He woke up with a jolt, the sunlight streaming through the window, an immediate sense of alarm replaced by a profound surprise.
He looked down at his arms, expecting to see raw, bandaged wounds, but instead, the skin beneath the pristine bandages was completely healed.
Not just mending, but miraculously cleared, as if the injuries had never existed. A wave of shock washed over him.
It seemed the small Doctor's Kit gadget was far more miraculous than he had initially assumed, surpassing the capabilities of any ordinary medical treatment. His injury vanished in a week.
As the realisation settled, he immediately brought up his status system, the holographic interface shimmering into existence before his eyes.
\-----STATUS\-----
Name: Ishiki
Age: 12
Chakra: 66/66
Strength: 33
Ninjutsu:
Shadow Clone (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu): Intermediate
Transformation (Henge no Jutsu): Beginner
Body Replacement (Kawarimi no Jutsu): Intermediate
Taijutsu: Intermediate
Genjutsu: None
Elemental Affinity: None
\
The sight of his updated stats brought a satisfied smile to his face. Both his Chakra reserve and his raw Strength had increased astonishingly, a clear benefit from the intense training and the near-fatal battle with the Sarutobi clan ninjas.
His mind, ever-churning with ways to optimise his limited arsenal, immediately moved to his newest acquisitions.
He took out the Infinity Lasso, a length of gleaming, red rope that felt impossibly light yet durable in his hand. Pouring a controlled stream of chakra into it, he felt the rope subtly hum.
The power system within the lasso was simple yet effective: the length of the rope could be increased by the amount of chakra he poured into it, and once extended, he could control its movement and tension with his thoughts alone.
He spent a brief while familiarizing himself with its feel, playing with its impossible flexibility and sharp control. The practice was not simply for leisure; he was immediately implementing a revolutionary idea that had sparked in his mind the previous day.
Next, he took out Denkomaru, the razor-sharp, flying chakram. He carefully, yet firmly, tied the handle of the Denkomaru to the end of the Infinity Lasso.
He stepped out the back door of his small house. There, at the edge of the small yard, lay a massive, stubborn boulder, a natural test subject.
With the lasso now acting as a tether, he controlled the Denkomaru, sending it slicing toward the rock.
The lasso allowed him to operate the Denkomaru at much longer distances and with superior precision than before, keeping the deadly weapon constantly linked to his will.
To further test the setup, he gathered several stones from the ground and flung them high into the air. Just as the stones began their descent, threatening to fall near him, the Denkomaru, guided by the controlled tension of the lasso and his mental command, zipped out and sliced the stones mid-air with surgical precision.
A genuine, wide smile spread across Ishiki's face. With the Denkomaru + Infinity Lasso Combo, he had created an unprecedented weapon: a fully automatic, chakra-powered defense and attacking system that offered range, precision, and relentless speed.
He then began a thoughtful review of his other gadgets, looking for further combinations or ideas.
He noticed both the Reverse Cloak and Concentrated Food gadget icons were now displayed in a light gray color with a 'recall' option hovering next to them. He instantly remembered why.
Both of those gadgets were still in the possession of his allies: the Reverse Cloak was with Madara, and the Concentrated Food was with Hashirama.
After a moment of consideration, he decided against recalling them. He found the gadgets he currently possessed to be more immediately useful.
The Denkomaru + Lasso Combo was a formidable offensive and defensive tool, and the Doctor's Kit offered quick recovery, not just from injuries but also with pills that could easily restore chakra and potentially others that could strengthen his physique over time.
He determined they were safer and more useful to his friends for the time being.
Mid-thought, a loud, undeniable growl echoed in the quiet room. He was hungry. The rigorous training and use of his system had clearly depleted his body's reserves.
His immediate plan was to find something to eat in the market first, and then proceed to the designated meeting point to see if Madara and Hashirama would show up.
Deep down, he suspected they wouldn't come as a week passed, he didn't meet them till; the fallout from the Sarutobi attack was likely keeping them preoccupied, but he resolved to wait regardless.
As soon as he stepped onto the quiet streets of the small village, he was met with an outpouring of gratitude. Villagers smiled, waved, and greeted him warmly. Several families approached him, offering him what little food they had.
He refused multiple times, knowing their stores were meagre, but they insisted with such sincerity and profound gratitude that he eventually had to accept their gifts.
Then, the Village Chief himself approached Ishiki. With a deep bow, the Chief invited him to his own home.
Upon entering the Chief's house, a small, yet beautifully prepared meal was set before him. Ishiki looked at the Chief and refused, explaining that the villagers had already given him more than enough, even though he had initially refused their generosity.
The Chief smiled, a look of profound pride and relief in his eyes. "They are showing their gratitude, young Ishiki," the Chief said gently. "You are the hero of this village now. They see you as their protector."
A deep, warm sense of duty and affection rose in Ishiki's heart.
The Chief's expression then softened, weighted with responsibility. "You are still a child, Ishiki," he sighed. "I hope you don't feel burdened by this duty they have placed upon you."
Ishiki met his gaze with unflinching seriousness. "The village has shown me too much love and kindness," he stated firmly. "It is my duty to repay that. It is not a burden."
The Chief smiled, a helpless, accepting look. "Very well," he said. "Then from now on, come to my house for food every single day. I insist."
Ishiki immediately refused, but the Chief pressed the matter.
"Chief," Ishiki said,
"you are like my own grandson. Don't refuse this old man's request."
Trapped by the Chief's sincere kindness, Ishiki reluctantly agreed.
The Chief then became serious, his gaze sharp. "Now, Ishiki," he asked, "What do you think our village should do next? How should we proceed?"
Ishiki looked at him, his expression one of confident calm. "My two friends will not forget their promise," he said. "Do not worry about the Sarutobi clan for now." The Chief let out a visible breath of relief.
Ishiki continued, his voice taking on a tone of future planning. "Still, we need to strengthen ourselves. Chief, my dream is to build a true village here. A place where everyone lives peacefully, side-by-side, the ninjas and the regular villagers."
The Chief looked at him in profound shock, as if the boy had voiced an impossible, fantastical dream.