7 Sparring

In 2 days' time I would be entering the Shinobi Academy, however I have yet to complete the preparations quest. I pulled up the quest log, checking on my progress.

[Quest [Preparations] - Incomplete]

-Train yourself before entering the Shinobi Academy!

-Increase your level up to 8 (√)

-Increase your Shurikenjutsu up to LVL 3 (√)

-Increase your Basic Body Conditioning up to LVL 5 (√)

-Increase your Beginner Taijutsu Mastery to LVL 3 (√)

-Learn the Leaf Concentration Exercise (√)

-Increase your Leaf Concentration Exercise to LVL 3 (√)

-?

-?

Rewards:

New Title

+2 to all stats

+1 LVL to all skills

?

?

Failure:

-New Title

-REP decreased with 'Rookie 9'

-REP decreased with Shinobi Academy

To be more specific, with my latest [Basic Body Conditioning] level up notification, I have managed to complete all of the known objectives. However, the hidden objectives were still unknown to me. Based on my experience with previous quests containing hidden objectives, unless I accomplished all objectives of the quest, including hidden ones, I will only be able to find out what they were at the end of the deadline. That is to say, as of this moment, I have yet to accomplish one or both of the hidden objectives.

Putting away the now empty water bottle back into my inventory, I made my way back to my new apartment since I have achieved my today's goal of levelling up that skill. While walking, I inconspicuously picked up some leaves and reached into my shirt to attach some of them on my torso using the [Leaf Concentration Exercise].

With my current CP pool, I was able to maintain three leaves simultaneously for slightly more than 5 minutes before my chakra was depleted. This was mainly due to the still relatively high CP consumption the [Leaf Concentration Exercise] had. However, as the CP cost reduced by 0.5 for every level of the skill, when I reached level 10, presumably the max, it would only take up 0.5 CP per second.

At the same time, I was also constantly spamming my [Observe] skill on anything or anyone that crossed my path. Since a month ago, the level of the skill had remained unchanged for reasons unknown to me. It was uncertain whether it was an issue of quantity or quality of the usage of the skill; regardless, I still used it as frequently as I could hoping it might make a difference.

From what I could gather, as of now the [Observe] skill was only able to show me information about a targeted person that was readily apparent – such as minute body language or facial cues that only an artificial intelligence, or a veteran psychiatrist, would be able to pick up.

The system gathered these nuanced expressions and compiled them into a summarized report every time I targeted someone with [Observe]. And I would similarly be able to obtain more information based on how well I knew the individual involved.

For example, once, upon scanning a genin, the system showed me that he was a genin of Konohagakure and was a taijutsu specialist. I guessed that the system was able to deduce that based on the wrappings around his knuckles and perhaps through his gait or something similarly abstract.

I came to that conclusion when I coincidentally encountered the very namesake of this universe on the streets once, Uzumaki Naruto himself. It was only for a brief moment as he was running past me laughing and grinning, away from several irate civilian shopkeepers. I almost wanted to run after him just so I could meet the infamous Jinchuuriki in person but stopped myself before casting [Observe] on him.

Uzumaki Naruto Lv 6

HP: 3800/3800

CP: 19,380/19,380

Naruto is a fellow orphan of Konohagakure. He is a boisterous and energetic boy who loves pranking. Even though the village seems to keep him at a distance or avoids the child for some reason, he still persists on getting their attention through whatever means necessary.

He has no opinion of you.

Aside from the ridiculously large chakra reserve for a 7 or 8 year old child, there had been no other indication of his condition as the Jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi that could be seen in his status. Even if I knew from meta-knowledge that he did indeed contain the bijuu, without [Observe] being at a higher level or the information being readily apparent, I would not be able to see it on his status.

This also meant that as of right now, [Observe] would be unable to see past disguises or henge without increasing its level. Hence my eagerness to level up the skill.

Without any incident, I made it back to the student dormitory complex, a mid-sized building that even featured a small training ground in front for its occupants. There, I noticed several other children who were resting at the benches provided.

"Yo." I greeted as I walked up to them.

The three of them turned towards me, waving back. "Oh Shinji, back so soon?" One of them asked.

They were my senpai at the Shinobi Academy who also stayed in the Shinobi dormitories as they themselves were orphans. I met them ready to welcome me to the apartment complex the day I moved into the dormitory.

Searching through my memories, I was able to recall they had been raised alongside me in the orphanage as well, only leaving when they entered the Shinobi Academy. We even had a pretty good brotherly relationship before they entered the Shinobi Academy.

One of them was a third year student and the other two were heading into their second year. They were in the last stretch of their summer break, so it made sense they were lazing around instead of actively training like me.

"I got tired, so I decided to call it a day, Hiroki-senpai." I replied smiling, briefly stretching my arm across my chest.

Hiroki, the one who asked, rolled his eyes dismissively, "Pfft, really, a training fanatic like you?" I could only chuckle as I sat on the floor towards them, my legs apart and arms holding me up by my side.

"Well, fanatics get tired too y'know? And besides, how else am I going to catch up to you guys?"

One of them stood up and playfully put me into a headlock while grinding his knuckles on my temple, "You brat, not even in the academy yet and already wanting to leave us in the dust huh? Take your punishment!"

"AH NOBORU-SENPAI WAIT LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS!" I yelled out in mock agony while struggling to remove myself from his admittedly loose hold.

He released me, but not before lightly chopping on my head, "That will teach you to make fun of your Senpais, you brat."

The other two laughed out loud while watching the spectacle. "Noboru has a point, Shinji. You're going to be in the academy for 4 years, and if you pass the graduation exam you will be entering the Shinobi forces y'know? You should be enjoying times like these while you still have the chance."

"But I enjoy training, Takumi-senpai! It's fun for me to get better at throwing shuriken and watching myself grow stronger." I pouted, while rubbing away the pain from my abused temple.

"This kid is really too excited for his own good," Noboru waved his fist at me, "Once you are in the academy like us, you will start to appreciate what free time you do have."

I grinned at that, "That won't happen Noboru-senpai, I love training after all!"

Noboru's eyebrow twitched and he took a step towards me threateningly, as I was starting to back up and putting my hands up in mock surrender, Hiroki called out, "Hey leave the kid alone, Noboru. Who knows, maybe he will make a name for himself and make us orphan kids proud huh?"

Noboru turned back, "This brat? I don't know about that, Takumi-senpai. Doesn't look like much to me."

Frowning, I stepped forwards, "Hey, I can hold my own, just try me!"

The other boys raised their eyebrows quizzically, as Noboru adopted a smirk, "You think so tough guy? Alright then, put up your dukes, let me 'try you' as you offered."

Takumi frowned, "Don't get too rough guys, school is starting in a few days."

Noboru interlocked his fingers and stretched them while cracking his neck, "You worry too much, Takumi-senpai, it's just a light spar. I'll go easy on the kid."

[Quest Alert!]

Spar with Noboru!

-Land a clean shot

-Knock Noboru down once

-(Bonus 1) Knock Noboru down twice

-(Bonus 2) Defeat Noboru in the spar

-(Bonus 3) Knock out Noboru

Rewards:

+100 EXP

REP increased with Takumi

REP increased with Hiroki

REP increased with Noboru

(Bonus 1) +100 EXP

(Bonus 2) +100 EXP

(Bonus 3) New Title

Failure:

-REP decreased with Takumi

-REP decreased with Hiroki

-REP decreased with Noboru

Accept? (Y/N)

Hitting yes, we made our way to the middle of the small training ground. "Promise you won't get mad when I knock your butt down to the ground, Noboru-senpai." I teased.

"HAH! The chances of that happening is less likely than the moon turning red." Noboru shot back with the confidence that was expected. He had the advantage in height, reach, weight, and a year of practical experience over me; but I had the help of the system and my stats were nothing to scoff at, especially since he was the same level as me.

"If you two are serious then I will referee." Takumi cut in, annoyed. "Taijutsu only, the usual rules."

I shot up my hand, "What are the usual rules?"

Noboru turned to me in disbelief and ridicule, "Is this your first spar? Oh man now I'm starting to feel bad having to kick your green ass."

Takumi similarly looked at me with some worry, "Uh are you sure about this, Shinji? Do you even know how to fight?"

I looked back with determination, "I got this, senpai! Trust me!"

He shrugged, "It's your funeral. Right, so the usual rules a re: it's your win if you knock the opponent down three times, get them to yield, or knock them out – but remember," Takumi turned towards Noboru noticeably, "this is a friendly match, so don't try your best to knock off each other's heads."

"Yeah yeah, let's get started already."

"Got it, senpai."

Noboru and I faced each other and we both settled into our stances – his I presume to be the Konoha Academy fighting style, while I held up both hands in a loose, southpaw boxing stance.

"Ready? …Hajime!"