Shin woke to the smell of smoke and damp earth. His body ached in unfamiliar ways, muscles stiff but stronger, senses sharper than he had ever known. The forest around him was quiet, the Uchiha warriors moving methodically through their camp, sharpening weapons and tending to minor wounds.
He tried to sit up but faltered. One of the warriors noticed and frowned. "You move like a corpse," the man said. "You will need strength if you want to survive here."
Shin nodded weakly. He did not understand what he meant, but something inside him had changed the moment he saw the fan symbol burned into memory. It was more than recognition. It was power, dormant and waiting.
As he explored the camp, a voice spoke in his mind, sudden and clear. *System activated. Kill to grow. Essence absorbed increases users' strength and lifespan.*
Shin froze. Essence? Power from killing? It sounded impossible, like a game he had played in his own world, but the pulse in his body confirmed it was real. Every muscle, every nerve thrummed with potential. He took a look at his stats.
Shin Uchiha
Strength: 9
Speed: 12
Stamina: 6
Lifespan: 80 years
Shin realized that his current weakness would not allow him to survive in this unforgiving world, igniting a fierce determination to begin training and cultivate the strength he desperately needed.
Kaito found himself increasingly drawn to the solitude of the woods beyond the Uchiha camp. The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves offered a stark contrast to the clang of weapons and the shouts of orders from the Uchiha warriors. It was here, among the trees, that he could focus solely on his training, honing the skills that had surged within him since awakening.
Days passed, practicing with a kunai. He performed swift strikes against the air, imagining opponents before him. His footwork was light and agile, the forest floor barely making a sound as he moved. The energy humming in his veins pushed him to the limit, and he relished every moment, his muscles burning with exertion.
One afternoon, as Shin honed his speed by weaving through trees and leaping over roots, he sensed a change in the atmosphere. With his heightened senses, he could hear distant voices, brash and mocking. Bandits. His heart raced as he crept closer, using the underbrush for cover. Peering through the foliage, he saw a group of scruffy men gathered around a campfire, arguing over spoils from their latest raid.
Shin's first thought was to retreat, but a deep-seated adrenaline began to stir within him, the thrill of potential confrontation igniting his previously dormant instincts. Drawing a slow, steadying breath, he recalled the system's words echoing through his mind: Kill to grow. Essence absorbed increases strength and increases life span.
He felt something within him urging him forward. He had faced fear before, but nothing came close. With a silent nod to himself, Shin moved like a shadow, circling the camp until he found a strategic position behind a tree. He watched as the bandits continued to bicker, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. Each insult thrown and every laugh seemed to fuel his determination.
This was his moment. Suddenly, one of the bandits stood and stumbled toward the edge of the clearing, stretching his arms above his head in a yawn. Shin seized the opportunity. Leaping from his hiding spot, he charged forward, a Kunai already in hand. The man barely had time to register the attack as Shin struck, the weapon catching the bandit squarely in the neck. Blood splattered all over Shin as the man fell to the ground.
Nothing. He experienced no emotion as the kunai plunged into the man's neck, feeling nothing moments later, just a void. Most people would have been sickened by such an act, but Shin was different; he remained eerily composed. Warmth surged through Shin once more, a power awakening inside him. System message echoed in his mind as he killed the bandit. Ding* Bandit killed, absorbing life force... Strength +1, Speed +1, Stamina +1, Lifespan +15 days.
The remaining bandits turned, confusion morphing into fear. With a primal roar, Shin charged at them, the exhilaration of newfound strength propelling him forward.
Instinct took over as he dodged a clumsy blow from one bandit; a swift slash with his kunai sent the man to his death. The bandits, realizing they were outmatched by the boy, fled into the woods, their cries echoing through the trees. Shin would not let that happen; he chased after the remaining bandits, managing to kill 2 more. Shin was drenched in the blood breathless and alive, feeling stronger than ever. Ding* Bandit killed x3, absorbing life force... Strength +3, Speed +3, Stamina +3, Lifespan +45 days.
He had faced his fears and risen to the challenge, each heartbeat a reminder of the power surging through him. Making his way back to the Uchiha camp, Shin was in deep thought. This world was a harsh one, and the strength he was cultivating came with a price.
But Shin was no longer just a boy seeking survival; he was determined to become a force to be reckoned with, carved from the battles he would face. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he embraced it. He would rise, stronger than ever, and claim his place in a world that demanded power..
Shin Uchiha
Strength: 13
Speed: 16
Stamina: 10
Lifespan: 80 years