Kapitel 27: Ambition

(A/N: Medical school is... Okay, I guess.)

"After all this time, we finally meet... I'm your Admin, and my name's Amethyst Hoshino. But 'Ame' works just fine. It's great to meet you," I introduced myself formally as I caught sight of the two individuals ahead.

There was a middle schooler, a bit taller than me, wearing a white and blue uniform that stood out against my darker attire. And then there was an androgynous figure, around my height, dressed in a blue jacket and wrapped in a cozy fur scarf.

The Inazuma continent consists of several islands. One of them is Narukami Island, where we're currently located. This spot right here is the Chinju Forest, our designated meeting point.

"Ah, yes..." The words were about to leave the lips of the androgynous individual, their platinum-blue hair and golden eyes a striking combination, but their attempt was abruptly interrupted by the other middle schooler who began to shake them around, shrieking in sheer delight.

"RIMURU! SEE?! SEE!??!! SHE'S SO CUTE! I WASN'T MAKING IT UP!!!" This vivacious display came courtesy of Riko Amanai, better known as the Star Plasma Vessel.

"Alright, alright! Riko-chan, I understand," I reassured, trying to pacify her enthusiasm. And there, in the midst of her overzealous shaking, was none other than Rimuru Tempest, the Good Slime.

Here we go again...

Inwardly, I couldn't help but roll my eyes, my reaction was about as animated as a Moyai emoji placed next to a wine glass emoji.

But anyway...

"I think it's only right for you to meet the Copy Ninja as well. Just give it a moment, he's on lookout duty for a little while..."

"Uh, sure! Absolutely!" They responded to my guidance, all the while continuing their lively exchange—though it was less like banter and more akin to a whirlwind of chaotic Manzai comedy...

I swiftly messaged Kakashi, and soon enough, he found his way to our location. Little did I know, the encounter that followed would etch itself as a chaotic memory that I'd never forget.

"Yo! Sorry I'm late... I got lost on the path of life, as you can see?" With that half-hearted excuse, he materialized right beside me.

"Hey, isn't he...?" Riko stammered, pointing toward Kakashi, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"Oh! That's him, right? Hey, Rimuru! Am I right?" Both Riko and Rimuru wore utterly bewildered expressions.

"Riko-chan, his hair is real, it's not painted on. I know his username was familiar, but did you know about this???"

"I didn't, this is the first time I see him in person!"

Following their appraisal of Kakashi, they exchanged hushed remarks.

Kakashi and I exchanged puzzled glances as we watched their animated exchange.

"Whoa!? What are you guys—!?" That was my voice, cut short as their attention shifted toward me. They pulled me into their huddle.

Speaking in hushed tones, they queried, "Ame-san, that's him, isn't it? The real 'Copy Ninja', right?"

"Why is he dressed like that though? Is he some kind of a character from an alternate dimension!? Are WE all an alternate dimension!?"

"He looks exactly like from the anime!!! Except... with Akatsuki's clothes!"

Ah, now it's clear. I see what's going on... Rimuru's old enough to remember DraQuest as part of his childhood, while in Riko's world, the "Big Three" animes—One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Naruto—are the most iconic ones.

It dawned on me that they probably hadn't connected the dots between the username "Copy Ninja" and Kakashi of the Sharingan from the Naruto anime. Oh well, I had a perfect way to deal with this situation.

Ignoring Kakashi's "Um, excuse me? Mind filling me in on what you guys are up to?" I mustered the flattest, most deadpan expression I could manage.

Wearing puzzled frowns and doubtful looks, I addressed them with utmost nonchalance, "Huh? What are you all talking about?"

Naturally, I enlisted the aid of Great Sage to manipulate my intent wavelength, ensuring that Rimuru's Magic Perception (and Great Sage's assistance) wouldn't uncover the lie I was telling.

Describing their bewilderment as mere surprise would be an understatement; they practically mirrored the astonished expression of certain pixelated Surprised Pikachu.

Exchanging glances, it appeared that they reached the conclusion I wasn't aware of Kakashi's origin from an anime world. Their hands gently settled on my shoulders, and a resigned smile tugged at their lips before they spoke, "You know what, Ame-chan/Ame-san, never mind."

It's my win.

Ah? An existential crisis due to realizing their entire world is just an anime? Nah, not my job to guide them through that. I'm an admin, not a babysitter. My go-to move is slapping a temporary ban if they spam memes in the text channel (JK).

The smarter approach is to let them figure it out by themselves. Not to mention, Kakashi's situation is enough for them to reach a conclusion. I'm sure Rimuru (along with his Great Sage) will make a few speculations about it.

As we talked, Riko glanced my way and asked, "So, what's next?"

"Primarily, it's important to note that this country maintains stringent entry protocols. Thus, our foremost objective revolves around ascertaining a lawful reentry though... It is very much troublesome."

I stealthily entered using the art of transformation and shadow clones. With a snap of my fingers, Great Sage grasped my intent. Swiftly, she accessed the Stomach and retrieved a handful of Japanese kimonos I had acquired from elsewhere.

"We will have to blend in," I suggested.

Despite my exceptional abilities and Universal Affinity, flawless execution wasn't guaranteed. After all, at my core, I remained a mere human.

[Dimension Creation is active]

A mere snap of my fingers, and my Kamui sprang to life at my command.

Next to Kakashi, a mesmerizing swirl materializes, its ethereal depths tearing through the fabric of space itself. Like a bridge to another realm, it links disparate locales through its whirlpool-like portal.

Prior to regrouping with the group, I had sneaked into Ritou. This hidden enclave resides within Narukami Island, a jewel of Inazuma. Here, a place exists that serves as the epicenter for overseeing the influx and exodus of all those who are not native to Inazuma, a central hub for the ebb and flow of travelers across the nation's borders.

Naturally, I had activated the portal within a secluded and sparsely populated location.

Kakashi and I had sneaked in and kidnap— I mean, "borrow" the identity of a few citizens or a guard. And Kakashi had to use Kotoamatsukami, again, to make the hostages sleep.

Even though there wasn't a decade-long wait to use it anymore, it's obvious that he would still find something to complain about. His comment on that was— "Now I know what a Yamanaka feels."

Having an excess of Unique Skills could corrode one's soul. The skill cores contained volatile magicules that might erupt if the possessor's constitution was feeble.

The strength of your soul determines both the abundance of your skills and your likelihood of reincarnation. My circumstance was atypical—I didn't return through the World's Voice, but via an entity I termed "death."

So I have no idea how strong my soul is in the first place.

Gluttony, even with Universal Affinity, remained an unstable Unique Skill. This instability was why Great Sage refrained from integrating "Mimicry" into my skill set.

Just consider the complexity of a human managing an intrinsic skill of a slime. The transformation into a blob akin to Rimuru would likely render my internal organs defunct, spelling my demise before I can fully utilize the skill.

Moreover, having these duplicate skills raises concerns. It would have been acceptable if the skills were acquired directly from the Voice in Rimuru's world. However, the presence of two identical unique skills simultaneously is unpredictable. The outcome remains uncertain.

The Mangekyou Sharingan might be the only skill safe to use currently, as the only thing Universal Affinity needs to bypass is the unique chakra that Uchihas has originating from special glands of their brain.

Though... Something feels a bit similar in this realm. Like... A skill core.

«Report: the Skill, 『Haki』 resembles the closest thing to this unique ability.»

Whether you call it Haki or Touki, if you're a fan of that famous pirate guy chasing the dream of becoming Pirate King, you've surely heard of this mysterious power.

But let's break it down. Willpower? Ambition? It was all very ambiguous. Could it run out, like a car running low on fuel, when used for attacks? Unlike the special fruits in the anime, Haki was something not fully explained.

However, that's what made this ability incredibly strong at its core. The vagueness of powers in One Piece was a big reason why the characters were so formidable.

In a world where Haki represents your will to fight, then the most idiotic person, who can't decide when to quit, ends up having the strongest willpower around.

That's why things got confusing. This ambiguity became their hidden source of endless strength.

But that's exactly what caught my attention... Haki? Why the hell it's here? Last time I checked, the inhabitants were using some sort of elemental powers.

«Answer: Individuals who possess "Visions" have the capacity to awaken skills reminiscent of Haki, and then an energy akin to Holy magic becomes ingrained in their bodies. This Haki manifests as gemstones, representing the seven elements, each associated with a distinct Archon.»

Ah, holy magic, if I recall correctly, was a unique brand of magic rooted in the sacred bond between a 'god' and a devout 'believer.' The user harnesses their deity's name as the conduit for their strength. If this holds true, it raises the question: are these powers merely borrowed, after all?

«Answer: Once engraved, the vision ceases to be a mere label of the deity. A mere invocation of their ambition suffices to harness the awakened power. In summary, it represents the amalgamation of the 'God's name' and Skill core into a tangible, corporeal medium.»

In other words, once bestowed, it becomes the user's power - not something borrowed from elsewhere. A holy magic that is not created through a pact between a god and a believer, but by the user and their own ambition...

What an interesting combo...

But then... who gave them away in the first place?

«Answer: Contrary to the prevailing belief among the local population, Visions are not bestowed upon individuals by their respective Archons. The entity or force responsible for granting Visions to the inhabitants remains shrouded in mystery and has yet to be identified.»