Chapter 38 - Visit(7)

And so they started playing. Naruto started losing quite badly at the first few rounds, but after he got a notification that he gained the max level of the shogi skill and that he can not gain any more Wis points anymore, everything started changing. Shikaku was so confused throughout rounds twelve to eighteen. He thought he would win easily but now, he just lost against a kid consecutively.

What puzzled him was the number of obstacles he had to face when he played. From his wife calling him for something that made him misplace a shogi piece to bugs bothering him and making him misplace another piece. To even the wind that got in his eyes and kept bothering him. For the first time in his life, he wanted to curse at the injustice that he was facing.

Shikaku: 'What the hell is going on? Why does it feel like the world is against me today?' He was sweating a little bit with his free hand closed in a tight fist of anger and frustration. It took nearly every bit of willpower to simply not shout and break something let alone playing a challenging game against a youngster who was destroying him.

Naruto looked at all this happening and if he didn't have Gamer's Mind helping him, he probably would've been rolling on the floor laughing. He knew what was going on but he didn't know that it was so effective. What Naruto was talking about was the perk that gave him luck. Cain can turn on and turn off his perks at will whenever he feels necessary but this time, Naruto requested Cain to turn it on when he was running to their house.

Is it cheating? It would be if it can be determined and seen but luck is extremely abstract and it can't be counted. Imagine how crazy it would sound if someone accused someone of using their luck against him.

When he saw the blood vessel about to burst from his opponent's forehead, Naruto didn't feel guilty at all. However, he did feel bad for experimenting his luck on Shikaku like a guinea pig so he decided to propose something instead.

Naruto: "How about we end this?" This got Shikaku's attention. "Why don't I say that we tied and end it for today. I'm tired and you seem a little stressed. A break is always necessary to maximize fun." This Shikaku mentally rolled his eyes but he nonetheless agreed to it.

Once Naruto went in to get water for the both of them, Shikaku laid down.

Shikaku: "What the hell did I agree to?" He mumbled. Just when he closed his eyes, he heard a voice.

Inoichi: "Morning Shikaku." he said as he approached Shikaku. Once he was close enough, he saw the miserable state his best friend was in. "What happened? Did you drink or something? You look awful."

Shikaku: "I got played around" he breathed in. "by a blond brat" he breathed out. "at Shogi." Inoichi pinched himself and immediately looked around him. He looked at the ground and sky to see if either of them is falling. He then took a deep breath and stared at Shikaku. "I know right. World ending facts you just heard there."

Inoichi: "But how?"

Shikaku: "I don't even myself. At first, it was me who was easily winning. Then all of a sudden, it's like after every game he becomes better or something. After a few rounds, his improvement stopped but he pulled off so many new or miraculous plays that I have never seen before."

Inoichi: "Amazing. So who is this person?"

Shikaku: "You'll never believe it."

Shikaku: "That's 'cause you haven't." He said as he remembered how much mental pressure Naruto put on him. "It was Naruto. The same kid that got yelled at by Choza."

Inoichi: "Him? Impossible."

Shikaku: "Better believe it. The kid is a lot smarter than he is letting on."

Inoichi: "Hm..."

Naruto: "Mr. Nara. I brought you some water." Shikaku took the water.

Shikaku: "Thank you Naruto." He said as he finished the water with big gulps. Naruto then looked at Inoichi.

Naruto: "Good morning Mr.Yamanaka. "

Inoichi: "You too I guess." he said as he stared at Naruto, trying to figure out how he defeated Shikaku out of all people. Naruto knew what he was thinking but he turned to Shikaku and ignored him.

Naruto: "So it seems like I am joining you for lunch and dinner."

Naruto: "Yes actually. I want to train in the Nara clan jutsus."

Shikaku: "..."

Inoichi: "..."

Naruto: "What? Did I say something wrong?" he said as he looked at the flabbergasted faces.

Shikaku: "It's not that. What you are asking for is secret information of the Nara clan."

Naruto: "Secret? Isn't it just a Jutsu?"

Shikaku: "You're taking it too lightly. Our techniques are for our clan members only and no one else."

Naruto: "Then you should make an exception. It's not like I have many friends to tell your secrets too. Not to mention, I only want it because I like the idea of efficiency."

Shikaku: "I don't even how to reply to you." He rubbed his forehead. "Making exceptions. Efficiency?"

Shikaku: "...Why would you want to weaponize yourself?"

Naruto: "Protection and an increased survival rate. Imagine a person that would be out to kill me but he or she doesn't know that I could use the shadows to either hold them down or kill them."

Shikaku: "The way you say that makes it sounds like you are going to get attacked."

Naruto: "That's because I most likely will be. After all, I am the target of other nations due to my little belly monster." Inoichi, who has been quiet the entire time felt a little agitated when he heard that.

Inoichi: "You know?"

Naruto: "Mhm. Not that hard to figure out. I told the Third about it and that's why I have my house back with him paying for it."

Shikaku: "Seriously?" He laughed a little.

Naruto: "Yep. Now my life couldn't be better except for the fact that I am currently helpless. So will I learn from you?"

Shikaku: "Hmmm..." He was in deep thought for a bit. Only after a minute is when he opened his mouth and started talking. "Okay. I'll teach you. Only one condition."

Naruto: "Sure. What is it?"

Shikaku: "What you learn and hear today will never go further than this compound. Our techniques must be kept secret. Do you understand?" He asked seriously. His eyes bore into Naruto for extra pressure but Naruto had met both Lilith and Rai. Humans can't scare nor pressure him anymore.

Naruto: "Yes." He responded with equal seriousness. 'Good thing my acting skill is maxed out due to my clones. Gotta keep the serious impression or otherwise, I might not get it. ' Shikaku looked at Naruto deeply. Seeing that there was a determination on his face and his eyes were clear, he finally relaxed and smiled.

Shikaku: "Good. Let's try to finish by lunch then."

Naruto: "Okay." The training started in a sense. Not everyone can just use secret techniques because it has requirements that needed to be fulfilled before anyone can even learn it. And so for the next ten minutes, Naruto was put through a test of whether he has an affinity with the Yin Element and whether or not his chakra control is decent. For the first test, he failed and for the second, he passed with flying colors although that result surprised him. He thought someone with such large amounts of chakra would have less control but it turned out that Naruto was almost about a quarter away from having perfect chakra control.

Even though he failed the first test, he still wanted to learn the jutsus. Shikaku delivered on his promise and taught him even though he felt like he might not learn it at all. When it was time to use the jutsus to test it out, Shikaku had his jaw open at the result. Inoichi was no different because he knew himself how difficult it is to learn secret techniques as he went through the same phase of having these jutsus passed down to him and training in it day and night to master them.

[Yin Element Affinity(Low)]

[Nara Clan Jutsus Obtained.]

Naruto: 'Huh?!? Mind Power?? What is going on?'

[Mind Power uses mental energy to be used. Keep in mind that your Mind Power skill came from the two energies that make up Chakra.] Sensing Naruto's confusion, he kept going.

[See it like this. Imagine a line. This line has two dots at its ends and one dot perfectly at the center. Chakra would be the dot that is perfectly in the middle while Mind Power would be the dot to the left and the other unknown Power would be the dot that is to the right. It can also be vice versa if it's easier for you to understand.]

[The point is that the Yin Element transcends Mind Power and reaches the level of imagination. Meaning, you can make form and shape from nothingness if you wish when this element is completely mastered. Simple terms, the power of Creation. Of course, the ability is very limited due to the requirement of heavy chakra usage and not being able to create life.]

[Because Mind Power is so close to the Yin Element, you are now training both the Yin element and the Mind Power skill at the same time because you are using a Yin Element Jutsu. Technically, you never used Mind Power but essentially they are almost the same thing except that Mind Power gives you other exclusive powers that the Yin Element doesn't and until you figure that out, you would probably never be able to draw out the full potential for Mind Power.]

Naruto: '...That's a lot to take in.' He subconsciously drew in a deep breath.

[...]

Naruto: 'So at one point, I can create life?'

[Yes.]