Chapter 6: Understand the Situation

As Obinna walked back to his hut, his mind churned through everything that had happened. His people were watching him, some with hope, some with doubt, some with outright fear. 

But the spirits had spoken. The elders had listened.

And now, it was up to him to prove that he was worthy of their trust.

But trust alone would not be enough. Not in Aku. Not with how the villages were structured.

He exhaled, his fingers idly tracing the carved ikenga in his hand. To unite Aku, he needed to understand it—every clan, every division, every hidden conflict that could break them apart before they even began.

From childhood, he had been taught that Aku was built on the foundation of three great villages—the pillars upon which their people stood.

The first was Akaibute, the oldest and most respected. The keepers of tradition, the voice of the ancestors. Many of the high priests and dibịa came from them. 

They held the sacred knowledge of the land, the rituals that bound the people to their chi. If Akaibute did not approve of something, it would never truly take root.

The second was Akutara. The warriors, the defenders. Their people were the ones who took up arms when threats arose, who stood at the forefront of any battle. 

The greatest fighters in Aku came from Akutara, and their influence in decision-making was tied to their strength. If they did not believe in him, then any dream of unity would crumble at the first sign of conflict.

Third was Ejuona. The traders, the travelers. They were the bridge between Aku and the outside world. The wealth of the village flowed through them—the salt, the kola, the iron. 

They knew the languages of their neighbors, the politics of distant lands. If he wanted Aku to grow beyond itself, Ejuona had to be convinced.

These three clans formed the foundation. But a foundation was not the whole structure.

Yes, Aku is a town composed of thirteen villages, which are traditionally grouped into the three major quarters:

1. Akibute (6 villages):

Use

Amabokwu

Mgboko

Umu-Ezike

Ohemje

Ofienyi

2. Akutala (4 villages):

Nua

Ugwunani

Obie

Amogwu

3. Ejuona (3 villages):

Oshigo

Oda

Ugwuegede

That is to say, Aku is not just one village but a town made up of these thirteen villages, which functioned as a unified community.

Over time, each of the great clans had grown, splintered, reformed. New lineages had emerged, each with its own identity, its own pride and its own grievances.

Under Akaibute, two prominent sub-clans had risen:

Umuozala – The keepers of the land. They believed in the old ways more fiercely than most. They were the first to resist any change, but once won over, they stood firm like the iroko*.

Ibeama – The scholars and scribes. Those who recorded history, who interpreted omens. They were fewer in number, but their voices carried weight among the elders.

Under Akutara, three sub-clans had shaped their warrior culture:

Ndiagbo – The strongest fighters, those who trained from childhood in the arts of war. Many of them had stood beside Obinna in battle. But strength alone did not sway them—they respected leadership, not just power.

Ogene – The tacticians, the planners. They did not fight as much as they advised, but when war came, their minds were sharper than any blade.

Umuoji – The restless ones. They sought glory above all else, always looking for the next fight, the next challenge.

Many amongst them saw Obinna's return as unnatural—not because they feared him, but because they hated anything they could not explain through battle.

Obinna felt they would be the easiest to convince since they were basically muscle heads.

Under Ejuona, the merchants had their own divisions:

Umunri – The wealthiest of the traders, dealing in long-distance exchanges. They looked at everything with calculation, including loyalty. If he could not prove that his path would lead to prosperity, they would not follow.

Agbadike – The craftsmen, the blacksmiths, the builders. They did not trade in goods, but in creation. Their support meant infrastructure, weapons, progress.

Nine divisions. Nine different interests.

If even one resisted him, his vision would crumble before it could even begin.

Obinna sighed, his footsteps slow as he approached his hut.

How do you bring together people who see the world so differently?

He may have studied History but there wasn't a curriculum titled Diplomacy.

The Akaibute clans would resist because they feared change. The Akutara clans would resist because they only followed strength. The Ejuona clans would resist because they followed wealth.

He wasn't naïve. One speech would not be enough. One victory would not be enough.

If he wanted to unite them, he would have to show them something greater than their differences.

Something worth standing behind.

And now, with the Ala Nchi System guiding him, with the whispers of the ancestors stirring in his mind, he knew—

He would either succeed, or—No. He must succeed.

...

As Obinna walked, the weight of two lifetimes sat heavy on his shoulders. 

He was Obinna, but he was also Chijioke from Nsukka, a 21st-century man who had once worried about JAMB scores, NEPA's unpredictability, while Nigerian politicians never ran out of nonsense to say.

The memories clashed in his mind like warring spirits. The taste of roasted corn and ube from his childhood as Obinna overlapped with the recollection of suya and chilled malt from Chijioke's past life. 

The smell of red earth and burning wood mixed with the distant hum of a generator struggling against PHCN's tyranny.

And in the midst of it all, he was here, standing at the crossroads of the past and future.

Obinna's thoughts drifted to his parents—Nna Anozie and Adaeze.

A warrior and a merchant.

His father had been a man of war, a shield to their people from the Akutara clan. He was leader who stood at the frontlines, never asking his warriors to face what he would not. 

He had fought battle after battle to keep Aku safe, until the day he never returned. His body had not been brought home, but his name remained, spoken with pride by those who had followed him.

His mother, Adaeze, was a different story. A woman of trade, born into the merchant clan of Aku. She had not vanished like his father—no, she was very much alive, just rarely home.

Her path led her beyond the borders of their land, striking deals in distant villages, ensuring the wealth of Aku flowed.

It had been this way for as long as Obinna could remember. His father's absence was permanent, his mother's absence, however, was different—not abandonment, but duty. 

She returned when she could, bringing news, gifts, and wisdom from her travels.

And now, their son stood at the center of a storm neither of them could have anticipated.

By the time Obinna reached his hut, the familiar scent of palm oil and burning wood greeted him. 

Dropping onto the woven mat that served as his bedding, he exhaled. His mind burned with questions, and he needed answers.

That meant one thing.

"Status."

A sharp ding rang in his mind, a sound so crisp it could have been a notification from a phone he hadn't seen in what now felt kike forever. 

Then, before his eyes, a translucent panel materialized.

And there it was—his stats,

[STATUS]

Name: Obinna

Age: 22

Title: One who walks with the spirits.

Class: Village Chief (Locked)

Quest Progress: Villages United (0/5)

[Attributes]

Strength: 12 (Above Average)

Agility: 14 (Fast Hunter Level)

Endurance: 11 (Can Keep Up With The Elders)

Intelligence: 16 (Sharp Thinker)

Wisdom: 17 (Superior Insight – More than just intelligence; the ability to read people, situations, and long-term consequences with clarity. A deep understanding of traditions, human nature, and the unseen forces at work)

Spirit: 20 (Dibịa-Level Sensitivity)

Charisma: 15 (People Listen When You Speak)

[Village Overview]

Clans United: 0/5

Loyalty Rating: [Varies by Clan]

Resources: [Limited]

Reputation: [Rising]

---

Breaking It Down

Obinna's eyes darted over the numbers, trying to make sense of them.

Strength at 12? That meant he was stronger than most villagers but nowhere near the war veterans. Makes sense. I'm not winning any wrestling contests with the elders yet.

Agility at 14? I can outrun most people. That's useful.

Endurance at 11? So, I won't drop dead after a long hunt, but I won't be running across villages either.

Intelligence at 16? At least I won't be making stupid decisions.

Wisdom at 17? Wisdom wasn't just about being smart. It was about understanding people, sensing the undercurrents of a conversation, knowing when to speak and when to stay silent.

It was what separated a foolishly brave man from a leader.

Spirit at 18? That was the most surprising. Dibịa-Level Sensitivity? He wasn't a dibịa, but the spirits had spoken to him. 

Maybe there was something more to that.

Charisma at 15? So I have that main character energy, huh?

Obinna exhaled. It was a good foundation, but if he wanted to unite Aku, he had to be more than good. He had to be undeniable.

He shifted his focus.

---

[VILLAGE OVERVIEW]

Village Name: Aku

Population: 2,400

Major Clans United: 0 / 3

[CLAN STATUS]

Akaibute: Neutral (Watching. Some elders are wary of your return.)

Akutara: Skeptical (Strength must be proven.)

Ejuona: Calculating (They see the potential but want guarantees.)

[QUESTS]

Main Quest: Progress: Village United → 0 / 5

Other Quest:

[Path of the Eze] → Unite the three great clans and restore Aku's lost glory.

Progress: 0%

Reward: Unknown

[Trial of Strength] → Prove your power to the warriors of Akutara.

Requirement: Win a public match against a renowned fighter.

Reward: Clan Respect, +2 Strength

[Test of Wisdom] → Gain the trust of the elders of Akaibute.

Requirement: Successfully gain the recognition of the Spirits.

Reward: Clan Recognition, +2 Wisdom

[The Merchant's Gamble] → Convince Ejuona that unity brings more profit than division.

Requirement: Secure an economic deal benefiting all clans.

Reward: Knowledge on Economics, +2 Charisma

---

Obinna whistled lowly. At least now he had a roadmap.

Akutara respected strength? Fine. He'd fight.

Akaibute wanted wisdom? Alright. He'd outthink them.

Ejuona needed profits? Simple. He'd show them wealth like they'd never seen.

One step at a time.

---

[BLESSINGS]

1. Eyes of the Ala Nchi (Passive) → Allows the user to perceive spiritual energies and hidden truths.

2. Oathbinder's Voice (Passive) → Words carry weight. When you make a promise, others feel its power.

---

Obinna flexed his fingers. These blessings had already begun to show their worth.

The Eyes of the Ala Nchi had let him sense the unease in the elders before they even spoke.

And the Oathbinder's Voice? He wasn't sure if it was him or the blessing, but when he made his vow today—when he swore that Aku would stand united—it felt different. 

Like the air itself had recognized his words.

Maybe that was why the dibịa had accepted his challenge so quickly.

Obinna sighed and leaned back against the wall.

"Zero out of five?" he muttered. "So I haven't even unlocked tutorial mode yet."

That sarcastic bite—that was Chijioke talking. 

The same Chijioke who had once roasted a lecturer for giving half the class missing grades. 

The same Chijioke who had once declared that if he ever got isekai'd, he would be the first protagonist to start a legit business instead of going on reckless adventures.

And yet, here he was.

Reincarnated. Given a system. Tasked with uniting a village.

Life had a wicked sense of humor.

Obinna closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the distant voices outside. The village was already active with people still whispering about what had happened today.

Soon, the real work would begin.

But for now, he allowed himself a small smile.

Because whether it was fate, the spirits, or just the universe's twisted way of making things interesting…

He was here. And he was going to make damn sure it counted.

…

1* - Iroko Tree is similar to Oak Tree