Naruto: GAME OVER... Starting New Game (OC SI in Suna)

Chapter 7.3:

...

Kiba said nothing.

He didn't smile, sigh, or make any dramatic gesture. He simply let himself be carried by the familiar hum of the system.... an echo deep in his mind, as though someone whispered directly behind his blind eyes.

[Quest Successful]

[Quest: Don't Fall Behind Rasa!

Details: Graduate early next year.

Reward: Sasori's Poison

Penalty: None]

[Sasori's Poison Acquired]

[Additional Quest Successful]

[Additional Quest: You Can Too!?

Details: Defeat the chunin you face in your early graduation match.

Reward: Transfer Puppet Vision Seal

Penalty: None]

[Transfer Puppet Vision Seal Acquired]

He had done it.

The words appeared as always in his mind, as if someone wrote them and he saw them perfectly.

A year had passed since these missions were assigned to him.... a year he had been waiting to complete them. Exactly one year since they first appeared.

And now they were crossed off. Completed. Filed in his personal record as victories... because to him, at least, they were.

As he walked the dusty corridors of the academy, feeling the dry texture of stone under his sandals and the hot air drifting through window cracks, Kiba slowly turned his new forehead protector between his fingers. He had received it just minutes before, the symbol of Suna firmly engraved on the metal. He still hadn't decided whether to wear it on his forehead like the others or find another way.

"This is for real...?" he murmured.

He had checked the most attention-grabbing reward first: Sasori's Poison. In his inventory, only one vial appeared. Small. Solid. Hermetic.

A vial. Literally. That was all that appeared automatically in his inventory. No recipes, no secret scrolls. Just that.

"And what am I supposed to do when it's gone? Toast with it and say goodbye to the world?" The joke came out dry. It wasn't disappointment, but it was awkwardness. He'd expected more. Or something different. He couldn't really feel thrilled that he only received a vial and not the knowledge to make the poison himself.

But his complaints were quickly silenced by what he noticed. When he examined it more carefully, with his touch, he sensed something odd. Or rather… unexpected.

The vial held more than liquid. That's right: it wasn't just the poison. On the outside, it contained instructions… and ingredients… everything.

It was all detailed on the vial.

Like a note attached to it. A complete, meticulous guide. Ingredients. Proportions. Preparation methods. Fermentation. Storage. Distillation. Fermentation time. Preservation… even warnings.

Literally everything.

It was almost absurd. Like buying a bottle at the pharmacy and finding a complete step-by-step manufacturing manual instead of a label.

From what he deduced reading everything on the vial, Sasori had developed a poison so potent that even a small amount in the bloodstream would kill the victim in two or three days while painfully paralyzing them throughout the process… yes, a horrible way to die. Additionally, this poison was refined with heavy metals that enter the muscles and destroy cells… again, intensely painful and horrific.

'Well… that changes things,' Kiba thought, rubbing the back of his head as if trying to release tension in his shoulders. 'Although it's not like I know how to make poisons anyway.'

So sure, the recipe was useless for someone who didn't know the basics. And he didn't know even the basics. He never bothered learning about poisons... not even out of curiosity. But he knew someone who did.

Karura.

She had the knowledge, the skill, and that annoyingly patient discipline required for the small details: mixing ingredients, testing textures, timing how long things needed to boil. Plus, she came from a family with a tradition in potions and crafts, so it made sense that she'd be good at this.

He didn't have to tell her everything.... not about the system, not about the quests, not how the formula came to him. He only needed to say: "I got a vial with a special formula, and I need your help replicating it." Simple. Practical. Clear.

In a way, that was a way of trusting her..... more than anyone else. More than Yashamaru, Pakura, or even his grandfather. Karura had always known how to keep secrets… even when she didn't know they were secrets. And if he didn't want her to, she wouldn't tell her own father… and probably wouldn't even demand an explanation.

Kiba knew that if there was ever someone he could trust enough to tell about the system, she was the one. Not that he'd necessarily do it, but of everyone, she was the first person with whom he'd had a years‑long friendship marked by complete honesty, no hidden motives.

Literally, their friendship... growing up together.... was as genuine and pure as someone could hope for.

And so Kiba felt a bit guilty for not having told her everything earlier… at least he could've told her about his kekkei genkai and use of Iron Sand before mentioning it to others. But part of him also wanted to surprise her. Though if he'd thought it through better, he'd know she wouldn't have been happy that he kept all this from her.

'Maybe he'd take it as compensation,' Kiba thought as he walked on. 'I didn't mention Iron Sand or my kekkei genkai—but I'll trust her with this. That she create something only the two of us will use. Just the two of us.'

He sighed. The air in the hallway carried that dry, warm scent always present on intense sunny days in Suna. Sand in the air, sand underfoot, sand scratching at your throat. Sometimes he wondered if his blood would carry sand. After all, it was literally everywhere… You can't imagine how exhausting it is to wash sand off your body.... hair, ears, belly button, butt, even your private parts… yeah, it's not pleasant to have sand in places like that.

Next what Kiba examined was the seal itself.... the fūinjutsu: Transfer Puppet Vision Seal.

Kiba halted. Almost reflexively.

As soon as he focused on that part of the reward, he felt as if his mind filled with liquid ink: diagrams. Connections. Chakra flows. Instructions anchoring themselves in his memory like they'd always been there.

And the best part: he understood everything. Not just theory. Not notes. Complete, immediate comprehension. He knew how it worked. Knew how to use it.

He could finally "see" through his puppets.

"Even if just one at a time," he murmured, testing the sound of his own words as his mind continued processing what he'd learned.

The logic behind the seal was complex.... a high‑level fūinjutsu. Possibly Rank A. Yet in his head its function was so clear it almost seemed easy. Create a master seal, place it on his body, then bind secondary seals to each puppet. When he wanted, he could channel chakra into one of those bonds and project a visual image from the puppet's perspective.

It wasn't his vision, obviously. Not related to his eyes or his blindness. It was more like an added sense.... a new sense layered atop those he already possessed. As if the seal did the visual work for him. A sensory-visual network he could access at will.

He nearly smiled. Almost.

"Absurd magic… but useful," he said quietly. It was pure genius—even for someone blind like him.

There was no logical or scientific sense to it. But chakra wasn't entirely logical either. It just was. And if this fūinjutsu could give him functional vision, then he'd accept it. No complaints.

Of course the seal had limitations. He could maintain a visual bond with only a single puppet at a time. Switching between them required time and concentration. And his body wasn't used to sustaining that kind of link for more than a few minutes. But that could be trained. Like everything.

There was also the fact that.... even with all the knowledge perfectly lodged in his head.... Kiba knew this wasn't an easy fūinjutsu to perform without a specialist's skill. He fully understood: how to create the central seal, distribute secondary seals in his puppets, and connect them all into a sensory network to "see" through any one puppet. Yet he still didn't have the finesse to cast it easily, so he'd need to spend a lot of time mastering it.

He didn't know how long it would take to master those seals. Though he'd learned a lot of fūinjutsu on his own, this required surgical precision.

But he already had everything necessary.

He just had to sharpen his tools. And he would be able to use this fūinjutsu.

"And finally, I'll be able to see through them," Kiba murmured as he continued walking. Sure, it'd be more manageable if he could use this to see through all his puppets at once.... but no, he could only use one puppet at a time. But that was enough for now.

He paused beside the hallway wall. It was hot from the sun, and sand slipping in through a crack accumulated in the corner. He laid his fingers over the forehead protector once more.

Would he tell anyone else? Share the existence of this technique? Let others know that he could see?

Nope... Not yet.

He'd already caused enough shock with Iron Sand. He already had plenty of eyes… and kunai… pointed at him.

For now, he'd keep this to himself.

Only Karura might know about the poison and the technique. The rest… later, if necessary or if they deserved to know.

He turned, hearing the distant footfalls of other students in the corridors—the soft thump of bare feet on stone. Muffled voices. Someone laughing near the courtyard. The scent of food from the cafeteria.

An ordinary day, after an extraordinary event.... after all, it wasn't every year that a student graduated early and defeated their chosen chunin.

...

...

Kiba stepped out of the academy corridors with his Suna forehead protector tied unorthodoxly around his left forearm. He didn't like it on his forehead… it felt strange, uncomfortable… and being blind, he didn't need that visible symbol to remind anyone what they already knew. He was a genin. That was enough.

The air outside was thick and hot, carrying that familiar scent of sun-scorched stone typical of midday in Suna. Amid the distant chatter of students and villagers nearby, Kiba immediately recognized familiar footsteps.

"So you made it out alive," a gravelly voice said, tinged with humor.

Kiba tilted his head, sporting a slight smile. "Not just alive, old man. I even got promoted."

His grandfather snorted through his nose. His presence was, as always, steady and silent—like someone who had lived too much to get excited easily. But today, only today, he had come.

And he wasn't alone.

"Kiba!" Karura shouted before he could say anything. One second later she was practically jumping on him. Literally. She hugged him like tomorrow didn't exist, accidentally bumping her forehead into his shoulder.

"You killed it, idiot! Why didn't you tell me about the Iron Sand, huh?! I nearly had a heart attack!"

"Hi, Karura," he replied, staying calm under her affectionate assault. His tone had that quiet resignation of someone who already knows they're not going to win this argument.

"Don't change the subject!" she grumbled, releasing just enough to cross her arms... still clinging to him.

"Since when did you know about it and control it? Eh?"

"I've known for a while," he admitted, slightly shrugging. "It wasn't the right time to tell anyone. Not even you. Sorry about that."

There was a pause. He didn't need to see her face to know she was staring at him. That kind of silence was easy to read. The kind just before she decided whether to forgive him… or scold him until he gave her something she wanted before forgiving him.

"I don't like it when you hide things from me," she murmured. Then she sighed.

"Although... I have to admit, seeing everyone's jaws drop was pretty awesome."

Kiba smiled softly. "Including you?"

"Especially me. But don't get too excited."

A few steps later, Yashamaru approached with hands in his pockets.

"Nice work, Kiba," he said warmly, sincere and straightforward. "It was quite a show. Even Dad said you're on another level."

Karura's father, Mr. Kitamura, nodded behind him.

"That, I said," he added, clapping Kiba on the shoulder. "Though I'm not surprised. You've always been a special kid. Your grandfather may have a face like stone, but I'm sure he's proud, too."

Kiba turned his head toward his grandfather, who remained silent.

"Old man?"

"What?"

"Nothing to say?"

His grandfather exhaled a short, barely audible sigh.

"You didn't embarrass yourself. I suppose that's enough."

"Wow. So emotional," Kiba replied ironically. "Thanks for the warm words."

Karura snickered quietly.

"Don't take it personally. That's as affectionate as it gets from him," said Mr. Kitamura with a half-laugh.

"Oh I know."

Yashamaru smiled softly and spoke lightly.

"Pakura took off as soon as the fight ended. She couldn't deal with more compliments to you."

"Well… fair enough," Kiba replied casually. "If she ever sticks around until the end, then I'll worry."

"Well… she said you were an idiot. But she didn't deny that the fight was impressive," said Karura with a smirk.

"Nor that you were impressive."

"She say that out loud?"

"She muttered it. But I heard"

"So we're making progress. Soon she'll tolerate me. Maybe just err, twenty more years…"

They all laughed, and even his grandfather let out a nasal sound between a growl and a laugh… which, by his standards, was almost a full-on chuckle.

A peaceful silence followed. The group stood there without hurry, under the same sky slowly burning overhead, in the hot, dry air. No one was in a rush. Voices of other students drifted from inside the academy, mingled with light footsteps, laughter, and occasional arguments.

Kiba touched the protector on his forearm. The metal was already warm from the sun, but it didn't bother him. It felt strange that now it marked him as a ninja. Though for him, well.... the real change didn't feel so immediate. It was just another step.

"What now?" Karura asked suddenly, genuinely curious.

Kiba paused to think.

"Rest for a couple of days. Then… I don't know. Train, I suppose. At some point, they'll assign missions."

"You going to do missions solo with a superior?" Mr. Kitamura asked.

"Or on a team with other genin?"

"Umm, they haven't told me yet. But I wouldn't mind being solo for a while," Kiba answered. "But I'll probably get a team soon..."

Karura clicked her tongue and exhaled.

"As always. You and your need to do everything your own way… to be the lone ninja"

"And what will you do now that I'm no longer in class with you?"

"Eh… I'll probably be bored."

Kiba smiled, tilting his head toward her.

"Yeah, I suppose since I'll be doing missions, you're going to miss me, huh?"

"Yeah, yeah, stop giving yourself so much credit. Without me, I don't know how you'll wake up in time for missions"

"I have your gifts-alarms...."

"Kami, I hope they work now"

"Hmm, well, I can tell you when I leave so you make sure I'm awake," he joked.... but Karura immediately agreed.

"Yeah, I guess I'll have to swing by your place often to check if you've left when you're supposed to," she said, like she'd already decided that.

"..."

Kiba just shook his head, knowing arguing with her was pointless. Once she got an idea in her head, she was even more stubborn than he was.

"All right, let's go. This heat is melting my brain," Karura said, grabbing Kiba to leave.

"That explains a lot," Kiba joked—but immediately regretted it when he saw her look, which promised he'd pay not only for hiding his kekkei genkai, but also for this.

...

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