I exited the Orphanage, taking a moment to look up at the sky as I began walking down the pathway with the goal to explore and map Konohagakure's important spots.
In my mind, I opened the Map feature, moving the screen to the side a bit. Since I got the function, the map was something I planned to use to help with my exploration though...
With a few quick movements, I looked at the blankness that surrounded the Village, or rather what was beyond it was blank. I understood why too. Just like maps in video games, if you haven't been to a location, it won't map out fully, lest it be a town, like right now.
I clicked the icon button to centre the map on myself, and looked at the dot that represented me. I wonder if I were too... Forget it for now.
I walked down the familiar pathway, wearing a coat that shielded me from the cold, autumn weather. My ever observant eyes observing everything in my pathway including the others.
Clack, clack, clack.
The sound of my Sandals hitting the stone pathway reverberated with each step I took. Heading past the Market, where I heard idle chatter from those doing business, or talking with consumers, I continued walking, until I made my way to a strange shop like building.
Looking at my Map a dark black dot suddenly turned into a golden dot, with what looked to be a Kunai symbol in the middle, as a notification popped up.
Steel and Scrolls Found
+100 EXP, 200 Ryo, 10 Shuriken, 5 Kunai
Hmm? I looked at the building once again, a Shinobi weapons store was obvious because of the sign, literally showing what looked to be a Shuriken with the name on the front of it.
The building itself was made of stone and wood that had some moss on it, showing that it had some age. It was also out the way too, one had to look for this store, too. The entrance way had a Zen garden and stone lanterns either side of it, providing me with a strange calmness in my mind. The front door was made of dark wood, reinforced with steel edges, making it sturdy, rather sturdy in fact. Inside the windows, neatly arranged displays of kunai, shuriken, and various other shinobi tools glimmered under the warm, flickering lantern light.
Turning away from the building, I made my way back down the pathway. Having a Map on a screen that was invisible to all else but me, helped as I navigated to my next location.
The pathway became gravel as I approached a building as I looked up a grand building, made of wood.
Tall, imposing oak wood walls standing like silent guardians around the estate. The entrance was marked by a large wooden gate, intricately carved with the symbol of the familiar, noble symbol of the Hyuga clan. Two sentries stood at either side, their Byakugan activated, eyes constantly scanning the surroundings with calm vigilance. They didn't even glance in my direction, knowing their vision had already seen me long before I'd reached the gate.
The gate was slightly opened allowing me to see inside to see 2 traditional Japanese style mansions stood, one was more regal like in appearance, yet held the traditions of a noble clan. A very clear sign that the more regal one was the main house, I assumed.
I couldn't help but admire the quiet elegance of the place and the 2 serene, peaceful guards, guarding it. Or at least as much admiration as I could for the design, which amounted to my curiosity having been satiated and the Dot here turned golden with what looked to be a strange symbol, one that seemed to be a drop of blood, and the most common way of drawing DNA behind it. Were Clans represented by this symbol?
Of course, I planned to do nothing and changed to go down another path, to another location. One that I had to find myself as I looked at the rewards, a reward which threw me for a loop.
Hyuga Compound found
+150 EXP, 200 Ryo, Learner Juken Scroll
The hell? Why did I get a Juken Scroll for this?
Calming my mind I chose to live with it for now, at least, I have a way to lie about how I learned such a thing in the future, so long as my plans with Hinata went through. As for the main purposes of this style, shutting down the Tenketsu in the body, that was just knowing where each one is and then applying that to a persons body.
My Eidetic Memory was the most useful there as I already mesmerised the locations of each one on the human body beforehand therefore, I just had to start learning how to transmit my Chakra the same way required to deactivate the Chakra Point. And how to release my Chakra from my other Tenketsu as well. Perhaps that would help with creating a Jutsu or 2 as well.
Thinking on that, as I walked away from the location, I found myself unconsciously wanting to try focusing my Chakra in other ways other than the En Kunai I learned and had maxed out a while ago now.
3 hours passed by as I walked finally making it to another building, around the outskirts of Konoha was a Compound for a clan that stood in quiet isolation, separated from much of the village by a stretch of forested land. The tall wooden and slightly stone walls that encircled the entire area were weathered yet sturdy, conveying a distinct sense of pride and history. The tall, wooden gates were sturdy and reinforced by Iron furthering this fact.
On the gate's 2 sides, were what looked to be a white fan with with red above it presumably flames. A person who fanned the flames, that was the Uchiha clan.
It was different from the elegance of the traditional Hyuga clan, no, based on the sheer size of the compound, I could tell, it was like a town itself that was inside Konoha, just a mini one. though based on my Map as well.
The dot turned golden with the same symbol as the Hyuga's one did, a strange droplet of blood. Well, it makes sense, it seems clans are designated by that droplet, then stores based on weaponry are shown through a kunai. Curious, I looked at Ichiraku's place on the map, finding it to literally be a chef hat, which made a lot of sense.
Uchiha Compound found
+150 EXP, 100 Ryo, Random Katon Jutsu Scroll
Katon: Gokyaku no Jutsu Scroll obtained.
Looking at the reward, I was glad to have done this, having a C ranked Jutsu would be useful for when I entered a dungeon. And it would be a useful experience of the difference between a low ranking Jutsu to a Mid ranking Jutsu as the En Kunai was an E ranked Technique.
I continued walking along the path until I came across a deer which was close to the outside of Konoha. Since the Nara Clan owned a forest with deer, I knew where I was as the notification confirmed it.
Nara Clan Forest + Compound found
+330 EXP, X5 High Grade Explosive Tags obtained
You have levelled up to LVL 8
Why 330?
I was guessing the rewards were actually randomised, getting the Juken was just a rare reward, whilst Gokyaku might be a more common item from the Uchiha Compound rewards. And EXP generated might also be random.
Of course, I have no proof, but the randomness of the rewards are proof. Does that make sense? Eh, probably not, but it fits the situation way too well.
With a sigh, I left. Heading down the path, and walking back into the Market. The gravel pathway switched back to stone again as I entered the area.
I could tell it was around 16:30 now, as I had been outside for 10 hours now, and since that was the case, I shouldn't head to more clan compounds besides that, I needed something to eat. With a sigh, I began making my way down to Ichiraku's.
I needed something to eat that was not breakfast.
Entering the store once again, I took a seat immediately, looking up at the old man, who's face scrunched up in recollection as he looked up from the bowl for the customer who was beside me. I glanced at him briefly, before looking at Teuchi.
"One Tonkotsu Niku Ramen, please."
"An interesting yet fine choice, young one. One Tonkotsu Niku Ramen coming right up."
Settling myself into my seat I looked at the stranger. Before looking away.
Something convinced me. I saw that man in the show at some point, but nothing told me much outside of him looking like Kotetsu Hagane. He had spiky black hair, with dark black eyes, having the standard Chunin attire, and his expression laxed.
Strangely his guard was down, too, yet I could tell he was prepared as at a moment's notice I saw his eyes flicker to the newer customer that entered the building, which I too, glanced at briefly.
I looked at the bowl as Teuchi set it down, which I then began to eat.
Niku is a meat lover's ramen dish, meaning it contained lots of protein and tonkotsu was something that had a lot of carbs. Someone aiming to be a Shinobi needs more carbs than the average person for training and stimulating their bodies for combat. Thus it was a good meal for those aiming to be Shinobi.
In other words, it was more filling as a meal, and protein made for a good immune system, gaining more energy for a workout, and in general protein was good for muscle growth, or growing strength in muscles.
I strangely felt comforted by the Ramen here, like for just for a moment, I had some normalcy. It was what I felt last time I was here, and here I was, once again feeling a sense of tranquillity for what was a small amount of time in my life.
This feeling swirled in my chest, providing me the warmth I didn't have yet that warmth vanished quickly as I heard the 2 next to me speak.
"Kotetsu, the Hokage has called for your presence in his office." The man that was eating his own bowl, started speaking calmly, his voice quiet. I began eavesdropping easily.
"Why?"
Kotetsu, the man I identified earlier, asked back.
"You're required, that's all he told me."
"I see."
Kotetsu pulled his wallet out, placed the coins on the counter, finished his ramen, then left the small establishment.
It reads like it was simple, because it was, after his 2 words, he simply did all of that, in that order.
Coincidentally, I had just finished my own bowl, so I left myself, entering the streets of Konoha once more. The next place, upon checking the map, was actually closer than I thought.
I sighed, following behind Kotetsu, as I made my way to the Hokage Rock, or Hokage building. I made sure it looked like it was just me being curious, via the small action of putting my thumb to my chin. Like I was thinking about what it looked like up close, instead of far away.
There was a reason I was going there, marking it on my map, and because I can probably get a good reward out of this outside of it being free EXP.
Why did I suddenly remember that game I played back then? Eh, it doesn't matter.
Walking, I looked around, the buildings around me changing to fit those of a more affluent citizen, or maybe Shinobi. As a Job where one can die, it must pay a lot, after all.
The homes themselves are larger than the average houses in Konoha, typically two-story buildings with gently curved, layered roofs covered in dark ceramic tiles. Each roof has been carefully designed to have a subtle upward tilt at the edges, giving them a dignified yet serene aesthetic. Carved wooden beams painted in rich shades of mahogany support the structure, and their sturdy frames are often adorned with intricate designs, small engravings of motifs of Konoha on them. Be it Clan, nature, or the Konoha headband. Truly it was a testament to the skill and care of the craftsman who built them.
Each residence is surrounded by a short, stone wall, polished smooth and accented with ivy and other ornamental plants, which adds a layer of privacy without completely closing off the view of the home. Iron gates lead into these compounds, bearing symbols of the clans or families who reside within. Behind the gates, winding stone paths lead up to the main entrance, bordered by neatly maintained gardens that are adorned with delicate, seasonal flowers, bonsai trees, and even small ponds filled with koi.
The windows of these homes are tall, stretching from nearly floor to ceiling on the lower level, allowing natural light to flood the interiors. They're framed with dark wood and protected by elegant shoji screens that offer both privacy and an air of sophistication. Many of these houses also feature small, covered verandas that overlook lush gardens, with elegant lanterns hanging above to softly illuminate the space at dusk.
The doorways themselves are typically wider, with solid wooden doors that carry the same clan or family insignias engraved subtly into the wood. The door handles themselves are a statement—crafted from bronze or silver, polished to a shine.
One of the door's opened, as a kid came running out, a soft scent of cedarwood and incense drifted out of the entrance, seamlessly crafting an inviting feeling to those who reside inside.
A reminder of what could have been.
I continued walking, choosing to ignore the pain in my chest that just randomly appeared. I couldn't tell the particular emotion I felt at this moment.
I finally stopped in front of the Hokage Building, looking at the large, cylindrical, crimson red building, with small black areas where the windows were with 2 wooden circular tilted roofs which divided the floors - with the Hokage office being on the third floor - shortening the cylinder by a small amount. At the top was a white roof with several beams coming out of it and just below it, was a white circular object, with a lighter shade of red inside it with black Kanji for fire painted quite large inside this circle.
I looked up at the monument, and opened my mouth. To keep my act up, obviously, but truly, seeing the Hokage Monument from up close like this, it was truly a spectacle to behold.
As for the golden dot, it held the image of a hat with that same, fire Kanji.
Hokage Monument + Mansion found
Legendary Item detected EXP received Increased
+1500 EXP, Kage Bunshin Jutsu Scroll
You have levelled up to LVL 10
So there was a legendary item I can receive too.
Still, this was too random, Kage Bunshin seriously?
I couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh as I looked at that.
Well, I was done here, for now, so I turned around, walking back to the orphanage.
A/N
I decided that what I was going to write later on should come earlier, this should have happened after meeting Naruto and Hinata stuff, but I wanted to put it in sooner as it feels like a filler chapter, which it technically is.
Anyways, have a good day everyone. Or night, like it is for me right now should probably go to sleep, huh.
Oh, next chapter I plan to show the status at some point.
Nepge, signing out.