The first thing Arthur noticed was the profound darkness. He wasn't just in a dark room; he was in the darkness, a void so complete it felt less like a space and more like the absence of everything. He was floating, weightless, with no up or down to orient himself. Panic was a rising tide, but before it could crest, he felt a strange sense of calm. This wasn't the end. But what was it?
"Is this the afterlife?" Arthur's voice was a whisper, a stark contrast to the vast silence. A sarcastic laugh bubbled up from his throat. "Seriously? I just graduated college. I got my degree, my diploma… and this is my reward?"
A deep, resonant voice, like stones rumbling in the depths of the earth, answered him. "Do not fret, young one. Your story isn't over. You will have a second shot at life."
Arthur's head snapped up, even though there was nothing to see. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice a little stronger this time.
"I am a celestial being," the voice replied, its tone a mix of amusement and ancient wisdom. "I am a guardian who watches countless stories unfold into reality. I guide and redirect souls when the grand tapestry of existence requires it. You, Arthur, are one such soul. You will be reincarnated into a particular world, a world of extraordinary people and incredible power."
Arthur's mind raced. "Okay, so… why me? What makes me so special?"
"You died early," the voice answered simply, with an air of finality. "Your life's thread was severed before it was meant to be. The universe seeks balance, and so you must be compensated with a new beginning."
The logic, however strange, resonated with Arthur. "That makes sense," he conceded. "So, where am I going? And is it possible for me to see you?"
As if in answer, a brilliant, luminous particle rose from the void, shimmering like stardust. It swirled and gathered, forming a ghostly image of Arthur himself. The celestial being spoke through this avatar, the voice now feeling closer, more intimate. "The destination, my young friend, is not yet set in stone. That, too, will be a matter of chance. It will be decided by the great wheel of destiny."
Suddenly, a giant spinning wheel materialized before him, its spokes shimmering with the light of a thousand universes. Each section was a different world, a different story. He recognized the names instantly, each one a different anime universe he had watched and loved: One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Fairy Tail, and so many more. The wheel spun, a kaleidoscope of possibilities, and slowly, inexorably, it began to slow down.
It landed on Naruto.
Arthur's heart sank. Of all the worlds, this one felt like the most dangerous. Naruto's world was not a peaceful one. It was a place where children were conscripted into wars, where shinobi were kidnapped and subjected to brutal experiments, and where villages lived in a perpetual state of suspicion and conflict. It was a world of pain and sacrifice, not of simple adventure.
"Will there be a system?" Arthur asked, a desperate hope in his voice. "Something to guide me, to make this easier?"
"A 'System'?" the celestial being scoffed, the word sounding foreign and clunky in its ancient mouth. "No, nothing so mundane. Instead, you will be reborn with the potential, talents, and skills of a legendary character from your old world. These abilities will be converted to fit the laws of the Naruto universe, and you will bear that character's name."
"So, like a template character?" Arthur ventured, trying to wrap his head around the concept.
"Not quite," the celestial being clarified. "A true template would bring otherworldly powers that do not belong in this reality. That would cause chaos and imbalance. No, you will only receive their potential, their inherent genius. For example, if you were to receive Monkey D. Garp from One Piece, you would not get his unique Haki. Instead, you would get his absurd physical strength, his incredible speed, his immense talent for Taijutsu, and an enormous reserve of chakra. You would also be known as Monkey D. Garp in this new world."
Arthur nodded slowly, the pieces finally clicking into place. "I think I understand. It's about potential, not the exact abilities."
With his understanding confirmed, the celestial being summoned a second wheel. This one was far more intricate, filled with the names of countless legendary characters from all the worlds he knew. The wheel spun with a low, humming sound, and as it did, Arthur's anticipation rose. Who would he become? A hero? A villain?
The wheel came to a stop, the glowing needle pointing at a single name: Ichigo Kurosaki.
Arthur felt a mix of relief and confusion. Ichigo Kurosaki was a complicated choice. He was, as the celestial being had put it, 'built different.' He was a fusion of human, Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy. His core strength came from his unique Zanpakuto, a weapon that would not exist in the Naruto universe. Still, his raw potential was off the charts. Ichigo was considered one of the 'special war potentials' in his world, a person whose mere existence could turn the tide of a war. If even a fraction of that potential was converted to the laws of the Naruto world, Arthur would be a force to be reckoned with.
He let out a long sigh, the tension finally leaving his body. "Okay," he said, the word feeling final and resolute. "I'm fine with this. I am willing to reincarnate."
A powerful, pulling sensation enveloped him, like a gentle but irresistible tide drawing him away from the void. As he began to fade, a new wave of questions and anxieties hit him. What timeline will I enter? Naruto's? Kakashi's? Jiraiya's? Will I be born into the Uchiha clan?
Just as the darkness began to claim him, the celestial being's laugh echoed through the void, a warm, booming sound. "Oh, and by the way, you will be reincarnated in Kumogakure!"
Arthur's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"
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This is my first Time writing naruto fanfic,Kindly give feedbacks