Dain Blackstone brushed herself off, the forest around her quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Her boots crunched against the dirt path as she adjusted the belt at her waist. The holographic interface floating in front of her still displayed Sakura's name and her objective: Rewrite the story.
"Alright," she muttered to herself. "First things first—figure out where I am."
The forest seemed endless, the towering trees casting long shadows across her path. Every step felt surreal, like walking into a dream she had longed to experience but never believed could be real. Dain's gaze darted between the trees, looking for signs of civilization.
"If this is the Naruto universe," she mused aloud, "then I need to find a village. Maybe Konoha? That'd give me a clue about what part of the story I'm in."
The System chimed in with its disembodied voice. "Proximity to major plotlines will increase your influence and abilities. Begin with the closest settlement."
"Right, no pressure," Dain muttered, rolling her eyes.
An hour into her journey, the peaceful forest began to feel eerie. The rustling of leaves grew louder, and she caught fleeting movements in her peripheral vision. Dain stopped, gripping the hilt of a short blade she had found on her belt. It was small but felt sturdy in her hand.
"System," she whispered, her eyes scanning the area. "Any chance you could warn me about what's lurking out here?"
[Hostiles detected. Wild creatures. Threat level: moderate.]
Before Dain could ask for more details, the first creature lunged from the shadows—a wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes and jagged teeth. Instinct kicked in, and she sidestepped just in time to avoid its snapping jaws.
"Great! Killer wolves," she grumbled, raising her blade.
The wolf growled, its companions emerging from the shadows. Three more surrounded her, their glowing eyes fixed on her like hungry predators. Dain gritted her teeth, her pulse racing.
"System, any chance you've got a cheat code for this?" she asked, backing up.
[Combat assistance activated]
A warm surge of energy spread through her body, and her grip on the blade steadied.
When the first wolf lunged again, she reacted instinctively, slashing downward. The blade glowed faintly, cutting through the beast with unnatural ease. It dissolved into a puff of smoke, leaving behind a faint shimmer.
The remaining wolves hesitated, growling in unison before attacking together. Dain ducked, dodged, and slashed, her body moving with surprising agility. Each successful hit sent a surge of confidence through her.
By the time the last wolf disintegrated, Dain was panting, her muscles aching from the effort. She leaned against a tree, her blade still glowing faintly.
"Well, that was fun," she muttered, wiping her brow. "Thanks for the assist, System."
[You performed adequately. Fatigue detected. Recommend rest.]
"No kidding," Dain said, shaking out her arms. "But I need to keep moving. There's got to be a village nearby."
The sun was dipping below the horizon when Dain spotted smoke rising in the distance. A village? She quickened her pace, her fatigue temporarily forgotten.
As she crested a hill, she froze. Standing in the middle of a clearing was a woman with long blue hair that shimmered in the fading sunlight. Her face was stoic, her amber eyes scanning the forest as if she, too, was on high alert.
Dain's breath caught. "Konan?" she whispered.
The woman turned sharply at the sound, her expression wary. Dain raised her hands in a gesture of peace. "Whoa, whoa, I'm not here to fight."
Konan's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
Dain hesitated. Konan was a character she had always admired for her strength and loyalty, yet she had been cast aside once Pain's arc ended. Meeting her now, outside the constraints of her canon story, felt surreal.
"I'm... a traveler," Dain said carefully. "I mean you no harm."
Konan studied her for a moment before lowering her guard slightly. "This area is dangerous. You shouldn't be here."
"Trust me, I noticed," Dain replied, gesturing to her blade. "Got ambushed by some wild beasts back there."
Konan's gaze flicked to the weapon before meeting Dain's eyes again. "Why are you here?"
Before Dain could answer, the System chimed in again. "New objective detected: Assist Konan in developing her story. Facilitate her growth beyond existing limitations."
The words appeared in her interface, glowing softly. Dain blinked, her heart skipping a beat.
"Great timing," she muttered under her breath.
Konan frowned. "What did you say?"
"Uh, nothing," Dain said quickly. She cleared her throat. "Look, I'm just passing through, but... maybe I can help you."
Konan's expression hardened. "I don't need help."
Dain sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. "I'm not saying you do. But I know what it's like to be underestimated. And I think we might have more in common than you think."
Konan's eyes softened ever so slightly, but she said nothing.
"Can we at least share a campfire or something?" Dain asked. "I'm dead tired, and you look like you've been through a lot yourself."
After a long pause, Konan nodded. "Fine. But don't try anything."
Dain grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
As the small campfire crackled between them, Dain decided to break the tense silence. She turned to Konan, who sat cross-legged, her amber eyes fixed on the flames as if lost in thought. Dain tilted her head, curiosity getting the better of her.
"So," she began cautiously, "what's a powerful kunoichi like you doing out here all alone?"
Konan's gaze didn't waver. "That's none of your concern."
Dain leaned back slightly, holding up her hands. "Fair enough. I was just curious. It's not every day you come across someone like you in the middle of nowhere."
Konan remained quiet, her posture rigid, but Dain could sense the tension behind her stoicism. Deciding to press further, she gestured vaguely to the forest around them. "I mean, I get it—sometimes people need their space. But this doesn't exactly look like a vacation spot. Did something happen?"
Konan's fingers twitched, the first real sign of emotion she had shown since they met. After a moment, she sighed. "My companion went to investigate something important. He asked me to wait here."
Dain frowned. "Wait here? Alone? In a place crawling with monsters?"
Konan's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice defensive. "He can handle himself. And I'm more than capable of protecting myself."
"I don't doubt that," Dain said quickly, softening her tone. "But doesn't it bother you? Being left behind like this?"
Konan turned her head slightly, her gaze sharp. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" Dain hesitated, carefully choosing her words. "You're loyal. That's obvious. But being loyal doesn't mean you should just be someone's backup plan. You're better than being left behind to wait."
Konan's expression hardened, her amber eyes locking onto Dain like daggers. "You know nothing about me. Don't presume to understand my situation."
"Maybe I don't," Dain admitted, meeting her gaze. "But I know what it feels like to be sidelined. To be underestimated. It sucks. And you don't deserve that."
The fire between them crackled louder in the silence that followed. Konan's jaw tightened, her hands resting on her knees. For a moment, Dain wondered if she had pushed too far.
[Emotional appeal detected. Impact on target confirmed. This is one of your abilities—leveraging empathy to influence others.]
Dain blinked, momentarily stunned by the revelation. She could see the faintest shift in Konan's expression—her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes flickering with something that wasn't quite anger. Her words had struck a nerve.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't care about your companion," Dain added gently, hoping to soften the blow. "But don't let anyone, no matter how important they are to you, make you feel like you're less important."
Konan didn't respond immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze back to the fire, her face unreadable. The silence stretched on, and Dain fought the urge to fidget. Had she overstepped?
Finally, Konan spoke, her voice quieter but still firm. "You talk too much."
Dain chuckled softly, relieved the tension had eased even slightly. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
Konan didn't smile, but her posture relaxed just enough for Dain to notice. Though she had said little, Dain felt certain her words had left an impression. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
[Objective progress confirmed: Initial connection established with Konan. Influence potential increased.]
Dain allowed herself a small smile, even as Konan remained silent. This was only the beginning of their journey together. If she could help Konan see her own worth, she might just be able to rewrite her story—and her destiny.
______
I chose Konan first, because it made sense in my mind. Also, please check out my other stories and add them to your collection. I will give extra chapters here if you do that.