Pov: Kenzo
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Completed C-rank instant scroll.
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...
Its odd.
I almost started sprinting to my non-existent pent house, I nearly tried to wrap my wire and start spamming it to summon hordes of undead.
I can hear people walking the streets.
Actual people.
...
It was never this bad before, I never felt so distant when sitting on a mountain peak for seven lifetimes, or staring down the nothingness for technically all of and none of time as time does not exist there...
Because I was learning one thing- focused on that one thing so much that I never saw time pass by...
But in that st one? That pce was not designed for a focused mastery and spending more than a few years... I lived there, had a home there- thought on and contempted my life there.
I think I will stick to simple skills... mastering complicated ones with so many things to do just doesn't make me feel any better.
...
Lets... do something, anything- eat hot food I didn't make myself, talk with someone- anyone at all, maybe buy some flowers instead of breaking into an old flower shop and growing my own... damn... I got attached to those flowers.
I get up out of my bed and head to the bathroom- I shut the door and undo my blindfold to look in the mirror.
Oh no.
The eyes I had before where tired, unyielding and dangerous... has my stare evolved? I feel like I have a whole new look and yet nothing changed... unyielding and tired... mature and done with it all.
I'm ten and look like I am going through a mid life crisis- lucky I have the blindfold, should probably pce that back on before someone enters my line of sight behind this mirror.
Haaa- I slip it back on and walk outside to get dressed into a new set of clothes, I then step down the stairs after grabbing my wallet.
Flowers. Food. People.
Three objectives today, I could talk to others while doing the other two in order to boost my efficiency, Ichiraku is further- but going there will be divine, I will also get flowers from Yamanaka flowers on the way back.
Nearly forgot my ninja wire, I turn around and- and... never mind, I spin back around and head for Ichiraku.
...
This isn't a mental quirk I need to work through... I would of been given time within the box if that was so, this is a slow burning change within me- I am still me... just need some time to recover to my old self, talking to others and all that...
Why do I have the sudden urge to take my blindfold off- I just really want to see the flesh that doesn't smell like corpse and touch something living.
I want to see someone.
Anyone.
I- I need to stop panicking, I need to stop trying to rush things... food, food, food.
I step up to Ichiraku and take a seat, not long after I order some food and devour a bowl or two of ramen.
"Hungry Kenzo? Naruto said you were stuck in bed before" Teuchi-san asks.
"Naruto was here on a school day? Never mind- very hungry, not for stomach but for taste, I thank you for the meal" I get up and pay him his owed money.
"No worries Kenzo, Naruto was hanging around some of his friends when he swung by- make sure he stays in school and learns well" He tells me.
"Thanks for the tip. I will go find him" I reply and head off.
...
Now where would he be... this pce feels so old? Why do I barely remember these streets? I remember the main pces, just forgot some of the minor stuff like Naruto's hang out spots.
Why was that previous skill scroll so much worse than the others...? Surely I would have forgotten the streets from previous ones... another mystery of the orange box.
Best guess is that I wasn't meant to reset that much- does that mean I get a... memory boost from other skill scrolls but because I messed with the intended use of that test I didn't get one?
...
Was really hoping the system would chime in then to confirm for me... guess I will stick to guessing.
I eventually arrive in one of Konoha's many parks- I don't know where Naruto would be at all, maybe I should let him have this one and scold him when he gets back.
I sigh to myself and sit on a park bench, I turn my head up and stare at the sky so I may see its beautiful expanse... I turn it off in case someone enters my line of sight and darkness greats me once more, I certainly miss my balcony view already.
And strangely enough the music, it was so relieving when I found that old record pyer- absolutely wonderful to listen too... maybe I should find some music here? Surely they would have that tech? Then again with how odd this vilge is with its advancements I wouldn't be surprised to find nothing...
Maybe I should learn an instrument? I can snap to a tune real well- maybe I should take some time to learn a musical skill? Perhaps some other arts as well, painting made into a K-rank skill would certainly be interesting to see.
...
I sit in the sun and stretch on the bench, soaking in the rays and humming a small tune to myself, I listen to glorious nature and wonderful living humans wonder around me.
Children ugh instead of letting out an undead roar.
Mothers chuckle instead of tearing and scratching at my throat.
Fathers push the swings instead of pushing me through a wall.
...
Going to the park was a good idea to have- *Twitch*
My ears twitch and I y comfortably in the same position...
"Wanna go buy some snacks after this?" I hear Naruto talking... and a few parents deciding that now is a great time to suddenly remember they need to be home and leave the park.
"Nah~ we just ate" Another child chimes in.
"I wouldn't mind" Another speaks.
"Hey Naruto... isn't that your brother?" Another whispers as they pass by my bench.
...
"I can hear you trying to sneak away brother. Sit down on the bench" I command and hear a deep sigh from Naruto who sits next to me.
The other three stand nearby.
"So. Skipping school?" I ask.
"... you were too..." He replies.
"I see... you believed that because I made a choice you should follow it. Tell me Naruto, if I jumped off a cliff would you follow?" I ask.
"...yes...?" He answers hesitantly.
"Gd to know that you trust me so much... listen Naruto, I love you alright? So when you skip css or prioritize pranks over a good education it really worries me... I just want you to be your best self, nothing more, nothing less... ignoring my previous statement, I want you to take the day off- but be warned, this is a one time deal" I tell him.
"Really? Your the best Dattebayo!" He gets up in excitement and pats me on the shoulder before walking away with his friends.
School should be over in three hours anyway, no use in going now.
What can I do for today? I'm sick of training... ah, I still have to go to the stick in the mud Danzo's training don't I? Well, apart from that lets take a day off.
...
Maybe I should stop madly training as well, I will still do the morning runs with lee... but lets stop after dark training- maybe keep up some training with lightning style and that's it.
Maybe I should quit Danzo's organization.
He has been more torture than learning recently, it may be fun to torment him with my unyielding stare- but maybe I should be a lot less hyper training focused.
I should start using my skills instead of training them- so challenge a lot more things with my lightning style, even if I lose a lot more... maybe start making more friends?
I talk with lee at school and hang out with Naruto on the weekends and nights... but not many more, I also just remembered the Ino situation... nearly forgot about that completely.
I suddenly stretch and get up off the park bench.
---
-one month ter-
Pov: Lee
Its about morning, the standard time me and Kenzo run around Konoha and get some early training in.
"Hey Kenzo?" I ask him as we run side by side, just started so I haven't gotten winded yet.
"Yeah?" He replies nonchantly.
"Why did you stop training in the evenings? I mean the afternoon training you always do? I don't mind you training with me or anything, in fact its much better... just curious" I ask my question in-between breaths.
...
There is a moment of silence before he answers.
"Boredom. The training was boring and certainly cked any amount of 'gain' from it" he answers back, perhaps a little coldly.
"Right... cool... is it true you like older dies? Like twenty and up?" I ask with genuine intent.
"...? Twenty isn't that old?? And yes...???" He makes the most confusing face I have ever seen him make, its like a mix of amusement, anger and concern.
"Naruto... I nearly forgot- where did you hear that?" He asks me with some intense seriousness.
"I heard the teachers talking about it in the break room when I went to ask sensei about something" I reply.
"That little- how did the teachers even hear about that?" He mutters to himself as he runs.
"So you do... do you like-" I ask.
"Nope- no more of this conversation, find something else Lee" He interrupts.
...
"Got any worries about graduation at the end of the year?" I ask.
"Nope. I got a special exam, you got the same I bet to accommodate for our little 'weakness' hopefully we pass- scratch that, we are gonna pass" He confidently decres.
"Of course! Nothing can stop us!" I chant and start running harder down the road, Kenzo takes this as a challenge and runs after me.
Haha! This is why I love to hang out with Kenzo, always a great challenge!
---
-ter that day-
Pov: Kenzo
I get up from my desk and high five Lee as he gets up to start training in the evening. School just finished and I hand in my homework before leaving out to the exit.
"Kenzo-Kun, how was your day?" Ino appears from the corner as if waiting and ambushes me with a question.
"Good, how was yours?" I ask back and she gives a thumbs up.
Recently she has been getting to her old self and talking to me again, I go and buy flowers still and she seems to have gotten over me... thankfully I don't have to deal with that topic for a while.
"What are you doing now?" She asks, she also found out I had free time recently and tries to hang out every afternoon.
"Naruto painted over someone's store front yesterday and he is already bogged down with homework and training I have been giving him- so I am cleaning that today" I reply and she pouts.
"Why are you always doing boring things? Come on~ lets go feed those ducks, you liked feeding the ducks right Kenzo-kun?" Ino asks.
"Sorry Ino, I have to do this- I promised Naruto I would do it if he did some extra training and I finally got him to start doing some more chakra control training for his jutsu" I sigh and reply.
"Fine... but after that?" She asks.
"Naruto made a real mess... I might just sleep after that" I respond with a yawn.
"Hmph- you just don't want to hang out with me" She frowns.
"Ino... yeah" I reply with a serious tone and smirk.
"Oi!" She smacks my shoulder and I chuckle.
"Seriously though, I will be free tomorrow... we can feed some ducks then" I say.
"Why are all your activities so... haaa-" She shakes her head.
"So what?" I ask.
"Old... you do old people stuff" she says with an eyeroll.
"... I'm allowed to enjoy small things like duck feeding and flowers... maybe reading history books... huh..." the more I talk the more I realise the stuff I do is weird for a kid my age.
"Is that why you like older dies?" She ask with a furrowed brow.
Maybe I shouldn't clean that shop as a message to Naruto...
"Who told you that" I ask while my eye twitches.
"My dad" She replies.
"Your dad!? How the hell did he hear that??? Who is telling everyone this? First it was my cssmates and now the teachers and the guy at the flower shop" I groan in annoyance.
"My dad heard it from the Hokage" She chuckles.
How?????
How Naruto???? Your methods confuse me so much that it breaks my brain???
Does he yell that tiny little slip of my tongue everywhere!??! When!?!? Is it when I am sleeping? Does he go to the mountain top and yell it at the top of his lungs???
"I give up... I don't care anymore..." I sigh and Ino pouts.
"Why do you like girls my mums age?" She asks in an annoyed tone.
Nope. Not going to even honour that question with a response.
"Goodbye Ino, I will see you tomorrow" I decre and speed walk away while she yells out.
"Oi! Answer the question! Its very important why you like mothers!" She yells and I feel a multitude of stares on me... I ignore them and speed on.
Damnit Ino. That better not spread even more because of you.
---
Pov: Naruto
Hmm... concentrate... concentrate...
*Woosh*
A small breeze takes my leaf away and I stare at it in annoyance- stupid leaf getting the way of my training! I should just clean up the shopfront and take back the deal.
...
Lets forget this training for a bit and go back to my homework, I stand up and head home through the streets of Konoha- I walk up to my apartment and pce a bundle of pages on our table before sorting through them.
Kenzo has been making me read all this stuff so it is much easier to do... I hate to admit this but I am doing much better in css than before, I used to be dead st when I first started but now I am reaching higher than ever.
At least Sakura-chan is talking to me about school work sometimes so O was very helpful there...
Right- homework, lets focus Naruto! Cant make O clean up after me for nothing!
I start going through all my homework and unfortunately for me I complete it much quicker than I thought- unfortunate because I have to focus on chakra control now, my weakest talent that even hard work struggles to fix.
Come on... lets at least get four leaves down by today Dattebayo!!
-3 hours ter-
...
Two... well at least I can say I had some improvement- I just hate that I struggle with this so much, how come Kenzo can do this easy? Well... he can stack the leaves on one part of his body like the tips of his fingers, still don't get why his chakra system is all wrong.
Hmmm... maybe I am doing it wrong? Kenzo should be home soon so maybe he can help me- I thought he would come back to eat before finishing the cleaning... maybe I should y off the pranking so much, Kenzo has been cleaning after my pranks for a bit now- it was fine when I had to do it but now that Kenzo is doing it I feel terrible.
Haaa-
...
I still don't know how to help O... he always helps me and I am still stuck thinking on it. He always knows what to do and always has advice for every situation.
...
I pce the leaves down and I get up to stretch- I crack my knuckles and start doing light warmups, if I am having trouble doing something I should take a break and try something else.
A few stretches ter and I start doing push ups on the floor.
*Creak*
The door opens and I see Kenzo entering.
"Hey Naruto, how goes the control?" He asks and I smile awkwardly.
"Ah- right, how about after you finish that we go eat some ramen and then I can help you as much as possible?" He asks and I smile much more confidently.
"Then give me a minute! Dattebayo!" I call out as he enters the bathroom, he showers and I get up and clean up a little before putting my jacket on.
He leaves the shower fully clothed and chuckles at me as I wait by the door.
"That eager to eat? Have you eaten that much today? I didn't see you pack lunch" He asks.
"Nope- but Choji gave me some of his chips!" I say proudly.
"Is that the friend with the dog?" He asks.
"No... that's Kiba- Choji has snacks all the time" I reply.
"Ahhh, right, right- since you haven't eaten lets get you an extra bowl today" Kenzo says as he opens the door and leaves.
Yes! Another bowl!
Thanks for reading :)
