The morning light filtered through the cracks in the makeshift shelter, casting thin beams across Shiro's face. He stirred awake, the dull ache in his body a reminder of the relentless pace he had set for himself. Every muscle screamed for rest, but the system's interface loomed in his mind, its quests and progress percentages taunting him.
He rose slowly, the blanket sliding off his shoulders. His sword rested against the wall, and for a moment, he simply stared at it. The blade was as battered as he was, but both would have to keep going. There was no other choice.
[System Status]
Template: Madara Uchiha (1.156% progress)
[Current Quests]
Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress.
Progress: 0/1,000 swings completed.
Meditate for 6 hours uninterrupted to refine Reiatsu control: +0.002% progress.
Progress: 3/6 hours completed.
Save a person from a life-threatening situation: Completed.
Avoid eating or drinking for an entire day to build endurance: Completed.
Help someone rebuild their shelter: +0.002% progress.
Progress: 0/1
Shiro rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his fingers brushing against his temple. He had been given a new task during the night—rebuilding someone's shelter. It wasn't the most glamorous of quests, but it was better than starving himself or swinging his sword endlessly.
He stood, strapped the sword to his side, and stepped into the streets of Rukongai. The air was brisk, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and wood smoke. Around him, life moved on in its gritty, chaotic rhythm.
The sound of hammering caught Shiro's attention as he passed through a narrow alleyway. A young boy, no older than ten, struggled to lift a broken wooden beam. His arms trembled, and his face was scrunched in determination.
Shiro paused, glancing around. The boy's family was nowhere to be seen, but the remnants of their collapsed shelter told a grim story.
"Need help with that?" Shiro asked, stepping forward.
The boy startled, dropping the beam. He looked up at Shiro with wary eyes before nodding hesitantly.
Together, they began the slow, arduous task of rebuilding. Shiro hoisted the heavier beams into place while the boy fetched nails and tools from a small pile nearby. It was painstaking work, and the weight of the beams tested Shiro's strength, but he pushed through.
"Why are you helping me?" the boy asked after a while, his voice quiet.
Shiro paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "Because someone helped me once," he replied simply.
The boy didn't press further, but Shiro could see the faint glimmer of gratitude in his eyes.
By the time the sun reached its peak, the shelter was standing again—crude and fragile, but functional. The boy thanked him shyly before retreating inside.
[Quest Completed: Help someone rebuild their shelter. +0.002% progress.]
Progress: 1.158%
Shiro exhaled deeply, the satisfaction of completing the task dulling his exhaustion. He started back toward his shelter, already thinking of the next challenge.
Once home, Shiro settled into his usual meditation position. The half-completed quest to meditate for six hours hung over him, a reminder of his inconsistent control over Reiatsu. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let his mind sink into the flow of energy within him.
The hum of Reiatsu was faint but steady, a gentle current beneath his skin. He focused on it, letting the rhythm guide him. Time slipped away as his breathing synchronized with the flow.
At some point, his thoughts drifted to the people he had helped—the elderly woman, the boy with the shelter. He realized that their gratitude, however small, gave him strength.
[Time Progress: 6/6 hours completed.]
As he opened his eyes, a new alert blinked across his vision.
[Quest Completed: Meditate for 6 hours uninterrupted. +0.002% progress.]
Progress: 1.16%
Shiro smiled faintly. Progress was progress, no matter how small.
The peace didn't last long. As Shiro stepped out into the streets that evening, the sound of a commotion drew his attention. He followed the noise to a narrow alley, where two men were arguing loudly over a sack of supplies.
"Give it back!" one of them shouted, lunging forward.
The other dodged easily, brandishing a knife. "You'll have to take it from me!"
Shiro hesitated. He had never intervened in a fight before, let alone one involving weapons. But the system's earlier quest—saving someone—flashed in his mind. Was this a chance to do it again?
Before he could decide, the man with the knife lunged at his opponent, the blade glinting in the dim light. Without thinking, Shiro stepped forward, his hand reaching for his sword.
"Stop!" he shouted, his voice firm.
The men turned to him, their expressions a mixture of surprise and anger.
"Who the hell are you?" the knife-wielder growled.
Shiro didn't answer. He drew his sword slowly, the single tomoe of his Sharingan spinning into focus.
The man with the knife hesitated, his movements faltering under the weight of Shiro's gaze. It was a subtle effect, but the Sharingan made his strikes easier to predict, his movements slower.
"Leave him alone," Shiro said, his voice steady despite the fear twisting in his gut.
The knife-wielder sneered. "You're just a kid with a toy. Get lost!"
He lunged at Shiro, the knife slicing through the air. Shiro sidestepped, his blade flashing as he parried the strike. The clash of metal rang out, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
This was the first time Shiro had fought with intent to harm. The weight of it pressed heavily on him, but he couldn't back down. He slashed again, aiming to disarm rather than injure.
The fight was short but intense. Shiro managed to knock the knife from the man's hand, his blade pressing against his opponent's throat.
"Go," he said quietly.
The man scrambled to his feet and fled, leaving behind the sack of supplies. Shiro sheathed his sword, his hands trembling.
[Quest Completed: Save a person from a life-threatening situation. +0.05% progress.]
Progress: 1.21%
The man who had been attacked thanked him profusely, but Shiro barely heard the words. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the fight over and over.
A Heavy Burden
That night, Shiro sat alone in his shelter, his sword resting across his lap. The thrill of completing quests was gone, replaced by a gnawing unease. He had raised his weapon against another person—hurt them, even if only a little.
The weight of that act settled heavily on him, pressing down on his chest. He wasn't sure if he had done the right thing or if he had crossed a line he could never uncross.
But then he thought of the man he had saved, of the gratitude in his eyes. Maybe it was worth it.
End of Chapter Stats
[System Status]
Template: Madara Uchiha (1.21% progress)
[Attributes]
Strength: 16
Endurance: 15
Speed: 15
Reiatsu Control: 13 (+1)
Intelligence: 8
Battle Instinct: 11 (+1)
[Abilities]
Sharingan (1st Tomoe):
Improved tracking of fast movements, slight slowing effect on opponent's attacks.
[Quests Completed]
Deliver food to a starving soul: +0.001% progress.
Help someone rebuild their shelter: +0.002% progress.
Meditate for 6 hours uninterrupted: +0.002% progress.
Save a person from a life-threatening situation: +0.05% progress.
[Active Quests]
Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress.
Progress: 0/1,000 swings completed.
Hunt a Hollow in the outskirts of Rukongai: +0.05% progress.
Progress: 1/0