Chapter 5
The seasons drifted by, unnoticed by most. In a town far from Konoha but near the Fire Capital, life trudged forward, as stagnant and gritty as ever. The civilians worked, bartered, drank, whispered rumors. Shinobi came and went like ghosts. And Ghost—the boy without a past—moved through it all like a shadow in training.
He no longer slept under crates. Tajima's shop offered a cot in the back room, rice and miso on good days, and the occasional leftover dango when Ghost's deliveries impressed. He helped around the store, restocking tools, sweeping, memorizing price tags, and cataloging minor shinobi gear Tajima picked up from passing travelers.
But most of his effort was elsewhere.
Ghost trained like a man possessed. Nen grew slowly but steadily, his aura control sharpening through hours of meditation, exercises, and makeshift experiments. His Zetsu had matured to the point where even trained shinobi didn't notice him when he passed by, and Ten now sustained for over an hour when he concentrated.
His notebook grew thicker with ideas. He spent late nights thinking through Hatsu development. Inspiration struck like lightning one evening after watching a band of mercenaries load supplies. One man carried everything despite being the smallest. Ghost studied his aura: faintly dense, oddly compressed.
That night, he scribbled:
"A Hatsu that stores—not amplifies. Temporarily useless, but massively efficient."
"Every drop matters. Collect more than you can burn."
"Delayed strength. Dangerous if discovered."
And finally, he titled it: Stockpile.
> [New Hatsu Concept: Stockpile (Provisional)] Description: Allows user to store up to 10x their reserve of any energy type they can access. Stored energy cannot be used directly until fully charged. Charging time: 48 hours. No enhancement to natural output.
It wasn't flashy. It wasn't immediate. But Ghost smiled.
It was him.
---
Tasks piled up. So did system rewards. Ghost hadn't rolled in weeks. He was saving them, curious to see what patterns emerged. Now, the system interface blinked with notifications:
> [Roll Tokens Available]
Common: 63
Uncommon: 8
Rare: 2
He initiated conversion:
60 Commons → 6 Uncommons → 3 Rares → 1 Epic (with 3 Uncommons and 2 Rares leftover).
New totals:
> Common: 3
Uncommon: 3
Rare: 2
Epic: 1
He chose to roll all the minor ones first.
Common Roll 1 → A bundle of copper wire. Common Roll 2 → A pamphlet titled "How to Win Friends (Poorly Translated)" Common Roll 3 → A rubber chicken.
Ghost blinked at the system.
"...Really?"
Uncommons:
Uncommon Roll 1 → "Hand Warmer Charm" — Emits warmth when squeezed. Uncommon Roll 2 → "Enchanted Comb" — Passively improves hair shine. Uncommon Roll 3 → "Spider Thread (10m)" — Extremely strong silk thread.
Ghost pocketed the spider thread. The rest went into storage.
Rare Rolls:
Rare Roll 1 → "Auto-Translation Lens" — Enables limited language reading (non-verbal). Rare Roll 2 → "Skillbook: Improvised Combat Lv. 1"
The skillbook absorbed into his body immediately.
> [New Skill Unlocked: Improvised Combat Lv. 1]
His limbs itched slightly, like his body remembered movements it had never made.
Then he used the Epic Token.
He hesitated before tapping it.
Then:
> [EPIC ROLL INITIATED...] Result: Character Template: Nanami Kento (Partial) – From Jujutsu Kaisen
Ghost's eyes widened.
> Installing... Nanami Kento's Skillset (Scaled to Age/World Context): – Cursed Energy (Unlocked – Level 1) – Ratio Technique: Locked (Insufficient Experience) – Tactical Awareness (Lv. 1) – Endurance Boost (Lv. 1) – Starting Gear: Tailored Jujutsu Sorcerer Suit (Resized)
> [New Power System Unlocked: Cursed Energy]
> [Note: Cursed Energy requires emotional control, negative output management, and spiritual strength.]
Ghost staggered slightly. His body tingled—denser, heavier. He could feel a buzzing beneath the skin, like static waiting for a ground.
Cursed Energy felt meaner than Nen. Rough. It wasn't about harmony—it was pressure, intent, and resentment, all bottled tight.
He stared at his hands.
"...This could kill someone."
And he didn't mean that in theory.
---
Later that night, the world cracked.
He was on his way back to Tajima's shop, bag of herbs slung over his shoulder, when smoke curled against the darkening sky.
He ran faster than he meant to.
The shop was gone.
Fire danced across the roof like a fever dream. Half the frame had collapsed inward. Civilians stood back, murmuring. One guard waved a few others off from getting too close.
Ghost stared at it.
Someone whispered, "That old merchant…he wasn't inside, was he?"
He listened closer. Someone else muttered, "Ninja fight. One of them ducked into the alley, then—boom. Fire everywhere."
Ghost didn't move.
Not until the system flickered.
> [Alert: Danger Approaching]
He turned just in time to see the glint of steel and shadow above.
He dove, rolled, cursed. A kunai embedded itself in the ground where he'd stood.
Zetsu. Activate.
He melted into stillness, pressed against the building wall. The presence—chilling, sharp, and distinct—closed in. Not chakra. Not exactly. Something adjacent. Something subtle.
The shinobi dropped down silently, scanning the street.
He had no headband.
Rogue?
The man was lean, cloaked, and moved with surgical silence. Ghost could feel it—killer instinct honed and sharp as a drawn wire.
The shinobi sniffed, looked around, then walked toward the alley.
Ghost backed away slowly—only to bump against a crate. It scraped against stone.
The man froze.
"There you are," he said. No arrogance. Just fact.
Ghost ran.
The system pinged.
> [Passive: Tactical Awareness Activated] [Improvised Combat (Lv. 1) Activated]
His footwork adjusted unconsciously. He slipped through tighter spaces, grabbed loose items, and set small diversions—scattering sand, toppling a barrel.
Still, the man gained ground.
Ghost turned a corner and lunged up the side of a wall using aura-enhanced strength. Just barely made it to the rooftop.
The shinobi followed.
A fight was coming.
And Ghost… had never killed anyone.
The system pinged again.
> [Achievement Unlocked: First Shinobi Kill] You have defeated and slain a trained ninja opponent. Rewards: – 1x Legendary Roll Token
He barely processed it.
His vision was tunneled. His heart thudded like a war drum.
He stood over the fallen body.
It had taken a trap—Stockpiled cursed energy channeled through a makeshift spike. The blow crushed the attacker's ribs and pierced his lung. The man had bled out in a minute.
Ghost's hands were shaking.
He didn't feel elated.
He didn't feel guilt.
He felt… nothing.
Then, twenty minutes later, safe inside a forgotten supply shed with the door bolted, Ghost finally exhaled.
And then, everything crashed in.
He shook. He vomited. He cursed into his sleeve.
And then, slowly…
He began to smile.
"I did it. I actually… won."
He wiped his mouth and stared at the Legendary Token glowing in the interface.
> [1x Legendary Roll Available]
He tapped it.
> [Legendary Roll Initiated…]
> Result: Dark Wisdom (Overlord Universe)
> Ability Unlocked: Dark Wisdom – Trait & Technique Theft Description: Once per day, upon killing an individual, you may extract one trait or technique from the deceased. Cannot be used on constructs, clones, or soulless entities.
Ghost blinked.
"...What the hell am I becoming?"
But deep down?
He already knew.
A survivor.
A predator.
Something more than just a boy.
Something becoming dangerous.