*Gasp* Waking up, Akatoki felt like he was struggling to breathe. As he awoke, he felt strange that he remembered that was his name. When he last closed his eyes, it was as Bobby Pierrot. As Bobby, his body was riddled with stab wounds from a jealous coworker.
You would think being part of a circus troupe would make you immune to the 'death by a thousand stabs' stereotype. Unfortunately for Mr. Pierrot, he was far too excellent a clown. So much so that he recalls the visage of his killer.
'I died with a smile, under a smile. How wrinkly my face must've been. Such irony' Akatoki thought to himself.
As he observed his surroundings, he noticed the how humid the air was. It was also reminiscent of smelling of the sea. It was calming, considering the way he died before waking here, wherever "here" was.
As he got up from where he was laying, he soon noticed that he was in a medical tent. As soon as he arose, however, there was a ninja that entered. The forehead protector was marked with the symbol of Kirigakure, Village of the Hidden Mist.
'Death by a clown, reborn into a world of killers. I was an acrobat, so I suppose I should be happy I wasn't reincarnated as Robin. Though Kirigakure is tragic enough, at least there's only a handful of planetary threats.'
As he thought to himself, the instincts of his body trained from that world gave him a warning. He looked again to the Kiri nin, only to find him looking back, with a kunai drawn. He swiftly approached with murderous intent.
Out of both pure rage and desperation, Akatoki found himself already throwing shuriken at him.
'Not right after I just died. Not again!' Akatoki thought. Thanks to his well trained body, as well as acrobatic movements ingrained in his brain, he catapulted into an aerial somersault as he evaded the weapons thrown at him in response. As the opponent thrust at him with a tanto, he adjusted in the air to evade. He then used the enemy's shoulder as a springboard to throw himself into a backflip. With a clever move by throwing an upward kick as he backflipped, he forced the enemy to evade. That slight distraction was enough for Akatoki.
He reenacted 'the murder of Bobby Pierrot'. However, he was the one performing stabs with such vigor and craze that it would make yanderes blush in admiration. All while they tremble in jealousy. He didn't stop until he noticed the ninja under him wasn't moving or breathing. The opponent died with their mouth open.
Before Akatoki could begin to panic, he noticed that there were black lines on the tongue of the one he killed. Out of curiosity, he opened the mouth of the freshly made cadaver even further. He found the Curse Seal signature of Root Shinobi there.
'Exactly what I need. At the start of a new life, I'm haunted by a minion of the Dark Lord Danzo.' Sighing in exasperation, he was at least relieved that he wasn't in Konoha. He also realized that he himself must be a Kiri nin.
A short while later, Anbu from Kirigakure arrived. Akatoki's guard was slightly up, until he noticed that all the Anbu masks had the Kirigakure symbol on it. He did find it bemusing that they were the Anbu best known for their stealth despite that.
Regardless, he still made sure to mention to them that the opponent had a Curse Seal on their tongue. Not much else was said besides that. Upon leaving, one of the Anbu mentioned to him his status.
"Killing an Elite Chunin while being a wounded Genin is impressive. However, you would've been dead before we arrived if they were intent on using jutsu. You only have three days to rest and recover. After that, someone will assign you to a squad heading to the frontlines." This is what was mentioned by the one of the Anbu as his teammate stored the body of the Root Nin in a scroll.
As he leaned back to adjust to everything that just occurred, as well as mentally prepare himself, a heard a chime ring in his mind. The ominous kind, because there were no wind chimes around. After the sound, it was as though darkness itself swept away the light of his vision. From the outer peripherals to all the way inside.
*Welcome to being a host of the "Survivor of Horrors" system. As a reward for facing death from both sides you will be granted two options. Do you wish to possess the memories of this vessel you reside in? You won't be denied the starter package. You will also have the option to forego all of the personal memories of this vessel as well. In exchange your starter package will be upgraded. What do you wish to choose?*
'Before I choose, can you tell me the functions of the system?'
*The system praises the host for still possessing the caution taught to him by death and Death.*
'Wait...wut? Death? With a capital D?'
*Yes, he found the way you died quite....pitiful. The system apologizes. That was a lie. He found it amusing. Also, he was already satiated from the souls he happened to be consuming as he watched you die. As compensation, he bestowed you this system and a life in this world of murder. He said to tell you that he doesn't mind if you were to prepare him dinner as you live.*
*Now, the system has a simulation function. However, it also has a world traveling function as well. Due to the paltry strength of the host, the system has deemed that function prohibited. In further detail, you will be given a list of traits to choose from, as well as a brief description of what you may face in the simulation. The rest you will find out as you go along. Now choose. If you ask anymore questions, I will take that as you forfeiting your options.*
Due to the muscle memory of the body, as well as already being able to use chakra, Akatoki decided to forgo the option of retrieving the 'memories' of the vessel. Considering that he was a Genin, and the fact that the Anbu practically treated him like air, he figured he didn't have connections. As a village specializing in silent killing, he opted to not speak much.
'I choose to upgrade the starter package.'
*Congratulations to the host for passing a hidden test by Death. He has decided to bestow upon you your vessel's memories of jutsu.*
Akatoki received a flood of memories concerning the Hiding in Mist jutsu, as well as the silent killing techniques the body rigorously practiced.
*Starter package being upgraded into Bringer of Death package. First reward: Sanguine Shroud. This ability will allow you to collect blood of those you kill. You can use it as a 'health potion', however it is more effectively used as a weapon. It will appear as a black scarf around your neck. The rest requires your imagination.*
*Second reward: Black Knowledge. This ability is quite simple. For every person you cause to feel fear, you increase your chakra and speed by a small increment. This also requires your vision to properly utilize.*
*Third reward: Summoning Sadako. Due to there not being many televisions in the ninja world, Sadako will be summoned every time you use the Hiding In Mist jutsu. She can appear anywhere in the mist you summon at will. She will only be able to restrict her opponents with her hair. Also, she will be quite voluptuous and very intangible. On the rare occasion that she does speak, she absolutely will not move at all.*
*Final reward: 6 simulation chances. You will be able to get more simulation chances for every 10 people you kill. They do not have to be ninja, though I would advise to kill only them. Death has a preference for souls laced with chakra compared to those without.*
*My suggestion would be to use these simulation chances to strengthen yourself. Also, your soul WILL be forfeit if you don't kill enough shinobi. It will be nourishment for the system. So it is also the suggestion of the system to roll over and do absolutely nothing.*
'...'
'Oh, well, I did already die once. I'm not eager to experience it again. Yet no need to fear it.'
'Start the simulation.'