Reading the Script

This book... This freakin' book...

It's magic!

That's the only explanation.

Forged from the chakra of the elders...

Transcribed by an ancient Jutsu... If that's even fucking possible, I wouldn't know!

What I do know, and what is painfully obvious, is that my hands should not have gotten anywhere near this mystical shit.

I received two ninja's and swiped something... Otherworldly! At least, otherworldly for me. Keep in mind, most of my life consisted of being called a street rat, so anything even resembling something special in any considerable way is otherworldly from my point of view.

What am I going to do now? Do I run out on streets screaming bloody **** until I run into a ninja?

Fuck, I'd probably be apprehended by Konoha's Police **** first, but... Essentially they'd be able to help too. I'd just drop off the book, explain the mishap, and go on my merry way. Heck, they might even contact the Hokage, and reschedule a way for me to get my actual book back.

Yeah!

And they wouldn't restrain me for stealing what is presumably some sacred piece of text. Right? Actually, when I put it like that, I'd most definitely face some repercussions. But I didn't steal it! An unfortunate accident is what occurred, nothing else.

As much as it seems as though the higherups never give any more than two shits for the people in my position, they aren't the kind to actively and metaphorically say ''Fuck you,'' to those who are wronged. And I wasn't wronged, sure, but if they happened to detain me for nothing more than an accident, I would be!

My eyes refocused on the desk below me, more specifically, the full pages worth of text that displayed my life in great detail. I know for a fact that the pages were empty beforehand! Unless it was only set to appear that way towards any scum like me that doesn't have enough chakra or some shit. But Sakura said it was empty too! She looked it over before handing it to me!

Actually...

Actually, hold up! This isn't my fault; if anything, it's hers! She seemed to be in such a fucking rush that she didn't even spare me the time to double-check and confirm that this was indeed my book. She literally scanned through the book, shrugged, and gave it to me without a second thought. If I were to be blamed for this, that would be a complete and utter fail for the justice system.

Fuck!

In the end, I passed out. Worrying about crap out of my control was doing nothing for me in the long run. So I crashed and hit the sack, so to speak.

It was good, exactly what I needed actually, the wooden slides that blocked off my window allowed a few rays of the early morning's light to peer through and tickle my face.

The slight warmth mixed in with the cool air is what sturred me awake. In this blissful zen-like state, I was free from my worries of last night. The fact that I have possession of a magical piece of literature that was probably passed down from Hokage to Hokage didn't even upset me. It was that pink-haired chick's fault, not mine what-so-ever.

Even the stress I had over losing the comfortable room I was staying in didn't concern me.

At least, it didn't... For the few blissful moments that I was conscious before the soft rackets of tapping echoed from the opposing side of the apartment's front door.

"Kaguza-kun? Are you awake?"

Fuck.

"Yes, Akami-sama. I'm up, you can come in."

The knob's rattle, and slight creak from the door as it opened inward signaled Akami's entrance into my.. Er... I mean, her room.

As for me, I don't think I have ever sprung out of bed faster than I did just now. One second - and I don't exaggerate - I was under the bedsheets, enjoying the peaceful morning... The next...

BAM

On my feet.

Even I'm not sure how I managed to shift my body in such a quick manner.

But sometimes your the only one that can impress yourself... Keep that in mind, life is full of its ups and downs and there comes a time when-

"Kaguza I... What are you doing?" Akami's thin blue eyebrows narrowed in a way that prompted a gulp out of me without my consent. Her green eyes trailed on my hands that were in the process of rolling up my small assortment of shirts.

Last night, I began squaring away my clothing. Having access to only one bag, I could keep with me once I get evicted, meant I had to pick and choose from which articles of clothing I'd keep or toss. With the ones I'd keep rolled up, the rest were thrown into a pile in the corner of the room.

After I jumped up, I immediately resumed my motion of sorting through clothing. I didn't want to come off as someone who was disgruntled over being kicked out; Akami went an arm and a leg out to pick me up on my feet, she deserved much more than a grumpy, ungrateful departure.

If anything, despite the cliche. I intended to give her a hug as well as a final thanks for her help.

"Kaguza-kun?"

"Oh yes!" I blurted and dropped the shirt in my hand.

"Umm..." She hummed, then pressed on with her original question. "What are you doing?"

"Well..." I sighed and stretched the back of my head. "I'm packing my things, so I won't be in your way when you kick me out..."

The green eyes of Akami laid on me for a few agonizing seconds. Eventually, though, she seemed to have adequately evaluated my words and fixed on a response. My eyes were glued onto her soft lips, fearing what she was about to say.

But she didn't speak, not really.

At least, not at first.

She laughed. It was soft, cute, came off like a light chuckle, but she looked to be very amused. "Ka..K..Kagu..Kaguza-chan! Hehehe... You thought I was going to evict you? Because of the words from an idiot drunk? Do you think so low of me?"

"Well, you said... You said I failed too many times... And..."

"Listen, Kaguza. I'm not going to let you leave until I am confident you'll be fine out there," Akami tilted her hip and had her balled fists rest on her waist. "Show me proof that you have a reliable form of income, and a stable roof over your head, then I'll consider it." She noticed my mouth begin to open and she continued before I could get a word out. "This isn't just a job. If it were, you wouldn't get a room here!"

"You don't want me to... I... Wow..." I had to double-take, with it now being my turn to mull over her words. Akami has always been no more than an employer to me. But I guess her generosity goes much farther than I initially believed.

"I thought you knew this," She rolled her eyes with a smile, "In any other workplace, you would be fired after the third mistake. Here, you messed up over double that. And for some reason, I never fired you. I wonder why..."

"So then.. Okay, so then how am I supposed to pay for my rent? You said I can't work at the bar anymore..."

"Well, you're definitely not staying here rent-free... And you aren't capable of working at the bar for now..." Akami tilted her beautiful face and tapped her bottom lip. "Hmm... What to do... Ah! Wait! You work at an inn!"

She chuckled again and stepped towards the bed. Grabbing the underside of my sack - by sack I mean bag, the other sack would have been nice but alas, no - She flipped it over and emptied my rolled-up clothing onto the wooden floor. As she moved closer to me, I was able to sense what I assume is her perfume. It gave off the pleasant smell of a scented flower. It was sweet; really made me want to lean in and simply stay in her presence.

"Okay, you're not going anywhere, so put up your clothes." She nodded, "Once you step out, you'll notice a cart loaded with cleaning supplies, you work at an inn, I believe you'll know what your new job is. If you have any questions, see me." Flashing me a white smile, Akami left the room. Leaving me there with my own thoughts.

The situation last night was completely and utterly misread on my part, and I have never been more pleased to be wrong in my fucking life. I have a home, I have a freaking home! I don't own it, sure, but I also don't have to worry about losing it. For the past two months I've been here, I was never truly comfortable. The worry of Akami saying enough is enough, and tossing me out was always a constant in the back of my mind.

But now... Well... I feel like this could end up being more stable than I originally anticipated. I was given a chance, and I'm not going to fuck it up!

I tidied up my room with a renewed vigor, I mean, if I'm going to be staying here longer I better keep my shit clean.

Que me bumping into the large book centered in the middle of my desk.

Well, shit, I temporarily forgot about this...

Fuck.

It's fine, it's fine... I won't let this bring me back down. It was an honest mix-up, that wasn't even my fault, to begin with.

Finding the spark of curiosity, I decided to open it again. This time upon seeing the pages loaded with text that wrote out my origin story to great detail, I wanted to see something. On the top right of the first page, there was a line with a date written right above it, though, not any random date.

It was the day I was born.

I flipped a few pages forward and noticed that the dates changed, it moved up as my story progressed. With the only thing staying consistent as I continued on was my name written out at the top center of each page.

"Hmmm..." I hummed and flipped back to the first page. Picking up an eraser that was situated on the desk. I erased the date in the corner and watched as the paged glowed and died down.

"Interesting..."

Now the page was empty, with my first and the last name still written at the top. But the line was now red, as if attempting to draw my attention to it. The red ink seemed to light up and die down with each second; it gave off the impression that there was something missing above it. Which there was.

Writing down today's current date, I was greeted with another glowing page. Actually, the paper even heated up, as my palm was resting on it, and I hand to spring it back due to the sudden heat.

The glow died down as quickly as it started, and just as I theorized, on the page below me was more text. Though what the writing read was what caught my eye. It was an accurate reading of what had just happened to me, down to the 'T.'

All written from my perspective.

My heart did a double-take, as I read.

''My heart did a double-take, as I read.''

"What the hell..." I mumbled, and read the exact same thing I had just said. Skipping ahead was what scared me, because flipping to the next page, I realized the story kept going... My story kept going, there was written out... My future...

Or what I believed is my future. So far, whatever I read had been 100% true in every way, which makes what I'm reading now, extremely scary and intriguing.

''Realizing the implication the book had, I got curious, and decided to erase my name at the top of the page.''

"Well, okay... If that's what I did..." I said.

This book is messing with my head, It can tell me my freakin' future! Realizing the implication the book had, I got curious, and decided to erase my name at the top of the page.

Like the wind of a grass whistle, the page lightened up and died down. All the text disappearing in the act.

Um... I didn't read past that point, so I'm not sure what I was going to do next, but... But I don't need the book to tell me what to do. Besides, my curiosity had yet to simmer down. I had to see just how much this book could do.

I mean, it belonged to the Hokage, right? It's definitely some ancient and mystical. Something that probably was only passed down to hands that were worthy and trusted with the knowledge of its power.

Or you know, me...

And technically it was passed to me! Sakura gave it to me! So.. I didn't steal it!

I licked my lips and swallowed... A single drop of sweat collected on my forehead as an image of what I was going to do jumped into my mind.

It would be a breach of privacy...

Reading someone else's story...

Looking at my future was one thing... But someone else?

Would it even work?

I...

Fuck it, why not!

I'll just take a peek at the beginning, and..

And stop.

''Sakura''

Eh...

Shit, I just realized I don't know her last name. So that fucks my attempt to test this thing out on a ninja. I wanted to see if the particular person mattered in the slightest. Sure it would work on me but for all I know, this thing might keep a record of every person below a determined rank.

Surly someone held to such a hind degree as Sakura wouldn't-

The pages' flash of light caught me off guard.

''Sakura Haruno''

The hell?

Did it just know who I was talking about? Who's Sakura Haruno? Is that...

No, it's her. Reading on, it was confirmed to be the same pink-haired girl I bumped into on the street. This book picked up on who I intended to write down and just filled in the rest.

My forehead wasn't the only part of me sweating anymore. My fingers also started to feel a little damp as I held the pencil within my palm. I didn't intend the breach this girl's privacy, but it was so easy. I do enjoy reading, and I could just sit here and see what made her who she is today. She was an only child... Had to endure being picked on for her broad forehead... Her first real friend was someone named Ino Yamanaka...

I have no idea who she is but...

Fuck it why not.

''Ino Yamanaka''

Oh, interesting, she was also an only child. She learned at the same Achadamy as Sakura. That's how they met... Was always outgoing, very bold, and popular.

"This is telling me everything... Too much..." I had to stop myself, instead of flipping through any more pages, I erased Ino's name and wrote down another one.

''Naruto Uzumaki''

Finding out Naruto's last name from my reading through the former two, I was bombarded with flash and another barrage of juicy details on the origin of the yellow-haired ninja.

"This shouldn't be possible! I shouldn't be seeing this! But... It's so easy..." I changed the date on Naruto's page, to last night, so I could catch up on what happened from his perspective.

He was called into the Hokage tower. Specifically to Tsunade; in her office, he met up with Sakura, who was already there. Apparently, they were both tasked with securely transporting scrolls and books that contained techniques for advanced secretive and restricted Jutsu. A couple of the books were infused, giving the reader access to freely using a skill without having to actively learn it. Though, all of them were to remain undisclosed to anyone other than the Hokage.

Both Sakura and Naruto were absolutely forbidden to studying the written contents of the scrolls. The Hokage, In this case, being Tsunade, and perhaps eventually Naruto himself. Was the only person in the village with the permission to be aware of the contents of each book.

Huh...

I wonder if I could read into the future and see if Naruto ever becomes the Hokage?

And speaking of the Hokage...

''Tsunade''

I don't think I had ever been made aware of her full name, but if the book could pull up Sakura, it wouldn't have any trouble grabbing the Hokage.

But I was curious since each Hokage is the only person who is made aware of these mysterious collections of text, perhaps the enchantments associated with them wouldn't work on-

The pages before me flashed and caused me to flinch from the sudden light.

''Tsunade Uzumaki''

Nevermind, it works on anyone apparently...

Oh shit, this should not be happening... But here it is, the leader of the fucking village. Tsunade's origin story, in all it's glory. I couldn't stop myself, I scanned the first page, then flipped forward four more pages and scanned through that. Flipping and reading, flipping, and reading. I broke her walls of privacy in the same way I did Naruto's.

Eventually, I had to stop. My fingers were very moist, and my breathing was growing intense at the sheer absurdity of what I stumbled onto. This book shouldn't be in the hands of anybody, that includes me.

Yet here I freaking am...

I erased Tsunade's name before I could continue down the rabbit hole I was currently face-deep in. And slumped back down on my wooden stool.

I looked at the book, now empty again, and it stared right back at me.

What am I going to do with this?

A part of me wanted to see who else I could write down... And I can change the date... Would it even be possible to change the text?