Naruto : A Second Chance

For the dramatic effect Naruto was up rather early and sat waiting on a tree branch near one of the bandit camps. Scouting wasn't something he was good in, but he could see the five men and one woman with scratched out forehead protectors. Strangely all of them just had "Nukenin" as name while the bandits were just named "Bandit". Unimportant characters weren't named it seems. They all had less HP than him, but that was probably because he had his Uzumaki body and Kurama. He couldn't just depend on that alone. But one thing Naruto realized, he loved this sword. Simply because it looked cool when he used it. And hey, maybe he can learn some Kenjutsu in Kumo! He just needed to find some event, it's not like he can ask and just learn it from someone there. Suspected spy isn't something he wants to add to his list of titles.

[Attacking an unaware enemy always does more damage than coming from the front.]

"Thank you, capt'n obvious." Naruto muttered distastefully.

Pulling out a few Kunai he got, he threw the first one at one of the bandits. They weren't many and their HP was laughable, so the bandit just fell and, wait was he dead? The hit bandit stayed motionless on the ground.

"Ah…" Naruto never killed, not on purpose that is. It just wasn't his nature. But it's for a greater good, wasn't it? Shinobi were tools, and if you wielded yourself to the fullest potential you could save your allies!

[Skill: Kunai ¬ Experience gained. Additional Skill Experience gained by Devouring.]

'That's probably somewhere I didn't look… of course I know how to throw Kunai and Shuriken.'

Three other Kunai took out the other bandits that stood outside. Sadly the ninja realized rather fast what was happening. Luckily he wasn't an idiot. He really wasn't! He had some Shadow Clones spread out and throw Kunai out of every direction to split them up. The ones he had to deal with were a rather bulky looking man and the woman who looked like she was the leader of the group.

"Is that an eyepatch!?" Naruto asked loudly. "How can you be some nongame enemy when you have an eyepatch? It's a symbol of strength to fight and lose one!"

The woman didn't answer.

"You don't really have much of a personality, do you?"

No answer. He gripped his sword…

"IAIDO!" He shouted out and attacked the bulky man first, his strike was blocked and the man's HP went down only by a very small amount, and he was kicked by the woman right after that.

"You damn sneak--"

They expected his technique. The quick draw was fast enough to make most ninja turn green in envy, but these two, while having low HP… Had 3000C together.

He still couldn't quite understand how exactly "3000 Chakra" translated into skill, but these two were stronger than the average Nin. Too strong.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Five clones were created and gathered around him.

His HP went down by quite a bit and he should probably avoid getting it again. What's lacking in their personality they have in skills.

"Overhead!" Two clones shouted, while two others did the Vertical Strike. The strikes were blocked again, but this time his enemies were separated and he could follow up.

"Iaido!" To spam his fastest or strongest technique always is a player's best chance to win. Who cares about honor?

And again the strike was blocked. This man… he was stronger than the woman. His clones were battered aside and dispelled. Jumping backwards Naruto clapped his hands together.

"Water Release: Large Projectile!" Naruto used his only elemental Jutsu and shot it at him, but the bulky man jumped over it.

"NOW!" The two clones distracting the woman quickly jumped backwards and while one blocked her attempt to lunge at the real him, the other stabbed

His clone blade right through the bulky man's back.

Or so he thought, a log appeared out of nowhere and the man stood behind him, punching him.

[Skill: Precision Strike (Passive) unlocked.

Precision Strike - Your eyes can perceive the weakest points of your enemy, trying to go in between the ribs from behind and going for soft tissue.]

At least something. The clone that tried distracting the woman was destroyed just as easily. And Naruto came to a full stop right in front of her.

"Well… f.u.c.k." Transformation was really helpful when actually used. Appearing behind the tree he used as lookout before he quickly formed another bunch of clones.

'Too far away for Iaido…' Naruto thought, his hands coming together too before he hit his stomach. His clones following suit. "Water Release: Large Projectile!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball!" The woman did have a voice it seems, and her called out fireball hit the tree, burning it a bit before Naruto's half a dozen clones hit her with their projectiles. Her wide eyed look was the last thing he saw of her before she was sent into a tent quite some distance away.

[Skill: Water Release: Large Projectile levelled up (Lv.2) - Chakra Cost lessened, strength of the technique rose! Skill Fire Release: Great Fireball learnt by Devouring. Chakra increased by 100C]

The man was left standing.

[2200 HP]

"Imia!" The man shouted loudly. "You bastard! Earth Release: Earth Dragon!"

Ah… shit. His clones were destroyed and his HP sank down to half.

'Hey, a bit help, Kurama?'

"Get drunk on it, and I won't help you."

His eyes turned red, the whiskers on his cheeks becoming darker.

[Jinchuriki Form: Version 1 unlocked]

Higher speed. He dodged a punch thrown at his face, barely.

Stronger regeneration… his HP was nearly full again.

And did his chakra bar turn red? Yes!

"WATER RELEASE: LARGE PROJECTILE!"

The technique was overloaded, he was thrown back but even the earth barrier his enemy threw up wasn't strong enough to hold it. The red coated water stream hit the man and threw him to the ground.

"IAIDO!"

Naruto's echoing voice cut through the clearing and he appeared directly over the enemy. This time the strike wasn't blocked, it cut through the whole man and left a trail of blood on the floor, and after wiping the blood he placed it back in the scabbard. The mentality of a gamer, no remorse for no name enemies. It seems the other 4 ninja weren't that special, his clones could easily sneak up on them and backstab them… which means those two came after him personally because they knew he was real. Of course, Naruto didn't quite realize he had fought in a war just two days or so ago. His readiness to be ruthless, and to fight enemies stronger, more talented or generally smarter than him had sharpened him. Where the two he fought were strong, yet unnamed characters in a game he is allowed to play to save his friends.

"IAIDO!" Naruto rushed through the steam and cut the woman across her stomach. Luckily, instead of innards spreading outwards she disappeared with a cry.

[Skill: Earth Release: Earth Dragon learnt by Devouring. Skill Body Flicker Jutsu learnt by Devouring. Chakra increased by 250C]

[Quest complete: The Bandits of Yugakure - Your skills have surpassed those of your enemies! Your reputation in the Land of Hot Springs has risen! ]

Returning to the woman had been somewhat strange. He got some money sure, and even a recommendation where to bring his sword for repairs.

What he didn't expect was her giving him an axe. It was an axe! He used a katana and Ninjutsu!

Of course, typical games generally give you rarely the weapon you want when you complete a quest. Nice thing is you can sell it! Which he did. And how he paid for his repairs without losing any money from the reward. "I think I can live with that," He muttered on his way towards the Land of Frost. "This better not lead to another event, got more important stuff to do…"