Smoldering Ruins of the Village Hidden in the Rain
The rain had stopped. For the first time in days, the sky no longer wept over Amegakure.Sung Jin-Woo stood atop the remains of a destroyed building—the shadows rippling at his feet like a living extension of his will.
The system flashed before his eyes:
[ Summoning Update ]
[Dimensional Energy: 90% converted (Mana → Chakra)]
[Shadow Efficiency: 47%]
[Summonable Units: 24,152 / 1,304,807]
[Command Stability: 64%]
[Integration with current plane: Partial]
[World Threat Level: Immeasurable]
[Local Dominance: Neutral]
He slowly closed the window. His gaze fixed on the six kneeling figures before him.
Shattered armor. Black robes marked with the red cloud symbol.But the eyes... now glowed with the deep hue of shadows.
"Six bodies... controlled remotely by one man.""Technology? Jutsu? Sorcery?"
He walked among the figures.Each of them bowed before him like new knights.Beru approached, lowering his head beside them. Almost as if in acceptance.
Jin-Woo then spoke, quietly:
"You will be my eyes here. My claws.""From this day on…"
He extended his hand.
"...you are the Six Paths of Shadow."
A pulse rippled through the area. As if the system had accepted the baptism.
The shadows of the former Paths of Pain glimmered briefly, synchronizing.
[ Subcommanders appointed:· Shikage (Deva Path)· Gokurei (Asura Path)· Zanshin (Human Path)· Kyōma (Animal Path)· Dōmei (Naraka Path)· Enshō (Preta Path)Hierarchy defined.Synchronization: Stable.Tactical Capacity: High. ]
Jin-Woo crossed his arms, observing the destroyed city in the distance.
"This world... has no Monarchs.""But it's not ignorant of war."
He remembered Konan's face… Obito's. And the words of the man who vanished into space like a ghost.
"They don't know what I am. And I don't know what they are.""But something in this world is forcing my power to adapt.""It's as if... reality itself is restricting me."
He opened his palm and summoned a small common shadow.
It appeared... trembling. Unstable. And vanished seconds later.
"Useless. Weak."
"The system is working, but... it's like this world is written in another language. Mana and chakra... are similar, but not the same. There is conflict."
He sighed. His gaze now fixed on the horizon.
"This isn't a normal dungeon.""Or is it a dungeon that crosses worlds?""If so... then the Monarchs weren't the only rulers."
Silence.
"Maybe... here, there are new Monarchs."
He turned his neck slowly. The shadows around him gathered.
Beru hissed with enthusiasm.
"Let's find out."
Shadow CouncilLocation: Land of Iron — Neutralized Assembly Hall
Snow fell silently outside.Inside the hexagonal hall, the five Kage sat in a circle, with their aides nearby. At the center, a scroll sealed with the Fire Country emblem rested on a cold iron table.
Mifune, the meeting's mediator, spoke solemnly:
— "Thank you for accepting the emergency summons. A common enemy demands it."
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, broke the silence with clenched fists on the table:
— "Akatsuki has already captured two tailed beasts. Two jinchūriki vanished without a trace."— "Yugito Nii from Kumo and Roshi from Iwa."
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, grumbled with disdain:
— "I always said that idiot Roshi would be a problem. Left the village and played hermit."— "Now you want to blame Iwagakure for the failure? Bah!"
A, the Raikage, slammed the table hard:
— "This isn't about blame, you stubborn old man!"— "Akatsuki is on the move. And no one knows where or how."— "They're high-level rogue ninjas, with ANBU-level intel. And someone is funding their operations."
Mei Terumī, the Fifth Mizukage, crossed her arms:
— "And the rumors that they have the locations of the other beasts? Are they true?"
Tsunade nodded with a hard look.
— "My master Jiraiya confirmed the leader of Akatsuki is hiding in Amegakure."— "A village that has completely shut itself off. Not even birds can enter."— "His name... is Pain."
Ōnoki raised an eyebrow.
— "Pain? What kind of name is that?"
— "The kind that killed Hanzo the Salamander." — A added grimly. — "And took over an entire village without resistance."
Mei looked at Tsunade with suspicion:
— "And Konoha will act?"
— "Jiraiya will investigate personally." — the Hokage replied. — "It's not yet time for a full assault."
Ōnoki scoffed:
— "Always sending others, huh, Konoha?"
Tsunade shot a cold glare:
— "If you want to send someone from Iwa, be my guest. But don't send a ghost. Send a real ninja."
Tension spiked for a moment.But Mifune intervened:
— "The focus is Akatsuki. We're losing jinchūriki.If two more are captured, the stability of the villages will collapse."
The group fell into thought.
Gaara, still young, spoke for the first time—calm but direct:
— "They will come after me."
Silence.
— "I'm the jinchūriki of Shukaku. And I have no intention of running."
Tsunade looked at him. A hint of respect in her eyes.
— "You're Kazekage now. Protect yourself. But don't fight alone."
Gaara only responded with a firm nod.
Ōnoki, at last, grumbled as he stood:
— "Villages joining forces... who would've thought. The world really is changing."
Location: Konoha — Ichiraku Ramen
The smell of hot broth and roasted garlic filled the air.A soft evening breeze blew through the flaps of Ichiraku.
Naruto stuffed his mouth with ramen like he was at war with the noodles.
— SLURP — "Old man Teuchi, you outdid yourself today!"
Sakura laughed, resting her face on her hand as she ate more slowly.
— "You say that every day, Naruto."
Kakashi calmly flipped through a small orange book, his chopsticks resting beside the bowl.
— "At least now he talks with his mouth full... a small evolution."
Naruto gulped down the broth at once, turning to his master:
— "Speaking of which… Kakashi-sensei could pay today, right? Since he's an adult."
Kakashi didn't even look up.
— "Adults have bills. Shinobi have debts. And you have... ambition."
Sakura huffed.
— "Translation: you're paying, Naruto."
— "Tch... I don't even care anymore."
For a moment, the trio fell silent, only the sound of chopsticks and bubbling broth filling the space.
Sakura then looked to the side:
— "Master Jiraiya... still hasn't come back, huh?"
Kakashi closed the book. Spent a while watching the street beyond the restaurant flap.
— "Out-of-village mission. Long. S-rank. Only the Hokage knows the details."
Naruto lowered his head slightly, eyes drifting from the void to his bowl.
— "He always leaves so suddenly..."
— "But he always comes back." — Kakashi added. — "Jiraiya's not easy to take down."
Naruto nodded, quieter. Sakura watched him, but didn't press. The silence now was one of respect.
Kakashi then looked at them both:
— "And you, Naruto... how's the new training going?"
Naruto grinned without hiding it.
— "Hehe... let's just say the old frogs at Mount Myōboku can't stand me anymore."
Sakura raised an eyebrow.
— "Still not ready to use senjutsu in battle, huh?"
Naruto crossed his arms, striking a pose:
— "I'm close! Just a little more and I'll be the best user of natural chakra in all of Konoha!"
— "Whoa, easy there…" — Kakashi laughed. — "Still far from Jiraiya."
Naruto scowled.
— "Hmpf... for now."
Sakura smiled. Kakashi too.
Night began to fall over Konoha, and even with the apparent peace, the air carried an invisible weight.As if something... was about to change.
Location: Amegakure – Food Stall, Night
The rain didn't stop.As if the sky was in constant mourning.The drops hit the tarp of the stall with a hypnotic rhythm.Sung Jin-Woo, sitting alone in a corner, watched the steam rise from the bowl of soup before him. He didn't touch it. Just watched.
His black cloak, still bearing the Ahjin Guild crest on the arm, made him stand out. But no one confronted him. In Amegakure, strangers were common. And fear... habitual.
Tap.The status window opened before his eyes.
[ STATUS - ADAPTED TO DIMENSIONAL PLANE ]
[Name: Sung Jin-Woo]
[Class: Shadow Monarch]
[Level: ???]
[HP: —]
[Chakra: 34,251]
[MP: converting... (92%)]
[Title: Absolute King of the Void]
[Available Shadow Army: 24,152 / 1,304,807]
[Summon Ability: Limited by chakra density of current plane]
[Shop: INACCESSIBLE]
[Daily Training: UNAVAILABLE]
[Note: "This plane follows different rules. Dimensional adaptation in progress."]
He sighed.Nothing seemed to work like before.It was like being in a game… with broken rules.
Worse: that world was real.He felt it in people's eyes. In the worn faces. In the broken streets. In the silent pain.
The shadows had begun gathering information. Spread through alleys, rooftops, sewers. Igris, Beru, Tusk, and the others moved silently.
Shadow Internal Report:
— "Five great villages dominate the balance of world power."— "Each specialized in one element and ninja philosophy."— "Energy system is called chakra. A physical and spiritual mix channeled through seals."— "Fights are brutal, yet precise. Techniques range from elemental to illusory."— "Most civilians have no power. Shinobi dominate politics."— "Peace is fragile. Groups like 'Akatsuki' hunt creatures called 'bijuu' — absurd chakra sources."
Jin-Woo blinked the window closed.His expression remained hard.Reflective.
"These people... aren't fragments.""They feel, live, love. Die.""This world isn't a backdrop. It's not a dungeon.""It's another real plane."
His hand slid across his face. For a moment, he let the mask fall.
"Hae-In… Jin-Chul…""Are they okay? Three days here… only 30 minutes have passed there.""But... what if this is irreversible?"
The Monarch's heart—usually an unshakable stone—weighed heavily.He looked toward the street. Children huddled in alleys. Shinobi watching buildings.This village was a prison of concrete and rain.
"And the only one with a technique similar to Spatial Warp... is that masked man. 'Tobi.'"
His hand clenched.
"He knew too much. Disappeared before I could follow him.""Space-time. Multidimensionality. Is this the work of the Rulers?"
That's when someone entered the stall.Right foot firm. Dampness dripping from a gray cloak. Face hidden by a rustic hood.But not from Jin-Woo.
Beru, hidden under the ceiling shadows, moved instinctively.But Jin-Woo subtly raised a hand.
"Calm down."
The stranger sat beside him. Ordered sake from the cook.And spoke, without looking directly:
— "You're not from here."— "Your chakra... has no scent. Doesn't pulse like ours."— "But I saw you face those bodies... like it was routine."
Jin-Woo didn't respond. Just watched.The man slightly turned his face.
— "I travel a lot. I write. I spy. Stick my nose where it's not welcome."— "But you... you're the first thing I've seen in years that made me feel... curious."
Jin-Woo raised an eyebrow. Finally spoke:
— "And who would you be?"
The man pulled back the hood.
Mature face. Scar across the nose. White hair tied in a low bun.And a sly smile.
— "Just an old sage... perverted... and tired of the world."
Jiraiya.The Toad Hermit.The Legendary Sannin.
Jin-Woo said nothing.But in his eyes, the spark changed.For the first time since arriving... he felt true curiosity.