章 11: Chapter 11: The Art of Illusions
The night sky hung overhead like a shroud, and Zaky's footsteps echoed softly on the damp forest floor. The distant mountains that signaled the way to the Hidden Leaf Village seemed further than ever, veiled by the mist curling through the trees. His new powers swirled within him—alien, raw, and unpredictable. But the art of survival, Zaky knew, wasn't only about power; it was also about deception.
Urashiki wasn't just powerful—he was cunning. An expert manipulator.
This wasn't a world where brute strength alone would get him what he wanted. If Zaky was to walk among shinobi without raising suspicion—if he was to play the villain hidden in plain sight—he had to learn more than just the techniques of battle.
He had to master the art of illusions.
Zaky glanced at Chibi, who hopped beside him, its large eyes blinking curiously. Even in the silent forest, the little creature's presence comforted him, grounding him as his thoughts drifted into darker territory. He wasn't alone, not entirely. But the growing weight of the Otsutsuki legacy lingered, urging him toward subtlety and guile.
The Villain System had nudged him in this direction earlier—praising cunning and rewarding alignment points for every small step toward a darker path. Now, it was becoming clearer to Zaky that brute force would come later. For now, illusions would be his sharpest tool.
As they pressed further into the forest, Zaky found a clearing bathed in faint moonlight. The mist hung low, swirling like ghostly tendrils between the trees. It was the perfect setting for what he had in mind.
He knelt on the ground, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. The chakra within him responded to his call—wild and unfamiliar, but there, waiting to be shaped. Urashiki's chakra was unlike anything Zaky had known in his previous life. It carried a subtle, slippery quality, like trying to grasp smoke with his hands.
"Illusions aren't just about tricking the senses," Zaky reminded himself. "They're about control—making people believe what you want them to believe."
He thought back to the times he had seen villains like Itachi or Madara use illusions. It had never been about brute strength with them—it was finesse. A carefully constructed illusion could turn even the strongest shinobi into a puppet dancing to its master's will.
Zaky focused, letting the chakra flow outward like a spreading ripple. He tried to shape it, bending it into threads that would tangle with the senses—something simple to begin with. He pictured a small bird taking flight, its feathers glinting silver under the moonlight.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a flicker—a shimmer of movement at the edge of his vision.
The illusion took form, a delicate bird fluttering into the mist. It was fragile, imperfect, its outline flickering as if it might dissolve at any moment. But it was real enough to the senses, and that was what mattered.
A soft chime echoed in Zaky's mind.
"Skill Progress: Illusory Chakra – 5% Mastery."
He grinned despite himself, the small success igniting a spark of confidence. This was only the beginning, but every step forward was a step closer to mastering the art of deception.
Chibi let out an excited chirp, hopping toward the illusory bird, which dissolved the moment the little creature tried to touch it. Zaky chuckled, scratching Chibi's head. "Don't worry, little guy. I'll make them more real soon."
But illusions weren't just tricks to amuse Chibi—they were the key to survival. If he could cast illusions convincingly enough, he wouldn't need to rely on brute force. He could hide in plain sight, manipulate others, and bend situations to his favor without ever lifting a finger.
The shinobi world is built on deception. This was a lesson the Villain System didn't need to teach him. Zaky had seen it unfold countless times in the anime: spies disguised as allies, enemies hidden in shadows, betrayals lurking beneath polite smiles. If he wanted to succeed, he would need to play this game well. And illusions were his way in.
The air around him shifted as Zaky tried again, this time with more focus. He let the chakra flow slower, more deliberately, shaping it into something more complex. A small fox, sleek and agile, emerged from the mist. Its fur glowed faintly under the moonlight, its eyes sharp and mischievous.
Zaky marveled at his creation. This time, the illusion held together longer, moving smoothly across the clearing, its tail flicking playfully as it circled around him and Chibi.
"Skill Progress: Illusory Chakra – 12% Mastery."
The more he practiced, the easier it became. Each illusion felt more natural, more convincing. But with every step forward, the weight of the Villain System's alignment score lingered in the back of his mind, reminding him that every use of these abilities was drawing him deeper into the villain's path.
And yet, Zaky found he didn't mind as much as he thought he would. There was a thrill to this—an intoxicating sense of power that came not from brute force, but from subtlety and control. He didn't need to punch his way through obstacles. He could outthink, outmaneuver, and outplay anyone who stood in his way.
Hours passed as Zaky practiced, the clearing becoming a stage for his illusions. He conjured birds, foxes, and even a wolf, each one more refined than the last. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he pressed on, determined to push himself further.
"This isn't just for survival," Zaky thought. "This is how I'll win."
The Villain System chimed again, as if in agreement.
"Skill Progress: Illusory Chakra – 20% Mastery."
Zaky knew he was still far from mastering the art, but the progress was undeniable. And with every new illusion, he felt himself slipping further into the mindset of a villain—not a brute who fought head-on, but a mastermind who stayed two steps ahead.
He didn't need to become the strongest. He just needed to be the smartest.
As the first hints of dawn began to creep across the sky, Zaky finally let the illusions fade, exhaustion settling over him like a heavy blanket. Chibi yawned, curling up beside him as he leaned against a tree, catching his breath.
He knew the path ahead was dangerous. The Hidden Leaf Village was full of shinobi who could see through weak tricks, and the stakes were higher than anything he had faced in his old life. But for the first time since arriving in this world, Zaky felt a strange sense of clarity.
The art of illusions wasn't just about deceiving others—it was about crafting reality itself. And if he played his cards right, he wouldn't just survive in this world—he would thrive.
Zaky let his eyes drift shut, the hum of the Villain System fading to a low buzz in the back of his mind. The Otsutsuki's shadow still loomed over him, but it no longer felt suffocating.
He had taken his first steps into the art of deception. And with each illusion, he was carving out his place in this world—a place where the lines between truth and lies blurred, and only those sharp enough to see through the illusions would survive.
As sleep claimed him, one final notification echoed in his mind.
"Villain Path Alignment: +4."
And so, with illusions at his fingertips and the shadows of the Otsutsuki guiding his steps, Zaky drifted into uneasy dreams, ready for whatever lay ahead.
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