There was nothing but darkness.
Not the gentle kind that follows a long day, but an overwhelming void soundless, weightless, eternal. It was the absence of breath, of heartbeat, of self.
Then came a flicker.
It wasn't light. Not yet. Just awareness. A quiet, unfamiliar stirring in the depths of that black abyss. It grew stronger with each passing second until it erupted into sensation numb limbs, aching muscles, the cold feel of air brushing across skin.
With a sudden gasp, his eyes shot open.
The ceiling above him was cracked, paint flaking from old wooden beams. The air smelled faintly of dust, cheap wood, and stale ramen. He blinked slowly, chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm. For a moment, he didn't move. He didn't need to. His mind was racing faster than his body could catch up.
He knew this place.
A run-down apartment in the Hidden Leaf Village. A cold futon on the floor. Empty cupboards. The eerie quiet of a life spent alone.
He was in Naruto Uzumaki's home.
Or rather, he was Naruto Uzumaki now.
Memories not his own clashed in his mind flashes of rejection, of laughter masking pain, of a childhood drowned in loneliness. A little boy pulling pranks just to be noticed. Villagers whispering. Glares that pierced deeper than kunai ever could. A name spoken with disdain.
And over all of that, his own life grey in comparison. The lectures, the office cubicles, the bright computer screens that slowly eroded his eyes. He'd once been a gifted student. A national-level boxer in school, before quitting. A programmer who chased dreams of making games, only to settle for bug-fixing code he didn't write. Years passed. Friends disappeared. Love came and went. He died in his sleep, surrounded by silence.
No one came to his funeral. He was sure of that.
And now he was here.
In this world of chakra, of jutsu and war and gods.
He didn't panic. Not yet. A strange clarity held him in place, as if his soul had been braced for this moment. As if somewhere, deep down, he had wished for it.
Then, as he lay in thought, something shimmered in the corner of his vision.
A whisper of light. A soft chime, like a drop of water falling in a still cave.
Words appeared—not on paper, not in his mind—but hanging before him in glowing script, as though the world itself was speaking.
[You have been chosen. Due to your reincarnated, you are eligible for three powers . Choose wisely. Once confirmed, they cannot be undone.]
He stared at the floating text, unblinking. A system. Just like in the games he once buried himself in. But this wasn't a game. Not anymore.
Ten options unfolded before him, each written in that same glowing light.
[Bloodline Purification – Awaken the full potential of your Uzumaki heritage. Enhanced chakra reserves, vitality, and sealing affinity. Changes will occur gradually over time.
Genjutsu Prodigy –Innate mastery of illusion arts, rivaling Mangekyō-level genjutsu with training, ascend beyond all known illusionary techniques
Perfect Chakra Control – Near-absolute efficiency in chakra usage. Minimizes waste and allows access to advanced techniques early.
Kekkei Genkai – Unlock a dormant bloodline ability.
Taijutsu Mastery – Boost to raw physical ability and instinctive close-range combat.
Chakra Sensing – Gain sensitivity to chakra signatures in your surroundings.
Shadow Clone Mastery – Full understanding and usage of Shadow Clone techniques.
Elemental Mastery – Full affinity with one elemental nature of your choice.
Nature Affinity – Perfect harmony with natural energy, required for Sage Mode mastery.
Summoning Contract – Gain a powerful beast companion and summoning rights.]
He didn't hesitate long. There was too much at stake to gamble.
The first choice was obvious. Bloodline Purification. If he was to be Naruto, he would embrace the full power of the Uzumaki clan. Their vitality, chakra capacity, sensing and sealing prowess and the best of all chakra chains. More importantly, it would strengthen his body without any flashy external changes—no flashy dojutsu to draw attention.
Second, Genjutsu Prodigy. Well, this was personal he liked it there many ways to use it and not many used it.
Third, Perfect Chakra Control. Well as Naruto his chakra control was a mess so if he gets better chakra control boom, he can pretty much do anything.
Also why in the hell is there shadow clone mastery even an idiot won't pick this over other perks.
As soon as he finalized his choices, the floating text shifted.
[Confirmed.Genjutsu Prodigy and Chakra Control now integrated.Bloodline Purification will begin during your next sleep cycle.Changes will occur gradually. No pain will be felt.]
The light vanished.
Silence returned.
He exhaled, shoulders slumping slightly. The apartment remained unchanged. The old floorboards still creaked beneath the thin futon. A cracked mirror on the far wall reflected his nine-year-old face untamed blonde hair, sun-kissed skin, and three faint whisker marks on each cheek.
But something inside him had already changed.
He stood slowly, his limbs still adjusting. He opened the wardrobe. Just three pieces of clothing all orange, all equally hideous.
That would change soon.
His stomach growled, loudly. The kind of hunger that came from days of half-meals and boiled water. He opened the kitchen cabinet. One empty bowl. Two packets of instant noodles. A carton of milk.
He frowned.
"That settles it," he muttered to himself. "I have to buy some stuff to eat or I will die from hunger this life."
Not just groceries his wardrobe needed an overhaul too. His last life had been boring, lonely, and devoid of anything he truly enjoyed. And now that he had the chance, he would make sure this life was nothing like the last.
He stepped toward the window and slid it open. Morning light spilled across the floor, warm and golden. The Hokage Monument stood tall in the distance, carved faces smiling down on the village below.
For a brief moment, he stood in silence, taking it in.
This was the world of shinobi. A world of war, loss, and legends.
He was ready.
Whatever it took, he would carve his name into history—not just as the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, not as some hero of destiny, but as someone who forged his own path from nothing.
No one knew it yet, but the storm had already begun.
And its name was Naruto Uzumaki.
End of Chapter 1