White.
A blinding, absolute white that swallowed all sensation, leaving me adrift in a featureless void. No texture, no warmth, no discernible boundary. Just… white. Disorientation clung to me like a shroud, a stark contrast to the sudden clarity of a single, undeniable truth: I was dead. Plain and simple. No room for misinterpretation there.
The irony, however, was a dull ache in the emptiness. I knew what had happened, the grim finality of it all, yet the specifics of my demise remained frustratingly elusive. My memories flickered like a faulty bulb, illuminating everything up to that final, unknown moment. Perhaps it was a mercy, this amnesia of the end. Who truly yearned to relive the agony of their last breath, unless, as my mind quirkily suggested, they possessed a rather… unconventional predilection?
A strange calm settled over me, a peculiar detachment from the gravity of my situation. Why wasn't I panicking? Shouldn't the sheer reality of non-existence be sending waves of terror through whatever remained of my consciousness?
As if in response to my unspoken question, a voice boomed through the white expanse, resonating in the very core of my being. It seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once, a sound that defied the silence.
[That is because you are in my Domain, mortal.]
Startled, I spun around, searching for the source. My eyes, though seeing only white, strained to focus. Then, a figure materialized before me. An old man, his features etched with time and a serene wisdom, yet with a playful twinkle in his eyes that reminded me vividly of Master Roshi from Dragon Ball Z. The resemblance was uncanny.
"A… are you Kami?" The question escaped my lips, a hesitant whisper in the echoing void. This had to be Kami, right? The supreme being, the celestial gatekeeper. Panic, belated but potent, finally began to bubble within me. Judgment. That's what this was. Oh, damn it. Please, please let him not have access to my Call of Duty game chat logs. My eternal soul might depend on it.
[You are right to assume me as a god, and to answer your thoughts, no, I am not here to judge you. Do you honestly think I care about judging the petty squabbles of mortals?] He regarded me with a slightly amused, almost haughty expression.
A sliver of hope pierced through my apprehension. Maybe… maybe this was like those fanfics. The ones where the protagonist, despite their unremarkable existence, possessed some hidden spark, some latent potential that caught the eye of a benevolent deity. A system, perhaps? A set of cheat codes for the afterlife?
[Kid, I could throw a stick in a random direction and hit someone more interesting than you.]
Ouch. So much for the chosen one narrative. His bluntness was almost comical. "Then why am I here?" I pressed, the initial awe fading into a bewildered curiosity. If judgment and special treatment were off the table, there had to be a reason for this ethereal encounter.
[Because of your Karma.]
Karma? But he'd just dismissed the idea of judgment. Had I actually been… good? I mean, I wasn't a saint, far from it. My life had been a fairly average tapestry of mundane routines and guilty pleasures. I hadn't exactly been out there saving kittens from burning buildings.
[That's where you're wrong, boy. In your last moments, you did something quite out of character… and heroic.]
Heroic? Me? Before I died… a sudden rush of fragmented images flooded my mind. The jostling of the plane, the nervous chatter of fellow passengers, the sterile smell of recycled air. Then, the chilling announcement, the rising tide of fear, the glint of metal…
[You were on a plane flying to San Diego for Comicon when a terrorist took over the plane, intending to crash into the event.]
The memories surged back, sharp and visceral. The terror in the eyes of the other passengers, the feeling of helplessness that permeated the cabin. But then… something snapped within me. A surge of defiance, a refusal to succumb to the inevitable. The moment the opportunity presented itself, a reckless, desperate lunge. Wrestling for the weapon, the cold steel against my skin, the deafening crack… then, nothing. Just the white.
[That's right, boy. You were a hero at the end of your life and saved thousands.] His tone held a note of genuine respect, a stark contrast to his earlier teasing.
"So… what happens now?" The weight of my final act settled upon me, a strange mix of pride and lingering fear.
[Well, usually, we just make you a clean slate and reincarnate you. Good karma, bad karma, it all gets the same cosmic washing machine treatment. Like I said, we aren't judges. But every now and then, there are those whose karma… well, it shoots high enough that we can't just hit the reset button. Such merit deserves a reward.]
A reward? My mind raced. What kind of reward was useful for a dead person? This had to be something for my next life, a head start in the grand cosmic lottery.
[Hmm, you're actually kind of smart, aren't you? Well, you're right. This is for your reincarnation.]
"Then what's my reward?" I asked, a thrill of anticipation mixed with a healthy dose of apprehension. You never knew what cosmic strings came attached to these kinds of things.
[You will be transported to a new world with your memories intact and will be given a new body, chosen from any form you have witnessed, be it from your 'anime' or your 'movies.' Your inherent abilities will be adapted to that new world, and you will be given the option to choose the family you are born into.]
A new world? With my memories? And a body of my choosing? My mind reeled with possibilities. Goku's raw power, Superman's invulnerability, the sheer tactical brilliance of Lelouch…
"I choose Goku!" The words burst out of me before I could even fully process the implications.
[Sorry, but that won't be happening. Your karma isn't enough for you to choose. One must save the world for that kind of reward. Instead, everything will be decided by roulette. But don't worry; to make you feel better, the roulette will only have male options.]
Well, at least I was still going to be a dude. And a roulette? That meant a chance, however slim, of still landing something amazing. "Alright, when do we start?" My initial disappointment was quickly replaced by a surge of excitement.
[Eager, I see. We can start now. Just step forward and spin these two wheels. One will give you your new world, and the second will give you your new body. Once that's done, we will choose your new family based on your remaining karma.]
Adrenaline, a phantom echo of my living days, coursed through me. I took a step forward, the white floor feeling strangely solid beneath my non-existent feet. Before me, two enormous, ethereal wheels shimmered into existence, filled with names and images that sparked recognition.
With a surge of nervous energy, I spun the first wheel as hard as I could.
The names blurred into a dizzying kaleidoscope of fictional realms.
Star Wars… Marvel… Attack On Titan… Halo… Death Note… MHA… worlds of wonder, danger, and everything in between.
My heart pounded with each passing name, a silent prayer escaping my lips for a world I could navigate, a world where I wouldn't immediately become alien fodder.
Finally, with a soft click that resonated through the silence, the wheel slowed and stopped. My eyes locked onto the chosen name: Naruto.
Naruto, huh?
Not bad. I'd never delved too deeply into the movies or the sequel, Boruto, but my general anime knowledge of the ninja world was decent enough. Chakra, ninjutsu, legendary heroes and villains… it had potential. A wave of cautious optimism washed over me.
Feeling a little better about my odds, I approached the second roulette. This time, I gave it a gentler spin, but the ethereal wheel seemed to have a mind of its own, whirling into a frantic blur of faces and figures.
Superman… Emiya Shirou… Sirzechs… Gohan… Dante… each name a potential new identity, a new set of abilities. Please, wheel, be kind.
The spinning slowed, the anticipation building to a fever pitch. And then, it stopped. My eyes widened, a strange mix of confusion and… mild panic settling in. The name emblazoned beneath the pointer was
Akashi Seijūrō.
I was screwed. Utterly, completely screwed. What in the actual hell was I supposed to do with this? Dunk on Madara? Shoot three-pointers over Kaguya? The sheer absurdity of it almost made me laugh.
Wait. Earlier, Kami had said that the abilities would be adapted to the new world. That had to mean something, right? Not all hope was lost.
Akashi's Emperor Eye… it was basically a low-budget Sharingan, wasn't it? Enhanced perception, the ability to see the future of movements… In a world of shinobi, even a diluted form of ocular power was a significant advantage. The difference between those with and without such abilities was vast. Okay, maybe this wasn't a complete disaster.
But now, the real question loomed. The family. This was Naruto's world. That meant clans. Bloodlines. Power structures that were ingrained from birth.
"Kami, what are my options with my available karma?" I asked, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest.
[Boy, don't expect much with the karma you had. You barely qualified for this. So, if you are expecting a crazy strong clan, the only way you'll get it is if you choose one that is under exceedingly dangerous circumstances.] His words were sobering.
"Well, let's see the normal options then. And then… show me the gambling ones." I braced myself for the worst.
[Very well.] With a flick of his wrist, a list materialized in the air before me, the words glowing with an ethereal light.
* Sakura's family(seriously this is even a choice)
* Hyuga branch member
* Orphanage with deceased shinobi parents
* Civilian shinobi family
* Root shinobi
My eyes scanned the list, and a wave of dismay washed over me. These were… horrendous. Even Root? Who in their right mind would willingly choose to be a brainwashed puppet for Danzo? Only someone with a death wish, that's who.
"Alright," I said, a grim determination hardening my voice. "Show me the gambling ones. How bad can it be, right?"
[Don't tempt fate, boy. I know her, and she can be quite the petty person.] Kami chuckled, a sound that held a hint of genuine warning. Another list appeared beside the first, and my blood ran cold.
* Uchiha clan 10 seconds before the massacre
* Kaguya clan 1 hour before the massacre
* Chinoike Clan 1 hour before the Uchiha massacred them
* Moon Otsutsuki main family during the massacre
* Senju operating table for Danzo
* Uzumaki 1 hour before the invasion
* Hyuga while fighting White Zetsu during the 4th Shinobi War
Massacre here, massacre there. Almost every single option was a one-way ticket to a gruesome death. And the Senju option? I shuddered. Being a lab rat for Danzo sounded even worse than being in Root.
My mind raced, desperately trying to weigh the infinitesimal chances of survival against the potential rewards. This was it. This was the gamble of my new existence.
"Do you mind if I take a moment to think this over?" The sheer weight of the decision pressed down on me.
[Sure, kid. I'm in no rush.] Kami leaned back, his expression unreadable.
Alright, deep breaths. Absolutely no way was I picking anything from the first list. Even if it meant relative safety, the lack of potential was a non-starter. I'd never agreed with the whole bloodline superiority thing in my old life, but in Naruto, it was a fundamental truth. Potential mattered, and those options offered very little.
The Uchiha, Senju, and Otsutsuki were immediate hard passes. My chances of surviving those massacres, especially with a three-year-old body and no prior shinobi experience, were laughably slim. I just didn't see a way out.
The Hyuga option was also out. Dropping into the middle of the Fourth Shinobi War with zero combat skills, armed only with the potential of the Byakugan and a personality vaguely reminiscent of a basketball prodigy? Suicide. Pure and simple.
Now, the Chinoike clan… that was actually an interesting curveball. From what I vaguely recalled, Chino had managed to hold her own against Sasuke for a short while. The Ketsuryūgan was a potent ocular jutsu. I might have even considered it if I hadn't already been saddled with the Emperor Eye. Two ocular powers felt redundant, and starting in a clan about to be wiped out by the Uchiha… well, it felt like doubling down on a bad bet.
The Kaguya clan… yeah, no. The whole bone-sprouting, bloodline disease thing? Hard pass. I wasn't looking to live a short, painful life as a walking arsenal.
That left the Uzumaki. They were destroyed, I remembered that much. A joint effort from multiple villages, wasn't it? But the timing… "1 hour before the invasion." That was cutting it incredibly close. However, I also recalled that many Uzumaki women and children had managed to escape, scattering into the smaller nations. Karin and Nagato's families, for example. There was a chance, a real chance, of survival.
And the perks… the legendary vitality, the massive chakra reserves, the innate talent for Fuinjutsu. Those were significant advantages in the shinobi world. Fuinjutsu alone could be a game-changer.
I spent a few more moments in silent contemplation, sifting through the fragmented memories of the Naruto universe, trying to glean any advantage, any detail that might sway my decision. The potential of the Uzumaki, coupled with the possibility of escape, ultimately tipped the scales.
A sense of resolve settled within me. It was a gamble, a dangerous one, but it felt like the least suicidal option on the table. I walked back towards Kami, a newfound determination in my stride.
[Ho ho, it seems like you've made your choice. I can see the determination in your eyes, boy. Let's hope you made a good one.]
I gave him a confident, albeit slightly nervous, smile. "Yeah, I'm ready. I choose to be reborn as an Uzumaki."
[Uzumaki, huh? Not what I would've chosen, but still pretty good. Glad to see that the… gift you're getting isn't going to be wasted.]
"What would you have chosen?" I couldn't help but ask, curious about the cosmic being's perspective.
[Eh, ignore me. Just thinking out loud. Plus, you've already chosen, so no take-backs. Now that we're done with that, it's time for you to head off to your new world.] Kami gestured towards a swirling vortex of colors that had materialized behind him. It pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
"Wait!" I blurted out, a sudden wave of anxiety washing over me. "Before you send me, can you tell me some more information? Like, will I be sent already as an adult, or will I get that body's memories, or will I be born one hour before Uzushiogakure's destruction?" My voice was laced with worry. These were crucial details I hadn't even considered in my eagerness.
Damn it. I really should have thought this through more carefully before blurting out my choice. Rookie mistake.
[I'll only give you some info beforehand, but everything else you're going to have to find out on your own. You will be taking over a three-year-old body, and yes, you will receive those memories. Also, I forgot to mention this earlier, but you will also be slightly affected by Akashi Seijūrō's original personality. Whether it's a good or bad change is the luck of the draw. You will still be yourself, so don't worry too much.]
A three-year-old body? Okay, that wasn't ideal, but it wasn't the worst-case scenario. At least I wouldn't be facing Madara as a newborn. And memories… that could be useful, depending on what they entailed. The personality merge, though… that was a wild card. As long as I didn't suddenly develop an insatiable urge to order everyone around and see victory as the only acceptable outcome, I'd probably be alright.
"Alright, Kami. I'm ready for my next adventure!" I declared, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice despite the lingering uncertainties.
[Haha, yes, that's the spirit. Head off to the portal and jump through. Then your new life shall begin. I wish you luck, child. Maybe, if you save this world, we'll meet again.]
With a mix of trepidation and exhilaration, I ran towards the swirling portal. I stopped at the edge, a dramatic pause for effect. This truly felt like the point of no return, the official farewell to my old life. I should say something memorable. Something… fitting.
Turning back to Kami one last time, a grin spreading across my face, I quoted a line that felt strangely appropriate for the moment. "So this is where the fun begins."
And with that, I fell backward into the kaleidoscope of colors, the white void dissolving into a dizzying swirl of light and sensation.
[Hm, what a weird kid.] Kami's voice echoed softly behind me, just before the new reality claimed me entirely.
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End of first chapter
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