Naruto: World of Warcraft - chapter 58 (Patreon)

[A few years later]

For years I continued to train the eight gates in a symphony of agony, muscles breaking, bones shattering, and organs tearing all in a beautiful attempt to master death itself, with each attempt, my body grew stronger, weaving itself together in a tapestry of unique qualities, that shouted glory.

The more I trained , the better the results were, giving me a particular sense of achievement I had never experienced before. Each passing day, the time I was able to sustain such a powerful technique increased, showing the temple I called my body was adapting to the extraordinary side effects this beautiful technique had, all but one that is.

Death is a marvelous event, that mortals can’t escape, and I was but a mortal, walking the unique tapestry we call life, so while my body adapted to most of the side effects this technique had, death was something I simply couldn’t hope to adapt, beautiful isn’t it?

It really shows how marvelous the human body is, it's rather vexing really. At first my bones would break, the sheer intensity of the power I was wielding crushing my feeble structure, showing no mercy in its powerful wake. Soon enough, this side effect disappeared, like a fleeting moment of one’s childhood, all thanks to the constant healing my clones were providing.

But this was just the beginning, broken bones hurt, that much clear, but it hurts considerably more when the muscles burst, exploding in a gory show of agony. This little, but quite problematic side effect, took longer to say goodbye, clinging into my body like a parasite in distress, but like life itself, all things come to an end, and with time, my body marvelously adapted to the strain this power offered me.

The trickiest part of this rather complicated affair of adapting and evolving, was making my inner body capable of resisting such pressure. I can’t count how many times my lungs collapse under the overwhelming symphony of the gates, it was simply outstandingly complicated, but life finds a way. I’m not sure when my body started to adapt to this, but it eventually did, leaving me with the last and unfortunately unavoidable side effect, death itself.

I had no qualms about it anyway, when I started all of this, I was barely able to wield the power this technique so graciously offered, my limit being a few minutes without healing, now… I was able to sustain the technique for hours without any type of healing, I consider this quite the winning in the great tapestry of war this world represents.

“Sup,” Tsunade greeted as she entered my little training area, her golden hair shining under the gaze of the sun, reflecting its light, blinding everyone in the vicinity.

“Hello,” I replied, gazing in marvel at her beauty, funny isn’t it? At first I was so against the idea of falling in love, clinging to the ideas I had of my world, using my previous life as an excuse, with time, I came to understand, I was simply afraid, afraid of loving others in this unforgivable world, a world where death is as common as a warm tea in the afternoon.

“I made you lunch, wanna eat?” Tsunade inquired, this notice shocked me a bit, while in almost every aspect she was a peerless woman, in the arts behind the kitchen she was atrocious, but could a man really insult the food someone he loves is providing? Possibly not, at least I know I can’t, I don’t quite have the heart for such a heartless move.

“It would be my pleasure,” I smiled, giving her a honest smile, while her food could possibly bring down an army, by food poisoning. I did truly love her, and would eat her hellborn food, not that it would affect me, I healed fast, quite fast indeed.

“God, Jiraiya was right… you eat my food just because you love me,” Tsunade giggled, her eyes beaming with a shine of adoration, unique to her.

Caught in my own world of lies, I offered her an apologetic smile, bowing ever so lightly as I said, “I know you try hard, for me that’s enough.”

“Good… cause I really am trying,” Tsunade sighed, grabbing my hand in a delicate but fast motion, pulling me closer to her, so close I could smell her fragrance, invading my senses, creating a sense of euphoria she could bring. “I can always give you dessert, first…” she whispered into my ear, each letter vibrating with raw emotion.

I looked at her, and softly putting my hand on her rear, I kissed her, “That would be a most scrumptious affair, so I oblige,”

——————————————————————————————

After a rather steamy lunch, I went to my team to train, as I recounted how things had clearly changed during these past two years. Duy, had married while still being a genin under my tutelage, Fugaku was engaged, Nawaki, he was single but mingling, it’s funny how things change with just a bit of time.

Duy was twenty two, and already had two years married to a civilian, who simply fell for his optimistic nature. Fugaku was eighteen, and was already engaged, and Nawaki was twenty.

In this time, a lot of things had changed in ways I never expected. Hiruzen had a kid, Sarutobi Asuma, I think if memory serves me right the kid is barely two months old, and they already have another in the oven.

Hatake Sakumo was now my best friend, that’s a new development too, heck I was his best man during his wedding, though because of that he sulked every now and then because he didn’t get to be my best man, even though we barely knew each other at the time.

Life was good, I simply couldn’t complain, and for the next time that man appeared… I would be ready, but if this time had taught me something is to not overwhelm yourself with worries, what is meant to be it will be.

“I wonder how much has my presence changed t

The shinobi world as I know it,” I wondered out loud, as my team came to greet me.

“We are all Jonin, why do we keep doing this?” Fugaku asked, a smile on his face, he did this to get a rest ion out of Nawaki who loved training with me and his team.

“Not all,” Duy reminded the Uchiha with a smile of his own.

“Yes,” Fugaku chuckled.

“You should feel honored that big brother is still training us!” Nawaki shot at Fugaku.

“I am, but aren’t you the only one getting his secret techniques?” Fugaku replied, he knew all too well why I didn’t teach him anything outside what was permitted, it was clan matters, but he had taken a liking to bother Nawaki.

“I will smite your ass, if you keep messing with me,” Nawaki grinned, finally catching on to what Fugaku was doing.

“Yosh! Let’s train!” Duy shouted.

“Let’s,” I nodded.