Shadows and Light

The vast expanse of the Abyss stretched out before Itachi, an endless void of darkness that seemed to pulse with untapped power. He stood there, his Sharingan eyes scanning the nothingness, their crimson glow a stark contrast against the inky blackness. His mind was focused on a single goal: to test a theory that could prove invaluable in the future.

With a mere thought, Itachi began to manipulate the dark energy around him. It swirled and coalesced, taking shape before his eyes. Slowly, a humanoid form emerged from the shadows, its features indistinct but unmistakably soldier-like. This was Itachi's creation, a being born of pure darkness.

Itachi reached out with his mind, attempting to control the Dark Soldier like a puppet. The construct moved, its movements jerky and unnatural. It was clear that while it responded to his will, it lacked any semblance of emotions or intellect. It was a shell, an empty vessel waiting to be filled with purpose.

Frowning slightly, Itachi recalled his previous interaction with the 'eye', the construct he used to monitor Jinwoo. He had given it specific instructions, imbuing it with a sense of purpose. Perhaps the same approach would work here.

Focusing his will, Itachi sent a mental command to the Dark Soldier. "Jump," he ordered silently, his eyes never leaving the shadowy figure. To his satisfaction, the construct obeyed instantly, leaping high into the air of the Abyss. It hung there for a moment, suspended in the darkness, before landing silently back on the non-existent ground.

A small smile played on Itachi's lips, a rare expression for the usually stoic Uchiha. The process was complex, requiring intense concentration and a deep understanding of the dark energy he commanded. But the potential was immense. He thought of Ryuji and Haruto, his comrades in this strange world. This skill would be uniquely his, he realized. They wouldn't be able to focus on creating these Dark Soldiers while engaged in combat. It was a tactical advantage that could prove crucial in the battles to come.

His musings were interrupted by a soft chime, signaling a message from Haruto. Itachi's eyes narrowed as he read the contents. The job was done; they had recruited a new member, a mage. While this could be beneficial, recruiting more members is not needed now. He quickly replied, instructing Haruto not to seek any more members for now. Now that they recruited a mage, Ryuji and Haruto would not have to create the dark creatures. The mage could do it for them. 

Turning his attention back to the construct, Itachi decided to put it through its paces. He conjured a training doll from the darkness, a featureless mannequin that stood motionless before the Dark Soldier. With a thought, Itachi commanded his creation to attack.

The Dark Soldier moved with deadly precision, its shadowy fist connecting with the doll. There was a moment of resistance before the doll shattered into fragments of darkness, dissipating into the void. Itachi nodded, satisfied with the raw power but knowing there was much more work to be done.

His mind raced with possibilities. He began to think of the process as 'Coding' a term he learned only after coming to this word, inputting commands and responses into the Dark Soldier's very being. It was a delicate process, requiring intense concentration and a deep understanding of both the dark energy and combat tactics.

Hours passed as Itachi worked, time losing all meaning in the eternal darkness of the Abyss. He programmed complex behaviors into the Dark Soldier, teaching it to dodge attacks, to counterattack, to anticipate enemy movements. He imbued it with his own fighting style, honed over years of training and battle.

By the time he finished, the Dark Soldier was almost a clone replica of Itachi himself in terms of physical ability that does not require chakra. It stood at attention, awaiting his command, a perfect shadow warrior.

Eager to test its limits, Itachi attempted to code jutsu into the Dark Soldier. He started with a simple fireball technique, a jutsu he had mastered as a child. But as he tried to impart the knowledge to his creation, he encountered resistance. The Dark Soldier seemed incapable of molding chakra, only able to manipulate the dark energy it was composed of.

Even then, its control was limited. When Itachi commanded it to form a sphere of dark energy, the construct struggled, managing only a small, flickering orb. It was a fraction of the power that Itachi himself could command.

Curious about this limitation, Itachi tried a different approach. He attempted to combine his chakra with dark energy to create a new Dark Soldier. The energies swirled together, chakra and darkness intertwining, but as they began to take shape, they violently repelled each other. The nascent construct collapsed in on itself, dissolving back into the void.

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he contemplated this failure. It seemed that only pure dark energy could be used in their creation. It was a limitation, but one he could work with. Perhaps, with time and practice, he could find a way to overcome this obstacle.

As he pondered these new discoveries, Itachi glanced at his watch and was shocked to realize that two full days had passed in the outside world. He had lost himself in his experiments.

Concerned about what he might have missed, Itachi summoned the 'eye', seeking information about Jinwoo's activities. The construct materialized before him, a swirling orb of darkness with a single, piercing eye at its center.

The 'eye' revealed its observations. Jinwoo had entered a dungeon using some sort of key, a detail that piqued Itachi's interest. This had to be the work of the Shadow Monarch, likely some method to improve its vessel. More concerning was the news that Jinwoo had nearly been killed by other hunters in the dungeon, only to turn the tables and eliminate them with ease.

Itachi's brow furrowed in thought. Jinwoo's power was growing at an alarming rate. The Shadow Monarch's influence was clear, but the speed of Jinwoo's development was unexpected. It was a factor that Itachi would need to account for in his plans if things turned for the worst.

Satisfied with the information, Itachi dismissed the 'eye' and prepared to return to the physical world. With a thought, he dissolved the Dark Soldier, watching as it melted back into the darkness of the Abyss. Then, gathering his power, Itachi willed himself back to reality.

He materialized in his apartment, the transition from the vast Abyss to the confined space momentarily disorienting. The sudden presence of walls, of physical objects, felt strange after the formless void he had inhabited for what felt like an eternity.

After a quick dinner of simple, nourishing food, Itachi sat in contemplative silence, his mind still processing the events in the Abyss and the information about Jinwoo. The creation of the Dark Soldiers opened up new tactical possibilities, but also raised new questions. How many could he maintain at once? How far could he push their abilities? 

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his doorbell, its chime jarring in the quiet apartment. Itachi rose smoothly, his movements graceful and economical as always. He approached the door, his senses alert despite the apparent normalcy of the situation.

Opening the door, he found Yoo Soo-hyun standing there, a look of relief on her face. In her hands, she held a box that emitted a sweet aroma, the scent of freshly baked cake wafting through the air.

"It's good you're home today," Soo-hyun said with a warm smile, her eyes bright. "I tried baking a cake, but it turned out to be too much. The other neighbor isn't home, so I hoped you might appreciate some."

Itachi's eyes shifted from her face to the box, taking in every detail. His expression remained calm, unreadable, but inside, he found her gesture unusual. He wasn't used to casual interactions, especially in this world where he was supposed to be a stranger, an outsider.

"Thank you," Itachi said, his voice even, betraying none of the surprise he felt at this simple act of kindness.

Soo-hyun's smile widened slightly, encouraged by his acceptance. "Since you're not from here... Well, if you ever need anything, feel free to knock. I know it's not easy being in a new country."

"I'll keep that in mind," Itachi replied, his tone softening almost imperceptibly. For a moment, he was reminded of simpler times, of a village he once called home.

There was a brief, subtle pause before Soo-hyun spoke again. "Good night then," she said, her voice carrying a hint of warmth.

"Good night," Itachi responded, watching as she turned and walked back to her apartment. He closed the door slowly, his mind already analyzing this interaction, searching for any hidden meanings or potential threats.

As the door clicked shut, Itachi set the box down on his table. For a moment, he stared at it, the simple cardboard container somehow out of place in his spartan apartment. It was a simple gesture, but one that brought a fleeting sense of normalcy, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

He sighed softly, his thoughts drifting back to his responsibilities as the new Absolute One. The cake, the neighborly interaction, they were reminders of a life he could never truly have. His path was set, his destiny intertwined with powers beyond mortal comprehension.

The next day, deciding to take a break from his intense training and planning, Itachi went out for a walk. The streets of Seoul were busy, people hurrying about their daily lives, oblivious to the shadow world that existed alongside them. Itachi moved through the crowd with ease, his presence barely noticed despite his striking appearance.

As he passed by a quaint cafe, movement caught his eye. Through the large windows, he noticed Soo-hyun sitting at a table, waving at him. For a moment, Itachi hesitated. Social interactions were not his forte, and he had more pressing matters to attend to. But something about Soo-hyun's friendly demeanor and the memory of her kindness the night before made him reconsider.

After a moment's pause, he decided to accept her invitation and entered the cafe. The aroma of coffee and freshly baked goods filled the air, a stark contrast to the sterile emptiness of the Abyss he had spent so much time in recently.

"Hey Itachi, meet my cousin," Soo-hyun said as Itachi approached their table. Her smile was warm and welcoming, a brightness that seemed at odds with the darkness that usually surrounded Itachi.

Itachi sat down and looked at her brother, introducing himself with his usual calm demeanor. "Uchiha Itachi," he said, his voice carrying a hint of his native accent.

"Yoo Jinho. Nice to meet you," the young man replied with a friendly smile. His eyes, much like his cousin, held a curiosity that Itachi found both refreshing and potentially problematic. Jinho's mind lingered on Itachi's name he asked, "Are you from Japan?"

Itachi, having anticipated this question, replied simply, "Yes." It was easier to maintain this cover story than to explain the truth of his otherworldly origins.

Soo-hyun looked annoyed, shooting her brother a reproachful glance. "I told you about him. Did you forget?"

Jinho's eyes widened in recognition, a look of excitement crossing his face. "Oh, you're her strange neighbor?"

"Jinho!" Soo-hyun exclaimed, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. She turned to Itachi, apology written across her features. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—"

Itachi remained unperturbed, his face a mask of calm. "It's okay," he assured her. "I get that a lot." In truth, being called 'strange' was far from the worst thing he had been labeled in his long and complicated life.

The conversation flowed, touching on various topics. Itachi spoke little, preferring to listen and observe. He learned about Soo-hyun's acting career, Jinho's struggles as a low-rank hunter, and the dynamics of their relationship. It was a glimpse into a normal life, something Itachi found both fascinating and alien.

Eventually, Jinho's curiosity got the better of him again. Leaning forward, he asked in a conspiratorial tone, "Are you a hunter by any chance?"

Itachi considered his response carefully. He needed to maintain his cover, but also saw an opportunity to gather more information about this world's power structure. "Yes," he replied, "but D-rank." It was a calculated understatement of his abilities.

Jinho's face lit up, a mixture of excitement and relief. "Oh, we're the same rank!" he exclaimed, clearly happy to find someone in a similar position.

Soo-hyun interjected proudly, a hint of playful arrogance in her voice. "Hmph, so I have the higher rank here."

Jinho leaned towards Itachi, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "She's an A-rank hunter. Or was. She's not active anymore." There was a note of admiration in his voice, tinged with something else.

Turning back to Itachi, Jinho's eyes lit up with an idea. "Do you want to go on a raid with my party? I think you can if you show the Hunter's Association your license."

Itachi considered the offer. He needed more money if he planned to stay in this world longer than initially anticipated. Moreover, it would be an opportunity to observe the hunters of Korea up close, to gather more information about how things run in Korea. "Okay," he agreed, his tone neutral despite the calculations running through his mind.

Jinho beamed, clearly excited at the prospect. "Nice! And don't worry, you won't have to do much. Only two of us will go inside the dungeon."

Itachi already this was the man Jinwoo had helped in that dungeon. They seemed to have some arrangement. To sound genuine and gather more information, he asked, "Will you two be enough to clear a dungeon by yourselves?"

"Don't worry, the other guy is powerful," Jinho assured him, a hint of pride in his voice. It was clear he held his mysterious partner in high regard.

Soo-hyun's interest was piqued, her eyebrows raising slightly. "Is that the hunter you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes," Jinho confirmed, nodding enthusiastically.

As the conversation continued, touching on the details of the upcoming raid and the nature of dungeons in this world, Itachi's mind was already working, analyzing the potential risks and benefits. This raid would be an opportunity to gather more information, to observe Jinwoo in action, and perhaps to further his own goals in this world.

The pieces were moving on this cosmic chessboard, and Itachi was determined to stay several steps ahead. As he sipped his coffee and nodded along to Jinho's excited chatter, his mind was already formulating plans and contingencies. In this complex game of shadows and light, Itachi intended to emerge victorious, no matter the cost.