Errands

*Tick*

So trying to steal answers wasn't the best idea.

*Tock*

I still definitely fooled those chunin. Not that I doubted that I could.

*Tick*

I might not be able to fight the average chunin in a straight fight, but I don't have to do I?

*Tock*

Glancing nervously at a familiar receptionist, I wait on an uncomfortable and poorly designed wooden chair. Who thought fixing a desk to the actual chair would be a good idea? Twiddling my thumbs, I continue to focus on my chakra. You know what they say about rest and the wicked right? Opening my notebook, I run down the list of ideas I have yet to accomplish. The exploding tag in a storage tag is a disappointing success, while the tag can be hidden and the noise is no longer an issue, the power is still mediocre. The explosion does send a gout of flame in a singular direction, but it loses all control and power. It just vomits the power out without focus, something I hoped the shape of the spacial constraints would solve.

Do I have any ideas to solve the said issue? Yes, yes I do. Basically, the explosion starts in the shape of my choosing, it's not forced into that constraint. All I have to do is restructure the storage seal to hold a three-dimensional constraint that forces the explosion through something like a nozzle. Why don't I do that? Well, many things influence how effective said nozzle will be including but not limited to the diameter of both sides, length, and structural integrity. I have no idea if more chakra is needed to support more volatile explosions, but there just isn't time to experiment right now.

Chakra control is a gradual thing so I can't actively prioritize that now since I won't make any groundbreaking improvements. Puppeteering is pretty much useless in the long run and I just wouldn't be good enough for it to make a difference. Just another thing to shelf for the long term.

Fuinjustu is interesting and has potential, but I have what I need. I've made progress in storage and basic applications like generating heat which should cover my bases until I hit live sealing, summoning, and souls. Once again, not enough benefits in the short term to start right away.

What does that leave me? Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, both of which I am sorely lacking. I can definitely hold my own against any genin, but the war will never be fair. I need to expect fighting chunin and at worst running from jounin as well as any manner of insidious traps like bombs and poisons.

So how do I go from here? Nature transformation might be a start. Toxicology can take upwards of ten years to be decent, but reading about common poisons and antidotes isn't a bad idea. Especially with the current pathetic medical corps. Only a handful of people can be considered medicinal experts and in the upcoming wars, it's just not enough. Sure Tsunade will use her summon to save hundreds against the Sand, but what if I'm not fighting the Sand? Should I wait for someone to give me the wrong antidote moments before burning my corpse? No. I won't be dying. Not anytime soon.

The best jutsus I can think of are the body flicker jutsu and the hiding-in-rock technique. Both are D-rank jutsus and both are very practical. The first can help me escape a fatal attack and the second can help me hide. I'm not exactly lacking in attacks for my weight class, but survivability is just too low.

Hearing the receptionist call my name, I hurriedly close my notebook and scurry into the administrator's office. I need to be a genin to get access to the genin library and they need canon fodder. I won't be failed, surely not. Minato is out far too much for me to rely on him to get books. Kushina would probably help, but as a previously responsible adult, I hate depending on others. Smiling as I enter, I find her leaning back in her rolling chair, slowly eating from a cute Character bento. Taking a closer look, I can see a half-eaten Tobirama face made of rice surrounded by different parts of a balanced meal. Looks like granny Ning is a Tobirama fan. Plopping down in the empty chair, I slouch into a comfortable position.

Clearing her throat, the administrator asks, "Tell me, what do you think I'm doing right now?" Blinking at her innocently, I try to formulate a good answer. Pursing my lips, I stare at her and then at her empty desk, "Are you on lunch break?"

Snorting she chomps down on some fried panko shrimp.

"Wating for more work?"

"Nice try."

"Planning on leaving the office for a more hands-on approach?"

"Not really."

"Coping with stress?"

"Maybe, but not what I'm looking for."

"Planning on giving me my headband in person?"

"I'm relaxing! Not working. Not planning. Not reading. Just relaxing!"

Putting her chopsticks aside, she wipes the corners of her lips before folding her arms under her chest. "What do you think happens when someone passes with full marks by cheating," she asks.

Pouting, I shrug my shoulders, "I wouldn't know, I didn't cheat." Huffing, the administrator retrieves a stack of papers from an open cabinet, "What happens is that entitled parents decide that their child should be any worse than you and that I need to do my job! Imagine being told to do my job when no rule was broken." Throwing the papers onto the desk, she picks up her chopsticks, "What happens is that I have to write quite a few generic letters to a bunch of nonentities and then have them delivered only for the aforementioned nonentities to reply back.

Chuckling, I twiddle my thumbs, "Ah, sorry. I really am, but that sounds like your problem. How'd they write these letters so quickly anyway? I passed the written exam just an hour ago!" Sighing, she waves me off, "the receptionist writes the complaints up for me so I don't have to see them. Anyway, I need you to explain in person to certain people why you passed. I am off duty for the next week effective two hours from now and I won't send them running around. Take the papers and go to the addresses and make sure they have no questions. You don't have to convince them, just tell them off or something."

Frowning I tap my foot aggressively against the desk leg, "What about my graduation?" Shrugging she goes back to eating, "just show up tomorrow with the rest of your miserable class to get your assignments and someone will give you a headband. That is if you finish clearing this mess up." Mulling over the nonexistent options, I sigh. Grabbing the stack of papers, I quickly leave the office. Of course, something goes wrong. Something always goes wrong.

*********** Stop 1 ***********

Knocking on the door, I wait impatiently. Not only is this a wealthy civilian district, but it also has its own genin guards and residential gate. All of this points to the worst kind of confrontation. Hearing footsteps trudging to the door, I step back. Putting on my game face, I greet a pudgy lady decked from head to toe in luxury items with a smile, "Hi, are you Mrs. Kai by chance?"

"Yea, but we're not interested. Really, I don't know how your kind gets passed the guards! I should talk to the others about getting better ones. Genin are just pathetic."

"Ma'am -"

She slammed the door on me. Just why? Gritting my teeth, I knock on the door again, this time standing closer. The moment she cracks the door open, I shove the door open and step inside, "Ma'am, I'm from the academy. I'm here in regard to your complaint."

Looking down at me in disgust, she stares me down, "Well get on with it! My baby boy didn't pass, but some mongrel cheated her way though? I won't stand for it!"

"Sorry, but I really could care less. I'm here to tell you that since no rules were broken and the deception was in line with the occupational expectations said student passed exceptionally."

Seeing her frown, I start walking out before she can reply, "With that said, I have a busy schedule so I suggest directing all further complaints at your baby boy's competence." Slamming the door shut on the way out, I dash to the next stop.

*********** Stop 7 ***********

"No disrespect, but did you need to talk with me?"

Fighting the urge to hold my head, I look at the Hyuga Patriarch. I ask for a mook and the kingpin shows up without even knowing why I'm here.

"I'm here on behalf of the academy regarding a complaint submitted by Kenji Hyuga. His daughter complained to him about a student passing by cheating on the written exam and he immediately came in person to lodge a formal complaint," I explain.

Nodding, he and his off-white eyes stare into my soul in confusion, "I understand, but who are you? Again no disrespect, but I expect at least a chunin from the academy."

Smiling wryly I eye his tea, "I am the cheater who is now a genin." Say what you want, but hydration is very important.

Taking a sip, he closes his eyes for a moment before asking, "Lastly, what do you want me to do about it?"

Groaning, I finally slouch in defeat, "Nothing! I didn't even want to talk to you. I'm supposed to talk to all the people who complained and tell them no rules were broken so I technically passed with 'outside-the-box' thinking. I asked for Kenji Hyuga and was taken to you!"

Finally nodding in comprehension, he says, "I see, so you cheated."

Slamming my hand on the low table, I enunciate my words slowly, "I did not cheat! I innovated. I found a loophole. I took the test like any ninja should, through deceit."

With my hands akimbo, I stare at him with my head tilted downward. Is it just me or does this guy not understand a single thing I said?

Taking another sip of tea, I watch as he stares right back, "I think I get it now."

Placing the teacup and saucer back down on the table, he blinks at me through his poker face, "So I heard you beat my nephew."

*********** Stop 13 ***********

Sitting in the familiar military police office, I marvel at the red hutch that dominates the far wall. With the storage cabinets pushed to the sides, it makes the office feel full and lived in. Although the terrible yellow lighting ruins the experience, it is definitely an upgrade. Watching Jumonji move his bottle of water to the desk attached to the hutch, I frown. Possessive much? Wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead, I cough into my fist, "Excuse me Jumonji-sama, I'm not here for something too important so I'll just get it over with first."

Sighing, he sets another signed paper aside before glancing at me, "If it's about the academy, I already know about it. Frankly, I don't think you were wrong, but it will probably affect your immediate future." Frowning I lean forward in my chair. Tossing me a key he leans back in his chair, "Your residence is ready, so move in when ready. As for the academy incident, some of the other faction came and used it to persuade me to kick you out." Catching the key, I glance at his water bottle as I continue to listen. Evidently, the persuasion didn't work.

Spreading his hands in exasperation, he reaches for the water bottle, "Quite a few people in the station hearing the reason actually supported you since it was decently deceptive, but that doesn't solve your new problem. Tomorrow you get assigned to a squad leader, but as a civilian not in the top class, your priority is low." Taking a sip, he closes the bottle before placing it on the far desk. Feeling my left eye twitch, I quirk an eyebrow at him. Ignoring me, he leans on his desk, "What you win by doing well in the academy is resources and decent squad leaders are given to those that have a good showing throughout the academy and in the finals. The problem is that squad leaders can refuse certain individuals and your stunt isn't seemed favorably by most civilian leaders. This is especially true since the Uchiha are currently supporting you."

Swallowing my saliva, I look down at my hands, "I'm not afraid of not getting help. I have the confidence to learn on my own, but I still need books or even the diaries of war survivors." Tapping my foot and making a few anchors to the water bottle, I focus on his face, "I can grow. I can survive, but I need to know how to make the tools I'll use to do so."

Making another anchor on my left hand, I create a loose chakra string. Staring pensively at me he rubs his chin, "Diaries are easy, but learning materials higher than genin clearance are much harder. I'd need to know exactly what you want and you would have to earn them. Give and take."

Yanking my arm back, I prepare to catch the bottle only for his hand to intercept it instead. Waving a finger and shaking his head, he smirks. Turning to the side, he Slowly unscrews the bottle before wastefully chugging the rest of the water. Wiping the water that spilled down his chin, he closes the cap before offering it to me, "I'll have a few diaries for you tomorrow. By the way, fill this up at the water fountain in the restricted hallway and return it before leaving." Snorting as he grins at me, I snatch the bottle away. I'll get a better water bottle. One that never runs out!