Path Of War-Chapter 351: Kaguya’s Legacy

Jasper Reza wasn't always the cocky, privileged man he had become. His childhood was a struggling one with unmet expectations.

When he was young, he remembered playing with whatever makeshift toys he could find, as those were the things that brought about a sense of joy in him. He longed for the day his family's circumstances would change—that they would rise above the poverty and limitations that had shaped his early years. fгeewebnovёl.com

That day finally arrived, but not in the way he had imagined.

His grandfather's company, the Reza Group, struck big when they discovered oil in their land. This allowed them to expand into new territories, especially in the Middle East.

There, they forged alliances with multibillion-dollar corporations, and suddenly, wealth was no longer a distant dream. The family's fortunes soared, and with it, their influence.

Their wealth was built on oil, but it wasn't just the black gold that made them rich; it was the strategic investments, the acquisitions, and the alliances with banks and big corporations that turned the Reza Group into a titan.

Jasper's childhood faded into a memory and was replaced by a world where money and power dictated everything.

His grandfather, a shrewd man, had become cautious because of it. Especially in his later years when his health started to decline.

The old man had yet to write his will, but everyone knew how he operated. The empire wouldn't go directly to Jasper's father. Instead, it would pass to the next generation—his children's children.

The main issue for Jasper was that he wasn't the only heir; the Reza family had over a dozen princes and princesses eager to take the head. Unless Jasper proved himself worthy, unless he demonstrated he deserved an earlier inheritance, then he would never own the Reza family.

Truth be told, he didn't fond his brothers, sisters, and cousins. They were always out to get him and had even plotted to murder him to eliminate the competition.

That unspoken challenge fueled his ambitions. He couldn't afford to be a tool. He had to stand out. He had to prove he was more than just a rich kid. That's why he kept close ties with certain friends—some of whom were connected to the secretive Enclave Mk. II program.

The rumours about Elysium's experiments weren't swirling in the public. They were creating a covert project with only those within their ranks whispering about its potential.

Through a trusted friend's insider tip, Jasper learned that Elysium wasn't just another VR platform; it was a semi-real and immersive world that could fool the senses. Because of that, it could create worlds so convincing that users sometimes forgot they were in a simulation.

Jasper saw an opportunity. If he could be among the first to publicly experience the Enclave Mk. II, then he could make a big splash.

Yet there was a minor issue in all of this. From the information he had gathered, their project was testing the virtual version of the Asian Naruto franchise.

At first, the idea of a virtual Naruto adventure seemed mundane. He'd seen clips, read summaries, and thought it was just another Japanese animation story. But then he understood that if he could leverage this experience, it would boost his reputation in both the East and the West.

The stunt would show he was ahead of the curve. It could also be his ticket to fame, an easy way to attract media attention, impress his family, and make his mark in the business world for investors to pour their money into the family.

But the plan wasn't simple. The experiment was still in testing, and access was limited. Elysium was planning to host a lottery for anyone to be the first to try out their projection.

Jasper, with his connections, didn't lack the means to rig this lottery. All he had to do was make a few calls and bribe a few workers, and he was assured to enter.

That was, of course, a minor step for him. The real challenge came in understanding what this experiment entailed.

For instance, Jasper didn't know anything about the world of Naruto. To bridge the knowledge gap, he did what any normal individual would: he binge-watched the entire series.

And who could blame him? He needed to understand the universe, the characters, and the power dynamics. He wanted to know what made Naruto and the other ninjas special. If strength was the key to everything in that world, he had to understand what true strength meant.

So he watched, absorbed, and took notes.

Most of the characters failed to impress him, except for characters like Madara Uchiha. Some details also escaped him, but the core idea became clear: the strongest ninjas ruled the world.

His initial boredom with the franchise turned into curiosity. The ninja world was governed by those with extraordinary skills—abilities that set them apart from ordinary people. Power, strategy, and influence—these were the keys to dominance.

Jasper saw parallels to his own ambitions. If he could harness some of that strength—virtually or metaphorically—it would prove to his grandfather and everyone else that he was ready to lead.

While his friends might joke about Naruto being childish or simplistic, he saw potential not in the ninja world but in Elysium's program. That was all he needed to know if he wanted to become victorious.

His days became filled with planning afterwards. He coordinated with contacts, arranged for exclusive access, and timed his schedule with the testing phases.

His team of hired workers also provided technical briefings, but his focus remained on the end goal: standing out, gaining recognition, and securing his place in the family hierarchy. If the virtual Naruto experience could serve as his showcase, he was willing to take the risk.

He also thought about how to document his journey. A live stream, a recording, social media posts—anything to generate buzz. But that idea got shot down when his team declared that it would draw unnecessary attention, like how he used his power to win the lottery.

Such was the burden of being a high figure: he wasn't allowed to attract too much media attention.

When the official message confirmed his selection, he felt as if he'd played the corruption game perfectly.

So how did he win? He offered thirty percent of his shares in the Reza Group.

It was a bold gambit since one share of his company was valued at over two hundred dollars, with a market cap over two trillion dollars. To outsiders, it looked like an insane gamble, but Jasper understood the value and the influence; he knew Elysium, hungry for innovation and prestige, would see the worth in accepting his offer—especially from someone like him.

They would have been silly not to have accepted. Partnering with the heir to such a vast empire was too tempting to ignore.

Jasper's name was already in the headlines—subtle, but effective. Not only had he won, but he also had knowledge of what this experiment was going to be about, making him ahead of almost everyone else.

When the day of the immersion arrived, he took a plane all the way to California.

Already he was annoyed by America's ridiculous airline rules. Because of his skin tone, he was patted down by TSA—a common occurrence for many entering the States.

'Note to self: fire my secretary for booking first class and not private...'

Once he arrived at Elysium's headquarters, he played the naïve participant and pretended he knew nothing about the experiment's true nature. Why bother revealing his knowledge? He was already standing out because of his name, so he might as well make the most of it.

The other participants didn't seem to resonate with him at all.

Jada looked like an overachieving blonde; William looked like a nerd who lived in his mother's basement; Margaret, the youngest, clearly had maternal issues; and Arthur was a Christian. Alexander might have been the only one that struck Jasper as odd. Something about that man's aura felt out of place.

Apart from that, Alice looked very attractive. Perhaps he could take advantage of her meddlesome ways of checking people's backgrounds without permission.

At the end of the day, to Jasper, they were a bunch of peasants.

After getting a brief overview of the experiment by Dr. Kapoor, he and the rest of the participants entered the Enclave Mk. II.

Just as his pod doors were closing, Dr. Kapoor stopped it.

"Hope you didn't have any upcoming appointments," she said, smiling at him.

"And why's that?" he smirked.

There was a brief pause before she answered, "Let's just say our medical personnel will be monitoring your vital signs to keep you safe. We wouldn't want anything happening to the heir of the Reza Group now, would we?"

He rolled his eyes. He didn't care about their vague warnings. He'd already invested too much.

"Yeah, whatever..."

At that, the doors slid shut, and the machinery filled his ears.

The darkness was soon replaced by an all-white void, revealing the character selection screen. Bright floating panels displayed different clans—Uzumaki, Uchiha, Senju, Hyūga—and more.

Jasper's eyes flicked over the options with impatience. The clans were legendary—each with their own strengths. Uzumaki had immense chakra reserves and sealing techniques, Uchiha were famed for their Sharingan and fire-based techniques, and the Senju were known for healing or the potential to acquire wood style.

He read each description carefully until his gaze caught on the "Clan-Less" option. The name sounded like a joke, as if it were a supporting character meant to follow the other six.

Jasper frowned. Support roles were for followers, not leaders. He wanted power, dominance, and control. The Clan-Less seemed like a waste—just a placeholder with no legacy involved.

By the time he understood that he had to wait for the other players to select their characters, he was baffled that they chose the most mundane ones first.

"Who in their right mind picked to be an Uzumaki?" he jeered.

Finally, it was his turn to pick which one he wanted. There were really only two clans that sat right with him, and he was most certainly going to go with at least one of them.

Ōtsutsuki, a clan whose symbol was a crescent moon. The details read, 'A clan with immense chakra reserves, similar to the Uzumaki and Senju, but with a twist. There was a fifty percent chance to awaken either the Byakugan or the Sharingan. If the Byakugan awakens, it's guaranteed to evolve into the Tenseigan.'

"So Toneri's in this world?" he asked himself.

Toneri was the only known user of the Tenseigan, the eyes that grant control over space and chakra manipulation. Such a character wouldn't be encountered until after the Fourth Ninja War.

Jasper's interest deepened as he read more about a special trait: "Tailed-Beast Whisper." An aura surrounding the Ōtsutsuki that could help befriend Tailed Beasts. If the user could tame one, his power could be unstoppable.

The list of one starting technique from an original Ōtsutsuki clan member was also tempting—destructive energy blasts or space-time manipulation? This was undoubtedly the clan he wanted.

There was only one catch to all of this: the starting currency—ryō—was zero. Quite ironic for the richest player to also start off as one of the poorest characters.

The system made it clear: without ryō, he'd have to rely on skill and strategy to grow stronger. No instant upgrades, no shortcuts. If anything, he'd have to partner up with the other players to make his initial start easier.

That meant he also had to bide his time until he was ready to move on his own.

Jasper didn't hesitate; he selected the Ōtsutsuki clan and felt the thrill of impending power. Just then, a new prompt appeared.

"What's this?" he wondered aloud, leaning closer. The prompt read, "Unique Trait Unlocked: Kaguya's Legacy."

After reading what the details were, his face turned into a triumphant smile. Whatever was written, there was only one thing on his mind: he could dominate the whole world.

All would soon tremble before Jasper Ōtsutsuki.