[You have named your village 'Ten'igakure.']
[Congratulations! You have completed a mission!]
[You have received: 'Wind Release: Great Breakthrough']
The system's notification rang inside Ryan's mind, causing him to pause, but he paid it no mind as he continued walking.
The trees around him slowly faded as he moved forward a few minutes after he stepped onto a path.
He couldn't help but smile as he thought about the past; if it was before, Ryan would be buried under tons of paperwork, but now? He's feeling the environment, and he can finally touch some grass.
Anyway, he moved with slowed yet deliberate movement as he marveled about everything surrounding him. The tranquil trees, the emerald grass, and the warm yet comfortable heat coming from the sun—all of those make Ryan smile even more.
After all, who wouldn't find it enjoyable and relaxing being in nature? 'I should train first before recruiting, as I won't be able to convince people with a weak power.' Ryan thought as he walked; he decided to train while walking.
While he has elite Jonin chakra, his control wasn't high enough to be able to manipulate his chakra. As such, he focused on chakra control by moving his chakra and forming some ice figurines.
This not only trained his chakra control but also his ice release. Ryan, of course, did not forget to also master the hand seal for his jutsus; while he had the knowledge and instinct in performing the jutsu, a practice was still necessary.
For the next two hours, he continues to practice his chakra control and seal, alternating between the two. He then realized that the path he was walking was now wider, and not far from him, a silhouette of a town could be seen.
"Time to see the humankind." Ryan laughed as he joked to himself. Cringe it may be, but Ryan was always called the workaholic donkey who was always busy, though they don't know that all those works are forcibly passed onto him, making his supposedly easy life fucking tiresome.
The distant hum of activity reached him before the town itself came into view. Kawa-no-Sato, a cluster of ramshackle buildings huddled together for protection, nestled in a valley carved by a meandering river.
He approached cautiously, noting the absence of any obvious defenses, a stark contrast to the fortified settlements he'd read about in his previous life.The town was a chaotic mix of sights and sounds, the clatter of carts, the cries of merchants, the chatter of children.
It felt... real. Not some idealized fantasy, but a place where people struggled to survive, where life was a constant negotiation between hope and hardship.
Having entered the town, the first thing to do is gather information, and where can he gather it? Well, a tavern or pub is always the answer.
As such, Ryan is looking for a place that looks like that... But it seems like there aren't any, as the town was relatively small. Continuing his search, he stumbled upon a stall that sells tea.
A simple yet welcoming place full of old tables and worn-out chairs. "Tea, please." Ryan moved forward and asked the old lady behind the counter.
The old woman eyed him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Traveler?" she asked, her voice raspy.
"Yes, Paimo—" Ryan suddenly stopped his mouth as he unconsciously said something he was used to before. The air grew awkward. The old lady smiled and said, "Young man, my name's not Paimo, it's Paya. Call me old lady Paya."
"What brought you here, traveler?" Paya beckoned Ryan to take a seat as she started to brew the tea. Ryan took a seat at the worn-out chair, waiting for his tea, and answered, "I'm currently traveling, and I decided to rest here."
"Rest? In these times?" She snorted, pouring the pungent brew. "You're lucky if you don't get robbed blind before nightfall."
"Times are tough, then?" Ryan asked, taking a sip of the scalding tea. "Tough? They're a bloodbath," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper.
"Clans fighting over scraps, bandits preying on the weak. It's a wonder anyone survives." He listened, absorbing the details.
The Senju and Uchiha were at it again, their clashes sending ripples of fear through the surrounding territories. This wasn't some historical footnote; it was the reality he was living in.
"Old lady Paya, I'll pay later; I don't have any money with me." Having tasted the tea, Ryan decided to leave. While he doesn't dislike teas, this one seems like can't get along well with his taste buds. "No need, after all; even if I force you to pay, I might just get myself killed." Paya said as she cleaned the table and went back to the counter.
'Do I look scary?' Ryan thought to himself. He moved on, drifting through the town square, where a storyteller was weaving tales of legendary shinobi.
The crowd was a mix of awe and skepticism, their faces etched with the harsh realities of their lives. He noticed a group of men, their weathered faces and calloused hands speaking of hard labor and harder fights.
He approached them casually, not wanting to appear too eager. "Heard some interesting stories." he said, nodding towards the storyteller.
"Stories." one of the men scoffed, spitting on the ground. "That's all they are. We live the real stories."
"And what are those stories?" Ryan asked, his voice low. "Survival." another man replied, his eyes hard. "Keeping what's ours. And hoping we don't get caught in the crossfire."
"Sounds like a tough life," Ryan said. The man nodded, then excused himself along with the others. Ryan looked at them for a few moments and shook his head, then proceeded to tour around more.
These weren't just normal people; they were survivors. They were the kind of people he needed for Ten'igakure.
The warring states period is indeed cruel to everyone, especially for those civilians who do not have any power to protect themselves against ninjas.
After touring the town for a few hours, he finally decided to settle in one of the inns he found.
Ryan scratched his head as he was penniless. 'How will I even stay here?' Ryan decided to just go with it; after all, he just needed to stay here for a short time and then continue his journey.
Walking into the inn, he greets the receptionist, asking for a room to sleep for the night. The receptionist smiled and presented the available rooms.
The receptionist was interrupted as Ryan said something unexpected.
"Um, I don't have any money with me. Can I do something instead as payment?" The receptionist was dumbfounded as she heard that. Who in their right mind will go into an inn planning to sleep but can't pay? She was about to reject it when Ryan suddenly formed chakra in his hand.
The receptionist becomes listless as she sees his little performance. "I-it's fine, sir, b-but you can only stay for one night." She muttered as a worried look appeared on her face.
"Don't worry, I'm just going to stay quietly." Ryan smiled as she calmed down. "But why are you scared when I showed you chakra?" he wondered.
The receptionist explained that ninjas are terrible; the inn once had a ninja stay for the night, but a fight broke out with the ninja killing their other customers. Luckily, they aren't harmed. Ryan scratched his head and apologized for his action.
'Seems like ninjas aren't really liked by civilians, especially in the warring states period.' After the exchange with the receptionist, he goes into the room that he chose.
A small room that can accommodate only one person with a bed, a small table, and a chair.He settled into the rickety chair, the fading light casting long shadows across the small room.
"System," he said, "gatherer sub-mission status?"
[Gatherer Sub-Mission: Progress - 0]
"Still zero" he sighed, the weight of his task settling upon him. "I can't afford to waste time. I need to get stronger." He decided to leave the confines of the inn.
The small room was stifling, and he needed space to test his abilities. He slipped out, the cool night air a welcome change. He walked until he was a short distance outside the town, finding a secluded clearing.
"Alright." he murmured, the stillness of the night broken only by the rustling of leaves.
"Time to work." He began with 'Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.' He ran through the hand seals, visualizing the swirling vortex of air. "Great breakthrough!" he shouted, the sound echoing through the clearing. A gust of wind erupted, scattering leaves and dust, but it lacked the power he desired.
He repeated the process, focusing on the precision of his chakra control. He tried again, and the wind was stronger, but still not enough. "My control is far from where it needs to be."
He switched to his Ice Release, focusing on 'Ice Release: Chilling Mist.' He performed the hand seals, and a cold mist began to spread around him. But the cold isn't threatening to ninjas, and the area affected is small. "Weak. I need to strengthen this."
He dispelled the ice and shifted to 'Ice Release: Frostbite Needles.' He created a series of small, sharp projectiles, throwing them at a nearby tree. They shattered on impact, proving their sharpness, but he knew he could improve their density and speed. He focused, creating more senbons, refining their form, and pushing more chakra into each one.
He threw them again, and this time, they pierced deeper into the tree. Ryan then practiced his other wind ninjutsu.
He spent hours in the clearing, pushing his chakra to its limits, refining his control, and familiarizing himself with the hand seals.
The night air grew colder, and his muscles ached, but he persisted. He needed to be a force to be reckoned with.
Finally, exhausted but satisfied with his progress, he returned to the inn. The town was quiet, the only sound his footsteps on the cobblestone path. He slipped back into his room, the small space feeling almost comforting after the intensity of his training.He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on the faint moonlight filtering through the window.
"I'm improving." he said, his voice low. "But it's not enough. Tomorrow, I'll continue my search, and I'll continue to train. Ten'igakure will be built, one step at a time." He lay down, the exhaustion pulling him into a deep sleep.
He knew the challenges ahead would be immense, but he was determined to face them, armed with his growing strength and unwavering resolve.