I sweat up a storm as the intense heat of the forge wraps around me like far too many layers of winter clothes in the middle of a scorching desert. I hammered the desired shape of the iron ingot I am working on with Gintaro's supervision.
" Remember, never stop hammering the iron while it's still hot."
I silently complied as my throat was too parched for me to bother speaking. I infused my Chakra into my hammer as I tried to forge an iron dagger. To think I made hundreds if not thousands of them when I played Skyrim, and now I am doing it in this second life of mine. The memory brought a smile to my face as I struck the iron and folded it to try and make it as close as possible to pure iron.
Chakra helped hammer out impurities in the iron as the purer it is, the easier it is to work with and possibly melt down to reforge. Forging by hand was a demanding process, but I enjoyed it as it gave me ideas to design my own weapons and armor. Of course, when I brought some designs from games and other media to Gintaro-sensei, he smacked me upside the head and called me an idiot for coming up with unrealistic designs.
After that, he gave me something like a catalog of weapons used throughout the Shinobi World to understand what works and what doesn't. There were plenty of Japanese cold weapons I had heard of, but there were a few odd ones that seemed Chinese or even European, which got me curious as to where they came from. When I asked Gintaro-sensei, he told me about the nations beyond the five great nations and even old rumors about a whole other continent on the other side of the world.
Naturally, I wanted to eventually go out and explore after hearing that, but only after Madara and Black Zetsu were dealt with. Maybe Kaguya if I can figure out a few seals I have in mind. I finally finished making an iron dagger, specifically a double-edged dagger with a foot-long blade and a circular guard made separately. I handed the dagger over to Gintaro-sensei to inspect it.
" Hmm, an unusual design but practical with a long blade geared toward stabbing. High-purity iron with only maybe five-six percent impurities. Overall, it is a passable weapon with only a few mistakes. The blade is off center, leaning slightly to the left, and you could have used a smaller guard."
I finally managed to make my first proper weapon, and Gintaro-sensei handed back the dagger and then told me.
" Melt it down into an ingot and do it again."
I sighed as I figured he would have me do that as a weapon can not have imperfections, or they will fail you when you need them most. I reheated the forge and started melting down the dagger into an ingot. I set the newly made iron ingot aside as that was it for my blacksmithing lesson for the day. I wet my parched thoat and took off my smiting apron and gloves. I started the next thing on my training schedule: breath training.
I put on the leg weights that I had to bribe Gintaro-sensei to make for me. It took a LOT of dango. I made my way up the mountain near the Shrine Palace and used the Medical Examination Jutsu, a D-Rank medical Ninjutsu that every Medical Ninja-in-training first learns. I was using it to try and find the breathing pattern that gives me the maximum amount of oxygen possible. As I ran up the long steps, my lungs burned, and my vision blurred from the tears as I tried to stop myself from purely breathing from my mouth.
Inhale from the nose, exhale from the mouth, repeat. I lost strength in my legs as I reached the gates of the Shrine Palace for the seventh time. Collapsing on my back as I tried to keep my breathing under control and take a break. Not only do my lungs burn, but my legs all but beg me to take off the weights around them. I saw a familiar face approach me, and I greeted her.
" Hey, Rena."
The bipedal yellow fox with purple arm warmers and cold blue eyes didn't reply as she just stared at me. She doesn't talk much, but that's fine, although my eyes often land on her tail as it looks silky soft, and I feel a temptation to stroke it. Haruhime and Senko are fine with me touching their tails but warned me against doing the same to others without expressed permission among the Fox Clan.
Rena crossed her arms as she eyed me without saying anything. Seeing that she wasn't in a talkative mood, if ever, I focused on recovering and resting. I focused on my breathing and using the Medical Examination Jutsu to track the level of oxygen in my blood. It's far harder than I thought to develop a Breathing Style like in Demon Slayer, but I'm getting close. I can feel it.
" Naruto-kun."
I heard my name being called, and I pulled myself off the ground to see Haruhime approach me with a bento. Ah, it must be lunchtime. I sat up despite my body's protest and greeted the cute fox girl.
" Hey, Haruhime-san, thanks for bringing lunch."
" It's my pleasure, Naruto-kun."
Haruhime replied with a smile, then offered to Rena.
" Rena-chan, do you wish to join us?"
" I already ate, Haruhime."
The yellow bipedal fox answered curtly before leaving with the Body Flicker Jutsu. The fox girl commented as she set down a picnic blanket.
" I think she likes you, Naruto-kun."
" Why?"
I asked in confusion, as Rena never gave me the impression she was interested in me. Haruhime answers me with a giggle as she sets down the bentos.
" Rena also trains hard every day, and I am certain she feels a kinship with you as you train day in and day out."
I shrugged as it wasn't a big deal, and I didn't know what to say in return. The fox girl reveals the bentos contents filled with rice, meat, and veggies. My stomach growled as I realized just how hungry I was, and I gave a small prayer before eating.
" Thanks for the food!"
In a matter of minutes, I ate everything and felt full. I sighed in relief and turned to Haruhime as I took out my wallet, the same froggy wallet the Original Naruto used in the Canon, and asked.
" How much do I owe you, Haruhime?"
It still costs Ryo for the food as while the Fox Clan mostly keeps to itself, they still do some trading with the rest of the world for goods they can't produce themselves. The fox girl tries to deny payment.
" Naruto-kun, you don't have to-."
" But I want to, Haruhime. It bothers me that the food you get me comes out of your own pocket, and I am only a probationary Contractor. At least let me pay in part for the amount of food you make for me. I do eat a lot."
Haruhime looks at the Ryo I have in hand to give her but still doesn't accept it. I wasn't budging on the matter as I don't view myself as a charity case. I get an allowance from the village because I am training to be a Ninja, but I still have to forage and scavenge for food because I keep on getting overcharged when I enter stores as myself. I usually use the Transformation Jutsu to shop for groceries, but I feel I shouldn't have to in the first place because I have done nothing to warrant the hate everyone in Konoha gives me. After all, the Nine-Tails is no longer sealed within me.
Haruhime firmly still refuses any payment.
" Naruto-kun, I make your food because I want to and not out of obligation to you as my summoner, so just accept my goodwill!"
The fox girl looks at me with a stubborn look in her eye, and I put away the Ryo as I promise to myself to make up it to her some other way in the future. Feeling rested, I got back up to resume my training and thanked Haruhime.
" Thanks Haruhime."
" Anytime, Naruto-kun."
She replies with a pleased smile before a flash of realization comes across her face, and she says.
" Oh, right, Naruto-kun, Lady Senko wants to see you at your earliest convenience!"
" Where?"
I asked as I dusted off my clothes and after, the fox girl told me, I went to the foot of the mountain to meet Senko. As I reached the entrance where I was first Reversed Summoned to this place, I noticed the absence of Shirogane and Kurogane guarding the entrance as Senko was sitting down having some tea on one of their perches. I greeted the petite fox girl.
" Hey, Senko, you wanted to see me?"
" Yes, Naruto-kun, I have a gift for you."
I was curious what she got and was surprised she pulled out a small piece of paper. I tilted my head and asked in confusion.
" A piece of paper?"
Senko gave me a pleased smile as she explained.
" A piece of Chakra paper to test your elemental affinities."
I lit up at what I heard as I was curious if I had any other affinity aside from wind, which I had already trained from memory from the Canon and even pushed further with some training exercises I came up with: cutting complex designs on leaves and paper, splitting not just waterfalls but trees and boulders as well, and making myself float briefly by releasing wind nature Chakra around me.
Senko handed me the paper, and I immediately channeled Chakra into it, and the result surprised me. The paper split in two and then crinkled up before catching fire. The petite fox girl exclaimed in surprise.
" Three elemental affinities!?"
I got wind like I suspected since I am Naruto, but fire and lightning were a nice surprise. I know elemental affinities can be inherited because of Bloodline Limits. Still, I suspect the two new affinities come from my foreign soul, as Chakra is made up of Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy. I already had ideas on how to train the two.
Senko said with a pleased smile.
" You certainly know how to surprise people, Naruto-kun. Two affinities are rare enough, but three is even rarer as the number of Shinobi with three primary affinities throughout history can be counted as a small handful each generation."
I nodded as I could only think of one, maybe two people off the top of my head with three affinities, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki with Dust Style, which is made of three Chakra natures, and Mei Terumī with two Bloodline Limits. As much as I want to hypothesize on possible Elemental Bloodline Limits, I could create with these affinities, Chakra Nature Transformation training comes first, as how can I fuse them when I don't know yet how to form them independently.
I also need to review my Jutsu list that I wrote down from what I remembered from the Anime and Manga. However, Sasuke's Kirin Jutsu is on my list to master, period. Senko called out to me.
" Naruto-kun, here."
She took out three Scrolls and explained.
" These Scrolls are copies I made on Chakra Nature Transformation from the Clan library. Ordinarily, you wouldn't be allowed access to them as you are only a probationary Contractor, but I pulled a few strings since I am sure you can handle more advanced training methods and techniques."
I was touched, but I couldn't help but ask as doubts plagued my mind.
" Why go so far for me, Senko? The cooking, the cleaning, finding me teachers, and now this?"
At first, I thought it was just typical treatment to a Summoner since I know Jiraya was cared for by the Toads when it came to training and even feeding him, although he probably wishes they didn't as they give him the same things they eat, bugs, lots and lots of bugs. However, not only am I a probationary contractor, but most of the other Fox Clan members don't seem to care.
Senko smiles as she answers.
" Because I have faith that you will become the Offical Contractor of the Fox Clan, this is just early access to some of the resources that will eventually become available to you."
I was still skeptical, but I accepted the answer for now. I grabbed the scrolls and started with the one on Wind Chakra Nature Transformation to see if there was anything new I hadn't seen or thought of. The training exercises are pretty much the same as I have already trained in. I closed the scroll on Wind Chakra Nature Transformation and thought about which I should focus on first: Lightning or Fire.
With Lightning, I can work toward recreating Sasuke's Kirin, Kakashi's Purple Lightning, and Lightning Style Chakra Mode the Raikages use. However, Fire has a strong synergy with Wind, and with Shadow Clones, I can perform Combination Jutsus on my own. If I consider the pros and cons of each Nature Transformation, they come out pretty even to me, so I need to think about which appeals to me the most right now.
I ultimately decided to start with Lightning first. I opened the scroll and learned the mental image to work with to generate Lightning Chakra: Create two points, one above and one below; the top expels, and the bottom draws in. I continued to focus on this image as I held one finger from each hand near the other and focused my Chakra at the tips of my fingers. I kept on concentrating until I got mentally tired.
The end goal is to create an electric current between my fingers. I will put my Shadow Clones to work later to speed up the learning process. I took out a cheap pocket watch. I got to check the time, and it was time for me to head back to Konoha.
" Senko, mind sending me back?"
" Certainly, Naruto-kun."
With a puff of smoke, I found myself back in my apartment. I dispel the Shadow Clone I left with Anko as I got ready to entertain Hinata and Tenten since the Medical Ninjutsu Extracurricular Class should soon be over. I may not be able to use the Mystic Healing Palm Jutsu right now, but keeping up with the class gives me the chance to use it later once my Yin-Yang Imbalance settles.
While I waited, I went on to focus on writing my first novel in this world. I am trying to be original to see if my knowledge and inspiration from another world could appeal to this world. I am going with the classic Isekai troupe of being summoned to another world to defeat the demon king. However, I am trying to decide whether to go with a normal person with no talent for the Shinobi path or a jaded but young Jonin. Each Main Character has their appeal.
The normal person can come face to face with a new, unfamiliar reality and have actual power at their fingertips, where it becomes a slippery slope not to be corrupted by the power gained. The jaded Jonin couldn't help but be suspicious of everything about his odd situation and dive into otherworldly politics to understand who he should side with and trust more. As I racked my head on which protagonist to write, I heard a knock on my door.
I went to the door to see Anko look at me with a not-too-pleased look as she said.
" I'll admit you were very smooth in switching with your Shadow Clone, but you're costing me money because I get deductions in payment when you manage to slip away, and I can't have that."
" Just think of it as training."
I shrugged nonchalantly, as I said, without really caring about her mission to basically babysit me. The Special Jonin rolled her eyes and invited herself in but stopped as she took a moment to sniff me before commenting.
" You stink, kid."
I sniffed myself and realized I hadn't bathed yet from training today. I took a quick trip to the bathhouse to clean up before returning to see Hinata and Tenten waiting in front of my door.
" Hey, Tenten-san, Hinata-san. How was class today?"
At my question, the girls exchanged a look before sighing together. Okay, now I'm curious.
" What happened?"
" Medical Dissection of a Rogue Ninja."
The brunette answered while looking a bit green, and the pale-eyed girl wasn't much better. I was morbidly curious as I asked.
" Was it a demonstration, or did you participate?"
They both shudder at my question and Tenten's answer.
" Just a demonstration, thankfully; otherwise, neither I nor Hinata would have been able to keep our lunch."
I nodded in understanding but was a bit interested in what the demonstration entailed. I invited the girls to my apartment to chat about class and other things. It's a daily occurrence that I have come to enjoy. During our chat, Hinata asked me.
" What have you been up to, Uzumaki-san?"
" Yeah, I want to know as well for my report."
Anko added, and I answered the question as it didn't matter whether or not they knew, plus I didn't need to give them details.
" Training with the Fox Clan, mainly their okay teachers, but they can't teach me much because I am a probationary contractor."
I didn't specify as becoming proficient with Sealing Jutsu would draw some unnecessary attention to me. Well, more unnecessary attention as skipping class and giving Anko the slip already put eyes on me, not that I care. Drawing too little attention in a Shinobi Village is suspicious in of itself. I am trying to hide in plain sight as no one would expect a delinquent like I am becoming to amount to anything.