by Honie Jar
Hikari looked further to the left and found more information regarding her level and health.
Hikari Himukai
Class: Ninja
Level: Level 4 - Chunin
Honor Beads to Next Level: 10
Health: 6 LP
Armor Class: 5*
Magic: 18 MP**
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Ninpo per Round: 1
*[Level (4) multiplied by Defense (9)]/8 rounded up to the nearest integer.
**Intelligence + Evasion
Looking even further to the left, Hikari could gather even more information about herself. “Level Chunin!” she muttered in astonishment under her breath. No good deity made a rotten deal. What she was starting with was embarrassing. That deity lied to her to get her to take the deal, and now she was left at Level Chunin, with hardly any armor. Forget about performing any magic or spells with that low of Magic Points, but based on the Evasion Ability Score, which yielded her a respectable amount of MP (Magic Points), it appeared that Hikari would eventually have the ability to perform some sorcery. The Life Points were decent and seemed to be on the par for the level she was at. The Amor Class was low, but that was because of her low level.
She remembered that Ayuka had left off with Hikari at Level Jonin-Gashira, in the Kanga Clan, one of her biggest accomplishments. That was the level under Kage, the leader of the clan. Hikari felt taken advantage of, however, she knew how to level herself up quickly and knew how to get the Kanga Clan to recruit her. This was a mild setback from what she was expecting.
Hikari was grateful that she was in her favorite game playing as her favorite character. For a brief moment, she thought back to her old life as Ayuka and wondered how she could go back. Failing a math class that she didn’t need, to get a degree she didn’t need, to get a job she didn’t want. She wanted to design video games, but she would probably get a job with Google, coding apps. She only wanted the job with Google to make her parents proud. Her real passion was gaming and now she was living fully immersed in her passion.
Inventory
Equipped:
Pouch
2 Gold Coins
4 Shuriken
Civilian Clothing: Travel Cape with Hood and Pants
Armor: Karuta Chest Plate
Not Equipped:
Black Shinobi Ninjutsu Stealth Uniform
Black Tabi Boots
Black Tabi Socks
Arm Gauntlets
Hood with Mask
Ninjatō
She yearned for the red robe she had gained when she was initiated into the Kanga Clan. She had her first mission. Seeing that she would wear a black stealth uniform made it troublesome for Hikari, her existence became wrapped up in being a member of the Kanga Clan. She vowed to get out of the Erīto Preparatory Academy as soon as possible and get recruited into the Kanga Clan. However, with her low status, low abilities, and minor attributes, she was would be benched in any junior varsity squad of any ninja clan, let alone the be recruited by the elite Kanga Clan. Hikari realized that she would require to level up and do so quickly.
Materializing in the verdant knolls located outside the gates of Nara, Hikari found herself alone. That was done deliberately since this had to look awkward at best.
Before Hikari could realize what was going on, she noticed three gusts above her skull. She recognized what those were. Shuriken. Throwing stars, but from where? Scared to lift her head any further, attempting to make herself a broader target than she already was, but she would have to move quickly.
Armed with her breastplate and four Shuriken, she had no option but to confront whatever threw the stars at her. Spring up, using a nip-up by placing her palms flat on the ground on either side of her head and lifting her legs and spine into the supine position, she propelled her body from being flat on her back to now on her feet.
Surveying the lush hills from where she transpired, she saw nobody but the mist clouds rolling down from the mountain. Strange. Hikari well recognized that she felt the bursts of airflow above her head, narrowly missing the bridge of her nose, the sound of spinning shuriken was indisputable. Instinctively, she reached for her Ninjatō, which would normally be strapped to her back, hidden beneath her civilian clothes. Right. It was not equipped. Internally, Hikari panicked. What to do?
Then, through the fog, she witnessed three black-masked figures appear from the hazy cloud a hundred yards from where she stood in her fighting stance. Hikari reached into her pouch and took out one of the shuriken.
Hikari relied on her hours of practice as she felt the cool steel in her hand. Knowing that she only had four on hand, that throwing multiple shurikens at moving targets was the most effective technique for this situation.
In a rapid series, Hikari threw her first shuriken followed by the next at the approaching figure that led the charge, missing him. She took a deep breath when she saw the second one pierce the throat of the figure cloaked in black; the blood spraying in two directions as the shuriken pierced the flesh of the attacker.
Grabbing the other two shurikens in each of her hands, Hikari would use the last two as a fist load weapon for close-in fighting that would soon ensue. Hikari took a deep breath and braced herself for the attack.
Hikari swiped her fist across the attacker was within striking distance of her with the arms of the star protruding from her knuckles. Relieved she made solid contact, the rush in her body eased. Expecting a strike from the assailant, Hikari avoided the hand of the initial black-cloaked creature by inches as he encroached on her. Within an instant, Hikari’s vision went black, and she fell to the ground, landing on the side of her head. The error in her preparation cost her seventy LP, she watched the update come across her vision.
The attack went so fast that she did not know what happened to her. Her eyes squinted open, and she witnessed a civilian-cloaked ninjitsu practitioner with a long staff weapon battling the two remaining ninja attackers. While her head settled on the ground, her temple buried between the grass blades, she looked at a symbol on the sleeves of one assailant. The Kagaku Clan. Why would they bother with an attack on her?
Meanwhile, she watched the frail, old, ninjitsu practitioner wield the long staff, striking one in the head, and with the other end, striking the other in the back. The practitioner then returned the staff to the first assailant, hitting him dead in the rib cage and whacking him over, the assailant’s body falling over the long staff. The master then speared the head of the selling assailant, the staff impeded into the ninja’s eye socket.
The master pulled the staff from the shinobi’s skull; the master had one last assailant to beat. The two squared off, and the master took a deep sigh before unleashing an onslaught of offensive attacks. Striking with one sector of the long staff then the other, the assailant blocked each attack, keeping in step with the practitioner. Finally, the practitioner performed two wrist rolls with the staff with both hands before he then did two helicopter spins overhead before striking the remaining ninja. First, with the front side of the staff in the chest and with the backside of the staff, hitting the back of the assailant’s skull. The practitioner knocked the ninja out cold from the head strike, then he speared the final assailant’s brain with the tip of the staff. He then trod on his head to pull out the embedded staff.
Hikari came to complete consciousness while caught the bearded man bludgeon the last ninja attacker the long staff to the eye socket and pulled out the staff. Who was that? She watched through her squinted eyes, regretting her decision to come to this world. This was tougher than she expected.
Across her vision she watched:
Ability increase: Intelligence 1 for genius use of using shuriken as a fist-loading weapon.
DMG = (20 + 12) * 6/8 - (9 + 18) * 4/8
Hikari took damage
LP decrease to 5
Lost Attribute: Advancement
MP increase to 19
As the last ninja attacker laid on his back, lifeless, the old,
beard man approached Hikari. “Child, get up,” he commanded.
Hikari took a moment to determine her physical competence and realized she could sit up. Sitting on her sit bones, she took in the mystical man. His white, long goatee braided into two strands connected at his chin, moved as he walked and spoke. He cloaked himself in a white kimono secured with a tie with a white sash and had a bald head. His wrinkled skin had the worn look like leather, signifying his age. Hikari took a moment, not wanting to insult the man, but wanting to know why he took his time to save her. “Thank you,” she muttered.
“Get up!”
Hikari was taken aback by the man’s persistence in her moving, especially when all she wanted to do was lay there. Reluctantly, she rose to her feet.
“We must leave, now!” the man said with urgency in his voice as he grabbed the hand of Hikari pulling her across the field, far from the gates of Nara.
Without hesitation, Hikari followed the old warrior, running behind him. They crossed the grassy field, to the other side of the valley, opposite from the looming mountain range. Hikari looked behind her to see that more and more white clouds continued to roll down the mountainside, misty white ominous clouds continued like puffs of smoke filling the valley.
When they reached a cavernous area full of carved rocks, the two slowed and came to a stop. Hikari became impressed with her physical ability to run a long way at a rapid pace. She had the training of a ninja, and it was a sharp contrast to the physical condition of Ayuka, who panted walking to class.
The man led Hikari through a maze of caverns, deeper into the shallow hillside that lined the other side of the grassy valley. Hikari followed, trusting this man since he saved her. When the pair stopped at the entrance of a dark cave, the man said, “I am Shinobu Nanahoshi,” bowing to Hikari.
“I am Hikari Himukai,” answered Hikari bowing in reciprocity.
“This is my home, come in.”
Hikari followed the man into the dark cave where sconces of lit candles lined the walls. A fire was at the end of the cave where folded blankets laid next to it. Shinobu took a pillow from the corner of the cave and sat on it, maneuvering his legs into the lotus position, sitting with his legs awkwardly crossed, his palms resting on his knees. His back toward the fire and he closed his eyes.
Hikari, uncertain what to do sat on the ground facing him. She crossed her legs and put her palms on her knees, following Shinobu’s posture.
What felt like an eternity passed, as Hikari wondered who this man was and what she was doing there. Let alone why they had to vacate the area when they had defeated the enemy. So many questions swirled around in Hikari’s head, she burst at the seams. She used this time to look around. She opened the side corner of her eye and monitored the man who sat in front of her. A skilled ninjitsu practitioner, yet frail and thin. She looked to the side of him and saw incense burning by the fire. She had previously smelled something beautiful but did not know the source. The scent of burning jasmine filled her nostrils, assisting in her relaxation, despite this situation being awkward and anxiety-inducing.
She also saw by the fireplace, several weapons. Staff, ropes, several styles of sickles lined the wall near the fireplace. This guy had gear.
A few more moments passed by, and Shinobu opened his eyes. He said in a calm tone, “I must meditate after each battle, it helps calm my body and perfect my technique,” he explained. “I hope you did. It will keep your coordination sharp.”
“I did,” responded Hikari, fibbing slightly as meditation was foreign to her.
“You will get better at it, child.” Continuing, he said, “You are our future, child. I must cultivate and protect you, as your contributions to Nara will one day be greater than my own. Here, let me teach you how to do meditation.”
“All right.”
“Fortunately for you, I can teach you how to access your Focus and can show you how to direct your energy to broadening your abilities,” explained Shinobu.
Hikari did as Shinobu instructed her, pressing her eyes shut tightly and delving deeply inside herself, searching for the flowing focus that burned inside of her. Tapping into her internal power, she drew closer to the energy within. In her mind’s eye, she saw shifting colors and blurred lines weaving in and out of themselves. Radiating, like the cosmos, from within her she felt a warm fire burning inside her belly. As if comets and other celestial bodies produced atomic fission inside of her, resulting in pulsating energy. The energy grew at an exponential rate that Hikari turned fearful of what it might do. She opened her eyes in a panic, frightened at the explosions she could feel within her body.
“That’s it, child,” interrupted Shinobu. “That’s how you summon the ninja within.”
“Wow! I’ve never felt such a thing.” Hikari astonished by the power that she felt. She licked her upper lip to find a sheen of perspiration on it. The inward heat had made her sweat. As Hikari tasted the salt on her lip, she saw the words flash across her field of sight.
Being led through a guided meditation has yielded 1 increase in Intelligence. Intelligence 1 (-5).
Lost LP and Attribute Restored.
Guided meditation seemed to influence the Ability Scores. She did not remember this from the game. Perhaps this was one difference between life in Kunoichi Online and playing the game.
“I will be here to guide you as you need,” interjected Shinobu. “But you must see me every day.”
“Every day?” Hikari challenged, perplexed by the requirement.
“Right, every day. Do not let the dawn rise before you see me. I fear that there will be nights that will go late, but you must show your dedication.”
“That seems like a difficult task. I mean this place is several miles from Nara, and I’ll be at the Academy,” countered Hikari.
“Right, and you must make time.”
Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, but still confused Hikari stopped fighting what seemed to be presenting itself to her. “Well, thank you for saving me,” said Hikari, once again.
“Now let’s get to that,” responded Shinobu. “I am called to mentor you. I am the former Kage of the Himitsu Agency, one of the critical forces trying to stop the summoning of Amun-Ra and the Clan of the Black Harvest.”
More words came across Hikari’s field of vision.
Mentor gained.
Being trained by Shinobu Nanahoshi will increase your abilities. Miss a day and you will suffer the consequences.
Hikari did not remember this part of the game either. There were no mentors in the game, but the user interface taught her what she needed to know and how to perform combat attacks. Perhaps Shinobu took the place of that.
“You’re a former Kage?”
“Yes. Of the Himitsu Agency.”
“So you worked for the Crown Prince?”
“Correct,” answered Shinobu. “Given my age, it was time for me to step aside and allow new blood to lead the clan. They must teach you well at Erīto Preparatory Academy.”
“They are.”
“Very well. I live now as a renunciate, in my cave away from all the villagers of Nara, the very ones that I spent my entire life protecting. I still love those who I protected from the shadows, but I have found that my mind wanted less stimulation, so I built this home in the caves here.”
“It’s lovely,” confirmed Hikari.
“So now, let’s get to why you’re here.” Shinobu paused, taking in deep breaths. Then he explained, “I’m sure you’ve heard of the kunoichis, the members of the Kanga Clan?”
“I have.” Hikari not sure if she should reveal that she knew the secret clan even in the World of Shadows.
“I thought you might have,” answered Shinobu to Hikari’s relief. “Over my time working with the government of Nara, I had run across circumstances of were strange and mystical things happened with no explanation. It was not until I married, that my dying wife told me her secret and asked me to keep it until I knew to tell it.” This story was ge
tting a little deep for Hikari.
“Would you like to know what the secret is?” Shinobu asked.
“If you would like to tell me,” replied Hikari.
“Unbeknownst to me, my wife was a kunoichi and a member of the Kanga Clan. Even though I told her I worked for the government of Nara, she knew that I was the Kage of the Himitsu Agency from her connections in the Kanga Clan.”
“You must have been surprised by this revelation,” affirmed Hikari.
“To say the least. Now, let me explain further. Long before your time, the Crown Prince had an older brother and he would be the rightful heir to the throne of Ukiyo Komorebi and rule in Nara.”
“I wasn’t aware,” relented Hikari.
“Understandable. They tend to skip this part in schools. Anyway, this older brother was found to be evil and vile. He ascended to become the leader of the Clan of the Black Harvest, essentially creating the clan himself. Reports came into the Himitsu Agency that he murdered his father one night so he would gain power.”
“Fascinating!”
“Amun-Ra, the wicked founder and leader of the Clan of the Black Harvest, was on the verge of seizing Ukiyo Komorebi and by killing the King, he would completely rule the entire land.
“Wow!” Hikari exclaimed.
“That night, the Himitsu Agency invaded the temple where he lived to seek justice. As I approached his quarters, I was a Chunin at the time sent on top missions such as this, I witnessed something incredible. As I came down the smoke passage of the fireplace in his quarters, spying, I saw my first exposure of the Kanga Clan. Before Amun-Ra could take control of the kingdom, the leader of the Kanga Clan, Kikyo Minamoto KangaKage banished him and turned him into an enenra, a smoke creature, trapping him in an urn. She left with the urn. Rumor has it she then hid the urn in a faraway place, not to bother Ukiyo Komorebi again.”
