Chapter 6: Children, Impudence, and Diagnosis — "The Curse of the Sandbox"
"Never underestimate someone who can't tie their shoelaces yet… but has already thrown a shuriken from a branch into your eye."
Morning. Academy
Iruka announces:
— Today, the seniors are receiving a mission from the Academy — supervision and guardianship over the junior group. The teachers will be watching your communication and leadership skills.
— Eh… IS THIS A NINJA MISSION?! — Naruto is indignant.
— Yes. And, to be honest, sometimes it is more dangerous than a C- or D-rank mission.
Hirito squints:
— More dangerous? Kindergarten? The system will definitely be delighted...
A mission appears
🌀 Mission: "Hell from the Sandbox" activated.
🌀 Conditions: survive for 2 hours among 12 children without losing sanity and authority.
🌀 Reward: an item from the "sometimes useful" category, a chance to increase the "Leadership" parameter.
— "Survive".....Seriously? Oh, I definitely don't like the sound of that.
Junior group
There are 12 children in the academy park.
At first glance — cute, innocent...
After 10 minutes:
One climbs onto the roof of the canopy and yells that he is the "lord of toads".
Two fight, using mud as a melee weapon.
One (presumably a genius) has invented a slingshot and is trying to knock the crows off the tree.
The others... destroy the swing.
Naruto is delighted:
— I ACCEPTED THEM! THIS IS MY GANG!
Hirito grabs one child, pulls another out of the trash, and looks at the third:
"Did you just try to catch a snake to put in your teacher's shirt?"
"It's… cool!" the kid replies.
"No. I'm not a shinobi. I'm a zookeeper."
Ino appears with a saucy look
"Do you need help, Hirito? Or are you coping with the "leadership position"?"
"I'm coping. As an experienced diplomat in a country of the inadequate."
"You're not as boring as you seemed."
"And you're not as loud as I feared."
[Ino comes closer, hands on hips] "Are you flirting?"
"No. I'm working. With children who are more dangerous than you. For now."
Ino smirks. Initial interest has been shown.
🎯 [✓] Passed: First provocative-flirtatious interaction with Ino.
The "arena boss" appears
A little girl with bows stands on a chair and says:
— Now I'll tell you which of you is the bad ninja!
Everyone freezes. She points her finger at Hirito:
— You! You're not smiling! That means you're the enemy!
The pack of kids turns to look at Hirito. Silence falls...
...and then - an attack.
Sticky hands. Pebbles. Sand in the eyes. Children's screams. Laughter. Someone bites his sleeve.
— That's it. I'm officially a veteran now.
Mission Ending
Hirito, covered in mud, sits in the center of a circle of calmed children. Everyone is eating cookies, he reads them a story... with the cool expression of a shinobi who has been through the worst.
System:
🌀 Mission Complete! Congratulations!
🌀 Reward: "Invisibility Bandana - Reduces attention to you by 5% during unwanted social contact (works on teachers and annoying friends)."
🌀 "Leadership" parameter increased to level 2.
Evening. On a bench near the academy
Naruto:
- BROTHER, YOU WERE LIKE A HOKAGE! THE KIDS LOVE YOU! ME TOO! I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE A HOKAGE, AND THEY DRAWN ME!
He shows a drawing where Naruto is depicted as a sun with arms. And a mustache.
Hirito looks at him and smiles:
- If you are the sun, I am the shadow. Walking ahead. To know where you can burn.
Hirito passed his first "social test".
Ino showed interest - and he did not give in to her.
Naruto became the favorite of everyone under 6 again.
And ahead is the first business trip outside the Academy.
And one strange person who recognized something more in Hirito...