"Enough joking around," I say, irritation creeping into my voice. "What are you after?"
The young man across the desk sighs, leaning back in his chair. He looks like a kid sixteen, maybe eighteen at most. Black hair, striking purple eyes, and dressed in a sleek black suit that screams designer, though it's a brand I can't place. He's too polished to be an amateur, but who is he? And what does he want?
Whatever his goal, he's gone to great lengths for this elaborate setup. I woke up in this sterile white room just me, a chair, a desk, and him sitting there like he owns the place. I can't remember much of what happened before. I was on my way home from a business trip, stepping out of my limo. After that, it's blank.
I piece together what little I can. Kidnapping? Likely. A rival politician perhaps someone willing to gamble everything to take me out. Or maybe some disgruntled fool looking for revenge. Either way, they've underestimated me. Nobody gets the upper hand on me so easily.
Regardless, I'm firing my bodyguard.
"I'm telling you, man," the boy mutters, rubbing his temple like this is exhausting for him. "I'm not after anything. You're dead."
"Is it money?" I cut through his nonsense. "Revenge? Let me be clear, you're getting neither. I'm not giving you a cent, and killing me will only get you the in the most wanted list."
The boy twirls a pen in his fingers, unfazed. "Yeah, no. I don't care about money or revenge. Not my thing."
"Then why am I here? What do you stand to gain from this ridiculous charade?"
"For the last time, I didn't kidnap you." He leans forward, his tone flat. "You. Are. Dead. A sniper took you out. Anti-tank rifle. Skull gone. Quick, clean, and untraceable. You didn't even feel it."
I narrow my eyes. "Do you think I'd believe such a sick joke? Do you have any idea what my death would cause? The economy would collapse. The world would burn. Nobody would dare"
"Yeah, yeah, untouchable and all that." He waves a hand dismissively. "Except your nephew Andreas wanted his inheritance early. You were careful with your enemies, sure. Too bad you didn't see your family coming."
I rise from my chair, seething. "Enough. I don't know who you are or what game you're playing, but I'm leaving."
"And go where?" he asks, tilting his head.
"Home," I snap. "You'll be hearing from me soon."
The boy sighs, looking almost pitying. "Right. Hate to break it to you, but there's no door. Also, again, you're dead. You can't leave until you acknowledge it, and we finish the procedure."
I sneer. "The way out. Now."
Another sigh escapes him before he stands. His feet don't touch the floor as he begins floating toward me, black energy unfurling behind him like wings. My pulse quickens, and I instinctively take a step back.
"I don't like doing this," he mutters. "But you're leaving me no choice."
Before I can react, his hand presses against my forehead. My vision blurs, and I'm assaulted by a vivid, horrifying image: my lifeless body sprawled on the pavement, a gruesome hole where my head should be. Blood pools around me, and everything about it feels unbearably real.
I gasp, the scene fading as I'm pulled back into the white room. My legs tremble as I slump back into the chair.
"Am I… dead?" The words come out hollow, the truth settling like lead in my chest.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you." The boy floats back to his desk, his wings retracting.
I sit there, stunned. My mind races, replaying the image of my body, the betrayal, the finality. My nephew. That stupid, arrogant boy. I should've seen it coming. He'll regret it.
"Well," the boy says after a moment, flipping open a ledger on the desk, "let's move on. Long story short, you just won the afterlife lottery. You're getting a second chance."
"A second chance?" I glance up sharply. "At life?"
"Sort of. You won't be a baby or anything, but you'll likely get a new body."
The prospect sends a spark of hope through me. A new body. A younger one, perhaps. With my experience and knowledge, I can rebuild everything. They won't see me coming.
"Fine." I nod, my resolve hardening. "These old bones weren't doing me any favors anyway."
"Good attitude," he says with a smirk. "Next up: getting your system."
"System?" I echo.
"Yep. Think magic, superpowers, that kind of thing. You'll need it where you're going."
I wonder if I'll return to my world or be sent elsewhere. The thought of new possibilities intrigues me, but my unfinished business back home burns brighter.
"Can I return to my world?" I ask.
"Sure," he says with a shrug. "If you don't screw up and die again."
I scowl, but the boy ignores me, flipping through the ledger. After a moment, he pauses, grinning. "Ah, here we go. This'll do nicely."
Before I can ask what he means, my mind goes blank, and everything fades to black.
[System Initiating…Warlord System Online]
-later-
Rising unsteadily to my feet as my vision clears, I take a moment to scan my surroundings. The room is traditional, distinctly Japanese in style a tatami mat floor, sliding shoji doors, and sparse but elegant furnishings. As I take it in, memories surge into my mind, crashing over me like a tidal wave.
I am Jin Tanku, a Genin of Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
The influx of memories is overwhelming, and I drop to one knee, clutching my head as my mind burns from the intensity. My teeth grit to stifle a cry of pain. These memories are vivid and detailed, as if I've lived them my entire life. And yet, they aren't truly mine. My past life remains, overlapping with this one, making it hard to discern where one ends and the other begins.
In this life, I was raised by a loving mother and trained by my father, both of whom were skilled ninja. They died five years ago during a mission gone horribly wrong, leaving me, their only child, to fend for myself. I trained hard, determined to honor their legacy, and was on the cusp of becoming a Chunin. But my team missed the last exam after the untimely death of our sensei during a mission.
These are my memories now, but they don't erase what I know from before. I still remember my past life enough to recognize this world. Enough to recognize Naruto. My knowledge of the anime is casual at best, but it's enough to know the opportunities and dangers ahead.
Then, as if to compound my confusion, more information floods my brain. It's different this time structured, organized. My system, the one the boy promised, begins uploading knowledge into my mind.
[Shinobi skills]
[Chakra Control - Apprentice]
You have gained the ability to use Chakra, manipulating it to perform chakra based techniques such as ninjutsu and genjutsu.
Nature Transformation:
Fire Release - level 1
Water Release - level 1
Yin Release - level 1
[Taijutsu - Apprentice]
You have learnt how to use your body to fight, able to hold your own in unarmed combat.
[Bukijutsu - Apprentice]
You have learnt how to use a variety of weapons used by ninjas, including shurikens, kunai and various types of swords
Shurikenjutsu: none
Kenjutsu: none
[Would you like to see The skills belonging to your warlord system]
My brow furrows. So that's the system he picked for me, I think. With a nod, more information appears before my eyes.
[Warlord skills available]
[Home-field Advantage]
When fighting on territory you own or serve, all your attributes are boosted. The bonus increases with the size of the territory and your rank within it.
[I See You]
You gain an instinctive ability to detect individuals who mean harm to you or your territory. This ability grows sharper based on your rank within the territory.
[Unbreakable Will - Level 1]
Your mind is impervious to mental manipulation or breaking, whether through pain, illusions, or other means.
[The Conqueror's Pinnacle - Level 1]
As your territory expands, so too does your personal power, refining your abilities and strengthening your presence.
[The Conqueror's Harem - Level 1]
As a Warlord, you inspire devotion among those in your domain. Resistance from potential lovers weakens, and the size of your harem enhances territory-based abilities.
[Imposing Presence - Level 1]
Your commanding aura inspires allies and intimidates enemies. On the battlefield, your presence alone can cause weaker opponents to flee.
[To the Victor Go the Spoils - Level 1]
You gain the right to claim the spoils of your victories without question. This skill also reduces resistance from defeated enemies or their allies should you wish to recruit or claim them.
So that's the gimmick, I muse, intrigued. Territory is the core of this system. It's an interesting concept, and it makes sense given the Warlord theme. To gain strength, I'll need to claim land, defend it, and expand. This is no small challenge, but the potential rewards are massive.
And in this world a ninja world territory and power go hand in hand.
As I straighten up, my memories and thoughts settling, I allow a small smile to creep onto my face. The pain is fading, and with it, my doubts.
This is my second chance. And I intend to make the most of it.
XxX
This was inspired in [The Guild of Gamers: The Warlord] one of my favorite gamer fic and I found the gimmick so interesting. I decided to make it myself. I originally wanted to write this in the world of GoT but I decided against it since it's a low power world and more specifically "the faith of the seven" one of the reasons why I'm struggling on releasing chapter 3 of king of the rock.