5: The First Step Forward

The cool night air of Rukongai swirled around Shiro, as he stood alone on the rooftop of a crumbling building. Below him, the slums of the district stretched out like a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, flickering lanterns, and distant shadows. The sounds of life—voices, footsteps, and the occasional clash of metal—were muffled by the distance, but it didn't bother Shiro. He was used to the noise, the chaos, the ever-present buzz of life and death in Rukongai.

Tonight felt different, though. Tonight, something had changed inside him.

Shiro wasn't sure what it was exactly, but he could feel it—deep inside him, his Reiatsu was pulsing with energy, far stronger than it had ever been before. The power that had started as a flicker of potential was now something tangible. He could feel it in his bones, in his chest, like a storm ready to break free.

For weeks, he had been pushing his body to its limits, training relentlessly under Katsu's watchful eye. His swordsmanship had improved, his body had grown stronger, and his control over his Reiatsu had become more refined. But tonight, it was something else—something more than just physical effort. Something deeper, more profound.

Shiro closed his eyes, focusing inward, seeking that strange, familiar energy. His Reiatsu felt like a current running through him, powerful and unyielding. But there was more to it now—something new, something that felt like it was awakening within him.

A low hum filled the air around him, growing louder, vibrating in his chest. And then, suddenly, it was like a door inside his mind had opened. A flash of light filled his vision, and a strange presence filled the space around him.

System... Awakening...

Shiro froze, his heart pounding. The voice wasn't loud, but it was undeniable, echoing inside his mind. He had no idea what was happening, but he felt an overwhelming sense of something new—something powerful.

Before him, a translucent screen appeared, glowing softly in the moonlight. The text on it was simple but clear, and it took only a moment for Shiro to process it.

Welcome to the Template System. You have received your first spin!

Spin for your first template?

Yes | No

Shiro stared at the screen for a moment, confused and curious. He didn't fully understand what it meant, but something inside him urged him to press "Yes." The screen flickered, and the wheel on the display began to spin, showing flashes of figures and faces, some familiar, some strange. His heart raced as the images passed by, each one a different possibility, a different power.

Then, the wheel came to a stop.

You have unlocked: Madara Uchiha (1% progress)

Progress: 1%

Unlock 2nd Tomoe Sharingan (10%)

Unlock 3rd Tomoe Sharingan (20%)

Reach 20% and spin for random B rank and two C rank scrolls

Unlock Mangekyo Sharingan (50%)

Unlock Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan (80%)

Unlock Rinnegan (100%)

You will get another spin when you reach 50% on this Template.

Shiro blinked in disbelief. Madara Uchiha? He remembered the name from his past life—vague memories, fleeting glimpses of an incredibly powerful figure, but none of it made sense. How was this possible? Why was this happening to him?

He didn't have time to dwell on the confusion. The screen continued to pulse with information, each word sinking deeper into his mind.

New Quest: "Master the Sharingan"

Complete quests to earn progress toward unlocking the next stage of the Sharingan.

Shiro's mind reeled. Mastering the Sharingan? How was he supposed to do that? He didn't know the first thing about using it, and yet he could feel the faint stirrings of the power within him. But there was no time for hesitation. This was something new—something he had to learn to control.

The screen flickered again, and new information appeared.

The first quest was simple enough: Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress.

It had sounded trivial when he first saw it, but the reality of it was anything but. Each swing of his sword burned through his arms and shoulders, his grip growing slick with sweat. His body wasn't used to this level of exertion—not the way he had been training lately. The progress was slow, agonizingly so, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. If he was to make any headway, this was the price he had to pay.

Shiro's grip tightened on the sword, his knuckles white. The blade was becoming an extension of his body as he swung it again and again, each motion practiced but imperfect. His body's movements were rough, stiff from lack of fluidity, and the sweat that trickled down his face stung his eyes.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he counted, each swing a reminder of just how far he had to go.

[Quest Update]

Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress

Progress: 105/1,000 swings completed.

It was a minor update—barely any progress at all—but it pushed Shiro to keep going. He had already done hundreds of swings, his arms trembling with fatigue, but he didn't slow. The pain was nothing compared to the burning desire to improve, to grow stronger.

As the hours passed, Shiro's thoughts began to drift. The system's presence was always there, a quiet hum in the back of his mind. He could feel it, like a silent observer, tracking every action he took. But the Sharingan, despite being unlocked, remained dormant in his eyes—unfamiliar, unreachable. He had no idea how to activate it, let alone use it effectively.

He stopped for a moment, his sword hanging loosely in his hand, and wiped the sweat from his brow. His body was exhausted, but he wasn't finished yet. Not by a long shot.

[Quest Update]

Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress

Progress: 500/1,000 swings completed.

"Halfway there," Shiro muttered through gritted teeth, looking down at the screen that had appeared in front of him. Every time he reached a milestone, the screen flickered, giving him a new sense of purpose, but it didn't make the struggle any easier. The muscles in his arms were burning, his grip slipping as sweat ran down his palms. But still, he pressed on.

Every time his sword cut through the air, he could feel his control over it improving. His posture was becoming steadier, his movements more calculated. He wasn't just swinging anymore; he was learning, evolving with every strike.

But as the quest stretched on, he began to realize something else: he was still weak. Despite the progress, despite the flickers of power in his body, he was no match for the real threats of Rukongai. His swordsmanship had improved, sure, but without proper control over his Reiatsu, without understanding the power he had unlocked within himself, he was still just a boy—a boy who was out of his depth in this unforgiving world.

Shiro gritted his teeth and continued, shaking off the doubts creeping into his mind. He couldn't afford to stop. Not now.

Another half hour passed, and the pain in his arms intensified. He had to focus—one swing at a time. If he wanted to live, if he wanted to escape Rukongai and enter the Soul Society, he had to push himself past his limits. No one would hand him a chance. He would have to carve it himself.

[Quest Update]

Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress

Progress: 995/1,000 swings completed.

Shiro's hands were raw by the time he reached the final few swings. His muscles were trembling with exhaustion, but he finished it. His sword sank into the air with precision, his body moving on instinct as the last swing fell into place. His chest heaved with effort, and for a brief moment, he simply stood there, trying to steady his breathing.

[Quest Complete]

Do 1,000 sword swings for 0.001% progress

Reward: +0.001% progress

New Progress: 1.001%

Shiro stared at the new update in disbelief. It was just 0.001%, barely anything at all, but it was something. It was a sign that his effort hadn't been in vain. His progress was slow, but it was real. The path was open, and he wasn't about to turn back.

He could feel it—a faint shift in his chest, a low hum that echoed the power that had awakened inside him. But it wasn't enough yet. Not nearly enough.

[Quest Update]

Save a person from a life-threatening situation

Reward: +0.05% progress

Time Limit: 48 hours

Shiro didn't hesitate. He had already felt the weight of the system's guidance, and now it was directing him toward something more tangible—something he could do. Saving someone from danger. Simple enough in theory, but the reality was never as straightforward.

As he made his way through the slums, he kept his senses alert. It didn't take long for him to find a group of ruffians surrounding a woman in an alleyway. They were intimidating—large, brutish men, drunk on their own power.

Shiro didn't stop to think. He moved before he could second-guess himself, stepping into the alley and unsheathing his sword with a single fluid motion.

"Oi, what's this? You think you can stop us?" one of the ruffians sneered.

Shiro didn't respond. Instead, he focused, his Reiatsu flaring up around him in a raw, uncontrolled burst. The energy surged like a violent tide, but it was still far from being fully mastered. His movements were shaky, his form unrefined, but his determination was clear.

The ruffian closest to him lunged, but Shiro was faster. He sidestepped the blow and struck with his sword, the blade biting into the man's side. It wasn't a fatal strike, but it was enough to send him crashing to the ground, gasping for air.

The remaining men hesitated, surprised by Shiro's unexpected response. Their uncertainty was all the opening Shiro needed. He didn't wait for them to regroup. He attacked again, this time with more precision, using the pain in his arms to fuel his strikes. His sword was clumsy at first, but with each attack, he felt his body adapting, adjusting to the rhythm of battle.

In the end, the ruffians scattered, stumbling over each other as they fled into the shadows, leaving the woman behind, unharmed but frightened.

Shiro stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, his sword still drawn. The adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, and his body was exhausted from the battle, but he had done it. He had saved someone. For the first time, he felt the weight of the quest fulfilled.

[Quest Complete]

Save a person from a life-threatening situation

Reward: +0.05% progress

New Progress: 1.051%

Shiro looked down at the progress and let out a slow breath. It was a small victory. But for him, it was more than that. It was proof that he could grow, that he could improve, that he was more than just a weak, confused soul in the streets of Rukongai.

The path ahead was long, and the road would be hard. But Shiro was ready. Every swing of the sword, every challenge, every step forward—he was determined to make them count.

And this was just the beginning.

[System Status]

Name: Shiro

Template: Madara Uchiha

Progress: 1.051%

[Attributes]

Strength: 15

Endurance: 13

Speed: 14

Reiatsu Control: 10

Intelligence: 8

Battle Instinct: 9

[Abilities]

Madara Uchiha (1.051% progress):

*Unlock 2nd Tomoe Sharingan (10%)

Unlock 3rd Tomoe Sharingan (20%)

Reach 20% and spin for random B rank and two C rank scrolls

Unlock Mangekyo Sharingan (50%)

Unlock Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan (80%)

Unlock Rinnegan (100%)

You will get another spin when you reach 50% on this Template

[Current Active Abilities]:

Sharingan (1st Tomoe):

Grants the ability to track fast movements with greater precision. Slows down opponents' attacks by a small amount, making them easier to evade or block. Limited use until mastery improves.