In the Land of Fire, within Konoha Village.
The Sanada Clan compound was littered with corpses, blood soaking into the earth. A young man named Sanada Aran was being mercilessly beaten down by a squad of Root operatives.
In truth, Sanada Aran had not been born in this world at all—he had transmigrated from the 21st century. Yet even after living in the Naruto world for five long years, he still could not mold chakra. To everyone around him, he was nothing more than useless trash.
And yet, with sheer willpower and an indomitable spirit, Aran had survived in this perilous shinobi world.
But tonight… tonight was the darkest moment of his life. His clansmen had been slaughtered, his parents lay gravely wounded, and now he himself was pinned beneath the boot of a Root ninja named Kato Taka.
"You Sanada clan dogs really don't know what's good for you! Lord Danzō offered you an alliance out of kindness, and you dared to refuse? You deserve nothing but death!"
With a flurry of savage strikes, Kato Taka battered Aran, crippling him and leaving him sprawled helplessly on the ground.
The crushing power of the Root was something Aran could feel in his very bones.And yet, even so—he refused to submit.
"Danzō only seeks to use the wealth of the Sanada clan to strengthen his private forces and overthrow the rule of the Third Hokage. We of the Sanada clan will never betray Lord Hokage!"
"Hmph! You can't even gather chakra, and yet you dare to shout in my presence?"
Kato Taka lashed out with a brutal kick, sending Aran flying dozens of meters across the blood-soaked courtyard.
"Tch. Trash like him could be finished with a single shuriken. Why waste time with talk?"
The other two Root operatives, having already plundered the Sanada clan's wealth, sneered as they strode over.
"You don't understand. The more stubborn and unyielding brats like this are, the more they must be broken—slowly, piece by piece."
Laughing madly, Kato Taka began weaving hand seals."Watch closely. I'll show you how I burn this little rat alive."
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Is this… the end?"
Aran whispered as the massive fireball roared toward him, its heat blistering the air.
"No… I can't accept this fate. If I die now, how can I avenge my parents? How can I avenge my clan? I will never accept this fate!"
With a heart-rending roar, Aran's cry echoed into the night as the blazing fireball came crashing down.
"Ding! Fire Style absorbed. Burning Technique System successfully activated!"
Just as Aran thought death was certain, a clear, ethereal voice rang within his mind.
"This system can absorb all ninjutsu and transform them into higher-level techniques! It also creates corresponding Strange Flames! Furthermore, every attack of the host will carry Strange Flame damage!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained your first Strange Flame—Xuanhuang Flame! This flame can cloak your body, strengthening your defense. From now on, every attack you unleash will be imbued with Xuanhuang Flame damage!"
"Ding! Fire Style: C-rank absorbed. Congratulations, host. You have obtained B-rank ninjutsu: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
As the Burning System surged to life, Aran not only gained control of the Strange Flame, Xuanhuang Flame, but also mastered the powerful B-rank ninjutsu Fire Dragon Flame Bullet. Even his injuries, which had left him near death, were healed in an instant.
From the brink of death, Sanada Aran rose again—reborn, surging with vitality.
Not far away, Kato Taka froze in shock as he saw Aran standing tall, completely unscathed by his jutsu.
"Kato Taka! What's wrong with your Fire Style? Don't tell me you can't even burn a useless piece of trash to death?"
Hearing his companion's mocking words, Kato Taka's face twisted with disbelief.
"Impossible! I am a Root shinobi—how could I fail against a worthless failure like you?!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Snarling, he unleashed another Great Fireball, flames roaring forth to consume Aran once more.
But this time, Aran didn't even move. With a calm flick of his hand, he absorbed the massive fireball into his body—like it was nothing.