The blinding light was the last thing Ryo Kazuya remembered before sinking into darkness. He felt as though he were falling into an endless abyss, then suddenly... his fingers touched something solid. Sand. He slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying on barren ground, surrounded by enormous trees unlike any he had ever seen.
—Where am I?!
He scrambled to his feet, his head spinning violently. This place was utterly unfamiliar. The sky was an uncanny shade of blue, and the air... was different—unbelievably pure, as if from an ancient era.
—Is this a dream?
He pinched himself, but the pain was real. He examined his clothes—his black denim shirt and sneakers were still on, but his cell phone was no longer in his pocket.
Behind him, he heard the rustling of leaves. He turned abruptly to see a man dressed in strange attire, his head covered with a hood bearing a mysterious symbol.
—Who are you?!
The man didn't answer. Instead, he swiftly drew a knife from his belt. His eyes were cold, brimming with murderous intent.
—An easy target... —the man whispered as he advanced.
Ryo's heart pounded wildly. This wasn't a dream... this man wanted to kill him!
—Wait! I'm not your enemy! —Ryo shouted, but the man didn't stop.
He lunged forward, the knife glinting under the sunlight. At that moment, Ryo felt something strange stir within him... as if an alien energy erupted in his chest.
**Boom!**
A shockwave burst from Ryo's body without warning, hurling the mysterious man several meters away. The ground around him cracked, and nearby trees bent as if struck by a violent gust.
—What... was that? —Ryo stared at his trembling hands. He didn't understand what had happened, but he felt an immense power lurking inside him, like a beast desperate to break free.
The mysterious man slowly rose to his feet, his eyes wide with shock.
—This chakra... Impossible! Who are you?!
Ryo didn't answer. A searing pain tore through his abdomen, as though something inside him was trying to rip its way out. He collapsed to his knees, writhing in agony.
—Get out... get out of me! —he screamed as his body convulsed.
At that moment, the mysterious man saw something that truly terrified him. Ryo's eyes... had turned a deep crimson, with black pupils dilating like those of a predator.
—It's... the Bijuu! —the man whispered in a trembling voice before turning and fleeing at an unnatural speed, leaving Ryo alone in the forest.
Minutes later, the pain subsided slightly. Ryo's eyes returned to normal, but he was utterly exhausted. He collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
—What's happening to me...? What is this thing inside me?
He closed his eyes, trying to recall anything that might explain his situation. But his memory was foggy. The only thing he could remember was a name... "Naruto."
—Naruto...? Is this the world of Naruto?!
Ryo was an anime fan, but he had never imagined he'd be transported into this world. And worse... he had become the host of a monstrous creature known as the "Eleven-Tails."
Footsteps approached again. This time, it was a group of people dressed similarly to the man who had fled. One of them, presumably their leader, stopped in front of Ryo and studied him warily.
—Who are you, stranger? And why do you radiate such strange chakra?
Ryo looked at them, defenseless. He knew that if he didn't provide answers quickly, he might be killed here as a spy or an enemy.
—I... I'm lost. I don't know how I got here.
The leader took another step forward, his eyes never leaving Ryo.
—My name is Hayate. You are now in the Land of Fire... and I'm taking you to the Hokage. He has questions for you.
Ryo had no choice. Before he could respond, the ninja surrounded him. He felt a sharp sting in his neck before losing consciousness once more...
...only to awaken in a world stranger than he could have ever imagined.