03 Red Eyes_The Clanless Gamer

ONE WEEK LATER.

It's morning. After eating breakfast, Papa Isamu and Kondo make their way to a training ground. After returning from his mission a couple days ago, he got rest, bought Kondo some books and will now begin his official training.

Pleased with Kondo's intention to become a Ninja just like his old man, Isamu is itching to get started.

They get to the training ground, and Isamu proceeds to teach Kondo basic exercise: Stretches, Flexibility training, Muscle training, and Running. Nothing too intense for now since he's still a little kid, but it is expected to become more so overtime. For now at least, Kondo is expected to perform these everyday.

They train all morning; Isamu making sure Kondo gets enough rest in-between session while Kondo pretends to not have near endless stamina.

Noon roles around and the father and son duo make their way back home for lunch. On the way, Kondo encounters a canon character for the first time since his reincarnation; The red-eyed Genjutsu chick (He forgot her name).

She appears much younger than Kondo remembers; which is not surprising since it's over a decade before canon. As she approaches the duo from the opposite direction on her way to somewhere, Kondo deliberates on his next move. He has a couple seconds to decide before she walks past, and the opportunity is lost.

'What do I do! I just met a priority canon character early. Should I make an impression here and now, and start building a rapport with her and eventually learn from her? Or pass it up and try again under a more controlled scenario? Darn it, no till to thick! I'm going to have to wing this.'

'Boy, is this going to cringe so bad.' Kondo thought as he abruptly stopped and pointed a finger at the Konoichi with wide eyes and yelled "Woahhh!!! So pretty!!!"

Isamu stops. Some pedestrians stop. Shiranui? Kuronui? Kurenai? KURENAI!!! stops. All parties turn to face Kondo.

'Somebody please unalive me. Throw a kunai in-between my eyes right now and end my suffering!'

Despite his inner turmoil, Kondo soldiers on. He energetically waves at the stunned Kurenai and shouts "Hello, Pretty Lady!" Kurenai for her part looks over to her left, her right, and then behind her as if looking for someone before pointing a finger at herself and asking "You mean, me?" with a mild blush.

This breaks Isamu out of his stupor as he darts over to Kondo to chastise his behaviour. "What are you doing, boy? You don't just holler at people in public: it's very rude." However, Kondo doubles down.

"Huh?! But she's so pretty, Dad!" Responds Kondo with full intent to dig his own social grave even deeper. He turns to Kurenai and continues: "I'm Kondo! What's your name, pretty lady?" with a big radiant smile.

There's no response from the gobsmacked Konoichi, but her face does become alot redder from Kondo's outburst. Papa Isamu attempts to seize control of the situation. "Sorry about that, miss. I don't know what came over my son. Please pay it no mind." He hurriedly says as he drags Kondo off.

"Bye bye, pretty lady!" Kondo let's off before becoming disappeared down the street leaving everyone in shocked disbelief. Kurenai for her part, quickly turned around, with a confused tomato face and briskly walks off.

Along the way, Papa Isamu reprimands his son for his actions, but Kondo just nodded dumbly, pretending to listen. He had other things on his mind. 'Oh sweet Lord have mercy! That was so embarrassing. I'll be having a cringattack everytime I remember that.'

'Well, it was a worthwhile sacrifice since I've made an impression and am now on the radar of a priority canon character. If I play my cards right in the coming years I might even end up being taken under her wing. My Dad's not bad, but having a Jonin sensei will do me wonders.'

The boys return home, have lunch, and Kondo makes his way to the books his Dad bought him. He reaches over and picks the first one.

[Beginner's Guide to Kunai Arts]

"No."

[Beginner's Guide to Kenjutsu]

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"No."

[Beginner's Guide to Shuriken Arts]

'Holup! There's a copy of this book in the shelf. Did Dad forget about it and buy a new copy? Well, I know who's getting eaten first, but not here and now.'

"No."

[Beginner's Guide to First Aid]

'Huh, inedible? Kinda makes sense now that I think about it; I can't just touch a wound, yell "First Aid!" and the thing heals.'

Kondo stares at the pile of books thinking of his next move. 'Lets see, 4 books: 3 Skill Books and 1 regular. I'm eating one tonight, and I'm reading another this afternoon. I wonder what the Book Eating process is like.'

'The Kenjutsu book was unexpected but not surprising since Dad himself is a Kenjutsu specialist. Guess he wants me to walk in his footsteps. Sure! I've got nothing against swordsmanship. Hopefully I can blast a Getsuga Tenshou someday. And with Dad and Tenten training me along with my system, it's not farfatched.'

'Speaking of swordsmanship, what Legendary Sword should I get my hands on? Obviously the Executioner Blade, Samehada and those Lightning Blades. I don't think it'll be easy to stumble upon their respective swordmen, I'll keep it in mind.'

With his thoughts in order, Kondo reaches for the First Aid book, then stops midway.

'Hmmm... I know reading this book will give me Intelligence stats, but what happens when I read a skill book? Do I gain Intelligence and/or the Skill? So far I've created skills by doing the thing, but eating a book implies I get skill without doing the thing first, so which is it?' Kondo wonders as he shifts his hand to the [Beginner's Guide to Kunai Arts] 'Why don't we find out.'

Kondo begins reading the book. It's is of moderate size and contains a few chapters.

- Basic Kunai uses.

- Basic Kunai handling.

- Basic Kunai throwing.

- Basic Kunai Combat.

A couple pages into the 3rd chapter, and Kondo gets a notification.

**Minimum knowledge threshold met. Gain Intelligence +1.**

A welcomed surprise. 'One Intelligence Stat per book, huh.' Kondo resumes his reading, and finishes the book with no additional notifications. He then proceeds to put the book down, then pick it back up.

[Beginner's Guide to Kunai Arts]

"No."

'Strange. I got no skill from reading it cover to cover, and it's still edible. The 1 Intelligence stat is great, though. Guess I'll get a clearer picture when I eat the [Shuriken Book] tonight.'

'Would have to consider getting a Skill Book on [Speed Reading] since becoming a bookworm is my fate now. That way I'll be able to blow through them faster.'

Kondo puts the books away, smuggles the old [Shuriken Book] to his room when his mother wasn't looking and got ready for dinner. That night, just before midnight Kondo got up as usual, but this time instead of this usual training regimen, he closes the window, picks up his soon to be eaten book, enters his closet and closes it's doors too. In pitch black darkness, Kondo eats his first Skill Book.

[Beginner's Guide to Shuriken Arts]

"Yes."

Shuriken Throwing Mastery (Passive)

(Level 20: 0%) (Cost: None):

Represents one's proficiency in the art. Also increases rate of comprehension of other throwing related skills relative to level.

No sound (except the notification). No light. No turning to dust. No disappearing. Just a rush of information into Kondo mind followed by a mild headache which makes him grunt alittle in surprise.

Kondo is stunned for a few seconds before he exclaims. "Woah! The book is in my head! It's like every word was downloaded into my brain. Not just that, It's also like the words were converted into muscle memory and downloaded into my body. This must be what NEO felt like when he said 'I know Kung Fu'.

After calming down a little, Kondo exits the closet, opens the window and inspects the book. 'It looks no different.' He puts the book down and picks it up again.

[Beginner's Guide to Shuriken Arts]

"It's not asking if I'd like to eat it anymore." Kondo makes a sigh of relief. "I got worked up for nothing. Nothing happens but a mild headache when I eat a book, which means I can reread it for the Intelligence Sta-." Kondo's face deflates.

"Wait a minute... I didn't get any Stat gain notification for eating the book; just the skill. I know everything in this book, so it's kinda feels redundant to read it again. Will I even get any Stats out of it if I do?"

Kondo sighs again as he rubs his temple; mild headache not gone yet. "That's for me to find out tomorrow. I'll also postpone the planning of my book eating strategy till then, as well as shorten tonight's training. My head hurts and I'd like to sleep it off."