Getting Along (Kinda)

*Thunder*

Amidst the tranquil silence, a distant rumble began to crescendo, as thunder found its voice in the vast expanse. Its roar echoed through the cavern, a reminder of nature's raw power.

Nestled within the cave's embrace, rain's fingers danced through the rocky entrance, scenting the air with earthy freshness. Droplets cascaded gently, a reminder of the cave's sanctuary amid the tempest.

While outside succumbed, inside was refuge; the ground firm, water persistent yet gentle. Here, nature's fury and tranquility met, a symphony of rain and thunder witnessed without drenching.

And...

The piercing cry of a particular Star Plasma Vessel reverberated through the cavern.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!???"

Her clothes ended up getting a little wet, but fortunately, she stumbled upon shelter within a cave she had never encountered before.

"Ugh... The transport was so crappy..." sighed Riko Amanai. Ignoring her white and blue school sailor uniform, she had thrown on a pink jacket over it, though it proved inadequate against the pouring rain, leaving her thoroughly soaked.

But... Whilst squashing the soaked skirt with her hand, she suddenly heard another voice behind him.

"Um... Miss, I can help you with that, if you want to?"

"Uhm-? Who!?" Riko spun around swiftly, puzzled by the unexpected voice. She scanned left and right, even peering upwards, yet the source of the voice remained a mystery. But just as her confusion deepened, it was only when she looked downward...

"..."

A sight to remember unfolded before her. There, in a mesmerizing silver-blue jiggly form, was the very creature that had spoken. Riko knew this was an encounter she wouldn't soon forget.

"A slime?"

"Mu? You got some problem with slimes?"

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With Ame and Kakashi...

"Why didn't you believe me?"

"Well... Uhm... How old are you?"

Even with the rain pouring down, both the Ninja and the Admin managed to stay as neat as a pin. They were chilling side by side under a tree, and a faint purple barrier surrounded them, shielding them from the heavy downpour.

*Thunder*

"I'm 13." (Ame)

"Yeah that's not possible." (Kakashi)

"You're free to be wrong." (Ame)

"..." (Kakashi)

Their dialogue unfolds, devoid of many emotions exchanged between them.

And then, out of the blue, Kakashi chimes in, adopting a firm and serious tone.

"Well, based on the way you've been talking, I actually thought you were at least an adult. But now you're telling me you're just 13? We've been in this group chat for 7 years. So, are you trying to say that you were only 5 years old when we first started talking? I mean, are you seriously asking me to believe that?"

"I don't desire to sit down and correct you."

One might not notice it, but a subtle tension hung in the air between them.

However, Kakashi promptly dispelled the stiffness. He brushed away the frown that had formed and delved straight into asking the precise question he had in mind.

"Alright then. But now that we've finally met each other, it's a good thing. I can just go and ask you more about my world's future."

However, Ame raised an eyebrow at his words, "Say that again? I thought the information I provided was sufficient," she remarked.

"Oh, you really think it was that easy? Let me tell you, things took a whole different turn, judging from what I've pieced together. Those Uchiha elders weren't about to drop their coup plans, not even after I took down Danzo. This whole situation led to Shisui pulling off the Kotoamatsukami, and guess what? He also ended up as the future Jonin for Team Seven. Can you believe that?..."

"... Ha?" A long pause caused a brief moment of silence between the two.

"Hold it! You guys end up using the Kotoamatsukami in the end!?" Ame had frowns on her face as she exclaimed that.

"Hey, it's not my fault... Fugaku Uchiha-sama is really good at understanding others, you know? But those elders who were behind the coup are getting more and more serious about it."

Ame's gaze narrowed as his words settled in. 'I suppose I was giving myself too much credit,' she mused inwardly.

Initially, she had believed that eliminating Danzo would surely disrupt the equilibrium, but she couldn't escape the truth that she had underestimated the profound grudge embedded within the Uchiha clan, fueled by the very nature of their Sharingan.

She recalled the phrase, "The eyes that reflect the heart"— a concept expounded upon by the Second Hokage in the later episodes, as she delved deeper into the extensive fillers. It was a revelation that stung, realizing she had failed to take this fundamental truth into account.

"Ah, so he used the Kotoamatsukami in the end...?" While Ame might have appeared nonchalant, beneath the surface, her mind was racing to unravel the intricacies of the situation.

"Yes, now that you understand, hand it over. I'll pay you later."

Yet, in a sudden revelation, Ame's eyes expanded once more. "Wait a moment, then how did it end? It's not possible for it to remain unchanged after 7 years, right? Besides, you never mentioned anything like this before..." The challenge of dispelling the stigma held by the masses was formidable enough on its own.

What is the current state of that world?

"Well... As you're witnessing, the Kotoamatsukami holds remarkable utility..."

"....indeed?" Ame couldn't help but discern the slight pause Kakashi inserted between his words.

"So I approached Shisui...."

"...Alright?"

Then, accompanied by an unconcerned, closed-eyed smile, his response emerged in an oddly cheerful timbre.

"— And we swapped eyes."

"HUUUUUUH!????"

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-Please Stand by-

"No, even if you say that— that doesn't make sense! Show me your Sharingan! Now!!!"

"Hey easy there, fine... Here..."

Ame discerned that the configuration within his eye didn't precisely match the anticipated norm. The distinctive three-pronged shuriken motif had been substituted, giving way to a spiky circular chain design.

In theory, the possibility existed. However, implanting a Sharingan itself was out of the question. This implies that the effect of Universal Affinity wasn't the cause. While it makes the Sharingan usable for the individual even if they aren't an Uchiha, it doesn't grant the capability for the eye to evolve.

And so, with that in mind... "✨✨How many times did you guys trade eyes!?✨✨" Instantly, the once dim and shadowy stars in her eyes transformed into the most brilliant glimmers of light, reminiscent of the radiance that one would expect from a young girl her age.

The composed demeanor that once characterized Ame's hands and entire form had given way to a surge of excitement, evident as she tightly grasped Kakashi's collar with newfound enthusiasm.

Now, it was Kakashi's turn to be taken aback.

"Hey, calm down... I mean, we did it a couple of times to make sure all the Sharingan we had could evolve into an Eternal Mangekyou... But seriously, you should just relax, wa—"

His words were interrupted by a violent shake from Ame's grip.

"—WAAAAAH!???"

"HOW MANY TIMES EXACTLY!??? WHO SERVE AS THE CATALYST!?? DID KAMUI AND KOTOAMATSUKAMI STACK EACH OTHER!??? KAKASHI, KAKASHI, TELL ME!!!"

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-Please Stand by-

"Um... What I'm getting at is, I'm willing to exchange my new eye for some information." Kakashi, having regained his composure after the vigorous shaking, articulated his stance.

"Absolutely~! Absolutely~! Delighted to strike a deal with you~~~"

"Shouldn't a young lady like yourself refrain from making that leech-like expression?" A faint vein surfaced on Kakashi's forehead as he conveyed this.

Amidst the playful banter, "✨Eeeeh~ wuzzat~? Ame doesn't get it~💕" there was an unmistakable air of contentment radiating from Ame.

And so, it appeared that yet another negotiation had reached its conclusion between them.

"But well, that's not exactly how it works," Ame suddenly said. "You've got to spill the beans first. Did the Third Hokage kick the bucket? Did Orochimaru invade Konoha? Did Sasuke go rogue? And did Sasuke end up with one of Orochimaru's cursed seals? I need all the details."

Kakashi's eyes widened in an instant.

"I'm not sure what you're getting at," he began, "but the snake sannin attempted my life a couple of years after I joined the Akatsuki."

"And let me guess, he ends up betraying Akatsuki. Now, spill the beans and give me the lowdown on everything that happened from there."

Ame's initial expectations were swept away by unforeseen turns of events. Startled, she learned from Kakashi that Orochimaru's bold move against the Hokage had taken place ahead of schedule.

Yet, it wasn't a direct assault as it appeared. The attack lacked the signs of genuine engagement, and Orochimaru's forces remained untouched. The unsettling truth began to emerge: this could be a well-orchestrated distraction.

Amidst her pondering, Ame questioned the underlying purpose.

The explanation offered was intriguing; Danzo's demise had cost Orochimaru a valuable source of insider knowledge within Konoha. Nevertheless, the revelation posed a paradox: could Orochimaru truly resort to such a blatant and reckless act?

As her thoughts delved deeper, Ame's focus shifted to the remains of Root, the enigmatic cadre of operatives, "The leftovers then... That's a bit troublesome..."

Bound by the cursed tongue eradication seal, their loyalty was absolute under Danzo's rule. But with newfound freedom, a gnawing resentment might have driven some towards retribution.

Intrigued by Ame's muttered thought, Kakashi sought clarification, "Pardon me? Leftovers?"

Gathering her thoughts, Ame ventured further, raising a pertinent question, "Have the instances of rogue Shinobis increased in recent years?"

"Un? Well, no..."

"..."

At last, Kakashi inquired, "What is it? What did you figure out?"

Turning towards him, Ame responded, "Suffice it to say that he's plotting another move. But for now, let's leave this conversation for later..."

Perplexed, Kakashi pressed for clarity, "... What?"

"Maa, our priority now is ensuring everyone's safety," she declared as she strode away, leaving Kakashi with a bemused expression etched on his features.

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With Riko and Rimuru...

Inevitably, Rimuru couldn't resist the temptation. His voice rang out, introducing himself, "My name is Rimuru! I'm not a bad slime, slurp!"

But true to form, Riko's response to that reference held a distinct deadpan quality, her words cutting through the air, "That's from DraQuest, wasn't it?"

(A/N: DraQuest --> Dragon Quest)

A burst of enthusiasm surged within the gelatinous creature at the familiar recognition, an exclamation mark seemingly materializing above his jiggly form. "Uwoh! A straightforward reaction!" he exclaimed in delight.

You know, it's kind of funny. Most folks who are into the game "Dragon Quest" tend to be on the older side. But then there's Riko, breaking the mold as this social butterfly who can strike up conversations with just about anyone.

Over the years, she's managed to make friends from all walks of life, and you wouldn't believe the stuff she's picked up from them. It's like she's got this treasure trove of knowledge gathered from her diverse group of pals.

A dry chuckle escaped Riko's lips, a mix of disbelief and amusement evident in her voice. "Ha ha... That's great. Anyway, I'm Riko. You must be 'Good Slime', right? So you're actually a slime..." Her words held a hint of astonishment, unable to fully grasp the reality before her.

With a sudden burst of enthusiasm, the slime responded, its gelatinous form seeming to brighten. "Oh! You must be the 'Star Plasma Vessel', right?" It was as if Rimuru had uncovered a delightful secret, a recognition that added a spark to the interaction.

"Yeah..."

Before they could resume their conversation, their attention was drawn to a ray of light filtering into the cave. It signaled that the thunderstorm had finally subsided.

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[Star Plasma Vessel: @Ex-Veteran @CopyNinja WHERE ARE YOU GUYS!!??]

[Good Slime: Ah, I find the location-sharing option.]

[Attachment: Live location (until 12:00 PM)]

[Copy Ninja: Oh, that's convenient. We're on our way.]

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To be continued.