-Night-
Pov: Shuzo
Everyone should be asleep by now and I can use my scrolls... I open my statistics to confirm that what I saw earlier was real.
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Shuzo Statistics:
Soul fragments -2.
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Does that mean I can add on more to this and regain my arms? If so that is great, apart from this I also have on more stat to upgrade.
Which... I am unfortunately unable to identify, speed and power is the Ryū thing while Defence and strength is the Kenzo thing.
Should I boost my chakra so I can properly use my massage skill? I also have another A-rank skill just sitting here too.
Which I have decided on 'bance' as I found with the massage skill that I can reach those thresholds of power quicker when I don't do too much like Ryū and his wire skill.
I was going to do 'Yoga' but bance sounds better overall.
It sounds weird but I would love to have something rexing again and Bancing seems to be on the line of that... the system did betray me with all that hard work in the other one but what can you do with bance?
I y back on my bed and accept the statistic scrolls.
I focus as they y on my chest and use the word 'Soul Fragment'...?
...
...
They don't glow? Why don't they glow?
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Error! Soul fragments still exist!
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..?
Error? An error? I have seen the box say no to things but I have never seen it say Error like that.
I focus on the words more.
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Soul can be repced- but not with 'extra' of your own soul, are you fine with something else's fragments?
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I see... it cannot regrow my soul like a limb as my soul fragments still exist, I can repce it but with something else instead- what am I taking into my soul however?
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Choose from below:
Mad ones fragments.
Insane Prophets Fragments
Honourable Tyrants Fragments.
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That's it? That's all that is compatible with me? I don't want these guys mingling with my soul the same way I am messing with Oorochimaru's.
And if I attach another persons soul won't it take just as long as Oorochimaru to mix theirs with mine? Why don't I just wait?
...
I can get a skill that would allow me to control it... or maybe get Ryū to help me with some seals, which I also need to prepare for if Oorochimaru does the same- he won't be able to tell until he can use the soul arms but he might prepare for that moment anyway.
Hmmm...
I guess I will have Tsunade at least restore them physically and get my spiritual arms back in a year, meaning no ninjutsu until then.
I will make sure to stop by the other two and give them these memories so they know to help me when the time comes.
...
A weakened, de-buffed Oorochimaru should be cannon fodder for the three of us after a year of intense activity riddled with quests, then again... I should not underestimate that dreaded snake or overestimate myself.
So what should I spend these scrolls on then? Without my arms I am unable to use my chakra properly- should I invest in yet another ability that differs from that?
Then what happens when I get my arms back? I have a chakra costly massage to bance with whatever else I got in that one small year?
I could do something else with chakra that ignores ninjutsu and my arms I suppose... Kick? Wait- that's Kenzo skills, something more down low and rexing, how about 'Stretch?'.
...
Same as bance- haaa, I am going to be weak for a while won't I?
..?
I guess that's fine considering that I can y low like I intended at the start.
Yeah... get the skills I want and then handle Oorochimaru to use them fully, no big deal.
Hm?
I can't regain my soul... what about my split selves? I am sure that my arms won't affect the other two... maybe something like a blessing scroll is needed to get more arms?
If I trained a soul arm skill and stat would that regrow my arms? What if I added two more arms on? Will my soul give me two more arms but not heal the others?
This orange box has so many oddities... I can add but not repce...?
Haaa- that's not for me to think about now, I need to use my scrolls now while Jiraiya and Tsunade are out talking about whatever and won't interrupt me.
For my current A-rank scroll... it would be a waste to not use bance- it shouldn't use my arms but I think at this point I am just panicking about nothing.
I will use my next scroll on the other stuff, now that I have a year of experimentation or simple skills I might as well use it.
'Bance'
...
I blink... nervous to appear in the box a second time after what happened st time.
I gulp and- *SCRATCH!* *Scrawl!*
I jolt and look up to see writing:
'Stay banced upon each step'
I look forward and the environment changes, from that dreaded orange box into the 'steps' that the helper entity wrote about.
The first one is normal... the second step is wonky, the third is completely shifted on an angle and the fourth goes the opposite way of the third.
...
The one after that is the step the size of my foot and one half that size after it- the steps go up and up and change after each one.
I walk forward and take a step, then another, again, and again- trip- *Crack!* I fall and hit the orange floor, on impact my bones crack and my shoulder hurts.
...
I blink back to the start and rub my shoulder... I would hate to fall off of one of the bigger steps.
---
Pov: Tsunade
"And we are certain? No chance at all to become Hokage? Please...?" Jiraiya questions one more time and I sm my sake cup down.
"No" I reply with my deadpan expression and turn to the waiter indicating that I need more alcohol.
"Now that you are done- I have questions about Thorn" I state.
"Redacted" Jiraiya puts his palm up and I twitch in anger.
"Sure- now give me the details" I say and sip my cup.
"Can't- everything on Thorn is redacted, I would tell you but... well, you need Hokage level clearance to get that stuff" He smirks and I frown.
"What about Shuzo's boss- Ryū you said, what can you tell me about him?" I ask.
"Nothing you don't know, I have his image... but it's not much" Jiraiya shifts a picture book over to me and unfolds to a page holding Ryū's face and mask.
...?
Next to it is a white haired brat with some eerie eyes, why do I hate looking at a drawings eyes?
"Who drew that?" I ask.
"No idea, I just got it from the elder council and have been using these picture since" He says.
"That boy... his eyes are throwing me off" I snort as I drink yet again.
"Good eye Tsunade- that's one of his Kekkai genkai, makes you terrified- so terrified you cannot move" Jiraiya says and takes the book back.
"You seen him at least?" I ask about the monster.
"Yes, st time I saw him we had a run in, he joined a criminal organisation and scared me still as he ran" Jiraiya grumbles in annoyance.
"You were scared? You? Those eyes aren't nothing after all" I reply.
"No, if that boy does have Thorns 'Monster' residing in him like your theory then that expins a lot- but Kenzo is monstrous in his own right" Jiraiya cims.
"Tell me about him" I ask.
"... Naruto lived with him, called him his brother and still believes in him... he would know the most" Jiraiya gestures outside where Shizune is talking to Naruto about something.
I gaze out the window and sigh.
---
Pov: Shuzo
*Wobble*
...
No.... not now....
...
..
.?
Phew- okay... just need to stay still till the system says so.
It is much harder to stay on a marble which ys upon a needle than I thought- but then again it is also much easier than I thought too... maybe it's all that ninja training but it only took a few weeks in here to get it right.
*Scratch* *Scrawl!*
'E-rank portion completed- mortal limit reached...'
I blink and look down, I am standing on the orange floor once more and I lower my body to the ground... relieved to not be standing on my tip toes any longer.
I could kiss this ground!
...
Then again I have 'kissed' it too much these past few weeks.
I stop myself from falling down to the ground mid way and then look at the floor in disgust.
*Scratch* *Scrawl!*
'D-rank portion unavaible... changing second half of E-rank portion into the D-rank portion in the logbook'
I tilt my head as the words continue.
'D-rank portion complete! Mortal limit reached!'
..? So the C-rank portion now? And since I reached the limit I will have something completely out of proportion to a standard C-rank right...? And it will always have to upgrade and one up itself so it always goes crazy with simple things.
That's how the simple stuff works if I remember.
... I mean... bance is something simple that a baby learns right? What can you add to that?
*Scratch!* *Scrawl!*
'Stay banced for as long as possible'
I blink once more and the room changes to pitch bck as an eerie feeling of height is thrust upon me... my foot is pced on a ptform that slowly but surely shrinks into a point.
About the size of half my foot I stand on a ptform and bance myself as I look around the pce.
...
...?
...
...
....???
What else?
?
System...?
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Pov: Ryū
...?
"What? No- don't do that, try resting your hips lower and shift your feet as if sliding on ice" I adjust Kanata.
"This would be easier on ice... how can I learn this stuff but not have it?" He groans.
"Better this way, trust me" I say.
I want to give them the energy without using Kenzo's seals for as long as possible, so we will start out weak and steady and then slowly give 0.1 points of mana to them.
After that I will give them the two wrist seals which I have pced in a safe location- I had to pay for the proper storage of flesh but it will be worth it.
"Lower- like that" I correct Kanata once more.
"Katsuko, great job- can you practice set five now?" I ask and turn to her.
...
"Do you think we will be home within the week?" She asks nervously as she looks around.
I look around and shrug- I may have dragged them to some bad weather in the nd of fire... but I am sure the storm is the best pce to learn.
"Yeah sure, have to keep up with our jobs right?" I nod my head and she sighs with relief, probably thinking that I was going to ignore work.
...
Well- I was... until she brought it up, maybe its because I am Ryū at the moment but I just feel less active when it comes to my workaholic activities.
Or perhaps my mind has shifted into a less boring state after seeing those recent quests... Shuzo was gone for a week or so and has already amassed more rewards- both me and Kenzo need the upgrades more than ever and sitting in Konoha doing paperwork isn't doing much for me... it never has.
I have the opportunity to learn at speeds faster then ever out here, where quests are completed with ease.
...
Lets continue training them and mark that lightning border root base- should be the st border base and then moving inside other nations fully.
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Quest found!
Mark every root base in the elemental nations!
33% Complete.
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Ha! See, when you seek opportunity, opportunity seeks you- another quest that will be perfect to do!
And hopefully it will have a very promising reward!
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Pov: Shuzo
.......
......
.....
....
...
..
.
.
..
...
!!
Hm? Oh... still here... how long was I asleep this time? I feel like I couldn't fall off even if I tried now.
Should I do handstands again? Perhaps just my elbows...? Or maybe bance on my pinkie finger this time?
...
I wonder how much longer I will be here... I haven't fallen once and every time I get bored I switch my stances to something more interesting.
I jump and flip to my hands, with ease and no caution I lift my body onto one finger... I feel like a spring for some reason.
Man this room drives me crazy.
Then again... springing up and down would be fun for a bit right?
I lower my body and then raise it as my hand slips and I grab the ptform with my whole hand.
...
Okay lets start slow.
...
Up.
...
Down.
Up.
Down.
...
Up and down.
Up.
Down.
-Far, far ter-
*Grip!* *Sweat!*
....
I grit my teeth as my body aches- this feels much more like upper body strength than bance!
I grip the podium with both hands as my body leans over the bck abyss.
Sweat drips down my body and my clothes are soaked from the exercise.
...
...
*Grip!* *Slip!*
*WOOOOOOOSSHHHHHH!*
I fall through the darkness, my sweat having lubricated my hands I finally fall- even if it hurts I will be fine...
*Pop!*
A rge popping noise echoes out and I shift back into the Orange box, looking around I move my body and feel fine.
Huh.
...
That's it? No pain?
*SCRATCH!* *SCRAWL!*
I jolt at the sudden sound and raise my hands... only to lower them in order to read what ys upon the floor.
'C-rank mastery complete. Failure to stay still, always shifting. Lost [Perfect Bance] and traded for [Shifting Bance]'
I blink and look to the other side of the box, an exact copy of me appears and enters a taijutsu stance- we both start to float in the air.
Float? No... its as if there is no gravity pulling us down anymore.
I feel weightless.
I look again and the other me kicks down and falls to the floor once more, staying in that same spot.
He kicked down? I copy his movements but I still float in the weightless box- so it is something else entirely?
Shifting bance... a bance that shifts? How do I do that- usually this box teaches me and then tests me, but the other me hasn't done a thing other than kick down and pull his body to the ground.
...?
Pull? He pulled his body with a kick? As if the kick generated momentum strong enough to move my entire body weight? How do I do that? Usually you use your body to add momentum to a kick or punch...?
This is the opposite? I need to generate momentum and pull myself down?
...
It doesn't feel right.
What am I missing?
*Swoosh!* *Swooosh!*
The other me moves once more, walking along the floor- although he moves his foot first and then his body is pulled along... step by step he walks and yet looks a bit off while doing it.
...
*Swish!* *Sm!*
The other me kicks upwards and suddenly moves towards me before swinging his foot down and hitting my side.
*BAM!*
I get sent flying into the floor and cough up blood as my ribs snap inside of me- what?
I don't have that much strength? That kick felt much like Kenzo's... why does my copy have more strength than me- do I need more strength for bance?
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Pov: Naruto
"But... doesn't she want to become Hokage for them...?" I ask in a sad tone as Shizune expins the situation to me... I turn around and look at the granny talking to pervy sage.
"That's the thing Naruto... to her the Hokage dream is a curse that her family fell to, she has nothing but terrible memories when she hears that title" Shizune pats my back and I frown.
But... that's so sad...
What can I do to convince her? What could I possibly do to make her feel better and accept that title...?
"Is there nothing I can do?" I ask.
What would Kenzo do?
"I'm afraid Jiraiya-san is trying his best" Shizune smiles warmly.
...
What... would Kenzo do?
He would assess the situation and come up with an answer that helps everyone in the best way... he would undermine his role in doing that something and then give just the right words to convince her...
What are those words? Kenzo always knows what to say.
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-More time ter in the Box-
Pov: Shuzo
*Sm!* *Crash!*
I punch forward and so does my other self- we csh fists and two of my fingers break as I pull back and bite my lip.
Why are all these skill scrolls so fucking violent!!!????
I use my other hand and channel my chakra at the centre of my gravity, where all my weight is.
Using chakra I ball all that weight into a small orb that sits in my stomach taking all my weight from every part of my body and then slingshot that weight up my other arm and throwing another punch.
The sudden shift in weight sends my body flying forward in this space and hits the face of my target.
*Crack!*
Blood spews as he spits out a tooth and retaliates! *Sm!* hitting me over the head my other self shoots a kick to my leg and I lower my weight to resist.
*SLAM!*
Haaaa- Haaaa- Haaaa-
My... weight control is ultimately to help my bance but this is out of hand...
I wipe the blood from my forehead and pour my chakra through my body again!
This time... like my other self I manage to control my weight with perfection and send it up into my head before- *CRASH!* sending him into the floor below.
...
I see... I have been wrapping my weight with my chakra and shooting it off instead of pinching it...
Its hard to expin but the way to wrap ones own weight in chakra is simir to the earth technique theory books they have in the Konoha library.
Except they missed out on a few details which is what kept the Land of Earth better off in terms of controlling weight.
And... I am not necessarily controlling my weight either- I am grabbing it and throwing all of it in one pce at a part of my body.
Allowing me to shoot forward like I have been and hit as hard as Kenzo- my muscle's haven't grown, but my weight has suddenly shifted into one hand and an attack that weighs like a sledge hammer definitely hurts more than normal.
*SCRATCH!* *SCRAWL!*
'B-rank training complete- Shifted bance locked in and continuing'
Oh? So I could have changed my skill even here? It seems I have picked something much better than I have thought.
I take a breath as I suddenly fall from the sky and break my leg- *Snap!*
OOWWWWW!!!
"WHY!?!" I yell out angrily and a second ter all my injuries are taken back.
"Honestly- it's all threats and violence with you!" I groan and get up from the ground.
Looking around the environment has changed once more, an empty gymnasium with one floor mat sat on the floor.
I walk over to it and look at the writing just next to it on a pque.
'Keep your shifted weight in one pce- maintain bance on one finger with all your weight in that hand'
Great.
Now I have to keep my slingshot weight still after shooting it off like a rubber band and expecting it to sit still after a metre.
Thanks for reading :)
