The ruin of the Uzumaki Clan Leader's mansion creaked faintly in the sea wind, but it still stood more solidly than most of the other wreckage. Its spiral-carved doors and thick walls held a strange sense of dignity, even after decades of abandonment.
We spent the rest of the evening clearing the dust and broken furniture. Izumi swept the halls until her arms trembled, while Yugao reinforced the doors and windows with makeshift barriers. By the time the moon rose, the three of us had chosen our rooms.
Izumi's was closest to mine—she curled up beneath a tattered red banner, her breathing soft. Yugao rested in the room across the hall, her sword leaning against the wall, its crimson veins pulsing faintly in the dark.
The house fell into silence.
I sat on my bed, back against the wall, and pulled up the glowing interface of the system.
> [System Main Screen — Host: Keita Uchiha]
Status | Quests | Daily Spin | Shop | Clan Management | Otherworld Feature
I started with Status.
> [Status Screen]
Name: Keita Uchiha
Title: Clan Heir (Founder)
Level: 8
Bloodline: Uchiha (Tier: 1.5)
Chakra Reserves: High-Chūnin level
Skills:
• Sharingan (1 Tomoe, evolving)
• Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu
• Genjutsu Affinity (Passive)
• Basic Kenjutsu — Intermediate
Equipment:
• Uchiha Short Blade (Enhanced)
• Random Loot Bag (2 Items Remaining)
Buffs:
• Clan Founder's Aura (+10% loyalty gain for allies)
• Whirlpool Stronghold Control (Passive: +20% Defensive Bonus inside base)
I couldn't help but grin. So this is the power scaling. And I'm still at the beginning.
I switched to Quests.
> [Active Quests]
1. Rebuild the Uchiha Clan
Requirement: Recruit 5 Members (Progress: 4/5)
Reward: Bloodline Enhancement (Host), 1 Random Otherworld Ally Spin
2. Whirlpool Awakening
Requirement: Unlock 50% of Ruin Exploration (Progress: 35%)
Reward: Uzumaki Clan Jutsu Vault (Tier: Unknown)
3. Hidden Tension
Requirement: Survive the incoming ANBU Scout Team
Reward: +100 Clan Power Points, Shop Unlock Tier II
The third one made my eyes narrow. "So they're already on to us…"
I flicked to the Daily Spin. A smaller version of the golden wheel appeared, filled with symbols less intimidating than the ally spin but still intriguing.
> [Daily Spin Available — Do you wish to use it?]
"Why not," I muttered, pressing spin. The wheel spun fast, symbols flashing—scrolls, weapons, coins, glowing gems—until it clicked onto one.
> [Congratulations! You received: Chakra Storage Seal (Minor)]
Stores 30% of maximum chakra for later use. Single-use seal.
"Not bad," I whispered, slipping it into my inventory.
Finally, I checked the Shop.
> [System Shop — Tier I]
Soldier Pills (x5) — 50 Clan Points
Standard Kunai Bundle (x10) — 30 Clan Points
Healing Paste — 70 Clan Points
Fire Style Scroll: Phoenix Sage Fire — 120 Clan Points
Mystery Box (Tier I) — 100 Clan Points
I had about 148 Clan Points left. Enough to make choices, but not enough to splurge. My finger hovered over the Fire Style Scroll—tempting, but maybe better to save.
The last tab blinked faintly. Otherworld Feature. I tapped it.
> [Otherworld Feature: Active]
Functions:
Random Ally Spin (Unlocked)
Otherworld Shop (Locked — requires 2nd Ally Recruitment)
Gateway Synchronization (Locked — requires Abyssal Gate Key)
The glowing menu faded, and I leaned back on the bed. The room smelled faintly of salt and dust, but it was ours now. For the first time in days, I allowed myself a small smile.
The clan is coming back. Slowly. But it's coming back.
The house creaked in the night. Somewhere in the ruins, the wind howled through broken halls. And I drifted into uneasy sleep, knowing the ANBU were already on their way.
The night was heavy with mist.
I wasn't sure how long I had slept before a faint chime rang in my head.
> [System Alert: Enemy Presence Detected]
[Quest Triggered: Hidden Tension]
Survive the ANBU Scout Team — Status: Approaching.
My eyes snapped open. Across the hall, Izumi stirred in her sleep, while Yugao was already sitting up, her hand gripping the hilt of Kurogami. She met my eyes through the dark.
"They're here," she whispered.
I nodded and pulled the kunai from my belt. So the system wasn't exaggerating.
---
From the upper balcony of the clan leader's house, I could see faint shadows moving across the ruins below—five masked shinobi, their movements disciplined, silent, cutting through the mist.
"ANBU," Yugao muttered, her voice tight. "They shouldn't be here. Not this far from the mainland."
"They're here for us," I said flatly.
Izumi appeared beside me, her Sharingan already glowing faintly in the dark. "Then we can't let them report back."
The system chimed again:
> [Optional Sub-Objective: Eliminate Entire Scout Team — Reward: +1 Random Loot Pull]
A faint grin pulled at my lips. Good.
---
The first ANBU landed silently in the courtyard, scanning the perimeter. His mask was painted like a hawk, his blade already drawn.
Before I could give the signal, a shadow moved behind him.
CRACK.
The man collapsed without a sound, his mask splitting in two, body falling limp. Behind him stood Ser Kael Draven, his Voidsteel armor faintly glowing red, his greatsword dripping with embers. His golden, slit-pupil eyes scanned the others.
"I will handle the hunt," he rumbled, his voice low and edged with fire.
The other ANBU froze, their formation instantly shifting. One barked an order—"Unknown target, hostile!"—and three moved in at once, blades flashing.
---
Kael met them like a storm. His greatsword roared as he swung, a trail of molten heat following its arc. One ANBU's katana shattered on impact, the man hurled back into a wall so hard the stone cracked.
The second tried to weave hand signs—Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!—but Kael simply opened his mouth and exhaled.
A torrent of dragonfire engulfed the shinobi, his scream cut off before the flames even faded.
The third had better luck, using Body Flicker to slip behind Kael, his tanto slashing for the knight's exposed neck. But the blade scraped uselessly off the back of his armor. Kael turned slowly, caught the man's wrist in one hand, and crushed the bones to powder.
I swallowed hard, watching. S-tier indeed…
---
The last two ANBU leapt back, regrouping. One formed seals while the other prepared explosive tags.
Izumi moved before they could strike, her eyes glowing with crimson tomoe. "Kotoha: Phantom Chains."
Both ANBU froze mid-step, their bodies locking as her genjutsu bound them in invisible binds. They twitched, struggling—but too late.
Yugao dashed in, Kurogami flashing once in the moonlight. Both ANBU collapsed, their masks clattering to the stone.
---
The ruins fell silent again.
Kael planted his greatsword into the ground, flames licking the blade before fading. He bowed his head toward me. "The enemies are no more, clan master."
The system confirmed it:
> [Quest Complete: Hidden Tension]
Reward: +100 Clan Points | Shop Tier II Unlocked]
Bonus Objective Achieved: Full Elimination]
Reward: Random Loot Pull (x1)]
A small chest shimmered into existence before me. I opened it mentally—
> [Congratulations! You obtained: Eternal Ink Jar (Otherworld Item)]
A bottomless ink well that can inscribe seals, contracts, or even create chakra-based constructs when used with proper formulas.
Izumi looked at me, her chest rising and falling quickly. "This… this is only the beginning, isn't it?"
I nodded, watching the mist settle again over the ruined village. "Konoha sent scouts. Next time, it'll be hunters."
The system chimed one last time.
> [Clan Membership Goal Nearly Complete — Recruit 1 More Ally]
[Warning: Whirlpool Stronghold Location Marked as High-Risk Zone]