"Eh…? What was that…"
Shiina Mahiru's steps faltered as an invisible ripple of pressure passed through the air, brushing against her skin like a static charge. The stillness of the street deepened, and a faint, unnatural chill crept down her spine. She turned her head slightly, her golden eyes finding Miko Yotsuya, who had stopped walking completely.
Miko's face was as pale as snow, her breath trembling, eyes locked on the narrow alleyway ahead. The way her body stiffened made something cold settle in Shiina's chest. "Miko…?" Shiina called softly. But her friend didn't answer. Her lips parted soundlessly, as if her voice had been stolen by the night itself.
Within Miko sight, she could see the monstrous figure of the weird ghost and nothing else, while her mind was completely blank, thinking about how she could just save Shiina if possible.
Then, from within the shadows, something spoke.
'Keh-heh-heh… You can see me, can't you?' The words slithered through the silence, distorted and wrong, vibrating against Shiina's ears like a whisper pressed straight into her mind. She froze, eyes wide, a wave of dread crawling up her neck.
She had heard it.
Not imagined—but heard it. Plus, within her field of vision, she could see nothing at all. Still within Miko terrified gaze, Shiina could tell that something was standing in their way.
"Miko… what was that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
But Miko couldn't respond. Her throat tightened painfully as her eyes darted left and right, searching for something only she could see.
'Keh-heh-heh… Found you.'
The voice came again, closer this time, thick with mockery.
A sharp metallic scream tore through the air as a trash-bin lid came flying out of the darkness like a spinning blade. The speed was terrifying, the shriek of air cutting through the alleyway. It was all way too sudden.
"Miko!"
Shiina moved before she could think, shoving her friend aside with all her strength. The spinning lid filled her vision, a flash of dull silver and death, racing straight for her face.
She shut her eyes. Bracing for the impact or pain.
But the impact never came.
CLANG!
A deafening metallic ring shattered the silence, followed by the dull thud of metal hitting concrete. Shiina's eyes flew open, heart pounding, only to see someone standing in front of her—his hand outstretched, blood dripping down from his palm.
Yuuki Rito.
His orange hair fluttered under the cold wind, and in that dim light, his crimson eyes glowed like burning embers—the unmistakable pattern of the Sharingan swirling within them.
Miko gasped behind her. "R-Rito…?" A boy she knew from the school. It was said that he is quite bad, having multiple beautiful girls by his side, and his characteristic orange hair. Was quite eye-catching and easier to recognize.
Rito's breathing was steady despite the pain in his hand. Lightning crackled faintly along his fingers as chakra sealed the wound shut, blue sparks scattering like tiny stars in the air.
The world slowed around him. Through the Sharingan, everything was crystal clear—the faint shimmer of the unseen creature, the distorted aura twisting around Miko, and the flicker of motion within the alley's depths.
"As I thought," Rito murmured under his breath, his tone low. "It's targeting Miko because of her ability to see. But… Shiina sensed it too. She actually heard it."
He cast a quick glance toward Mahiru, who was still frozen in shock. Her beauty, framed by the eerie half-light, only made her look more fragile—and yet her composure held stronger than most.
"The angel really does have a sharp sense," he muttered, half to himself.
Pain burned through his cut palm again, forcing him to focus. He clenched his fist, chakra surging through his veins, and the faint crackle of electricity grew louder.
"Stay behind me," he said firmly, his voice low but steady.
Shiina blinked, startled by the calm authority in his tone. "Yuuki Rito…?" she whispered, barely believing it was the same awkward boy she had known—the one always tripping over his own feet and causing ridiculous accidents.
He didn't look back. Instead, two kunai shimmered into existence in his hands, the blades faintly glowing with a blue-white sheen.
"Don't move," he said again, his voice quiet but unyielding.
The shadows ahead rippled.
'You… can see me too…?'
The voice gurgled and shifted, crawling along the walls like liquid hate. Then a shape began to emerge—bloated and half-formed, its limbs bending at unnatural angles, translucent flesh writhing with eyes that blinked open and closed in chaotic rhythm.
Shiina's breath caught. Miko gripped her arm tightly, her body shaking violently.
Rito's eyes narrowed, lightning crawling up the blade in his right hand. The air hummed with tension.
"You wanted to be seen," he said, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "Fine. I'll give you exactly what you asked for."
The creature let out a guttural screech, its limbs expanding outward.
'You… should not see… me!'
But Rito was already gone.
A deafening thunderclap followed as he moved, the ground cracking beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the creature, his kunai flashing with lightning.
SHRAAACK!
The strike tore through the monster's leg, severing it with a burst of blue sparks. A dark, viscous fluid sprayed the walls as the creature's shriek tore through the air.
"It's bleeding!" Miko screamed, gripping Shiina's sleeve tighter.
Rito slid backward, his feet grinding against the cracked pavement, kunai still humming with power. He exhaled once, eyes fixed on the writhing entity.
"I see," he muttered coldly. "Physical attacks don't work… but chakra does."
The monster convulsed, reattaching its limb with a grotesque squelch, its countless eyes now all fixed on him with something that resembled fear.
'What… are you…?' it rasped.
Rito's Sharingan spun faster, the red glow deepening as the alley filled with faint blue light.
"Someone you really don't want to mess with."
The words dropped like thunder, and the next instant—the alley exploded into blinding light.
"Well… that was weak."
Rito muttered the words under his breath, lowering his hand as the last trace of lightning faded from his fingertips. The monster before him—if it could even be called that—twitched once, its half-melted form spasming before collapsing completely. Its flesh sizzled like oil in a pan, then dissolved into black dust that scattered into the night air. Within seconds, nothing remained—no sound, no presence, not even a shadow.
The faint scent of ozone lingered, sharp and electric.
For a long moment, silence ruled the alleyway.
Shiina Mahiru and Miko Yotsuya stood frozen a few meters away, their wide eyes fixed on Rito as if watching a scene from another world. Even after everything—the lightning, the noise, the impossible speed—they couldn't quite process what they'd just witnessed.
Rito exhaled deeply, letting his body relax. That's when the familiar dinging began echoing in his head.
[Skill Unlocked: Shinobi Taijutsu Lv. 3]
[Skill Unlocked: Lightning Release Lv. 2]
[Skill Unlocked: Chidori Lv. 1]
[Skill Unlocked: Uchiha Bloodline Lv. 1]
[Skill Unlocked: Chakra Control Lv. 4]
[Charm Lv. 0 → 5/10]
[Manga Art Lv. 3 → 5/300]
[Writing Lv. 3 → 50/300]
[High School Study Lv. 2 → 32/100]
[Cooking Lv. 2 → 9/100]
[Learning Lv. 3 → 0/300]
[Tennis Lv. 5 → 0/3000]
[Dynamic Vision Lv. Max]
[Football Lv. 2 → 26/100]
[Cleaning Lv. 2 → 15/100]
[Identification Lv. 1 → 1/10]
[Shinobi Rush Lv. 1 → 0/500]
'So many notifications again…' Rito sighed inwardly, the system's mechanical tone echoing inside his mind like overlapping chimes. It was satisfying, sure—but right now, he couldn't afford to grin about level-ups.
He turned around, his Sharingan fading back to its natural brown. "You two alright?"
His voice softened, almost hesitant. Despite the calm tone, his expression carried genuine concern. The adrenaline still coursing through him dulled the pain in his hand, though blood had dried and darkened along his fingers.
Miko nodded shakily, clutching her bag. Shiina, however, noticed right away.
"You! Your hand—" She stepped forward, eyes widening as she saw the deep gash. "Is it really okay?"
Rito grinned faintly, scratching the back of his head with his uninjured hand. "Haha, it's fine. Just a scratch."
"That's not a scratch," she said quickly, her brows knitting in disbelief. "It was bleeding—"
"It's fine, really." He waved her concern off, flashing a smile to ease the tension. "Besides, that thing's gone now. But…" His tone shifted, growing thoughtful. "It seems like those entities are attracted to Miko's ability to see them. Which means walking home alone isn't safe."
He looked between the two of them, then added with a faint grin, "Let's travel together for now—at least to and from school. Until I find a solution for your condition, Miko-san, it'll be safer this way."
Miko blinked, startled by his calm, almost protective tone. "Eh… me? You're… going to help me?"
"Of course," Rito said simply. "You're part of this world too now. I can't just ignore it."
He hadn't even finished speaking when a new surge of energy erupted within him. A familiar burning sensation flared in his chest, spreading through every vein. His eyes widened slightly as another wave of messages filled his mind.
[Skill Unlocked: Uzumaki Bloodline Lv. 1]
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Clone Lv. 3]
[Skill Unlocked: Rasengan Lv. 1]
[Skill Unlocked: Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki Lv. 3]
The energy roared through him like a storm, warm and powerful, yet oddly stable. He clenched his fist, feeling the difference immediately.
'So this is… Naruto's line of power,' he thought, amazed by how natural it felt. His chakra network expanded rapidly, and the knowledge of new hand seals and flow control appeared vividly in his mind.
He looked down at his hands, grinning slightly. "Alright, let's try something new."
Forming a quick set of seals, he whispered, "Shadow Clone."
A soft puff of smoke exploded beside him, startling both girls. When the smoke cleared, two identical Ritos stood there, brushing off their uniforms as if this were nothing unusual.
Shiina and Miko both stared, utterly speechless.
"Eh…!?"
Their synchronized voices echoed down the alley.
The clones grinned, each scratching their cheeks in perfect unison. "Hehe! Miko-san, let us guard you home!" one said cheerfully, while the other nodded firmly.
Shiina's mouth opened slightly, unable to find words. "T-There are three of you…"
Rito chuckled, crossing his arms proudly. "Yeah, handy trick, right? They're solid, too. Each one can fight if something shows up again."
Miko blinked several times, still trying to process the scene. "You… you can make copies of yourself…?"
"Something like that," Rito said, his tone casual but his grin full of mischief. "Comes with the package deal, I guess."
Shiina's eyes softened as she looked at him. For all the absurdity—the glowing eyes, the strange skills, the clones—she couldn't ignore how calmly he had handled everything. He had saved them without hesitation, and even now, he was trying to make them feel safe.
"Thank you, Rito-kun," she said quietly.
The sincerity in her voice caught him off guard. For a moment, he just stood there, blinking. Then, with a small laugh, he scratched his cheek. "Don't mention it. Protecting cute girls is part of my ninja code, you know?"
Shiina puffed her cheeks slightly, but the faint blush rising on her face betrayed her amusement. "You really are impossible sometimes…"
"Maybe," Rito replied, grinning wider. "But at least now you two won't be walking alone in the dark."
The clones fell into step beside them as they began to walk back toward the main street. The night air had settled again, the earlier tension replaced by a strange peace.
The stars peeked faintly through the thinning clouds, and the faint hum of Rito's chakra lingered like a comforting warmth.
Yet deep inside his mind, the system pulsed again—one last whisper before fading into silence for the night.