[ Location: Land of Fire - Forest Encampment ][ Date: Day 1 of 5 - Morning ]
The sun sliced through the canopy, hitting my face.
I groaned, rolling over on the Silk Pillow I had transfigured from a log last night. My back didn't hurt (thank you, magic), but my dignity was still recovering from sleeping outside.
"Wake up, civilian," a lazy voice called out.
I opened one eye. Shikamaru was standing upside down on the underside of a thick branch, twenty feet in the air. He looked bored.
"Show off," I muttered, sitting up and brushing leaves off my charcoal suit. "Is that the lesson?"
"Chakra control," Shikamaru said, dropping to the ground silently. "You said you wanted to learn and the deal was snacks for skills."
He eyed the empty wrapper of the King-Size Snickers bar on the ground.
"I have more," I promised, standing up. "So, how does it work? Is it magnets? Static electricity?"
"It's balance," Shikamaru sighed. "You have too much spiritual energy. I can feel it. It's... loud. But your physical energy is lagging. You need to mix them and mold them."
He walked to a tree.
"Focus energy to the soles of your feet. Too little, you slip and if its Too much, you blast the bark off."
'System. Observe.'
[ Target: Shikamaru Nara ][ Skill: Tree Walking (Mastered). ][ Analysis: Precise Chakra regulation. 50% Yin / 50% Yang ratio. ]
'Okay. My problem is I'm running on 90% Spirit (Yin) because of my Telekinesis. I need to ground it.'
I walked to the tree.
I took a deep breath.
'Don't use Telekinesis. Only use the core.'
I focused on my feet.
I tried to push the warm hum of my energy Core down to my soles.
I stepped onto the trunk.
CRACK.
The bark exploded.
I flew backward, landing on my butt.
"Too much," Shikamaru deadpanned. "You're trying to punch the tree with your feet."
"I have issues with moderation," I grumbled, standing up.
We spent the next hour grinding.
Attempt 2: I slid off.
Attempt 5: I stuck for two seconds, then fell.
Attempt 12: I walked three steps up.
[ System Notice: Energy Control Proficiency Unlocked. ][ Current Mastery: Level 1 (5%) ]
[ Effect: Psionic Strain reduced by 2%. ]
"It's working," I whispered, hanging upside down from a low branch, my face red. "I can feel the pressure in my head easing off."
"Good," Shikamaru said, leaning against the tree. "Because we have company."
I dropped to the ground instantly. "Hostiles?"
"Allies," Shikamaru said, looking into the dense brush. "Troublesome ones."
The bushes rustled.
Three figures emerged.
Temari. Giant fan on her back. Blonde. Scary.
Kankuro. Face paint. Puppet on his back. Creepy.
Gaara. Red hair. Gourd. Radiating pure, unadulterated "Do Not Touch Me" energy.
'The Sand Siblings. They must be heading back to Suna after saving the other teams.'
Temari stopped. She looked at Shikamaru (injured but standing).
Then she looked at me.
Her eyes swept over my dirty suit, my messy hair, and my lack of a headband.
"Who is the dandy?" Temari asked, hand drifting to her fan.
"Civilian," Shikamaru said smoothly. "Found him wandering near the border. Merchant's son. Got separated from his caravan during the Sound Four attack."
'Showtime.'
I straightened my tie. I put on my best "Clueless Rich Kid" face.
I bowed slightly. "I am Vivan Frostwell and I am from further east from small village. work is Export/Import. I was looking for... rare herbs. Before the demon ninjas showed up."
Kankuro snorted. "He looks like he's never stepped on dirt in his life."
"I haven't," I lied. "This forest is dreadful and the spiders are the size of ramen plates."
Gaara looked at me. His eyes were sea-green and dead.
'System. Observe.'
[ Target: Gaara of the Desert ][ Spirit: ??? (Interference Detected: Tailed Beast). ][ Threat Level: SMALL CALAMITY. (In This World)]
'Don't look him in the eye.'
"We're escorting him to Konoha," Shikamaru said. "Standard protocol."
"Fine," Temari shrugged. "We're heading that way. Try to keep up, Civilian. If you fall behind, we leave you."
"I am an excellent walker," I said, suppressing the urge to levitate myself.
[ Scene: The Trek ][ Time: Late Afternoon ]
We walked. For hours.
Ninja move fast and even walking, they set a pace that was basically a jog.
I was sweating and my suit was sticking to me.
'I could use Telekinesis to push myself and also I could use a Potion.'
'But No , I have to Grind the stats and Increase the Natural Strength from 28.'
"You're keeping up," Kankuro noted, sounding disappointed. "Thought you'd collapse by now."
"I run a lot" I wheezed. "Aggressively."
Shikamaru slowed down slightly to walk beside me. "You okay?"
"Define okay," I whispered. "My feet are bleeding inside these loafers. But I think I figured out the energy rotation."
"Keep it down," Shikamaru warned. "Gaara has good ears."
We reached a clearing.
The trees thinned out.
And there it was.
Konohagakure no Sato.
The Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Massive green gates. The Hokage Rock looming in the distance with four faces carved into the mountain.
It was breathtaking.
[ System Notice: Location Discovered: Konoha. ][ Safe Zone Established. ][ Time Remaining: 4 Days, 2 Hours. ]
"Finally," I sighed. "A Civilization. Do they have showers?"
"Hot springs," Shikamaru said.
"Acceptable."
We approached the gate. The Eternal Gatekeepers, Izumo and Kotetsu, looked up from their boredom.
"Shikamaru!" Izumo said. "You made it back. And... who is this?"
"Civilian rescue," Shikamaru said. "Vivan Frostwell. Needs a temporary pass while we locate his... caravan."
"Right," Kotetsu eyed my suit. "Processing will take an hour. Welcome to Konoha, Mr. Frostwell."
I walked through the gates.
The village was vibrant. Ninjas jumping across roofs. Civilians selling dango. The smell of ramen in the air.
'I have four days in an anime village,' I thought, a grin spreading across my face. 'I am going to learn so much cool stuff.'
I turned to Shikamaru.
"Hey. Where's the library?"
Shikamaru groaned. "You just got here. and you want to read?"
"I want to learn," I corrected. "And then... I want ramen."
"Ichiraku's," Shikamaru nodded. "My treat. Since you saved my life."
"Deal."
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