Night settled over the Land of Waves.
The mist hung low across the wooden walkways, and lanterns flickered faintly along the shoreline.
Team 7 stumbled back toward Tazuna's house after hours of training.
Naruto's clothes were dirty.
Sakura's hair was a mess.
Sasuke looked irritated but focused.
Behind them, Kakashi walked calmly like he'd done absolutely nothing all day.
Naruto pushed the door open.
"I'm dead."
Sakura collapsed onto the floor.
"My legs don't work anymore."
Sasuke leaned against the wall silently, breathing slightly heavier than usual.
Tsunami peeked into the room from the kitchen.
"Oh my! You three look exhausted."
Naruto groaned.
"Trees are evil."
Sakura nodded weakly.
"Agreed."
Sasuke sat quietly, arms crossed.
But there was a faint sense of accomplishment in the room.
Sakura could now climb up any tree with no worry of falling.
Sasuke had managed to breach the first layer of leaf bearing branches.
Naruto had spent most of the day shouting advice like a self-proclaimed tree-walking expert.
From the corner of the room—
A small voice scoffed.
"Pathetic."
Everyone looked over.
Inari stood near the doorway, arms crossed tightly.
"You're supposed to be ninja."
Naruto blinked.
"…We are."
Inari shook his head.
"Real ninja are strong."
His eyes narrowed.
"You guys are just playing around."
Sakura frowned.
"That's not true."
But Inari continued.
"You'll just die if that swordsman comes back."
Silence fell over the room.
Naruto stared at him for a moment.
Inari's voice trembled slightly.
"Everyone who tries to fight just gets killed anyway."
Naruto stood up slowly.
The Shinobi Codex flickered faintly beside him.
Charitable Aura Buff Active
+3 Charisma when interacting with the less fortunate.
Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"…You're scared."
Inari froze.
Naruto walked over and crouched down so they were eye level.
"Look, I get it."
Inari's fists clenched.
"You don't know anything!"
Naruto shrugged.
"Maybe not."
He gestured toward the dark village outside.
"But I know what happens if nobody fights back."
The room stayed quiet.
Naruto's voice softened a little.
"If everyone gives up, the bad guys win forever."
Inari looked away.
"That's stupid."
Naruto shook his head.
"No."
"It's reality."
He stood up and stretched tiredly.
"Being scared doesn't mean you stop trying."
Naruto pointed lazily out the window in the direction of Tazuna's bridge.
"It just means you've got something worth protecting."
The Shinobi Codex chimed softly.
Charisma Check Passed
+1 Charisma
Reputation Change
Naruto → Inari
Hostile → Conflicted
A hidden technique is in the making, surpass 50 Charisma to fully utilize!
Naruto brushed off the notification, the heavy talk left him in a somewhat introspective mood.
Inari didn't say anything.
He just stared at the floor.
Naruto yawned loudly and started walking toward the stairs.
As he passed Kakashi he muttered under his breath—
"…Kid's got more emotional baggage than my ramen budget."
Kakashi snorted quietly.
Naruto stretched again and headed upstairs.
"Anyway I'm going to sleep before another tree tries to murder me."
Behind him—
Inari stood silently in the middle of the room.
Thinking.
For the first time in a long while.
Naruto Current Stats:
Name: Naruto Uzumaki
Village: Konohagakure
Rank: Rookie Genin
Stats
Strength: 12
Agility: 13
Endurance: 16
Intelligence: 11
Charisma: 12 (+3 96 hours)
Luck: 6
System Points: 60
Inventoryxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2 explosive tags
1 Flash bomb
2 Smoke pellets
7 Gravity Seals-Prototype
Skillsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inspect – LVL 2 (3/20)
Trap Making – LVL 3 (25/30)
Academy Taijutsu – LVL 3 (1/30)
Shadow Clone Jutsu – LVL 3 (1/30)
Shadow Shuriken Jutsu LVL 3 (2/30)
Tree walking LVL 3 (10/30)
Achievementsxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
First Gamble (+1 Luck)
Poison Resistance - Grants a minor resistance to poisons
Available Purchases:
Small Stat Boost (1 point) – 10 Points
Skill Experience Pack (Small) – 15 Points
Basic Chakra Control Training – 30 Points
Random Ninja Tool Pack – 20 Points
Elemental Affinities - Varies
Locked Items:
Advanced Chakra Control
Skill Evolution Stones
Bloodline Awakening Fragments
Lottery Systemxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost Per Roll: 10 System Points
Possible Rewards:
Common – 70% Rare – 25% Legendary – 5%
Possible Items Include:
Stat Boosts
Skill Scrolls
Ninja Tools
Consumables
Mysterious Rewards