The First Raid (Part 1)

The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when Itachi began his day. His muscles ached pleasantly as he moved through his training routine, pushing his body to its limits. After a quick shower, he prepared a simple breakfast of steamed rice, grilled fish, and miso soup. As he ate, Itachi's mind raced with anticipation for the day ahead. He donned a plain black t-shirt and dark pants, opting for practicality over style. With a deep breath, he stepped out of his apartment and made his way to the Hunter's Association.

The Association's building loomed before him, a modern glass and steel structure that seemed to touch the sky. Itachi pushed through the revolving doors, entering a bustling lobby filled with hunters of all ranks. He approached the information desk, where a middle-aged man sat.

"Excuse me," Itachi said politely, "Could you direct me to the evaluation center?"

The man looked up, his eyes widening slightly at Itachi's youthful appearance. "Of course," he replied, pointing towards a corridor to the right. "Take that hallway, then the elevator to the third floor. You can't miss it."

Itachi nodded his thanks and followed the instructions. The evaluation center was a stark, clinical area with white walls and bright fluorescent lighting. At the reception desk, a bored-looking woman handed him a form to fill out.

"Once you're done, take a seat. We'll call your name when it's your turn," she droned, barely looking up from her computer.

Itachi quickly filled out the form, providing basic information about himself. He then took a seat in the waiting area, observing the nervous energy of the other potential hunters around him.

Time seemed to crawl by. Itachi maintained his composure, but he could feel a slight flutter of nervousness in his stomach. Finally, after what felt like hours, a stern-faced lady emerged from one of the testing rooms.

"Uchiha Itachi," she called out, her voice echoing in the quiet room.

Itachi stood, following her into a small, sterile room. In the center stood a pedestal with a glowing orb atop it. The orb pulsed with an ethereal blue light, casting strange shadows across the room.

"Place your hand on the orb," the lady instructed, her tone businesslike. "It will measure your mana and determine your rank."

Itachi approached the orb cautiously. As his hand made contact with its smooth surface, he felt an immediate and powerful pull on his chakra. It was as if the orb was trying to drain him dry. Instinctively, Itachi regulated his chakra flow, allowing only a small trickle to be absorbed by the orb. He didn't want to reveal the true extent of his power, not yet.

The orb's pulsing intensified, its light fluctuating between shades of blue as it analyzed Itachi's energy. The process lasted for about a minute, though to Itachi it felt much longer. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his brow from the effort of controlling his chakra so precisely.

Finally, the orb's light stabilized, and Itachi removed his hand. The lady turned to her computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she input data. After a moment, she looked up at Itachi, her expression neutral.

"Uchiha Itachi," she began, her voice devoid of emotion, "based on the evaluation, you have been classified as an E-rank hunter."

Itachi nodded, feigning disappointment while inwardly feeling satisfied that his plan had worked.

The lady continued, her tone softening slightly, "I know this may not be the result you were hoping for. However, it's important to understand that in our world, a hunter's rank is fixed. It cannot be improved through training or experience. This rank represents your innate magical potential."

She paused, allowing the information to sink in. "While E-rank may seem low, remember that only a small percentage of the population can become hunters at all. You still have the potential to make a difference."

Leaving the Association, Itachi's mind was already working on his next move. Back in his apartment, he pulled out his phone and began searching for available raids. His fingers moved swiftly across the screen as he scrolled through countless listings.

Finally, something caught his eye. A C-rank raid scheduled for the following day was still seeking participants to meet the minimum hunter quota. It was perfect - challenging enough to test his skills, but not so high-ranking as to draw undue attention. Itachi quickly submitted his application, his heart rate picking up with excitement.

Later that afternoon, Itachi decided to clear his head with a walk through the city. The bustling streets and towering buildings still felt alien to him, a constant reminder of how far he was from his original world.

As he walked, his mind churned with questions. Why had he been given this 'system'? Why was he a 'player' in this world? It had been a month since his arrival, and these questions still plagued him.

Itachi's analytical mind worked through the problem methodically. Whoever or whatever brought him to this world must have granted him the system. The logical conclusion was that they wanted him to become stronger. But why?

And why him specifically? If they could choose from the dead, why not pick someone like Hashirama Senju, with his unparalleled power? Or Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash? Even the Second or Third Hokage would seem like more logical choices.

These thoughts swirled in Itachi's mind as he walked, the sun setting behind the city's skyline, casting long shadows across the streets.

The next morning arrived with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Itachi made his way to the designated meeting point - a construction site on the outskirts of the city. The area was cordoned off, with a group of people gathered near the entrance.

As Itachi approached, a man in his forties with a weather-beaten face and a scar across his left cheek stepped forward. "You must be Uchiha Itachi," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "I'm Hwan Dongsuk, the raid leader."

Dongsuk's eyes scanned Itachi, taking in his youthful appearance. "Listen, kid," he said, his tone serious, "I know you're here to fill the headcount, but don't let your guard down. This is still a C-rank dungeon. It's dangerous, especially for an E-rank like yourself."

As Itachi nodded his understanding, another voice piped up from behind Dongsuk. "Hey there! You must be new to this!"

Itachi turned to see a young man, probably in his early twenties, approaching with a friendly smile. He was decked out in gleaming armor that looked more expensive than Itachi's entire apartment.

"I'm Yoo Jinho," the man introduced himself, extending a hand which Itachi shook. "I'm 22, D-rank hunter. It's pretty impressive to see someone as young as you joining a C-rank raid. How old are you, anyway?"

"Seventeen," Itachi replied simply, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself.

Jinho whistled, clearly impressed. "Seventeen and already taking on C-rank dungeons? You've got guts, kid."

Before Itachi could respond, Dongsuk's voice cut through the chatter. "Uchiha! Come here."

Itachi made his way over to the raid leader, who was standing next to a large backpack. "You're on support duty," Dongsuk explained, hefting the bag. "This contains essential equipment - lunch boxes, spare clothes, first aid kits, the works. Your job is to carry this and distribute items as needed."

The bag was heavier than it looked, but Itachi shouldered it without complaint. To his enhanced physique, the weight was negligible, but he made a show of adjusting to it for the sake of his cover.

With preparations complete, the group approached the dungeon gate. It was an imposing sight - a shimmering, translucent barrier that seemed to distort the very air around it. For a C-rank dungeon, it was surprisingly large.

"Alright, people," Dongsuk called out, his voice carrying authority. "We're going in. Stay alert and stick to the formation we discussed."

As one, the group stepped through the gate. The world seemed to twist and warp around them, and then they were through. Darkness enveloped them, so thick it seemed almost tangible.

"Kyuhwan," Dongsuk's voice cut through the gloom, "light it up."

A slender man near the front of the group raised his hands. With a word of power, flames sprang to life in his palms, casting a warm glow over the group and illuminating their surroundings.

Itachi blinked, allowing his eyes to adjust. They were in a vast cavern, its walls glistening with moisture. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone teeth, and in the distance, he could hear the faint sound of running water.

As the group began to move forward, Itachi's senses were on high alert. He knew that in this unfamiliar world, anything could happen. The raid had begun, and with it, a new chapter in Itachi's journey in this strange new world.