Bleach: I Have No Talent

The week had been productive and surprisingly pleasant for Shiro.

He had completed his Kidō quest, managing to control his reiatsu enough to proficiently cast Hadō #1: Shō multiple times in succession without faltering. It was a small but important milestone, one that brought him closer to mastering the diverse techniques of a Shinigami.

System Notification:

Achieve a proficient level of reiatsu control in Kidō before the week's end.

Reward: 0.10% progress.

4.51% + 0.10% = 4.61% progress

His initial apprehension about living in the dorms had subsided as he got used to sharing the space with Aizen and Haruto. Though Aizen maintained his reserved, polite demeanor, Haruto's lively and often ridiculous antics kept the trio entertained, creating a sense of camaraderie that Shiro hadn't expected.

One afternoon, the three sat in the academy courtyard during their break, enjoying a simple lunch.

"Shiro," Haruto began, smirking as he held up his bowl of rice. "Why do you always eat so calmly? I mean, look at this guy—" he pointed dramatically at Aizen, who adjusted his glasses mid-bite, "—even Aizen eats like he's got a royal audience watching him."

Shiro raised an eyebrow, poking at his food with deliberate slowness. "Maybe I just have manners, unlike you, who inhaled half his lunch before sitting down."

Haruto looked mock-offended, holding his chest like he'd been wounded. "Manners? Excuse me for being efficient! Eating fast is a skill. Survival of the fittest, you know?"

Aizen chuckled softly, the sound so rare it made Haruto pause.

"See! Aizen agrees with me," Haruto said, pointing an accusing chopstick at Shiro.

"Not exactly," Aizen replied, pushing his glasses up. "I just find it amusing that you'd call scarfing down food a skill. But I'll give you credit—it's entertaining."

Shiro rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Spending time with these two had become a surprising reprieve from the weight of his missions and the constant looming presence of the system.

Later That Day

Their afternoon lessons were a mix of Kidō and Zanjutsu training, where Shiro's abilities continued to improve. In Kidō, Shiro managed to execute Hadō #4: Byakurai, sending a clean bolt of blue lightning streaking across the training field.

"Impressive," Aizen commented as they left the training grounds. "Your reiatsu control is improving quickly."

"Yeah, but did you see Haruto's?" Shiro said, smirking. "He almost set his sleeve on fire again."

"It was tactical!" Haruto argued, crossing his arms. "A distraction, you know? Keep the enemy guessing."

"If by guessing you mean wondering if you'd trip over yourself," Shiro retorted, his tone deadpan.

The three burst into laughter, the tension of the day melting away as they made their way back to the dorm.

Shiro had just settled into bed when it happened.

A familiar, chilling light filled his vision, and the system's notification blinked to life before him.

[Alert!]

Main Mission Activated!

This mission cannot be declined.

Shiro sat up, his chest tightening.

Main Mission:

Help to stop Orochimaru and the Sand Ninjas from completely destroying the Leaf Village.

Reward: 5% progress.

Penalty: Death!!!

His hands clenched into fists as he read the details, his mind spinning.

Time in your world will be stopped while you are in the Naruto world.

System teleportation in 3... 2... 1...

"Not again," Shiro muttered, bracing himself as the light consumed him.

Leaf Village

The chaos of the battle in the Hidden Leaf Village was overwhelming. Explosions rocked the streets as smoke billowed into the sky, casting an eerie pall over the village. The clash of kunai, shuriken, and swords was deafening, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and the stench of burning buildings.

Shiro's Sharingan pulsed in his eyes as he scanned the battlefield, calculating his every move. He knew he had to be careful. If the wrong ninja saw his eyes, it would raise too many questions. And with the chaos around him, the last thing he needed was unwanted attention. His task was to help, quietly, without becoming the center of focus.

But that was before the Sand Ninjas arrived in full force.

Shiro darted through the streets, weaving between burning debris and the wreckage of destroyed houses. His mission was simple: stay alive and help when possible. But his goal was becoming increasingly difficult as more and more enemy ninjas poured into the village.

He dropped to the ground, feeling the vibration of footsteps before he heard them. The rhythmic pounding of boots against stone signaled that something big was approaching. Shiro turned to see two Sand Ninjas—a pair of skilled assassins, their faces obscured by the shadow of their hoods. One was armed with a long, curved blade, and the other carried kunai and shuriken.

They saw him at the same moment he saw them.

The ninja with the blade lunged first, swinging with deadly precision. Shiro's reflexes kicked in, and with a flash of Shunpo, he vanished, reappearing behind his opponent. He immediately moved to land a punch, but the Sand Ninja was too fast. He spun around and blocked the strike with his blade. The force of the impact rattled Shiro's arm, the sensation of metal scraping against bone. He cursed under his breath.

The second ninja didn't hesitate. Kunai came flying at him from every angle. Shiro's Sharingan allowed him to see the trajectory of each one, but there were too many. He dropped to the ground, rolling into the shadows, just barely avoiding the deadly blades. But he was losing ground.

Shiro shot a glare at the two ninjas, frustration boiling inside him. He needed to end this quickly. His hands blurred into seals, activating his Byakurai just as the ninja with the blade swung again. The bolt of lightning shot out, barely grazing the ninja's shoulder but enough to disrupt his balance.

Shiro followed up with Shunpo, appearing behind the swordsman once more. But this time, his opponent was ready. The ninja turned with a speed Shiro hadn't expected, his blade aimed for Shiro's neck. The strike was close—too close.

In that instant, Shiro's heart raced, his body moving on instinct. He twisted sideways, just narrowly avoiding the deadly blade as it skimmed past him. His fist collided with the swordsman's ribs, sending the wind out of his lungs, but the ninja was still standing.

The second ninja lunged, kunai raised high, but Shiro already had his next move planned. Water Prison Jutsu—the water surged from his hand, forming a massive sphere around the ninja. The ninja struggled, his hands slamming against the walls of the watery sphere, but it was no use. Shiro had sealed him in. The pressure of the water increased, and the ninja's movements became slower, more sluggish. The water began to constrict, and Shiro could see the life draining from him.

But then the first Sand Ninja, the swordsman, recovered and slashed at Shiro, catching him across the chest with a brutal strike. Blood splattered, and Shiro gritted his teeth, barely managing to hold his ground. He couldn't take much more of this.

The wound burned, but he couldn't afford to panic. Shiro grabbed the sword arm, twisting it and using his Zanjutsu training to push the blade away, spinning it out of the ninja's grasp. With a sharp motion, Shiro launched himself at the swordsman, landing a punch to the gut. The ninja gasped, his body crumpling to the ground.

But Shiro didn't have time to savor the victory. The sand-covered ground beneath him erupted in a flurry of movement. A third ninja—one even more dangerous—emerged from the shadows, his eyes narrowed in anger.

This one had a Summoning Technique. A giant sand golem emerged from the ground, towering over Shiro.

The giant creature's fist came down with terrifying force. Shiro barely had time to react. He activated Hohō, jumping to the side as the massive fist slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave through the air. His feet slipped, his body barely maintaining balance as the ground shattered beneath him.

His breathing was erratic now. He had to finish this quickly.

The Sand Ninja with the golem advanced, each step sending tremors through the ground. Shiro's mind raced as he considered his options. He was exhausted, and his injuries were starting to take their toll. The pressure on his chest made it hard to breathe, but he had to keep fighting.

"This is it," Shiro muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last, but he couldn't back down now.

Shiro crouched low, drawing on every ounce of his energy. His Sharingan pulsed once more, scanning his opponent's movements, analyzing every detail of the golem's attack pattern. With a burst of Shunpo, he dodged the golem's strike, rolling toward the Sand Ninja.

In a blur of motion, Shiro was on top of him, landing a devastating Zanjutsu strike—his sword, which he had taken from a fallen ninja, clashed against the Sand Ninja's side, cutting through armor and flesh. The enemy ninja cried out, but Shiro wasn't done. He moved again, faster than ever, striking with precision.

The golem's massive fist smashed into the ground again, but Shiro had already moved, his body a blur of motion. He stabbed the sword into the golem's knee joint, using his Zanjutsu technique to twist it and break through the armor-like sand.

The golem roared, collapsing under its own weight, but the fight wasn't over. The Sand Ninja staggered backward, drawing a second blade. He was furious, desperate to take Shiro down.

But Shiro was faster. The final Byakurai shot from his hand, catching the ninja directly in the chest. The energy crackled through his body, and he collapsed, the light draining from his eyes.

Shiro stood over the fallen ninja, chest heaving, blood dripping from his side. The adrenaline coursing through his veins was starting to wear off. He'd survived, but the cost was steep. He'd killed—really killed—someone today. And the weight of it hit him like a freight train.

Shiro's knees buckled as he sank to the ground. He fought to keep his composure, but his stomach twisted. The image of the dying Sand Ninja, his face frozen in shock, replayed in his mind. His breath came in ragged gasps as he choked back the bile rising in his throat.

He had killed someone. And it wasn't just a monster—it was a person.

"I had no choice," he whispered to himself, but the words felt hollow. The guilt gnawed at him, and his hands trembled.

The battle was far from over, but in that moment, Shiro wasn't sure if he could keep fighting.

End of Chapter Stats

Progress: 4.61%

[System Status]

Template: Madara Uchiha

[Attributes]

Strength: 30

Endurance: 29

Speed: 32

Reiatsu Control: 28

Intelligence: 24

Battle Instinct: 26

[Abilities]

Sharingan (1st Tomoe):

Improved tracking of fast movements, slight slowing effect on opponent's attacks.

Hollow Detection: Sense the presence of Hollows.

[Techniques Unlocked]

Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu (C-rank Ninjutsu)

A technique that traps the target inside a sphere of water, restricting their movements and suffocating them. The water pressure increases with chakra, suffocating the trapped target if the technique is held too long.

Shunpo

A technique used to move at incredibly high speed, effectively teleporting the user from one location to another. The technique relies on the user's Reiatsu control and speed.

Byakurai

A focused beam of lightning energy shot from the user's hand, a devastating technique that paralyzes or kills the target.

Shō

A simple Kidō technique that creates a forceful push to strike enemies or deflect attacks.

[Asauchi Imprinting Progress]

Current Bond Level: 6%

[Ongoing Quests]

Main Mission: Help to stop Orochimaru and the Sand Ninjas from completely destroying the Leaf Village.

Reward: 5% progress.

Penalty: Death!!!