Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 88

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

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Chapter 88

Eiji could almost feel Hachi and Kage telling him 'We told you so' when he got back to them. After all, they'd been dropping hints that he was working too much and worrying too much since they arrived in Iwa. They'd agreed with him that it was necessary, but the two of them also agreed with each other that he still needed to rest even if less than normal.

Point was, he was enjoying his time in the mindscape, which worked very well for him, since this was something that had to be done anyway. Two birds with one stone, as it were. The fact that Tsuchi was bombarding him with her innocent joy was a big plus too, obviously.

As for what exactly he was doing, well, he was spending some time with the eight-limbed wolf that resided in him. Eiji had, after all, noticed that the Chakra Beast had been getting a little antsy. Evidently, Kage and Hachi, together with his mostly calm mind, weren't enough to keep her from getting restless.

Thus, he'd decided to spend some one on one time with Tsuchigumo running through the forests in the Training Grounds. Evidently, it worked wonders, if the feelings he received from here were anything to go by. It was also helping his mood, which was great too. He hadn't even noticed how wound up he'd been feeling as of late.

'This brings me back,' Eiji thought, reminiscing of the times when he would free run his way through the village or make his way through the Forest of Death. It wasn't even that long ago, but to him it felt like a lifetime. How long had he been jumping from one problem to the other? When had everything started being all about fights and missions?

"Thank you, girl," He told Tsuchigumo when they took a little break. Not because they were tired, since they literally couldn't be, but because constantly running wasn't fun. Besides, the oversized wolf seemed to enjoy being pet about as much as running, so it worked just as well. "You can just call for me if you want to do this more often, yeah? So long as we aren't about to or in the middle of a fight, it should be fine. Or you can ask Kage or Hachi, if you don't feel it's a good moment," He told her. She barked and he got a sense of affirmation, but Eiji wondered if she had understood all that he said.

Her level of intelligence was weird. It seemed to oscillate between toddler and prepubescent. Sometimes one had to slowly explain things to her and others she would understand everything immediately. Regardless, she was a dear, and Eiji liked her just the way she was. It was refreshing, in a way, to have such a pure soul in a world so messed up. It was also sad, because Eiji knew it was only a question of time before she was tainted too.

"I'm fine, Tsuchi," He said when the Beast whined a question at him. He'd let his thoughts get away from him again. "Just thinking about how wonderful you are," He added, smiling at her. A grin that got wider when she sent him her own happiness and pride.

He had to wonder, how would he be, if he didn't have Tsuchigumo? What would be different? What would be different if he didn't have Kage or Hachi for that matter? He guessed it was a question much like how it would be if he didn't have his friends. One that he didn't even want an answer for, didn't need one. 'One that I don't want to ask myself,' He decided.

"What's the matter?" It was his turn to question, seeing as the Chakra Beast went silent, staring at him. It was one of those rare moments when she seemed to be much smarter than normal. Her eight blue eyes stared at him as if trying to pry knowledge from him. Which, considering who she was, might even be literal.

Then she stomped, sending him what she wanted to say without needing words or even signs.

Eiji blinked.