Chapter 9: A Higher Calling
The crimson eyes in the reflection stared back, not with madness, but with a cold, infinite hunger. The power thrumming through Leo's veins was immense, but his otaku mind, now sharpened to a razor's edge, knew it was just the beginning. In a multiverse of infinite threats, one could never be too strong.
"System," he commanded, his voice steady. "I need a package deal. A comprehensive list. Total cost for all known Devil Fruits, all three forms of Haki mastery, and every Jutsu from all known shinobi disciplines, including all bloodline limit techniques."
The interface flickered, processing the monumental request. Numbers scrolled, a dizzying cascade of digits.
[Calculating...]
[Total for All Known Devil Fruits (Paramecia, Zoan, Logia): 25,000,000 NP]
[Total for Advanced Haki Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Mastery: 15,000,000 NP]
[Total for All Jutsu (E-Rank to S-Rank, including all Kinjutsu and Bloodline Limits): 50,000,000 NP]
[Grand Total: 90,000,000 Nexus Points.]
Ninety million. The number was astronomical, a mountain to be climbed. But instead of despair, he felt a thrill. A goal. He had twelve million. He needed seventy-eight more. The hunt was far from over.
A knock at the door shattered his concentration. He deactivated the Sharingan, his eyes returning to their normal hue, though the sharpness remained. He pulled his black cloth mask up, and on a whim, browsed the shop for a single second.
[Kakashi's Anbu Mask (White) - 5 NP. Purchase?]
A smooth, porcelain-white mask with red markings appeared in his hand. He swapped it for his black one. The effect was even more imposing—faceless, anonymous, and utterly unreadable.
He opened the door. Elara stood there, her usual determination mixed with a new layer of awe and nervousness.
"Kaelen," she began, her voice softer than usual. "The Chief… he requests your presence. At the longhouse."
Leo didn't move. "Why?"
She shifted her weight. "He didn't say. We don't question the Chief."
Leo let out a short, quiet sigh that spoke volumes of his annoyance. "Fine." He stepped out, closing the shack door behind him and falling into step beside her. The villagers they passed fell silent, bowing their heads or averting their gaze from the white-masked savior.
As they walked, a new, golden quest notification bloomed in his vision, its timing feeling less like coincidence and more like destiny.
[GRAND QUEST: FOUNDATIONS OF A NEW DAWN]
[Objective: Establish a self-sufficient, hidden settlement. Recruit capable followers. Create a bastion of power that transcends national boundaries.]
[Suggested Model: 'The Hidden Leaf Village' (Konohagakure). Amalgamate various disciplines and factions for ultimate strength.]
[Reward: Scaling with village tier, influence, and power. Initial Completion: 10,000,000 NP.]
There it was. His path forward. A smile tugged at his lips beneath the mask. He wouldn't just be a wanderer. He would be a founder. A Kage.
They entered the longhouse. Chief Borin sat on his carved chair, flanked by a few senior hunters. The air was thick with tension and gratitude.
"Kaelen," the Chief began, his voice booming but lacking its usual dismissive edge. "The village owes you its life. What you did out there… it was beyond anything I have ever seen." He leaned forward. "I am offering you a permanent position as head of the militia. A place of honor by my side. You will want for nothing."
Leo didn't even let the offer hang in the air. A derisive snort echoed from behind the porcelain mask. "No."
The hunters shifted uncomfortably. The Chief's face tightened. "This is a great honor, boy. You would be a fool to—"
"I'm not staying," Leo interrupted, his voice flat and final. "I'm leaving Oakhaven."
A stunned silence filled the hall. "Leaving? To where? To be a wandering sellsword? With your power, you could make this village great! You could teach us! Show us how you fight!"
"I can't. And I won't," Leo said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Then why? Give me one good reason!" the Chief demanded, his patience fraying.
"I'm going to build my own village," Leo stated, as if announcing he was going for a walk.
The Chief blinked. "...What? Your own… village? What in the blazes does that mean? A village of what?"
"A hidden village," Leo said, the term feeling natural on his tongue. "A place for those who walk a different path. You don't need to know the details."
The Chief's face turned a blotchy red. The gratitude was evaporating, replaced by the fury of a leader being defied. "I forbid it!" he slammed his hand on the arm of his chair. "You are a son of Oakhaven! Your power belongs to this village! You will not just walk away with the strength that rightfully protects us!"
Leo's head tilted slightly. The movement was slow, deliberate, and more threatening than any shout. The air grew cold. The hunters instinctively reached for their weapons.
"Rightfully protects you?" Leo's voice was a low, dangerous whisper. "You let me starve. You let them beat me in your streets. This village offered me nothing but scorn. I owe you less than nothing."
He took a single step forward. The Chief flinched back.
"You can't stop me," Leo said, each word dropping like a stone. "Your threats are the chirping of sparrows to me. The only reason this village still stands is because I chose to let it. Don't make me reconsider that choice."
He turned, his white mask giving them one last, empty stare before he walked out of the longhouse, leaving a room full of terrified, powerless men in his wake. The path was clear. Oakhaven was a memory. His future was a blank map, and he was ready to draw his own kingdom upon it.