Naruto: Itachi reincarnated into a cultivation world

Itachi glanced up at the sky, estimating how much time he had left until sunset. If this world followed the same rules as his previous one, he had only a few hours left before dark.

Since morning, he'd been trekking through dense jungle terrain, covering an estimated fifteen miles. The thick vegetation and tangled vines hindered his pace.

Whack, whack, whack!

Using a sturdy branch he'd picked up along the way, Itachi hacked at the vines obstructing his path. Finding anything sharper proved difficult, so he made do with whatever he could find.

"Placing those attribute points in strength definitely paid off," he noted. "Otherwise, getting through this would have been impossible."

Sweat beaded on his forehead, his clothes were soaked, and his once-luxurious robes were now tattered, showing just how rough the journey had been. To add to his troubles, the crows he'd told to scram were still following him, often causing a racket by fighting amongst themselves.

"If they don't want to leave," he muttered, wiping his face with a ragged sleeve, "I'll make use of them."

In his previous life, he'd trained crows as part of his arsenal; handling them came naturally. He looked up at the noisy flock and whistled sharply, capturing their attention. The group immediately quieted, descending to his feet.

"All of you will be my eyes from now on," he instructed.

The crows tilted their heads in unison, clearly puzzled.

Caww?

Smiling, Itachi pointed at his eyes, then made several deliberate gestures. One of the crows, apparently quicker than the rest, perked up and nodded, understanding his intent. Itachi rewarded it with a worm he had stashed in his pocket.

Seeing this, the rest of the crows erupted in a jealous ruckus.

Caw! Caw! CAW!

"Interesting," he thought. "Their intelligence exceeds those in the shinobi world. Even the birds here seem to be superior… I wonder what the hierarchy of power is on this planet."

After about ten minutes of training and a handful of worms, Itachi successfully communicated his instructions. Satisfied, he dispatched the crows in four different directions, with the promise of rewards for whichever group fulfilled his task.

Picking up his makeshift weapon again, Itachi continued his journey through the dense jungle, hacking away at the undergrowth. His thoughts drifted back to his previous life, briefly wondering how his little brother, Sasuke, was faring. He hoped the plans he'd put in place would allow Sasuke to live happily, though he harbored doubts. Too many unknowns were at play.

He shook his head, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "There's no use dwelling on the past. I'm dead, and that's that."

---

Minutes turned to hours as the sky darkened to a deep blue. Nightfall was close.

"No news from the crows yet," he murmured, scanning the dim surroundings. "I wonder if they've found what I asked for."

Exhausted, he sat down. He hadn't had a single bite to eat since his arrival, and his stamina was nearly depleted. Sleeping out in the open felt dangerous, as an ominous feeling warned him that he was being followed.

Still, with no shelter in sight, he began gathering large leaves nearby to fashion a temporary bed, reluctantly accepting that he might have to rest here.

But just as hope was slipping away, a familiar sound rang through the air.

Cawwwww!

He looked up to see black silhouettes swooping above him, circling within his vicinity. He motioned for them to descend.

"Did you complete the mission?" he asked, noting their eager expressions as they opened their beaks, salivating.

"They want the reward first," he thought, slightly amused by their boldness. But he wasn't about to indulge them just yet. "You'll get what you want after you take me there. We're running out of time, so lead the way."

Reluctantly, the crows took to the air, squawking in frustration. Still, they began flying in a tight formation above him, signaling him to follow.

He ran after them, pushing through his exhaustion as he hacked through the vines. The oppressive feeling of danger only grew as nightfall descended fully.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

After half an hour of running, he reached the destination. Before him was a massive tree—a colossal structure so tall it seemed to pierce the sky. He threw down his stick, catching his breath as he took in the sight.

The base of the tree was enormous, with a crevice large enough to provide him shelter. His eyes lit up; this would be the perfect place to camp for a while. The crows had truly outdone themselves.

After catching his breath, he tossed a generous handful of worms to the crows. They eagerly pecked at their reward, flapping their wings in delight.

Leaving the crows to their feast, Itachi cautiously approached the crevice.

He held his makeshift weapon tightly, prepared for any ambush. Peering into the pitch-black hollow, he decided not to venture too far inside.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on him; he lay near the entrance, his breathing slowing as the night's chill seeped in.

Soon, the quiet sounds of crickets filled the air, lulling him into a deep sleep, with only the cold earth as his blanket.

---

[Ding!]

[System Mission: Kill 1 Emerald-Eyed Wolf

Progress: 0/1

Reward: +50 Attribute Points, +1000 Experience Points, +Skill {Hawk Eye}]