Konoha wasn't just a distant, storied place that I had gazed at through a computer screen anymore. I walked along the familiar path that curved through the village center, passing the bustling market where vendors shouted out their 'discounted' prices, kids darted between food stalls, cherry-picking what they wanted from the different snacks, and shinobi in flak jackets strolled through the streets like it was just another day.
And maybe for them, it was a random Monday. But for me? Every moment walking through the bustling village felt like a reminder that this wasn't fiction anymore. That this was my life, my new life. Questions of mortality aside, I was now in a world once drawn in panels and filled with sound effects. The world had a depth like never before, and the food had an exotic scent and flavor. Each step that echoed through the soft, pressed sand carried a hidden weight, and joy and contentment, emotions portraying the prosperity of Konoha, were etched on the children's faces.
'I wonder what the atmosphere in the other villages is like. From what I remember, Iwa was completely militaristic.'
I slowed my steps just enough to take it all in as I walked through the streets. The warmth of the late sun on my skin made sure I didn't mistake this for a strange lucid dream.
This was Konohagakure-no-Sato.
Eventually, the noise of the market gave way to the quieter shuffle of the residential district. The transition was smooth, with fewer vendors shouting to gain attention and more rustling trees lining the streets.
As the road curled toward the street that I had run through in a hurry in the morning, my thoughts shifted.
The LEWD Shop had been sitting in the back of my mind ever since the system leveled it up to tier 3. I hadn't bought anything yet. Not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't want to make dumb purchases just for novelty's sake.
But I realize that the longer I wait, the more I lose out. After what happened with Kushina… and Ino, I'm not sure how regular those situations may be, but I need those boosts to get stronger faster. So yeah, it was time to start investing.
I summoned the menu as I walked, blinking it into focus.
...
[LEWD Shop Lv 3]
[Lifetime LP gained: 1020]
[LEWD Aura {Unlock Cost- 100 LP} - Gain an aura that makes it easy for you to gain Attraction stat for any given character.]
[Sexual Stamina Increase Lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 100 LP}: Last longer during a sexual act. It signifies that the most amount of time you can hold yourself back from cumming while receiving maximum pleasure. Current Level- 5 Min]
[Bukkake Lover Lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 100 LP}: Cum more every time you orgasm. The amount of cum drops with every consecutive sexual act. Current Level- 10 ml]
[Sexual Endurance Increase Lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 100 LP}: Last one more round of consecutive orgasms. Current Level- 3 times.]
[Golden Tongue lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 150 LP}: Earn bonus LP during oral encounters. Current boost- 0%]
[Reciprocal Bliss lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 150 LP}: Gain extra LP for acts that emphasize mutual satisfaction. Current boost- 0%]
[Flawless Technique lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 150 LP}: If Oral sex leads to climax, gain a boost to LP gained. Current boost- 0%]
[Public Thrill lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 250 LP}: Earn bonus LP for scenarios that incorporate a playful sense of risk (e.g., semi-public spaces). Current boost- 0%]
[Forbidden Moments lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 250 LP}: Gain bonus LP for engaging in taboo relationships or situations. Current boost- 0%]
[Dom/Sub Dynamics lv 1 {Unlock Cost- 250 LP}: Earn bonus LP for fulfilling either dominant or submissive roles effectively. Current boost- 0%]
[???]
[???]
...
Most of the higher-tier skills were a bit too… situational right now. Instead, I focused on the three most relevant ones, the ones that would allow me to quickly gain LP and strength, and they would be applicable in most circumstances.
[Golden Tongue Lv1 purchased: -150 LP]
[Sexual Endurance Increase Lv1 purchased: -100 LP]
[LEWD Aura purchased: -100 LP]
[Remaining LP: 670]
I locked those choices in as I arrived closer to home, they made sense to me the most, as from where I was sitting, oral sex was my most likely scenario of gain right now. I debated leveling up Golden Tongue for a bit but decided against it for now. I closed the window just as I reached the front of the house, the one that, according to my memories, I'd grown up in.
It was two stories tall, compact but well-kept. Nothing flashy stood out, except that it was a bit isolated from the village. My room was on the upper floor, overlooking the street. Kushina and Narumi were below, toward the rear, not visible from my angle. The garden in front was a little overgrown, the bushes flaring out in places.
I walked up the stone pathway and stopped at the door. I hadn't paid attention to it this morning. I'd been in a bit of a rush, chasing against time and pretending I understood where everything was. Now, I noticed that there was a small square tag near the handle, a seal, which was faintly glowing with the residue of old chakra according to my chakra sense.
I raised my hand to knock. As the pitter-patter of light footsteps approached, I tried to sense the person's emotions from the other side and caught a hint of excitement mixed with worry. The door swung open, and I found myself face-to-face with Narumi, her bright hair tied up in her usual short twin-ponytail, dressed in a loose tank top and shorts. Her wide, excited smile dropped the moment she saw me.
"Oh. It's just you," she said, deadpan.
"Geez. Don't sound too happy." I replied, mimicking her deadpan tone
She huffed, turning around and dancing back into the living room, her hips swaying a little too much for someone annoyed. "Why didn't you just use the seal? It's keyed to your chakra signature, idiot."
"Nothing mcuh," I muttered, stepping inside. "I was thinking about something and guess I forgot."
'Another hole in my cover.' This world didn't just expect me to know people who acknowledged me. It expected me to know a lot about the tools, the customs, and the shortcuts. I followed Narumi aside, passing the entranceway and moving toward the kitchen.
The scent hit me first: miso and grilled fish, I guessed as the dish felt familiar. I looked over to find Kushina at the stove, apron tied snug around her waist, red hair pinned up, a few strands trailing around her face. She turned when she sensed me and paused.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Dinner will be ready in a minute, hun," she said, her voice a little louder than necessary. "Can you call Narumi down, dear?"
I blinked before I could say anything. Narumi replied, "I'll be there in a minute here."
She glanced past me, caught sight of her daughter vanishing down the hall, and let out a small sigh.
I watched her for another second, the subtle shake in her shoulders, the way she turned her back, quickly noticing my attention. She still wasn't ready to talk about this morning. Not that I have any intention of pushing her. We sat at the table a few minutes later, a quiet meal of rice, grilled fish, miso, and some kind of pickled vegetable that made Narumi scrunch her nose every time she took a bite.
None of us spoke much. Kushina was lost in her thoughts, chopsticks moving mechanically. Narumi fidgeted with her food before practically inhaling it. I wondered where Satsuki and Mikoto were, but didn't voice my thoughts in case I was supposed to be in the know.
'Let's try to talk as little as possible.' I decided that the ostrich approach was the best possible pathway for my current situation.
...
"I'm done!" she announced, leaping up like she was spring-loaded. A second later, she vanished into her room and returned with a scarf around her neck and a small coin pouch in her hand.
"I'm going shopping with Ino!" She hurried out.
"This late?" Kushina called out, eyes narrowing, but Narumi was already halfway out the door. We sat in silence for a few more moments after that. I finished the last of my rice, stacked my bowl and Narumi's, and carried them to the sink.
"I'll be in my room," I said, and left without waiting for a response. Giving her the space she needed to process her emotions.
...
The upstairs was quiet, the hallway creaking faintly as I moved to my door. Once inside, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Kushina's silence was… expected. And yet it still left something heavy in the air. Maybe I'd have to be the one to open that door later. Not tonight, though, tonight I had some plans.
I changed into a simple T-shirt and pants, sat down on the edge of my bed, and closed my eyes. I let myself sink into my body — not physically, but somehow moving inwardly. Chakra. I could feel it quite clearly, swirling faintly under the surface of my skin. It wasn't quite like breathing, it was like feeling the ocean just below your feet, pulsing and vast, but unrefined, untamed.
'My chakra control should be pretty messed up. Guess it's time to start fixing that.'
I pressed my fingers to the bedsheet and let chakra flow down to the tips. The fabric stuck like glue. I lifted my hand, and the bedsheet moved along with my fingers. Taking a deep breath and focusing, I dropped the rest of my palm and extended more chakra to my other fingers.
Two fingers.
Three.
By the time I hit seven fingers, I felt the wobble, the cracks in my control beginning to show as I was not able to keep the chakra flowing like I wanted. When I tried to add the eighth, the others slipped, the sheet falling free.
"Damn it," I muttered.
I pulled up the system window.
[Leaf Sticking Exercise Lv-7 ]
EXP to next level: 46/350
Current bonus: +7% increase to chakra control.
...
Okay. I don't know how much exp I gained, so let's get ready to experiment. I steadied my breath and got back to it, maintaining the sheet grip on seven fingers while gently pushing the eighth back into position.
One second. Two. Five. Ten…
The EXP counter moved up one tick.
'So 1 exp per 10 sec at maximum efficiency...' I thought as I kept at it.
I don't know how long passed, maybe half an hour, maybe more — but eventually:
[Leaf Sticking Exercise leveled up: Lv8]
EXP to next level: 0/400
Current bonus: +8% increase to chakra control.
I tried again with just 7 fingers. One second. Two. Five. Ten. Twenty… The bar ticked upward, and I concluded that the exp gain was halved. I added the eighth finger again and kept going. My control of the central tenketsu that channels chakra into my fingers was clumsy at first, but I began to get a feel for it, how the chakra could be redirected, how to adjust the pressure just slightly to increase the output toward my fingertips.
'This is going to be a marathon.'
I wanted to get to level 9 before sleep... And I almost got there, until I heard the door to my room creak open.
My chakra slipped, and the sheet flopped back onto the bed. I didn't need to turn to look as I recognized the chakra signature quite clearly.
'Guess her shyness only works during the day…'
...
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AN: Went on a trip and I'm back, should release about 4 chapters per week from now on.
P.S.- 7 advanced chapters on P.atreon!