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WormA Cape in Konoha (Worm/Naruto AU) Thread starterMorgan Arc Start dateAug 19, 2019 Tags naruto worm (parahumans) alternate universe konohaFirst Prev11 of 395Next LastThreadmarksSidestoryApocryphaMediaInformationalStaff PostReader modeLedmonkeyAug 24, 2019#251Monshroud said:Well, unlike canon Sakura, she's definitely not doing this get "Sasuke-kun" to notice her. Good for you girl!
....Although given how much Sasuke admires strength, Taylor/Sakura might actually have more success than Canon!Sakura had originally without even meaning to.
SASUKE: (utterly serious) One day, you will marry me.
TAYLOR/SAKURA: ...HELL no.
And the game begins!Click to expand...I mean realistically speaking Naruto is 100% her type. At least post-time skip Naruto.11 Remove this ad spaceThreadmarks Chapter 3 Threadmarks Morgan ArcThe Breaker of TropesAug 25, 2019#252Chapter 3:
-Konoha Academy-
"In AV 27, the second shinobi war was in full swing, with Konohagakure fighting against Sunagakure, Amegakure, and Iwagakure. Could anyone in the class please tell me why Konohagakure got involved in this conflict?"
"Oh! I know sensei!" Another classmate calls out, thrusting his hand in the air.
'So bored.' I yawn as I look at the clock on the wall.
"That is correct Sasuke-kun!" Izume-sensei praises the Uchiha who got the correct answer.
Unlocking chakra did not prove to be that difficult, after making it back home from my expedition I had read over the instructions on how to awaken chakra, finding that it was not nearly as complicated as I imagined.
'It definitely tired me out though.' I wince, once again catching myself before I copied Shikamaru.
After I had begun meditating, I did as the scroll instructed and focused on the core of my very being, searching for the energy that lurked within.
Unlocking the energy was strange, if I were to describe it, it felt sort of like drinking ice water after working in the sun, except, that initial cold burst does not go away.
But what I discovered about my chakra, more than made up for the amount of time spent to awaken it.
-Haruno Residence-
-5 AM-
I sat cross legged on the floor of my room; eyes closed in concentration. The scroll stated one needed to meditate in order to "find your center."
It sounded like some sort of kung fu bullshit, but who was I to disagree. I had plenty of experience casting my consciousness outward through insects, but this was the first time I was attempting the opposite.
'Look inside yourself…'
The trouble was how does one do that. I doubt it meant picturing my stomach and the multigrain bar I had eaten before setting out.
'Feel the core of yourself…'
Instead of focusing on my intestines I focus on my past, the decisions and motivations that led me to this moment.
From the bullying and how it motivated me to be a hero.
How I found a group of friends that pulled me into villainy.
Then how my ambitions had cleared the bay of the gangs that had plagued it but left me alone atop the city's underground.
The revelation of the end of the world and my subsequent joining of the wards.
Then finally, the surrender of my sense of self to my shard, and my elevation to the being known as Kephri.
Everything I had done, everything I had sought out to do, could be summed up in the unshakable and persistent pursuit of my goal.
The very core of my being was an iron will that would never bend or break.
'I sense something, a flicker…no, more than that.' I concentrate. Focusing the will to succeed that had driven me to become one of the most powerful capes in America.
'No…its definitely not a spark, its everywhere, its…!'
In a burst of light an explosion of brilliantly blue energy surrounded me.
'What is this…' I gape.
I could see…everything!
Flickers of light…hundreds…no thousands of them dancing across my mind's eye.
Some were moving, some were completely stationary while others almost seemed to teleport around.
'This almost feels…is my power back?!' I gasp, instinctively reaching out to grasp the motes of light, only to find that I could not grasp them like I could insects.
'No…this feels different somehow.' I mutter as the aura disappears, and with it the rush of information.
"What…was that?"
…
'I still have not figured out what that sensation was.' I frown, remembering the cascade of information I had received from activating my chakra for the first time. For that brief window it felt like I could track any living thing in my area.
'One thing is for sure; I have to figure out how to activate that again. Without the near omniscience my insects gave me, I feel so defenseless.' I sigh.
"Now class, why don't we all head outside for physical exercise!" A voice broke through my reminiscing.
Refocusing back on the class I realize that I had been distracted throughout the entire lesson and it was now time for PE.
"Hai Sensei!" The more energetic kids in the class shouted as they rushed out, the calmer heads moving at a more sedate pace.
"Ugh what a drag…why can't we use this as a nap period instead." Shikamaru groaned from the back of the pack as we moved through the hallway.
"But you treat world history as nap time anyway Shikamaru." Choji comments, eating from his inexhaustible chip bag.
I walk with them, content to remain in silence.
"I don't think this time should be for rest. Why you ask? Because it is necessary for our development as Shinobi." Shino replies in monotone.
"Tsk, don't be such a downer Shino…" The Nara heir grunts as we make our way onto the field.
The academy training ground was a large patch of dirt behind the building surrounded by Konohagakure distinctive trees. It was not much to look at, but it served its purpose well enough.
At the front of the group Izume-sensei held a clipboard in her hands "Now everyone, as you know it has been a month since we have begun training, which means that we are ready to begin the next step! We can now begin sparring!"
I sigh in exasperation as most of the kids in the class gasp in excitement at the prospect of beating each other senseless.
I was not really looking forward to this. I had never really bothered with marital arts during my time as a cape. Beside some pointers from Brian and self-taught knife fighting moves.
Most of the time I relied on my bugs to find a weak point and just stab it.
'Although.' I think, watching the kids squabble on who will be the strongest 'I don't really think I will have many problems.'
"Now, now. All of you calm down." Izume says, gently reprimanding the loud students "Since this is the first time we are sparring like this, why don't we do something fun?"
"Something fun sensei?" Shikamaru asks warily.
"That's right!" She beams, turning around the clipboard to show a bracket "Why don't we have a tournament!"
"Ohh! That is perfect, I will beat all of you and be the best!" Naruto boasts.
"Yeah? I will punt your puny ass!" Kiba retorts.
The two but heads, growling.
"Now, now. Calm down and save it for the matches!" Izume cautions, leading us to a section of the training grounds that was lined with a circle.
"The rules are simple, using only taijutsu, you are to either force the opponent out of the circle or subdue them!"
'So…your telling seven-year olds to beat each other into submission?' I think with a dead-pan expression.
"The matchups are as follows!"
Haru vs Shikamaru
Kiba vs Asahi
Shino vs Mio
Naruto vs Sasuke
Sakura vs Ino
Rio vs Choji
Yuna vs Hinata
'All the clan kids against clanless ones huh. Favoritism, or coincidence…?' I wonder as I observe the list.
"Seriously? I am first…what a drag." Shikamaru groans as he steps into the ring.
"I will show you what a drag is!" Haru, a nondescript girl replied, putting up her fists in a boxing stance.
The fight was short, and rather brutal, with Haru rushing in only to have her legs swept from under her and then promptly sat on by the lazy Nara.
"Sensei, I don't think she can get up." Shikamaru yawned.
As a girl I felt as if I should feel some feminine fury but honestly the situation was pretty funny.
"R-right, winner Shikamaru. Let's move on to the next one okay?" Izume grinned awkwardly.
Shrugging the boy walks back to the pack of students, ignoring the death glares from all the other girls.
The next two fight followed in the same vein, with Asahi and Mio being pushed out of the ring in under a minute after the match started. It just showed how much of a gap between the clan kids and the civilian born actually was.
The clan kids had probably been trained since birth in their respective family techniques. Those who had lived a normal lifestyle simply did not compare.
'So was sensei just giving us a dose of reality…or sucking up to the clan kids so they can advance easier.' I wonder, eyeing the woman who just last night had helped me immensely on my quest to master the strange new powers of this world.
"Alright, next up is Sasuke against Naruto!" Izume says after Shino ambles off after pushing Mio out of the ring in under a minute.
'The dead last against one of the best in class.' I couldn't help but snort. From what I had come to understand the Uchiha were practically royalty in the village. They comprised most of the police force and were the second richest clan in the village behind the Hyuga. Their influence could not be understated.
'It's too early to see if this will be a pattern, but if it is my respect for you has dropped a little Izume.' I think idly as the match starts after Naruto boasts of his skill. I did not have the impression that the woman was a suck up after she had helped me last night.
"You should just give up; you cannot match an Uchiha!" Sasuke boasts, folding his arms across his chest in an effort to look intimidating.
"I don't care if you're an Uchiha or anything, I'm gonna be Hokage so I'm gonna kick your ass!" Naruto retorts, glaring heavily as they make the seal of confrontation that the teacher had taught them.
I wince as the fight dragged on. Naruto, despite his utter lack of finesse, skill, or the basic knowledge on how to throw a punch still managed to stand up over and over again as Sasuke beat him up.
Somehow the blond boy avoided getting thrown out of the circle, but after ten minutes of constant fighting was bruised and bloody.
Even Izume looked uncomfortable as Naruto stood up once again from a devastating punch to the chin that would have knocked out a grown man.
Finally, Sasuke seemed to have enough of it and physically manhandled the smaller boy out of the circle, panting heavily.
"Winner…Sasuke!"
"Yeah go Sasuke!" Some girls in the class shouted, their affection for the raven-haired boy obvious.
I keep my face a blank mask, analyzing the class dynamic as Naruto hobbles off the ring, feeling my fingers clench and unclench into a fist.
Even after my two-year long career in the wards, I had never gotten over my dislike of authority. From Winslow to Alexandria those in power had failed at every turn, and it seems Konoha was no different.
'Those in clans get special treatment while civilians are second class then?' I hoped I was wrong, but the more I studied the village dynamics the more convinced I was that this was the case.
I could easily compare it to systems in my world. Powerful families had the most political clout and could bargain more advantages for their kids so they can stay in power. It was classic politics that had been going on for centuries.
But just because I could understand it, did not mean I would just abide by it. I refused to let a brat from a clan walk over me just because their family was powerful.
"Alright…next up is Sakura against Ino! Good luck you two!"
I walk into the ring, facing the blond Yamanaka and raised two fingers in the seal of confrontation.
Ino smirked from behind her fingers "I really feel bad for you. Your first spar and you have to fight the heiress of the Yamanaka clan. I guess I will have to go easy on you…"
I remain silent, pulling the hood lower so it would hide my expression.
"You two ready…? Go!" Izume calls out, thrusting her arm down.
Ino rushes at me with a basic punch, her inexperience leading her to telegraph her punch.
I lean to the side, stepping forward to get inside the girl's guard, delivering a fast punch to the kidney.
"Ooph!" Ino gasped, spittle flying out of her mouth from the force of the blow.
Crouching low to the ground to avoid a wild swing I kick the Yamanaka's legs out from under her and leap onto her back, weaving my arm around her neck, causing the girl to freeze.
While she may be young her private mentors had probably warned her of the danger of this hold. With my arm around her neck it would be easy to snap it or choke the victim into unconsciousness. What was worse was that struggling just made it worse since it was possible for the person in the hold could snap their own neck if they fight too hard.
It was one of the most effective anti-brute maneuvers taught to all Protectorate personnel since many brutes' weaknesses lied in the neck. Iron skin did nothing to protect someone from having their oxygen deprived or their bones snapped.
"I-I surrender!" Ino gasps.
Immediately I release my hold and stuff my hands into my pockets, walking out of the ring to the shocked stares of the other students.
Izume sensei looked shocked, which confused me since she had stated the previous night that she suspected me to be a prodigy.
'Is she acting? If so who is she trying to fool?' I wonder, my emerald green eyes boring into the teacher as she oversees the remaining matches.
'It could be that this tournament was not as impromptu as she made it seem.' I muse, wondering if this sparring session was being observed by more than just the Academy sensei.
'It could be the parents of the clan kids wanting to see their progress, which could explain the favoritism in the match ups.' I guess, my eyes flickering to the fence surrounding the training ground, trying to spot anyone hiding within the dense forest.
I remember the sensation from last night, the thousands of signatures in every direction and close my eyes to focus, ignoring how Choji was awkwardly forcing his opponent out of the ring.
I tried to force it to activate, focusing on the same core concept I used to activate my chakra in the first place, only to be disappointed when the only thing to happen was the pool of energy jerking a little before returning to normal.
'I am missing something, I know it is possible because I already did it, the question is how.'
"Alright then, that concludes the first day of sparring! I think we may have gone a bit over our time limit so why don't we hold off on these matches for another day?" Izume states to the groans of disappointment from the class.
I glance up at the sky, surprised to see the sun setting, which meant it was nearly time for class to end 'I guess I lost track of time to the excitement of it all.'
Izume must have realized the same thing as she smiles at the class "Well then students, why don't you all run home. We can pick up where we left off tomorrow."
The groans immediately turned to cheers as the students rush off back to their homes. I follow along, breaking off from the pack as most of the kids start heading towards the clan district.
I move to head towards the merchant district where my family lives before a voice stopped me, "I won't accept defeat so easily you know!"
I turn to see Ino standing with her hands on her hips, chin jutted out proudly.
"Excuse me?" I ask.
"You heard me! You just want to look cool in order to impress Sasuke-kun!" The Yamanaka glowers.
"…Hold on, what?"
"But I will never give up on making him mine! From today onward you are my rival! I shall beat you if it is the last thing I do!" The girl triumphantly raises her fist to the sky as if she is announcing some grand statement.
I stare at her for a few moments. Still trying to figure out how Sasuke had anything to do with this, or how I suddenly became her "rival."
Dramatically pointing at me the clan heir grins "Don't disappoint me. I would be sad if my rival can't keep up!"
With that the girl runs off, looking more determined than I ever remember her in class.
"…What?"
AN:
I pulled a sneaky on all of you. You thought Queen Administrator wouldn't show up in this story? HA.