Naruto: The King of Despair

"We are back!" exclaimed Sayuri as she entered the house, her voice breaking the stillness that hung in the air. Shikato, who had been deep in meditation while testing the effects of Zetsubougan, flinched at the sudden noise, momentarily losing his focus. Across the dimly lit room, Monokuma let out his signature giggle, his eerie figure retreating into the shadows as if the light itself rejected him.

Shikato stood up hastily, his instincts kicking in as he went to greet his family. Sayuri seemed to be in high spirits, her radiant smile suggesting something good had happened during their outing. On the other hand, Shikaro, his father, appeared lost in thought, his brows furrowed as though contemplating an unsolvable riddle. Shikato watched them both silently, observing their contrasting moods.

Once seated at the dinner table, the family settled into a familiar rhythm. Sayuri busied herself in the kitchen, humming softly as the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Shikato noticed his father glancing at him with a mix of concern and hesitation, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Are you feeling well, son?" Shikaro's voice broke the comfortable silence, his tone laced with worry. Shikato blinked in surprise. The question seemed to come out of nowhere, but when he looked into his father's eyes, he understood. After all, he had nearly died not too long ago.

Before Shikato could respond, Sayuri stormed over, pan in hand, and smacked Shikaro on the head. "Honey, he just got home! Will you give him a moment to breathe?"

Shikaro raised his hands in surrender, the corners of his mouth twitching as he decided against arguing. The pan in Sayuri's grip was a formidable deterrent. Shikato couldn't help but laugh at the sight, the warmth of their playful exchange momentarily driving away the shadow of despair that had been looming over him.

Dinner that night was filled with laughter and lighthearted teasing. Shikato found himself smiling more than he had in days, grateful for the comfort of his family. However, not everything was as perfect as it seemed.

Monokuma, who had been lurking in the background, made his presence known in the most obnoxious way possible—by smacking Sayuri on the backside and laughing maniacally. Shikato froze, his helplessness bubbling to the surface. Why was Monokuma allowed to harm others so freely? His frustration mounted as he watched the creature dissolve into the shadows, its cackling echoing in his ears.

Just as Shikato tried to push the thought away, a new message appeared in the system interface:

Dear Shikato,

After observing you for the past week, it is evident that you have failed to gather an adequate number of points. Therefore, Monokuma has been granted a special privilege. If you fail to collect at least 50 points every day, Monokuma will gain the ability to harm others physically.

The words sent a cold shiver down Shikato's spine. His hands trembled as he reread the message. This wasn't just a game anymore. The stakes had been raised to an unimaginable level. He now had no choice but to torment others to protect his family. The thought churned his stomach, but what could he do? Letting Monokuma roam free was not an option.

"I'm not bad—I'm just drawn that way. Upupu!" Monokuma's mocking voice echoed in his mind, making the situation feel even more suffocating.

After dinner, Shikato tried to slip away quietly, but his parents were not having it.

"You're not leaving anytime soon," Sayuri said firmly, reaching into her medical pouch. Shikaro grabbed Shikato by the shoulders, effectively pinning him in place.

"What are you—" Shikato began, but his words were cut off when Sayuri pulled out a pill.

The small black pill looked more like a lump of tar than medicine. It reeked of bitterness and foreboding. Shikato's eyes widened in horror as his mother's devilish grin grew.

"Don't worry, it's for your own good," she said, her tone betraying no sympathy.

The Nara clan's medical pills were renowned throughout the ninja world for their potency and effectiveness. However, their bitter pills were infamous—no amount of praise could justify their horrific taste.

Before he could protest, Sayuri shoved the pill into his mouth, her aim swift and precise. Shikaro held him steady, chuckling under his breath. Shikato gagged as the bitterness exploded on his tongue, the taste worse than he could have ever imagined.

After what felt like an eternity, he stumbled back to his room, his parents' laughter trailing behind him. He shut the door with a sigh, collapsing onto the bed.

The moment he regained his composure, Shikato opened the system shop. The urgency of his situation demanded immediate action. He navigated to his preselected items and made the purchases without hesitation:

Yin Nature Growth-Type Technique – 1000 pointsChakra Ascension Technique – 4000 points

The items appeared in his inventory instantly, accompanied by detailed descriptions:

Undead (E):

You can summon and contain an undead creature. As this undead being gains power and becomes more formidable, the effectiveness of this technique will also increase proportionally.

Chakra Ascension Technique: Yin (-A):

Increases your proficiency in using Yin chakra.

Shikato's eyes lingered on the descriptions, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in his chest. The Undead technique reminded him of the legendary Edo Tensei, though its exact mechanics were unclear. As for the Chakra Ascension Technique, it felt like a lifeline. Yin chakra, though still foreign to him, could become his greatest weapon.

Without wasting another moment, Shikato sat cross-legged on the floor, adopting a meditative position. He activated Zetsubougan, and for the first time, he felt the dormant reserves of Yin chakra within him. The chakra was cold and murky, an ominous presence that sent chills through his body. It reminded him of the first time he encountered Monokuma—a darkness that seemed to seep into his very soul.

Pushing past his discomfort, Shikato focused on manipulating the chakra. Though sluggish and unresponsive at first, the chakra began to flow more freely, likely due to the Chakra Ascension Technique. Hours passed as he worked tirelessly, sweat dripping down his brow.

By the time dawn broke, Shikato had made significant progress. The Yin chakra, once inaccessible, now responded to his will—albeit with difficulty. More importantly, he could sense its presence even without Zetsubougan.

As he wiped his forehead, exhaustion threatened to pull him under, but a sense of accomplishment kept him awake. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but at least now, he had a fighting chance.