44I do not own any rights in regards to either Naruto or The Gamer. I know, it's sad right.
I had been sitting on my couch for the last hour waiting for the sun to finish coming up, I had been trying to figure out some of the details having a chakra aspect called "The Gamer" had.
It was a fluke really, I had been absent mindedly saying phrases from some of the games I had played when in a moment of irritation I had yelled "Help!"
It turns out that my wording or the intent behind it had worked, because I got more information than I can really handle at the moment.
Help Menu
All windows and functions can be accessed by vocally commanding the desired function.
Status Window – Status screen compiles the individual's information into a detailed list. This includes character [stats], [perks], [skills], and [status effects]. (Saying Status opens all information in the window, saying individual sections will raise only the requested details.)
Inventory – A storage area assessable only to the user, all items, with the exception of living creatures, may be placed inside. (Inventory is opened through vocal command)
Info Listings:
Job: A job designation is created through the acceptance of a role, or the progression of a trade. Unique Job can be unlocked when specific criteria have been met. (Job titles can be swapped out or sorted through on the status window by pressing the designation "Job".)
Title: Titles are marks of recognition, designations of status, or the consequence of actions. Each title comes with different abilities and modifiers that change as the titles are replaced or removed. (Titles can be swapped out or sorted through on the status window by pressing the designation "Title".)
Level: Level is the indication of the strength and progression of the individual, EXP is accrued to allow for leveling up. Exp is gained through combat, completing quests, and the general usage of skills to complete a task or take an action. Leveling up provides stat points which can be placed into the attributes of [STR], [VIT], [DEX], [INT], and [WIS] respectively. These attributes will also advance forward depending on whether or not any given perks effect attribute gain or loss. Every level up provides [3 points], these are additional attribute points gained by the user, and can be added at the user's discretion.
Specialization: Specializations are specific paths that can be taken, such as assassin, saboteur, thief, or diplomat to name a few. Specializations are unique in that, unlike titles, they evolve with experience gained through actions specific to their designation. (Specializations can be swapped out or sorted through on the status window by pressing the designation "Specialization" thought only the currently equipped specialization can gain experience.)
HP: HP or Health Points are the sum total of damage that may be received, once they reach 0 the result is death.
CP: CP or Chakra Pool is the sum total of chakra which can be expended, once it reaches 0 you will be unable to use any skills requiring its use until it regenerates.
Perks: Perks are the bonuses applied to the user. These perks can be from titles, jobs, racial traits, religious blessings, or perks unique to an individual.
Skills: Skills are abilities such as cooking, smithing, or carpentry. Skills run the range from crafting, to combat, and even minor actions may develop skills associated with them. Skills can be trained and leveled up to become more powerful as your proficiency in them grows.
Status Effects: Status Effects are the current temporary positive or negative effects on the user. These temporary effects range from [minor] such as small colds, too [moderate] conditions such as malnutrition, and lastly [severe] which can encompass plaque and starvation.
Attributes:
Strength (STR): The Strength attribute determines the person's overall physical power. This attribute affects the amount of damage done with physical weapons. It also affects a person's ability to reduce damage when blocking and affects the amount of weight they can lift, carry, or throw.
Vitality (VIT): The Vitality attribute determines the person's overall health. This attribute also affects a person's ability to regenerate health outside of combat and resistance to poison and disease.
1 VIT = 20 HP
1 VIT = .5% HP REGEN
Dexterity (DEX): The Dexterity attribute determines the person's overall movement. This attribute affects a person's accuracy, evasion, speed, and ability to land critical strikes on an opponent in close, mid, and long range combat. Dexterity also plays a major role in acrobatics, pick pocking, stealth, and any form of physical subterfuge.
Intelligence (INT): The Intelligence attribute determines the person's overall ability to think and understand, it also determines memory and learning speed. This attribute affects the overall size of one's Chakra Pool (CP).
1 INT = 20 MP
Wisdom (WIS): The wisdom attribute determines the person's common sense, perception, and overall control of their Chakra. It also affects the user's ability to implement their knowledge gained through study and experience. Wisdom plays an important role in the effectiveness of Genjutsu and seeing through deceptions.
1 WIS = .5% MP REGEN.
Luck (LUK): The Luck attribute determines the person's overall chance. Luck is unique compared to all the other attributes as it is capable of influencing anything from finding or looting random items, winning money while gambling, to encounters both in and out of combat.
My stomach growled at me in a low roar, I hadn't eaten since lunch at the academy yesterday. It's little wonder why I would be so hungry really. I was used to eating only one or twice a day, but seeing that "malnourished" status effect on my status window had me a bit worried. It did at least explained why I was one of the shorter of the kids in the class. Not as short as some, but still probably well below where I should be.
I made my way to my small refrigerator and rummaged around for something edible. I was quickly disappointed, it looks like I hadn't thought to go shopping for a while. I was going to have to pick up groceries today.
"I need some air anyway."
I grabbed my wallet off of the counter and made my way out of the apartment building. When I exited off to the street I noticed that Chika wasn't around, it was still too early in the morning for her to be out working so I suppose it's not exactly surprising. I made my way up the street, bars might be good for gambling, but they wouldn't be my first choice for a meal.
The Industrial district was for the most part still quiet on the weekend mornings, though it made up for the lack of activity in spades once the sun went down. The Residential district was much the same so far, some kids playing out in front of houses and the echo of families just starting their morning routines.
It took almost an hour at a comfortable pace for me to cross the two districts and finally get to the commercial district, there was more life to this part of Konoha as shop keeps had already opened their stores for when customers started filling in.
"Get out of here brat, you know you're not welcome here!"
I look toward the sound of the screaming, I was greeted by a familiar picture as Naruko quickly came tumbling out of the tent flap of some small convenience store. Her bright orange jumpsuit a blur as she rolled and ended up face first in the dirt.
"Just you wait you bastard, I'm going to be an awesome ninja and then you'll be sorry!" Naruto quickly picked herself up and dusted off what dirt she could. I had seen a similar sight before, Naruko getting thrown out of different stores happened several times a week. Why she kept trying even though they wouldn't let her in I would never understand.
"Naruko, you alright?"
I seemed to have startled her as he turned on me quickly with a semi shocked expression on her face, it quickly settled into a frown as she seemed to recognize my face.
"You're in my class right… it's…."
"Mitsuru Takehiko, and yes I am in Iruka-sensei's class." I guess I shouldn't be surprised she didn't remember my name, between my habit of sleeping through class and the fact that I didn't make much effort to socialize with the others in my class, it was only naturally that I didn't make much of an impression.
"What was all that about?" I had known about her habit of getting kicked out of places, but I had never really felt the need to ask why.
I guess it was just my day for out of the ordinary.
"I was trying to restock my ramen, but the bastard saw me walk in and tossed me out before I could even try and shop."
She seemed to be fuming, her face flushed in anger and what I could guess was also some shame at having been seen getting tossed around.
Through continuous observation of your surroundings, a skill "Observe" was created.
[Observe (Active) Lv1 EXP: 0%]
A skill to find out a target's information, more information is revealed as this skill increases in level.
Not what I was expecting, but at least this looks useful. It took me a few seconds to try and figure out how to use it, if it was anything like jutsu then calling the technique's name made it easier to use.
"Observe" I mumbled the word softly and was greeted by an opening window in front of me.
Name: Naruko Uzumaki
Level: 12
HP: 600
CP: 30000
I felt my heart sputter in apprehension; I had just opened a window in fort on someone else. I waited several moments for Naruko to scream or make some kind of reaction to the appearing window. As luck would have it, it seemed I was the only one that could see the windows, because she just looked at me, expecting some kind of response to his admission.
"You were trying to get ramen at a convenience store, wouldn't a grocery store be better for that?" It was an honest question, it would cost her at least double for food at a place like this. Though mostly, I just wanted her to focus on anything other than my reaction. Her stats were insane, who had that much chakra? Sure she's like eleven levels above me, but thirty thousand was just insane.
"They don't let me shop their either."
Ah, I probably shouldn't have asked. She was staring down at her feet as muttered the answer between clenched teeth, I could see the effort she was putting into not flushing in shame of her own admission.
I sighed lowly as I shook my head, I was used to being treated with dismissal or even sometimes distain by others for being both clan-less and an orphan. What was going on with Naruko though was something altogether different, I had seen the sneers and the hate that poured out of the civilians, and some of the shinobi even, when they saw her. It was always a bizarre sight, Naruko could be annoying yes, she was never not yelling or pranking someone, but annoying behavior couldn't have brought on all of this.
Ping*
A new quest has been created.
The Truth is a Heavy Burden…
Primary Objective: Discover the truth behind Naruko's Treatment
Additional Objective: ?
Additional Objective: ?
Completion Reward: 4000 EXP, ?
Quest Failure: Death or Imprisonment
Accept (Yes/No)
I quickly swiped my finger across the yes button before I got lost in another awkward pause. Wait, did that failure warning say "Death or Imprisonment", just what the hell kind of secret is Naruko hiding?
Hah…it's too late now, I need to be more careful about accepting these things in the future though.
"I was going to grab something to eat, you want to come along?"
She gapped at me for a moment, can't say I blame her, I was a little started at the offer myself. Then again, I was already on my way to eat anyway, and a break from trying to figure this out this mess wouldn't be so bad.
"Sure!"
She was loud, though be Naruko I should've expected that. The large grin currently dominating her face told me she didn't get offers like it very often, I had seen her hang out with Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji during classes. "I wonder if they don't hang out with her outside academy hours."
"I'm sure there is some place around here open."
"To Ichiraku!" Naruko cheered joyously as she began marching up the street. I was tempted to interrupt and ask what "Ichiraku" was, but decided it didn't matter much what they served and simply followed.
The next hour actually wasn't so bad, yeah ramen so early in the morning wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I had to admit it was good. The old man and his daughter that ran the small ramen shop were surprisingly kind to Naruko, joking and interacting with her like she was family. I could understand why she picked here, after what I had seen this morning, I could imagine that people who treated her normally, let alone kindly, were a rarity for her.
I had briefly thought to try and figure out what mystery she was hiding, but I ended up caught up in her pace and all thoughts of digging were forgotten. The three of us ended up laughing along as Naruko went over the tales of her latest pranks, how the local chunin population hadn't hunted her down in revenge I had no idea. Though if Naruko is to be believed, they kept trying, but could never manage to catch her.
I had finished my serving a while ago, but Naruko somehow managed to devour six bowls and was now waiting on her seventh. This was either impressive or horrifying, and I couldn't make up my mind as to which.
I shook my head in amusement as I stood and pulled out a hundred ryo note and put on the counter. "I'll see later Naruko, try not to explode."
"Ha, see at class Mitsuru!"
I laugh a bit as Naruko wave's goodbye until the ramen is placed in front of her and all thoughts of my departure seem to get swept away.
I started off toward my old orphanage, as much as all of this felt like insanity, I still wanted to follow it through. A "quest" to find out about my parents sounded ridiculous, but if there was anywhere to start it was probably there.
"With any luck the old bat won't be in today."
I could handle the two younger women that worked for her, but the old bat herself had never had much patience for any of the children. Though why someone who hates children is allowed to run one of the cities orphanages is beyond me. She was never physically violent at least, I had heard from some of the other kids that got transferred from different orphanages that it could have been much worse, at least the old bat restrained herself to yelling and insults.
When I got to the door of the old worn down building I almost lost to the urge to simply walk away, I had never wanted to step foot into this place again. I needed information though, and there was no were else to start.
I pushed the heavy metal door open as I walked in, the bell attached to the door jingling to announce a visitor. The sound used to make all the smaller kids run to see who it was, after a while though they always stopped. This wasn't a place for happy memories.
"Mitsuru-kun, is that you?"
I looked to see a young women walking in through one of the side doors of the orphanage's small front office.
"Hello Nishi-neechan, it been a while."
I did my best to smile for her, she and her sister Kayo had been all that kept many of us here sane. They were warm and caring in contrast to the old bats hate and venom, they were the only thing about this place I could admit to missing.
She gave me a warm smile as she walked over hugged me, not the welcome I had expected, but I could hardly complain. The scent of fresh earth and caramel surrounded me and I had to fight the urge to lean into the hug and sigh contently. Nishi and Kayo been like old sisters to the children my age, and they'll likely feel like parents to the kids growing up here now.
I had been seven when they started working here at little more the seventeen, and after six years of constantly caring for the children here, I was impressed they had remained. I released my hold and stepped back from her, she still had the same kind yellow eyes, the light brown hair the same shade of the caramel she always smelled of.
"How have you been Mitsuru-kun? What are you doing back? Did something happen at the academy?"
I smiled again at her rapidly fired questions, she always had worried too much. "Everything is fine Nishi-neechan, I just came back because I had some questions."
She watches me for a long moment, seemingly weighing whether I was trying to slip something by her or not. Eventually she just sighed and shook her head with a small smile.
"Well whatever the reason, I'm you glad dropped by. I had hoped to check on you eventually, it must have been a big transition, living on your own after having spent so many years here." She ran her hands through my hair affectionately, trying to smooth out whatever she had jostled out of place earlier.
"I'm doing fine Nishi-neechan, you don't have to worry about me."
She hummed at me, obviously disregarding my attempts to put her worries to rest. "So what was it you needed to ask Mitsuru-kun? You're not having girl problems already are you?"
"No!" My face heated up as I remembered a small detail I had forgotten, while Kayo was always serious, Nishi could never let the chance for some good natured teasing slip by.
"I wanted to ask some questions about my parents."
Her teasing smile quickly faded, replaced by a look of both sympathy and sadness. If it was anyone else I would have gotten defensive, but I knew she cared for us to much not to share in the hurts that many that passed through this place carried.
"Come with me."
She motioned for me to follow her as made her way into the orphanages small back office. She moved to one of the filing cabinets and pulled out the drawer marked with the letter "T". Nishi ruffled through the various folders until finally pulling out one from the back.
"Here we go" she muttered more to herself than me before opening the file and starting to read. "I'm sorry Mitsuru-kun, but there isn't much here other than a cause of death and a small description of finding you."
"Anything is better than nothing" I shrugged as I tried to alleviate her worries. I did notice that she had said "cause of death", which at least told me they hadn't just dropped me off on the orphanage's doorstep and walked away.
Nishi smiled slightly for me, "It says here your parents were both casualties of the Kyubi attack, it says here that they weren't citizens of Konoha, but fought the beast during the attack regardless. They must have been very brave."
Her last words said softly, wanting to give me what comfort she could while letting me deal with hearing the new information. It had been brave, the stories the retired veterans told at the bars I had to occasionally venture in spoke of the horrors that night after one to many drinks.
"I'd rather they were living as cowards, than brave and buried." I had almost said it allowed, but I knew going over this with me was hard for Nishi-nee, and I didn't want to burden her today any more than I already was.
"Does it mention their names?"
"I'm sorry Mitsuru-kun, but it says they were never able to identify them. The only reason we now they were your parents is because the owner of the inn they had been stating in found you the next morning alone and crying. If the inn keeper hadn't remembered them coming in with you I wouldn't be able to tell you this much. The file says you were about two months old at the time, the people in change of the sorting the orphaned gave you your last name Takehiko, and your name Mitsuru was sown into your clothes."
When she closed the folder and placed it back into the cabinet I felt my mouth go dry and my throat constrict. There be something more, surely this couldn't be everything.
"Is that all?"
I flinched at the sound of my own voice, I hadn't meant to sound that desperate. I was though, I had spent most of my life trying not to care, and now that I did there was nothing but a sad story to carry away from it.
"Wait here for a minute" She touched my shoulder and gave gentle squeeze to try and reassure me. Honestly though, she hadn't needed to ask. I don't think I could've gotten up and left right now even if I had wanted to. I was lost in my own world before I heard the sound of light steps behind me as Nishi re-entered the room.
She stood next to me and smiled lightly, reaching out and taking ahold of my hand, she upturned it and placed a single scroll into my hand.
"You weren't supposed to get this until you were old enough to be considered of age or a genin, but seeing as how you're living on your own now, I don't see why you can't get it just a bit early." She must have seen the look of confusion on my ace, because she started running her hands through my hair again in a soothing fashion. "It's a small storage scroll, it should open if you put a bit of your blood on the seal and then run some chakra into it. The scroll has whatever possessions your parents carried on their person when they passed."
I sat their staring at the scroll like it was the key to some great treasure. "Would it have all of my answers? Would there be nothing in it but bloodied clothes and just whatever was in their pockets? Would it tell me their names at least, maybe a picture…"
I stared unraveling the scroll when Nishi stopped me, "You should do this at home Mitsuru-kun"
She was right, my hands were shaking and my breathing was rapid, not to mention I was nearly drenched in a cold sweat. I placed the scroll in my pocket and stood, I was about say goodbye when she pulled me into a tight hug. Emotional moments like this were rare for me, I had learned a long time ago not to let others see when I was hurting, but right now I needed the contact.
"Thank you, Nishi-neechan"
My voice couldn't have been more than a whisper, but the "Hmm" I got in return let me know she knew I meant it. She pulled back from hug and wiped a stray tear from her eyes before clearing her throat and putting back on her wide grin.
"Now I have to get back to the rest of the little ones, but this time you don't be a stranger, you understand?" I nodded in agreement before we walk out back to the reception area, she placed a light kiss on the top of my head and then made the motion with her hands of shooing me out. I couldn't but laugh as I waved her good bye and made my way back onto street outside, the sun had already made it pass over the midday point, I had to have been in their a lot longer than I though. It must have been when she went to get the scroll, how long was I sitting there in a daze exactly?
The journey back to my apartment was a slow one, my feet dragged and my mind was never able to focus on anything farther than the scroll burning a hole in my pocket. I barely recognized my apartment building as I almost walked by it, the climb up the flights of stairs had me struggling to pay enough attention to avoid a bad fall.
I walked into my apartment and locked the door behind me, kicking off my cheap sandals I hurried over to my couch. Pulled out the scroll and quickly unwound it, stretching its length over my small coffee table.
I put my thumb between my teeth and bit down, normally I would probably have winced from the sudden sharp pain, but my mind was already racing too far ahead of my actions to even acknowledge it. I spread the small trickle of blood over the seal and slammed my hands down on both sides of the seals scrollwork and pushed my chakra out into the seal. It glowed only for a moment and then I was enveloped in a small plume of smoke.
I swept my hand through the air to force it to dissipate, and then I saw what was lying out on my table. The possessions weren't much, but I was mesmerized that they were there at all.
Strewn out along the table was a few pieces of jewelry, a wallet, and what looked to be a small folded piece of paper.
I picked up the piece of paper first, my file had said they died defending against the Kyubi, so I doubt they'd have had time to write a note or leave a letter behind.
I was write unfortunately, the small piece of paper had only a few words written on it, but it left me feeling more alone and empty than I had in years.
"Konoha Cemetery, lot 209, tombstones 53 and 54."
"So that was my answer then, a set of tombstones."
I placed the paper down on the table and reached for the wallet, my emotions were so frayed by now that I suppose it would have been smarter to wait until I calmed down. I wanted to continue though, I waited thirteen years for answers, I didn't have it left in me to wait any longer.
The wallet was rectangular and made of worn black leather, I opened it to see that most of the pocket and slots were empty. There were still four thousand ryo in it so I know the shinobi who collected their remains hadn't scavenged them over. I had almost set the wallet back down, money was hardly my concern right now, but then I notices a small bit of color pocking out of one of the wallets slots.
I pulled it gently and smiled through my rapidly blurring sight, the image of two people with brilliant smiles staring back at me. A small picture, really no bigger than my balm, but I held onto it like was the most precious thing I had held, and it truly was.
My parents stood together smiling at whoever was taking the photo, my mother, a woman in a white and red kimono with deep brown hair, but my colored eyes, sat while holding a new born me in her arms. My father stood next to her, his smile bright and friendly, his golden hair hung to his shoulders, his clothes, that of an off duty soldier and his forest green eyes sparkled in excitement.
I was glad I was alone in my apartment, because there would have been no way to fight off these tears. The family I should have had stared back at me as I cried for everything that should have been, I cried for a family I'd never know, I cried for all the days and nights spent alone, and I cried because for those long hours that followed, there was nothing, but myself and the thirteen years of grief I could no longer hope to out run.