Naruto: Fate System

In the ninja world, the distinction between genius and mediocrity often veers into absurdity.

For example, the supposedly dead-last individuals mentioned in the original story often end up becoming overwhelmingly powerful.

As Shin made his way through the compound the next morning, he reflected on this truth. Since Hiruko was likely in his lab at this hour, it seemed as good a time as any to explore advanced nature transformations.

He found Hiruko hunched over his research notes, shoulders tense in that same defeated posture from yesterday.

"You know, Hiruko," Shin said, leaning against the doorframe, "genius and mediocrity are merely labels given by others. In Ame, as long as your contribution is unique, you are a genius—this is beyond doubt."

A little praise goes a long way, especially with someone so starved for recognition.

Though the statement was a bit cheesy, it still managed to surprise Hiruko. Moved by this encouragement, he eagerly shared his insights on advanced nature transformations.

After Shin learned it, he tried a few times and quickly found his rhythm.

His grasp of chakra nature transformation had always been profound, aided by the system's insights, which provided high-level conceptual guidance.

What he lacked were specific ninjutsu techniques, though the theoretical framework stood ready. Advanced nature transformations offered a way forward, bypassing the need for mastering traditional techniques.

Like many bloodline limit users who excelled without extensive conventional jutsu knowledge, this approach demanded a deep understanding of elemental attributes and the commonalities between jutsu types.

For Shin, this was his area of expertise. He grasped the concept almost instantly.

However, out of consideration for Hiruko's self-esteem, he refrained from demonstrating his success right away and instead thoughtfully remarked, "It's a bit complex; I'll study it further when I return."

He made sure to furrow his brow slightly, as if genuinely struggling with the concept.

The gap between me and a genius isn't that huge after all. Hiruko outwardly maintained a calm demeanor but inwardly sighed in relief.

Upon returning to his private quarters, outside Hiruko's view, Shin began experimenting in earnest. Soon, the temperature in the room plummeted, his breath forming small clouds in the increasingly frigid air.

Touching the table with his fingertip, a thin layer of frost rapidly spread outward, covering the entire surface in moments.

No longer suppressing his abilities, he fully committed to the attempt—and succeeded in one go. The room temperature dropped even further as his chakra surged, responding to his will.

By fusing his expertise in Water and Wind Release, he created his first advanced nature transformations: Ice Release.

At the moment of fusion, his mind entered a state of complete clarity—like a sudden epiphany. It was as if knowledge, long dormant, sprang to life, reorganizing and connecting into a cohesive whole.

Creating original jutsu had never been so seamless.

Even techniques he had previously deemed impossible due to physical or structural limitations became feasible as his body instinctively adjusted to meet his desires.

When he finally emerged from this state, Shin was startled by the changes in himself.

He quickly used Earth's Echo to examine his body thoroughly.

The technique sent vibrations through the floor, creating a web of sensory information. Like an elephant sensing vibrations through its feet, he could feel the subtle tremors of his own heartbeat resonating through the ground.

But he needed more. The initial scan only scratched the surface of the changes he could sense taking place within himself.

Drawing on his mastery of Wind Release, he took a deep breath, using the air as an extension of his awareness.

The oxygen flowing through his bloodstream became another medium for Earth's Echo, letting him sense the minute changes in his circulatory system—the way his blood now carried a peculiar chill, how his chakra pathways had subtly realigned to accommodate the freezing temperatures.

The vibrations told a story: his bone density had increased ever so slightly, adapting to withstand extreme cold. His cellular structure had shifted, becoming more resistant to freezing. Even his breathing pattern had changed, his lungs now processing the frigid air more efficiently.

Each heartbeat sent new data through this network. Like a doctor using both stethoscope and ultrasound, he built a complete picture.

The changes weren't dramatic, but they were real—his body had physically adapted to channel Ice Release, much like how the Yuki clan's bodies had evolved over generations.

But the speed of adaptation seemed too quick to be natural, even by ninja standards.

Perhaps the rapid transformation was aided by the Body Modification Insights he'd gained from the octopus through his system.

Although still entirely human and incomparable to someone like Kakuzu, who underwent extreme modifications, it was nonetheless astonishing.

For the first time, Shin realized how subjective chakra could be as a power source.

No wonder bloodline limits can be inherited. The moment one awakens, the ability can actively remodel the body. Like a living thing, adapting and evolving with each generation.

To ensure he wasn't overlooking anything, he conducted another full-body scan. The technique revealed even more subtle changes, painting a picture of his transformation on a cellular level.

This brought to mind the modifications his system had performed on his body in the past, such as granting him the Elephant physique and later upgrading it.

The process was strikingly similar to how chakra from bloodline limits transformed the body. The system didn't create something new—it just accelerated what nature already does.

This realization offered a glimpse into the system's inner workings.

He deduced that his system couldn't directly manifest physical objects in the real world. When it had rewarded him with a summoning scroll, it had to rely on external events to materialize it.

Moreover, the system's influence appeared to operate strictly within the boundaries of chakra. While he didn't fully understand its mechanics, any new insight was valuable.

After all, understanding the rules was the first step to bending them.

Setting aside these speculations, Shin began exploring his newly awakened abilities.

The greatest advantage of having a bloodline limit was no longer being constrained by the existing ninjutsu system.

Nearly all bloodline limits offered a fresh, unexplored field of power, allowing him to craft techniques that perfectly suited his combat style without having to force himself to adapt to existing jutsu.

For example, techniques left behind by Hanzō had seen limited use in his repertoire, apart from Water Body Flicker. Most of them, though flashy, were less effective in battle than his straightforward strikes.

But now, with his improved control, he could tailor techniques to his needs.

I need a jutsu that doesn't require occupying both hands after forming seals.

Immediately, ice blossoms formed behind him—three four-leaf clover-shaped crystals floated in a triangular formation.

I need a jutsu that operates autonomously without my active control.

The ice blossoms began spinning, generating piercing winds and razor-sharp wind blades hidden within the gusts.

I also need a jutsu to fill the gaps between my sword strikes and extend my attack range.

The spinning ice blossoms abruptly halted, unleashing a dense ring of ice blades that spread outwards. The frost-covered blades cut through the entire living room, reaching from wall to wall and nearly touching the door.

He could sense the technique's range could go even farther if he focused on a single direction.

Just as he was about to continue refining the jutsu, footsteps approached the door.

Bad timing. Should have set up some barriers.

The door opened, and Kaori appeared carrying a box of snacks. She froze at the sight of a wrecked room—furniture in shambles, walls pocked with jagged marks, and a chilling cold.

Her frail constitution couldn't handle the shock; she fainted on the spot.

"This is awkward," Shin muttered as he caught her. Her body felt surprisingly warm against his now-cold skin. Moving swiftly, he carried her to the nearest couch that wasn't covered in ice.

At least she didn't hit her head when she fell.

Moments later, Kaori regained consciousness. The room was still frigid, her breath forming small clouds in the air.

As soon as she sat up, tears welled in her eyes as she exclaimed, "Oh no, Shin has been captured by Yuki clan ninjas from Kiri!"

In her tearful panic, she finally noticed Shin sitting calmly at her bedside, smiling wryly.

"You actually know about the Yuki clan from Kiri?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Before he could explain further, Kaori lunged forward and hugged him tightly, catching him off guard with her speed and intensity. The remaining ice crystals in the air scattered at her sudden movement, creating a brief shower of sparkles.

Only then did he realize how deeply the misunderstanding had shaken her. Kaori clung to him with such force that before long, he felt his shoulder grow damp.

She really thought I was in danger. Such genuine concern... how troublesome.

After that day, many members of Akatsuki learned that Shin had developed a new ability.

"Have you heard? Captain Shin's developed new abilities," one member said to another during dinner.

"Impressive. No wonder he's risen so quickly," came the reply.

Everyone was happy about his increase in strength. However, only the person involved knew the cost of it.

For several days after, Kaori would blush and avoid him whenever they met, practically diving behind corners when she spotted him coming.

And Konan, for reasons unknown, temporarily took over Kakuzu's job and quietly followed him like a little shadow. Wherever he went, she would trail behind.

A lazy, long-haired Ragdoll cat would stay by her side, stretching languidly but never taking those watchful eyes off Shin. This was Konan's contracted ninja cat, named Sora, with gem-like, lake-blue eyes that seemed.

At first, she wasn't interested in the Sora-ku scroll. Her paper ninjutsu was already exhausting all her energy. Especially after Ajisai failed to form a contract, Konan voluntarily gave up trying, not wanting to discourage her.

However, influenced by Shin, she eventually attempted it again and succeeded.

Shin had an odd sense of shooting himself in the foot. Of all the cats in Sora-ku, she had to contract this dramatic one.

He tried negotiating with Sora, who was lounging on a nearby windowsill, her tail swishing lazily. "Good kitty, I'll give you a can of fish snacks. Go play with Ayumi, okay?"

Sora squinted her eyes, smiling mischievously, with a startlingly human-like slyness. She rolled onto her back, stretching dramatically before she playfully tilted her head and meowed with exaggerated flair.

"Meow~ Did you hear that? This person is offering such a cheap snack. How heartless~!"

From a corner behind Sora, Ayumi emerged in her cat form, looking hurt. She turned to Shin and said, "So mean! Back when I risked my life to blind that big snake, you only gave me three pieces of mango! Three!"

Then she transformed back into her tiny elephant form and used her trunk to snatch the mango Shin always kept in his pocket, munching it with exaggerated indignation.

"..."

Why are even the summons playing drama games with me now... Was I too soft with Ayumi before?

It wasn't as though he had to send Sora away to do anything specific—he just had too many secrets to keep. The constant surveillance was becoming increasingly irritating.

At that moment, a letter was delivered by a summoning animal he didn't recognize. The creature, a small desert hawk, dropped the message and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Sora's nose twitched delicately as she sniffed it from afar. "Meow~ The scent of another woman. It's my nose's fault again~" She rolled over, paw pressed to her forehead.

Ayumi's trunk curled in amusement as she watched the drama unfold, delicately picking up another piece of mango while pretending not to notice aynthing.

Shin rolled his eyes at Sora, unwilling to entertain the drama queen of a ninja cat.

Who knows how such an innocent girl like Konan ended up contracting this theatrical cat.

He opened the letter and quickly skimmed through it. Sora stretched her neck, trying to peek at the contents while pretending to be uninterested.

He was somewhat surprised but found it predictable.

The letter was from Pakura.

"It seems she isn't having a good time," Shin chuckled softly after putting the letter down.

This outcome didn't deviate far from his predictions during their last parting.

Pakura had been away from her village for more than half a year. Even before leaving, she had always been at a disadvantage against Rasa. Turning the tables was never going to be easy—a fact reflected in her current title, Interim Kazekage.

The word 'interim' might as well have been a beautiful collar around her neck.

Several days had passed since the big news of Rasa and Hiruzen stepping down. The aftermath in both villages had been handled remarkably similarly—neither had announced their new Kage successors.

In Konoha, Minato was the acting Hokage but still wore only a partial Hokage robe, with no formal inauguration ceremony. It didn't seem like he intended to return to the village to officially assume the role anytime soon.

Instead, he had Shikaku return to handle internal affairs and duties. He was more cautious than Shin expected.

As for Suna, things were even more turbulent.

Pakura became the Interim Kazekage but hadn't officially been named the Fifth Kazekage, akin to how Danzō in the original series attended the Five Kage Summit as an interim leader. Such leaders wouldn't even have their faces carved on the Kage Rock in Konoha.

It was clear that despite returning with Sasori, she hadn't managed to fully reverse the situation after half a year of absence. The political web in Suna remained as tangled as ever, with each faction pulling in their own direction while she sat at the center of the storm.

Thus, not long after, she was forced to write to Shin for help.

--- A few days ago---

In Suna, a young ANBU operative, still small in stature, flickered into the Kazekage's office and knelt on one knee before Pakura.

"Kazekage-sama, the village's finances are in dire straits. The frontline commander is urging us to resupply ninja tools and puppets. What should I tell them?"

Pakura sat wearily in her chair, massaging her temples. Dark circles under her eyes betrayed countless sleepless nights.

"Maki, stand up," she said. "You don't need to kneel before me here—just call me 'teacher' like before."

Maki was her only trusted confidant in the village. Unfortunately, no matter how talented she was, Maki was still just a child and couldn't help much.

"Tell the frontline commander to have Chiyo handle it—she was the one who promoted that person in the first place."

"And as for the budget crisis, tell Rasa to go into the desert and dig up gold for me! Wasn't he always in charge of that?"

"He claims there are no more accessible deposits," Maki said softly, knowing it was just another excuse.

"What? He's refusing to work now?"

Maki stood silently as Pakura's frustration boiled over, ending in her slamming the desk with enough force to scatter papers across the floor.

Maki lowered her head, not knowing how to comfort her teacher. The only thing she could to help Pakura was bending down to gather the fallen papers. Rasa's sudden inability to find new deposits was too convenient to be coincidence.

But what could they do? The political game had been rigged against them from the start.

After a long silence, broken only by the whisper of sand against the windows, Pakura slumped back in her chair. "The northern desert... it's near the Land of Rain, isn't it?"

If she had a choice, she wouldn't want to contact that Shin again.

The last time they parted had been the first time she'd bested him, finally gaining the upper hand. Reaching out to him would only make her seem like she was at his mercy again.

Given the current situation, except for aid from Akatsuki and Shin who exploited her, each path before her seemed worse than the last. This one at least had a chance of success.

Fine. Let him do it again. At least with him, I know what kind of devil I'm dealing with.

She straightened in her chair. "I'll write a letter to someone outside the village. Maki, do you know the name of the oasis city Rasa mentioned?"

Maki obediently replied, "Rasa-sama said it's called Rōran."

---

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