Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Extra

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

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Extra 1

[Child's Play]

"Eiji's here!" a very young voice cried out excitedly, shortly followed by a mess of other shouts and borderline screeches. A cacophony that made him grin widely. With a chuckle, he ran his good hand's fingers through his hair as he heard the sound of rushed steps and more than one stumble.

"They like you more than us," Kabuto deadpanned. Everyone knew that was a lie, but they played along anyway.

"That's because he spoils them," Shino added, pushing his round sun-glasses up. "Techniques, weapons, supplies, all from abroad. We can't compete."

"We could, if he weren't an asshole about not picking up the stuff we tell him to," Kabuto replied with a twitch of his eye.

"I'm just cool like that," Eiji told them, smirking at them as the first child rushed through the corridor, the same one that had seen him at the entrance and quickly rushed to get everyone else. "And I have summons that you two don't, which also helps."

"Mainly the being cool part though," Tayuya said, looking entirely too smug, even to Eiji's eyes. That was when she was at her most beautiful though... tied only by her blushing face and her pouting face, he supposed. "You thinking dumb things again, Fearless Leader," she hissed.

"So I am," he replied with an amused smile. Still, he knew better than to voice even half of his thoughts. He wasn't that suicidal, after all. "Hey there, kiddo," he greeted, catching the boy that had finally reached where they were standing outside the orphanage with his threads. Swiftly, he maneuvered the little one before he dropped him on his shoulders. "Behaving yourself for Kabuto?"

"And Hana!" he exclaimed, making Eiji grin at Kabuto. The silver-haired man was doing his best to look anywhere at Eiji though. There'd be no escape for him though. Not from Eiji and certainly not from Tayuya. And when Temari and Fu heard about this? He almost felt bad for his ex-teammate. The only downside was that Jirobo had probably won all the bets, lucky bastard.

"Is that so?" Eiji asked, getting a hum from the boy sitting on his shoulders. Glancing to his side, his grin became a little softer as he saw Tetsuya fussing on her mother's arms. The lil' baby was still getting used to not having Eiji's attention on him all the time. It was all made more difficult by the fact that he had his father wrapped around his little finger. It'd be a real struggle for him not to turn out spoiled, but Eiji would try his best. As it was, he smiled at his son before extending his prosthetic arm and tickling him.

For whatever reason, his son seemed to find that arm hilarious, grasping at it and giggling.

"How about the rest of you though, have you been good?" he asked, then, glancing towards the crowd of children that had gathered around them. His answer was a whole lot of cries of "Yes!" from all around. Then he looked at Tayuya, who pretended to be annoyed but he knew was secretly pleased. "What do you think, Yuya?"

"I think I might as well. You like showing off too much," she told him, gently offering him to take Testuya, which he did. He chuckled at her excuse though, because they both knew she loved to play her flute and use Genjutsu to entertain the children. "Now, brats, what do you want to see today?"

"Can we see the fight with the army again?" one of the children asked and Eiji chuckled.

"They do love that," Kabuto commented dryly.

"It's a very impressive moment, admittedly," Shino said, looking as excited as the children, really. Not that he showed that much, but Eiji knew enough to notice.