Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 78

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

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Chapter 78

"Ah, I missed this."

"I hate you," Eiji grumbled through his teeth. "Shouldn't you tell him something about bothering patients?" He asked Tsunade, who was smirking as she leaned against a wall.

"I distinctly remember you saying that you were fine and that you wanted to play," The woman mercilessly picked the hole in his complaint. "Besides, he's the Hokage, I couldn't possibly tell him what to do," She added, as if they hadn't all known it was a lie.

"I hate you all," Eiji groaned, leaning back against his pillow. Agreeing to play Shogi with Hiruzen had been a bad idea, he realized. Not only because he'd gotten absolutely destroyed by the old man, but also because just moving the pieces sent waves of pain through his arm. He really should have said no...

However, it wasn't like he had many options. Anything that he wanted to do that didn't involve staring at the ceiling would be met with pain. He'd just have to power through it, he guessed.

[Tailed Beast Chakra Resistance has gone up a level.]

'At least there's an upside,' He thought as he quickly dismissed the screen. Each level made things that bit more bearable. There also wasn't a day where the Skill didn't grow at least by one level, which was very good. Sadly, Eiji reckoned that the skill would be far from maxed by the time that he received a new seal. If one was possible, that is. He still didn't know what he would do if that wasn't within the Toad Sage's capabilities.

He closed his eye, taking a deep breath in.

"Eiji?" He heard Hiruzen ask, obviously picking up on the shift in his mood instantly. A half-smile tugged at the boy's lips. The old man was entirely too perceptive for his own good.

"Is this a suicidal mission, Hiruzen?" He asked bluntly. The thought had appeared in his mind not so long ago and it had refused to leave. Opening his eye, he was just in time to see the old man's expression. He looked like he'd been sucker punched, but Eiji kept silent. "Am I being sent there because you think I've been compromised?" He continued.

It was a valid decision if so, he supposed. Even with Inoichi's check up, he knew enough about how the Yamanaka techniques worked to know that it wouldn't be that easy to prove that he was alright and still himself. Sadly, it was more likely for everyone to believe that either the Cursed Seal or the Chakra Beast had affected him in some way than to believe a thirteen year old Genin was fine after all that.

"No, Eiji, it's not and I don't believe you are," The man said, staring straight into the boy's sole visible eye. Eiji could only look right back at him, trying to find any sign of deception. Not that he thought he was good enough to pick up such a thing from the Hokage.

In the end, he could only sigh.

"I'm gonna need a team," He said then, changing the topic entirely. Hiruzen grimaced, either because of what that meant or what the new conversation would be about, Eiji didn't know. He suspected that it was a bit of both though.

"Indeed," The Hokage agreed, looking tired and old.

"I can't count on Konoha to have a good team though."

"That is correct," The old man nodded, as if it pained him to admit as much.

"I have a plan to solve that issue," Eiji informed him. "You and Iwa are gonna hate it though."

"Yes, Hachi hinted at it back when I informed him," Hiruzen said then, deflating a bit. "I had hoped you wouldn't agree with him."

"Would you prefer I try to do this alone?" Eiji asked with a raised eyebrow. "I hate this plan as much as you do, but it's the only way I see myself coming back here alive if what I've heard is true."