The truth was video games were his only salvation in his otherwise totally shitty and messed up life. When he was five the Hokage had given him his first video game console. It was the latest and greatest and all the kids at school could do nothing but talk about them. Those that had one bragged about it, those that didn't were envious of those that did. When he said he'd had one he thought it might lead to friends and some of the kids were interested. That didn't last as their parents said 'no'. An emphatic 'no' in fact that was accompanied with threats of bodily harm. Regardless, games became Naruto's friends, taught him morality, right from wrong, good from evil. So other than ninja academy and training, video games were Naruto's life.
"You're right, what was I thinking? I'm sure this is just some kind of delusion. I must have eaten a bad batch of instant ramen. That's why I'm seeing things," Naruto explained to himself. He was greeted again by a severe slap to the face.
"Blasphemy!" he cried aloud to himself.
Naruto glared once more at himself in the mirror. Then he glanced up at the blue words again and shrugged. They would probably go away soon.
He left the bathroom once more to put on his shoes, put on his hip pouch and strap his weapons pouch to his leg. He looked around his apartment one more time to make sure he didn't forget anything before he opened his door and set out for the first day of his last year in the academy, his last chance.
The Konoha Shinobi Academy, commonly referred to as the KSA, was Naruto's school. He was one of the select few admitted. It was a school for aspiring ninja in training. He was also quite possibly the worst student there. He'd attempted to graduate early twice before having failed both times. This would be his third year in the academy and his last possible chance to graduate, if you didn't make genin by thirteen you were simply cut from the program without exception. Naruto would be turning thirteen in ten months on October 10th. The graduation exam was on November 30th. So he had eleven months to get it done or he was done.
Naruto's landlord was waiting for him at the exit to the building.
"Rent's due," he said gruffly, a golden question mark was hovering over his head.
Naruto quirked an eyebrow curious about where this would go. "What the hell, why not?"
A blue window popped up in front of him.
A Quest has been created.
There was a '?' in the top left corner and an arrow in the bottom right corner. Naruto pressed the arrow.
Quest Alert
Rent is due: Pay Rent
Rent must be paid by 6:00 pm or you will be evicted. Pay the landlord 1000 ryo by 6:00 pm or clear out the chakra rat nest in the basement by 6:00 pm (must bring their tails as proof of kill).
Completion Award: 500 Exp.
Increase reputation with landlord (reputation increase will double for clearing out the chakra rat nest).
Completion Failure: Eviction
Decrease reputation with Konoha
Yes – No
Naruto blinked several times.
"Make up your mind already, I don't have all day," said the landlord.
Naruto quickly touched the 'Yes' button.
"Remember, 6:00 pm or you're out of here," said the man once more time before walking past Naruto shouldering him rudely as he passed.
"What the fuck?" asked Naruto again. He glanced above the head of his landlord.
Michiya Ota – Landlord – Lvl. 7
Naruto put his hands together forming a handseal quickly and flared his chakra shouting, "Kai!" There was no effect at all.
"So if I did that wrong I might still be in a genjutsu but if I didn't then I'm not in a genjutsu and this is all real," he said to himself, given the hallway exiting his building was now empty.
Naruto's walk to the academy was a bit slower than usual as he looked around now seeing level markers above everyone in the village. He'd noticed quickly that most children were only level 1 and civilians topped out around 15 and those at the highest seemed to be tradesmen. The ninja that he saw varied from level 10 to around 30 and then there were a lot of ? level shinobi. It appeared the ones around level 10 to 20 were genin, 20-30 must have been chuunin. The ? must have been chuunin and jounin. If this held true to games that meant their level was so high he couldn't even comprehend it.
A special skill has been created through a special act.
Naruto blinked in surprise yet again. He tapped the blue box and another popped up.
Through continuous observation, a skill to find target's information, 'Observe' Lvl. 1 has been created.
"What the hell? What the hell is [Observe]?" asked Naruto. Suddenly there was a new pop up in orange this time.
Akimichi Dogo – Master Baker – Lvl. 15
HP: 500 CP: 150
Master Baker of the Akimichi Clan
"Cool," said Naruto, half in surprise and half because it really was cool as hell.
Naruto spent the next twenty minutes trying to obverse as many people as he can when another blue wind popped up.
[Observe]'s level has risen by one.
"Again, cool," he said to himself. Looking the master baker again he activated the ability again. "Observe."
Akimichi Dogo – Master Baker – Lvl. 15
HP: 500 (500) CP: 150
Master Baker of the Akimichi Clan. Well known for his baking prowess, Dogo serves the best breads in all of Hi no Kuni, he's even baked for royalty on occasion.
"Sweet," said Naruto. "So I can level up the skills so they work better."
Another blue window popped up interrupting his excitement.