The Hidden Uchiha Gamer

I walked down the stone pathway, surrounded by towering, ancient trees whose sturdy trunks loomed like silent sentinels. The air was thick with the earthy scent of moss and leaves, and the occasional beam of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above. The path ahead felt almost familiar, a déjà vu born of countless hours spent in Konoha's training grounds. My eyes flicked to the map in the box floating beside me, where a dark black dot pulsed faintly, signalling that I was nearing my destination.

It had been a month since my little escapade, and I had decided it was time to tackle a dungeon.

With the village's attention diverted elsewhere and Shiina's training progressing smoothly, my own development having been equally steady. The timing felt right. There was no point in not going today.

Today, I would enter my first dungeon. 

I even came prepared as I opened my Inventory and began putting on the outfit after a few seconds. I was now wearing a high collared long sleeved black hoodie with a zip up pocket, where I had hidden Shuriken and Kunai, over a black shirt, of course. I wore what was tracksuit trousers, also black, and I had reinforced combat boots on. The fabric of the clothing was made out of highly durable, protective fibres that wouldn't easily tear either.

I know, because before I stole the outfit, I had overheard people talk about the outfit. How did I get it? Stealth being at its maximum level made it extremely hard for me to detect. I've kept the thing in my inventory since I stole it.

Yes it was during that Explosion Tag incident. 

After putting the outfit on, I put my other, less protective outfit in my Inventory looking at my newly equipped outfit.

(Equipped) Basic Protective Fibre Shinobi outfit: This practical outfit is crafted from durable, fibres designed to provide enhanced protection without sacrificing mobility. The fabric is lightweight yet highly resilient, offering basic defence against many attacks. Its sleek, black design includes a high-collared, long-sleeved hoodie, matching trousers, and reinforced combat boots, making it ideal for Genin. Defence: Take 5% less damage.

"Status," I said aloud, summoning the familiar translucent menu in front of me. Before stepping into the unknown, I wanted to review my stats and decide where to allocate my unspent points.

Status

Name: Akari Inori

Clan: Uchiha

Title: None

Level: 40

EXP: 6005/9000

HP: 2000

Chakra: 8650

Chakra Control: 20%

STR: 170

DEX: 185

CON: 200

INT: 310

CHA: 1730

Stat Points: 195

After scanning the numbers, I placed 100 points into CON, boosting my health significantly, by 1000. Next, I allocated 30 points to STR, feeling a surge of new power ripple through me and 15 into DEX, enhancing my speed and sharpening my reflexes.

With those adjustments I had made, my new Status appeared before me after updating.

Status

Name: Akari Inori

Clan: Uchiha

Title: None

Level: 40

EXP: 6005/9000

HP: 3000

Chakra: 8650

Chakra Control: 20%

STR: 200

DEX: 200

CON: 300

INT: 310

CHA: 1730

Stat Points: 50

The changes were immediate. I felt lighter on my feet, my movements more precise, and my muscles thrummed with newfound strength. This was already an improvement, and I decided to hold onto the remaining stat points for now. There was no need to overspend; I'd save them for later adjustments when the situation called for it.

Looking back to my map, I noticed the dark black dot had shifted, its colour now a brilliant gold. At its centre, a distinct spiral symbol emerged—a stylized keyhole encircled by jagged, twisting lines.

The Enchanted Glade discovered.

+100 EXP

A notification popped up, its glowing text hovering just before me.

Would you like to enter The Enchanted Glade?

Y / N

Note, You cannot leave the Dungeon until you kill its boss.

So, this was its name. The Enchanted Glade. As for where I was in actuality, training ground 1.

I tapped Y, and the response was immediate.

The space before me shifted violently, swirling and warping as though reality itself was being folded and twisted. Colours bled together into a vortex of greens and silvers, forming a spiralling spherical wormhole that pulsed with energy. The spiral deepened, coalescing into a shimmering green portal.

Without hesitation, I stepped inside.

The sensation was strange, like stepping through a thin veil of water. I felt the faint pull of energy as I crossed the threshold of the Gate—as I was going to refer to them now—with a soft hum, sealed itself shut behind me. 

I took in my new surroundings then glanced at the notification that appeared before me.

New Quest has been Generated

Quest: Complete the Enchanted Glade

Quest Objective:

Complete The Enchanted Glade by defeating its boss.

Requirements:

Defeat the Boss.

Rewards:

25,000 EXP

10,000,0 Ryo

2 B ranked Jutsu Scrolls

C ranked Jutsu Creation Scroll

Bonus 1: Cull every enemy in the Dungeon. (60 remaining)

Requirements:

Kill every Enemy

Bonus 2: ???

Requirements:

?

?

?

Bonus 1 Rewards

100,000 EXP

A ranked Jutsu Scroll

B ranked Jutsu Creation Scroll

Bonus 2 Rewards

Ring of Protection

75,000 EXP

A unique weapon

My eyes scanned the quest details, breaking down each element methodically.

The main objective was simple enough—kill the boss. But it was the bonus objectives that intrigued me.

The straightforward brutality of the first didn't faze me. Numbers were just that—numbers. I already expected that I was here to kill some creatures and this confirmed that I would face sixty targets in total, not including the boss I assumed.

The second bonus objective, however, was deliberately vague. ??? No description, no hint. It was a puzzle waiting to be solved. It's requirements being marked ? mark also got me curious. And the promise of a Unique Weapon enticed me.

The rewards were impressive, far beyond what I expected from a first dungeon. 50,000 EXP alone was enough to push me several levels higher, while the Jutsu Scrolls promised new techniques.

The C ranked Jutsu Creation Scroll would finally solve that mystery and the hidden reward was also enticing, I had no idea of what it was, but it certainly made things interesting. 

The stakes were clear, and I couldn't help but assess the challenge ahead. Sixty enemies, plus a boss. Possibly more if the dungeon held surprises. My resources were limited, and though my earlier preparations had bolstered my strength, I knew better than to underestimate the unknown.

I dismissed the quest notification with a flick of my fingers. There was no point dwelling on the details. I had my objective, and that was all that mattered.

The faint rustling of leaves above pulled my attention back to the forest and with a keen eye began observing my surroundings.

The first thing I noticed was tall, towering ancient looking trees dominated the landscape, their trunks twisting akin to a natural sculpture. The bark casting a faint bioluminescent glow, illuminating the area with a soft light. The canopy itself is dense with patches where sunlight filters through, creating golden beams that shift with the rustling leaves.

I looked at a branch of one of the trees, and leaped upwards. My Chakra propelling me onto the branch without the need of Tree Walking. I looked down, at the floor, my eyes carefully analysing every detail fully. 

Large mushrooms dotted the landscape in the distance, ranging from glowing blue caps that emit a faint hum to deep red fungi oozing sap that smells faintly sweet. I saw what looked to be a boar try to eat one but it seemed the red fungi had a defence mechanism where it emitted a faint cloud of noxious smoke. The boar fell, and based on its movements, it was in excruciating agony. 

I also saw scattered groves of fluorescent flowers bloom in vibrant hues—violets, blues, and golden yellows. Some flowers seemed to shy away from contact, their petals curling inwardly, others emitted a faint, nice smelling fragrance I could smell from here. 

And then there was something strange, I approached what seemed to be a wall of massive roots, some with thorns on them, covering something, hidden away.

As I approached it, something, however, kicked me in the stomach. Something small and very, very fast. The kick sent me skidding back on the branch but it was nothing major.

-200 HP

I leaped back, as I saw the thing try to kick me again, looking around. 

A rabbit with brownish-grey fur that was faintly gleaming under the light of the forest, with the inner portions of its long ears are a lighter, almost silvery shade. Its eyes were of a bright, burning orange while its dark grey paws are tipped with what were sharp claws.

The thing was nimble, as well. However, it seemed it wasn't alone, there was 4 more of these rabbits giving me a hint that this rabbit typing was a social predator. 

Killer Rabbits though? Quite the cliché monster type for forests.

Of course, as I was mentally documenting its abilities, it came at me again, rushing at me, however at a much lower speed, half my speed actually. I reacted quickly shifting my leg upwards, chambering it as it leapt towards me, my foot snapped forwards, kicking it before it had a chance to hit me, sending it crashing into a tree, its blood spluttering on the bark as its bone exited its body.

So they were quite weak. I expected as much from a pack animal. 

My actions had enraged the other 4, causing them to rush me. I ducked under the first one, and palm struck it's chest, sending it high into the sky, the 2nd tried to bite at my ankle, to which I simply lifted my leg, sacrificing 50 points of HP from it biting my ankle once, to slam my leg down onto the ground with it beneath me. Causing the branch I was on to snap slightly and just like the first, its bones exited the body oozing blood out of its carcass. The other 2 came at me together, aiming to take me out at once, but I simply gripped them by their ears easily, and threw them at their dead comrade against the tree.

One of them managed to land their feet against the bark, whilst the other was not as fortunate, its body squished by the force of the throw, causing its bones to pierce its own heart, causing it to die. 

The one whose feet was on the bark glared at me, before dashing towards me, but this time its speed was much, much faster, similar to the first ones. However this time I could calculate exactly by how much. 

It had quintupled its speed. However, because I knew this, I could time exactly when it would arrive to hit me, and react accordingly. That said, I couldn't do that this time, as a potent kick from it sent me skidding backwards.

-300 HP

Acceleration affected damage, huh? That I could guess, as the force behind a punch was the speed by which it was thrown and the mass behind that punch which resulted in the creation of Kinetic Energy that the punch generated upon contact.

Either way, I exclaimed, "KAIMON!" 

With the first gate opened, this critter was only slightly faster than me. 

The Rabbit rushed at me again with that speed, not sensing the change before it was too late, roughly 2 seconds away from kicking me, I gripped it mid air, staring into its eyes. The eyes of the critter widened in fear, shivering as it scrambled to get out of my touch. Uncaring for its plight, I stopped its scrambling by grabbing it by the legs, and then with a swift movement, pulled both my hands apart, ripping it in half.

I dropped it and the organs which now showed, to the floor as the first gate closed. 

Even that brief usage of it drained my HP by a bit, it was 10 seconds, yet 20 HP was lost when I used it.

I looked up, checking for the one I sent flying in the air earlier, only to find its bones sticking out from its gut as it was stuck to vines tinted red with its blood. The vines seemed alive, actually, now that I look at them from this perspective.

X5 Weak Chakra Rabbits killed. Calculating Item Drops.... Items Calculated

250 EXP gained, 7 Rabbits fur gained, 3 Rabbits foot gained

55/60 left

The screen was ignored as I took out a Kunai and concentrated, "Katon: En Kunai." I calmly stated, no emotion in my voice, imbuing Fire Chakra into the Kunai, a thin layer of flames formed on the Kunai as I launched it forwards. The Kunai was embedded into the vine which then started squirming, wiggling itself around. 

I was correct. "What were they connecting too, though?" I mused out loud, watching it closely, my eyes trailing its path to that same spot before I was attacked.

There was something that the vines guarded, wasn't there? I mean it was a dungeon, it wouldn't surprise me if there were hidden areas that gave items away for free.

I looked at my Kunai, in the vines before leaping up, gripping the handle and pulled it out, dropping back down, with catlike agility, on my feet. Then, again as I leaped to the ground fully.

After that, I reused the Katon: En Kunai as I approached the source of the vines. Since they seemed weak to fire, I used fire to cut the vines down with ease. Scorch marks were left where I cut them. The vines did attempt to fight back, but they were slow, and so fell quickly. 

Once I cut the vines down, I could fully see what it was that the vines were guarding, a hidden grotto.

Bonus 2 Requirement Revealed

Find all 5 Hidden Grottos.

1/5 have been found.

So this is one of the requirements huh? I see, Bonus 2 is defeating a Secret Boss. 

Well it doesn't matter, I dealt with those rabbits easily so, I was certain the boss was nothing to me. I stepped inside, glancing at what was inside.

 2 of the blue capped mushrooms sat by the side of a storage shelf for what looked to be weapons based on what I could see inside, alongside a small metallic looking sphere that had the Kanji for "Flash" inscribed upon it on the table underneath the shelf. Beside the flash bombs, there was a strange book that had a mushroom like design on its cover, its title reading, "A simple guide to making quick Chakra Pills and Restorative Pills." 

That was all there was on the inside, I stepped inside, and decided to begin reading the book.

It detailed similar processes to what I was used to reading about medical pills from my old world, except it had a lot more detail on how the pills worked, their side effects, and how to make them. Also a section on how to collect the Red Fungi, Sekiri Mushrooms.

I looked at the blue capped mushrooms, Aonari Mushrooms, as they are called, and gently plucked them from the ground, gently culling their roots with a Kunai. Then they were placed inside my inventory. That was simple.

I'd have time to do more later, so I also placed the book in my inventory. After that, I looked at the assortment of things, and put them all in my inventory.

I had 2 Aonari Mushrooms, useful for making weaker Chakra pills. 10 Low Grade Kunai, 20 Low Grade Shuriken, and 20 Low Grade Senbon. That was it. It wasn't entirely fruitful, I knew that there were more of these grottos out there. 

I exited the grotto and began my scavenging.

The mushrooms were numerous, and I wanted to collect as much as possible to prepare for crafting Chakra Pills. Every mushroom was a resource, and I intended to leave no opportunity wasted.

First, the Sekiri Mushrooms. The toxic fungi stood out with their deep red caps, oozing faint sap that glistened under the soft glow of the forest's bioluminescence. I stopped just outside the detection range of its noxious defence mechanism.

Sekiri Mushrooms were simple to understand. Their defence was triggered by bioelectric signals—natural emissions from the nervous systems of living creatures. Anything alive could set them off, but that also made their response predictable and exploitable.

After observing its subtle movements, I formed the Monkey seal. I hadn't leveled this technique enough to perform it without seals yet. "Raiton: Rai Kunai," I murmured, channelling lightning chakra into my kunai until it crackled with energy. With a precise throw, the kunai landed beside the mushroom and discharged a small burst of electricity upon impact.

The burst triggered its defence mechanism, releasing a thick cloud of gas.

"Futon: Kaze Kunai," I said softly, channelling wind chakra into a second kunai. The swirling aura of wind cut through the gas with ease, dispersing it harmlessly. The kunai embedded itself into a tree behind the mushroom, slowing its momentum against the bark before finally stopping.

I approached quickly, using my kunai to cull the roots of the Sekiri Mushroom with practiced precision. I placed it in my inventory and retrieved my wind-imbued kunai.

Satisfied with the process, I thought to myself, Time to start the scavenging hunt.

Two Hours Later

The time passed in a blur of methodical harvesting. I'd gathered 40 Sekiri Mushrooms and 80 Aonari Mushrooms, the latter glowing faintly in my inventory. During that time, another group of Weak Chakra Rabbits ambushed me, but I dispatched them without taking a scratch. Their movements were predictable now, their tactics simple to counter.

From observing their behaviour, I confirmed that they hunted in packs of five, with no discernible leader among them. A typical predator's hierarchy—nothing particularly impressive.

Satisfied with my haul, I glanced at my Chakra bar, the silvery gauge confirming my reserves.

HP: 2430/3000

Chakra: 4738/8500

I sighed. Chakra and HP didn't regenerate naturally unless I rested, which meant every bit of energy spent had to be accounted for. Resting wasn't an option, so I pressed on, leaping through the dense forest canopy.

The trees blurred past me, their twisting trunks and glowing bark forming a surreal backdrop as I moved. Eventually, a faint sound caught my attention—the soft trickle of water. Following the noise, I soon arrived at a stream winding its way through the forest floor.

I dropped to the ground with a controlled roll, my momentum dissipating as I drew a kunai. The air was still, but a flicker of movement in the corner of my vision sent me sidestepping instinctively.

A blur shot past me—a Weak Chakra Rabbit. My sidestep had been instant but its momentum carried it forward, the edge of my kunai slicing into its side. The wound was deep, cutting through flesh and into bone. The rabbit collapsed, writhing weakly on the ground, until one of my shuriken finished the job.

I caught faint rustling in the bushes nearby and reacted instantly, hurling four shuriken toward the disturbance. The weapons struck true: one rabbit fell with its neck severed, another with a shuriken embedded in its stomach. A third had its leg pierced, crippling it, while the fourth narrowly dodged the attack, only to have its side grazed.

I didn't wait for them to recover. The injured rabbit attempted to use its speed-enhancing technique, but the shuriken in its leg rendered it sluggish. I met its charge with a swift kick to the stomach, sending it crashing to the ground, lifeless.

The remaining two, enraged by their fallen comrades, attacked in unison. I intercepted them mid-leap, gripping their ears and slamming them into the ground atop the carcasses of their companions. One died instantly from the force, its bones impaling its heart, but the other survived, though dazed.

I moved toward the survivor, my foot crushing the head of a fallen rabbit as I approached. Blood and brain matter scattered across the ground, enraging the last rabbit further.

It blurred toward me, using its speed-enhancing ability, but I was ready. My kunai met its trajectory perfectly, slicing through bone and flesh in a clean arc. The low-grade kunai shattered from the impact, but the rabbit's momentum carried its halved body past me, spilling its innards across the forest floor.

Blood splattered onto my clothes, but I paid it no mind.

x5 Weak Chakra Rabbits killed.

250 EXP gained, 5 Rabbits' Fur gained, 3 Rabbits' Feet gained

45/60 enemies left

With the threat dealt with, I turned my attention back to the stream. The faint trickle of water continued as I followed its winding path, leaping over rocks and under low-hanging branches. My eyes scanned the area for any movement, alert for both prey and potential danger.

The stream's path twisted and turned, carving through the forest like a ribbon of silver. I followed it with deliberate steps, keeping my movements fluid and silent. The occasional rustle of leaves or chirp of birds was the only sound accompanying me, but I didn't let my guard down. The forest had already shown its dangers, and I expected more ahead.

My eyes scanned the water's edge as I walked, searching for signs of anything unusual. The soft glow of the bioluminescent trees reflected on the surface, casting faint patterns of light that rippled with the current. Occasionally, small fish darted beneath the water, their scales shimmering briefly before disappearing into the depths.

Suddenly, a faint scratching sound reached my ears—a subtle noise, but distinct against the natural background. I froze, my kunai in hand, as I scanned the surrounding trees. The sound came again, closer this time, like claws scraping against bark.

I stepped to the side, taking cover behind a nearby tree. Peeking around the trunk, I spotted the source: a massive bear creature.

Its fur was a dark brown streaked with reddish hues that shimmered faintly in the soft forest light. It was massive—easily three times my size—with broad shoulders and paws tipped with wickedly sharp claws. Its glowing blue eyes exuded an unsettling intelligence, scanning its surroundings with an air of primal confidence.

The bear sniffed the air before lumbering closer to the stream, its claws scraping against a nearby rock. Every step it took seemed deliberate, its weight causing the ground to tremble faintly beneath it.

I held my breath, observing its movements. While I'd faced the Weak Chakra Rabbits with ease, this creature was entirely different. Its sheer size and presence suggested a level of strength and resilience that required more than brute force to overcome.

I studied it carefully, noting the tension in its muscles and the way its eyes darted occasionally to the shadows. It's cautious, I realized. This thing knows how to look for threats. How intriguing, unlike the rabbits, the bear was semi-intelligent.

I shifted slightly, my fingers tightening around the handle of my kunai. A direct fight would be risky, especially since I didn't know its capabilities. The rabbits had that strange speed up technique—Usagi Ashi as one could describe—what's to say this thing didn't have something similar. 

I was confident I could beat it however. After all, I had Katon: Gokyaku in the back pocket that I could pull out.

The bear lowered its head to the stream, lapping at the water with heavy breaths. Its movements were deceptively calm, but I noticed how its ears twitched, alert to every sound around it.

Abruptly, the bear's head snapped up, its glowing blue eyes locking onto my position.

It sensed me?

For a brief moment, I was genuinely shocked. I had been hidden, rather well, with a maxed Stealth skill, and this thing still noticed me. It had to have a sense based skill, or maybe its natural senses were heightened further.

Recovering from my shock, I had noticed how the bear's body tensed, its claws digging into the earth as it released a low growl that reverberated through the forest. Without hesitation, it charged toward me, its massive frame barrelling forward with speed, less than the rabbits, yet still quick.

I sidestepped avoiding its swipe as its claws raked through the bark of the tree I had been hiding behind. The tree splintered under the force, chunks of wood flying in all directions. Then I slashed my Kunai into its fur. Tougher hide. This thing was stronger than the rabbit, and physically tougher, but not as nimble. I documented in my head before leaping back, narrowly avoiding its claw.

That was close.

My kunai hadn't even scratched its flesh, either. The bear readied itself, its eyes blazing with predatory focus. I put my Kunai away, noting that it had been dented instead. Then I began going through Hand Seals Rat → Dog → Boar.

"Genjutsu: Yume no Kage," I muttered as I completed the hand seals. I would distract it first.

With the distraction made by the Genjutsu, as it saw shadows all around it. I leapt onto a branch, through Chakra Leap then began moving from branch to branch until I was positioned directly above the bear. It hadn't noticed me, its focus on the illusionary distorted figures it was probably seeing.

I take out 5 Shuriken, infusing wind chakra between all 5, "Futon: Kaze Shuriken," I threw all of them downwards, their enhanced cutting capabilities managing to pierce its flesh, although not deeply. This all took 15 seconds so as soon as my Shuriken pierced into it, my Genjutsu ended.

Its eyes filled with rage as it searched for my presence. It was hurt, but it seemed to shrug off the pain easily. I documented everything in my mind, watching it. With not many choices, I dropped down, pulling out a Kunai, using the momentum from my fall, and a stance, I dropped directly onto the bear's back, stabbing into, and then carving my Kunai downwards. 

The thing let out a howl of pain, trying to force me off of it, which didn't work. My left hand gripped onto its fur, as my Kunai began to cut further into it. Then all of a sudden, my Kunai snapped. The metal embedded in its flesh, fully. With no other choice, I get on its back fully.

Hopefully this thing isn't intelligent enough to realise what will happen.

I held onto its fur, and started to rip at it. The thing trying to get me off began to dash back, to get me off it tried slamming its own back into a tree. I applied Chakra to the soles of my feet, applying the stickiness of Tree Walking to glue my feet, and thus myself to it's back.

-230 HP

Pain surged through my back, but I stuck to it like a pest that wouldn't go away. I ripped its fur in such a way that forced it to dash forwards. In another attempt to throw me off, it slammed itself in a tree, to which I was shaken, but was otherwise fine.

When it made another attempt at getting me off that way, right before it collided with the tree, I pulled out a Kunai stabbing it in the back of the neck, and with a slashing motion, its flesh tore apart as I moved my Kunai vertically. Carving through it. 

The thing howled out again, and just before it tried its final move, rolling onto its back, I let go of my Tree Walking technique, and used my Chakra to propel me upwards. I was 60 metres in the air right now. And with it, I readied 2 Kunai to stab into it whilst it was on its back, as I let the momentum carry me.

Just as I was about to open the First Gate to increase my strength for this final blow, it breathed in, and did something I didn't expect.

It spat fire at me. A mote of flames exited its mouth, straight in my direction. And because I was in the air, I had no way to dodge. I was hit directly by the fire, which exploded as it collided with me, sending me hurling back, where my back hit the branch of a tree hard. I felt the bones cracking in my body, but I pushed through it, my hand gripping the branch, and with impressive athletic finesse I got onto the branch by swinging myself up. 

-530 HP

So it revealed its hand, fire spits. With that thought, I looked down at it seeing it perform that Flame Spit technique again, but I had already made my choice, dropping my 2 kunai onto the branch before my hands started blurring through the seals.

"Katon: Gokyaku no Jutsu," as soon as I got to the tiger seal, I breathed in, using as much Chakra as I could, putting me at less than half my Chakra with a single Jutsu. The fire kneaded in my mouth began to burn, but that was then I released it, expelling a ball of flames, 3 times my own height streaking towards it leaving a trail of flames in its wake.

The mote of flames it spat were consumed adding to my Gokyaku's strength as the ball of flames, absorbing the flames. Then continued onwards, like a raging bull, exploding as it made contact with the bear. Debris was sent everywhere as the heat of the area surged, feeling it reach my own face with the explosion of flames that once they died down I saw the burned remains of the bear. Smoke coming off of its skin, as it laid there.

I didn't have a choice here. I also grabbed my 2 Kunai in case the thing got up, fortunately a translucent box appeared.

Weak Chakra Bear has been Killed, calculating item drops, item drops calculated.

+700 EXP, Elemental Essence, Bear Pelt, X2 Bears Claw

44/60 left

Genjutsu: Yume no Kage has reached LVL 2, Katon: Gokyaku no Jutsu has reached LVL 2

With the notification, I dropped down to the floor. Looking at the scorched earth from my flames as I landed on the floor.

With less than half my Chakra, and close to having half my HP wiped out, I realised that I was not as prepared as I thought I was. I needed to actually rethink my strategy here.

I couldn't leave, that was obvious. The note made it so I couldn't leave, and though I paid the warning no mind, now I think I should have waited another few months before this, but here I was.

"Status," The main stat that truly helped me this far was my DEX. I used it against the rabbits for my reaction speeds, I had used it against that bear. Even if CHA might be a good stat to increase as well, my perks would already increase it as I gained EXP in this dungeon. 

Status

Name: Akari Inori

Clan: Uchiha

Title: None

Level: 40

EXP: 7555/9000

HP: 3000

Chakra: 8650

Chakra Control: 20%

STR: 200

DEX: 250

CON: 300

INT: 310

CHA: 1730

Stat Points: 0

With the increase made and feeling lighter on my feet, I began walking.

The forest felt quieter now, as though holding its breath in the aftermath of my battle. Every step I took was deliberate, my eyes scanning for any hint of danger or opportunity. The soft glow of bioluminescent bark cast shifting patterns on the ground, and the occasional rustle of leaves above kept my senses sharp.

It wasn't long before something caught my attention—a faint shimmer of light ahead, different from the forest's natural glow. Curious, I walked towards it, 

The dense trees parted, revealing a wide-open grotto nestled beneath a massive arch of gnarled roots. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, creating golden streaks that danced across the moss-covered ground. The air here felt different—crisper, almost charged, as though this place was untouched by time.

I stepped inside, my movements careful as I took in the details.

2/5 Grottos found.

I dismissed the box with a wave of my hand.

I stepped cautiously onto the mossy floor, my gaze sweeping over the space. Like the first grotto, this one was adorned with glowing flora, the soft light casting intricate patterns across the stone walls. But here, the setup was more refined.

Against the far wall stood a wooden workbench, its surface smooth and polished, though clearly well-used. Tools hung neatly on hooks above it—chisels, small hammers, mortar and pestles and a set of jars filled with glowing powders which were set on a small shelf. Atop the workbench lay several items, each catching the bioluminescent light in its own way.

The most prominent was a Jutsu Scroll, its surface adorned with intricate writings of the technique. Beside it, two small stacks of pills rested—their distinct bluish white and reddish white hues glowing faintly under the light. 

I moved to set my hand atop the work bench then my attention flicked to the translucent prompt that appeared in the corner of my vision from it.

As the Gamer, you gain access to Easy Crafting through the Interface, this allows the creation of items using collected materials when touching the surface of a Workbench with the required tools to make the item. It also only shows the Recipes you craft right now.

Low Grade items cannot be enhanced.

Equipment can only be Enhanced 5 times.

Crafting Book recognised, Crafting book has been consumed. Recipes unlocked.

As soon as I read what I was capable of thanks to my Gamer—which strangely was not shown in the tutorial, which also nagged me at the back of my mind that was like an itch that I can't scratch for some reason—the actual crafting interface was shown. 

Workbench Accessed

Craft Items

Craft Weapons

Enhance Equipment

Dismantle Items

Create Consumables

View All

I tapped "View All" and a list unfolded before me:

Consumables:

Basic Chakra Pill: Restores 500 Chakra. Requires: 2 Aonari Mushroom + Sekiri Mushroom.

Basic Health Pill: Restores 500 HP. Requires: 2 Sekiri Mushroom + Aonari Mushroom

Chakra Pill: Restores 1500 Chakra. Requires: 3 Aonari Mushrooms + Sekiri Mushroom

Health Pill: Restores 1500 HP. Requires: 3 Sekiri Mushrooms + Aonari Mushroom

Items:

Leather: Can be used to enhance armour. Requires: 4 Rabbits Fur

Enhanced Leather: Leather that has been Enhanced. Requires: Leather + Bear Pelt

Weapons:

Kunai: Standard issue Kunai, as sharp as one would expect from Kunai. Damage is dependent on the part of the body that is hit but it is common for it to deal 100 damage at long range and 200 at close range. Requirements: Low Grade Kunai + Bears Claw

Shuriken: Standard issue Shuriken as sharp as one would expect from Shuriken. Damage is dependent on the part of the body that is hit but it is common for it to deal 150 damage at long range. Requirements: Low Grade Shuriken + Bears Claw

Enhance Equipment:

Basic Protective Fibre Shinobi outfit.

Increased Defence: Permanently increases the defence you get from whatever you are wearing. Requires: Leather

Enhanced Defence: Permanently increases the defence you get from whatever you are wearing even further than the more basic increased defence. Requires: Enhanced Leather.

Enhancing DEX: Increases DEX by 10% when you wear the outfit. Requires: 10 Rabbit Foot

High Grade Explosive Tag:

Enhance Explosion Range: Increases the explosive range of your Explosive Tag by 2x. Requires: High Grade Explosive Tag + (Fire) Elemental Essence

Enhance Damage: Increases the Damage of the Tag by 2x. Requires: High Grade Explosive Tag + (Fire) Elemental Essence

Hmm, that was a lot more than I expected to see. 

"Inventory," I called out, deciding to see what I could do crafting wise, at least. I take some of the items on the desk, placing them inside it, including the Jutsu Scroll.

Inventory

Ryo: 1000

Katon: Karyu Endan Jutsu Scroll. 

X13 Low Grade Kunai: Kunai that whilst sharp, aren't as sharp as one would expect from a Kunai. Damage is dependent on the part of the body that is hit but it is common for it to deal 10 damage at long range and 20 at close range.

X17 Low Grade Shuriken: Shuriken that whilst sharp, aren't as sharp as one would expect from a Shuriken. Damage is dependent on the part of the body that is hit but it is common for it to deal 15 damage.

X20 Low Grade Senbon: The precision is off as these Senbon are made from a different, slightly heavier material. Damage is dependent on the body part, and precision, but mainly 20 damage.

X2 High Grade Explosive Tag: The Highest quality of Explosive Tags one can buy, these are some of the strongest ones out there. The explosion triggered is big, tending to be a 50 metre circle from where the explosion took place at and deals around 1000 to 2000 damage depending on how close one is to the detonation of the tags, the explosion can tear off limbs too.

Flash Bomb: A compact, metallic sphere inscribed with the kanji for "Flash," this tool is a staple for distraction and disorientation in the shinobi arsenal. Upon activation, the bomb releases an intense burst of light and a sharp, crackling noise designed to momentarily blind and deafen anyone within its effective radius. In its range of 5 metres it can Blind person for 10 seconds and deafen them, this is also highly effective against anyone who has a Dojutsu that relies on sight which is basically all of them.

X3 Chakra Imbed Ink bottle: Ink used for Fuinjutsu that is bottled. That is all.

X10 Parchment: Paper crafted from another source can be used for Fuinjutsu, though it makes Low Grade Fuin items.

X5 Basic Chakra Pill: A basic bluish-white pill that pulses with a faint shimmer. When consumed, it dissolves instantly, releasing a cool, refreshing sensation that revitalizes the user's chakra pathways through stimulating the Chakra production process. Often used by shinobi who know they are going to be in combat for a long time, this pill provides a much-needed boost. Taking too many can result in nausea, dizziness and other negative effects as the body pays the price for the increased Chakra regeneration. Restores 500 Chakra.

X5 Basic Health Pill: A basic, reddish-white pill with a faint glow that pulses like a heartbeat under the light. When ingested, it rapidly accelerates cellular regeneration to restore vitality. Its ability to treat wounds in the field makes it a valuable tool for Shinobi who know they are going to fight long battles. The body compensates for the accelerated healing process over usage can result in including the effects of Dizziness, tiredness, and other negative effects. Restores 500 HP.

X20 Rabbits Fur: This brown fur taken from Chakra Rabbits can be used to make Rabbit Leather which can be used to enhance gear and it can be sold.

X10 Rabbits Foot: This foot from rabbits can be sold for a bit of Ryo or used to enhance an Outfits deftness.

X1 Bear Pelt: A thick, resilient pelt harvested from a Weak Chakra Bear. It's durable and warm, making it a prized material for enhancing basic leathers.

X2 Bear Claw: A claw from the Weak Chakra Bear that can be used to sharpen weapons.

X1 Elemental Essence: A concentrated core of Chakra infused with elemental properties. The essence retains traces of the being's abilities, glowing faintly with fire, wind, lightning, earth, or water, depending on the last attack of the creature. It's a rare drop and tends to be a strong crafting item.

You hold 1 Fire essence.

X82 Aonari Mushroom: A bioluminescent fungus with a faint blue glow that hums softly when touched. Known for its chakra-restorative properties, it is a prized ingredient in crafting Chakra Pills. Its delicate structure makes it easy to harvest but also fragile to transport without proper care.

X41 Sekiri Mushroom: A deep red fungus that exudes a faint, toxic sap capable of incapacitating small animals. Its noxious defence mechanism releases a cloud of gas that causes immense pain when disturbed, making it dangerous to harvest without preparation. Despite its hazards, it is a crucial ingredient in crafting Health Pills and antidotes.

(Equipped) Basic Protective Fibre Shinobi outfit: This practical outfit is crafted from durable, fibres designed to provide enhanced protection without sacrificing mobility. The fabric is lightweight yet highly resilient, offering basic defence against many attacks. Its sleek, black design includes a high-collared, long-sleeved hoodie, matching trousers, and reinforced combat boots, making it ideal for Genin. Defence: Take 5% less damage.

Common Clothes

I looked at the items I had received from the Grotto, and what I could make. 

With this, I started making stuff that was helpful.

First off, I actually upgraded 2 of my Kunai. I needed better base equipment. Then, I upgraded the Outfit I wore after making Enhanced Leather, and Leather. 3 Leathers, 1 Enhanced Leather, 10 Rabbit's feet were used to enhance the suit using all 5 Enhancements on it to make it much better defensively and that DEX bonus was useful. I then enhanced one of my 2 Exploding Tags to have its damage increase.

After that I made 14 Chakra Pills, and 9 Health Pills. With that I had done everything I needed to do with this bench.

After doing that, only then did I look at the Jutsu scroll and after recognising it a B ranked Jutsu, I began to read its scroll. I need any advantage I can get here.

Katon: Karyū Endan LVL 1/50: After kneading chakra within the user's body, fire is expelled in the form of a roaring dragon. The flames are then directed to strike the target from multiple angles simultaneously—left, right, and front. Unlike most other Katon this jutsu focuses its destructive power in a concentrated manner.

Hand Seals: Ram → Horse → Snake → Dragon → Rat → Ox → Tiger

Costs 800 Chakra for 700 Damage with 50% chance to inflict Burn.

That Chakra Cost to the damage, was that the result of it being rather focused instead of widespread? No, the Gokyaku was similar, being only slightly more focused on widespread damage. Was it because it was a B ranked, then? I doubted that. I had simply guessed that just like in most MMO's, some skills will be better than others when it comes to their damage and cost ratios.

Besides that, I decided this grotto would make a perfect resting spot. With the forest's natural defences keeping it hidden and the workbench allowing me to craft supplies efficiently, it was an invaluable resource I would be returning to often.

Still, one question lingered, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. Why hadn't the crafting system been explained during the tutorial?

I could understand leaving certain mechanics to discovery—encouraging exploration and experimentation—but crafting was fundamental. If the Social Link system had been detailed, why not something far more practical?

My lips twitched in irritation, the faintest motion betraying my growing sense of frustration. Frustration. That was the word for this feeling, wasn't it? It was subtle, almost foreign, like a faint itch at the back of my mind.

I sighed softly, leaning back against one of the moss-covered walls of the grotto. "Annoying," I muttered to no one in particular.

The realization that I was annoyed didn't alleviate the feeling, but it did something else—it made me pause. For years, emotions had been abstract concepts to me, distant and detached. But now?

I began thinking back. Not to this irritation, but to other moments.

There was the time with Shiina. That strange, warm sensation I felt around her—a pleasant heat that spread through my chest, settling there in a way I couldn't describe. And amusement, when she had tried and failed to outwit me in a game, her determination unwavering even in defeat.

Staring at the faint glow of a bioluminescent flower nearby I think to myself. Did I actually care for Shiina?

It wasn't a question I could answer immediately, and perhaps that was why it unsettled me. If I truly did care for her, what did that mean? Caring implied attachment, didn't it? Attachments were liabilities. They clouded judgment, created weaknesses.

And yet…

I stood, pacing the length of the grotto as my mind raced. Caring for Shiina wasn't the only oddity. That warmth I felt wasn't limited to her. There were other moments—small, fleeting, but undeniable.

Back at that Ramen stand that same warmth was present there. It reminded me of...

Matsuo.

That man's warmth that he radiated wherever he went, the kindness he showed me in helping me escape the White Room's prying eyes. That emotion back then, during that fireworks festival, was hope, wasn't it? 

Then, that moment...

"... last month, the man set himself on fire."

At the words of that man, I felt my chest tighten.

The cold, unfeeling voice of that man ringed through my ears, reminding me of Matsuo's ultimate fate. And the feeling inside me it produced.

I was saddened, at that moment wasn't I? I had cared for Matsuo, even if only slightly.

I clenched my fists, a faint tremor running through them.

Caring for someone meant I had something to lose. Yet, if I truly didn't care for Shiina, why was I so determined to protect her? Why did that warmth come from?

"Oh," was the only thing I could say as I realised it.

Shiina had truly became an irreplaceable existence to me.

Her smile. Her determination. Her unwavering trust in me. 

All of it must've made an impression on me. 

My emotions, dulled and distant as they were, seemed to be waking from a long dormancy, peeking through the cracks in my carefully maintained wall of apathy. 

The emotions swirling inside me were complicated, unpredictable, and something I hadn't understood, yet now... I was slowly beginning to learn what they were.

"Matsuo, if you could see me now, would you be proud of my growth?"