Bully Lord In the Chunin Exam (NarutoVerse)

As Reika guided both Kuro and Xero into the inn, her usual calm seemed to have shattered. Her composed, graceful demeanor now bristled with irritation, and even her walk was brisk and heavy, every step a wordless reprimand. She practically shoved them into the modest room—simple wooden furniture surrounded by traditional tatami mats—before she spun on her heel to face them.

The usually relaxed, thoughtful expression on her face was replaced by a hard-edged glare, and she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Her blue-green eyes, normally warm and steady, now narrowed dangerously at Kuro and Xero. Kuro had never seen her quite this angry after he came to this world, and as her gaze seared into him, he could feel a slight shiver run down his spine.

"I knew Xero was reckless," she began, her voice low and restrained, but the tension was unmistakable. "But you, Kuro? I didn't expect you to join him in his stupidity."

Kuro, at that moment, couldn't help the nervous chuckle that escaped him. It was his typical way of easing tension, or at least trying to. Rubbing the back of his neck, he offered her a sheepish grin, hoping it might soften her wrath just a little. "Hey, sometimes an adrenaline rush gets the best of me… sis."

The moment that last word slipped out, he knew he'd made a mistake. Reika's expression shifted, her brows pulling together, and her jaw clenched tightly. Her eyes sharpened, and the intensity in them seemed to deepen, as if he'd hit a nerve he hadn't realized existed.

"Don't call me 'sis, I ain't your sister!'" she snapped, her tone as cold as steel. The words were sharp and final, cutting through any lingering traces of lightheartedness in the room. 

Kuro's grin faded immediately. There was a slight pause as he tried to process her response, something uneasy lingering in the silence between them.James doesn't know why she didn't like the idea of calling her sis. While her irritation was clear, something about her response hinted at something more, a tension he couldn't quite name. But he wasn't about to push further—at least not right now. Instead, he let the subject drop, mentally filing it away for another time. 

He glanced at Xero, who had positioned himself on his feet already, looking perfectly relaxed, even carefree. It was almost surreal—Kuro himself bore a few scratches and bruises from their latest scuffle with one of the Leaf Village's most formidable young ninjas, but Xero didn't seem to have a single mark on him. Not even the slightest scratch or bruise marred his skin, and his clothing looked just as fresh and clean as when they'd arrived. It was as if he has high speed healing ability.

Kuro's brows furrowed as he eyed Xero, and he couldn't help but wonder, *Just how resilient is this guy? Does he have some kind of rapid healing ability?*

Noticing Kuro's curious look, Xero raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "What? Surprised?"

Kuro shook his head in disbelief, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "You're not even a little hurt?"

Xero shrugged nonchalantly, brushing an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder. "Pain doesn't bother me much," he said, his tone almost dismissive, as though the very concept of pain was a foreign inconvenience he barely acknowledged.

Reika, who had been watching the exchange with a sharp eye, sighed heavily, folding her arms across her chest once again. "You're both lucky I didn't leave you there," she said, her voice tinged with exasperation. "We could have been marked as criminals for starting a brawl in their village."

Xero, with a glint of defiance in his eyes, straightened and met her gaze without flinching. "Why didn't you step in, then? You could've helped."

For a moment, her eyes flashed with something fierce, and she uncrossed her arms, fists clenching as she took a step closer to him. Her voice came out sharper than ever, a barely-contained fury. "Are you insane? Fighting a Hyuga in the middle of the Hidden Leaf Village? And not just any Hyuga, but Neji? You would have signed us up for disaster. I can't believe you thought that was a good idea!"

Kuro nodded quickly, his eyes wide, trying to defuse the growing tension. "Reika's right. We can't just pick fights wherever we go," he said, shooting a look at Xero. "This isn't our territory. We're on borrowed ground here, and we have to remember that comes with consequences."

Xero scoffed, a wry smirk tugging at his lips as he crossed his arms in defiance. "You two worry too much," he muttered.

But even Xero couldn't ignore the intensity in Reika's gaze as she stared him down, her expression cold. A moment passed, and though he looked as though he was about to argue, he finally muttered, "Fine," under his breath, dropping his gaze to the floor.

Kuro chuckled, more out of nervousness than anything else, but a small part of him was genuinely amused. Despite Xero's brashness and headstrong attitude, he seemed to respect Reika's authority enough to back down, even if reluctantly. It was strange—this unlikely trio, each of them vastly different from the others, was starting to feel oddly like a family. Dysfunctional, certainly, but still a family of sorts.

*"Well, well, well," Kuro drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who the cat dragged in, all shiny and new. You could've been a human pancake, Xero, but here you are, as fresh as a spring morning. Maybe the Leaf Village should worship you as a god of luck or something."*

*Xero smirked, a knowing glint in his eye. "Or maybe they're just scared of my overwhelming awesomeness," he replied, his tone equally sarcastic. It was a silent agreement between them, a shared chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.*

"Boys, boys, boys..." Reika sighed dramatically, a playful roll of her eyes. She couldn't help but smile, a fond amusement in her gaze. "Of course, I'm stuck with you lot."

Kuro chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, at least we're entertaining, right?" He glanced at Reika, noticing a fleeting moment of something... almost like melancholy. "What's got you down, sis? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Sis again, huh?" Reika muttered, her eyebrow twitching. "You know, I'm not actually your sister, right? I'm just a normal, everyday person who happens to be stuck with a couple of overgrown children." She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Though, I suppose you two could use a bit of mothering."

Kuro and Xero exchanged amused glances. "Hey, we appreciate the maternal instincts," Kuro teased. "But don't worry, we're not that helpless."

Reika rolled her eyes. "We'll see about that." She turned away, a small smile playing on her lips. Despite her annoyance, she couldn't deny the warmth she felt for her unusual companions. After all, who else could tolerate their antics and still come back for more?

A flicker of curiosity sparked in Kuro. He wanted to ask, to probe, but something about Reika's demeanor held him back. He decided he'd wait, let the topic rest until another time when she might be more open to it. But the thought lingered in his mind, intertwining with the growing respect and fondness he felt for both her and Xero.

In the end, as the three of them settled down in the quiet room, Kuro felt a strange sense of contentment. Yes, they might be a chaotic group, prone to impulsive fights and clashes of personality, but for better or worse, they had each other's backs. And in the unpredictable world they lived in, maybe that was all that really mattered.

—

As the afternoon sun began to dip lower, casting a warm orange glow over the Hidden Leaf Village, Kuro slipped away from the inn, savoring the freedom after the day's tension. He strolled through the village, letting the energy of the bustling streets and warm chatter lift his spirits. Vendors called out to passersby, families and friends mingled, and lanterns swayed gently in the breeze above. It was all so inviting, so… alive. Back on Earth, Kuro was accustomed to a world consumed by self-serving agendas. He'd battled countless foes, each more vile than the last. In contrast, this new world offered a strange sense of relief. Perhaps the system intended a respite, a vacation of sorts. Though he wouldn't admit it, he was secretly excited to be here, in the heart of the Land of Fire

But Kuro had a destination in mind—one he'd heard legends about from the anime which repeated several times. After asking a few locals for directions, he finally spotted it: a small ramen shop with a wooden sign hanging above the entrance. The sign was simple, almost understated, yet somehow more famous than half the noble clans in the village. *Ichiraku Ramen,* it read, and Kuro felt a little thrill at the sight of it.

*This place… the legendary ramen spot! The one the Leaf's shinobi are always talking about! The broth, the noodles, the secret spices...* Kuro thought, his stomach already growling in anticipation. He'd heard that just one bowl could make you forget all your worries.