Shinobi:The RPG

If you want to help me financially, you can do it on https://www.patreon.com/NeverluckySMILE

They both looked at me with horrified expressions on their faces as they realized that I had a point. Then they started to grumble about how unfair their Sensei was being.

Hisako got out a Kunai and whetstone and started to sharpen it. "Looks like we're going to be here for a while."

Nichiren got out a book and started to read.

"Looks like it," I said. "So. Nichiren, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," He said, looking up from his book.

Oh, how do I ask this without causing a rift in the team dynamic. "So, you're the most nervous Shinobi I've ever met."

"…okay," He asked.

"Do you mind if I ask why?" I finished lamely.

Charisma Check Failed: 4/6

Shut up, game.

"Well, I'm just nervous in general," He said with a nervous grin.

"Then how'd you pass psychological evaluation?" Hisako asked without looking up from her kunai. "There's no way they'd let someone with nerves like yours become a Genin."

...wow. Tactless, thy name is Hisako.

"I…uh…" Nichiren's eyes got big and his hands started shaking. "I…I just did, okay."

Okay, now I'm thinking less 'nervous in general' and more 'hiding something'.

"You just did?" Hisako rose an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Yup, just did," Nichiren smiled.

"I don't believe you," She snapped.

"But…I…did," Nichiren said.

"No one's doubting that you did," I spoke up. "We're just more dubious about your methods."

"Well, I did," Nichiren snapped, angry for the first time since I saw him.

"…whatever," Hisako sighed and went back to her kunai.

I shrugged.

The hours passed quietly with no one saying anything else. I was tempted to use the wait function again, but again, I wanted to spend as much actual time with my team as possible. The sun was high in the sky when, at 11:00 he finally showed up.

"Good morning, team!" Kakashi said, with an eye smile and a wave.

"You're late!" Both my teammates stood up and screeched.

You know, I was still fine from the lack of food. This is odd. I implicitly remember being insanely hungry back in infancy. Maybe now that the tutorial's over I don't need food like the others do?

"Sorry, the road got broken up and I had to find another route," He said with an eye smile.

I simply shrugged and stood up. "Well, we're all here. So what's the mission?"

"It's just a test," Kakashi said mirthfully. He pulled out a pair of bells and an alarm clock. "This alarm is set for noon. You must each take a bell from me in order to pass. If you don't take a bell before noon, you'll be tied up to one of those posts- "He pointed to a set of three wooden posts. "-and I'll eat lunch in front of you."

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. But I'm a ninja so I'm supposed to lie. I'm not worried. Not in the slightest.

"Wait, there's only two bells," Nichiren pointed out.

"Yes there are," I could just feel the smile that was affixed to his face. "That ensures that at least one of you will fail and be sent to the academy."

"Why do I get the feeling that the test has a 66% fail rate because you've rigged the test," I began, leveling a gaze at him. "Rather than because the Genin aren't good enough?"

"Oh I wouldn't put it like that," Kakashi said, putting the bells on his waist. "I'd put it like I'm giving them the right level of incentive to do well. Oh, and by the way?"

He became somewhat serious. "The only way any of you are going to succeed is if you come at me with the intent to kill me."

Nichiren gulped. Hisako switched her kunai to reverse grip. I simply rolled my shoulders.

I'm going to make you eat those words, Kakashi.

"We'll go when I say start," Kakashi returned to his easy going tone. "Ready…"

I popped my knuckles. Nichiren bounced on his toes. Hisako simply glared him him.

"Set…"

If I get sent back to the academy, I want to at least know that I gave you a difficult fight. The odds of that are slim with my stats and such, but still!

"Start!"

Quest Updated: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Go to training ground 3 before Kakashi gets there.

Pass the Bell Test.

Nichiren ran away fast. So did Hisako, though I think she's planning an attack and…ah, no. Well, this is going to be difficult. Time to punch Kakashi a lot!

I ran forward, gearing a punch in exaggerated fashion. Kakashi looked at me oddly and…caught my punch.

Chakra Control Check Success: 100/75.

Hehehe…got you.

I was stuck to his hand. Or rather his glove and I jumped land to his head, which he ducked under. I twisted around his hand and landed a kick right to his back. Hey, this might not be so hard-

Suddenly, I found myself grabbed with the other hand and flipped me over onto the ground. He landed a punch to the chest.

-5 HP.

That's it? Oh right. He's not actually trying to kill me.

I landed a punch to his face and stuck to his headband while I freed my other hand to reach for the bells and I barely brushed them before I found a kick to my stomach, and a forearm brought down on my wrist, disrupting my concentration.

-10 HP.

-5 HP.

I bounced back to my feet, leaping away from him.

Kakashi angled his head at me. "Huh. Where did you learn how to do that?"

"Oh, it's something I picked up here and there," I said nonchalantly. "You learned a lot when people show off."

Charisma Check Failed 4/5.

Shut up, game.

"Uh huh," Kakashi said, disbelief only slightly in his voice. "Well, since you've proven that I might actually have to take you seriously, I guess I won't be getting to read my book any time soon."

I was going to need to change tactics. So…I looked around. "Wait, where's my team?"

"You didn't see them run off?" Kakashi asked incredulously.

"…be right back!" I said, running off in the direction I saw Hisako run in.

Please don't run after me, please don't run after me, please don't run after me…

He didn't run after me.

I think.

Perception Check Failed: 5/8.

What does that mean game? That he's stalking me or that I don't have enough perception to know for a fact there's nothing there?

So…where did she go?

Survival Check Success: 17/15.

Oh, there's a foot print, a bent shrub, a freshly broken branch…there she was, hiding in a tree. "Hey!"

I called up to her. She turned around and saw me, jumping down to meet me.

"Where'd you go? We could've had the bells," I asked grumpily.

"He's a Jounin," She barked at me. "Hiding and waiting for him to be vulnerable seemed like the smart thing to do. What were you doing?"

"I thought I had an edge on him," I shook my head. "It didn't work and now he'll be ready for it if I use it again."

"It was kind of surprising to see how well you did," Hisako admitted. Then her gaze narrowed. "Have you been holding out on me?"

"No," I answered truthfully. "Actually graduating was very inspiring."

She snorted. "Whatever. You want to fight him together?"

"Yeah, but we need Nichiren," I replied.

Hisako scoffed. "That useless coward?"

"Yes," I replied. "He graduated too, so he's got to be good for something."

Charisma Check Success: 4/4.

Finally! Thank you, game!

"Fine, let's go before Kakashi ties him to the post," Hisako stalked off. "But I get a bell."

"We'll decide what to do with the bells once we get them, alright?" I asked exasperatedly. "We can argue for days about who gets to go back to the Academy, but it doesn't actually mean anything until we get the bells."

Speech Check Success: 26/20.

+15 EXP.

"Whatever, let's just go find him," She waved me to follow her.

I wonder when the game decides on speech check versus a regular charisma check. That needs testing if I'm going to be putting points into a skill: I need to know how to use it.

Kakashi wasn't in the regular clearing so we cut across it and…

Perception Check Success: 5/5.

I saw a silver gleam, shining under a tree.

"Hey look," Hisako said with a large smile. "You must've startled him so much he dropped a bell."

"That is obviously a trap," I said with a nod.

Hisako frowned at me. "You think so? I guess you're right. Pity. Think we can get the bell without springing it?"

Perception Check Failed: 5/8.

"Probably," I answered. "Can you see the trap?"

"Hmmmm…" Hisako replied. "Nope."

"Maybe Nichiren would be able to see it," I not so subtly dropped the hint that we needed to keep looking.

"Maybe you're right," Hisako allowed, turning to me. "Why are you so hung up on finding him?"

"Because we're a team and I don't think we have a chance to get the bells without everyone here," I said. "There's only two bells, so it's like Kakashi is deliberately trying to divide us up and I don't want to go back to the academy."

Speech Check Success: 26/20.

+15 EXP.

"Hey I'm with you there," She said with a nod. "The academy was so boring. It didn't teach me anything I already know."

2,105 EXP until level. Nice!

"Where did you learn so much?" I asked as we walked past.

"My parents are both Shinobi," She replied. "They taught me what they could when they weren't busy. How about you?"

"I was just born this great," I said glibly.

"Oh whatever," Hisako rolled her eyes. "Seriously?"

"I don't really know," I lied, shrugging. "I'm just really smart and so what they tried to teach me just stuck to me like magic almost."

Survival Check success: 17/15.

"I think he went that way," I said, pointing toward a path that had a scattered trail of footprints going down it.

"Oh. Nice," Hisako nodded in the direction of the trail. "We'll find him in no time."

I hope so.

We ran down the trail and holy crap what the-?

"H-help…me…" There he was alright, with blood seeping down his back from numerous kunai and shuriken stuck there.

I…I don't believe it. Kakashi actually killed that nervous wreck! That…that's not canon at all. I thought I was going to be a student of a lazy shinobi, not a murderous one!

"Kai!" Hisako shouted, and the air around Nichiren warped around and he disappeared.

Wait what? Oh…

Perception Check Failed: 5/7.

Derp.

Okay, that's a gaping hole in my kit. Genjutsu vulnerability. That isn't good.

"Well, that was encouraging," I finally managed.

"It's supposed to be test, remember?" Hisako asked with a risen eyebrow. "Let's go find him so we can figure out a plan."

"Agreed," I said with a nod.

Running through the forest, we did eventually find him. Curled up into a ball against a tree crying his eyes out. This…isn't promising. "Uh…Nichiren? Are you okay?"

He looked up at us, gasped something awful. "You guys are alive! How-how are you?"

"He hit you with a Genjutsu too, huh?" I asked with a sigh.

"Wait…that was a-?" He slapped his face. "I'm so stupid!"

"Hey don't worry about it," I said. "I fell for it too."

Charisma Check Failed: 4/5.

OH FOR PETE'S SAKE!

"You're just saying that," He accused weakly.

"No, he's telling the truth," Hisako came to my rescue. "I had to break him out of it."

"…really?" Nichiren asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. Really," I affirmed, folding my arms. "Now we need a plan to get the bells from Kakashi. Fast."

It was 11:41, so unless we got the bells, everyone would get tied to posts and have to watch Kakashi eat lunch in front of them. Didn't bother me at all, which will take some getting used to, but the twin grumbling stomachs I heard was an agreement.

Kakashi was probably watching us to see what we were going to do.

Perception Check Failure: 5/9.

Shut up, game.

"Well you guys can have the bells," Nichiren said. "I don't deserve to be a Genin."

"Yes you do," I said automatically. "So you got caught in a Genjutsu. Sure it was scary, but it has to happen eventually."

"No, not that," He shook his head violently. "I cheated."

"What do you mean you cheated?" Hisako asked with just a hint of venom in her voice.

"I mean I cheated at the Graduation exam," Nichiren explained rapidly. "I didn't study enough and I don't have the Taijutsu skills needed to be a Genin. So I took a soldier pill and copied from several other students."

Oooh.

Well, that would explain the nervousness.

"Wouldn't they have noticed the extra physical prowess from the soldier pill, though?" I asked, cupping my chin.

"Not if you suppress it and don't act like you're swimming in chakra," Nichiren replied, seeming to breathe a little easier.

"How did you cheat off of several other students?" Hisako asked curiously. "Aren't our teachers all Chunin at least?"

"Well yeah they are," Nichiren nodded. "But when a couple of classmates started sneezing uncontrollably, they were a little distracted."

Dang.

"So I've been scared this whole time I was going to accidentally get you both killed because I couldn't muster up to the challenge," Nichiren said. "Then I got hit with that Genjutsu and I thought I really did get you killed and-"

"Hey," Hisako knelt and put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him out of it. "It's okay. We're not dead."

"Is it wrong that I'm actually a little impressed?" I asked with a confused shrug.

"I'm not actually sure," Hisako answered, blinking.

"Y-you're impressed?" Nichiren asked blankly.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because we're ninja," I replied. "Being devious is part of the job. What you just told us was some next-level stuff. I think it's awesome. I mean, you're going to have to pick up the slack at some point, but cheating like that is its own level of aptitude."

Speech Check Failure: 26/30.

Rats.

"I still cheated and I still need to tell Sensei," Nichiren said, looking downcast. "So, you need to get the bells."

"Well, like it or not we're still a part of a team and that means you're getting an equal shot," I said, folding my arms. "You mind putting that deviousness to work in separating Kakashi from those bells?"

"I think it'd help a lot," Hisako said. "You can tell Kakashi about the cheating afterwards."

"Okay!" Nichiren said, standing up. "I brought some smoke pellets and stuff."

"Alright, let's head out," I said. "I think we've been sitting here for too long."

I got a pair of agreements from them and we headed out.

"Oh, by the way Nichiren?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you study very hard?"

"Oh," He said. "Oh, hehe. Well, see, my parents are civilians and they own a clothing store. They needed a lot of help this year when half the staff quit."

I could see that. I've been there, having to work while half my co-workers quick, leaving us understaffed. Made it difficult to work on college stuff, let me tell you. I didn't think that would happen in a village, though. I guess some things are universal.

"Makes sense."

---

We talked on the way, in whispers, formulating a plan. I was pretty sure Kakashi heard or at least was able to guess it in its entirety, but I hope the teamwork impressed him. Because we weren't passing otherwise.

It was 11:55 and we needed to find him. We headed out to the clearing, the bell trap was still there.

"Guys screw it," Hisako said, maybe a little loud. "I'm getting that bell."

"Wait, no!" I replied back as she ran over to get the bell and what happened was predictable. The rope tightened around her ankle and she was hoisted up into the air.

"And you were doing so well!" Kakashi said mirthfully, appearing suddenly as he retrieved the bell. "But you really shouldn't fall for such an ob-"

I was on him like glue. I tackled him from behind-

Chakra Control Check Success: 100/90.

-and I stuck there punching his head even as he jumped HOLY CRAP THAT'S HIGH and tried to suplex me! I switched grip to my hand and swung around to his front to start kneeing him in the stomach. Then he punched me in the face, grabbed me and spun around again as he landed, him on his feet while holding me in the air.

But Hisako was free and she was carrying a pair of Kunai as she went for the bells. He accidentally let me touch the ground and I was stuck there, too.

Chakra Control Check Success: 100/95.

Suddenly, he couldn't leave the grou-wow, my Chakra's getting low fast! I grabbed his arm and he ripped me and the ground beneath me out and threw me at Hisako, who had the common sense to duck.

I hit the ground and was seeing stars there for a second.

-40 HP.

Dang. Well, that was fair, considering what playing nice got him. Still hurt a lot, though. Ow.

I stood up and started running back to the fight because Kakashi was making short work of Hisako, who just wasn't skilled or crazy enough to keep up. Behind Kakashi was Nichiren who was making a grab for the bells.

Only for Kakashi to grab Nichiren's wrist and throw him down to the ground with one hand.

Suddenly, way off by the posts, the Alarm rang.

"Stop!" Kakashi shouted, holding an outstretched hand. He took a deep breath and looked at each of us. "You all pass."

Quest Updated: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Pass the Bell Test.

Completed (optional): Pass before someone is tied to a pillar.

Talk to Kakashi-sensei.

There's optional objectives to quests? Holy cow, I had no idea!

"Wait, what?" I said, playing along. "We didn't get the bells!"

"Don't be coy," He glared at me. "You knew I was testing your teamwork."

"…okay yeah, I did," I said, rubbing my head with a cheeky grin.

"Wait, what?" Hisako sounded alarmed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because that would've undermined the test," I said. "I highly doubt we would've passed like this if we all knew the solution."

"He's right," Kakashi said with frustration. "You all showed admirable teamwork and were willing to work with each other in spite of personal misgivings."

"Then why are you mad, Sensei?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Because while you did show that you weren't willing to abandon each other, you still knew what the test was and that undermined the entire point."

"…sorry Sensei," I said. "But when we're raised on 'The Will of Fire' and how everyone in our village is like our family and how we're supposed to never betray our village…the lesson was clear."

Kakashi grunted. "I suppose that's true. But there is one thing I wanted to ask."

"Yes, Sensei?" I asked.

"How did you get so good at the Tree-walking jutsu?" He asked, exasperatedly.

"You mean like how I was stuck to you and you couldn't get away?" I asked. When I got a nod, I continued. "Well, I do have a bloodline, apparently. Maybe that's a part of it? I don't know the details all that much."

Charisma Check Fail: 4/6.

"I thought your bloodline helped you recuperate when you sleep," Kakashi said, eye narrowing.

So that DID get on my record. Good to know.

"As I said, I don't know all the details," I said, shrugging. "I was able to do the tree-walking jutsu on my first day of the academy almost effortlessly. You gave me the most challenge with it I've ever had, so…"

Kakashi sensei sighed. "Okay, that makes sense."

Speech Check Success: 26/20.

+15 EXP.

2,090 EXP left.

"Erm…sensei," Nichiren said, timidly approaching and bowing.

"Yes, Nichiren?" Kakashi asked, turning to him.

"I have something to tell you," Nichiren looked like he was bracing for impact.

"I heard you in the forest," Kakashi replied.

"Y-you did?" Nichiren gulped.

"I did," Kakashi confirmed with a sigh. "I will need to tell the Hokage and we'll need to go over your case, but Daisuke was right: We're Ninja. Cheating systems is a part of what we do."

"Sensei," Nichiren said looking at him with star struck eyes.

"Now everyone, please follow me," Kakashi-sensei…it's going to be weird calling him that for a while beckoned us and we followed behind him.

He, of course, lead us to the black memorial stone on the outskirts of the training ground. I remembered it from the Anime and it was an impressive, if grim looking, structure, shaped like a Kunai.

"Does anyone know what this is?"

My hand went up.

"Besides you."

My hand went down.

"It's the memorial stone," Hisako replied, looking on it with respect and reverence. "On it are the names of every Shinobi who has ever died in the service of our village."

It's kind of like the Vietnam memorial wall back in my old world. Except shaped like a Kunai. Shame I never visited that one before I died.

"So, Nichiren," Kakashi addressed the Genin firmly. "You said you wanted to be a Field Medic. Is that still true?"

He nodded, rapidly.

"Field medics possess a very important role," Kakashi said quietly. "They keep their teammates alive and their names off of this memorial. I would be proud to train someone like that."

He looked into Nichiren's eyes.

"If you are to remain a Shinobi, you and by extension your parents, must understand that being a Shinobi is your job and the most important one in the village," Kakashi said weightily. "If you promise me that you will do everything in your power to make up for your lack of training in the academy, I will do everything I can to make sure you stay on this team. Can you do that?"

"Yes! Yes, Sensei, I promise," Nichiren nodded some more, before bowing all the way to the ground. "Thank you, Sensei!"

Cool. I get the most devious person I've seen in a long while on my team. I consider this a bonus.

"As for you two," Kakashi said, looking at me and Hisako. "Meet me at the Hokage Tower's entrance in three days at seven in the morning. That's about how long it'll take to get your teammates situation sorted out."

"Hai, Sensei," We both said at the same time, bowing.

Quest Complete: Shinobi, Assemble!

Completed: Talk with Kakashi-Sensei.

+1500 EXP.

…holy crap, that is a lot.

590 EXP until level 6.

"And Daisuke," Kakashi said to me.

"Yes, Sensei?"

"We need to figure out the extent of your bloodline one of these days," Kakashi said, his visible eye looking like he still didn't believe what had happened.

"Hai, Sensei," I replied.