The Gamer: Naruto World

Chapter 74 – Southwestern Station

"Excuse me!" A loud shout in the middle of the forest caught the attention of every single shinobi in the southwestern area station tower.

"Is this the patrol station for the Southwestern area?" Hands in his pocket, Raito walked casually with a small smile on his face.

Shinobi gathered in groups of four with the team leaders in the front, presumably the taller one with Chūnin vest on.

When they heard Raito's shout, they quickly took action like a mechanical clockwork, arranging in a specific pattern.

The Chūnins were in front with kunai drawn out and behind him were two other shinobi with shuriken, hidden in their sleeves. Lastly, the shinobi at the rear made a defensive stance, hiding behind the three in front of them. They secretly took out a scroll from their pouch, ready to report.

While some did the routine flawlessly, there were some completely new, who were still fumbling. Raito chuckled in the inside imagining Naruto failing to get into formation.

Although they were being secretive about it, Raito had already known about the formation and the conduct a team is supposed to follow from Naruto months ago. And with his '[Chakra Sense]', the secretive action were no longer secretive.

In all this intense waiting period, a few of the more experienced groups at the back area had taken a step back and silently disappeared from the view, hiding behind the tree trunks and looking at the scene.

Looking at all the group in his view, Raito let out a bright smile and took out a scroll from his pouch.

"Yoshizawa Raito, Genin from the last graduating batch." Raito raised his hand, unrolling the scroll, and introduced himself. "I am here as a replacement."

Vigilance dropped as the Genins started whispering. While some had jealousy mixed within, some were looking at Raito with a smile.

"Yoshizawa Raito?"

"Isn't he…"

"He is supposed to be in the Chūnin exam finals."

"If he is then, why is he here?"

Some of the Genins, who had some idea regarding the situation, looked at one of the groups and let down their guards. The Chūnin responsible for those members, let out an internal groan and gave a signal to remain vigilant.

The captain of the station looked at Raito then a specific team, groaning in the inside.

Letting out an internal sigh, the station captain stepped forward, signaling everyone to stop. "Yoshizawa Raito, participating in the Chūnin exam finals. You are here to replace-"

"Yup," Raito nodded then gave the scroll and added in a low voice so that only station leader could hear, "I am replacing Naruto, who was asked to come but since he was taken in for some personal training, Hokage-sama said I could handle it for his stead."

Opening the scroll, the captain gave it a quick look before giving signaling his men. "He is one of ours."

Closing the scroll, the captain looked back and called one of the Chūnin leaders, "Akito, come up. He is yours."

Soon, a tall man with Chūnin vest and bandana headgear walked in front, and following him were two shinobi, who were about Raito's age.

One of the two smiled at Raito and gave a wave, whereas the other gave him a small nod.

The one waving his hand had a sturdy built and wearing a black bodysuit that covered up to his neck. There were bandages on his legs and forearms, like that of Lee.

The other had grey hair and a thin built. Over the black bodysuit that covered his mouth and nose, he wore a grey jacket and pants.

"Well, then," Akito shrugged then looked back at his two Genins. "Let's move."

The team disappeared leaving the captain of the station, alone in the field. He took out the scroll and gave it a go once again. With a frown in his face and annoyance in his heart, the captain cursed.

'If it goes bad then I will have to transfer. Damn it.'

Arriving at a distance not far away from the station, Akito looked at his two Genins then focused at Raito. "Three days and it's over."

Pausing for a bit, Akito added, "You should have been practicing for finals instead of… being here."

Raito looked at Akito for a few seconds before a small smile appeared in his face. Shaking his head, Raito replied in earnest. "I don't think I can improve much in the remaining two weeks."

"Good,"

"Now let's move onto the rules."

"Other than the handbook?" Raito shrugged then looked at the older guy. "Sure."

"You can directly call me Akito or you can also call me senpai since I am just three years older than you."

Raito listened with a smile and nodded at what Akito said.

"And these guys are…" Akito turned and looked at the two, giving them the signal to come forward and introduce.

"Actually, we know each other," Raito said and looked at the two. "Isn't that right, Touya, Futoshi?"

"Yeah, senpai. We know him." Touya, the guy with the sturdy built, nodded and stepped forward with a big grin.

"Same class," Futoshi, the thin built guy, whispered but everyone could hear him.

Akito smiled and looked at Raito then patting Raito's shoulder he said, "From what I hear, you have a good record. A bunch of C-ranks in just first year is too … you know, not everyone is allowed to."

"Isn't that normal?" Raito asked with his brows raised then shrugged. "My team just followed the rules."

"Sensei, duty first." Futoshi coughed and said.

"Okay, So, listen Raito." Akito let out a cough then added, "You just need to follow us for these three days and it will be over for you."

"That's what I am hoping for." Raito nodded with a smile on his face.

With a hand on his chin, Akito asked, "While you have experienced things outside the village, I believe you were not on the scouting duty, right?"

"I have not but I have heard from Naruto that it's really dangerous out here. His team even encountered some kunoichi from another village or something like that." Raito replied.

Akito let out a small smile hearing Raito and said, "It's good that you understand."

"You are still living with him, Raito?" From behind, Touya spoke up, his tone was a bit aggressive

Neither the tone nor the attitude affected Raito much. He was too used to people talking bad about Naruto. Although he couldn't change their views on what is right, Raito could just try and make things a tad bit difficult for them.

"Touya," Akito called out in irritation. "Stop it."

"Still with that bastard." Touya sneered and added, "You should know better."

"I said stop it!" Akito roared, giving Touya a death glare. "One more word about it and I will make sure you that you will only get cleaning duties from now on."

"Touya," Futoshi tapped Touya's back and gave him an intense stare.

Akito sighed as he shook his head, looking at Touya. Turning to face Raito, Akito spoke up, "Don't take his word to the heart. He is just like that."

Raito kept quiet and nodded.

Taking out a map from his pouch, Akito placed it on a boulder and started explaining.

"Since we have more of new batch Genins in our team, we were given the inner areas. The outer areas are patrolled by teams with Chūnin only group or a group with Chūnin and older Genin."

"Now, for our area, we have to look at these five clearings. We made a sweep a week back so it shouldn't take as much as last time." Pointing at the map, Akito explained for Raito's sake.

Akito then turned to face Raito and said. "We will always be in the group during the search time but if the time comes and we have to split up, we will divide in two but let's hope, it doesn't come to this."

After some hesitation, Raito scratched the back of his head and finally asked. "Senpai… What exactly am I going to be looking for?"

"Anything… If you see anything unusual, you can report it. Things like stray weapons, explosives, and even a bag of clothes. And if you see people, assume they are hostile."

"If you find money, you can get a small cut from it."

"… And if you see any Fuinjutsu related things, call me. "

"Fuinjutsu? Even if there is one, it will not be easy to find them." Futoshi said with a small frown in his face then looked at Akito for answers. Things about Fuinjutsu never came in earlier discussion, in the group.

"Don't think too much about it. If we find it, it's okay and if we don't, it's okay too." Akito waved his hand then turned to look at Raito. "It's your first time here so tag with Futoshi, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

Akito looked at Touya and said, "You will be in the rear this time."

"Bu- fine." Touya seemed reluctant but accepted the orders nonetheless. He took the formation position then shot a glare towards Raito.

"On my lead." Akito looked back at the Genins then jumped off towards the tree.

"You and me are in the middle, come." Just after Akito jumped, Futoshi tapped lightly on Raito's shoulder and jumped.

"…" Raito looked back at Touya, who was glaring at him, then turned around. A small smile hung on Raito's face as he jumped.

'[Avatar]'

Activating the skill, an invisible humanoid clump of chakra appeared in Raito's field of vision and dashed towards Touya.

The smile widened on Raito's face hidden to everyone. "If I could just increase the number of avatars I could make."

Looking at the humanoid clump of chakra entering into Touya, Raito jumped in joy on the inside. "It takes Inoichi-sensei and them some time to enter but with the gamer powers it is too easy for me."

Inside Touya's mindscape, Raito stood inside a big wooden house. Looking around, it was nothing special or complex. Raito quickly found what he was looking for and ran for it. "Gotcha."

"Doors, doors, doors." Opening one door after another, Raito finally reached a hall with many doors.

"Everything is always labeled, so it's easy for me." Raito stood in the circle with his hand raised when a pillar appeared from the floor. "The first phase is done."

Touching the pillar Raito let out a strand of chakra and a command, which opened all the doors in the hall. After a second, scrolls came flying out of the doors and stuck to the pillars, making it look a bit odd, like a hedgehog.

With a smile, Raito sat on the ground then activated another skill.

A big tab appeared in front of Raito, which had a long list of icons with dates. "Let's start with memories from this week."

On Raito's command, the file opened and Raito closed his eyes, diving into the memory.

The small team of four jumped from tree to tree, never disrupting the formation. They checked every fifty-meter, looking for any items that should naturally not be there, from the ground to the bushes to the tall tree.

Raito looked at the sun that was directly above his head and said. "It's already twelve and we have only finished a few hundred meters."

"It's a good sign. We have searched thoroughly and didn't find anything. It means that there wasn't anyone trying to make our life difficult."

"If we go at this pace we will be able to reach the first clearing soon." Akito smiled and brought out a water canteen for Raito.

"Thanks, but I already have one." Raito took out his canteen and showed it to Akito.

Letting out a small smile, he tossed the canteen towards Raito and said, "Keep it. Never know when you might need it."

Grabbing the canteen, Raito let out a small smile as he shook the canteen then attached it at the belt beside the pouch. "Thanks."

After Akito left Futoshi sat beside Raito and took out a nutrient bar then slowly chew it.

Raito looked at Futoshi eating the tastless nutrient bar and couldn't help but let out a funny snort.

Futoshi ignored Raito and continued eating his nutrient bar but even after some time had passed, Raito was looking at him. "What are you looking at?"

"You are way different then you were in the academy, Futoshi." Passing his water canteen to Futoshi, Raito added, "Although you were quiet, you now is a lot different… stronger or something like that. I don't know."

Grabbing the canteen, Futoshi took a gulp and answered. "It's the Genin corps. After the Genin exams, Iruka-sensei asked us some questions then we were divided into groups. First, we were sent for training, where we were taught individually then we were sent to different sections according to our strengths."

"I thought everyone went to the academy." Raito raised his brows and asked. "I didn't know things like this were happening behind the scenes."

"There were some who went back to the academy," Futoshi said after a short pause.

"Six months of classes…ugh." Raito laughed awkwardly and coughed. "That's kind of…"

"To become frontline, outgoing ninjas." Futoshi gave a weak laugh and tossed the canteen back. "To become like you guys."

"They can do whatever they want." Raito shrugged then added. "Even frontline, outgoing ninja have to do this kind of work sometime."

"… Hey, Raito. What is it like out there as a shinobi?" Futoshi asked after a short pause with a bit of hesitation.

"What's it like?" Raito gave him a side glance and added, "I don't know much but the mission I have done till now… it's a variety."

"Variety?"

"Yeah like delivering goods, finding things, and oh, there were a few safeguarding missions. Meeting different people and helping them with their things, it's so random out there."

"I wish I was out there too." Futoshi sighed and looked at his hands.

"You wanted to be a field ninja?" Raito raised his brows and looked at Futoshi.

"…" Futoshi just nodded.

"Hey… then why didn't you re-join the classes?"

"…"

"… it would be embarrassing, lagging a batch, and you know." Futoshi finally said it.

"You joined Genin corps because you didn't want to lag?" Raito looked at Futoshi and sighed in his heart.

With a light cough, Raito patted Futoshi and said, "I think that choosing to join the Genin corps is the better deal. I would rather choose all the cleaning jobs in Konoha rather than go to the academy."

"You don't have to say it like that, Raito."

"Sure, sure." Raito looked around and found what he was looking for. Before going towards it, he looked at Futoshi and waved his pinkey, "Wanna go for a leak?"

"…No, I am fine. I need to discuss some things with senpai. You go ahead." Futoshi shook his head then started walking towards Akito.

"Touya, why are you so stupid? You want to go back now? What kind of stupid thing are you smoking?" Akito massaged his temples and looked at Futoshi, who was walking towards them.

Waving his hand to Futoshi, Akito complained, "Futoshi, say something to this-ugh"

Raito hurried towards the bush then took out the black book. Making a rat hand seal, Raito let out a small smile. "Since it will take some time, I should add in a bit more."

Letting out a breath, Raito activated his chakra and linked it with the book. With a half rat hand seal, he activated the seal on the book. "[Clone]"

Two identical clones appeared in front of Raito then after giving him a small nod, they left the area.

"Let's move." Akito gave a loud shout and reached for a tall branch.

"Raito, let's go." Futoshi and Touya hurried as they followed Akito.

"Hai, hai." Raito acted as if he had just finished and hurried to re-group with the team. Passing by Touya, Raito appeared beside Futoshi and let out a sigh of relief. "Luckily I finished in time."

"Senpai got pissed off because of Touya so…"

"We will reach the first clearing very soon," Akito announced with his loud voice drawing everyone's attention.

'Found it,' Raito eyes widened and nearly missed his footing. His clones were doing things more efficiently then he thought.

Raito let out an embarrassed laugh then gave Touya a slide glance.

"Futoshi, I heard from Naruto that there is an old Genin, people call him 'The Eternal Genin'. Is that true?"

"Eternal Genin?" Futoshi looked at Raito and added. "I don't think I have heard about it."

Even though Akito was annoyed at Touya, he slowed down, after hearing Raito speak, and said, "Eternal Genin? It must be old man Maruboshi from the northern part."

"An old man?" Raito caught on the word and looked at Akito for more details. "If he is really a Genin till now then he must have terrible skills, right?"

"I haven't seen him personally but people who have worked with him say that he could easily be counted as a Jōnin, if not for his age."

"If he is really stuck at Genin till now…" Touya had already broken formation and appeared beside Raito and Futoshi.

"Futoshi, Raito, sides. Touya with me." Akito looked at the Touya and sighed.

"Yes, sir." With a shout, the team divided and started searching the area.

Time quickly passed as they checked the area thoroughly. The sun on top of their heads quickly descended behind the horizons as the darkness enveloped the land.

After a grueling day of hard work, the gang was exhausted and with the sun gone, the forest breeze felt slightly cold.

When Raito saw the three was taking out nutrient bars again, he stood up and started gathering wood and stones to light a fire. Taking out some pots and pans, and some spices, he quickly prepared a soup using the soup cubes and the herbs from around.

The other three looked in awe as the water in the pot quickly turned into something delicious and fragrant.

"Hey, you can cook." Touya walked forward and took out a cup from his pouch.

"Of course I can," Raito replied with a smile and stirred the small pot. "I mean… everyone who survived the survival test should have some idea about it, right?"

"…Yeah," Touya rubbed the back of his head and laughed it off then pushed the tall cup forward.

"Touya why aren't you using a storage scroll, like Futoshi is doing?" Raito looked at Futoshi taking out his own bowl and asked Touya.

"Well… I just forget about what things are in which scrolls. I tried using them but… you know, I either spoil the food or bring out the food in a fight." Touya shrugged and explained his problem.

"Well, okay." Raito shook his head and filled his tall cup with soup. "Be careful, it's hot."

"No problem." With the gloves he was wearing, it wouldn't be too hot to touch.

Raito quickly filled Futoshi's bowl and waited for the last in line, the leader of the team, Akito.

"Senpai?" Raito looked at Akito, who was in a daze and called out.

Not getting a response, Raito looked at Futoshi and gave him a signal.

"Akito-senpai, the soup." Futoshi grabbed Akito's jacket and pulled it a few times.

Waking up from his daze, Akito let out an embarrassed laugh and stretched out his hand. "I was just thinking… about something. I was thinking how to speed up our work, so that we can go home quickly."

"Mhm." Raito nodded with a smile and filled his bowl with soup. After filling everyone's bowl, Raito filled his own bowl with soup then took the pot off the fire.

Leaning on a small boulder, Raito looked at the three then said, "It was nice meeting you guys and senpai."

"Same here, Raito." Futoshi smiled and sat beside Raito, just opposite Akito and Touya.

Raito took small sips and looked at the sky with a small smile. "If it wasn't for the upcoming war, I would surely enjoy this view."

"We will do our work and try to survive this cruelty," Akito replied with darkness covering his eyes.

Touya who was quiet till now opened his mouth, "Senpai, if we do really good in this war, can we get a promotion?"

"Promotion? Maybe, maybe not." Akito chuckled and took a large gulp. "But for us, someone who joined Genin corps, we have to wait one full year before even being considered for promotion."

"…"

Looking at the stars, Raito closed his eyes and finished his soup. Looking at Akito and Touya with a small smile, Raito said. "I have finished my investigation and all the scrolls hidden in this area have been taken by my clones, who were working with some other groups."

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