Path Of War

Arthur blinked against the sudden, blinding whiteness. The pod he'd been in moments ago was gone, replaced by an all-white room devoid of any features except the smooth floor beneath his feet.

He was sure he wasn't outside, yet he could feel the cold air permeating the void. This was it. He was inside an authentic virtual world.

A holographic screen appeared before him, floating a few feet away. He approached it, hearing his shoes echo across the area. As he touched it, a series of holographic pages and scenes materialized before him.

The scenes depicted the characters, objects, and places within the world he would embark on. On the first page, it displayed various texts identifying the pod he was currently in. These things were already explained to him, so he skipped them.

The next page displayed a series of bulleted points titled "Important Notes."

Arthur skimmed through the list, each point raising new questions. It appeared hunger and thirst were real concerns within the simulation. Our bodies would feel exactly like we were outside the pod if we didn't give it its needed sustenance.

This was strange. Why would Elysian introduce something like this into the experiment?

Arthur continued to read that ignoring these warnings could lead to exhaustion and even dehydration, mirroring real-world consequences. Hygiene, too, seemed to be critical. Contracting an illness was possible if proper hygiene wasn't maintained.

This level of detail was unexpected.

The following points dealt with the world itself. Before reading that, something caught his eye: "Friendly Fire Enabled."

A brief explanation outlined the lack of restrictions on player interaction. He could team up with others, yes, but he could also attack them as if it were a player-versus-player scenario (or PVP).

The uneasiness of it all finally settled in. Perhaps he didn't have ideas of teaming up with anyone; that didn't mean they wouldn't attack him. Arthur could already tell from some of their personalities that players like Jasper would relish the idea of fighting him.

With a final swipe, the holographic pages dissolved, replaced by a warning glowing in red: "This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real or fictional worlds is purely coincidental."

Arthur scoffed a little.

The warning then changed to display a detailed breakdown of the world Arthur was about to enter. Text flowed across the surface, accompanied by visuals that brought the narrative to life.

Naruto, the character, was born in a village known as the Hidden Leaf Village. A monstrous fox, the Nine-Tails, named Kurama, was released by one of the antagonists and attacked the village. Its enormous size and ferocious visage were enough to frighten men. The text described its immense power and how a single swipe of its tail could cause widespread destruction.

This creature was known as a "Tailed Beast." Nine of them were created out of the chakra from the original tailed beast called the "Ten-Tails."

The scene shifted, showcasing Naruto's father, Minato Namikaze, who was also the fourth Hokage—the previous leader of the village—facing off against the Nine-Tails. The text explained his valiant act of sealing the fox in his newborn child.

As Arthur read the story, he couldn't help but find it strange that the father didn't reseal part of the fox back into his wife, the original carrier of the beast (known as a Jinchūriki).

The image of Naruto appeared next. He was a young boy with spiky blond hair and bright blue eyes. Though he was smiling in the hologram, Arthur could vividly tell that there was a hint of sadness lurking beneath his features.

The text revealed the truth—Naruto wasn't just any child; he was the reincarnation of the son of the ninja who spread his teachings, which led to the creation of the ninja world. That ninja's name was Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, son of the real antagonist of the story, Princess Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

Arthur could hardly make sense of what he was reading. He hoped the story would gain some clarity as he watched the scene morph into a bustling village filled with traditional Japanese architecture.

This was the Hidden Leaf Village. The text explained how the villagers, despite celebrating the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice, ostracized Naruto. They viewed him as a monster—the embodiment of the Nine-Tails they feared.

The image dissolved again, replaced by a lone figure sitting on a rooftop overlooking the village. It was a depiction of Naruto's isolation. The text described his childhood as one filled with loneliness, devoid of friends or family.

Shunned by the villagers, he resorted to pranks and mischief in a desperate attempt for attention. He would eventually come to the realization that the only way for him to garner respect was to become the Hokage himself.

A new scene unfolded, showing Naruto facing a series of enemies. The text explained how his actions to protect everyone revealed every turning point in the plot. Through these encounters, he not only learned to tame the Nine-Tails inside him, but he also managed to redeem his best friend and become the Hokage in the end.

As the holographic screen flicked off, Arthur felt a wave of emotions wash over him. The story of Naruto wasn't at all good. Filled with themes of isolation, friendship, and perseverance, it contradicts itself one too many times, having copied things from other anime, including that of the Bible.

The characters are inherently overpowered and inconsistent with said power. It's filled with convoluted techniques that can raise the dead. It undercuts its own message that hard work profits when the main character is gifted everything from birth.

Perhaps the worst thing is that Naruto can redeem even the most hardened villains through a simple heart-to-heart conversation that fans lovingly or not-so-lovingly refer to as "Talk No Jutsu." While their change isn't hard to believe, it's the notion that it happens one too many times, causing poor pacing.

After Arthur refreshed himself on things, he considered the overall mission to survive. It was a little vague, but if there's one thing he knew about survival, it was to stay strong and faithful.

This world has a variety of ways to get strong. All one truly needed was a large chakra reserve.

Chakra is the force made up of spiritual and physical energy that ninjas use to perform jutsus. It flows through a network of channels in the body and can be moulded and released through pressure points. Skilled ninjas can build up large chakra reserves and control them precisely to create powerful techniques.

Chakra comes in different colours unique to each person and can be sensed by other ninjas. It takes time and training to develop good chakra control, which is essential for using jutsu effectively.

There are different methods for manipulating chakra, such as shape transformation (controlling form and movement) and nature transformation (adding an element like fire or water). Other than that, chakra can come in various forms, such as Tailed-Beast chakra, sage chakra, and dark chakra.

Arthur skimmed back to the "Important Notes" section.

The mention of characters like Zetsu having watered-down abilities intrigued him. Zetsu was Kaguya's manifested will, and he spent centuries trying to revive his mother. His notable skill was to travel to almost anywhere in the world and spy on others without being detected.

Nerfing that character could create a more balanced playing field for newcomers. Conversely, since he was weakened, other unnamed characters were boosted to add a layer of unpredictable danger.

The story would also begin a couple weeks before Naruto's official ninja graduation. This buffer period offered precious time to acclimate to the virtual world.

There was more in regards to these character changes. Since every interaction and every choice made will have lasting consequences, characters, including the main ones, could be killed permanently. There would be no way to revive them without special techniques.

The final bits of information clarified the starting point.

All players would be registered as citizens of the Hidden Leaf Village, with their starting resources—money, chakra, and power—determined squarely by their chosen character.

Interested in what characters could be chosen, he hovered his finger over the "Character Creation" option. A holographic image materialized before him.

Unlike the detailed avatars he'd expected, this was a reflection staring back at him. A younger version of himself, to be precise. He looked about twelve or thirteen years old, his features still boyish, but with a hint of the man he would become one day.

It was understandable that he'd be limited to his youthful self. Considering that the main characters were also still young, it made sense to help them better interact in their story.

However, his own character hardly looked imposing. He stood at barely 4'6 with a lanky one-hundred-pound build. His short brown hair stuck out in all directions, and his brown eyes held trepidation.

Upon pressing the image, a tingling sensation spread through his body, starting at his fingertips and crawling its way upwards. His clothes dissolved, replaced by a simple brown tunic and loose-fitting trousers.

He flexed his hand as he noticed the calluses and rough skin being replaced with soft flesh. This wasn't just a visual change; it felt real and tangible.

The holographic screen flicked again, displaying a new prompt: "Clan Selection."

Clans were hereditary lineages within the ninja world, each renowned for unique abilities passed down through generations. They're like family units in their respective villages. Though they were used to fighting each other, many of them came together to form said villages.

Seven options materialized before Arthur.

The first five were names that he recognized—Uzumaki, Senju, Uchiha, Ōtsutsuki, and Hyūga. These are undoubtedly the world's top clans, according to his memory.

The Uzumaki's immense chakra reserves, the Senju's wood style jutsus, the Uchiha's Sharingan eyes, the Ōtsutsuki's alien lineage, and the Hyūga's Byakugan eyes with their near-360-degree vision.

Following these illustrious names stood a sixth option: "Random Hidden Leaf Village Clan." The prospect of a surprise lineage held a certain appeal. It could be one of the many well-known clans that were raised to be just as strong as the aforementioned.

Finally, the last option gleamed at the bottom: "Clan-less."

Arthur's gaze drifted towards the Uzumaki clan. Although it was greyed out, it was worth looking into. Their clan was remembered by their symbol, a spiraling circle. In addition to being the main character's clan, they were associated with powerful sealing jutsus—techniques that could seal almost anything.

Arthur reached out, his finger hovering over the selection. Disappointment gnawed at him as the image remained stubbornly greyed out. A message appeared beside it: "Unavailable Selection."

He quickly shifted his focus to a selection that wasn't greyed out: the Uchiha clan. This clan had the infamous legendary Sharingan, powerful eyes to be used for both offense and defense.

Before he could tap the option, a new message materialized: "Clan Selection Pending. Wait For Other Players."

Arthur furrowed his brows.

This was ridiculous! He'd been the last one to enter the virtual world, and now it seemed his selection possibilities were being limited? Now he fully understood what Dr. Kapoor meant by first-come, first-serve.

As the seconds went by, his frustration intensified. The Uchiha clan faded to grey, followed by the Senju clan, the Ōtsutsuki clan, and then the Hyūga clan. He couldn't even tell who was choosing what.

With a defeated sigh, Arthur watched as the "Random Hidden Leaf Village Clan" option also vanished, leaving only the "Clan-less" selection. The other players, whoever they were, had already claimed their legacies, leaving him with the barest option.

What exactly did each clan offer?

He flipped through the taken clans with a growing sense of resignation. Each one offered unique advantages, hinting at the diverse strategies his fellow players were likely pursuing.

The Uzumaki clan allowed the player to start off with a seemingly endless well of chakra. A sum of one thousand ryō, the currency of the world, would also be provided. One thousand ryō would be equivalent to one hundred fifty thousand American dollars!

Perhaps the most enticing perk is the ability to select any sealing technique of their choosing. Sealing techniques were powerful jutsus, capable of trapping even the most formidable opponents.

It was no surprise that this was the first clan to become unavailable. With such a potent mix of advantages, it would be a prime target for any aspiring ninja. Arthur couldn't help but suspect William or Margaret, the two with the deepest knowledge of Naruto lore, had snagged it.

Next was the Uchiha clan, whose symbol resembled a stylized fan. Choosing this clan would give the player a one hundred percent success rate in awakening the Sharingan.

This was insane!

The Sharingan is a powerful eye technique (known as a dōjutsu) exclusive to the Uchiha clan. It awakens with intense emotions, often involving loss. And once activated, it grants the user special abilities. Such abilities include, but are not limited to, seeing chakra flow, taijutsu (ninja martial arts), and predicting movements.

Awakening the Mangekyō. Sharingan, a more advanced form with unique abilities like Amaterasu (inextinguishable black flames) and Tsukuyomi (a powerful illusion), requires experiencing a great emotional trauma, often the death of a loved one.

However, overuse of the Mangekyō can lead to blindness. There are ways to restore sight, but they typically involve transplanting the Mangekyō of another Uchiha.

The player has not only a guaranteed awakening, but advancement to the Sharingan's more powerful forms is certain. There was also a choice between Susanoo, a powerful spectral armor, and either Amaterasu or Tsukuyomi. Both were incredible, since the former could incinerate almost anything it touched.

Upon reaching Sharingan's advanced form, the player would develop a unique ability based on their personality, adding a layer of customization.

Not only would the player receive a respectable sum of five hundred ryō, they would also be offered village protection against greedy individuals seeking their Sharingan.

This clan screamed power!

Arthur could easily imagine someone like Jasper, the player with a clear desire for dominance, choosing this path. The Sharingan's combat prowess was undeniable, and the potential for a custom ability added unfairness.

Next up was the Senju clan, the clan in which the main character's spiritual ancestor formed. The benefits here felt more balanced but no less potent.

Similar to the Uzumaki, a player who selected the Senju clan would have formidable chakra reserves. Chakra is essential in this world. With a lot of it, a ninja wouldn't run out of stamina too quickly during a fight.

The player would also have a fifty percent change in three different categories. They could inherit wood style, one of Tsunade Senju's signature techniques, and have the potential to possess their own natural healing factor!

Wood style was a unique nature manipulation technique that allowed its user to control and shape wood itself. Tsunade was stated to become the fifth Hokage and was physically strong—strong enough to throw objects miles away. As for regeneration, it was a rare thing, allowing the user to recover from injuries at an accelerated rate.

And there were still more benefits.

A pre-existing pact with the slugs, a race of powerful and intelligent creatures known for their healing abilities, was already established. The player could choose two elemental affinities, the basic building blocks of jutsu, to specialize in. And lastly, seven hundred ryō awaited the player.

This clan was a powerhouse in its own right. It was a formidable option because of its potential for wood style, Tsunade's techniques, and self-healing. Only one drawback existed: if the player chooses this clan and their background is discovered, they'll become targets for their cells.

Arthur continued to flip through the next clans.

The Ōtsutsuki Clan, a clan symbolized by a crescent moon. A player who chose this would have a blend of power and risk.

Like the Uzumaki and Senju, they get immense chakra reserves. A fifty percent chance awaited—the possibility of awakening either the Byakugan, an eye with near-360-degree vision and the ability to see chakra flow, or the Sharingan.

If the Byakugan was awakened, a guaranteed evolution to the Tenseigan, an even more powerful eye with unique abilities, was assured.

They would also acquire a unique trait called "Tailed-Beast Whisper," an aura surrounding them that could help them befriend the Tailed Beasts. As a start, the player could choose any one jutsu from a pre-made list of techniques used by various Ōtsutsuki clan members.

This clan was the epitome of high-risk, high-reward. The potential for the Tenseigan and a pre-existing jutsu was tantalizing. Perhaps the only downside to choosing this clan was that the player would start with zero ryō.

Arthur suspected Alex, the analytical type, might have gravitated towards this option.

Next was the Hyūga clan. The benefits here were more focused on combat.

Similar to the Uchiha's Sharingan, the player was guaranteed the awakening of the Byakugan, the aforementioned eye with exceptional vision and chakra perception.

Unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan couldn't evolve further. However, the player could refine its vision, unlocking the full 360-degree view instead of the standard near-360 degrees.

The player would also have an easier time learning taijutsu, a fighting style focused on hand-to-hand combat and utilizing the body's natural potential. Following, the player could choose one jutsu each from Neji Hyūga and Hinata Hyūga, two prominent members of the clan with unique fighting styles.

A significant drawback existed—the player would start as a member of the Hyūga branch family, a subordinate group within the clan. This meant having a cursed seal on their forehead, a mark of subservience.

The final one was like clan roulette, in which the player would be randomly assigned one of the three clans: Nara, Akimichi, or Yamanaka. These clans, though powerful when working together, weren't as individually renowned as the others.

Regardless of which of those three clans they would start with, they would automatically receive five thousand ryō.