The moon hung low, painting the forest in silver and black. I moved silently, carrying Sasuke in a cradle-like grip. The scent of smoke from the hotel fire still lingered in the air. It was only a matter of time before Konoha sent trackers.
"Ding. Host objective: escape Konoha's pursuit."
I scanned the treeline. From the faint rustle of leaves, I could sense multiple chakra signatures converging. ANBU black ops. And… a massive one, too large for a normal shinobi. Jiraiya.
"Looks like we're not getting far without a fight," I muttered, tightening my grip on Sasuke.
Stats Update flashed briefly in my vision:
Ninja Tools: Kunai, Shuriken, Explosive Tags, Smoke Bombs, Sealing Scrolls – All Max Level
Taijutsu: Mastery – Level 60/100
Genjutsu: Mastery – Level 90/100
Fire Style: Mastery – Level 100/100
I whispered to Sasuke, "When I signal, stay down. Watch and learn."
The first wave of ANBU struck silently, moving like shadows. But I was faster. I threw a smoke bomb, vanishing from sight. I could hear them curse.
Ding. Side Reward Available.
[Side Quest: Elemental Acquisition – ANBU Black Ops]
Objective: Defeat pursuers.
Reward: Chakra Nature Affinity (determined by target).
A kunai twirled in my hand. One ANBU leapt from the treeline. I feinted with my body movement and struck—a swift slice across the wrist, severing the chakra network connection to the hand. The ANBU fell, gasping.
Ding. Reward acquired: Lightning Chakra Nature.
I smirked under my stoic mask. "One down…"
More ANBU approached. I tapped into my Fire Style, sending a controlled Fireball Jutsu spiraling through the trees. The heat melted a few, but I didn't kill carelessly. I needed to survive, not waste chakra unnecessarily.
The system chimed again:
[Side Quest: Elemental Acquisition – ANBU Black Ops]
Remaining targets: 3
One charged at me with a kunai flurry. I stepped into his momentum, spinning with Taijutsu mastery, and swept him off his feet with a precise kick. Before he could recover, I pinned him with a hand seal, binding him in an unbreakable Genjutsu, forcing his chakra to dissipate harmlessly.
Ding. Reward acquired: Earth Chakra Nature.
Two more ANBU remained. They were cautious now, clearly wary of me. I grinned silently. Good.
Suddenly, a massive aura struck through the forest. Jiraiya. His presence alone twisted the air with raw natural energy. He was smirking, hand to his scrolls.
"You've got guts, little Uchiha," he said, eyes twinkling. "But you're walking into a trap you can't handle."
"Let's test that theory," I muttered.
I unleashed a Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, forcing him to retreat. But Jiraiya was fast—he countered with toad magic, summoning multiple clones and creating a barrier.
Time to escalate.
I activated Tsukuyomi, locking him in an illusionary world where every attack he launched was reflected infinitely back on him. The pressure of seeing all his mistakes paralyzed him momentarily.
Then I struck with Totsuka Blade, piercing through a clone and disrupting the barrier, giving me the opening.
Ding. Jiraiya defeated.
[Reward: Natural Energy Affinity – Unlocks Senjutsu potential for Host.]
The energy flowed into me, tingling through every cell. My chakra reserves expanded massively, and regeneration kicked in almost instantly. This… this is insane.
The remaining ANBU launched a coordinated attack, their elemental chakra signatures flaring. One wielded water, one lightning, one wind.
I didn't hesitate. My newly acquired abilities flared.
Water chakra flowed through my palms, creating a sweeping torrent to scatter them.
Lightning struck with precision, incapacitating the remaining foes.
Wind chakra sliced through traps and netting.
Ding. Rewards acquired:
Water Chakra Nature – ANBU defeated
Lightning Chakra Nature – ANBU defeated
Wind Chakra Nature – ANBU defeated
By the time the last ANBU fell, I stood surrounded by the fallen, my Eternal Mangekyou blazing, a grin flickering across my stoic face.
"Ding. Host status updated. Chakra Natures acquired: Fire, Earth, Lightning, Water, Wind. All elemental chakra affinities unlocked."
Sasuke stirred weakly, eyes wide. "Nii-san… what just happened?"
"We survived," I said simply, scanning the treeline. "But this was only the beginning. Konoha will not give up. And now… we're stronger than ever."
A calm settled over me as I adjusted my cloak. With all elemental chakra natures, Senjutsu potential, and my starter pack abilities, I felt unstoppable. The world of Naruto had just shifted… and Sasuke and I were the axis of that shift.
Ding. Next Objective: Reach Land of Rivers. Avoid Konoha detection. Begin training Sasuke.
I smirked. "Let's go, little brother. We've got a lot of catching up to do."