Game of Shadow

chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Chapter 7

[Running (Active) – Lvl 16

When used increases the speed of the user while running by 100%.

Consumption 6 Energy Points per second.]

I grinned like a madman as I got inside my apartment. Finally, I had reached another milestone with Running. The cost had gone down another little bit. To most people, it would be just another almost unnoticeable change. To me though, it meant a lot. Why? Simple. With this little boost, the two levels I had achieved in Dexterity and the level I got in Constitution, another goal would be met. It was time to dethrone the speed demons.

The last two weeks had been a lot different from the time before. With me having stopping my extra training in Taijutsu and Physical Conditioning outside of classes, I had a lot more free-time. Free-time that was spent in Shurikenjutsu and Running specifically. Although, being honest, I didn't quite use as much time in those really. I did increase that training, but I had been focused on Meditation too. Considering that I spent a crazy amount of Energy Points with Running every day, both in class and out of it, I had spent a long time just recovering and that meant Meditation.

That much time to myself had opened my mind to some things, mainly my chakra training or rather lack thereof. I still stood by my choice to focus on things that were actually being put to test. But I realized something that had escaped my mind. The first step of chakra control was the Leaf Concentration exercise. Which was simply sticking a leaf to your forehead. Which in turn was something that I could pretty easily do while meditating. I really really wanted to punch myself when I realized that.

However, there was no point in crying over spilt milk. I could still take advantage of that. I just had to convince Iruka to teach me the exercise and I could start. I would still be over half a year ahead of the class if I could manage that. Which would still be pretty awesome.

Finishing a little snack to recover some stamina after training, I sat down and started meditating. I was pretty sure I was approaching another checkpoint in that skill too. I wasn't sure what it was but I could feel it. My mind seemed to try to reach something every time I used the skill these days and I couldn't wait to find out what I was. A little part of me wished it was Natural Energy, and go all Sage before even being out of the Academy.

In the meantime, though, I just enjoyed the feeling of my chakra coursing through my body. Even after all that time had passed, I had never got over the excitement of it. The raw energy traveling through my pathways to every single part of my body was exhilarating. It was the best, plain and simple. All that vanished when I opened my eyes and the blood froze inside my veins.

I wasn't looking at my apartment's room anymore. Instead I was surrounded by white walls, a white ceiling and an extra white tiled floor. The bed I was sitting on was almost equally white, with just a light grey sheet to offer a change of color. My breath got caught on my throat as I felt a pressure on my chest, like an oppressing cold hand wrapping itself around my lungs and heart.

It was a hospital room.

My hospital room.

Screens had popped up, but my mind didn't register them. The sight in front of me was everything I could see. As my panic grew, I desperately stood up and ran towards the only way out of the room, a door. Opening it only served to fuel my dread as I looked outside.

The Void.

My breath quickened and I felt cold sweat slowly cover my body. My hands started shaking and my legs felt like they would give at any moment. It couldn't be happening. I had escaped that room. I had gotten out of the Void.