-The next year, May-
Pov: Takumi
"How are you asleep like that..?" Obito asks.
I open one eye to look at him and then close it- right now I am practicing my defensive jutsu in plain sight while also hiding that fact... I am standing upright and holding my body stiff- pretending to sleep while standing.
This helps me practice the jutsu... as I get to increase my chakra flow and control tremendously over time and have everyone think I am being lazy.
I tell others that this jutsu is called the [Standing Sleep Jutsu] and they get annoyed or fail to make any expression.
While my classmates learn basic combat and jutsu I- who has been attending the academy for a year and a few months... have developed one jutsu allowing me to sleep comfortably outside while everyone practices.
Sensei has completely and utterly ignored me as usual- having broken him the last year with my full effort laziness I have required a reputation in the academy... which does get spread around the homes of the children attending.
It seems that I am a holder of a title once more... <The Lazy Uchiha> they call me.
My clan is not happy about that title but they cannot do anything about it, multiple adults have volunteered to take me in and teach me how to be a true Uchiha but I as always refuse.
What will they do? Hit me while I sleep? Good. That helps me train even more and allows me to rest even more, a win for me and a loss for them.
I yawn as Obito has awakened me from my nap, I check on my chakra paths and nod my head with satisfaction as they develop nicely even when sleeping, after all the chakra is still active even when my body isn't.
"I'm tired, taking an early leave" I tell Obito and Rin who are near me and walk away from the training grounds.
I don't actually need to be here, this year they are learning practical combat and it is so... boring- it was fun watching the children adapt to the revised academy style but that style is so simple I may as well watch a three year old discover what punching is.
It's practically the same thing at this point.
I walk past Sensei who ignores me- and head home, might make myself some lunch.
...
"Did you hear about the white fang?..." I listen in to the gossiping on the streets.
"...white fang?" Another group talks about the same person or fang based artefact but more likely a person.
"That scoundrel...!" Another group I pass states.
"I can't believe he made the war so much worse... what was he thinking..?" A crying girl speaks to her family.
"Fucking idiot- not worthy of being a ninja" Some rough looking ninja on the street mutter.
...?
Clearly this white fang fellow caused quite a stir, I wonder what horrible deed he did to gain this much ire... from that girls words he made the war worse?
...hn. probably set it in stone, we just came back from a second ninja war so it would make sense for everyone to be angry at the man who has caused the third one to burn brightly- I assume he just poured oil on the fire as this third war has been attempting to burn brightly for a year now.
I yawn as I finally make my way home, opening the door I enter into my house and go to the kitchen.
What should I make... Obito hated the smell of my worlds dishes... but I don't know any recipes from my world that weren't terrible.
All of them were simple and meant to last a long time, easy to carry around and feed me for days on end.
Hm... maybe I should find some recipes form this world? Perhaps learn actual cooking? I do have a lot of time to spare since I am at a dead end with my training.
I just need to get the chakra flow of my system to the minimum level required of my first form before attempting anything else.
So I could spend some time learning something that isn't related to combat...
I did love that dance I had once- I would enjoy learning to dance, perhaps I could study up on gardening- my friend from the capital had such a lovely garden.
A shame I only visited once...
I could always study a second weapon like my first life, when I outgrew swords at four I started learning about spears.
But... Chakra isn't as all encompassing like my Aura was in it's effectiveness on every weapon- I will get to that point sooner or later but rushing it like I did last time wont help... I also did learn it last time so it's only filling in the gaps with chakra instead of Aura here anyway.
Lets... stick to a non combat hobby, I don't know why my head went back to it immediately after dismissing the thought.
Hmm... the architecture was nice in the capital... I don't have much interest in digging deeper however.
Then what else is there? What would the Lazy Uchiha learn on his days off?
...
I could... read?
I know my wife loved reading. Or maybe she was required to read so much for her work... either way she read a lot of books.
I am pretty sure about that- she was always nose deep into one when I saw her.
Hn... what was she reading at that farewell party..? She was reading it as all those people were giving their condolences.
I focus really hard... a bit too hard considering my memory was supposed to be sharp back then.
<The lost children of the north>
The cover I remember didn't seem to be an official empire report... no symbol of the empire on there.
So she did read for fun then? Maybe I should try it out.
I open my fridge and take out some of the ninja rations they sell down the street and begin eating them.
I then go to my room and grab my wallet before heading out, I wonder where a bookstore is located.
Might have to ask someone.
I head out again and feel the cold air... might need to buy warmer pyjamas to wear under my jacket.
I yawn as I make my way around the streets... unfortunately I am unable to locate a bookstore.
Plan B. Ask a local who doesn't sleep away the day.
I see a small group of ninja in the distance and close in on them- as I get closer I hear their conversation.
"Hatake did that...?" One of them raises an eyebrow.
Hatake?
"Yes, the white fang- did you need help child?" One of the ninja asks as I approach.
Hatake... a Hatake is the white fang, I may have to ask Kakashi Hatake about that one the next time I see him.
"Do you know where a bookstore is located nearby?" I ask them.
"Ah, try one block south of the eastern market- it won't be in the crowded areas and will probably be a more quiet shop" They advise.
"May I also inquire about this white fang? I have heard people conversing about him all day and was wondering what happened?" I ponder.
"Well... just know the white fang has plunged us into war- ask your parents kid, and stay safe" He shoos me away as kindly as he can.
Hn.
South of the market... the eastern market is quite a walk from here, did they think like a ninja rather than a normal citizen? How rude.
I start my long walk, I do have the time after all.
...
"White fang..."
"..... Sakumo Hatake.."
"...White fang......."
"..Hatake..."
"White fang..."
"....White fang..."
...
So many people talking about him. The Hatake must have messed up terribly to have the whole village against him.
Reminds me of the time I was framed for murdering my uncle and the empire hated my guts for a while.
It's not like I cared at that time, the Old man was hellbent on breaking me through the first aspect that I had no social life anyway- all I remember is coming back from GreyScaled fortress and no one bringing it up again.
...
Maybe my act of fighting off the bandit horde deterred my bad name and traded it for a neutral one.
Then again- my Old man had many ways of keeping the empires people subdued, I wouldn't put it past him to silence the voices of the people so I wouldn't be distracted.
Hn... it was when I killed that lesser cult leader that my name was cleared if I remember correctly, to think an entire empire hated me for over a year and I didn't bother to care... yet here I am curious about some other stranger I have never met.
How the times change.
After a twenty minute walk I eventually arrive at my destination... and enter inside one of the bookshops.
*Ring!*
The bell rings as I enter.
I browse their wares for a bit and visit the popular sections... it seems that ninja based novels are on top.
How sad.
I move to the less popular sections and find various other genre's... romance being a close second to the ninja themes.
Hn. Romance... never knew much about it, I did love that dance I shared with my wife however.
Maybe... I should buy one from the romance genre? I did decide on books because I was thinking about my wife...
*Ring!*
Hn. All these romance novels are corrupt and ridden with erotic themes- where are the ones that capture the feeling I had that night I danced with her?
"...Ah- I do apologize dear customer but we have refunded your pre-order..."
Not in armour... but in ceremonial suits and gowns... swaying with each other in the night as we forgot everything but that moment.
"I ordered that book a month ago, you told me you had it coming in today just yesterday"
Why did I listen to the battle chimes? Why didn't I let someone else face the demons that invaded that night?
"I am sorry sir but there was a problem with the <Protectors of the leaf> series, the third book you ordered was misprinted- the log book says so right here"
And of course I didn't finish that dance... the soldiers were broken and the buildings destroyed- no unit could be gathered to track the retreating demons... I had to search for days.
"I can take the misprinted copy- I don't mind having a few words changed"
It was seven months later that I saw her again. Why did my enemies keep me so busy for so long?
"Store policy, I cannot sell books that are not up to standard"
... these books will do- <A broken promise> and <The farmers dedication>, at least they aren't erotic.
"...Fine" *Ring!*
I turn around as I see Hatake walking out of the store, hn. I was just thinking before about asking him on the details of his relative.
I head to the counter and place my books down.
"Sorry I didn't get a good look before but I saw the first and second Protector of the leaf series and wondered when the new one was to release?" I ask the bookseller and he ponders to himself for a second.
...
"I do have... a copy out back- it does release in a few days though, meaning this one is going to cost extra" He shrugs his shoulders.
I see. So whatever this White fang did is affecting Hatake and his hobbies, how rude.
"Hmm... how much?" I ask uninterested.
"11,000 Ryo" He says sadly as if he didn't set the price.
Expensive considering the times we are entering but I don't necessarily care about money.
I hand him the money for that book and mine before exiting the store.
*Ring!*
I look around... and start walking after Hatake who is down the street- never mind he just flickered away.
...
Haaaaa- how am I going to find him now? I just bought this book and probably can't return it considering I just got scammed.
I look back to the store and enter.
*Ring!*
"Hello? Is something wrong with one of your purchases sir?" The person behind the counter asks.
"I almost forgot to get a book for an acquaintance of mine? Do you have <Lost children of the North> in stock?" I ask.
"I have never heard of that book... let me check out back" He says and leaves the counter for a moment.
I go behind the counter and stand on his stool... the log book he had still rests here, I see Hatake's name, now to see if he ordered any books to be delivered home.
In a village where ninja often go out on long missions I can assume they have this service... flipping through the pages and heading to the back of this thick log book I see one book, the first of the protector series delivered to the address of someone named Sakumo Hatake two years back.
Well. That is the white fang I believe, the gossiping outside mention the name Sakumo Hatake being the white fang at least.
I flip the page to where it was and walk back around the counter... four minutes later the bookseller returns.
"No idea sorry, maybe come back in a week and in the meantime I will check with some of the merchants I buy from" He shrugs his shoulders and I nod my head.
"Thank you, good day sir" I leave the shop once more.
*Ring!*
And head straight for this Sakumo Hatake's home, he most likely knows Kakashi Hatake and can give him the book for me- I won't question the man himself as that is quite rude.
I'll have him send Hatake to my house another time or schedule a meeting with Kakashi Hatake.
After around thirty minutes of searching for the address in the books I see a... home that has been graffitied, some very aggressive language trying to get him to 'pay for his crime' as it were.
It seems that everyone has taken what he did terribly, or what he did was that terrible.
I approach the front door and knock upon it.
*Knock!* *Knock!*
... no one answers, does that mean no one is home or the man in question doesn't want to answer?
*Knock!* *Knock!*
...
Hn.
The mailbox is destroyed... and I do not trust the angry village people with respecting his mail at the moment anyway.
No gaps in the window...
Hn- a great dilemma.
Thanks for reading! :)