In the 60th year of the Ninja Calendar, several years had passed since the conclusion of the Third Great Ninja War.
Though the war had ended, peace was only surface-deep. Nations lay in ruin, shinobi villages were weakened, and Daimyō turned inward, grappling with reconstruction and political strife.
In this fragile aftermath, rebel ninjas, missing-nin, and wandering bandits began to rise like locusts, plunging the world into a new age of chaos.
On the border of the Land of Earth and the Land of Snow, a small, secluded village sat under a grim sky choked with swirling dust and the stench of blood. The land here was barren—rocky terrain baked by cold wind and silent suffering.
A massacre had just occurred.
Smoke curled above scorched huts. Charred corpses, some still smoldering, littered the ground. The village had been undefended—without shinobi, it fell like a lamb to wolves.
The attackers were a gang of renegade shinobi, deserters and criminals drawn together by violence and bloodlust.
The men were executed, the women violated and killed, and the children... herded into the village square, their eyes filled with terror.
"Boss Kurosaki! We've rounded up all the brats!"
"Good," said Kurosaki, leader of the rebel group. His voice was hoarse, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. "The forbidden jutsu I've been cultivating—the Blood Sword Ritual—requires the life force of children to strengthen its seal. Looks like we've struck gold."
Among the dozen trembling children, one boy stood out.
Roughly fifteen years old, thin as a reed, with striking white hair that clung to his dirt-smeared face.
His name was Shin Mato.
And unlike the others… he wasn't from this world.
A moment ago, he had been scrolling through Naruto lore on his phone during a break from work. Then, without warning, his vision blurred—he stumbled—and the next thing he knew…
Smoke. Death. Screams.
And… memories flooding in that were not his own.
He now was Shin Mato—an orphan born in this remote mountain village, a kid with no chakra, no clan, no techniques. His snow-white hair, though eye-catching, was the only unusual trait. In this world of bloodlines and kekkei genkai, he was nothing.
"Why… why did I get thrown into this hellhole just after crossing over?" Shin trembled, grief twisting in his chest.
A powerless weakling.
In a world ruled by monsters.
"I just wanted to live a second life... and now I'm going to die before it begins?"
But then…
Ding! Super Clone Evolution System has been successfully bound!
His eyes widened.
"Wh-What? A system!?"
"Is this the classic time-travel plug-in!?"
System activation complete. Host has awakened the unique talent: Thousand Shadow Link.
Thousand Shadow Link: All clone-based techniques used by the host can evolve.
Clone levels, talents, and abilities are inherited by the main body and can be stacked without limit.
Shin's heart thundered.
This… This means I don't just use clones.
If my clones grow stronger—I grow stronger!
But he didn't even know a single ninjutsu.
"System, is there a beginner pack or something?"
Ding! Novice Gift Pack claimed. Reward: Shadow Clone Technique (C-rank), 1x Experience Book.
Detected: Shadow Clone obtained. Clone Evolution Module unlocked.
A shimmering screen appeared in his mind—digital, alien, glowing with chakra-like energy.
[Shadow Clone]
Level: Apprentice
Talent: None
Ability: None
"Use experience book!"
Ding! Shadow Clone has evolved to Jōnin Rank.
Talent Gained: Master of Taijutsu
Abilities: Eight Gates, Konoha-Style Fluid Movement
Thousand Shadow Link active. Host evolution initiated.
Shin staggered as raw power surged through his limbs.
His weak body heated up. Muscles swelled. Bones popped, realigned. A surge of chakra exploded within him like a newborn star.
In mere seconds, the boy who was once powerless… became a true shinobi.
"Hahaha! This is it! I have the system! I've finally got a chance!"
His laughter drew the attention of the rebel leader, Kurosaki.
"Oi! What are you cackling about, runt!?"
Shin's eyes were cold now, sharp with vengeance.
"You heard me. I wasn't planning to let you live anyway."
Ding! First mission generated.
Objective: Eliminate Kurosaki's rebel cell.
Reward: Water Clone Technique (D-rank), Reputation Points: +10
Kurosaki unsheathed a jagged blade, its edges dripping blood.
"Arrogant little rat. Your blood will feed my ritual!"
The scarlet blade howled through the air, kicking up a fierce gust as it slashed down toward Shin's head.
But Shin didn't even flinch.
With ghost-like precision, he raised both palms and caught the descending blade mid-swing—stopping it cold.
Kurosaki's eyes widened in disbelief.
"H-He caught it?!"
This wasn't just any sword—it was his Blood Blade, sharpened with chakra and stained by the lives of Chūnin and even elite Jōnin who had tried and failed to oppose him.
"Is that all your Blood Sword Technique can do?"
Shin's tone was calm, almost mocking.
With a sharp twist of his arms, a surge of chakra flowed into his hands—and with a harsh crack, the crimson blade shattered in two.
A stunned silence fell over the battlefield.
"He broke Boss Kurosaki's sword!"
"That can't be real… That's got to be genjutsu!"
Even Kurosaki began to tremble.
"You… You monster…!"
Shin stepped forward, uncaring.
"If that was your forbidden technique, then Kurosaki… it's my turn now."
He crossed his arms over his chest, and the air around him began to churn.
A vibrant green aura of chakra surged around him—dense, raw, and growing hotter by the second.
"Gate of Opening… Open!"
"Gate of Healing… Open!"
"Gate of Life… Open!"
"Gate of Pain… Open!"
His chakra spiked violently. His muscles swelled, veins bulged, and sweat instantly vaporized into rising steam.
"Gate of Limit… Open!"
Now glowing with a fiery red hue, Shin's skin pulsed with energy, every tendon and vessel etched into sharp relief.
The shockwave from his unleashed power blasted outward, forcing the surrounding rebel ninja to stumble back.
"The Eight Gates… That's impossible! That's a Konoha-only forbidden technique!"
Kurosaki took a step back, panic spreading like wildfire. He tried to run.
But he didn't get the chance.
With a flash of red light, Shin was in front of him—and his kick hit like a thunderclap.
"Konoha Senpū – Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"
Kurosaki was flung skyward, his body spinning out of control.
In the next instant, Shin reappeared behind him, entangling him mid-air with tightly wrapped bandages.
"Secret Taijutsu of Konoha… Front Lotus!"
Together, the two plummeted toward the ground.
With a devastating BOOM, the impact left a massive crater. The earth cracked and dust filled the air.
When it settled, Kurosaki's broken legs stuck out of the ground—his body buried deep in the center of the crater. Blood pooled around him.
He was dead.
Shin straightened, steam hissing from his body like a boiling kettle. His red eyes swept across the terrified rebels surrounding him—two dozen at least.
"Next…"
His voice was low and cold.
"Which one of you wants to die first?"