Ninja World: Power through Bonds

The next day.

It was a rare day off, and Denji slept in until noon.

Ebiki wouldn't be coming today, but Denji wasn't planning to waste the day. Heading into the village to establish new bonds felt inefficient, so he decided to focus on training at home instead.

For the system to forge a bond, three conditions had to be met. First, both parties needed to meet face-to-face. Second, they had to know each other's names. And third, Denji needed to leave a lasting impression on the other person.

So far, only the bonds from his parents had been exceptions to these rules. Since most adults saw him as just a child, they hardly paid him any serious attention, making the third condition difficult to achieve. This was why his two bodyguards, Aburame Seiji, and Yamanaka Ryo, still hadn't triggered even the most basic bond. In their eyes, Denji was merely a mission target, not someone they respected or admired.

For now, the ninja academy remained the best place to form bonds. It was how Denji had unlocked his Fire nature. With time, he hoped to gain all five elemental natures—and maybe even Yin Release.

Stepping into the courtyard, Denji picked up a small practice blade made just for him. He began practicing basic slashes, repeating each motion with focused precision. In the ninja world, swords and knives weren't strictly distinguished, though Denji saw them as the same thing. Even the legendary Kusanagi was just another blade to him.

But Denji wasn't one to argue about terminology. If everyone called it a sword, then he'd do the same.

With his talent for swordsmanship, Denji knew he could potentially reach the highest level of mastery once he became a Genin. It would be a waste not to train diligently. After all, most ninjas in this world were just ordinary people, regardless of how strong they were. A well-placed blade strike could be just as effective—if not more—than most ninjutsu.

Ordinary ninja often didn't learn many advanced jutsu. More often than not, they relied on taijutsu and basic tools in battle. Ninjutsu was reserved for gaining a strategic advantage or finishing the fight in one decisive blow. Contrary to what some might think, not every ninja could fling jutsu as effortlessly as Naruto.

The soft whoosh of the blade cutting through the air echoed in the courtyard. Sunlight filtered through the clear blue sky, casting warm rays onto Denji's brow. Beads of sweat formed and sparkled as they rolled down his face.

His practice stretched from lunch until the sun began to dip. Just as he was about to stop, a deep voice called from behind.

"Denji."

He turned to see a tall, weathered man with a bandage over one eye. His features were stern, his aura cold and commanding. Yet when he looked at Denji, a rare smile broke through.

Perhaps because he didn't smile often, the old man's smile looked very stiff.

It was none other than Shimura Danzō—the shadow of the ninja world, the infamous sixth Hokage candidate, and the so-called "Strongest Nabekage."

"You're back, old man," Denji greeted him. Since the day he learned to speak, he had always called Danzō "old man." Never "grandfather."

Danzō didn't mind. It wasn't in his nature to fuss over titles. He could be ruthless, scheming against anyone and everyone, but Denji was his only blood relative—the continuation of his legacy. He pinned all his hopes on the boy, dreaming that Denji would not only inherit Root but one day become Hokage as well.

And so far, Denji hadn't let him down. His talent rivaled that of Kakashi. Even though he was still at the academy, Denji had already reached the level of a Genin.

Still, there was one glaring shortcoming: he had no kekkei genkai.

Danzō's visible eye darkened at the thought. In his mind, no matter how skilled a regular ninja was, their potential had a limit. To truly stand above the rest, one needed a kekkei genkai—Sharingan, Wood Release, something extraordinary.

His thoughts drifted to recent developments in the village. Meanwhile, Denji stood in place, processing what had just happened. As soon as Danzō appeared, the system's notifications rang out in his mind.

[You have activated a family bond with Shimura Danzō. Reward: Wind nature (genius level).]

[You have reached stage two of your bond with Shimura Danzō. Reward: Grandmaster-level Wind nature transformation.]

Denji couldn't help but smile. This was the first time meeting Danzō since the system activated, so it made sense the bond triggered now. The two rewards fused, leaving Denji with a sharper, more commanding presence. He could feel the power of the Wind nature coursing through him—a gift from one of the strongest Wind Release masters in the entire ninja world.

After all, how many people could claim to have cut through Susanoo using Wind Release techniques?

Danzō noticed the shift in Denji's demeanor. He snapped out of his musings and stepped into the courtyard.

"I have some free time today," Danzō said. "I haven't checked on your progress in a while. Show me what you've learned."

"Sure," Denji replied. He adjusted his grip on his blade and immediately charged forward.

The air around the weapon shimmered faintly, and Danzō's single eye glinted with approval.

'Nature transformation? At this age?'

Good. Very good.

Denji closed the distance in moments, his blade slicing toward Danzō's chest. With a simple sidestep, Danzō avoided the attack. Denji responded by pivoting into a sweeping kick, but Danzō blocked it easily, using the impact to create distance. Undeterred, Denji lunged again, pressing the attack with a combination of strikes and well-timed ninjutsu.

For his part, Danzō barely moved. He effortlessly deflected each strike, guiding Denji through a relentless series of counters. Even so, Denji poured his full strength into every move, unafraid of showing his weaknesses. If there was one person he could safely test his limits against, it was Danzō.

Fifteen minutes passed. Finally, Denji stopped, panting heavily. His Chakra reserves were nearly depleted.

"Well done, Denji," Danzō said, a rare, genuine smile on his face. "But remember, talent alone doesn't make you strong. You've got potential, but you're not there yet."

Denji grinned, despite his exhaustion. He could see the pride in Danzō's expression, and that gave him a surge of determination. His efforts had paid off. Today, he'd taken another step closer to his goal.

...

Later, at dinner, Denji glanced up at his grandfather. "You seemed upset when you got back. Did something happen?"

Danzō took a calm sip of tea before replying, "Who else? That stubborn fool Hiruzen. My plan to assassinate him didn't go as expected, so it looks like I'll have to wait a bit longer before I take the Hokage's seat."

Denji paused mid-bite, not sure how to respond. "...."