CHP 16: The Ninja in Orange...

~ Jacob's Pov... ~

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"98... 99... 100!" I dropped back down to the floor, tired physically for only just a moment, but mentally? That, it lasted for hours...

I've felt as if I've been training too much, if I continue at this rate, I might genuinely drive myself insane from it all. The only thing that's been keeping me in check. was my status page, and seeing my stats increase, it was quite satisfying just as it was the first time...

Either way, this was around my third day in Konoha, and I haven't truly explored the village yet...

Even if I knew it all by heart already, I still wanted to truly experience it for myself, instead going of someone else's memories.

'Since I'm done exercising, I might as well go shower up and leave, I can scout spots targets of mine will meet up if I get lucky, enough.'

I quickly got up off the floor, reducing the seal's effects on my body. At the moment, I was binging 250 Tons at max.

By my estimate, I was easily elite jonin level in raw physical strength, however they might still edge me out in speed, and raw reflexes at the moment...

The Hokage himself is still likely stronger than myself, but it might not be by much, in a few months, I should be able to bridge the gap too, since my Chakra is catching up nicely. In fact...

'Yeah... The increase is good chunk more than it was last time. Maybe, around 5-8% more, give or take?...' I was only doing rough estimates in my head. But this at least confirmed one thing for me.

Since chakra is tied to both my physicality and mind, I meditate and train constantly, which the latter isn't too effective, but my control over my thoughts have been improving, albeit, steadily.

'Still, if I do this every day for years or months... Wouldn't I have chakra level sin the millions? In theory it should work. And, if I push myself even further, that increase might develop even further...'

But, I'd have to see how it goes... Naruto at this point has more chakra than the Hokage himself, so it might be in the millions, if not, the 10's of millions, I remembered him summoning over a thousand clones at this age. I'm not sure if he's just a genetical specimen, or a freak of nature in that regard, maybe a bit of both...

Not to mention the tailed beasts, they should be in the 100s of millions to billions, if not in the 10's of billions in sheer chakra amounts... Which is insane to think about. Whatever it was, I needed Naruto's DNA. But, where would I find him?

Given his habits... He lives relatively close by, but going to see him would be too suspicious for me to do, and obviously dumb. I don't have proper paper work, and it's only a matter of time before It catches up to me...

'Come on, think... What did Naruto like? Where did he like to go?' My memories wont help me much other than his identity and other basic information. 

'Wait... Didn't he like noodles? Yeah... He did, was it, Ichiraku? It... It was!...'

Now that I had a basic gist, according to my own memories, Naruto loved Ichiraku's ramen, to the point of obsession. The chances of him being there were astronomically high.

'Alright, I guess it's time to scout a Jinchūriki...' 

The faster I acquired what I needed, the faster I could become stronger. Next on the line was the Uchiha and Nara. The Nara would be far tougher to get because he's much smarter than I am at the moment.

And he would likely spot me as someone shady... This requires too much planning to get. How I would acquire the Uchiha's, and Nara's blood would take considerably more effort.

'For now, let's just at least get Naruto...'

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'Today seems so busy... But, I should be close...'

The streets were more crowded than usual today, though, I see where I need to be... Actually, what's with the orange? I could see it stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the open...

'Wait... That's Naruto... He's here?' I was sure that was him. He's the only person in the village that would wear bright orange in the middle of the day, and low-key, it was actually, kind of funny and adorable to see...

'Look's like he's going to the same place I am too.'

I was either very fortunate today, or this was just plain coincidence, he's actually heading towards Ichiraku as well. Though, it could have been that he goes there everyday. So, it isn't that special.

'Still... Why does everyone look at him like, that? Actually, no one is coming in more than a 6 feet radius of him...'

I felt stupid to ask myself that when I already knew the answer to the question, but my memories, and in person experiences are vastly different views. Naruto essentially gets starred down as if he's worse than a shit stain on the road, each and likely, everyday...

'He's taking it well... Got to give it to him, he's a champ for sticking it out so long and not lash out...' I rubbed the back of my head a little. I realized that I was like them, but worse, I was going to befriend the kid, and use him for his blood...

'But, maybe it doesn't have to be that way...' 

I walked ahead, almost at the ramen shop as well. I could see the inside, and from this distance, I could see his smile clearly. The kid looks like a ray of sunshine. From this far too...

'Heh...'

"Good afternoon..." I greeted whoever was there, and they greeted me back, but I realized Naruto hadn't said anything. Maybe he thought the greeting wasn't for him... Still, I took a seat beside him. And, with my side-eye, I could see that he was staring...

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" I asked. Not taking my eyes from the menu.

He hadn't said anything, but it seemed like he turned back to the side to not make it obvious. Too bad I saw everything...

"I caught you already, no need to hide it. You were obvious..." I told him once more, now I could see sweat forming on Naruto's face. Seeing him panic a bit from all this was slightly hilarious to me.

"Are you really speaking to me?" he responded, but it was almost as if trying to deny the situation...

"Yeah, I am, is there a reason why I shouldn't?" I rebutted. However, I didn't get a response, at least an immediate one... He didn't respond for a whole minute, I counted. This was more than enough to tell me it was bad, and me only feeling worse about my idea to just use him...

"Uhh... No, there isn't any..." He said, and from what I could make out, it was just under his breath...

"Ah, a customer, what can I get you?" It was Ichiraku.

"Yeah, I'd like a bowl of your chicken soup please." 

"Comin' right up!" He quickly headed back into his kitchen area, leaving me and Naruto alone again, since the others were too far away to be considered present at the moment...

"Hey mister, how come you ordered only a single bowl?... You're huge." Naruto asked innocently.

"Well, let's just say I'm a bit different from others, in the sense that I don't need to eat much at all, on the other hand, you've had... 3 bowls so far? That's a good amount." I responded, a bit impressed given the size of the bowl.

"Ha! You haven't seen anything yet! I can eat as much as I want, since Ichiraku's ramen is the food of the gods!" Naruto said happily, it seems like I hit a good spot with him.

"Maybe it is kid, just maybe..." Though, I'll have to test that last part.

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END