Chapter 104: The Surge of Influence

Yuta stood on the balcony of a small inn, watching the sun slowly rise over the horizon. The peacefulness of the early morning contrasted sharply with the turmoil swirling in his mind. For the past hour, he had felt it—a surge in his power unlike anything he had experienced before. It wasn't subtle; it came in rapid bursts, a cascade of influence values overwhelming his senses.

[Influence +1, +1, +1, +1, +1, +1...]

It was relentless, each notification amplifying the growing energy within him. Yuta's body hummed with chakra, his vision sharper, his reflexes more precise. This power—it was the accumulation of chaos, the very fabric of the influence system he had learned to manipulate since arriving in this world. But this time, the increase was far beyond anything he had ever gained in a single moment.

"This is more than four times the influence I accumulate in a month..." Yuta muttered, rubbing his temple. He could feel his heart pounding faster, his senses buzzing with the weight of this newfound energy. But as exhilarating as it was, it also brought a gnawing sense of unease. "There's only one explanation..."

His eyes darkened. "It must have been Johan."

Johan, the unpredictable force of destruction, who reveled in chaos and had no regard for the world's balance. Yuta knew Johan had been planning something massive, an event that would shake the very foundations of the Ninja world. He had expected something big, but this... this was beyond even his calculations.

Yuta stepped back into his room, the wooden floor creaking under his feet as he paced. "He's the only one who could cause this level of chaos."

Johan's power thrived on destruction, and the more he unleashed, the more influence Yuta could draw from it. It was a dangerous game—one that put Yuta in a position where he had to rely on Johan's actions to grow stronger. But there was always a limit, and this sudden influx was pushing that boundary.

"Could Lelouch have a hand in this?" Yuta wondered aloud, his brows furrowed. "No... it's unlikely."

Lelouch had isolated himself in the Land of Rain, far from the current chaos engulfing the ninja world. While Johan reveled in destruction, Lelouch preferred manipulation, slowly building a revolutionary army in the shadows. His ambition was on a different scale—one that required subtlety and time. Johan's chaos didn't suit Lelouch's style.

Yet, Yuta couldn't ignore the possibility that Lelouch was somehow connected. After all, Lelouch was a master strategist, capable of pulling strings from afar. If Johan's actions had created this much of a ripple, then maybe Lelouch was preparing to act in his own way.

Yuta clenched his fists. "I need to know what Johan is planning. If this continues, it could disrupt everything."

A knock on the door pulled Yuta from his thoughts. He opened it to find Kenji, his trusted ally, standing in the doorway. The concern on Kenji's face mirrored Yuta's own feelings.

"Yuta," Kenji said, his voice low, "there's been a huge chakra spike. It's like nothing we've seen before. The village is on high alert. What's going on?"

Yuta let out a deep sigh, motioning for Kenji to enter. "It's not an enemy—at least, not directly. This is something else."

Kenji raised an eyebrow as he sat down. "What do you mean?"

Yuta quickly explained the concept of influence values to Kenji, something he hadn't fully revealed to anyone until now. He described how he could accumulate influence based on the actions of others, especially those as destructive as Johan. Kenji listened, his eyes widening with each word.

"So... you're saying this sudden surge in your power is because of Johan?" Kenji asked, leaning forward.

Yuta nodded. "That's the only explanation. He must've unleashed something massive—something that's causing this influx. I need to find out what it is before it spirals out of control."

Kenji crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Johan's chaos is always dangerous. But if Lelouch is involved too..."

"Lelouch is isolated right now," Yuta said, pacing again. "He's busy gathering forces in the Land of Rain. His plan is long-term. But that doesn't mean he's not keeping an eye on the chaos."

Kenji frowned. "And Johan? What's his endgame?"

Yuta shook his head. "Johan thrives on destruction. He's not like Lelouch—he doesn't have a grand strategy for reshaping the world. His goal is pure chaos, and he'll burn everything down if it means watching the world fall apart."

Kenji stood, his expression serious. "So what's the plan? If Johan's actions are causing this surge, we can't just sit around."

Yuta sighed. "We can't move too quickly. If we go after Johan without knowing the full scope of his plan, we'll be walking into a trap. I need more information. For now, we gather intel and prepare. I'll use this influence to strengthen my position."

Kenji nodded, though his frustration was clear. "Alright, but don't wait too long. You know how unpredictable Johan can be."

As Kenji left the room, Yuta sat down, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The sudden surge in influence was both a blessing and a curse. While it gave him more power, it also meant that Johan's actions were reaching a critical point. He couldn't afford to ignore it any longer.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain...

Lelouch stood at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the gloomy, rain-soaked landscape of the Land of Rain. The constant downpour was fitting for a place shrouded in mystery and sorrow. It had become the perfect hiding place for Lelouch's growing ambitions.

Beneath his feet, the land was already beginning to change. Villagers and disillusioned shinobi from across the elemental nations were flocking to the Land of Rain, drawn by the whispers of revolution. Lelouch's words had struck a chord with the oppressed, giving them hope for a new world order—one that would free them from the endless cycle of war.

"I've gathered enough forces to start a movement," Lelouch mused, his violet eyes glinting in the dim light. "But this is only the beginning."

In the distance, the sound of training echoed through the valleys. His army was still small, but it was growing every day. Soon, he would have enough influence to challenge the very structure of the shinobi world. But for now, Lelouch remained in the shadows, biding his time.

He could sense the chaos Johan was creating in the far-off lands. The raw destruction, the panic, and the disorder—it all fed into the growing instability of the ninja world. And though Lelouch had no direct hand in Johan's actions, he welcomed them. The more chaos Johan unleashed, the easier it would be for Lelouch to rise from the ashes and take control.

"Johan's destruction is useful for now," Lelouch thought, his lips curling into a cold smile. "But he'll need to be dealt with eventually. Uncontrolled chaos will ruin everything I've worked for."

For now, though, Johan was a tool—a force of nature that would weaken the old order, leaving it ripe for revolution. And Yuta? Lelouch knew Yuta was growing stronger by the day, feeding off the influence Johan's chaos provided. Yuta was an interesting variable, one that Lelouch hadn't fully accounted for. But soon, he would need to make his move.

Turning away from the cliff, Lelouch began walking back toward his headquarters, the rain dripping from his black cloak.

"Let's see how this plays out, Yuta," he muttered to himself. "Soon, I'll reveal my hand."

Johan's Madness

Far from the Land of Rain, Johan stood in the center of a devastated battlefield, surrounded by the smoldering remains of what once had been a thriving village. His chest heaved with exhilaration, the destruction filling him with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

The Abyssal creature he had summoned still roamed the edges of the ruin, its massive form casting a dark shadow over the scorched earth. The sheer scale of the chaos Johan had unleashed was awe-inspiring, even for him.

"Beautiful," Johan whispered, his eyes gleaming with madness. "This... this is what I live for."

But even amid the chaos, Johan could feel something off—something pulling at the edges of his awareness. He had always known about Yuta's ability to siphon influence from his actions, but this time, it was different. The surge was bigger, more potent than usual.

"So, Yuta's gotten stronger, has he?" Johan chuckled darkly. "Good. This will make things more interesting."

Johan's fists clenched, his grin widening. The chaos he created wasn't just for fun—it was a means to an end. But that end wasn't yet clear, even to him. All he knew was that the more destruction he caused, the closer he came to his ultimate goal.

And now, with Yuta growing stronger in response, the real game was about to begin.

Yuta's Determination

Back at the inn, Yuta sat cross-legged on the floor, focusing on the overwhelming power coursing through him. The influence value continued to surge, filling him with energy, but also with a growing sense of responsibility.

He couldn't let Johan's chaos spiral out of control. The ninja world was on the verge of something catastrophic, and if Yuta didn't act soon, everything would fall apart.

But with great power came difficult choices. Would he confront Johan directly? Or would he wait for Lelouch to make his move?

One thing was certain: Yuta would need to navigate this storm carefully, or risk being swept away by the chaos Johan had unleashed.