NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: unveiling shadow's
The weeks following my discovery of the Kurozumi Clan Legacy were a whirlwind. I had unlocked knowledge that would shape the future of the Kurozumi clan, but it wasn't enough to simply know. I needed power—the kind of power that would allow me to protect myself, to survive in this harsh world.
I continued to train in secret. My mother was too busy with the affairs of the clan to pay much attention to my growth, though she did often comment on my increasing skill. But the truth was that I was no ordinary child. My chakra control had surpassed that of most adults, and I was already able to form basic jutsu. Thanks to the Gamer System, learning had become second nature to me. Each skill I unlocked, each quest I completed, brought me closer to something far greater.
It wasn't just my chakra control that was improving. My eyes, the eyes of the Kurozumi clan, were becoming more attuned to the world around me. I could see chakra flows even without trying. I could detect subtle shifts in the environment, hear the faintest of sounds, and sense the presence of others from miles away. My Rinnegan and Six Eyes were not just tools—they were a part of me, an extension of my very soul. The potential was vast, but also dangerous.
One evening, as the sun set behind the Kurozumi clan's secluded compound, I was training outside in the garden, working on my control over the chakra within my body. I was in the midst of a deep meditation when a strange sensation washed over me—a feeling that someone was watching.
I opened my eyes, scanning the area with my enhanced vision. That was when I saw him.
A tall figure stood at the edge of the garden, his presence almost ghostly. He wore a black cloak, and his face was hidden beneath a hood. The faintest trace of chakra lingered around him, but it was unlike anything I had ever sensed. His chakra felt cold, distant, almost as if it belonged to another world entirely.
"Impressive," a low voice called out, cutting through the silence. "I can feel it—your potential."
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. My instincts screamed that this man was dangerous, but something else—something familiar—told me that he wasn't a mere threat. There was an undeniable connection between us, as if we were bound by a shared destiny.
I stood up, raising my guard. My eyes locked onto the figure, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow. The power within me surged to the surface, but I held it in check. I couldn't afford to reveal too much just yet.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice steady but laced with curiosity.
The man tilted his head slightly. "A shadow from the past," he replied. "You may not know me, Sora Kurozumi, but I know you. I've been watching you."
My eyes widened. How did he know my name?
"Watching me?" I repeated, stepping back, my mind racing. "Why?"
The man smirked beneath his hood. "Because you are the key to something much larger. The power within you is... rare. But it also makes you a target."
Before I could respond, the man dissolved into the shadows, his figure disappearing as if he had never been there. I blinked, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Who was that man? And what did he mean by 'the key'? My body instinctively shifted into a more defensive posture as I searched the garden, but there was no sign of him.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. This was a warning. The first of many, I suspected.
Quest Update:
[Investigate the Shadow Man]
Objective: Find any traces of the mysterious figure who appeared in the garden.
Reward: +10 XP, +5 Intelligence, Unlock the 'Shadow Perception' skill.
I had no choice but to pursue this quest. Whoever this man was, he had information that could help me understand the true extent of my powers—and the dangers that came with them. The Gamer System had given me a new task, and I would see it through.
Over the next few days, I searched the grounds, using my enhanced vision to scan every inch of the compound. I even delved into the hidden rooms of the clan's compound—rooms that had been sealed away for centuries. My eyes scanned every nook and cranny, but there were no signs of the man.
It was only when I explored the deeper chambers of the clan's library that I found something that made my heart race: a series of old scrolls, hidden away in a locked chest. They were written in the same ancient language as the texts I had discovered during my quest to unlock the Kurozumi clan's legacy.
System Prompt:
[Unlock Hidden Kurozumi Clan Scrolls]
Objective: Decode the ancient scrolls to reveal their contents.
Reward: +15 XP, Unlock Kurozumi Clan Secret Techniques.
The scrolls were filled with knowledge about the Kurozumi clan's forbidden jutsu. These techniques were powerful and destructive, often bending the rules of nature itself. But there was one technique that caught my attention—Shadow Manipulation. It was a technique said to allow the user to control shadows, bending them to their will. This was the power the man had used to disappear.
The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. The man wasn't just an observer. He was someone with deep knowledge of the Kurozumi clan's abilities. And if he was using shadow manipulation, that meant he had to be connected to the clan in some way.
I had to learn this technique. It might be the key to understanding not only this mysterious figure but also the true potential of my own powers.