Ready Player Two Pt. I

Jasper couldn't stand another minute in this stuffy, old missions center.

He sat across from Homura and Koharu, the two elders of the village, their stern gazes fixed on documents of him.

The Hokage's Manor was often a place of immense pressure for ninjas in trouble. Yet Jasper wasn't here to be reprimanded. He crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair, trying to project an air of nonchalance.

Homura, the elder with the sharpest eyes, broke the silence and said, "We've received reports about your behaviour."

Jasper could practically hear the disapproval in the elder's tone. He raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, and asked, "Really? And what exactly have I done?"

Koharu, the elder with a softer demeanour, cleared her throat and answered, "It has been brought to our attention that you have been less than respectful to your seniors and fellow ninjas."

Jasper scoffed and replied, "It's to toughen them up. Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, right?"

Homura and Koharu exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. After a long moment of silence, Homura spoke in a flat voice, "Effective immediately, you are promoted to Chūnin. Use this as an opportunity to let the others see you in a new light."

Jasper sat up straighter with a smirk. He muttered under his breath saying, "About time…"

A flak jacket was placed before him as Koharu explained, "This is a symbol of your new rank."

Jasper declined the offer with a wave of his hand and said in an arrogant tone, "I don't need that. It's optional."

Homura and Koharu exchanged another glance, their expressions unreadable. Then, with a nod, Homura dismissed him.

As Jasper walked out of the Hokage's Manor, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. If it hadn't been for Alex's recommendation, he might not have gotten this promotion. He had played the game perfectly, manipulating the situation to his advantage.

Now he was a Chūnin, with all the privileges and responsibilities that came with the rank. With his new status, he could move freely outside the village without the need for a babysitter or attract unwanted attention.

He could explore the world beyond, seek out some of the more relevant artifacts, like the Dark Sword, and put his Tailed Beast Whisperer trait to the test.

Jasper was not one to be tied down by conventional rules. He liked the idea of doing things his own way. That's how the heir to the affluent Reza Group was raised.

The thought of freedom was intoxicating.

As he walked down the street, he couldn't help but know how much things were going to change. This world was his oyster, a playground that he was having too much fun in, and he was swimming casually in it.

He strolled down the streets.

Many citizens and other ninjas spotted him, giving him looks of disdain. He was used to this sort of treatment. Or better yet, he relished it. The idea that he was hated so much fueled him.

Not a single one of these so-called seniors was up to his level. Most of them had been defeated the first few days after he first logged in to this game.

Characters like Ebisu, a specially ranked ninja, were defeated by him without much effort.

And now that he was promoted to Chūnin, they'd think twice about giving him any scolding for his rude behaviour.

He was a man who controlled his own destiny, not a pawn in someone else's game. Be it Arthur, Alex, or Hagoromo himself, no one would stand in his way.

Yet a sense of unease lingered in the back of his mind. So he leaned against a wall and crossed his arms to think.

'Those guys saved that stupid Hokage… Now the whole story's messed up.'

Jasper had originally agreed with the other players to help improve the narrative. But, in all honesty, he didn't mind which way the story went—up or down. Naruto could die for all he cared.

Jasper has a life outside of this mundane world. Not once had he forgotten his status as the heir to the Reza Group. But for him to ensure his company's and his family's success, he must come out of this game as the victor.

And do that; he needed to become the ultimate ninja.

He made his way toward his apartment, ready to take a nap. The last thing he wanted to do was be assigned ridiculous missions that wouldn't profit him much.

Just as he made it to the elevator, he was interrupted by someone calling his name. He turned around to find that it was Alice, running toward him with a face of urgency.

"Babe, we need to go," she said.

He remained calm. There wasn't anything that could surprise him in this world, so he believed. He asked, "What's happened?"

"Itachi and Kisame are here," she replied after catching her breath.

Jasper's blood ran hot. His face went from dull to absolute eagerness.

This was his moment, a chance to showcase his skills. What better way to prove himself and get his adrenaline pumping than to go toe-to-toe with members from the Akatsuki!

"We need to move," he declared.

Alice nodded with a straightforward expression as she suggested, "Let's go to the Hyūga compound first. That's where Alex is right now."

'Alex?' he thought. 'As if… I could take on those two without help.'

But Jasper wasn't stupid. He needed Alice because of her sensing abilities. Without her, he wouldn't know where Itachi and Kisame were.

Perhaps he could talk her into letting him go alone, but doing that with a woman who cared for him would only start an unneeded argument.

"Fine," he agreed. "But just show you know, love, I could handle those two myself."

"I know, I know," she said. "But we're all in this together."

Leave it to a rich man to attract the thoughtful types.

As the two quickly ran through the streets to make it to the Hyūga clan's district, he considered the Akatsuki's arrival.

Members from that group weren't the type to be underestimated. Yet why were they so late?

In the original story, they arrived moments after Orochimaru fled from the invasion. Then again, the invasion did happen off schedule. News likely broke out about the Sand Village's partnership with the Sound. Just the simplest things out of sync could cause a butterfly effect in this world.

Upon reaching the Hyūga clan's district, they found Alex in a meeting with Hiashi Hyūga and other members of the clan. He saw them outside the window, so they gestured for him to come out.

Only Alex had the authority to leave during what looked to be an important meeting with the clan head.

"What's wrong?" he asked after approaching them outside.

It didn't take long for them to explain Itachi and Kisame were present in the village. He asked how long they'd been here, to which Alice wasn't too sure. All she knew was that she recently sensed them while she was training.

"Should we go get Naruto and Sasuke?" she asked.

"No," he answered. "That's a bad idea. Remember what I told you guys: if your character dies, you'll be logged out. But if an NPC dies, then it's over for them—no coming back without revival techniques."

Jasper almost forgot about that rule. He was so busy trying to get stronger that he never thought about losing. But who was he to worry about something like that?

"Huh?" Alice said as if sensing something off.

"What is it now?" Jasper asked.

"Hmm? Oh!" she said as if lost in thought. 'It's a little late for my suggestion."

"Why's that?" Alex asked.

"Will and Naruto just met up with Kurenai and Asuma. The group's getting closer to Kisame and Itachi!"

Alex nodded with a serious expression and said, "We need to hurry. Those guys won't wait for us."

As they departed, they began leaping from rooftop to rooftop, avoiding unnecessary attention.

"Their pretty dangerous," Alex reminded the group.

"No need to tell me twice," Jasper said with a grin. The two could feel his confidence. "I'm taking Samehada, just so you both know."

It's then that Alex asked where Jada and Margaret were. Alice answered, saying, "Jada has something she wants to keep to herself. I happened to sense her and Marge talking about it doing something with Itachi."

Jasper raised an eyebrow. Whatever Jada was scheming, he hoped that it had nothing to do with himself.

"And what about Marge?" Alex asked.

Alice chuckled. She didn't quite know how to answer that question. So she said, "She's reading one of her perverted magazines at home."

Alex shook his head, amused by the thought of Margaret's antics. The way Alice described her state was that Margaret was lying upside down in bed with the book open—very nonchalantly. What was more insane to believe was that Margaret knew the Akatsuki were here, but she found reading to be more enjoyable.

The group continued to push forward.

As they were approaching the location, Alice alerted them that they had company. Kakashi and Might Guy were spotted running in the same direction.

"Where are you three headed exactly?" Kakashi asked in a serious tone.

"Kakashi-sensei," Alice answered. "We sensed the Akatsuki, so we're—"

"I've heard enough," he interrupted. "I'm glad you know your enemy, but this isn't something I feel comfortable letting you three face."

"Oh, come on, Kakashi!" Guy said with enthusiasm. "These youths have proven themselves already."

Alex added, "That's right, Kakashi-sensei. We've got duties as ninjas to protect the village."

Jasper didn't say a word to the two Jōnin. He already understood that they didn't quite like him. After all, he had tricked Guy into teaching him how to open the Eight Inner Gates.

But who were they to stop him? He was promoted to a Chūnin today, so he didn't have to follow an order to not fight for a cause.

Kakashi sighed, knowing that his warning would be ignored. At least he tried.

Upon arriving at the scene, they found Naruto, William, Kurenai, and Asuma standing in a defensive formation, facing off against Itachi and Kisame. The tension was palpable.

This was them: the formidable duo from the Akatsuki. It was Jasper's first time meeting these members, and he was sure the other players were also new to their arrival.

The two were instantly recognizable by their distinctive attire. Draped in the iconic black cloaks adorned with crimson clouds, they embodied their organization's ominous aesthetic.

Itachi, with his sharp features and calm deportment, wore the cloak with austere behaviour. The red clouds meshed well with his shoulder-length dark hair, creating a visually striking image.

His active Sharingan made him look more of a threat.

If Jasper recalled correctly, this character wore a standard black ninja's outfit beneath the cloak. And around him were his weapons, which he could throw at blinding speed.

Kisame, on the other hand, exuded a more brutish aura. His pale blue skin and towering frame filled out the cloak, creating an imposing presence.

Beneath it, he wore a dark, scale-like bodysuit that hinted at his shark-like nature.

Both men had already crossed out the signs on their forehead protectors, a symbolic rejection of their former villages and a declaration of their allegiance to Akatsuki.

The only thing Jasper truly noticed was what was behind the shake-like man: the infamous Samehada.

That was not just a sword; it's a sentient weapon with an insatiable appetite for chakra. Because it's a responsive entity, it possesses a mind of its own, choosing its wielder and even displaying emotions such as grief.

Its physical form is equally impressive, resembling shark teeth under its bandages. It also has the ability to grow in size as it absorbs chakra.

The sword's primary ability is its capacity to siphon out chakra from opponents it makes contact with, a process that weakens the target while simultaneously enhancing the wielder's own power.

That unique characteristic, combined with its razor-sharp scales and ability to extend its form, is what makes it a daunting weapon in combat.

It even has intelligence, allowing it to adapt to different situations.

In addition to its offensive abilities, Samehada can heal its wielder by transferring absorbed chakra. This symbiotic relationship between sword and user makes the wielder almost impossible to bring down.

Samehada was only ever revealed to have six total owners in the original story: Fuguki Suikazan, Kisame Hoshigaki, Mangetsu Hōzuki, Killer B, White Zetsu, and Shizuma Hoshigaki. Jasper, an Ōtsutsuki, was looking to be its seventh.