Chapter 6: Chapter 6 – Choice
Wonderful new world.
My first reaction when I woke up and found three different floating windows in front of me was screaming those words and woke the other kids up, making them curse at me and take my pudding at breakfast.
But, how could I not scream?
First of all, my Weapon Mastery System has been updated. Now it showed me detailed information about myself.
[Name: Rock Lee
Chakra: 20/20
Strength: 6.35
Endurance: 6.56
Agility: 6.35
Intelligence: 5.32]
For now, I didn't know how high my chakra was because there was no comparison and I couldn't use any technique yet. However, the other four stats seemed high enough.
And the second reason was because a new function had been added.
[Inventory:]
[- Gáe Buidhe: Yellow Rose of Mortality]
The best part about this inventory was that I could categorize each weapon and put them into a different folder for easier access. The function was very convenient, especially when it could store anything, as long as it was inside the inventory.
And lastly...
"There are three achievement windows."
[Weapon Mastery Achievement: Learn a proper technique that requires chakra. Reward: 1x Random Weapon Spin]
[Normal Achievement: Enter the Academy. Reward: 10,000 Ryo]
[Special Achievement: Collect Shisui's Sharingan or save him. Reward: 1x Choice Weapon.]
"Hmm..."
Sitting under the tree, I read through the window carefully. The rewards were great, and the normal one was easy. All I had to do was enroll at the Academy, which would happen soon.
Then there were two achievements that needed some actions to complete.
The first one was about learning proper technique, which was related to the first achievement about learning to control chakra. The reward was a random weapon spin.
If I were to guess, the previous achievement had the same thing. That meant that completing a new achievement would unlock the random weapon spin again, or maybe another random reward.
"Hmm."
There was no problem with the first one. The hard part was the last achievement, collecting the Sharingan.
What was I supposed to do, anyway? This was Uchiha Shisui we talked about. Based on my estimation, his death was around 1-2 years before the Uchiha massacre, which meant around this time. This achievement was just too...
"Impossible."
Sighing, I shook my head. It was an impossible feat. Not even Guy-sensei, a high-class Ninja mastering Eight Gates, could save Shisui from Danzo, and he had the power of Mangekyo Sharingan. Not that he would involve himself in that matter.
So what could I, a weak, five-year-old child, accomplish?
If I were to join the fray, I would get killed instantly. The chance was 100%.
I have to find a way to complete the achievement without interfering directly.
Achievement can be paused and completed in the future as there is no time limit. I know a time where I can accomplish this for sure, but now is surely not the time.
While the reward, a choice weapon spin, made me drool, I had to think about my own condition too. There was no way a 5-year-old boy, a civilian, could defeat an adult Shinobi, let alone an Anbu.
I need more power and skill before attempting to complete the achievement.
"Let's forget about it for now and focus on the first and second achievement."
The first was easy, as all I needed to do was to enter the Academy, and the second was related to the first, learning a proper technique that required chakra. Coincidentally, I had already decided what kind of technique that I wanted to learn.
"Hehehe, let's find Guy-sensei right away and ask him to teach me Eight Gates."
I smiled brightly and rubbed my chin as I walked away from the training ground.
My life in Konoha was about to start!
"Of course there is a technique that can allow you to get stronger fast. But your youth energy is lacking! You need to get stronger first before learning it from me."
Guy-sensei had refused immediately. Well, it was expected. Eight Gates was a dangerous technique and a single mistake could kill me. And his Taijutsu technique required me to have a strong body so I wouldn't injure myself.
Disappointed, I shrugged my shoulders and just . I would try again after enrolling at the Academy.
***
Time passed.
I had turned 6 years old and it was finally time to enter the Academy. Before the exam, I went to Guy-sensei and declared something.
"I won't use the jumpsuit anymore. It sucks!"
"HAH!? You are a man of justice! The passion of youth flows in your vein. How could you say that?"
"Because the jumpsuit sucks."
"What do you mean it sucks? Do you not have a heart, boy?"
"Guy-sensei... Let me tell you something." I looked at him seriously and pointed at the jumpsuit I wore, only when training, then declared it. "It's already out of date and can't protect me well."
Hearing my explanation, Guy-sensei's eyes turned white in shock. He fell onto the ground and wept, saying that the world had changed.
"Is this what growth is, Lee? Why have you grown up so fast?"
"Yes. Because I have grown, now I need to protect myself. This isn't enough anymore, and I don't want to get hurt because the jumpsuit is sticking into my skin."
"How cruel... Is that the only reason? I see, a kid's growth is faster than I thought. Fine, wear anything that you like. As long as you keep the passion of youth burning, it doesn't matter."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Haha. Go, go, and grow stronger."
Saying so, Guy-sensei smiled while rubbing his eyes. He was bawling loudly. I decided to ignore him and left.
Great! Now, I can change into different clothes and use something else.
Entering the Academy of Ninja was pretty straightforward and easy. It was a big day for everyone, so the caretakers were smiling and crying. They were so emotional.
And so, after the entrance exam and the paperwork, I finally enrolled at the academy. Uchiha Clan massacre was near, and the time where I would have to make a choice had arrived.
Should I get involved? Or should I not?
My strength was just a child, so it wasn't like I would make a difference. Still, Sasuke's fate was sad, and he didn't deserve the life he was living. Not that all other poor children deserved their lives. This was a harsh world, and it wouldn't change no matter how much a person cried.
So, should I get involved or not?
"Nah, there is no point. It won't change anything."
I would be wasting my time and putting myself in danger. The bandaged guy was too dangerous.
"Let's think about it when the time comes. Until then, focus on training and growing stronger."