9 Pseudocerastes
At the sound of concerned voices, my bloodshot eyes snapped open with confusion within them.
"He's awake-!"
"Keep him a-!"
"What even happened-!?"
"He was just sleeping ther-"
What's going on?
What are they yelling for? kee...p it... down...
Drowsiness overcame me as I once again succumbed to the loving embrace of sleep.
[]=[]
Just like before, I woke up with bloodshot eyes, looking around frantically. This time, however, I had a lot more clarity.
"Hey, Akuto! Stay awake!" Shouted a blonde woman.
"Did you figure out the cause?" Someone else said.
"It seems to be a side effect of some sort of Kekkai Genkai awakening," Another person replied.
Annoying. Can these fucking people just shut the hell up? My ears are hurting like crazy, why is everything SO loud!?
"Argh! Just shut up... you annoying fuckers..." I slurred out deliriously.
Did these people drug me? It felt like I was hungover and high at the same time.
I stumbled off the side of whatever strange bed I was on as I reopened my eyes, my senses going haywire from the overstimulation.
"Akuto! Are you alright?" A blue-eyed woman asked as she helped me up, my senses calming down as I got used to the environment.
"Ugh... Mom?" I asked as I shook my head, snapping out of my daze, "What even happened?" I questioned, noticing that I suddenly felt a whole lot better.
Did I pass out after the spider bite? Then that must mean that this sensory overload is due to getting the powers.
That's also probably the reason why I feel so much stronger all of a sudden.
Naruko was about to respond but one of the doctors came over and began to question me, "How do you feel? Tired? Agitated? Are you in pain?" The doctor said as she flashed an annoying light in my eye.
"Annoyed, now, can you stop with the experiments?" I said bitterly as I swatted her hand away.
Ignoring my actions, the doctor continued to ask, "Akuto-san, do you know what happened? Did you feel something before you passed out?"
I feigned ignorance, "No... I was just going to bed when I felt dizzy and passed out... did you guys happen to find out what happened?" I asked with narrowed eyes.
"We took a blood sample and discovered that your genetics seemed to be undergoing a similar process to how a Bloodline Limit is awakened," she said, looking at me as if she was expecting me to tell her anything.
Yeah right. Telling them might not be the worst thing in the world but I'd rather not risk anything.
I donned an astonished expression, "Really? I don't feel all that different..." I said as I put on a show of looking at myself up to down.
Naruko's face shifted in suspicion, "Are you sure? I mean, you've been getting pretty tall these past few days. Do you think that might have something to do with it?" She asked as she attempted to use her Negative Emotion Sensing to get a feel for what I was thinking only to feel something blocking her senses from peering into me.
'He's hiding something,' she thought to herself, not happy that she had to doubt her own son.
"Maybe, but it would be odd for his Kekkai Genkai to simply be a small increase in height..." The doctor replied as she cupped her chin.
The room became overcome with silence as everyone delved into their own thoughts before I decided to interrupt, "*clap!* Well, if that's all then why don't head home? Y'know I'm really craving some ramen, right now."
Deciding that dwelling on something without a solution wasn't a good use of time, Naruko sighed as she followed me out the door, waving goodbye to the doctor who was still thinking.
As soon as we left the office, however, the doctor looked through her computer as she filed through information on my blood, pulling up an image of a bite mark.
She turned to her right to grab the blood sample she collected but gasped in shock, noticing the distinct lack of the blood vial.
In its place were small bits of cobweb, "Strange..."
[Outside]
I and Naruto slowly walked through the streets of Konoha as I fiddled with the blood vial that I had stolen.
I didn't want anyone to just have some of my blood laying around, I had already seen the effects of that when The Jackal made clones of Peter and Gwen.
I didn't want, nor need clones.
While I was having this internal monologue, Naruko was also secretly trying to break through whatever strange mental defense was in place, 'Hey, Kurama, do you know what this is?'
Inside a place reminiscent of a sewer, a pair of blood-red eyes opened, 'Though it's remiss of me to not know, I gotta admit that I really don't,' the massive beast spoke within the woman's mind, 'Well, you're as helpful as ever,' Naruko muttered with an eye twitch.
'What am I supposed to say? The kid probably just has a naturally strong mind, a lot of people have had similar things before so it's not that far-fetched to assume he does too,' the fox spoke in frustration as Naruko's eyes widened in surprise.
She considered the new information that Kurama had told her and guiltily glanced at her son who she had been doubting for no reason, her son who was always so kind to everyone and so innocent.
'Hey, Daddy System, open my status, please...'
After how much the system had been helping me out, I finally understood why Roy would always call it Daddy System...
For it was truly Daddy in every sense of the word.
|][]===========[][|
|]Status[|
Class: Mutate (Spider)
Age: 11
[]Akuto Uzumaki[]
Strength: [14] ---> [34]
Dexterity: [13] ---> [36]
Vitality: [14] ---> [34]
Defense: [14] ---> [34]
Intelligence: [14] ---> [30]
Charm: [13] ---> [18]
Sense: [35] (New Stat!)
Intrinsic Skills: [Uzumaki Bloodline] [Sensor] [Jougan (Sealed)] [Spider Physiology]
Skills: [Slave Control] [Dark Determination] [Inspect] [Accelerated Growth] [Love Aura] [Biological Webbing] [Bio-Electricity] [Spider-Sense] [Invisibility]
Talents: [Fire & Wind Chakra Nature] [Sealing Talent]
|][]===========[][|
Incredible. Everything is over 30 except for charm and I was right about getting the Bio-Webs, Venom shock, and the spider camo.
I guess I should start clarifying what I mean by sticky white stuff.
Though getting an entirely new stat category was unexpected but a welcome surprise.
Noting that Naruko was standing right next to me, I did something that I should've done a while ago.
To be frank, I was scared of her. Which was why I always avoided trying to complete any of the missions with her.
It wasn't just the fact that she was strong either, even when I was doing the massage to her I did everything in my power to trick MYSELF into thinking I didn't have any negative intentions just so that Naruko and the sleepy fox wouldn't sense anything.
I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have noticed any of my intentions since my system most likely blocked any attempt at peering into my mind...
[Correct. Wouldn't want any pervert going into your head, now do we]
...But the fox is terrifying on its own. Throw in an Uzumaki with the power of the six paths and you've got a frightening team.
And so I did it, '[Inspect]'
|][]===========[][|
|]Status[|
Class: Hokage (Kyuubi Jinchuriki)
Age: 32
[]Naruko Uzumaki (Namikaze)[]
Strength: 165
Dexterity: 120
Vitality: 220
Defense: 130
Intelligence: 500 (1000)
Charm: 30
Intrinsic Skills: [Uzumaki Bloodline] [Asura Chakra] [Kyuubi Chakra]
Skills: [Kage Bunshin no Jutsu] [Rasengan] [Rasen-Shuriken] [Rasengan Variations...] [Boil Release] [Magnet Release] [Lava Release] [Healing Factor] [Enhanced Strength]
Talents: [All Chakra Natures] [Potential for Adamantine Chains]
Transformations: [Kyuubi Shroud (1-9)] [Sage Mode] [KCM (1, 2, Sage)] [Six Paths Sage Mode] [Kurama Avatar] [Potential for Baryon Mode]
|][]===========[][|
I puked blood.
What the fuck.
Five... HUNDRED... Wait, that's not even the whole- one thousand...?
Once again, what the fuck.
I mean, I expected things to be high, but just seeing the difference between mine and her stats is certainly a hit in the confidence department.
The only jutsu she uses may be Rasengan but that does not weaken her in any way. Hell, just the fact that she can wantonly use Rasengan with basically any chakra nature is insane.
And the potential for adamantine chains? Did the original Naruto have the same thing?
[All Uzumaki have some potential for the chains. You don't since your untalented but most do, it showed up on her status and not Boruto's because Naruko would actually be able to use them if she ever bothered to learn or awaken them]
[Just because the only people who we've seen use the chains are women, doesn't mean that others can't. The whole "only Uzumaki women can use chains" is just fanon]
I see... didn't have to bash me like that, though.
"Akuto? Akuto? Stop staring into space, we're at the academy," Naruko said as she waved her hand in my face.
'Forget what I said about having a strong mind,' the fox muttered in Naruko's head as she contained a slight chuckle.
"Ah, sorry..." I muttered as I made my way into the building.
While I was walking through the building I suddenly felt really anxious. It wasn't because of the spider sense but mostly because I really wanted to use my new powers.
I restrained, however, and stepped into the rowdy classroom.
"You're back? What happened, are you okay?" Boruto asked as I sat on my seat.
"It was just a spider bite. Harmless..." I said, tapping my foot in impatience.
Boruto nodded but quickly stopped when she noticed two strange slits on my wrists, "Just a spider bite? Then why are your wrists like that?" She asked as I groaned in annoyance, "Relax, already. I'll explain it later, so settle down."
Boruto grudgingly complied as Shina entered the class with a strange someone by her side.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise at the sight of a young woman with shoulder-length dull blue hair, and pale, almost lifeless skin. The girl wore a blue and white kimono with the sleeves hanging over her hands as her sharp, strangely yellow eyes roved the class with a perceptive look, not stopping on any one person in particular.
Mitsuki, huh? So I was right when I sensed that chakra.
"This is our new exchange student, Mitsuki. She'll be with us from now on, so treat her nicely," Shina said as Mitsuki walked over to Boruto.
"Is it alright if I sit here?" She asked as Boruto smiled, "Sure! I'm Boruto Uzumaki!"
Mitsuki gave a blank smile as she sat in the seat between me and Boruto, "And you are?" She asked, turning to me.
"Akuto. Her brother," I responded indifferently as Mitsuki nodded, slightly surprised, "I see. I'm Mitsuki,"
"And I'm aware," I replied, still squirming in my seat as I began to feel anxious and impatient.
I just got this sudden burst of physical ability and I needed to let all the restrained energy out.
And so, time forged on and class finally reached its end as I hurriedly exited the classroom, leaving Boruto standing there in surprise at the speed I was going.
Finally, I can let some of this frustration out.
I ran off into one of the off-limits areas of the village, making sure nobody spotted me as I found myself standing in an abandoned building.
Ok, let's test this out.
I made sure that no chakra was flowing to my hands and raised my arm to the wall, placing my hand on it. I tried to pull my hand off and noticed that it was stuck there. It worked.
Remember, calm down, and relax your fingers...
Listening to my own advice, I breathed in and out as my fingers came off smoothly.
That worked? Alright, then. I decided to take it further and stuck my hands to the wall, my now tougher arm muscles slowly and rhythmically crawling up the wall with careful movements as my feet left the ground and I pulled my body to the building, taking the iconic wall-crawling pose.
This felt so exciting. I wasn't using chakra or any outside energy source, I was using my own power to physically fucking WALK up a wall! The pure unadulterated adrenaline that was flowing through my veins right now did nothing to help the wide, excited grin that had crossed my face.
I sped up my climbing and eventually made my way to the top of the building, leaning over the edge as I took aim at one of the taller buildings next to me with my hand as I positioned it in a traditional rocker pose and pressed my middle and ring finger on the bottom of my palm.
As though clicking a switch, a long stream of sticky adhesive fibre was shot out of the slits in my wrist, striking the wall opposite to me as it quickly became a solid, rope-like substance.
"Hohoholy shit! This is cool..."
And I thought having a system was the best thing ever.
"3, 2, 1... up-up and away," I muttered as I took a deep breath and jumped off the building with the web clenched in my hand.
"Shit," I expressed as I let go of the web, launching myself forward.
I almost hit the ground but managed to keep myself in the air by instinctively shooting a second web onto another building to my left.
It took a few seconds of hesitant swinging but I found my rhythm after a short while as I shot web after web, swinging around buildings, through scaffolding, and scaling up other buildings only to backflip off and web away using the momentum, like a pendulum.
The complete exhilaration I felt as I went faster and higher, gaining more momentum, yet keeping control of my body in a masterful way... it was incredible. I had never felt so free in my life and I could now understand Spider-Man's love for this way of transport.
These spider powers are probably the best thing to ever happen to me since I came to this world. It was therapeutic in a way. I could let go of all restraints and just go buck wild on an exciting ride through the air, shedding some stress and getting some much-needed mental repose.
For the first time in years, I felt... content.
It was a feeling I never wanted to give up.
