text; un: 🍥🍜

[acknowledgement]

(≡ ｀ｗ´≡)/
hey everyone!
i'm Uzumaki Naruto
um in my world we give family name first
so you can just call me Naruto!

listen…
i have an important question that i'd like to hear your opinions on

some people doubt this place is really the afterlife
and if we’re actually dead

but let’s say there’s a chance we can all return to our own dimensions, alive
…would you want to?
or would you prefer to stay here instead, permanently?

it’s kinda personal, so i get it if you wanna use the
uh
anonymous
thingy
just don’t ask me how to switch it on
because idk (that means i don’t know)

oh also
if anyone needs help with anything
or wants to tackle some missions together
i'm your shinobi!

[Sorry, Sasuke and Sakura. Naruto forgot the “keep our profession/backgrounds a secret” rule. (And already broke the rule several times over.)]

Comments

[zauneyete]

[ Well considering he IS dead in his world... ]

Oh, I don't know about that. My world has its own unique set of problems, and many make it... difficult for the weak at heart.

However, I can't even keep a knife on hand here for long. The impermanence of the this place alone is something of concern. Let alone... the fact that this place is as different from home as it likely is to your own. I suppose there would be some who don't care where they live, as long as they are living.

[ Yes, of course he would choose Zaun over this, but he doesn't need to say how great it is again, does he? (It's...not. It's actually not.) ]

[acknowledgement]

what do you mean about a knife?
like your knives are disappearing on you?

oh wait...
is it because of that soul thing
i forget what it's called
but if your knife isn't infused with a soul
it breaks or something?

that's definitely a problem in a dangerous place like this
there has to be a better solution
people need to be equipped to deal with the dangers

[zauneyete]

Yes, the "soul thing", as you so eloquently put it, means that even basic necessities like defense are difficult to come by. Especially for those of us with little...martial prowess.

I'd like to avoid traveling out of the city as much as I can, to avoid the need for defenses, but after last month... I suspect we are not as safe within the city as we would like. The Hierarchy also doesn't seem to be too focused on... defense of their "people", either.

[ Silco doesn't like cops tho, so... ]

We're on our own, and relatively weaponless. It's a dangerous place to be in.

[acknowledgement]

you aren't a fighter?
that's no good
do you wanna learn? i could teach you some tricks

but as for the Hierarchy...
uh
who are they again

[SOMEONE HASN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION...]

[zauneyete]

That's a kind offer. Have you ever taught an old man with an array of back-alley brawling habits?

[ That's not a no... ]

If you don't remember, the Hierarchy is the group that so kindly told us to get soulmates and then dropped the conversation. Apparently, they are the... authorities.

[acknowledgement]

nope
but that sounds fun honestly
are you saying that's what you are?
some old geezer with brawling skills?
maybe we can trade tips!
i prefer hand to hand too

ohhhhhh

[A pause. Naruto searches his memory for this aforementioned conversation. He vaguely remembers some guy on the network preaching about the soulmates, but had quickly scrolled away from the post; the subject is a bit touchy for him.]

you know if anyone has met with him?
the Hierarchy?

[Forever referring to the Hierarchy as "him" now.]

[zauneyete]

I don't do hand to hand. I use a knife.

[ Somehow, even through text, that is... firm. A little sharp. Gee, why is that a sore spot? ]

You mean Amun? Not that I've seen. He was pretty quick to leave us with that, and drop it, wasn't he? Supposedly he's busy, but I've run an entire city and had more capability to offer information.

Clearly, he isn't interested.

[ Mind, Silco probably would have given newbies the same amount of time of day, or less, but he doesn't say that. ]

[acknowledgement]

a knife!
so you're probably pretty quick then
that's good

[At least Naruto doesn't seem to be alarmed that this stranger uses knives; for a shinobi, that's natural.]

you've run a city before?
so you're a kage
or um
a leader of your people?
guess you being an old timer makes sense

[zauneyete]

Not as quick as I'd like, but I think I'd still surprise you.

[ That's... actually a nice change. Most seem so weirded out by simple defense? Even he, a wealthy leader of a city, would not go out without protection. Mind, most cities weren't Zaun. ]

Yes, I suppose calling me a leader of my people is a good way to put it. Or was, before I arrived here.

It kind of puts a damper on the whole thing, being here.