Path Of War Chapter 401: Odd

THE WORLD OUTSIDE ISN’T WHAT MANY THINK IT IS.

So believe that it’s all fun and full of laughter. But behind that veil is an entirely different story. It’s a fabricated reality built on lies and power. Those in high places—governnts, corporations, secret organizations—use their strength to oppress the weak, to manipulate them, and to take what they want without giving much in return.

The ninja world is no different. That world is a place of hidden conflicts and shadows lurking behind every corner.

One such man arrived alone in this world. He hadn’t received any grand entrance, nor was he welcod with open arms by this world’s inhabitants. And even after everything, he refused to give up.

He was different from others.

Faith carried him. Faith in a purpose no one else could see.

Six others found their way into this world alongside him. Each of them arrived with their own reasons and their own ambitions.

Jasper Reza was all about the money. He saw this world as a chance to make a fortune and to gain power through wealth. Money and prestige drove him more than anything. He believed that with enough riches, he could shape his destiny. It was a straightforward goal, and he was willing to do whatever it took, even if it ant entering a Japanese-based virtual reality world.

Margaret Campbell ca with different dreams. For her, this world was an adventure. She wanted to see what it was like to live in a ninja universe. She craved the experience and the thrill of the unknown. She believed that she could find so purpose here, maybe even make a difference, if she stayed true to herself.

Alice’s mission was a secret one. She wanted to stop the manufacturers of Elysium—those who seemingly brought the ninja world to life without causing any casualties. She believed that peace was possible and that violence could be avoided if everyone played their part. Her focus was on control and on stopping the cycle of violence before it could start.

William Rodriguez had his own reasons. He had always wanted to be part of the ninja world. Since childhood, he’d read the comic books, binged the television series, and watched all the movies. Now, he was here, living his dream. It was a chance to prove he belonged and to show that he could adapt and survive in a place he’d only admired from earth.

Jada Schmidt was much more coly than the rest. Her goal was simple: help those in need. She saw suffering and sadness in his world and its characters and only wanted to make it better. For her, this world was a place where she could make a difference, reach out to those who needed her the most, and perhaps find so aning in all of it.

And then there was Alexander Costa, the most peculiar of them all. His motives were never clear from the start. He kept his intentions private and hid his true purposes behind layers of ambiguity. Whatever he wanted, it was sothing that set him apart from the others. He moved quietly, observed the others, and acted only when the mont called for it.

In this unfamiliar world, the group was diverse. Yet there was a foreseeable division amongst them. For as it is written, "And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:24-25)."

Their goals varied, and their backgrounds differed greatly. From Germany to France, and from Arica to the Middle East. Each one of them carried great potential.

But one man had been outshining them all.

That sa man had proven himself ti and again. From learning dangerous techniques to shaping thodical buildings, he had transford himself into a force to be reckoned with. He beca wealthy in record ti, he governed a country all by himself, he both hosted and won a tournant without giving away his identity, he trained until his very bones cracked under pressure, he challenged the principalities, he manipulated evil organizations, and he even developed his own nation to one day spread his influence in every corner of the world.

That sa man was shaping himself to beco a conqueror. No one could stand against him for long. His actions were calculated, and his plans were ticulous. Those who knew him understood: he wasn’t just here to exist; he was here to dominate.

Who in mankind could enter this world and truly rule it like no other? Who could stand above the rest and shape their destiny without bending to another’s will?

anwhile, the others struggled with their own battles.

Jada’s primary involvent always led her to help those across the Leaf Village. It was her compassion that pushed her forward despite the many mysterious setbacks that sa ntion caused. William, although he kept up with his training, was too eager to prove his worth after being defeated by that sa man in public.

Alice herself played both sides, for her goal was to dismantle the troubles from within without unnecessary bloodshed. Her work was delicate, but that sa man was testing her at every turn. Margaret was caught between her role as a Senju. Her defeat by that sa man hurt her pride so much that her true colours began to show.

Jasper, anwhile, was unaware of how his bloodline was tied to this world’s creation. He knew that ti was on his side, so he opted to play the long ga. A terrible decision when the dynamics were constantly shifting because of that sa man.

And Alexander? He was the main one not being affected emotionally by all of these events caused by that sa man. Whether Alex could shake the very foundation of this world, his actions showed that he was rely on watch.

All these people, so different, yet all thrust into a world that tested their limits. So wanted survival, others power. So sought purpose, others recognition.

Only one had the vision and resolve to truly dominate. It was that sa man many thought was dead. That sa man watched from the shadows, perfected techniques that others thought impossible, built strong alliances, broke enemies, and kept his true motives hidden behind a calm exterior.

That sa man’s mind was always in overdrive, and his reputation was built on victories. He wasn’t motivated by greed, pride, or power alone. Deep down, he believed in sothing else. He believed in a purpose beyond himself. He was a servant of Christ, carrying a mission that transcended what only few could understand.

His faith was his anchor. When darkness threatened to swallow him, he found strength in prayer, in conviction, and in scripture. No matter how many tis that sa man fell or was pushed back, he got right back up.

This world was his battleground, and he was its most formidable warrior.

That sa man would do whatever it took to see his ambitions co to pass. That sa man walked in the dark, yet was guided by the light of faith.

That sa man was Arthur Bennett.

†

WHEN ARTHUR OPENED HIS EYES, the first thing he saw was the blurry sunlight.

For a mont, he just lay there as the glow filled his vision. He felt grass beneath him. It was soft, cool, and slightly damp. By the ti his sight fully returned, he could see a cloud drifting lazily across the sky.

Slowly, he pushed himself to sit up to look around. The terrain was open grassland that stretched out in every direction. No trees, no buildings—just grass, sky, and distant hills. The air carried a slight hint of seawater sll, signifying he was close to the waters.

Looking at his palms, the last thing he rembered was waking up in his pod back at Elysium. He was fuming with anger at how he’d been used. That feeling wasn’t completely gone; it still simred beneath the surface in a controlled manner.

As such, he forced himself to calm down. There was no point in dwelling on it now. He’d get angry again later. For now, he needed clarity in his current situation.

He was, after all, still in the ninja world. Arthur scoffed as he was reminded of that notion.

Everything felt intact. His body, in this younger, virtual form, responded normally. He could also still feel his chakra. That was a reassurance.

Still, sothing was off, sothing he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

He looked around again to examine the landscape. The terrain, the land’s structure it—all looked familiar. His mory told him this was the Bird Country. Not just because of the land itself but because of how it was shaped—rolling hills, open plains, and the way the land had been before he built his Light Village here.

When he knelt and brushed his fingers through the grass, he felt his watch. The device was broken—shattered, in fact. Quite the disappointnt.

Seeing the broken device was both a good and bad thing. Good, since it ant that it had worked, and he had successfully traveled through ti. Bad, since he couldn’t quite pinpoint exactly when he was.

He carefully placed the broken watch back into his bag. No need to worry... yet. He could still tell a lot by what he saw and sensed.

First, he needed to determine the ti period he’d arrived in. So he stood for a mont and closed his eyes to try and sense any of his Flying raijin marks. But after a few seconds, his senses returned empty. He couldn’t even sense the whereabouts of his clones.

No marks. No chakra signatures. Nothing at all.

The absence of his marks was strange. It was as if they had been erased from this world. That was not normal.

Arthur, therefore, bit his thumb and drew blood. Then he ford the hand signs accordingly.

’Summoning jutsu...’

A swirl of clouds gathered that ford a dense puff. Yet when it dispersed. Nothing was there.

He had expected to see Koko, or perhaps another creature, yet not a single thing showed. Just empty air. What was even more odd was that he wasn’t even reverse summoned to the Cayman Jungles.

’How strange,’ he thought to himself.

To continue his test, he stretched forth his arms to summon his white cloak. But nothing happened. No shimr of fabric, no flicker of chakra. Just silence.

Rather than feel frustrated, he remained calm because he could still feel his chakra coursing through his veins. Things like summoning weren’t working, but perhaps others might.

As such, he reached out with his hand again and flicked his wrist. A glow appeared in his palm as the Blade of Chaos materialized. It was still sharp and still deadly to look upon. He held it up, inspecting the weapon, and felt the potent chakra waiting to be released.

This was a good sign. His weapon was still fully functional.

When he released the handle, the blade vanished into nothingness. Next, he tested his Kekkei Genkai.

’Smoke jutsu...’

A thin wisp ford at his arms and legs before dispersing at his command.

’Ice style: shattering ice spears...’

A shard of ice appeared in his hand before breaking into multiple crystals.

’Golden chain: bonding jutsu...’

He summoned his chakra chains and verified by their weight that they were more than strong enough to use in combat.

All these techniques worked. He was still himself—still powerful.

So he tried sothing more specific: the Flying Raijin. He placed his palms on the ground and channeled chakra to first create a mark. But sothing was wrong. He felt no apparent chakra flow. The mark had been created, yes, but it didn’t glow or pulse like it normally did to signify a connection was ford. It was just a black outline, as if he had drawn on the ground with a Sharpie pen.

He tried again to create several more marks. Each one appeared, but when he attempted to sense them or teleport—nothing. The marks remained static and useless.

How could he have marks but no chakra flow? How could he summon techniques but not teleport? These things shouldn’t be happening.