Walking Through The Rubble

As Tokei holds me over his shoulder not unlike a sack of potatoes as I have a long moment to make a choice.

A few seconds where I could wriggle and act, attract attention, and see what would happen. My thoughts race… and just decide to do nothing. It's not like I could really do anything after all; I'm half a year old. So not making waves is probably the smart choice.

Tokei spins at the newcomers orders and nods at the old lady- Umo, I think it was- and marches out of the house like a soldier on parade. The samurai take up positions throughout my home, two by the door, two by the stairs. My last view of the newcomer is him walking up the stairs- presumably towards Mom's room.

The front door closes behind me, letting myself into the village outside our house for the first time since our arrival. Where before Konoha bustled with life and activity, it now feels like the husk of a once bustling metropolis. There's no one on the street in either direction whatsoever. Sounds of life persist, but I can't seems to see what's causing them.

Even the air feels strange. While it isn't as heavy and infused with terror as it was during Kyuubi's attack some traces of the Bijuu's wrath linger. It's like a heavy blanket that's pushing down on me at all times.

One thing that hasn't changed is the energy that thrums in the air.

It still heightens my senses just by stepping into it. And while I've grown more accustomed to it as the weeks have passed I am still not completely used to the way every smell is a dozen times sharper, from the smoke to the dust in the air. The way my eyes can pick out details that I never would have been able to before. From the way my ears hear a still crackling blaze somewhere in the distance and a woman letting out a squeal of delight from much closer.

Wait- I didn't need any help to hear that last one. Glancing up to see both Tokei and Umo eyeing Mom's bedroom window. "Ah, puppy love," Umo muses fondly. "One day they'll out grow it, but it's good to see while it lasts, neh?"

Tokei doesn't seem to agree. He growls and puts me down, letting me walk on my own two feet while he holds me by the wrist. My… guard?… starts down the street without another word, dragging me in his wake and forcing Umo to hustle to catch up.

The further I get from my home the more apparent the battle scars become. Here a broken down building, there a pile of stone that used to be a statue, over there a suspiciously dark stain that Tokei takes care to keep me away from. The foul energy grows stronger the more destruction there there is, making my senses go haywire.

I hack out a cough against the dark air, a wracking thing that feels like it's going to take my lungs with it. Umo eyes me steadily. "Is that normal?" she asks.

"He's still growing accustomed to the chakra rich air of the environment," Tokei growls out. "It is to be expected."

"That is all?" Umo presses. "No weak constitution? No health issues? I've read that an inferior immune system is not at all uncommon when a child is relocated so suddenly. And-"

"No," Tokei utters again. "He is growing more accustomed to it. That is all."

The words are heavy and final sounding, like they're punctuating the end of a sentence that will accept nothing else after it. Umo certainly takes it as such; she drops the line of questioning entirely.

Instead she changes the subject by gesturing as the rubble I'm walking around. "Were you here for this?" she asks.

Tokei shakes his head. "No. I was utilized differently. The Jonin Commander seemed eager to keep me out of direct confrontation with the beast. It was no surprise; my skill were not the proper fit for that kind of conflict."

"Oh? And how were you 'utilized'?"

"Primarily in evacuation and damage control," he continues.

My tiny legs, still not used to so much walking, start to flag. Tokei scoops me up absentmindedly and resumes carrying me half over his shoulder. "I was tasked with seeking out noncombatants who were unable or unwilling to flee their homes and removing them from the theatre."

"People were," Umo says slowly, "unwilling to leave their homes during the incident?"

"Some were. They tended to be those who had dwelled within the same walls for generations. I had several that believed that as long as they were within their walls, nothing would cause them harm, and still others who believed that if their home was destroyed that they should go with it. They were irritating, but provided no difficulty.

"Aside from that I put out fires, stopped unauthorized combatants from joining the fray, and made things as easy as I could for the shinobi who were doing battle."

Umo accepts the report with a dignified nod as she lifts the hem of her dress to keep it away from the dust. "Which reminds me… where are the Shinobi? From the tales in Inkuru, one should be able to walk through Konoha without stumbling into a dozen of them."

"Then the stories from the capital are correct," Tokei replies. "On a normal day I would expect to have already seen at least one Shinobi if not a gaggle of them. But as I'm certain you can understand, these are not normal days. You have, I presume, heard the stories of what happened to the Hokage?"

"Indeed. He used a forbidden technique to destroy the Bijuu if I recall, and paid for it with his own life."

Tokei snorts. "If that's all there is to the story then I will be quite surprised. But the one kernel of truth I'm sure is there is that the man is dead. A shame; he seemed quite personable the few times I had reason to meet with him. But with their leader deceased there is likely chaos in the shinobi ranks as his possible successors quibble over the seat. I suspect that those who aren't handling the damage directly in the streets are handling the void left in the bureaucracy as best they can. Those that are doing neither are likely abroad, projecting the village's strength as best they can."

Umo looks like she wants to ask more questions but stops short as the three of us pass another pair of people walking in the opposite direction.

As we press on down the street, the air starts to lighten and the normal chakra gets thicker, holding back Kyuubi's remnants. People start to get more common; not as many as before, but more than the ghost town we were in before.

My guard takes the opportunity to change the subject. "So, is there news from home?"

"Nothing pressing," the older woman answers. "Lady Imagawa is attempting to settle the court after the unpleasantness of last year. The rumors and gossip have been beyond imagination but she's finally grasping the reins. But I do bring word from your sister."

"Oh?" Tokei prompts delicately.

"She sends congratulations on your new posting even though she will miss you terribly. And she is pregnant with her third- if it is a boy, it will likely be named in your honor."

"She has given me more than enough honor," Tokei answers. "I need not the gesture."

"She suspected you would say as such, which is why she also told me to tell you, and I quote, 'It is done, and not up for debate'."

Tokei seems moved by the gesture. He doesn't talk for a long moment. Umo walks steadily by his side as he recollects himself, breaking the silence only to exchange pleasantries with other people on the side of the road. It takes minutes for him to be able to talk without his voice being choked up with pride. "That sounds like her."

"It should," Umo answer primly. "As I said, it was a direct quote. Now, enough of that. We've been walking for quite some time. That might be well for a strapping young warrior such as yourself but these weary bones require rest. Is there a place we could sit?"

"Of course." Tokei leads the way a few blocks further before turning. The buildings around me grow smaller, going from multiple story complexes to one floor dwellings before finally ceasing to exist entirely. A green, lush meadow takes their place, stretching out for at least a mile. Small benches dot it, on which people are sitting and relaxing.

Tokei leads me into it, and a gong sounds in my mind. The scrawl begins to sound in my ears.

["You have discovered the Oasis: Three League Park! Oasis' are special areas that are scattered throughout 'Elemental'. Combat may not be initiated inside of an Oasis. Relationship changes within an Oasis are doubled. Experience gained within an Oasis is multiplied by 1.5. You may not enter an Oasis if you are already engaged in combat. This Oasis has been marked on your map!"]

That certainly seems useful.

Tokei and Umo go straight for one of the benches, and the older woman settles herself down on the wood gratefully. I squirm a little and Tokei obligingly lets me down. I plop down and don't move as I take the Oasis in. The air in here feels different, welcoming, refreshing. I can see how it got it's name.

But I can't let my mind linger on that for now. Instead I let it linger on the mechanical explanation I just got. Lack of combat seems great, and so does boosted experience and relationship changes- but is that last one both positive and negative? I'd have to assume so.

Maybe I should test that out. There are people surrounding Umo's new resting spot, people I won't have to see every day. I should go up to one of them and introduce myself as best I can. Make a new friend or enemy, and quickly; Umo won't want to rest here forever.

A pair of new mothers sitting withtheir strollers on a bench. From the markings that covers the strollers, I'd guess there're a couple of newborn clan heirs in there. In the corner of my eyes I see a boy and girl genin that are clearing debris from the edge of the Oasis.

The girl has red eyes and long hair getting in her way, and the boy seems to have lung issues, but both of them are working hard. I also see a genin aged girl sitting on her own, playing a game with a stick on her knuckles. She's focusing on it to the extent of everything else; even the snake coiling around her arm is barely acknowledged.

And. Lastly The… 'pack of dogs? There's a pack of dogs. They're just… roaming. And being dogs. And is that one talking?!. Okay how Do I approach them? Hmm.'

After a few moments of careful consideration I turn towards the women and strollers. The genin are tempting but I'd probably just get in the way, and I have no idea how I'd even start to approach a pack of dogs. And as for the girl with the snake… well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that that's Mitarashi Anko, most likely current apprentice of Orochimaru.

… I'm going to avoid Orochimaru.

It takes a few long moments to toddle over to the mothers.

Walking is still new to me, and between the unleveled ground below and the unexpected wind hitting me from the side I have to do it with two outstretched arms for balance. I hear laughter from behind me and a few cooing noises from other parents. I ignore the laughter and focus on the coos. Even if I'm not dignified, at least I am adorable.

My targets aren't among the laughing or the cooing. They don't seem to be paying any attention to me at all. Instead they're talking with each other in hushed voices that come into focus as I get closer. "… is he holding up?" one woman asks the other.

"About as well as can be expected," her friend answers. "He's running himself ragged holding everything together. Every night he manages to make it home he seems even more exhausted than he did the night before. But how can I be upset?"

The first woman shakes her head, her brown bun shaking slightly from the motion. "I understand completely."

The other woman frowns but reaches over to give her friend a small, one armed embrace. "And how is your home? Inoichi can't be any less busy than Shikaku!"

"I don't think anyone is as busy as Shikaku right now," is the response, "But yes, putting together the pieces of what happened is taking it's toll. I doubt he's he's slept more than a handful of hours since the attack. He works at the tower, he works in the field, and the only times he's home he insists on giving me a rest so he can take care of Ino."

The names mentioned click in my head. These two women are married to Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, no doubt two of the most important shinobi in the post-Kyuubi village right now.

That would make them Nara Yoshino and… huh. I don't think I ever learned the name of the other one. And that would mean that the two bundles of joy down there are Nara Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ino.

Huh. This is… weird. Really weird. I've never met any of these people before but I already feel like I sort of know them. A little. Kind of? I have vague memories of them at least. Or rather, I used to and…

I was so distracted by my contemplation that I almost miss Ino's mom pull a small rattle out of a satchel on her side. She holds it over the babies and begins to shake it, much to her friend's amusement. "Don't you think it's a little early for them to be playing?" Yoshino asks.

"For them to play, yes, but all the child development books I've read agree that very young children need mental stimulation to thrive. See? Look at how she's responding to the- augh!" Her words end with a yelp of pain as the rattle falls from her hand.

As I watch, she opens and closes her hand quickly, stretching it out.

"It's still bothering you?" Yoshino asks. "Have you been putting the cream on it?"

"Yes, but it takes time to work. And it doesn't bother me all the time. It comes and goes."

The chatter about what appears to be an old injury but I don't pay much attention. 'Im not gonna waste this golden opportunity'.

I toddle towards the rattle and grab it's handle with both hands. The moms conversation cuts off as I step close, offering the rattle back to Mrs. Yamanaka.

Their eyes rake over me for a second and I almost shiver under the glances. Mothers who've just given birth they may be, but there's no doubt that these two are still trained shinobi. They judge and weigh me in a fraction of a second as I stand with the rattle outstretched.

I won't let them just make up their mind about me without saying my piece! I square my shoulders, meet Yoshino's eyes, and proudly proclaim, "Gaa!"

Instantly, the judging vanishes, replaced by a more normal reaction. "Awwwww!" Mrs. Yamanaka coos. "So precious!"

"Wow!" Yoshino joins in, voice set in the higher pitched 'talking to babies' voice that parents always use. "You're such a helpful boy! Did you come all the way over here just to give that back to us! Thank you so much!".

Part of me wants to roll my eyes at being praised in such an over the top manner. But a bigger part of me, the part that's been growing ever since I were plopped down in this baby's body, puffs out it's chest. Of course they're reacting like this! You're the most helpful boy!.

Mrs. Yamanaka takes the rattle back and reaches down to ruffle my hair. "Thank you for all your help! It's good to know that there's such a big strong man around if we ever need anything!".

The last word is half out of her mouth when I become aware of a presence behind me. A glance over my shoulder reveals Tokei. He's not quite glowering down at me but it's close. "My apologies," he gravels to the women. "Is he bothering you?"

Yoshino's head move side to side slightly. "Not at all," is the pleasant answer. "He's being very helpful actually."

Tokei pauses. "Good," he offers before giving a little bow, a small incline of his head that doesn't take his eyes off of any of the people in front of them. "Please let me know if that changes."

"We will certainly do that, Mr….?"

"Tokei, of the Land of Iron. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Nara, Lady Yamanaka."

At the name, a light goes off behind Yoshino's eyes. "Ah, yes! You're the samurai! It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance! I hope you're finding Konohagakure to be to your liking. Recent unpleasantness aside, of course."

"The climate is certainly different," he answers tactfully. "But I'm certain that I shall grow accustomed to it in time."

My guardian makes small talk with the two matriarchs for a few moments before walking back over to where Umo is watching the scene with keen eyes.

I was left to my own devices with the two women and babies- and I'm quickly put back into service helping them when baby Ino launches a small fuzzy toy directly at my face. I pick it up and give it back, drawing another coo from the mothers and a little gaa from the newborn.

As she launches it again, smiling at the we newly made game, I keep an ear on the mother's conversation. "So that's…?" Mrs. Yamanaka asks.

"Yes, the Iron Damiyo's… nephew. He caused quite a stir when he was born from what I hear. You can see a little bit of the man in his chin and eyes, but he looks more like his mother from what I can tell."

Mrs. Yamanaka lets out a cluck of her tongue.

"Maybe I should get him away from little Ino then? I've seen portraits of Satomura Manami.

If she's even half as beautiful as the artists say then he should be a little heartbreaker!"

The two giggle like older women do, and I determinedly shut them out of my ears. I can't focus on whatever nonsense they're saying now-

{you have a new quest!}

*Quest Acquired! Toy Retrieval!

Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikamaru have a lot of toys and they keep scattering them all over Three League Park! Go find them all and bring them back to get even more praise!

Success Condition: Retrieve all 8 of the baby toys!

Grade: Untrained (Repeatable)

Skill: Perception

On Success: Relationship gain with Nara Yoshino, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Kasai, Yamanaka Ino! Reputation gain with Clan Nara and Clan Yamanaka!

On Failure: Nothing.

… I'll guess that Kasai is Mrs. Yamanaka's first name.

But that's the least important thing I've just found out. What's grade? And skill? And… I'll have to do the quest to find out, won't I.

I mentally tap the accept button, and at once hear an annoyed noise from Yoshino. I glance over and see that she's rummaging through the base of her stroller as Shikamaru starts to stir. "Where is Mr. Kage? I know I had him before we came here!"

I'll guess that Mr. Kage is the tiny stuffed deer I see near the park's entrance. I toddle towards it as fast as my tiny legs will go, scooping it up. The deer vanishes the moment it's in my arms. More rattles, tiny colored blocks, stuffed animals, and a flute for some reason all wind up joining him before I toddle back towards the group.

As the toys leave my arms, the fanfare goes off again. {✓"Quest completed!"}

As I click the 'finish' button on the quest scroll, something changes in the posture of the mothers.

Though they had been cooing over me before there was still some distance in how they were holding themselves. That vanishes as Kasai ruffles my hair once again. "Wow! You've been such a helpful boy! Do you…"

She scans the park, looking for Tokei, and finds him drawing close again. "Is he old enough for sweets?" she asks.

Tokei minutely shakes his head, not saying no, but indicating unsurity. "I will have to ask his mother," he replies.

Kasai presses a small square item into his hand. "Please, if she says that it's alright, give him this. Our friend Setsuko makes them herself and swears by them."

"I will," he answers. He takes the item and scoops me back up again. Good. My legs are really tired after all that walking.

"Thank you very much for your kindness."

"No, thank you for letting such a big strong boy help us out!"

Yoshino nods her agreement. "Will we be seeing you here often?"

Tokei looks unsure, but I let out a proud 'Goo!'. I helped, I finished a quest, and I made new… I check my relationship web.

Nara Yoshino: Motherly Pity.

Yamanaka Kasai: Motherly Concern.

Nara Shikamaru: Grateful Amusement.

Yamanaka Ino: Grateful Amusement.

Ok, I haven't made new friends, but I'm on my way there!

With that last bit, Tokei carries me from the oasis and falls into step with Umo and a smaller man with beady eyes that I have to guess is the runner that the nobleman sent. The three converse as they walk, but I don't pay them any attention. Instead I lay back in the crook of Tokei's arm and listen to the new scrawl that's reading as I go.

["You have just completed your first repeatable quest! Repeatable quests do not disappear like normal quests do once you have completed them! Instead, they remain in your journal, and can be done many times! Some can even be completed multiple times per day! Repeatable quests normally willnot give you a large reward but give incremental progress towards a larger achievement! Try doing the same quest over and over again! You might get different results! As things change!"]

["You have used your first skill! Skills represent some of the most basic and fundamental abilities you possess. You use your skills to complete every day challenges and tasks, and they grow stronger through repeated use! Right now, all of your skills are rated Untrained. That is the lowest they can go. Someone with an Untrained ranked skill can barely use it. But skills can be improved through completing quests, all the way up to the rank of Divine! Try to improve your skills whenever possible!"]

["You have just completed your first quest with a skill improvement! To improve a skill, complete a quest with a subtype of that skill to gain experience towards it! Higher graded quests provide even more improvement even if they offer greater difficulty!"]

The soothing voice that reads me the scrawl peters out as Tokei carries me through the front door of my home. Me and Tokie are the only ones that enter the house. Umo and the runner remain outside, entering the handsome carriage instead of coming in. The two are barely in the vehicle before the driver cracks his reins. The carriage is on it's way in seconds.

I stare after it, nonplussed. Are they done already? Is the newcomer gone that quick?

My thoughts are echoed by Tokei. "Has Lord Imagawa departed already?" he asks my mother.

Mom is lounging on the couch like a decadent cat, lazily scanning a scroll. She glances up at the two of us like she's just gotten the canary. "Hmmm? Yes, Toishi has already departed. The capital waits for no man. And what about you? Did my special boy have a good afternoon?"

She reaches out for me and Tokei drops me into her grasp immediately.

Mom cuddles me like a large stuffed animal. "He should be tired," Tokei replies. "He walked a great deal today. And he made the acquaintances of Lady Nara and Lady Yamanaka. They may call on you later."

"Oh, who's the best boy!" Mom coos. "Making friends at such a young age! You are! You are!"

I'd like to stay up for Mom's praise but Tokei isn't wrong; I've spent a lot of energy today. I start to doze in her arms. She notices and immediately starts rocking me back and forth, soothing me to sleep. I'm out like a light before I can even think about doing anything else.

But tomorrow is another day.