Chapter 6: Unseen Shadows
The village streets were quiet as Jiraiya made his way back to the orphanage. The glow of lanterns cast flickering patterns on the ground, but Jiraiya's thoughts were elsewhere. His brief success against Orochimaru had lit a fire in him. He needed to get stronger—not just to compete with Orochimaru, but to truly stand out.
As he opened the door to his small room, he summoned his interface. The familiar blue glow greeted him, and a notification popped up.
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Quest Alert: Unlock Potential
Objective: Discover and complete a hidden side quest in the village.
Reward: +150 XP, unique skill book.
Failure: No penalty.
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"A hidden quest?" Jiraiya muttered, intrigued. He sat cross-legged on the floor, scanning the room for anything that might help. After a moment, he decided to use his Observation Skill.
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Observation Activated
Nothing noteworthy detected.
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Jiraiya sighed. "Guess I'll have to get out there and find it myself."
The village at night felt different. The bustling energy of the day was replaced with a serene stillness, but Jiraiya couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He made his way toward the training grounds, thinking that might be a good place to start.
Halfway there, a faint noise caught his attention. He froze, activating Stealth, and crouched low behind a wooden cart.
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Skill Activated: Stealth (Lv. 3)
Movements are 15% quieter. Detection radius reduced by 7%.
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In the shadows, two figures moved quickly through the streets, their movements sharp and purposeful. Jiraiya squinted, using Observation to get a better sense of what was happening.
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Observation Activated
Shinobi (Lv. 12).
Carrying classified documents.
Intent: Unknown.
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"Classified documents?" Jiraiya whispered, his curiosity piqued. This had to be part of the hidden quest.
Carefully, he trailed the shinobi, keeping to the shadows and maintaining his distance. His Stealth skill worked well, but his heart pounded in his chest. If he was caught, this could end badly.
The shinobi stopped in an alley near a run-down shop. One of them knocked on the door in a specific pattern, and the other kept watch. Jiraiya crouched behind a stack of crates, straining to hear their conversation.
"Everything is in place," one of them said. "The delivery will be made tomorrow. The Hokage won't even see it coming."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Delivery? Hokage? What are they planning?" he whispered to himself.
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Quest Update: Unlock Potential
Objective: Intercept the classified documents and return them to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Reward: +200 XP, unique skill book.
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"Alright," Jiraiya muttered. "Time to make my move."
He formed the seals for Shadow Clone Jutsu as quietly as he could. Two clones appeared beside him, their grins mirroring his. He motioned for them to move into position.
The first clone crept toward the shinobi keeping watch, while the second positioned itself near the door. Jiraiya stayed back, waiting for the right moment. When the door creaked open and the shinobi began to step inside, he acted.
"Now!" he hissed.
The first clone lunged at the guard, throwing a punch that caught him off guard. The second clone kicked the door, slamming it shut before the other shinobi could enter. Jiraiya dashed forward, snatching the scroll from the startled guard's hands.
"What the—?!" the shinobi shouted, recovering quickly. "Get him!"
Jiraiya activated Chakra Dash, his legs moving in a blur as he bolted down the alley with the scroll clutched tightly in his hands.
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Skill Activated: Chakra Dash (Lv. 2)
Speed increased by 25%.
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The shinobi gave chase, their shouts echoing through the empty streets. Jiraiya's heart raced, but his feet moved faster. He zigzagged through alleys, using his clones to create distractions.
One of the shinobi caught up, throwing a kunai that grazed Jiraiya's shoulder. He stumbled but kept going, gritting his teeth against the pain.
"Almost there!" he muttered, the Hokage's office coming into view.
With a final burst of speed, he crossed the threshold and skidded to a stop inside. The shinobi pursuing him froze, realizing they couldn't attack without drawing attention.
Jiraiya turned to face them, holding up the scroll with a triumphant grin. "Looks like this delivery's been canceled."
The shinobi disappeared into the night, but Jiraiya wasn't concerned. He turned to see Hiruzen stepping into the room, his expression stern.
"Jiraiya," Hiruzen said, his tone measured. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I overheard something," Jiraiya said, handing him the scroll. "These guys were planning something shady, so I grabbed this before they could get away."
Hiruzen opened the scroll, his brows furrowing as he read its contents. After a moment, he looked back at Jiraiya, his expression softening.
"You've done well," he said. "But next time, bring what you find directly to me. Understood?"
Jiraiya nodded, relief flooding through him. "Yes, Sensei."
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Quest Complete: Unlock Potential
Reward: +200 XP, unique skill book unlocked: "Advanced Sealing Techniques."
Level Up!
You are now Level 4.
+5 Attribute Points to distribute.
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As Jiraiya walked home, his shoulder still throbbing, he opened his inventory to examine his new skill book. The title glowed faintly, and he couldn't help but smile.
"Advanced Sealing Techniques, huh? Looks like I've got some reading to do."
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