A Bone to Pick (Naruto SI)

[Slightly_Displeased]

Chapter 1: Blessed

Itsuki Kaguya

I never had a firm belief in my past life of what could happen after death. I wasn't especially religious, even if my parents were. As I got older, I always felt like I needed to see more concrete proof that a God truly existed. That said, I didn't discount the possibility of God being real either. Whether it was heaven or hell, reincarnation, an eternity of nothingness, I had no way of knowing. I just had to hope it wasn't the last one cause that would suck.

Imagine how annoyed I was when I found myself surrounded by nothing.

It's not really an experience that can be described. How would you explain not existing yet somehow still being aware? I wasn't surrounded by darkness exactly, but nothing. It felt like I was there for both a long time and no time. I couldn't even look around, I just was. What I was I have no clue because I couldn't feel anything.

And then out of nowhere I would feel everything. I felt the air on my skin, heard voices chattering, smelled smells that overwhelmed my senses, saw giant people all around me… it was too much. It was like I couldn't comprehend what was going on and could only stare blankly ahead.

Then I was back.

In the void of nothing.

This kept happened more and more frequently, with my stay in existence being longer each time.

I felt bigger every time I entered that place, I could understand more, my vision was clearer, but still felt unable to properly function and could only stare straight ahead before I got kicked out again.

Until one day, I fully took control and I wasn't sent back.

---​

I woke up from my bed, eyes wide and frantically looked around.

"What the fuck?" were my first words.

Then memories flooded into my mind. Vague and messy memories which cleared up as I got older.

My name is Itsuki. It's my fourth birthday. I live in an orphanage in Kumo, a village high up in the mountains. And I want to be a ninja.

Huh. Well then.

"What the fuck?" were my second words.

As the headache of knowledge died down, I felt a wave of elation. I'm alive. I can feel things. I can actually move.

"Haha" I began to chuckle which turned into a full-blown belly laugh as I celebrated in the confines of my new room. Getting up from lying on my bed to finding myself lying down on the floor, rolling around with uncontrollable giddiness like I was that Greek philosopher who died laughing at his own joke.

I don't care that I'm apparently in the world of Naruto and I don't care that I'm in the body of a four year old. Right then and there, all I cared about was the fact that I exist again. I'm real. And whatever that bullshit limbo I had to go through was is a thing of the past.

"Ugh," a voice nearby grumbled.

"What's so funny?" another boy spoke.

Then a door creaked open in a far corner of the room.

"I see someone's in a good mood", I look up to see a light-skinned middle-aged woman, with silver hair and a bright smile gazing down at me. "Happy birthday little Itsu."

"Thank you, Ms Tabui", I thanked her, calming myself back down and pulling the name from my memories. It helped that she was a prominent one being the Head Matron of the orphanage. "It's a big day today!"

"Why'd you wake me up Itsuki!?" a different voice yelled.

Tabui had been busy lately; we were in the midst of the second shinobi war and more kids were joining the Kumo orphanages by the week. She is a retired Chunin, with some kind of severe injury in her right leg from the first shinobi war which has left her with a limp as she walks. She has said that her daughter usually helps, as she lived here too, but was currently out deployed somewhere being a Kunoichi herself.

There were around 50 children in this orphanage alone from my memories, and I'm not sure how many more there are in this village. The rooms were fairly packed because of this. This still wasn't enough to dampen my mood.

"Haha, he's just excited, Eiji. Itsu's been talking about it non-stop all week. 'Tomorrow's the day I get to be a ninja!' " Tabui softly chuckled while stepping towards me and ruffling my hair. "Come on. Since you're all up I can make breakfast early for your room. A big four year old needs a big meal. Afterwards, we can see about unlocking your chakra."

Oh. That was today wasn't it.

Barely holding back the need to start laughing again, I nodded and followed her out.

---​

I was mostly quite during breakfast. There were about twelve of us sat down in a large hall, with the Head Matron sat amongst the children smiling and replying to their babbling as more staff set the tables around us.

The orphanage it turned out was a pretty big place. High up at the top of a mountain, a large chunk was carved out to make room for the building.

With a moment to myself, my thoughts were going over this body's memories.

I'm in Naruto.

That thought is finally taking a firmer place in my mind. The fictional anime world of my past life. Somehow, I've reincarnated into the famous, messed up land of punch-wizards whose salary is based off of killing other punch-wizards.

Hell, I don't even remember how I died. I actually don't remember much about my past life beyond what I recall from Naruto. That I remember in vivid detail. I feel like I should be more concerned about that, given that I must've had family and friends that have now been snatched away from my brain. Who exactly am I supposed to blame for robbing my memories? Who's to say any memories I make now won't just be taken all the same? I don't even remember my name. But since I can't remember any of that, I found myself not too bothered by that little rabbit hole of depression. Since I can't remember them, I don't know what I'm missing out on. I also have some other pressing things to be thinking about.

I'm not just Itsuki.

I'm Itsuki Kaguya.

Kaguya.

As in the clan of people that pull bones out of their body to stab people with. The insane battle-maniacs that attacked the entirety of Kiri by themselves for nothing else but the love of game.

That little tidbit of my name hadn't seemed to mean much to me before today, not even knowing about the Kaguya clan, but it has very much been near the forefront of my own thoughts over breakfast.

'How the hell am I in the body of a Kaguya kid in Kumo? What kind of plot-driven nonsense is this?'

My new body's memories don't go back enough to learn the answer to my new backstory, and it dosen't seem like I ever bothered asking since I didn't even realize I was from a clan.

'Well, being that I'm in Naruto, I'm sure it's a tragic backstory. Convenient too since I'm glad I didn't wake up anywhere near Kiri.'

"What's with that serious look on your face Itsu? Trying to act more mature now that you'll get to use chakra soon?" Tabui questioned me with an amused smirk on her lips.

"I'm just thinking about all the new stuff I'll get to do with my Chakra. I'll get to train now and go to the academy soon." I replied like the joyful four year old I was.

A good part about this world I've gathered, is that kids mature way faster than they did in my previous world. If a three year old kid was in my old world and was able to have a genuine conversation with an adult, not mispronounce any of his words, take giant pauses to think of responses and not stutter out a yap session while going off on tangents, he'd be considered a genius.

I guess Chakra, even lying dormant and not yet awakened, has a massive effect on the human body.

So lucky for me, I don't really have to dumb down my words too much to hide the fact that I am in fact a grown adult man, and won't end up with Kumo's version of Ibiki.

"Yeah, now I can beat you up in sparring! You keep saying you'll beat me so you better not be scared and chicken out!" A boy slightly older than me named Tomoki challenged out. He was my friend who had begun his training a few months ago and had been beating up many of the other orphans here that are our age. He would also be starting the academy with me in a few months' time. For some reason I seemed to get immense joy from annoying the boy by saying I was stronger than him, even though I had yet to fight anyone.

Well, gotta commit to what I started. "Yeah, yeah. I'll beat you up the second I get my Chakra. You just try lasting more than a couple of seconds" I said, leaning back slightly and flapping a hand in his direction.

Tomoki shook his head and smirked, "everyone's got an attitude, and then they become Tomoki victims."

I snorted at him.

"So eager to start your training, huh Itsu? Well then, if you're finished with your food, let's go outside and see about unlocking your chakra." Tabui said, standing up from her seat and beckoning me to follow.

---​

I walked with the Head Matron up a spiralling staircase that reached the peak of the mountain, on a large, flat, open area made up of stone that was fenced off at the edges of the peak. Turning my head around I saw markings on the ground on one side of the peak which my memories explained to be a training ground. It was cold, but I felt like I should be far colder than I was even in my small fur coat, seeing how high up I was. Must just be another byproduct of chakra circling the body. A glance showed that Tabui only wore a sleeveless kimono.

I could feel it, my chakra, like a warm layer under the surface of my skin that's impossible to reach. I've been feeling it intensely all morning, my connection to it being far stronger than that of my memories. The experience of living a life with no exposure whatsoever to chakra, was a stark contrast like night and day, giving me far more awareness than a child of this world should have. Like an extra sense that is intrinsically part of my body, no my very soul, and is kept dull and at bay.

Gazing past the fences was a deep bed of clouds stretching far across my vision, with many mountain peaks jutting out above them. Walkways extending out from the sides of the vast mountain circling the mountains themselves, multiple floors of buildings sticking out of the crevices and some etched deep into the rock, with more bridges than I could count connecting the vast network of the village.

'The First Raikage was dramatic as hell to pick this place', I thought looking at the Village hidden in the clouds for the first time. 'Very cool though. I approve. No other village would come close to looking this good.'

Tabui turned around near the centre of the clearing and gestured me to come near.

"Alright then Itsu, let's begin. Chakra, as I have already explained to you is an energy that encompasses all living things in this world. Everything from people to trees to insects bear this gift. It's what's responsible for every Jutsu and technique we use as ninja. Without it we would be as weak as civilians. Most people in this world will never get to use this gift, and go their whole lives never knowing the true limits of themselves." Tabui looked down at me with a warm smile, holding out her hand to rest on my head, "As a child of this orphanage, I now get to share this gift with you."

The alien energy that emanated from Tabui, entered and spread throughout my body. Feeling far stronger and more energetic than my own chakra, it travelled throughout pathways across my body that I hadn't even realized were there until now. Growing warmer and wider with every new cycle, my chakra coils were stretched out by the minute.

The Head Matron's chakra circled the pathways and began to focus on a point, a gate, in the left hemisphere of my brain. The Gate of Opening. My own chakra began to pour through, a slow, methodical, gradual thing.

"Focus on my chakra. Focus on its flow, the paths that it is taking throughout your body. Those are your chakra coils. Now, focus on your own chakra. It is reacting to mine and I'm helping to push it out and guide it, but you need to take control of the flow on yourself. Soon your body will learn and this will become as easy as breathing, but you need to show it how it's done first. Now harness it and follow the cycle." Tabui gently ushered with a focused look on her face.

Taking control of it already felt natural, instinctual. Tabui's eyes widened slightly as I followed the flow of her chakra perfectly. No deviations, no corrections needed from her. Just a perfect pathing of my body.

More and more of my chakra was pulled out of the well of my inner gate as the minutes went by, my muscles began to feel slightly stronger, my breathing clearer and my thoughts faster. But my bones. I could feel every single one. What was 280 bones since Tabui begun pulling out my chakra, became 206. Young bones of the body of a child fused together to leave the number a fully grown adult would have, not that of a four year old.

The infamous bloodline of the Kaguya clan was awakened and in full effect. No emotional trigger was necessary, no waiting for a traumatic event for the possibility of awakening the Kekkei Genkai. You are either felt its blessing the moment you awakened your chakra, or you didn't. And right now, I was feeling very blessed.

"Hmm, good. You'll grow to be strong Itsu."

AN: After lurking and reading fics for a couple of years, I finally decided try out writing one myself. I wanted to combine two things I find sorely lacking Naruto fics: a Kaguya and the Third Raikage (the guy's cool as hell in the show).

I did have some of a prologue written to actually explain how the MC's body ended up in Kumo, but I ultimately realised that he just wouldn't remember it. I figured I could just have it explained later as the MC grows up and any issues with Kiri can ensue.

This is my first time writing anything so any constructive criticism is very much appreciated.

 

[Rekka]

Kumo eh? Some interesting characters there, and pairing potential in Samui, Mabui, etc.

It's also got some interesting techniques. If the Raikage teaches Itsuki his Lightning Armor - that would mix really well with Dead Bone Pulse.

Watched.

 

[Slightly_Displeased]

Kumo eh? Some interesting characters there, and pairing potential in Samui, Mabui, etc.

It's also got some interesting techniques. If the Raikage teaches Itsuki his Lightning Armor - that would mix really well with Dead Bone Pulse.

Watched.

Click to shrink...

Thanks. The Dead Bone Pulse is crazily underrated, and there's a lot of ways to make it stronger.

 

[T4ndoris]

Watched! Can't wait for more chapters!

 

[AAAustinYu]

You can always add a discount All-Killing Ash Bones, or maybe steal a pair of byakugan for synergy

 

[Kuraha]

I have this headcanon that Kaguya bones are extremely chakra conductive so i'm just imagining nature transformation through a sword made of your spine, can't wait to see where this goes

 

[Slightly_Displeased]

I have this headcanon that Kaguya bones are extremely chakra conductive so i'm just imagining nature transformation through a sword made of your spine, can't wait to see where this goes

Click to shrink...

I have a big list of ideas for new ways it can be used. The amount of potential for this Kekkei Genkai is crazy.

 

[RookDeSuit]

You can always add a discount All-Killing Ash Bones, or maybe steal a pair of byakugan for synergy

Click to shrink...

What's your thoughts on the same name of the Kaguya clan and Kaguya the Moon Goddess? Any relations (I.e. secret descendants) or none here beyond name scheme?

 

[AAAustinYu]

What's your thoughts on the same name of the Kaguya clan and Kaguya the Moon Goddess? Any relations (I.e. secret descendants) or none here beyond name scheme?

Click to shrink...

The Kaguya clan is probably an offshoot of Hagoromo, that got the All Killing Ash Bones in a degraded form (stated in the Kaguya clan wiki)

 

[Rekka]

I like to think the Kaguya are descendants of Hamura myself, inheriting his 'body' as the Hyuga and Otsutsuki got his eyes, equivalent to what the Senju and Uzumaki are to the Uchiha biologically speaking.

 

[Slightly_Displeased]

Chapter 2: Implications

Tabui, Hidden Cloud Village

Tabui had long since decided that running the orphanage was the best idea she had ever had after having her daughter. After that Hyuga bastard had crippled her leg to a degree that was beyond what the doctors in Kumo could repair, and her husband had been killed by a missing Suna nin, she was left with few options of what to do with herself.

But looking at the lost and crying eyes of the children gain sparks of hope, watching her daughter dote on the kids in a way only an older sister would, seeing them realize that they now have the family that they oh so deserve.

Words can't describe how proud that makes her.

That is not to say it is an easy responsibility to handle. Oh no. Between the near constant arguing, the older children using their Henge and Transformation Jutsus to prank the little ones, and she didn't even want to think about some of the boys jumping off the side of the mountain believing it to be "the ultimate Chakra control training".

So, she was rarely surprised these days. But today happened to be one such day.

'A sentiment that seems to be shared' she thought amusedly, glancing across the room at her village leader.

Ay, the Third Raikage of Kumo had momentarily froze, cutting a rep of his bench press short. He dropped the weights beside the bench, splintering the floorboards.

Eyes wide and bolting up faster than she could see, he stepped towards her. "You're sure?" He asked, not truly a question and more an expression of his disbelief. He knew she wouldn't come to him and inform him of such if she was not certain.

"I am. Quite the miracle that boy is", she smiled, reminiscing on what had happened after breakfast.

Earlier

It took over ten minutes to unlock all of Itsu's Chakra, and by the time it was done it looked like nothing could take the smile off of his face. While the energetic boy had taken to bouncing around in place and exploring his body's new limits, Tabui was left silently contemplating.

To say that she was caught off guard by the awakening of his would be an understatement. The Dead Bone Pulse is not just rare amongst the Kaguya clan, with only a fraction of their members bearing it at a single time.

To Kumo's knowledge, it only comes once every few or so generations in a single one of their members. And in today's generation, their current clan head already filled that quota. So naturally, nobody in the village who were aware of Itsu expected him to acquire the deadly Kekkei Genkai.

'Not to mention, I have never spent so long awakening somebody's Chakra before. His levels are closer to that of a Genin than that of an academy student, let alone the average of someone who had yet to grow their reserves. Could this be another effect of his Kekkei Genkai? The Kaguyas I've met have larger than average reserves, but not to this extent. This is more akin to-'

Her musings were cut short by a large bone protruding from Itsu's palm.

What? He hadn't even started his training! Hell, his Chakra was unlocked 30 seconds ago. He shouldn't even know he could do that.

'So how? More benefits that came with his lineage?' Tabui thinks while watching Itsu poke and prod at his new weapon like it was a toy rather than his own bone.

Tabui whistled, "damn. I didn't think you'd be able to properly use it without training for it first. How did you know you could do that Itsu?"

He paused, the smile on his face faltering momentarily as he seemingly searched for an explanation. The two red dots on his forehead scrunched together along with his eyebrows. Adorable. But she was wanting an answer.

"You felt some of my Chakra flowing out of my coils and going into my bones, right?" he began.

"Yes, I definitely felt that near the end there. You caught me a little off guard with that," she nodded along.

"Well, a lot of it has just settled in them. And I guess my Chakra being there is the reason why I can feel every inch of my skeleton now. I feel it right below the surface and it's like body's telling me that with any influx of more Chakra, I can manipulate it however I want", Itsu informed her.

Tabui is a sensor. She knew exactly what he had done, and it was far more impressive than he was describing. This was not something a simple innate talent in Chakra control could achieve. Even if he was a prodigy in the skill, it was not feasible to mould Chakra the way just Itsu did without being taught how.

He had apparently on instinct controlled Chakra in such a way that it wrapped around and isolated only a section of the Radius bone in his forearm, pushed that bone out of his body, and then left behind some form of advanced medical Chakra that immediately regenerated any damage done as if there was none in the first place.

'To think the Dead Bone Pulse would have so many benefits. This has implications. Implications that will need to be tested,' she thought to herself.

Tabui could only shake her head and laugh, "To think you would have so many hidden advantages." She leant down slightly and ruffled his hair. "The Raikage will sure be happy about this. Good job, Itsu."

"How come I've never seen you do this, Ms Tabui? Do you not like seeing your own bones? That sure does seem wasteful and not very ninja-like. I'm gonna be poking these bad boys out all the time", Itsu had a sagely look on his face as he lectured her, waving his hand around for added effect.

Tabui raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging on her face "Hmph. It's not that I don't want to Itsu, it's that I can't. In fact, there's not a single person in Kumo who is able to use their bones the way you can do now. And that makes you very special to this village", she spoke, looking at him fondly. "Not that you weren't special before, but this will give you a big advantage when you become a ninja."

"What do you mean? How come nobody else can? Wait, did I just create a new Jutsu? On my first try? Hahaha, man to think I'm this talented. In that case I'm gonna name this the calcium-"

He was cut off by the Head Matron chuckling. It seemed a quick lecture was needed.

Present

"HAHAHAHA! The good news keeps on coming!" Ay roared his head back, spreading his arms wide. "First, we crushed those Uzumakis! And now! Now we finally have a bloodline in Kumo!" The Raikage continued his victory laugh.

It had been quite the week for the village.

"Indeed, it's a very happy surprise, Lord Third. And it's even stronger than we thought. Good Chakra control, Medical ninjutsu and a large reserves, any more will have to wait to be seen" Tabui listed off with her fingers, the Raikage's infectious laughter causing her to smile.

"Yes, the boy is a fine prize for Kumo, and we'll make sure not a speck of his potential is left unreached. He may even make a fine brother for my son!" The Raikage eased his laughter and became slightly more focused, "his reserves don't surprise me though, the current Kaguya clan head has reserves that rival the Senju. Much more than the rest of his clan, a clear byproduct of his Kekkei Genkai."

Ay crossed his arms, his face adopting a thoughtful expression, "Hmm, I did not plan for such a possibility. Not much is truly known to us about the Dead Bone Pulse, so we can only wait to see what the boy is capable of. I'll have one of the medical shinobi run some tests on him once he starts at the academy."

He lowered his gaze to her, "Make sure to note down any observations you make while preparing for the boy for the academy, and pass those on before he has his evaluation."

"Of course, Lord Third. That was already my plan," Tabui easily nodded. "Only when we know more about him can we make a suitable training regimen. He is far different to the rest of Kumo's shinobi."

Ay grunted in agreement before he turned around to sit on his sofa. He has no desk in his office.

The Raikage gave a satisfied sigh as he sat back, "It's days like these Tabui, that you look forward to the most as the Raikage. As the leader of the Kumo, I must always fear for our village's future. The S-rank shinobi are the pillars of the great ninja villages, and without the blood of a clan in our Kumo, the chance of anyone having such potential is slim to none.

If myself and my son died, Kumo's Jinchurikis would be our only remaining S-rank ninjas. And as unfortunate as it is, people would not follow them. The rampages of the eight-tails due to my brother's incomplete control causes too much mistrust. Too much fear. But then what? Who will lead? One of our elite Jonin? The other villages would wipe Kumo off the map and take our Biju. We would be taken as a joke and the power of the two-tails and uncontrollable eight-tails would not be enough to ward off the other great villages. Not after what we did to the Uzumaki's.

But now. Now we have a clan! Without the influence of their bloodthirsty culture, we will have a true Kaguya clan, without their insanity! We will have more ninja with the potential for S-rank! And with the boy having their bloodline, if we ensure he reaches his potential, dosen't share the insanity of his kin, if myself and my son die, I will have far less fear for the future of this village."

…​

Itsuki Kaguya, Hidden Cloud Village

The Head Matron had long since left after explaining to him what his bloodline was, giving him time to get use to his new superpowers on the training ground while another Matron watched over him.

And they were superpowers. Make no mistake. Wolverine had quickly become something of an idol to him this morning.

He had been testing the capabilities of his new body all morning, trying to run at his maximum speed for as long as he could, jumping as high as his legs would take him, sprouting bones from different areas to attack invisible enemies, who he then later assaulted with his pitiful attempt at shadow boxing.

He was definitely impressed with himself. Running at speeds faster than he ever had in his previous life, and to do so for over an hour? David Goggins was surely nodding at him somewhere.

It was the explanation for the scene many of the orphans stumbled on.

"What the hell!? Did you purposely tire yourself out so you wouldn't have to fight me Itsuki!? I've been waiting all month for this! How shameless can someone be!?" A steaming Tomoki loomed over my lying form, blocking out the sun.

Going over my memories, the culture in Kumo seemed vastly different than that of Konoha. One such example being that in Kumo, every orphan under the age of 10 has to become a shinobi. As in it's mandatory. The village looks after you and you look after it. There is some disagreement about this in the village however, mostly coming from civilian families who moved to Kumo from outside the Land of Lightning.

See, the religions in this region heavily feature a misconstrued image of the Sage of the Six Paths as some kind of warrior God. An ordinary man who discovered and unlocked the Chakra within himself, becoming so powerful that his very Jutsus shook the foundations of the world, he brought peace and order wherever he went by killing the many tyrannical rulers of that age. The young, savage planet became a divine kingdom united under the Sage, and he taught the secrets of ninjutsu to his army in order to maintain this peace once he passed.

Strength is mostly followed before all here in Kumo. And with the Sage being the strongest to ever live, naturally he is idolised. Death in battle is an honour here; you'll simply be joining the Sage in the Pure Lands in his new divine kingdom.

He was so revered in fact that because the family of the first Raikage owned his sacred tools, uniting Shinobi to form a village with himself as the leader was a simple matter.

So, because of these strong beliefs, once you hit the age of four as an orphan, your Chakra is unlocked and your training begins.

"Stop crying Tomoki, you're jumping to conclusions." I bent my arms back before kicking up into the air. Arms resting behind my head, I closed my eyes and gave a relaxed smile, "see not tired at all."

'Sharingan, Wood Release, who the hell would want those when you could have this?' What I was hoping to be true turned out to be correct. The regeneration of the Dead Bone Pulse massively improves the recovery rate of my muscles. There's just so many benefits from that alone.

The only downside I had found so far was that to actually pull out a bone is fucking excruciating. Even if it only lasts for a few seconds, with my regeneration kicking in like a sweet bliss and healing any damage near instantly, I don't feel like the 1-10 scale is enough to describe how much it sucks. Imagine snapping one of your bones, tearing said bone through muscle, tissue and then piercing it through your skin. All the while trying to keep a stoic expression or else you'll ruin your whole image.

I had managed to keep a straight face while screaming internally in front of the matron earlier, but that was mostly because of the shock of how painful it was. Spamming it all morning had helped to get me accustomed to it.

'It being so painful honestly just makes it cooler. "Oh my god, that guy goes through that much every time he fights somebody? That's fucking metal man." ' I mentally nodded to myself, already anticipating how others would see me.

The kids had begun to spread around the training ground, preparing to start their stretches which we were taught from when we could walk. I stood near Tomoki, searching through my memories and looking around to follow along so I don't look like a grown man who took over a child's body.

"What the hell?! Did someone die here? Look! There's so many bones everywhere!"

Ah. I'm not able to put back any of my bones into myself, at least not yet, hence the scene looking like an abandoned grave robbing job.

Oh well.

…​

The Head Matron had returned and a circular crowd had formed around one of the training rings. While any of the kids were allowed, and encouraged, to watch, only those with their Chakra unlocked were permitted to spar. As of today, the orphanage had 28 children with access to Chakra, with 20 of those currently being at the academy since it was a school day. So, the fights were to take place one at a time, with Ms Tabui going over how both fighters could have done better.

Going into this, I unsure how would stack up against my peers. While they had only been training for a few months at most, my experience was literally zero. They would have started their Taijutsu lessons and been instructed on some of the basic Katas. I had no recollection of fighting in my last life, so I'll mostly just have to be going off of instincts for now. All this would give them a massive leg up on me.

Is what I was thinking until I saw one of the boys in the first match charge at the other with a raised fist, screaming and looking directly at where he wanted his blow to land.

I lost most of my interest in the fights after that. 'Even with their small head start, I probably shouldn't have expected anything else. Their four. No amount of Chakra making their minds more advanced is gonna change that.'

However, as I found myself walking into the circle with Tomoki I felt some anticipation. He was no slouch. For months now the little prodigy had been beating on all of the kids I'd seen fight today and even some of the ones that go to the academy. How I would stack up against him was a different question.

"It's time to beat some respect into you! And then Ms Tabui can tell you all the things you did wrong, and the first thing was challenging me!" Tomoki puffed out while rolling his shoulders. A look of determination was on his face as he turned to look at me, pointing out a fist as we reached the centre.

I completed Kumo's version of the seal of confrontation by bumping his fist with my own. "I don't know man, it sure would be embarrassing if you said all this and lost." We both stepped back, him falling into what I assumed was the academy Taijutsu stance, and myself with what I'm sure was a poor imitation of a boxing stance.

The Head Matron looked on, "ready… start!"

Tomoki immediately shot towards me, his right shoulder twitching forwards when he was within range. I brought up an arm to block in anticipation, falling for the feint which left me with a strong hook connecting to the side of my head, rocking it to the side. But, it dosen't hurt as much as it should and I see a slight wince on Tomoki's face.

His surprise gave me time to block his follow up body shot and I step back trying to get some space. He disagrees with that choice and instantly stepped forward, pressing his advantage. He's slightly faster than me, and with his Taijutsu being at a level far above mine I'm left on the backfoot with little choices as I approached the edge of the ring. My only saving grace being my dense bones which were making him more wary.

When I wasn't being pushed back, he was baiting me, purposefully leaving openings and anticipating my strikes. Each punch I threw was blocked, parried or dodged, with Tomoki taking advantage of the openings in my guard which he knew would be there.

He landed a powerful blow to my stomach, making me lurch forward and wheeze but before he could follow up, my regeneration had already kicked in. With the pain mostly subsided near instantly after the punch connected, I slammed my head into his nose, landing my first hit of the match.

As Tomoki cried out, his head snapping back, I saw my chance and threw a kick at his leg, sweeping him off his feet. My foot slammed against the ground as he rolled to the side, preparing to start another exchange as he stood up, not giving either of us a second to rest.

I decided that as it stood, I had no chance of winning a Taijutsu fight against him.

Seeing Tomoki swing at my head again, I held up an arm to block, but this time as soon as it connected, I pushed out the two bones from my forearm.

"AHHHH!" I screamed, clutching my mangled looking arm and dropping to my knees.

Tomoki immediately stopped his advance, his face paling. "O- oh my god, Itsuki! I- I didn't mean- I didn't think I you hit that hard!"

All of the orphans around us were screaming, many crying at the brutality caused by Tomoki.

He whipped his head around to face Ms Tabui, who was pinching her nose as she shook her head. "Ms Tabui please you have to help him! This match can't keep-"

Tomoki was cut off by a heavy blow to the side of his head, knocking him off his feet once again, but this time outside of the circle.

AN: Not sure how I feel about the little fight at the end, feel like it could've been better but I wanted some practice before I get to the good stuff later on. I will have definitely improved by then, and with Ninjutsu and Genjutsu thrown into the mix it'll be a lot easier to write.

On another note, when I was planning out the fic and Itsuki's power progression, I quickly realized how crazily OP the Dead Bone Pulse actually is. From the little it's shown, it has a few, very broken, very unfair implications. As in so much that I considered just not including some of them because I didn't want Itsuki to get that much of a free ride. But no! I'll do right by our MC and give him every advantage his Kekkei Genkai has! And I guess it's not too unfair given the current monsters roaming around in this time period.

 

[Slightly_Displeased]

I like to think the Kaguya are descendants of Hamura myself, inheriting his 'body' as the Hyuga and Otsutsuki got his eyes, equivalent to what the Senju and Uzumaki are to the Uchiha biologically speaking.

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We have the same headcannnon then, they're definitely a descendent of Kaguya, either on the Asura line or Hamura line. That's my reasoning for his reserves.

 

[AAAustinYu]

I like to think the Kaguya are descendants of Hamura myself, inheriting his 'body' as the Hyuga and Otsutsuki got his eyes, equivalent to what the Senju and Uzumaki are to the Uchiha biologically speaking.

Click to shrink...

Hamura having the Hyuga, (Moon) Ostutsuki and Kaguya, and Hagoromo having the Uzumaki, Senju and Uchiha? All of the other clans should probably be some kind of ghost/demon people, or just natural elemental combinations

 

[Honaimannequin]

I hope he can evolve the Dead Bone Pulse into All Killing Ash Bones like sharingan evolves in Mangekyo......Also please don't let him neglect Ninjutsu, Iryojutsu and Genjustsu like other fanfic with a Kekkei Genkai does......Even Dead Bone Pulse is cool asf.......Wind Blades with Bone sword or Earth Dragon with bone plate will be more cooool.

 

[Drageos]

Considering his bloodline.

Taijutsu specialist is definitely the best path.

 

[Rekka]

Considering his bloodline.

Taijutsu specialist is definitely the best path.

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Not necessarily. DPB would certainly be a massive boon to Taijutsu, but it can do a lot more besides that.

Most obviously, he can make chakra conductive weapons on the fly, so swordsmanship and ranged techniques are something he should look into - fortunately Kumo is big on swords.

It's also big on lightning jutsu and railguns, so he should put some focus on that as well and learn to make something like the Angel Arm from Trigun.

Spoiler: Angel Arm

Building to that, he should look into learning the Heavenly Transfer Technique from or alongside Mabui, letting him shoot his bones at literally light speed and with his potential for durability he could even turn into a personal speed/teleportation technique.

This would also let him spend some bonding time with one of the settings biggest baddies. He may not be able to learn it though since it apparently unique to her somehow. A space-time bloodline maybe?

He should also see if he can't get Darui to teach him how to use Black Lightning which just seems to be a stronger Lightning Release that seems to have something to do with Six Paths Chakra given Sasuke and Kakashi both started using it after getting some.

And of course, he should absolutely look into learning the Raikage's Lightning Armor Nin-taijutsu.

 

[Myriddin]

I did have some of a prologue written to actually explain how the MC's body ended up in Kumo, but I ultimately realised that he just wouldn't remember it. I figured I could just have it explained later as the MC grows up and any issues with Kiri can ensue.

Click to shrink...

Honestly, I wouldn't even bother including it later. It just doesn't really matter. Everyone dies, it's not like it's a plot hole or anything.

I always prefer more cold open like this, without the 5k pre-reincarnation section everyone skips.

 

[Jubjub3000]

Seems interesting! I wonder if he will create bone armour? Maybe a bone sword/pole arm? Would imagine that it would conduct his chakra pretty easy for elemental attacks.

Could he create a railgun with his bones? As in create a pair of rails, build up a charge with electric chakra, then create a spike with a different charge so it fires out extremely fast! Could probably make a beam rifle with that.

Maybe he could even put micro barbs on any stabby weapons he generates for extra damage? Kinda like a porcupine.