Chapter 21: The Glasses of Invisibility and the Sand Defense Glitch part-1
I walked toward the exit. Anko was standing by the door, eyeing the candidates.
"You there," Anko pointed at me. "The Hyuga girl. You look like you're about to faint. Toughen up, or the forest will eat you alive."
"Y-Yes, Ma'am!" I said, snapping to attention.
I saluted.
But because I was still wearing the Indestructible Leotard which was slightly too tight, raising my arm rapidly caused a static charge to build up against my jacket.
As I lowered my arm, my hand brushed against a metal filing cabinet next to the door.
ZAP.
A massive spark of static electricity discharged.
"Ouch!" I jumped back.
I bumped into Anko.
Anko, who was leaning casually against the doorframe, lost her balance. She fell forward.
I fell backward.
Anko landed on top of me.
But Anko was holding a dango stick (a sweet dumpling skewer).
As she fell, the sticky, syrupy dango stick flew out of her hand.
It slapped directly onto my forehead, sticking there like a unicorn horn.
Anko stared at me, lying beneath her. She looked at the dango on my forehead. She looked at the syrup dripping down my nose.
"Well," Anko grinned, a predatory glint in her eyes. "You are sweet, kid. I might eat you first."
[Ding!]
[Critical Hit: "The Dango Unicorn." You have been pinned by the Special Jonin.]
[Reward: 500 Shy Points.]
[Note: The Indestructible Leotard held firm. Money well spent.]
"I am sorry!" I wailed, the dango bobbing on my forehead as I spoke.
"Interesting team," Anko laughed, standing up and pulling me up by my collar. "Get to the training ground. Don't die."
She slapped my butt. Hard.
"Go!"
I squeaked and bolted out of the room, peeling the dumpling off my face.
The First Exam was over. I had survived Ibiki. I had survived the chair. I had survived Anko.
But now... now came the Forest.
I looked at my System panel as I ran.
[Current Shy Points: 6,400]
[Shop Alert: New Items Available for Survival.]
Item: The Anti-Snake Repellent (Smells like lemons). Cost: 500.Skill: "Tree Hugger." (You can blend into trees, but you might get stuck). Cost: 2,000.Item: The "Notice Me Not" Glasses. (Makes you look like a background character). Cost: 5,000.
I needed those glasses. I needed them so bad.
But first, I had to survive the night.
............…
Name: Hinata HyugaShy Points: 6,400.Equipment: Indestructible Leotard, Sticky Dango Residue.Reputation: The Girl Who Unraveled Dosu, The Chair Destroyer, Anko's Snack.Pass Status: Phase One Complete.
............
The fence surrounding Training Ground 44 was locked with heavy chains. A sign with the words "Danger: Do Not Enter" hung crookedly on the gate. The forest beyond was dark, humid, and smelled like rotting vegetation and fear.
Anko Mitarashi stood before us, holding a stack of consent forms.
"Alright, maggots!" she shouted, grinning maniacally. "Sign these forms. If you die in there, I don't want the paperwork coming back to me. Now, hand over your scrolls."
Team Eight had been given a Heaven Scroll. We needed an Earth Scroll to pass.
I stood at the back of the group, my hand shaking as I signed my name.
(I am going to die. A giant snake is going to eat me, and I will be digested slowly over a period of weeks. It will be very embarrassing.)
[System Notification: Host Anxiety at Critical Levels. Suggestion: Retail Therapy.]
I remembered the shop. I had 6,400 Shy Points. I needed a miracle.
"System," I thought desperately. "Buy the 'Notice Me Not' Glasses. Now."
[Transaction Complete. Cost: 5,000 Points. Remaining Balance: 1,400 Points.]
[Item: "The Mob Character Glasses" equipped. Effect: Reduces your 'Main Character Presence' by 90%. People will instinctively ignore you, talk over you, and assume you are part of the scenery. Warning: Does not work on predators who hunt by scent.]
A pair of thick, black-rimmed glasses materialized in my hand. They looked incredibly plain. I put them on.
The world didn't change, but the feeling was instantaneous. I felt... faded. Like I was a watercolor painting left out in the rain.
"Alright, Team Eight!" Kiba shouted, slapping his fist into his palm. "Let's—"
He stopped. He looked left. He looked right. He looked directly at me.
"Wait, where is Hinata?" Kiba asked.
I waved my hand. "I am right here, Kiba-kun."
Kiba blinked. His eyes slid right off me as if I were a lamp post. "Weird. I can smell her, but I can't see her. Shino, did she run off?"
Shino adjusted his own sunglasses. "Illogical. Her chakra signature is present. Yet, my eyes refuse to acknowledge her location. She has achieved perfect camouflage."
"I am right here!" I said louder, poking Kiba's arm.
"Whoa!" Kiba jumped. "Did a ghost just poke me?"
(It works! It actually works! I am invisible!)
"Okay, let's go!" Kiba yelled, running into the forest. "Akamaru, track the Earth Scroll!"
I ran after them, adjusting my new glasses. For the first time in my life, I felt safe. If no one could see me, no one could look at me. And if no one looked at me, I couldn't be embarrassed.
............….
The Forest of Death lived up to its name. The trees were massive, blocking out the sun. The roots were the size of houses.
We moved silently (well, Kiba and Shino did; I tripped over a fern but no one noticed because of the glasses).
"Hold up," Kiba whispered, crouching on a thick branch. "I smell blood. And... sand."
We looked down into a clearing below.
Three ninja stood there. They wore the headbands of the Hidden Sand Village. One had a fan. One had face paint and a puppet. And the third...
The third was a boy with red hair, dark circles around his eyes, and a massive gourd on his back. Gaara.
At his feet lay three Rain Ninja. They were not moving.
"That guy..." Kiba whispered, sweat forming on his brow. "He is dangerous. Akamaru is shaking."
.....
You can read the advanced chapters of all my novels at patreon for only 2.99$/ month at ultimate patreon tier
https://www.patreon.com/c/Vidhifate
....