Chapter 3 : Chikara Uchiha I

It had been a month since he had broken through to the fifth stage, Organ Fortification. After three weeks of traveling on foot, he was finally set to arrive in Hope City today.

"It's time to begin!"

Akeno had never been someone imposing in his previous life, and if he were to be described in one word, it would certainly be "dreamer." In this new life, he was determined to be an extraordinary presence and create his own legend, to experience everything this world had to offer and conquer it all.

A simple dream, maybe even clichéd, but wasn't a bit of ambition necessary in such a world? In this world where the human body could walk in the air, he intended to obtain all possible powers. Having reached the fifth stage of cultivation, he had already surpassed everyone from his original world.

Akeno loved the feeling of improvement, of strength. While he couldn't be considered bad compared to others, that was true only when compared to the majority of the population. If he had reached this level, it was entirely due to his hard work, not his physical talent.

While some trained only a few days a week, Akeno trained every day, from physical exercises to meditation.

But today would be a special day when everything would change. Today would be the day a new path would open up to him.

Today would be the day he finally started using the system. Having been stuck in the sect since its activation, he couldn't reasonably use it to bring his future recruits into existence.

"Just a few more hours until I reach Hope City. It shouldn't be a problem to arrive with another companion," thinking about the upcoming steps, Akeno decided to use his system for the first time in his life.

"System, transport me to the world of Naruto."

Over the past five years, Akeno had reviewed all the abilities of the system and its use. The system was ultimately just a means of transportation from one world to another and a way to save "recruits" in a completely invisible manner. When choosing a target, the system would teleport the target to a safe place at the moment of their death and leave behind a corpse identical to the target.

Thus, thanks to the system, no one would know what had happened, and the host could leave the chosen world with the "recruit" without anyone noticing. Furthermore, the system didn't allow for creating clans but for recruiting existing ones, with a maximum of six clans to be exact. Thus, Akeno had to choose carefully since he was limited in number.

Partly because he was a fan of the Naruto series, Akeno had chosen this world for several other reasons. "Chakra," the energy produced by physical and spiritual energy, was a true treasure. In the world of Naruto, mere mortals could cleave mountains, create ravines, use seals capable of imprisoning gods, or even move through space.

Some went even further and achieved a kind of pseudo-immortality.

But what would happen when Chakra entered the world of cultivation? Akeno was eager to see all the possibilities. What would happen when a cultivator who transcended Dao and perfected themselves both physically and spiritually gained access to Chakra? If mere mortals could achieve so much in the world of Naruto, what would be the result with a cultivator?

[Caution, the host will now be transported to the world of Naruto.]

Hearing this final warning from the system, as if a mountain had descended onto Akeno, he felt all his strength leave him, and his consciousness sank into a deep sleep…

*** Naruto World ***

"Chikara, hurry up, we're going to be late!"

"Wait for me, Ino, you're running too fast."

The shouts of two children echoed through the vibrant forest. One was running faster than the other. Both around ten years old, they were moving much faster than any normal adult could.

Chikara, who was turning ten this month, was a member of the Uchiha clan. His short black hair fluttered in the wind, dressed in the traditional clan attire with the symbol of a fan fanning flames on his back. He was running with all his might to catch up to Ino Uchiha, who was also about to turn ten.

Like all Uchiha children, the age of ten held an extremely important meaning - adulthood. Since the clan was in constant warfare with others, especially with the Senju clan, children of ten were already considered adults who could join the front lines.

As the two reached the clan ceremony on time, the Uchiha clan patriarch, standing on a platform alongside certain important clan members, had already begun his speech:

"... today, you are no longer seen as mere children, you are no longer the clan's wards. Today, you become full-fledged ninja. You become the ones who protect the clan, those who will face the enemy and destroy it."

As the patriarch spoke, the young Uchiha gathered in the clan square rejoiced at the opportunity to participate in battles. As the saying goes, one only truly knows hell after experiencing it.

All the Uchiha who had been on the battlefield knew the kind of hell these children were being sent into, yet none tried to stop it. As one of the most powerful and arrogant clans, they had to maintain their territories and fight on multiple fronts. The shortage of manpower forced even the youngest to be sent out.

"Chikara, don't worry, I'll protect you, hehe," Ino said upon seeing Chikara's fearful expression.

Chikara had always been weaker than average, and Ino, as his best friend since childhood, had always taken care of him. As the patriarch finally concluded his lengthy speech about the nobility of giving one's life for the clan, an adult from the clan stepped forward beside the patriarch and began shouting names and orders:

"[...], Seiji, Mahito, Chikara, and Daigo, you will depart tomorrow morning and join Genzo's team. Hakuba, Hanai, Ino, [...], you will join Masaaki's team and depart in two days. Machi, Akhito..."

In total, the young Uchiha were divided and integrated into five teams to be sent to various fronts.

"It seems we won't be together in battle," Ino murmured to Chikara.

Though Ino seemed just sad about it, Chikara could see fear in her eyes. Having supported each other since childhood, Ino hadn't considered the possibility of being separated. She wasn't afraid for herself but for him.

"Don't worry, Ino. I'm not so weak that I'd die at the first sight of danger," reassured Chikara, putting a smile on his face.

For the first time since their childhoods, the two young Uchiha would be apart.

…

"Today is the day, I'm heading to the front."

As he woke up from a short night's sleep due to stress, Chikara prepared to join his new team. Leaving his room, he saw his grandmother preparing breakfast for him.

"Chikara, whatever happens down there, don't forget to look after yourself no matter what."

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'm heading to the East front. The clan is under a truce with the Hije clan. There won't be any fighting."

At that time, the Uchiha clan shared its borders with over five different clans. Truces and alliances were common, betrayals even more so. The goal of Genzo's team was to guard the border between the Uchiha clan and the Hije clan. Comprising 100 members, including 15 ten-year-olds, this team was supposed to replace a team already stationed there for the past three months.

"Your parents would be proud of the man you've become, Chikara."

Like most only children of the clan, Chikara's parents had been killed when he was very young. With only his grandmother as family, he had never been alone. Especially with Ino always around.

Finishing his breakfast, Chikara bid farewell to his grandmother and made his way to the East gate of the Uchiha clan. On the way, he looked back one last time at the Uchiha clan, its houses, its inhabitants, and the children under ten running or training, their futures uncertain.

"Chikara!" Suddenly, he heard Ino running to catch up.

"Ino, you shouldn't worry about me. Everything will be fine," Chikara reassured her as she caught him in a hug.

"You better come back, idiot. I won't be able to cover your back this time."

No one was foolish enough not to know. Even though in battle, adults were meant to protect the young from other adults, no one could predict exactly what might happen.

"Come on, let go of me. Everything will be okay. Truthfully, I worry more for you than for myself. You're leaving tomorrow with Masaaki's team for the West front. You'll be facing the Senju head-on."

"I'm much stronger than average, I'll survive."

That was true. Although Ino hadn't awakened her Sharingan yet, she had mastered most ninjutsu and was very talented in taijutsu. That was also the reason she was being sent to the battlefield.

While most women of the clan stayed somewhat removed from battle to give birth to the next generation, the most talented were always sent to the front. The clan couldn't afford to lose a potential elite ninja, even in these difficult times.

After five minutes of comforting, Chikara bid farewell to Ino and continued on to the East gate. Gathered near the gate were around fifty clan members, and a strong scent of arrogance hung in the air. If there was one word that stood out, it was "arrogance."

As long as the Uchiha clan wasn't facing the Senju clan in battle, its members exuded arrogance, automatically viewing others as weak. Fifteen minutes later, the rest of the team members had arrived, and the group set off for what would be a full day of running.