly pairs well with my eternal walk- I didn't notice during the fight but I can walk at the same 'speed' as normal and using burst breathing together with it allows me to walk at a faster speed while walking normally... weird right?
My genjutsu is always helpful and saving it for the right moment when I was trapped between the two Genin was the right call, having it done in a snap is incredibly powerful, in fact I am pretty sure that this is my most overpowered skill... maybe I should increase my chalra levels... or I can keep reducing the cost of my genjutsu... I am leaning towards reduced cost already and I would be pissed to lose ninjutsu just to not use my affinity for genjutsu.
Didn't use juggling or lockpicking... those two will be saved for when I have nothing else to do like in Oorochimaru's den, Word: Truth I should of tested out... I wanted to see if it affects others or if I am the only one affected and it is a passive skill... that has helped me thwart Danzo's mark.
Speaking of he still hasn't turned off the sizzling and constricting that the thing does, its been so long and yet he still holds a grudge.
...
My Stare was helpful as well, death staring the taijutsu genin made him slip up and fail to respond to my rapid attacks, allowed me to use my hearing skill to detect any heavy breathing in the trees due to my stare terrifying people and made the final ninja give up with a finger snap combo of terror that just made him cry and fall to the ground- I didn't even have to do anything to him.
...
I arrive at my apartment and open the door to hear Naruto fumbling through the ramen in our cupboard.
"Not tonight Naruto, we are going to go eat something healthy, help me shop for some groceries and I might consider giving you one less vegetable of your choosing" I greet him with a nod.
...
"I can hear you trying to sneak away, just because I am wearing a blindfold doesn't mean I cannot hear you" I say sternly and Naruto sighs before putting his jacket on.
"Good, lets go get something fresh shall we?" I ask and Naruto grumbles as we leave the apartment.
We head into the market area of Konoha and I start asking Naruto to help me pick out the best ingredients... I am thinking of making us fried rice and chicken... if we have the money for chicken.
As we are buying things Naruto suddenly stops and I turn my head to face him.
"You alright?" I ask in concern.
"Sakura-chan is here..." Naruto whispers and I nod seriously to back him up.
He keeps asking me advice about this mysterious 'Sakura girl' and since I didn't date at all back in my previous life I thought to deny him any of my 'tips and tricks'... he did compin that I am a natural and I should not hide any of the techniques to getting girls so I relented and am making things up as I go.
"Want to say hi?" I ask.
"What if she ignores me? She likes the bastard, I mean the bastard- I mean Sasuke" Naruto says seriously.
"Well you tried to say his name at least... look, if she isn't interested than you shouldn't pester her- perhaps if you-" I am cut off as he grabs my arm.
"She is leaving! Quick ask her a question so we can talk" He begins to drag me along and I tilt my head in utter confusion- what part of this is any sembnce of a pn Naruto?
Suddenly he stops and pulls me forward.
"Sakura-chan~ how are you?" Naruto greets.
"...? Oh its Naruto, what do you want..." She deadpans.
I feel Naruto kick my ankle... oh right, I need to ask a question for the conversation to continue.
"Sakura-san is it? I am sorry to be bothering you on this fine day but I was hoping to grab a moment of your time for some help in procuring groceries... you see I am currently blind and Naruto doesn't know some of the ingredients I need, when Naruto spotted you I hoped that you might help me" I give a small bow and I hear her properly turn to face us.
"Nice to meet you... Kenzo? Ino talks about you all the time, I can help... as long as Naruto doesn't bug me much" She mentions and I smile.
"What? I'm not going to bug you dattebayo!" Naruto yells.
"Volume" I command and I hear Naruto sp his mouth.
"Sorry, forgot about that" Naruto says, remembering that I have sensitive ears.
"He can be quiet? What can I help you with?" Sakura asks and I raise my bag.
"We are just missing two ingredients that Naruto doesn't know the look of and I cant... well I cant see them to put it bluntly, can you help us find where the avocados are and some cinnamon is? " I offer a polite smile, we have no need for these but Naruto wanted a question and so he will have to eat the avocado.
"All righty, I was just getting some spices for my mum so we can walk to get them" Sakura offers and starts walking down the road, me and Naruto follow.
"Hey Sakura-chan!" Naruto whisper yells... not what I meant by volume Naruto.
"What?" Sakura asks in that same deadpan tone... yeah this is going to be tough for you Naruto.
"Well... I uh, you know..." Naruto panics... did you not have anything to say? Why are you panicking? What is with you and this girl??? He nudges me and I sigh.
"Hey Naruto you want to go get me an extra bag of rice?" I hand him some money and he taps my shoulder in question.
I give him a confident smirk and he starts to walk away...
"Sorry about him he seems to be very panicked all of a sudden" I say to Sakura.
"I am sure he is always a pain, how do you deal with Naruto all the time... you live with him right?" Sakura inquires.
"Well he can be an amazing brother every now and then, though I will admit he can be loud sometimes" I try to repair his reputation.
"And clingy" Sakura responds and repairing his reputation seems impossible.
"Eh- only to those he values, and sometimes being clingy isn't so bad, if you want him to give you distance I can talk to him about it" I reply.
"Please do, he is always bugging me about everything... and starting fights with Sasuke-kun" Sakura replies.
...
Yeah Naruto I think you need to ask someone more capable to help you with this dy.
"How is Sasuke holding up? I haven't seen him in a while on account of my training schedule" I ask.
"Sasuke-kun has been top of the css as always~ do you know him!?" She suddenly squeals and I plug my ears... don't like that high pitched noise.
"Ah, yeah I knew him... I guess we hung out a bit and trained together when we where younger- nothing more than that I am afraid" I respond and listen to Sakura's steps as they get a little lighter upon hearing Sasuke's name.
...
We reach the required pces and I give her money to help me buy some items and she deposits them in my bag.
"Thanks for your help, it was generous" I say to her.
"No problem, tell Sasuke I said hi!" She squels.
"Cannot stress this enough, Last time I saw Sasuke was across the street and we nodded at each other... like a week ago- and she is gone" I sigh and walk back up the street, hopefully Naruto didn't sneak away to eat Ichiraku ramen.
...
Maybe I should ask Gramps for help with Naruto's love life... or maybe I should ask Oto-sensei... both these options seem weak if I am honest.
One st sigh and I find Naruto with a bag of rice- he smiles at me.
"Did you tell her how cool I am?" He asks in a hurry.
"Sure. Lets talk while we cook dinner" I say and start walking home... I think I talked more about your rival than you Naruto... sorry about that.
Thanks for reading :)
