Night in Tanzaku was loud and chaotic. Music spilled from taverns, merchants haggled even after dark, and laughter mixed with drunken shouts in the streets. But none of that reached me.
I sat alone in the small inn room Daichi-sensei had secured for us, legs crossed on the tatami mat, eyes fixed on the glowing system window in front of me.
[System Upgrade Pending]
Condition Met: First C-Rank Mission Completed.
Authority Granted: Path Selection.
My breath caught. This was it.
The system pulsed with three glowing options.
Path Options
Path of the Blade (Offense-Focused)
Increases all combat stats by 10%.
Unlocks advanced Taijutsu and Ninjutsu techniques.
Passive Skill: Relentless Assault (damage increases slightly with every successful hit).
Path of the Shield (Defense/Support-Focused)
Increases defense and chakra reserves by 15%.
Unlocks protective barriers and healing-supportive abilities.
Passive Skill: Guardian's Presence (allies near you take slightly less damage).
Path of Shadows (Balanced/Adaptive)
Moderate boost to all stats.
Unlocks stealth, perception, and deception-based abilities.
Passive Skill: Adaptive Instinct (gain minor stat bonuses depending on battle situation).
I stared at the choices, heart hammering.
The Blade would make me a fighter—deadly, relentless. The Shield would make me the backbone of the team, the one everyone relied on. But Shadows… it whispered of versatility, of being unseen until the perfect moment.
The system pulsed again.
[Reminder: Path cannot be changed once chosen.]
Decision
The words of Daichi-sensei echoed in my head: You're too quick to carry weight that doesn't belong to you. Be wary, or it will crush you.
If I became the Shield, I'd always put myself between danger and my team. If I chose the Blade, I might drown in bloodshed.
But Shadows… Shadows would let me protect and fight in equal measure. I could adapt, flow, choose my battles instead of being trapped in one role.
My hand hovered, then pressed.
[Path Selected: Path of Shadows]
The room pulsed with light. My body trembled as chakra surged, weaving into my very bones.
[Stat Boost: +5 to Strength, +5 to Agility, +5 to Intelligence, +5 to Chakra Control]
[New Skill Unlocked: Silent Step – Movement produces no sound, detection chance lowered.]
[Passive Activated: Adaptive Instinct – Stats shift +5% depending on combat role chosen.]
I gasped, falling forward onto my hands. The world seemed sharper, clearer. Every creak of the inn, every distant voice outside—I could hear them as though the world had tilted toward me.
A Shadow's Test
The window closed, leaving only silence. But then the system flashed again.
[Trial Activated: Shadow's Test]
Survive a surprise attack without alerting your team.
My blood ran cold.
The paper window slid open silently, and a masked figure slipped inside, blade glinting in the dim light.
Instinct screamed to shout for help—but the system had forbidden it.
I clenched my kunai, activating Silent Step. My body glided across the floor like smoke. The masked attacker's blade slashed through where I'd been an instant earlier.
Quick Step surged in, and my kunai kissed his throat before he could react. The figure froze—then dissolved into mist.
[Trial Complete: Shadow's Test Passed]
Bonus Skill Unlocked: Camouflage – Blend with surroundings for short periods (low chakra cost).
My chest heaved. It had been an illusion, a system-forged trial. But the sweat dripping down my brow was very real.
The Team Awakens
"Are you okay?"
I looked up to see Rin in the doorway, worry etched on her face. Behind her, Obito yawned and rubbed his eyes, while Kakashi frowned, sensing something.
I forced a smile. "Yeah… just training. Couldn't sleep."
Obito smirked. "Figures. Trying to catch up to me, huh?"
Kakashi gave me a long, unreadable look before turning away. "Don't waste your energy. Tomorrow will be harder."
As they left, Rin lingered, still watching me. Her voice was soft. "Don't push yourself too far."
The system pulsed one last time before fading.
[Path of Shadows – Chosen.]
The future will now adapt to your choice.
And as I lay back against the tatami, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just changed not only my future… but the fate of the entire team.
Author's Note
Hey everyone! 👋
This chapter was all about the system upgrade—the MC's first big branching choice! After completing the C-rank escort mission, the system revealed three paths: Blade (offense), Shield (support), and Shadows (balanced/adaptive).
The MC chose the Path of Shadows, gaining:
Silent Step (move without sound, harder to detect)
Camouflage (blend into surroundings)
Adaptive Instinct (stats shift depending on combat situation)
And just to make things intense, the system immediately threw a trial at him, forcing him to survive a stealth attack without alerting his team. He passed—and officially stepped into his role as a shinobi of the shadows. 🌑
💬 Question for you all:
Which path would you have chosen—Blade, Shield, or Shadows?
Do you like the system adding personal trials like this, or prefer when the challenges come only from the outside world?
Thanks again for reading and supporting! 🙏 The choices are only going to get bigger from here.