Chapter 16 Part 1
As I predicted — Naruko's developing frighteningly fast. The moment she put together everything her clones had learned, things immediately took a turn for the better. It almost makes me envious: back at the temple, old man Jumbei secretly called me a genius because in two years I'd mastered nearly everything he gave me in the complex science of self-discovery. Though — I cheated shamelessly. Had almost seven years of practice behind me! Yeah, I was really into yoga back in the day — especially the meditative side. With that kind of knowledge and skill base, fixing gaps and mistakes was dead simple, and theory got backed up by practice fast. Which makes it even more amazing to watch a fourteen-year-old girl just swallow my instructions whole. Sure — the clones make it easier, and Naruko's only learning the part that covers self-control and consciousness. Still. Her growth's been a genuinely pleasant surprise. If I'd set out to teach Uzumaki everything? She'd manage it in three or four years, I'm sure. Compare that to my nine total years — the speed difference would be pretty damn obvious.
Of course, with how busy I've been, I wouldn't say I've neglected my own development. Same as Naruko — I created my own clones to run experiments with chakra and spiritual force. Sometimes I even swapped myself out for regular duties, diving headfirst into research and training. And the most important thing — no question — I'd finally started studying the Scroll. For real. It's a strange thing. Almost mystical. I don't even know what else it's hiding. Why? Well — it's got this weird knowledge-protection system: most of the scroll is sealed. Stays locked until you've mastered what's already available. Only then — by applying a specific sequence — can you go further. Cunning system. Got to admit.
So — studying the ancient text (written in an archaic form of the language, which made it tricky), I wondered, with no small trepidation, what might be waiting further in. Even what I could already access took my breath away. Lost recipes. Semi-mythical medicines and potions. Forgotten Daoist incantations. Ancient amulet-crafting methods. This scroll was practically made for me. I was burning to learn EVERYTHING. Right now — I'd zeroed in on two specific techniques: "Soul Wandering" and "Essence Acceptance."
From the vague descriptions, "Wandering" is something like the spiritual journeys of lamas, powerful shamans, or monks of special enlightenment. Basically: during a deep meditation, your spirit leaves your body and travels independently through different layers of existence. Really unusual technique. Got me seriously excited — who knows? Maybe someday I'll actually see the Spirit World. Just thinking about it gives me chills.
"Acceptance"... reminded me — with cheerful irony — of the shamans from that old show "Shaman King." The user literally takes a mystic spirit into themselves and wields their combined power as if they were a spirit. Wandering interested me because it was weird — and useful for reconnaissance. But Essence Acceptance? That openly promised me a ton of advantages — especially a serious boost in combat effectiveness. Not that I'm rushing into battle. No. But looking at the world soberly — I know perfectly well that sooner or later, I'll have to defend myself. Hit back. I need to be ready for that. And my shinobi skills — from just a couple years of training — won't impress anyone. No illusions there. Best case: I plateau somewhere around strong genin. In that scenario? Acceptance is a gift from the heavens. With this technique, my effectiveness would be limited only by my own endurance — and the spirits that obey me. Right now I've got Hora and Horo, plus a bunch of minor spirits that aren't much use. But soon? I planned to expand my contracts. Get at least a couple of spirits on the level of my twin carps. Ideally — spirits with a useful element. Stone or earth. Air or lightning.
"Though where exactly do you find those?" I thought, frustrated, looking up from my reading. "They're not kodama — you don't just trip over hundreds of them in every forest..."
Speaking of which — gotta visit the forest folk soon. Those little nature spirits are amazing with plants. Before we even left the Village, I'd "ordered" some special herbs from them — stuff that's hard to find even in the Forest of Death. Plus — with my little recipe book suddenly expanding — I'm gonna need a lot of ingredients. Some pretty exotic. Like "Moonlit Purple." After a long library session, I'd figured out the author was being poetic: it's the core of violet lotus flowers. Capricious plant — grows in cooler, wetter climates. Like the regions near the Land of Water. Or the country itself. Thing is — this lotus variety is considered useless. Decoration only. Some people think having such a fragile, finicky plant shows off your status. Your diligence. Your attention to detail. Because the flower really IS that difficult. So difficult they usually assign a dedicated gardener.
And almost nobody knows: at midnight, when the buds open, the lotus drinks in moonlight — stores it in the core and the nearest petals. Gives the center this unique, delicate purple. A faint silvery glow. People just think it's pretty — rich folks love throwing night parties by ponds with these plants.
So — the purple lotus: expensive, beautiful, useless. And suddenly I need a bunch of them. Alchemy's got some interesting recipes that need the lotus core — and more importantly, the moonlight it's absorbed. Example: one component of a unique non-lethal poison. Effect's tied to nighttime — naturally. As long as the moon's shining over the victim? They lose all their strength. Basically — a "weakness" poison that only works during certain hours. Kind of quirky, I'll admit. But even that could be useful. In theory — could really mess up anyone who likes night attacks. Dry the solution? Same poison, just powder form. Could be a solid weapon against nocturnal yokai — and anything else that likes snacking on humans. Also — works as a "punishment" since the effect never stops.
"If only there were someone to punish," I murmured, self-ironic. Same flower's also the main ingredient in the antidote. Nothing else works. Simple. Absolute. So I was really hoping to buy seeds and talk the forest spirits into growing me a dozen flowers. If only for that interesting eye ointment with the curious effect...
Anyway — the Scroll described a ton of "mystical" effects in plants that seemed ordinary at first glance. Plus the basics of alchemical application. About a third of it I already knew — alchemy, even though it's a little "different," barely differs from pharmaceutics. In places they just blend into each other. To my real surprise — from this angle, my "Spiritual Elixir" would actually count as an "alchemical potion," not a "pharmaceutical preparation" — even though a ninja made it using medical chakra. The distinctions here are pretty clear — but they exist.
Man, this is convoluted... Gave me a headache.
But whatever — I'll deal with it later. Figure it out. Right now I was focused on something simpler. More straightforward: Soul Wandering. At its core — a special meditation. Didn't need much. Just personal readiness. Like Naruko — I was trying with everything I had to find that one thread. Pull it — and I'd reach the right state. Can't say it was easy. Describing the sensations was straight-up impossible — too "inexpressible." I spent a huge chunk of every day on this — multiplied by a couple clones. And there was progress — sort of. One of the Kaoru-clones actually felt something. But the sensation was too quick to grab hold of. Didn't work the first time? It'll work the second. Not the second — the third. Not the third — the TENTH! In the end, it's just diligence. Stubbornness. Time. Multiply by four — and results will definitely show up.
Shadow clones — seriously, the cheat of all cheats. I'll never stop singing their praises.
That sensation... felt like a kind of "wind." One that "blows" you out of your own body. Hard to describe it clearer. Like hundreds of tiny threads pulling you smoothly outward — you're moving with them, but somehow standing completely still. Once I felt it — I focused on it entirely. Tried to deepen it. Expand it. It was hard — because the further I went, the more uncomfortable it got. At some point I realized: if I don't take a break from this nonstop marathon of training and meditation? I'm gonna lose my mind.
I needed to switch activities. Unwind. And not just me — Naruko had taken plenty of punishment from my relentless pace. I actually felt guilty about it.
So — with a light heart, I declared the next two days off.
"Banzai! Banzai!!!" Naruko was ecstatic. The last week — I'd been driving her and her clones under that waterfall nonstop. Her progress was insane — but she was genuinely exhausted. No surprise she's practically bouncing in place, spraying water from her wet hair.
Damn. I feel terrible.
"I was maybe too hard on you lately. I'm sorry." I bowed my head to her.
"Oh?! It's all good, all good!" Naruko chirped, clapping my shoulder, her smile blinding. "Koru-chan — you tried so hard for me! I'm super grateful! I don't mind you being strict in training! So be strict with me, heh-heh! Oh — but not TOO strict, okay?! I mean — it's not like I'm a total slacker, but you don't need to go super-duper harsh, right?.. Like — don't poke me with that stick... okay?.."
"Pf... No way. I'll be strict, severe, and just!" I grinned, watching Naruko fidget.
"Mmoouu! That's not what I meant! Bakoru!"
"Too late — you already said it! Way too late, Naruko!" Looking at her with those puffed-out cheeks — I can't hold back the laugh. I patted her head — she squeezed her eyes shut — and I delightedly ruffled her wet hair.
"Mmoou — quit laughing at me!" she protested, trying to shake my hand off. "I'm all wet — stop it. Come ON!.."
"Oh — sorry, sorry. It's beyond my control." Smiling, I spread my hands guiltily. "When you pout like that — you look absolutely criminally cute! Just wait — another couple years, and you'll be a real menace to guys!"
"Boo!.. As if!.. That's nonsense!.." She blushed, mumbling. To hide it, she messed up her own hair — face vanishing behind a curtain of gold. But I could tell — the compliment landed. "And anyway... I don't need boys... just... S-Sakurai... kun... yeah..."
"Fine — I take it back! You're not cute. Not even a little." I kept my voice cheerful, watching her blue eyes go from surprise to outrage.
"Not true! I'm VERY cute!!! Kaoru no baka! Hmph!" She turned away, sulking — broadcasting maximum displeasure.
Heh — teasing her is way too fun!
"Okay — quit pouting before you pop by accident. I was joking." I surrendered — couldn't hold out against the sight of "the sulking little golden sparrow, most extraordinary." "Seriously — I'm really impressed with your progress, Naruko-chan! Those results — in that little time... I'm genuinely impressed. Even a little jealous."
"Ha — of course! For I am the future Fifth Hokage, Uzumaki Naruko-sama!" Offense instantly forgotten. She assumed full Proud Mode. And then: "Praise me!"
"Yes. Yes. You're a very clever girl, Naruko." Am I gonna be stingy with a little ego-stroking? Especially after how hard she's worked?
"Heh-heh-heh! More praise!" She glowed. "Praise me harder!"
"This girl... she's impossible," I thought, marveling.
"Clever girl! Naruko-chan's a true clever girl!" I kept the praise flowing, hand on her conveniently offered head. Weird — no protests this time. She even started squinting happily! Stroking her hair — I caught myself thinking: Huh. Lately — I've had a LOT of physical contact with Naruko. In local society, contact between men and women — if not exactly intimate — is at least... delicate. And the funny thing? Neither of us — especially not her — seems bothered at all. She complains sometimes, sure. But mostly? Not only does she not mind — she'll straight-up jump on my back for a "surprise greeting." Although... maybe Naruko just doesn't think about it that way? She IS Naruko. Tomboy. Wild child. But... thinking about Sakurai — she tries SO hard to hang off him. Grab his arm. Haruno gets flustered every time — face going red — and Naruko treats every attempt to touch the pink-haired boy like it's something special.
"So it's about me, then? Or — more precisely — how Naruko sees me."
I glanced at her again: basically blissed out. Light blush. Looking extremely content. Although — the blush might just be from the praise. Hm. Maybe she's just so used to my company that I feel... familiar? So physical contact doesn't register as anything "special"?
Kami — why am I even thinking about this crap?!
"Has Your ego been sufficiently stroked, great Naruko-sama?" I asked, playing along.
"Fu-fu-fu! Yes — I am satisfied!" She beamed. "Oof — we worked hard today, didn't we?! AND SO!"
She bolted upright and smacked her cheeks.
"'And so'?.." I echoed.
"Today — to celebrate the day off — I'm gonna eat ten — no, TWENTY bowls of ramen! Different kinds!" Resolute face. "YES!!! Tremble, old man Teuchi — for the great Uzumaki Naruko-sama is coming for your soul, dattebayo!!! Bye, Koru-chaaan! Till tomorrow!"
"Good lord..." I murmured, watching her sprint away. So much energy.
Yeah — energy to spare. Even after a full day of training. Where does she GET it?
"So... what do I do with the rest of the evening?" I wondered. To my genuine surprise — I had almost zero leisure options that didn't involve training or research. Which was... kind of depressing, honestly. "Yeah. Something's definitely wrong with my life..."