The first thing I did was go to Gadal-san's house to retrieve my Shinobi gear. Edda gave me a rough idea of where to go, so I knew that the goblins' lair was nearby.
(To think that once again I will be one with the shadows this quickly.)
My eighth grade syndrome (Chuunibyou) senses tingled; I felt like a hero emerging from the shadows, ready to deliver divine justice.
Opening the Tactical Backpack with a serious expression I began searching for the most important tool for my first isekai mission.
I took the vibrant, kite-shaped crystal which gleamed like a lemon in my hands. Encircled by a unique metallic frame, it exuded an undeniable sense of allure.
—Then I attached it to my chest. The red crystal emitted a subtle, red light as tiny needles pierced into my skin.
It was the suit.
Suddenly, the nano-suit began to wrap around my body, thanks to its highly advanced nanotechnology, allowing me to conceal it effortlessly.
As the suit molded to my form, I could feel a surge of power coursing through my veins. The nanotechnology not only granted me the ability to hide the suit, but also bestowed upon me enhanced strength and agility beyond human limits.
In a moment, I was back in my suit. However, I was surprised that the suit was in perfect condition as I observed myself behind the red visor with a honey-comb texture.
(I don’t think this world has the technology that could produce such a thing. I should be responsible with this.)
The suit seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie compared to the ones once worn by my ancestors.
They started with ‘Shinobi Shozoku,’ and the collective knowledge they acquired throughout the years of work had brought them to this suit of armor.
The suit came with many special properties apart from looking so damn cool.
The special alloy made it possible that I made zero sound even while running at full speed, and it was highly resistant to damage. However, even though it may offer protection up to 50.cal rounds, there was no guarantee that it could protect me from magic.
(I shouldn’t rely on my armor alone. I need to gain information and adapt to this world if I am going to eventually start looking for answers why I was brought here.)
I vowed to become stronger and find a way to navigate this unfamiliar world. With my newfound determination, I set out on my quest for knowledge and survival.
My armored fists clenched, matching my determination.
A modern Shinobi.
Manifestation of Darkness.
I felt my emotions being blacked out. It was like a persona taking over. I was a very different person when I put this on. I was on a mission mode now.
(Time to become one with the shadows once again.)
The HUD turned on, then I heard the voice of GHOST, the robotic female voice of my suit’s AI.
GHOST will be my greatest helper in this world, giving me the advantage over my foes.
<...Systems online.>
The suit would only work when I wore it. If someone else tried to use it, it would activate self-destruction mode and blow whoever steals it into smithereens, along with everything in a five-hundred meters radius.
My visor and certain spots of my armor began emitting a subtle, yet distinct red glow, indicating that the sensors around my body were now active. These sensors are capable of detecting anyone attempting to sneak up on me, as well as capturing data on heat, humidity, radiation, pollution, and cold. Their range extends to a radius of seven hundred meters.
(Well, obviously no satellites are in a fantasy world, so I cannot use maps...)
(I have to rely on my own instincts to find my way in this foreign world.)
I sheathed my Grandpa’s special Ninjato on my back. It was a jet-black, special alloy made from CrCoNi.
An alloy of chromium, cobalt and nickel. A material used for Spacecrafts. It was currently the strongest metal that was being produced in my original world.
The edge could even split a single strand of hair.
After arming myself with enough shurikens, small bombs and kunais, which were stored around my belt area, I sneaked away from the hut. Moving towards the directions Edda-san told me about. Jumping from one rooftop to another under the starry night sky at a speed normal people cannot track.
(It’s best to keep my real identity a secret to avoid any unnecessary attention.)
I arrived at the edge of the eastern forest. It only took me a minute to get here.
I looked to the sky and saw two moons, as well as an asteroid ring that wrapped around this foreign world. It was unrealistically beautiful.
(Hoo— So this world has two moons and a ring. How interesting… And beautiful.)
The night sky was breathtaking as there were no gigantic cities replete with skyscrapers that defied God. Countless stars laid above me within the endless night sky as both moons illuminated my path. I may have gotten killed by that woman, however I should perhaps thank her for bringing me here if I ever meet her.
Hopefully I won’t, though.
----------------------------------------
“Permission granted.” (Ryuji)
The footprints were now highlighted in my vision.
—I began jumping from branch to branch as I was tracking the footprints from above, and each time I landed on a branch, not even a leaf moved. That was one of the exams I had to- -pass when I took in order to become a Jōnin.
I recalled another quote of my Grandfather from my training. Who was also my only and best friend in my previous life before he passed away.
“Not even the leaves should know that you are there.”
I spotted a single Goblin. And he was one of the ugliest things I’ve ever seen in my life. And I saw a lot of ugly things during my past life.
The goblin's twisted features and jagged teeth made my skin crawl, but I knew I had to stay hidden and silent if I wanted to survive this encounter.
He was short and green, about 4 ft tall. Skinny and bony while wearing only a scarf around his waist as he held a short, crude spear.
The creature put the spear away and began urinating under a tree without knowing that I was above him. The ugly creature cackled.
“Gieekeke…”
I stealthily surveyed the area for additional sentries before gracefully descending behind him, executing a swift and silent beheading with a deft slash from behind.
The goblin didn’t even know it was dead. I continued my way and soon enough, the great entrance of the cave became visible with two goblins guarding the entrance.
“Create a new life form profile, Goblins, hostile.” (Ryuji)
(Now my suit knows what they are, I can start dispatching them.)
“Initiate Cloak Mode.” (Ryuji)
The dim light of the two moons above me began passing through my body as I became invisible with the optic camouflage.
I simply walked next to the Goblins guarding the entrance and quickly sliced their heads off before entering through the big cave entrance. It was as easy as taking a stroll in a park.
There weren't any torches around.
“Initiate Night Vision.” (Ryuji)
I hated night vision, because too much of it gave me a headache. But this made everything easier.
While on my way, I spotted another two goblins eating a rabbit; however they didn’t even cook it. Then one of them pushed the other away from the rabbit.
(Tsk. Greedy bastard.)
The other Goblin got mad and grabbed a crude looking club made from wood, smacking the Goblin in the head from behind until he stopped moving.
However, I was more surprised to see that the Goblin began eating his own comrade instead of the rabbit.
(Ugh. Disgusting. These guys are truly repulsive.)
I assumed it was the thing about ‘evolving’ Edda told me about. They can evolve by even eating their comrades.
After swiftly bifurcating the Goblin, I proceeded my way.
I had to be quick, I didn’t want to think what these guys could do to women and children.
While moving on I came across two sentries armed with short spears. But they spotted me as my cloak expired.
(There goes my invisibility.)
“Gieee-?!”
I quickly took my sword out, and I slashed them before they could alarm the others. —I just knew where to plant my feet, which muscles to move and when to breathe.
The goblins were sorely lacking in everything needed to be considered a formidable opponent. I swiftly and effortlessly cleaved through them, so quick that by the time I sheathed my blade, their dismembered limbs were still cascading to the ground, staining it with a pool of deep crimson blood.
I made my way through the noodle-like cave system which led me deeper and deeper.
The air grew thicker with each step, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the labyrinthine tunnels. It was eerie, the way the darkness seemed to consume the light, leaving only shadows dancing along the walls.
The stench was just horrible. Piles of bones and goblin dung laid around the corridors randomly.
(Just how do they manage to not get sick?)
They weren’t intelligent at all.
I followed the trails until I found myself in a bigger cave system. I knew I was on the right path from the intense goblin stench and the disarray of torches here and there. Thankfully though, my helmet was purifying the air around me, so the scent was bearable despite being so horrid.
My hands blurred as I sent four shurikens towards the four Goblin sentries that were keeping watch.
They couldn’t even raise their crude weapons since it happened so fast. My visor made it possible to have higher accuracy.
I made sure to collect the shurikens back before proceeding to a bigger room, which was apparently the sleeping quarters of the ugly creatures. I spotted about twenty of them, sleeping soundly on the floor in disarray.
(How could you sleep so peacefully like this? It smells horrible.)
The room was dark except for the two torches that were burning on the wall, offering very little amount of light.
The sounds of goblins snoring resonated throughout the room. Then another one farted. Ugh.
“Zzzzz…”
I decided to finish them off quietly. I normally avoided killing, however these guys aren’t even human. I viewed them as pests.
The Tanto I pulled out was from the same material as my short blade, also incredibly durable.
I covered the mouth of the sleeping goblin and stabbed him in the brain to finish him off without any sound. The horrid creature's final cries were brutally silenced by my hands.
Repeating this process nineteen times more, I dug my blade deep into their skulls. The ground was now covered in a carpet of their dark-red blood and lifeless dark-green bodies.
Nobody woke up.
This was a cruel thing to do. However the Shinobi had no code of honor. I wasn’t a Samurai. I had moral codes, but that is different.
I was a Shinobi. A warrior of shadows.
Remaining silent, I delved deeper and observed that the tunnels were now wider.
(This must be the place where they keep prisoners.)
The room I arrived in was in the deepest part of this cave.
(Finally.)
I spotted multiple children and women in cages, kept like wild animals. They did not see me arrive, but I was able to see their terrified faces as they had a feeling what was going to happen to them in a few days. The male children were going to end up as goblin food, while the females… Perhaps much worse.
The villagers looked battered, watching the massive, tall goblin with horrified expressions as they trembled in fear while he enjoyed a meal of an entire wild boar, the sounds of his crooked and black teeth chewing through the wet flesh echoed through the room between his joyous grunts.
(This must be the Hobgoblin Edda-san told me about.)
He was about 8ft tall. Unlike other goblins, his eyes were glowing red. And was very muscular, fat and bulky. I also noticed he was wearing some armor too unlike the other goblins.
My hand blurred as I sent a kunai to his nape, hitting my target. Though the kunai I threw got stuck on his nape, not killing him. Then the Hob turned around, growling and flaunting his ugly, crooked black teeth at me. I was surprised that he spotted me this quickly. I guess he can smell me.
“Grrrrhhh…”
(Eh? Not deep enough? He must have tougher flesh and skin than the other goblins then.)
The Hob roared out which shook the entire cave, assumingly calling for his now dead goons.
“GRAAAHH!”
(It won’t work. You are the last.)
From the corner, his gnarly hands grabbed a big, ugly looking two handed axe.
(Time for a last boss purging.)
I took out my Ninjato from my back as the Hob began charging at me blindly. He was fast, but not as fast as I am. I left an after image behind me with my [Flash Step] and slashed him in the back. My black blade cut through his flesh like butter.
“You are too slow.” (Ryuji)
I mocked him before the Hobgoblin shook the cave with his roar again.
“GRAAAAHHH!”
Hob was angry, bleeding from the slash I gave him, his face contorted in pain as the blood dripped down his side.
(If it bleeds, I can kill it.)
He tried to catch me by turning around quickly. But it was futile.
“[Flash Step.]” (Ryuji)
I dodged his attack quite easily, making him angrier.
(I can use my past abilities like Flash Step or Silent Step, but what about I try something else?)
“Rrrroahhh!”
He began attacking wildly, swinging the axe my way. Each attack seemed like it could do serious damage, however power meant nothing if you could not hit your target.
I quickly assessed his movements and found an opening in his wild swings. With a swift pivot, I maneuvered around him with the agility of a mosquito.
I felt the wind of each strike as I easily dodged with my [Flash Step.] Leaving after-images behind each time as I fished an explosive kunai from my weapon belt.
(I need to disorient him to try out a technique. If this is a fantasy world with magic, this would surely work. It must work, otherwise I wouldn’t make my Ninja Leaf fantasies come true!)
“[Exploding Kunai.]” (Ryuji)
I threw a kunai to his face which caused a tiny explosion. After that, a loud roar shook the cave again, however it was from the pain of his face being burned.
“GROAAAAHHHHH!”
(It worked. Now let's try this. Let’s hope it works.)
I began making Ninja hand signs. My fingers made different shapes rapidly as I practiced this in my previous life hundreds of times.
(If this is a fantasy world, maybe I can do this!)
Each sign had their name and meaning. And with the right combinations you could perform special techniques. Or at least the people in Ninja Leaf manga could.
I focused on my inner energy. This was possible due to the fact I meditated every day.
(Horse. Serpent. Ram. Monkey. Boar. Horse. Tiger.)
“[Ninpou: Fireball Jutsu!]” (Ryuji)
I took a deep breath and conjured a fireball the size of a yoga ball, then directed it towards him.
(Holy shit it works!)
I could not contain my excitement at all while the fireball exploded loudly on his face, causing a commotion between villagers as a loud explosion shook the cave.
-Btoommm!-
Pebbles fell from the roof as the villagers covered their ears from the explosion. While the Hobgoblin was engulfed in flames, laying on the ground as his corpse was crackling like a pyre.
(Amazing! Just like in Ninja Leaf manga!)
I decided to look cool and did a Ninja pose.
“Foolish creature. You stood no chance against the one within Shadows.” (Ryuji)
I approached the cages and the villagers got startled, some even covered their heads with their arms and legs as the children were whimpering and crying as I cut the chains that held the door shut.
“Don’t worry. I came to save you guys.” (Ryuji)
My voice came out robotic because of the suit.
“...Thank you for saving us. Are you a scavenger?”
One of the villagers asked. She was wearing nun robes, just like Edda-san. The chestnut haired young girl was pretty. She had freckles that created a beautiful unison with her big, round blue eyes that looked up to me with admiration.
“No.” (Ryuji)
“Then who are you? Are you… Human?”
“Yes, this is just my armor. I am a Shinobi.” (Ryuji)
The young nun looked worried. She stood before me with her hands clasped on her big chest.
(Oppai…)
It was hard to keep your cool in front of a chest like that. Damn.
“Shinobi? Never heard of such a thing. Is that a type of magic caster?”
(Of course Shinobi does not exist in this world…)
The nun continued,
“My name is Mary, I serve and worship Goddess Luminestelle.” (Mary)
She dropped into a curtsy.
I need to think about a name.
(I should come up with a hidden name.)
In the Ninja Leaf manga, every Shinobi had a special name.
It signified their nature. It was their identity.
I was the one with the shadows…
I lurked within the darkness…
However I didn’t want something generic or chuunibyou even though I am a NEET that loves fantasy and anime.
I decided.
Yomi.
“My name is Yomi, the Hidden One.” (Ryuji)
“Thank you Yomi-san. We didn’t know what we would do if you hadn’t come.” (Mary)
She bowed before me in gratitude, and the young girls and boys also did the same, wiping their tears away to their sleeves.
“I’m glad everyone is safe now. I will take you guys back to Catago village.” (Ryuji)
The girl giggled joyously. It made my heart tumble.
(SO FREAKIN’ CUTE!)
“Despite your scary appearance, you are kind, Yomi-san.” (Mary)
(Scary? I guess it’s because I wear my suit… I don’t blame her for saying that.)
----------------------------------------
After sealing the cave entrance with my bombs, I took the villagers back to the village. I must say that the kids were amused with the explosion I made. They kept nagging me about being a mage and asking me to teach them how to do it.
When we finally arrived in Catago, I used my cloak mode to hide away from the villagers I saved. Mary-chan looked around in confusion.
“He disappeared!”
“Amazing! A real mage!”
“Wow!”
“Fueeh—?! Yomi-san? Where did you go? Yomi-saaan—!” (Mary)
I snuck back into the village, jumped from rooftop to rooftop in silence and entered Gadal’s house.
As expected, nobody saw me nor heard me. I decided to change out of my suit and act like nothing happened.
I used concealment mode to bring the suit back to its previous gem-like appearance.
“Initiate concealment mode.” (Ryuuji)
The suit got smaller, it was now a red jewel attached to my chest. It looked like a tiny core embedded into my skin.
(That’s nano-tech for you.)
I heard cries of joy from the outside and decided to take a look. It was truly a heart-warming sight with everyone getting united with their families. Especially the way Mary and Edda hugged each other was like a scene out of a movie. She sneaked a gaze my way, thanking me with her teary eyes.
I smiled back. I knew she wouldn’t give my identity away.
(It’s nice to play the hero every once in a while. Perhaps I can put my abilities in good use in this new world. I wasn’t given a new chance for nothing after all… I hope I will eventually find out why I was brought here.)