Naruto: the simple skills

I am taken to the world where I will practice my staring... the deep orange room shifts and forms into smaller box, cage bars split the room into two and on the other side separate from me I see a chunk of flesh splat into it.

*scratch* *scrawl*

I look to my feet and read the message.

'Mortal limit reached. Taking chunk of the Mad one. Win a staring contest with a fragment of Madness'

What? I look up to the cage and the flesh pile suddenly shifts and opens like a curtain, but under the grotesque deep green flesh is a shining golden eye with a small pupil that makes my mind itch.

I hate that itch.

I need to scratch it.

--

*haaa- haaa-*

I stare at the wall away from that thing, I just spent an hour scratching at my own head till I dug too deep and died.

I cant win against that! What am I supposed to do!

*scratch* *scrawl*

The wall I'm facing scratches a sentence.

'For every minute you do not stare back there will be consequences. One minute will break one bar. Win the staring contest or be devoured by the Mad ones fragment'

*snap*

I turn around and see one of the bars snap into pieces and the deep green flesh smashes into the bars and the eye presses against the metal. It wants out.

I stare at it and there is that itch in my skull again, I have to resist.

But I hate that itch.

I should scratch it.

No, I will die.

But that itch will die with me.

Never, I will have to do it again if I die.

But there is an itch in your intestines.

I will die!

Have you tried scratching that itch?

No.

It could be different.

Yes.

---

*slam* *slam* *slam*

I slam my hand against the floor in protest, why did I think this a good idea?! The itch spreads and disappears every time I dig too deep and now I am covered in scars and blood-

*snap*

But I cant look away, so I look up and I feel an itch in the tips of my fingers.

I bite and scrape my teeth against them.

But I keep staring.

I bite them off but the itch remains.

But I keep staring.

I keep biting the air until my teeth crack.

But I still stare.

An itch starts to form on my eyes.

But only the outer layer.

Should I just peel at it? Just a little?

I do.

But I still stare.

Even without fingers.

Even without toes.

Even without teeth.

Even without skin.

Even without eyes.

I still stare.

---

I take deep breath and regain my posture, I just died from blood loss and I stretch my legs and arms.

I haven't stopped staring. Even after death I remain staring at the thing in front of me, its eyes inviting and its itch ever-present.

I take breaths but I do not stop staring, staring without blinking my eyes start to dry and the itch tells me to scratch at my lungs.

*scratch*

Is that writing? No, I will not look away... no that's me. I'm scratching, but at what? I shouldn't stop staring. But I do.

I look down and see that I have scratched the whole room, my fingers making the box remind me of an abandoned insane asylums 'fun room'.

I breathe and- *snap*

I stare back to the creature and I breathe, I ignore any sensation that drives me to itch and I get the hang of ignoring that drive to do something, my body sits as still as possible and my mind resolute.

I stare.

But that itch.

But I stare.

And that itch.

But I stare.

And another.

But I stare.

Your body must be scratched.

No.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

NO!

---

...stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare...

The thing blinks.

What? But I stare and stare and stare? But it blinked? When I am staring!? How dare it blink! I stare! And stare! And stare!

I am the stare and the itch is you!

Scratch, scratch and stare! Hahahaha!

Blink? It? It blinks? That thing blinks!? No, no, no.

And stare and stare and stare and stare.

Why does it blink if it is that? That is weakness! I have not blinked for so long and it just!? The audacity! I stare!

AND STARE AND STARE AND STARE AND STARE AND STARE AND STARE.

*SCRATCH* *SCRAWL*

loud scratching and writing takes me out of my loop, I take a breath and blink- the flesh thing is gone and I am waiting in my bed, staring at the old caretaker who gulps and pokes me with a broom.

"Are you awake...?"

"Sorry? And stare?"

"The Hokage is here to see you. stare?"

"And stare yes! And stare! I will go thank you for telling me Old, Old lady?!"

She blinks and sweats but I get up and make my bed before walking outside to see the Hokage looking at me in curiosity and sadness.

"Is something wrong? And stare? Old guy?"

He shakes his head and stare- and breathes out a sigh, and pats my back before leading me through the streets and talking to me.

"Are you-"

"I am not mad!" I interrupt, wouldn't want him to think that I am right? That would be disastrous!

"Lets take a small detour Kenzo... it seems something ails you" the old man ribs my head before leading me through the streets and stopping at a flower shop, inside he tells me to wait at the entrance and I do, he speaks to the lady at the front and eventually goes out the back, a small blond girl approaches me.

"Hi!" She says in her cute voice.

Does she wonder if I have gone mad? That would be crazy and stare- and you are not crazy O, O, O, O, O, O.

I don't speak, why should I? I know how to stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare stare and stare and stare and stare and stare and tell people how I am feeling with just a stare.

I give her a happy stare and she giggles before taking a small walk around me as if appraising me.

"Are you okay?"

"Me mad!? No, no... just stare and stare. How are you? Not mad I hope?"

"No... I am good! You have a terrible fashion sense though, and you should probably get haircut"

I nod frantically and respond.

"Yes- Yes! This cute voice girl is smart!"

She lightly blushes and scratches her cheek.

"Ah, well... that's... thank you?"

Stare and stare and stare.

"Did you come to buy flowers?" She asks while swaying from side to side, she decides to cling to my shoulders and that is bad! What if it looks! And stares! What if it maddens you!? Shouldn't touch the voice cute girl!

"You shouldn't touch, I am the bad looking boy"

She giggles before patting my head and smiling at me.

"Ah! Right, no flowers! Came here with an old man... why are you touching me?"

She starts playing with my hair and starts braiding little strands. I stare. Her face is focused on my hair and she keeps touching! And stare... maybe I needed to stare at something...

She has an itch on her eyes.

Someone should scratch that- wait.

I take a breath and my mind clears, the endless track of 'and stare' in my subconscious disappears.

"Daddy!" The little girl stops braiding my hair and she climbs over me to try and get to the person currently pressing his palm against my back.

"Hey! If it isn't my favourite daughter! Come here and give me some cuddles!" The little girl steps on my shoulders and leaps off to the arms of the blonde man.

I turn around and he nods to me before covering his daughters ears and speaking to the Hokage.

"He had something stuck in his subconscious, that usually happens when the brain wants to follow a specific order that contradicts the safety of its body... it seemed he had impressive control over it however, else he would be acting on those orders" the man looks at me before asking a question "where you doing something dangerous and repetitive?"

I shake my head and tell him a half truth.

"I just went to bed and sometimes I meditate or try to calm down because I have bad nightmares... they can make me vomit and jump"

"Any ideas on what is in these nightmares?"

"Nothing set in stone... the last one I felt like staring and staring constantly until it drove me..."

He pats my shoulder and holds his kid in one hand.

"Its alright, if you ever feel like that again make sure to come here and ask for me, or head straight to the Hokage and his office, that is the building just over there"

He points into the streets and I note the big building.

"Daddy! (Whisper yell) can I give a flower to my new friend!" The little girl whispers loudly into the ear of the man and he nods before dropping the girl who runs into the store.

"Are we alright now? No other problems jumping out?" He asks and I respond.

"No, none. Thank you for your help. And any help in the future... these nightmares happen rarely but they always hit me hard"

He chuckles and ruffles my hair before standing, the little girl runs over to me out of breath and pushes a few flowers into my hands.

"That's more than one Ino?"

"But Daddy!"

"Alright- wait those flowers, why those ones Ino?"

She pokes her tongue out at him and turns to me.

"Please accept these flowers bad looking boy! That one is a pink lily, that one is a red lily and the other is a red rose!"

"Cool... I will make sure to put them in a vase when and if I get one or have one"

She beams a smile at me and then the Hokage taps my shoulder with a smile.

"We should go see if you do have one Kenzo"

"You are leaving? Come by next time Kenzo-kun! I will give you more flowers, you can call me Ino!"

"Thank you Ino, will do... no need for honorifics with me.. thank you as well sir"

I bow to the blonde man who is sweating a little and he chuckles before waving as I follow the Hokage home.

My new home seems to be an apartment, I climb the stares- stairs, damn I need to stop thinking about staring... anyway at the top of the stairs and at the second floor the Hokage hands me a small key before knocking on the door.

It opens and Naruto peeks his head out, before opening it fully and jump hugging me.

"O! We are living together can you believe it!"

"I can, for it is happening right now"

He chuckles and then looks up towards the Hokage.

"Are you staying for lunch today?"

"I'm afraid not Naruto, I am quite busy and need to get back to my office... enjoy the new apartment you two, if you need anything make sure to come find me"

"Ok! Bye old man!" "See you! Old man!"

We both say goodbye before Naruto brings me into the apartment and gives me a tour, the place is small and definitely meant for one, but as two year olds its bigger then ever.

There is two beds near the window and they face inwards, kind of taking up some space for the loungeroom but that is fine.

"We have a vase?"

"Vase... what's that?"

I chuckle before checking the cupboards and I could of sworn there wasn't one on the small bench but when I looked up it was suddenly there... oh well.

I place the three flowers into it with some water and me and Naruto spend the rest of the day talking and having fun in our new apartment.

And just as I am about to go shower.

------

Complete: Leave the Orphanage.

Reward: D-rank scroll.

------

------

Complete: find a new home.

Reward: C-rank scroll.

------

Does this thing give the scrolls I need, or do I keep just stumbling into the right ones... I haven't gotten a scroll out of order yet.

Actually I should check my skill list to see if I actually completed the B-rank skill scroll, I head into the shower and meditate while the water runs down my back.

------
Skills:

Unyeilding Stare: E×D×C×B×A︎•S︎•K•︎

Breathing: E×D︎•C︎•B︎•A•︎S︎•K•︎

------

Unyielding? Okay... so it upgraded?

------

The skill had a breakthrough and depending on the results of that breakthrough it changes.

You got unyielding Stare!

You nearly got Maddening Stare!

Do not forget this information.

------

Ohhhh! It could of branched into many different things... so my stare is now unyielding? I can guess what maddening does but unyielding sounds more like a passive resistance to stare at things.... which everyone can already do....

Never mind, I have two scrolls and the shower is the best place to vomit... this should be the breakthrough right? What else could I learn to do with breathing? Holding my breath wasn't just holding it for a while... I had to learn so many tricks just to stay awake and have breath by the ten minutes.

This should be the breakthrough. A test. This test will shape this skill.

I accept the two scrolls and focus on the D-rank scroll.

'Breathing'

---

The deep orange expanse welcomes me and it then shifts and forms five podiums around me, each having something hovering over it.

The first: A floating ball of dust and dirt.

The second: A floating ball of white cloud.

The third: A floating ball of bright blue light.

The fourth: A floating ball of water.

The fifth: A floating ball of ash and flame.

*scratch* *scrawl*

The floor shows writing.

'Inhale and survive. If you succeed than your path is chosen. If you fail that path is lost'

This test seems much easier than the B-rank staring... so it is easier even if it is a breakthrough in skill... if the stare skill broke through at this level I would probably have to win a staring contest with something way weaker... or maybe a different test entirely?

If I fail all of these will I be able to try again?

*scratch* *scrawl*

'Fail and a new test awaits. My patience will not await however'

*puff* the first podium disappears and I'm left with four, okay the system does not like me wasting time...

I approach the water and... do I try and drink it or-

*splash*

The water forces itself down my throat and unto my lungs, I cannot breathe and it hurts so much- my chest feels on fire and my body cools as I choke to death.

*haaa- haaa-*

Okay, how was I supposed to breathe through that? That was quick and painful, thanks for the mercy I suppose???

I look at the three podiums left and I approach the cloud, air right? That should be the easiest to inhale right?

The cloud flows down my throat and into my lungs... it feels fine? And it actually felt nice flowing down my tongue and throat... like if a pillow tasted like it felt like...

Waiting for a few minutes I continue to breathe in and out, waiting for anything.

My chest suddenly feels heavier... or fuller? Like a tightening in my torso, I clutch my chest and fall to the ground... the cloud is growing in my lungs and I cant breathe...

Exhale- Exhale- Inhale- Exhale- Exhale-Exhale- fuck.

I blink and I'm standing again, the podiums that remain are fire and light... or is that lightning? Okay lets break it down.

Water clogged my lungs and I couldn't breath at all... perhaps I was meant to hold my breath like the first trial...

The cloud expanded in my chest and I had a rhythm of breathing that managed to stop its expanse but I didn't find it quick enough to survive...

Am I meant to be learning a style of breathing dependant on the element? I feel like I was meant to hold my one breath in the water one and exhale one breath in the cloud one...

I approach the Lightning one.

It flashes into my body and through my chest but I don't feel anything.

I wait patiently and eventually I can feel a tingle in my chest... it starts to tighten and burn my insides.

I take one long exhale... no.

I hold one breath... no.

I.... should breathe erratically and quickly? Like lightning?

*haa* *hwoo* *haa* *hwoo*

Nope that hurts- man that hurts my lungs.

The exhaling was good though.

*hwoo* *hwoo* *haa*

Not quick enough! And I cant be sucking up so much air! Three breaths all of them out one after the other!

*Hwoo* *Hwoo* *Hwoo*

The electric tingle in my body suddenly becomes less painful and when I breathe in more air it hurts again... but I can manage if it is like this.

I breathe out three sharp breaths and inhale... three... inhale... three... inhale...

The feeling leaves my body and the podiums disappear, I start to breath normally again... that felt like ten minutes or so... much easier then staring down that thing.

*scratch* *scrawl*

The floor has new writing.

'Breathing skill broken. Now it has changed for the better'

I blink and I am in the shower still... my chest hurts so much... the stare skill gives me horrid mental problems and this one gives me bad physical problems...

The pain goes away after twenty seconds.

I meditate on my skills.

------
Skills:

Unyielding Stare: E×D×C×B×A︎•S︎•K•︎

Burst Breathing: E×D×C•︎B︎•A︎•S︎•K•︎

------

Burst breathing? I think I get it... I breathe out following the pattern that allowed me to survive.

I feel a surge of adrenaline for the first three quick breaths but nothing after...

I breathe out in three quick breaths again and that surge of adrenaline shoots through me again.

Okay, three quick breaths for a speed boost?

Nice...

Now for the C-rank scroll.

'Burst breathing'

I blink and open my eyes to the familiar space and then it shifts into an open world with a great sky, I am in a rocky plain and before me is a tall tower that reaches the clouds.

*scratch*

'Climb'

The tower?

*screech* *scratch*

The tower grows slightly taller and the ground scratches an exclamation mark next to the word that it placed before... and without hesitation I start climbing.

The tower doesn't have any ladders or such, but there is big platforms that lean out from the side the problem is that the platforms are just out of reach from my little hands.

Hmmmm burst breathing right? That must be the answer, I breathe out three quick breaths and jump- *fwoosh* and just like that I am able to reach the next platform which I grab and climb onto.

Nice and lets- *creak* *slam*

I fall to the ground and look up, the platform flapped down and I was left to fall... the platforms don't stay up?

Okay I have to be quick, this is just like a platformer game with falling platforms, three breaths and I climb, one breath, three breaths, one breath and three breaths.

I start climbing up the tower one by one and I can hear the platforms folding right below me and I am pressured to go faster and faster.

*splat*

I fall and die.

Okay, maybe not. I am too slow, I need to make sure that every breath has purpose and every action leads to greater heights...

---

*splat*

Okay- haaa- haaa- I got to halfway but the platforms changed into a different scenario.

Instead of platforms there was detachable pull up bar and hooks... so I had to pick it up and place it on the next set of hooks above... the hooks take two seconds to fold inwards and disappear.

That is way too quick... how can I use my breathing to go quicker? I know now that it is not an adrenaline boost but rather a boost of temporary speed... maybe I need to get better at my breathing in order to go faster and maintain a longer boost then one second.

Alright- I am dead tired and my limbs want to stop but I cant.

Three breaths out. One breath in.

---

I am slamming the bar into its hooks and leaping upwards, if not for the breathing my body would be incapable of doing this. I breathe harder and harder, quicker and quicker and eventually I get into the rhythm of climbing these bar hooks.

...

*slam*

The hooks stop and stairs await me, I step on them and I start running in fear of them falling behind me... am I above the clouds thats so beautiful... *haa* *hwoo* *hwoo*

Gack-

*fwoooooh* *splat*

... did I just faint? Why did I- never mind, my breathing... I am certain I lost too much air and the feeling up that high... how do I breathe in such a place?

Lets keep going! I jump on the platforms again and my sudden energy to keep going is not voluntary, the tower started growing in meters again.

---

*clink*

I cling to the top of the tower... I can barely think straight but I did it, The bell up here clinks against itself and I ring it... which causes the tower to disappear as if it never existed.

*fwoooosh* *splat*

I blink and I am in the shower again, I meditate on my skills.

------
Skills:

Unyielding Stare: E×D×C×B×A•︎S︎•K•︎

Breathing: E×D×C×B•︎A•︎S•︎K•︎

------

Alright.... alright. Lets not do anything above a C-rank scroll for a while... it makes my entire body ache and tremble and I feel like vomiting but I swallow down that feeling and keep standing on.

Okay... lets take a minute and then turn off the shower... glad the shower knobs are low enough for me to reach, guess the Old man renovated a few things here for us.

I get dressed and leave the bathroom to see that Naruto keeps opening and closing the fridge on repeat.

"What are doing...?"

"Looking for food"

"You know it doesn't just spawn in there right?"

"... WHAT! Where do we get food!?"

Right... this is an actual child, I suppose a shinobi is keeping watch on us... should we bother him till he leaves us something? No, no, I am perfectly capable of getting food.

"Did you get any money for food and expenses?"

"Yeah! Dattebayo!"

Alright, Naruto throws me his fancy new frog wallet and I open it up to find a whole lot of coins and cash.

"I will let you hold on to this and when we need some I will grab the right amount of coins okay?"

He nods and we leave the apartment to find food, unfortunate for us the sky does not like it when we leave as it starts pouring down with rain.

"Naruto are you hungry-hungry? Or just hungry?"

"Hungry-Hungry! Dattebayo!"

That settles that, we keep walking through the streets of Konoha and trying to stay under the dry spots where the buildings deflect any rain.

We reach a nice smelling barbeque place and enter.

"Hello children, how may I help you today- ah sorry we are just about to close... perhaps come at another time?

"Alright!" Naruto drags me out and I lower my gaze at the lady who changed tone so quickly upon looking at Naruto.

"Naruto... are you alright?"

"Yeah why? I'm sure somewhere else is open?"

He looks at me dumbly and yeah... Naruto didn't even notice, taking that strangers word as if it where the truth... makes sense considering this is one of the few times he has been outside.

We go to many shops and food places, unfortunately they all shake there head and tell us some excuse... mind you some had genuine reasons but the majority are terrible with lying.

Naruto is sadly walking beside me as we peek into our final destination, we look inside and the warm interior with six seats along a counter is inviting, but Naruto looks downcast and walks right past.

"Hey Naruto... don't want to try?"

He shakes his head and keeps walking, but lucky for him the owner of this stall calls out to us.

"You two want anything? We are about to close shop but we can make one last meal"

The old man in smiles warmly at us and I look over to Naruto who carefully walks in and sits down, I follow.

"Food please!" Naruto asks and the owner chuckles, he starts making something in the back.

I look again to Naruto and he looks at me.

It seems this 'Ichiraku' has gained repeat customers.

---

Thanks for reading :)