Cry 7 (Acclimation)

Waking up as a literal child was a strange experience. The world was just so much larger and the familiar feel of your body was just lost and gone. The experience of knowing your center of gravity with the utmost familiarity was gone in the wind. Beyond that it was unsettling being in someone's body. It was a good lesson to learn for future worlds as he did not want to deal with this again.

Meaning inserting as himself was going to be the way to go from now on. Sure, it would make going to certain words complicated but as long as he had a certain amount of strength he did not have to concern himself with things like that. The only reason he had to plot so heavily in this world was because of his lack of strength after all.

He took a look around at his room and felt familiar with it but also felt a sense of alienation. It was similar to the feeling of waking up in this body. Again something he had to get used to but not something he wanted to make a regular occurrence.

At least he had Shika’s memories in his head even if they felt kind of fuzzy. Like he knew these things but he did not really feel them. As he took a cursory glance at the light streaming through the window in his room he let out a sigh and flopped back onto his bed shifting his posture to relax.

He was going to need some time to adjust to all of this and while he did not know everything about Shikamaru he knew that it was far too early for him to be up right now. So he went about lazing in his bed to both appear in character and to go over the memories in his head.

So far the memories were just basic child-like things. Hanging out with Choji and Ino because his parents insisted on it even if he would rather nap. Bonding with the chubby boy as they snacked on chips with Ino glaring at them to get them to do something interesting.

Laying limply on the ground as Ino dragged him to finally do a thing.

Just innocent childlike things even if some of his memories showed how this world really operated. The strict dietary needs that his family insisted on, he was not allowed to not eat what they provided during meal times. He had to finish everything and there was no room for arguments.

Hell, even the snacks Choji ate constantly was a special blend to help him gain as much weight as he could in a healthy manner. Which was such a strange paradox but it worked in this world.

Basic exercise that seemed a bit extreme to him as he never thought about forcing a literal toddler to strengthen their body like that seemed unhealthy. But it appeared to work out in this world from the medical skills that outclassed standard medical work and the nature of Chakra itself.

The games that he and his fellow children played. Where hunting and fighting was encouraged even in the most mundane of chants. Kind of like the Black Plague rhymes that get passed around for ages but regulated to glorifying battle and conflict.

It painted a picture of a world where fighting for survival was not just encouraged but expected even in the sleepy leaf. He might be viewing the world with a harsh lens as he was a part of a clan and of course having their children taught the harsh reality of the world was expected but it still felt off. It was not like those games were strictly advocated in Clan children only.

No, the civilian children seemed to be almost obsessed with those games. Maybe because being a Ninja was such an important role in the Village Hidden In The Leaves. They also did not have the systematic training that the Clans had honed in for years so those games were the closest thing to being a Ninja in their minds.

Whatever he knew what to expect when he wandered into a world like this. The Anime and Manga may paint a lighter picture but even in that the War and Conflict was apparent and just another facet of reality. Hell, the nature of conflict and why we wage war was a rather prominent aspect of the story.

Naruto may be able to be the saint that this world needed but that did not mean the rest of the world agreed with his rhetoric. At least not right now.

Honestly, the peace that Naruto would bring about was just a falsehood. Greed and desire is simply a part of human nature and the bonds of friendship forged in fire will fade with time as the next generation grows.

Even in the world we live in with the threat of mutually assured destruction, war and conflict over greed and want was still a thing. Some of those fights were not fought in the open with the flags of nations flown proudly but they certainly still happened.

Bringing about political unrest, turning the populace of the nation against its own government. Making cut throat deals behind the scenes that put the pain on their citizens to increase the authority they had. Regulate the narrative of other countries so your people do not think about the pain that might be happening across the globe.

All of those things happened here, so to expect a world that was far more militaristic in nature to usher in a total peace was nothing more than a pipe dream. One only even vaguely possible because of the overwhelming power of Naruto and Sasuke combined and the threat that Kaguya represented to the whole world.

Whatever the world he now was a part of may be darker and more violent than he was used to but that was the whole reason he came here in the first place. He needed this conflict and the resources that could be gained here.

He only had to take one glance at the skills he gained to know that he made the right call.

[Chakra Refinement lv 1/100]

(VIT+STR+DEX)(WIS^2 +INT) = Unit of Chakra gained through refinement. At your current level of Chakra levels you gain no enhancement.

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He looked over that little trick for a good long while. His Mana could technically cast any skill regardless of the original energy system it was from. Meaning that he did not technically need Chakra but there was a difference between the effect of Chakra and Mana in relation to  Ninjitsu related skills.

If he used Chakra instead of Mana the effectiveness of the technique was nearly doubled. Now that in itself was not worth the effort of refining Chakra but as his tier of Chakra capacity grew it offered benefits from an increase in stats to upping his Health and Mana pools in general.

Making Chakra Refinement a very important skill long term. But that was not the thing that he was really excited about.

[Apprentice Shadow Manipulation Lv 1/25]

Shikamaru did not learn a ton of Ninjstu but he had been taught the introduction of his family's fabled technique. So he gained the Apprentice level of Shadow Manipulation. Clearly, even at maxed level it was not going to reach the monstrous control he wanted but hopefully, when he maxed this skill out he could move onto the next level.

When he was able to control Shadows to the degree of the gods themselves he would not have to worry about fellow Gamers. At least he hoped that would be the case. Maybe there were others far more willing to be risky in their pursuit and go to worlds with high-tier techniques and opportunities.

He was not going to underestimate the human pursuit for more power. That desire could change the world when we had nothing but our wit and charm on our sides after all.

Finally, as the hours built up with him going over his newfound memories the door to his room was slammed open and a Brown Haired woman entered with a twitching eyebrow and a glare on her face.

She was mildly attractive even if she had a sort of dull look about her. As soon as he thought that way he felt his body recoil as if it was fighting against the very concept of what his mind spun.

“It’s nearly noon, get up already you lazy bones!” She shouted with the clear expectation that he would follow along. For a moment all he could do was stare at her in a daze as he did not expect to face his newfound mother so quickly.

Seeing his current state she did not hesitate for a moment before she flashed forward and grasped his ear. The sharp pain from her as she all but pulled him out of bed with his ear alone broke his daze.

“I said up, Shika!” She yelled again but with a little less noise, the glare and the pain from his ear made it clear she was not going to take no for an answer. He winced and lay limply showing his defeated stance.

“Alright, Alright, I heard you the first time. Let me go already. So troublesome.” He spoke out reflexively while muttering the last line under his breath. His response had his mother rolling her eyes and continuing to drag him out of the room by his ear. Clearly, that was the response she was expecting but she still did not release her hold on his ear.

“As if Brat, if I let you go now you might just go back to sleep or go hideaway to watch the clouds. You are going to eat and you are going to like it.” She spoke out with her authority clear. She was the boss and she knew it.

He would say she was only acting this way because he was her child but she also treated her husband the same. Clearly, she knew what she was getting into when she married the lazy bones that was his new father.

Before he knew what was happening he was placed at a table with the familiar medicated meal plated in front of him. His Father was at the same table with an amused smile as he ate his own meal and looked over some documents he had to go over.

He glared at the prick with familiar ease and grumbled as he ate his meal. Apparently he did not have to worry too much about acting out of character. Shika’s response to most things was pretty hard to break out of character and his body seemed to want to do them instinctively. So as long as he remained lazy and quiet for the most part he should be fine.

He looked down at the food he ate without a second thought.

While the taste of herbs was rather prominent in the dish it was still rather delicious. The Nara family knew what herbs were the very best for the human body and the Akimichi clan was willing to make sure the combination had to taste the very best.

The relationship between the three clans were so intertwined that most of the resources like this were fairly standard between the three families. The Nara tend to have more medication in their diet due to their frail nature and the Akimich had more calorie-intensive dishes but the base was built on the effort of all three clans.

It really showed you that while the three clans were not that impressive, the symbiotic nature of their relationship allowed them to live through an era where Senju and Uchia dominated the whole world. Sure, they did not thrive underneath those boots but they were able to live through that war-torn era.

Which was much more than most Clans could say.

Then again the nature of the three clans were far more supportive than most clans who had nothing but fighting ability behind them.

The bold and reckless stood no chance against the even bolder and more reckless duo that the Senju and Uchiha were. At one point Uchiha tactics boiled down to suicide charges and sacrificing one eye to blitz whoever they pleased. The Senju also tended to charge in head first relying on just their enchanted vitality to carry them forward.

“Shika, Ino and Choji are going to come over later. Don’t try to hide away and nap. You don’t want to be rude.” His mother commanded as she sat down to eat her own food. Instead of saying anything he just sighed and ate his food sullenly.

That drew a sharp snort from his father but before anyone could comment on it he looked like he was back to a serious man going over documents.

Still, he glared at the guy as he clearly was making fun of him. The gloating look in his eyes was all he needed to know to prove that little fact. One day he will have vengeance.

Wait, vengeance? Sure, his newfound father was annoying but that concept flowed far too easily. He ate his food with a frown as he thought that over. Maybe he should be a bit more concerned about how easily he was slotting into this role. It was not just his words and actions that were reflexive, even the way he felt about the people around him was reflexive. 

Meaning that he felt for these people a certain way even if he really did not know them. Not the way Shikamaru knew them at least. That could be a problem but one he had to think about later. He was aware there would be some risks coming into this world after all.

Having his personality mildly affected by Shikamaru was annoying but as long as he was aware of it he could hold off that influence. He was not going to lie down and watch clouds in his own life.

[For a wise choice you have gained a point of WIS.]

That little screen was a sight for sore eyes. Gaining a single point was always a matter of celebration after all.

“Don’t ignore me and answer me young man.” His mother commanded with a glare on her face that said he better comply. He sighed and nodded sullenly to her. That did not seem to be enough as her glare increased.

“Okay, Okay. I won’t hide away and nap.” He spoke out while giving her a flat look. Clearly not happy but the both of them knew he would follow on what he said. That caused the glare to go away for now at least.

“Good, you also have to finish your training before they come over. Don’t leave it till the last minute.” She spoke out one last time before seemingly being satisfied.

That last command had his whole body flinching and the overwhelming need to run and hide someone so he did not have to do so ran through his mind. Seeing his reaction his Father again let out snort and a gloating look in his eyes.

The both of us looked at each other for a long time before he narrowed his eyes and left the table after finishing his food.

As he left the room he went over what just happened and let out a sigh.

Maybe the reactions coming from Shikamaru were worse than he expected. The mere thought of training felt like a hassle that he wanted no part in. Even knowing that one of the whole reasons he came here was to train his ass off.

Whatever, he would just have to work on his growth with this lackadaisical attitude weighing him down. He was not going to give up after one single setback after all.