Chapter 21 Part 1
"This is strange — but strange events have a strange tendency to accumulate strangeness."
I thought about that strange thought — and could only sadly agree.
Strangeness accumulates.
The biggest strangeness on the list was Naruko. Even though I'd been buried in my own head for a while, I still noticed the girl had started acting a little... weird. Usually her behavior's no different from normal, but sometimes — just for a second — she'd go stiff. Or, more obvious example: she shocked the whole team when, during her usual "greeting," she jumped onto Sakurai's back — but the second he started his usual complaining, Naruko jumped off like she'd been burned. Left Haruno completely bewildered. And this kind of thing happened more than once or twice: Naruko acting normal — then suddenly, like she'd remembered something, pulling herself back. At first it was rare — barely noticeable. But over time? More and more obvious.
I really don't know what's causing it. It'd make more sense if this started right after "that" incident — but the weirdness only started cropping up recently. So I can only guess.
Another, equally vivid strangeness: the Ancient Scroll. It Opened. Completely on its own — I didn't do anything. One day I decided to refresh some stuff I'd already learned — and discovered the ancient relic could unroll even further. What's crazy: before, I couldn't budge it a single centimeter. The parchment absolutely refused to reveal its secrets. And now... it opened by itself. It threw me off — made me wonder yet again what the hell happened in that cave just over a week ago. Didn't stop me from latching onto the new knowledge like a maniac, though. Yeah — I'll admit it: reading one scroll around the clock, swapping out with shadow clones — that's pretty far from normal. But I had reasons: I could literally feel it in my bones — I'm running out of time. For what? How? Why? No idea. But this vague anxiety won't leave me alone — even in my sleep. A bad omen? I'm leaning that way more and more.
Still — I tried not to show it. Made myself take breaks. The team had no serious missions; instead, Akashi was burying the genin in routine assignments. They grumbled and complained — but they worked. Sometimes I joined them — physical labor to break up the monotony. Unlike the genin, I knew exactly why Akashi was doing this: she was making the kids spend more time together. Building teamwork. The Chunin Exam was already on the horizon.
"Strangeness is so strange," my clone muttered, bewildered, exchanging looks with the rest of us. Another copy nodded sagely at this profound statement — setting aside his seal-inscription brush.
"So what d'you think? Why'd Naruko-chan suddenly need to keep us locked in?" asked yet another clone.
"No idea!" we all exhaled together after another round of shared glances.
I scratched my head, rolling up the Scroll and hiding it in its special box. The neighbor's request really was weird: crack of dawn, a whole horde of Naruko clones barged in and flat-out ordered me to stay put.
crash-crunch!!
"Oh."
"Maybe... we should check?" my copy asked, sheepish — eyeing the wall that had just produced that crashing sound.
"We already tried." I sighed, shaking my head. The suspicious noises from next door were almost terrifying — and I'd made several attempts to find out what the hell was going on. Every time, the blonde clones practically panicked and shoved me back — wouldn't let me figure out anything. After the last attempt, they'd started posting guards under the windows. Wouldn't even let me stick my nose out.
thump-boom-baBAM!
"Mm... I'm a little scared?.." Kaoru-2 asked, ear pressed to the wall.
"Enough with the panic already!" I snapped at my copies.
"I'm you — so that's YOU quietly panicking exactly the same way right now!" the clone noted, reasonable — reaching for his brush with a nervous twitch.
"Quiet! I can't hear anything with you guys!" Kaoru-2 hissed. "Wait... Do chainsaws exist in this world?"
"WHAT?"
"I think I heard something like that." The clone sounded genuinely stunned. We answered with glassy stares.
"Mmaa... I'm out." The clone dispersed.
"Huh?!"
"Survive," another clone wished — heartfelt — and followed.
"Why, you—!"
"Namu Amida Butsu..." The last clone pressed his hands in prayer.
"HEY!!!" I hurled a book at him — dispatching him into oblivion. "Honestly... and these're copies of ME! I can't believe it..."
I sighed and glanced out the window: a blonde head flickered — then vanished the second it was spotted. She's WATCHING! I said her behavior was a little strange before? THIS is way beyond "a little."
"Hey — Naruko! Naruko-chan!" I called. No doubt she'd hear me.
Sure enough: a few seconds later, several identical faces appeared. Two Narukos peered up from below, one dangled from above. These Narukos looked different from the usual: instead of the normal pigtails, their golden hair hung in a single wave, and the usual outfit was swapped for a home t-shirt (still orange) and baggy shorts. Day off — so she'd dressed casual.
"What's up, Koru-chan?"
"You're not allowed to leave, tebane!"
"Maybe you could tell... all of you — what's going on?" I asked the clone girls.
"Nope! You're not supposed to know!" One Naruko-clone was categorical.
"Right! It's a surprise, dattebayo!" Another fiercely backed her up.
"Just wait a liiittle bit more! Hee-hee-heeh..."
"O-okay — THAT was genuinely creepy!" I admitted, hearing those answers. The last Naruko's laugh especially. Way too... ominous.
"MMaa... Naruko-chan, Naruko-chan?.. What if I bought you ramen?" I leaned toward them — ingratiating smile. Asking didn't work — time for bribery!
Instant effect: their faces flushed, and one of them literally started drooling!
"W-well... gm!.." She swallowed, greedy. "No!"
"Super-huge portion! Double pork!" I smell weakness.
Now ALL the clones were swallowing — red-faced — gazing dreamily at the clouds.
"Mmm... Sometimes this ramen addiction of hers really scares me. Ramen-mania... Ramen-narcomania?..." The clone girls looked so happy — like they'd already inhaled my "bribe."
"Mm..."
"Umm..."
"Ramen..."
They started trading awkward glances.
"For ALL THREE of you!" Finishing blow.
"Umm... really?"
"Really-really?!"
"Really-really-for-real?!"
I swallowed. Those naive eyes — staring right at me. I almost felt guilty — all three of them puffing their cheeks like that, perched on the windowsill, looking up with those big blue eyes. So innocent. So hopeful.
Words jammed in my throat. All I could manage was a twitchy nod.
"Kami — I'm terrible!"
But before any of them could speak — another Naruko dropped from above, straight onto one of her "twins." Pop! — dispersed into smoke. Then two more pops: the newcomer had knocked the other two's heads together.
"Mmoouuu! That wasn't fair, Koru-chan!!!" Naruko shouted, stamping her foot on the roof. "Bribery's low!"
"Umm... Sorry?"
"Mmmmmoou!!!" Puffing up, Naruko turned away — proud. "The Boss said you're supposed to wait here, tebane! But those idiots... Don't even THINK you can buy ME with ramen! Even if it's mega-super-ultra-large ramen with a mountain of pork!.. I'm not like those dummies, dattebayo! And I WON'T fall for some ramen! Even if it's served with a GIGANTIC portion of broth!.."
"Um... you... you really want ramen, don't you?" I murmured. If this were an anime, a giant sweatdrop would've just materialized on my head.
"Nothing of the sort, dattebayo!!!" The clone stamped her foot — furious. "I don't — don't want ANY ramen at all! Not one bit! Don't even try to offer me any!"
"Tsundere Naruko?!" I don't even know what to do with this. I mean — shadow clones are all the same person, but... how does Naruko manage to be THIS different even within ONE personality?! My clones get willful sometimes, but it still fits inside "me." Naruko, though... it's right in front of me. Naive Narukos, tsundere Naruko... Regular Naruko's a total genki most of the time... How can one personality hold THIS many archetypes?! And how many MORE Narukos are inside Naruko?!
Meanwhile — chaos: Tsundere Naruko got dispersed by two others, who immediately rushed to spill the terrible secret. But they started shouting over each other — each wanting the ramen for herself — and fought on the spot. Mutual dispersal.
"Ko-ru-chaaan!" A Naruko dropped from the sky — hung onto my neck so suddenly I nearly fell out the window. "Listen-listen! The Boss is gonna—!"
Poof!!!!
The weight vanished as fast as it appeared. I coughed on the smoke.
"Koru-chan! The Boss—!"
poof!
"Hey!"
poof-poof!
"Out of the way!"
"Me first!"
"No — I'll tell!"
"Move it, tebane!!!"
"The ramen'll be MINE!!!!"
"No — MINE! Dattebayo!!!!"
poof! Poof-poof-poof... PFFFFFFF!!
"Um... maa... I've got nothing to do with this." I muttered, carefully shutting the window. Huddled in the corner — tried to completely tune out the slaughter outside. No-no-no — this isn't my fault! I'm totally innocent here, right?! Of course! It is absolutely, definitely not my fault that dozens of Narukos are beating the crap out of each other outside my window!
"Heh... heh-heh-heeh..." A nervous chuckle escaped on its own. I grabbed some random medical ninjutsu scroll and started reading — furiously — broadcasting Total Busyness. Yes — study, study, study! And nothing whatsoever is happening.
Absolutely nothing. I don't hear anything. I hear NOTHING!
La-la-laaa!.. Not listening, la-la-laa!..
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I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
Mondaiji: Am I A Dragon Species? https://www.webnovel.com/book/36661423108025005