The soft crackle of incense and the rhythmic tok-tok of a bamboo waterspout echoed through the Celestial Hall, the highest chamber atop the Heavenly Shinobi Sect’s sacred mountain. Morning sunlight filtered through the shoji walls, painting the polished wooden floor with golden beams.
Seated at the center was Sect Leader Jinzen—an ancient turtle beastman cloaked in deep green robes, his wooden staff resting against his shell-backed frame. Beside him stood the legendary Three Sannin:
Ryukiba, Sage of The Freezing Tides
Lady Tsume, Sage of The Lunar Blade
Jiro, Sage of The Immortal Flames
They had just concluded their analysis of the Genin Entrance Exam.
“Number One… Zero,” Ryukiba muttered, arms crossed. “He didn’t just pass. He played with every stage like it was a child’s puzzle. The system’s rankings updated before the last trial was even done.”
“A playground,” Tsume echoed, lips curling into a grin. “That boy’s instincts… flawless. The way he dismantled the construct during the combat trial. I felt it in my tail.”
Jinzen’s old eyes half-lidded. “He holds Kusanagi’s legacy. Whether we agree or not, the scroll has chosen him. We must watch carefully.”
Ryukiba scoffed. “What about Seiryu? Boy would’ve easily been number one any other year.”
Jiro nodded. “Your heir has centuries of talent behind him. Water, Earth, Air, and Nature affinity…. Four affinities haven’t surfaced in a thousand years.”
Tsume chuckled. “And yet he looked like a kicked puppy when Zero’s results came through.”
“And that Juno Ryokai, ranked third,” Jinzen said. “Blade work like poetry. Light affinity? Extremely rare. But her background… concerning.”
“The Monastery girl,” Ryukiba sneered. “Her grandfather, the ‘Radiant Blade,’ turned traitor during the Sect Purge. She carries his blood.”
“Still,” Tsume shrugged. “She has discipline. I watched her spar ten boys and never lose footing.”
They moved on.
“Kazuo Yamori, number four. I don’t like the bastard,” Ryukiba growled. “Talks too much. Arrogant. Wastes energy.”
“He’s clever,” Jiro admitted. “He held back, but I could see it. That thunder chakra wants to roar.”
“I like him,” Tsume said flatly. “He’s unpredictable. If he doesn’t die early, I might teach him myself.”
“And Makiko Enshou, number five,” Jinzen said calmly. “Not as strong. But her chi control? Flawless. And the Enshou clan has earned their reputation.”
“Her older brother is Raizo Enshou, isn’t he?” Tsume asked.
“Yes,” Jiro confirmed. “Elite Jōnin. Master of the Thousand Seal Barrage. She’ll grow into her bloodline.”
As the conversation waned, Jinzen’s brow furrowed.
“Still… a deeper wind blows.”
“Yes,” Ryukiba said, tone serious. “Our scouts report that rival sects—Shadow Lotus, Iron Moon, and even the Crimson Fang—are moving in secret. Testing our borders.”
“And the yokai,” Jiro added. “More aggressive than ever. Sightings as far south as Mount Kureha. A Nure-onna attacked a trade caravan last week.”
Jinzen tapped his staff. “It is no coincidence the Vault opened… and yokai stir. Balance is shifting. War may return to Shinto.”
-------------‐-
Back to Zero’s POV
The door to his private quarters slid open with a gentle shhhk, releasing a subtle draft of incense and cedarwood.
Zero stepped inside.
The room was surprisingly large—tatami floors, a meditation platform to the left, and a lacquered dresser with silver handles. At the center, a sunken pit for tea brewing, complete with a traditional kettle that hummed quietly. The walls pulsed faintly with protective enchantments—shimmering seals only visible when he squinted. The ceiling had a painted mural of a white dragon spiraling around a stylized kanji:
“忍” — Ninja.
Everything here was saturated with detail. Not texture mapped—real. A breath, a heartbeat, a smell. Zero had long passed the point of remembering this was a game. The world of Shinto didn’t feel like code. The NPCs didn’t feel like scripts. And the System… it was more than a mechanic here.
It was a god.
> System Notification:
You have entered your personal quarters.
[Unique Title: Rank 1 Genin] confirmed.
You have been granted the exclusive outfit: White Shadow Vanguard Set.
Would you like to inspect this gear?
Zero nodded. “Inspect.”
The mannequin rose slowly from the floor, draped in brilliant white. An interface unfolded in front of him, stylized like a scroll.
--------------------------
[White Shadow Vanguard Set]
Bound Class: Ninja (Hidden Class)
Wearer: Zero (Soul-bond)
Rarity: Mythic — Unique to the Shinto Realm
Rank Requirement: Genin Top 100 (Full Power Only Active at Rank #1)
[White Hood of the Hidden Moon]
+50 Agility
+40 Dexterity
Passive: Voidstep — Footsteps erased from physical and spiritual detection
Grants (Expert) Rank Stealth passive when crouched
[Vanguard Vest of Shinto Flame]
+35 Ninjutsu Power
Passive: First Slash is Final — First strike against a target under level 60 has a 20% chance to critically wound
Enchanted for spirit-weaving techniques
[Whiteflow Leg Wraps]
+60 Movement Speed
+25 Agility
Passive: Wind's Reversal — Dodging midair restores Stamina
[Silent Tabi of the White Fang]
+30 Dexterity
Allows dash without triggering trap sigils
Passive: Instant Grounding — Land with zero noise and no delay between movement transitions
[Back Kanji Cloak: "一"]
Emits an Aura of Supremacy
Passive: Number One Aura — Genin below Rank 50 suffer a -20 to Morale, Agility, and Reaction Speed within 15 meters
Instills subconscious fear in enemies below your rank
Cannot be hidden or removed
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Set Bonus — Whisper Sovereign (4/4):
Ninjutsu Cooldowns reduced by 20%
All thrown weapons have homing correction
Increases XP gain from stealth kills and critical assassinations by 60%
Zero exhaled.
“Now that’s gear.”
He took off the simple white cloth shirt—the one he’d kept from the tutorial zone. The brown pants followed, both folded and tucked aside neatly. His Ranger set was gone, locked out by the system since the class change. That was fine. He wasn’t a Ranger anymore.
He was something else now.
As he slid on the new gear, it clung to him like a second skin—light, cool, and alive with quiet power. The fabric shimmered as it settled in place, and the white cloak snapped with a sudden flare. The glowing kanji “一” lit up in sharp gold against the white, pulsing like a heartbeat.
His vision flickered again.
> Status Effect Gained: Aura of Supremacy (Passive)
Nearby Genin below Rank 100 will sense instinctual fear.
Those under Rank 50 will avoid direct eye contact. Engage with caution.
Tap. Tap.
He turned.
Seiryu stood in the hallway, arms crossed, tail swaying behind him. The Azure Scale demi-human's antlers nearly scraped the top of the doorway, his reptilian blue skin catching glimmers of the hallway lanterns. He wore dark sea-gray Genin robes, etched with flowing water runes.
He said nothing for a moment—just stared.
“Your aura is oppressive,” he said at last, voice like distant thunder. “Even without killing intent.”
Zero shrugged. “Not something I can turn off.”
“You wear the title well,” Seiryu added, narrowing his serpent-like eyes. “But titles mean little in battle. I look forward to the day I test your supremacy myself.”
“Challenge accepted,” Zero said with a grin.
But just before the tension could rise—
A loud yawn broke the moment.
Kazuo appeared from around the corner, stretching lazily, robes hanging off one shoulder. His cyan eyes glowed faintly, and his hair looked like it’d been attacked by a gust spell.
“Woah. What is this? A stare-down? A confession? Should I give you two privacy?”
Zero and Seiryu glanced at each other. Then both stared at Kazuo.
Kazuo threw up his hands. “Alright, alright. Sheesh. Thought dorm life was supposed to be chill.”
“You don’t belong on this floor,” Seiryu muttered.
Kazuo scratched his head. “I’m Rank 3. I belong here more than you do.”
“I’m Rank 2.”
Kazuo blinked, then smirked. “Right. That was yesterday. Check again, bro.”
> System Alert:
[Kazuo's Rank has increased to #2]
[Seiryu's Rank has decreased to #3]
Seiryu’s eye twitched.
Zero laughed for the first time since being here.
In a world where every NPC worshipped the System like a divine law, zero tries to remember it is still a game.
But damn if it didn’t feel real now.
The morning breeze rolled down the stone paths as Zero walked the polished walkways of the Heavenly Shinobi Sect, now his home. Towering pagodas, bamboo groves, and training courtyards stretched across the mountain terraces. Disciples meditated or sparred in uniform harmony.
He arrived at the Main Hall, a majestic open-air structure draped in sky-blue banners, where the Ranking Crystals hovered midair—each pulsing with names and titles.
Just as he approached, a chime rang in his ears.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – SECT HIERARCHY UNLOCKED]
> Welcome to the Heavenly Shinobi Sect. You now have access to the internal ranking and role system.
Sect Hierarchy – Ranks:
Genin – Initiate Shinobi
Chūnin – Experienced Shinobi & Squad Leaders
Jōnin – Elite Shinobi, Mission Commanders
Tokubetsu Jōnin – Specialists in Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or Seals
Elite Jōnin – Sect Guardians & Mentors
Sannin – The Three Supreme Guardians
Sect Leader – Grandmaster of the Heavenly Path
Your Current Standing:
→ Genin – Rank #1
Title Bonus: “Number 1 Genin” [Active]
Faction Reputation: [Respected – Eyes Watching You]
Zero smirked as his name shined at the top of the leaderboard. He could feel eyes from across the courtyard narrowing, watching, whispering.
The sect was alive. And he was at its center.
-------------
the white pagoda chimes echoed across the Ninja Sect compound. A soft system pulse resonated through Zero’s vision.
> System Notification:
First Training Mission Available.
Objective: Complete Beginner Ninjutsu Trials at the Shrine of Whispers.
Reward: Class XP, Randomized Skill Unlocks, Shinto Reputation, and Access to Inner Techniques Tier I.
Note: Only accessible to Genin under Class Level 10.
Zero accepted with a mental command, and the world shimmered—his minimap adjusting to reveal a path spiraling through the bamboo forests behind the dorms.
He passed other Genin along the way—most bowed their heads or avoided eye contact, instinctively reacting to the aura of his “Number One” kanji. One bold soul, a fox-eared girl with daggers on her belt, dared to watch him until he met her gaze. Her courage faltered instantly, and she turned away.
They weren’t programmed to cower.
They just felt it.
This world was that real.
------------------
The Shrine of Whispers was nestled at the edge of a cliff, fog drifting lazily around its torii gates. It was ancient, older than the Sect itself—covered in ivy and glowing with old spirit glyphs.
A masked NPC stood at the front, robed in black and gray, a seal of silence hovering above his hood.
“Only those with purpose may train,” the NPC intoned, voice echoing like it was underwater. “And only those who kneel before the System shall rise again.”
Zero raised an eyebrow. “...Alright.”
> System Alert:
Kneel before the Shrine to begin the Ninjutsu Trial.
Warning: Failure will lock progression for 24 in-game hours.
Zero knelt. The second his knees touched the stone floor, a flood of data and vision slammed into his mind. Memories he didn’t have. Skills he hadn’t earned—yet.
[Ninjutsu Trial Initiated]
You are now linked with the [Ninja Class Spirit Core].
Current Class Level: 5
Class-Specific Training is scaled to Core Rank.
Trial I: Precision and Flow
Target Training Stat: Dexterity
Objective: Strike 30 moving leaf sigils without missing once.
Trial II: Veil and Step
Target Training Stat: Agility
Objective: Traverse the shrine’s forest floor without triggering any of the 100 hidden sound traps.
Trial III: Ninjutsu Core Resonance
Target Training Stat: Ninjutsu Power
Objective: Infuse 2 elemental scrolls using only your internal chi flow and shape them into active techniques.
Trial I was brutal. Leaves danced like blades in a storm, each glowing faint blue as they spun through the air. Zero’s hands blurred, throwing phantom kunai generated by the System.
Each hit made the shrine echo with approval.
25...26...27...30
he nailed all 30. The shrine pulsed golden, and his Dexterity stat ticked upward.
Trial II was harder. The moment his foot touched the floor, spiritual strings lit up. He had to become shadow—duck, flip, wall run, slide—his white outfit somehow never snagging on thorns or vines.
Zero was like the wind as his passive skill wind steps came in handy, he didn’t breathe until he was past the last line.
> System Update:
+10 Agility
Skill Acquired: Silent Footfall (Passive)
Your steps no longer generate sound below jogging speed.
Then came the third trial.
Three scrolls hovered before him: Wind, Shadow, and Illusion. All blank.
“Time to see what this class is really about.”
He focused.
Chi built up from his navel and spiraled through his limbs like flowing smoke. The scrolls reacted, lighting up with pulses of light and data. His body trembled, and then the System spoke.
> Technique Formed:
[Jutsu Unlocked: Shadow Stitch Technique]
Type: Utility / Crowd Control
Chi Cost: Medium
Effect: Extend your shadow and pin targets in place for 3 seconds. Works on targets up to 10 levels above you.
Combo Potential: High (Pairs with assassination, escape, clone techniques)
[Jutsu Unlocked: Gale Fang Shuriken]
Type: Offensive / Ranged
Chi Cost: Low
Effect: Throw a wind-infused shuriken that pierces through enemies, dealing 100% Ninjutsu Power and bleeding effect over time.
Pierces shields. Moderate tracking.
> Class XP +200
Ninja Class Level Up! Now Level 6
Shinto Sect Reputation +15
Zero’s cloak flared behind him as he stood. The shrine gates swung open. The masked NPC bowed wordlessly.
“Now go,” he said. “Your path is open. But do not forget—many are watching you. Not all with awe.”
Zero cracked his knuckles, eyes on the path down the mountain.
“Let them watch.”
The stone courtyard behind the dorms was known as the Crater Ring, named after the half-dozen impact craters, permanently embedded in its flooring from legendary Genin duels. It was here that zero stood, arms crossed, as dozens of lower-ranked Genin watched from the upper balconies.
A crimson banner was hung over the arena.
[ SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]:
Voluntary Sparring Session Initiated.
Rules: No lethal techniques. Chi dampeners engaged. Knockout = Victory.
Bonus Objective for Rank 1 Genin:
Win 3 Matches to Unlock Intermediate Rank Trials.
Activate “Shinobi Physique” through extreme exertion to boost core stats.
“Step up,” Zero called, his voice calm but carrying. “I won’t wait all day.”
A ripple passed through the crowd—until a familiar smirk emerged from the front.
Kazuo.
Wind-tossed hair. Cyan eyes glowing mischievously.
“Man, you really love the spotlight, huh?” he yawned, walking into the ring. “Alright, Rank 1… let’s see if the rumors are true.”
Zero smirked. “Bring it.”
Kazuo launched first—vanishing into a gust-driven dash, reappearing above Zero mid-air.
“Catch this!”
A spiraling roundhouse crackled with wind chi, aimed squarely at Zero’s head.
But zero slid backward, a blur of speed, and sidestepped just enough to twist and grab Kazuo’s ankle mid-spin. The crowd gasped.
Then—SLAM.
Kazuo hit the crater floor, groaning. He rolled away, coughing, and stood, rubbing his shoulder.
“Okay—ow. That’s new.”
Zero’s passive kicked in:
> Shinobi Physique Activated: Intensity Threshold Surpassed
+5 Strength, +5 Dexterity
Zero’s muscles felt tighter, faster. His stance naturally shifted lower, more efficient.
Kazuo rushed again—this time with wind clones in tow—but zero ducked under the first and dashed through the illusions, appearing behind the real one.
Gale Fang Shuriken Jutsu.
The wind-charged blade skimmed past Kazuo’s ribs before he even turned around, bursting into a flurry of chi sparks that knocked him out cold.
> Victory: Zero Wins Match One
Endurance +5 from exertion
Shinobi Physique stats Gained
Seiryu stepped into the ring next. His antlers glowed faintly, chi coiling off his azure scales like steam.
“No tricks this time,” Seiryu growled. “I want to see what you really are.”
Zero narrowed his eyes. “Fine by me.”
The match began with a blur—Seiryu surged forward, fists like battering rams, his arms sheathed in blue chi. Zero blocked the first strike with his forearm, barely skidding back. Each blow tested his stamina and bones.
Shadow Stitch Jutsu.
Zero’s shadow split and shot forward—Seiryu jumped over it with ease, but zero was already in motion, slipping past his guard and striking his ribs three times before landing a spin kick into his back.
The demi-human landed on all fours but grinned through bloody teeth.
“You’re not just strong. You’re sharp.”
> Shinobi Physique: Threshold Reached
+5 Constitution
Zero’s breaths slowed. His stamina recovery increased. His limbs no longer trembled. Everything was flowing.
He finished the match with Substitution Jutsu feint, dodging Seiryu’s uppercut and tagging his neck.
Knockout.
Seiryu stood slowly, holding out a clawed hand.
“I respect it,” he muttered. “You're stronger than most Jonin I’ve seen.”
Zero clasped his forearm. “Good match.”
> Victory: Zero Wins Match Two
Agility +5
Constitution +3 from full-contact endurance
Before Zero could catch his breath, the next opponent was already inside the ring.
He wore a black blindfold. Pale robes. Not in uniform.
Zero frowned. “You’re not from the dorms.”
The challenger bowed low.
“I was sent by the Sect Leader. Consider this a... performance evaluation.”
No System name. No rank shown. Zero tensed. The other Genin watching held their breath.
This wasn’t training anymore.
It was a message.
--------------------
The blindfolded challenger stood tall, hands behind his back, as if this were a formality rather than a fight.
“System won’t help you,” he said. “No stats. No display.”
Zero didn’t respond.
Instead, eyes glowed white like the moon his perception opening like a sixth sense.
> [Skill Activated: Omuniaizu]
Target Locked.
NAME: ???
COMBAT RATING: A+ (Hidden Master)
ELEMENTAL WEAKNESS: Earth, Fire
WEAK POINTS HIGHLIGHTED: Right Knee, Left Shoulder, Lung, Kidney, Back of Neck
TACTICAL READ: High-speed footwork, illusion casting, moderate ranged Chi techniques. Prefers delay and redirect tactics.
You may cast Genjutsu or induce Fear with focused gaze. Dexterity temporarily increased by 1000%.
Zero’s eyes flared again.
The challenger staggered, just slightly.
A flicker of fear.
He felt it.
Zero’s body disappeared from normal sight. He was already moving.
The crowd gasped.
The challenger raised his arm to block an anticipated strike to the ribs—only to realize Zero had feinted. A Shadow Clone dispersed behind him with a gust of smoke.
Too late.
Zero drove his fist into the back of the challenger’s right knee—a critical hit.
> CRITICAL STRIKE – 30% HP lost
The man hissed and spun around, fingers weaving a seal.
“Phantom Smog!”
Mist erupted, dense and choking, shrouding the arena in a gray cloud. But Zero—
Zero could still see.
> Omuniaizu: Sight Unobstructed by Obscurity
He whispered under his breath.
“Arc Bolt jutsu.”
Lightning surged around his hands, weaving through the smoke. He ducked under a strike that hadn’t even reached him yet, reading the pattern like a roadmap.
He countered by thrusting both palms forward.
“Water Torrent Barrage Jutsu.”
Twin spirals of water smashed into the hidden figure, spinning his body through the air.
Before he landed—
“Earthen Burial Jutsu.”
The ground exploded upward in jagged spires, catching the falling challenger midair and pinning him in a coffin of stone, locking his limbs in place.
> Target Status: Immobilized. 2 Seconds Remaining
Zero formed another sign, this time slower—purposefully.
The system whispered a warning:
> [Genjutsu Channeling: Nightmare Pulse]
Subject Will Resistance: 70/100
Casting Successful…
The man’s body jerked violently, eyes rolling behind the blindfold.
Whatever he saw in that moment—it made him scream.
He struggled wildly, Chi bursting from his skin, shattering the stone prison.
But zero was gone again.
This time, he was directly above him.
Both hands raised, gathering a heat like molten glass.
“Fireball Jutsu.”
The blast detonated, a massive sphere of heat and pressure, slamming the challenger straight through the crater floor and into the stone below.
Silence.
Dust.
Then—SYSTEM CHIME.
> Victory: Zero Wins Match Three
Skill Mastery Progressed: Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth Affinities
Genjutsu Skill “Nightmare Pulse” Added to Active List
Shinobi Physique Progressed: Endurance +3, Strength +2, Agility +5
Ninja Class Level: 6-(7) {+LEVEL UP!}
The crowd didn’t cheer.
They stared.
Some backed away.
Seiryu watched from the sidelines, a hand at his chin.
Kazuo, eyes wide, whispered, “Bro… he’s not just strong. He’s broken.”
Zero adjusted the white Genin garb, the glowing #1 kanji blazing on his back like a warding symbol.
The Sect instructors arrived only seconds later, staring at the crater and the unconscious body half-buried in it.
“You,” one muttered. “You really mastered all nine affinities…”
Zero tilted his head. “So?”
The instructor’s mouth opened, then shut. “The Sect Master requests your presence.”
Zero’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Tell him I’ll come when I feel like it.”
He turned and walked off—leaving everyone to wonder not who he was… but what.
