"What in the absolute hell…?"
Panic, sharp and cold, was the first thing Shiro felt. But it was quickly followed by a profound, mind-numbing bewilderment.
He lay helpless in a small cradle, his world a blur of unfamiliar green and strange, twisting plants he'd never seen before. As his infant eyes struggled to focus, a horrifying truth slowly crystallized in his mind.
He had been reborn into another world…
And he was a baby…
The kind so utterly weak he couldn't even roll over on his own.
Worse yet, he was stranded in the middle of a dense wilderness, without a single person in sight.
He was, for all intents and purposes, an abandoned child.
"This is a nightmare! My college entrance exams are tomorrow! Did I just miss them? How am I supposed to explain this?!"
A flicker of excitement sparked within him—transmigration!—but it was immediately snuffed out by a wave of crushing anxiety. As amazing as the idea was, being a helpless baby with no one to care for him was a terrifyingly awkward predicament…
He kicked his tiny legs, half-expecting some miraculous power to activate and change his circumstances, but he felt nothing. He was just an ordinary, fragile human infant.
All he could do was blink his large, innocent eyes and surrender to the whims of a cruel, indifferent fate.
"Can someone, anyone, please come and save me?!"
He glanced at the sky, a bruised canvas of purple and grey that promised a coming downpour. If it started raining, his frail little body might not even survive the impact of the raindrops.
Just as despair began to set in, a sound, clearer than any real-world noise, echoed in his mind…
[Ding! The Strongest Sign-In System is binding…]
[Congratulations to the Host for a successful bind! Your first-time use grants a beginner's reward: an additional sign-in chance +1(with better odds of good items)]
[Each sign-in will grant the Host a reward from a limitless pool of possibilities. More functions will be unlocked as the system levels up!]
[Does the Host wish to sign in now?]
A frantic, giddy laugh bubbled up in his thoughts. A system! I definitely got the premium reincarnation pack.
With a storm brewing and his life on the line, there was no room for hesitation. Shiro immediately shouted in his mind, "Sign in! Yes! Use them both now!"
[As you wish, Host!]
[Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the talent: 'Heaven's Favored'!]
[Ding! Second sign-in successful. Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the talent: 'Body of Bedrock'!]
"..."
Talent [Heaven's Favored]: Your appearance and luck are elevated to their absolute peak. You possess an innate magnetism that draws all living things to you, leaving them captivated and unable to forget you at first sight.
Talent [Body of Bedrock]: Your very life force is anchored and unshakeable, rendering you immune to all poisons and diseases! Without external harm, your lifespan can extend for thousands, even tens of thousands of years.
Furthermore, this powerful vitality radiates outwards. Any living being that remains in prolonged contact with you will be affected, experiencing an extended lifespan, enhanced physique, healed injuries, and renewed vigor… Once they leave your presence for too long, these effects will gradually fade…
Two warm, clear streams of energy flowed through Shiro's tiny body.
"Ding! Congratulations to the Host, talent integration is complete."
The two talents were certainly impressive.
One made him beautiful, the other made him resilient.
But Shiro couldn't bring himself to feel happy.
A wave of disappointment washed over him. After all, neither of these abilities offered any immediate help for his desperate situation.
He desperately needed to find people, locals who could rescue him.
But this desolate wilderness showed no signs of human civilization.
What was he going to do? He couldn't just lie here and wait for the worst!
As anxiety gnawed at him, a faint rustling sound from the nearby bushes caught his attention.
He strained his infant eyes, trying to make out the two blurry figures moving stealthily through the undergrowth.
"Finally! Someone's here!"
Clinging to this sliver of hope, Shiro took a deep breath and let out the loudest cry he could manage.
"Waaah… Waaah…"
Hearing the sound, the two figures paused before slowly making their way toward him.
As they emerged from the foliage, Shiro's hope curdled into sheer terror.
They weren't men. Not really. Their skin was a stark, unnatural white, and what looked like green Venus flytraps framed their faces.
Shiro recognized them instantly from the anime he used to watch.
White Zetsu!
"Don't tell me… I'm in the world of Naruto?"
He didn't have time to process the implications.
These two were definitely not the kind souls he had been praying for.
The moment they saw him, White Zetsu A chuckled. "Well, well… Look what we have here. A human infant."
White Zetsu B sneered. "Abandoned child, no doubt. Humans are so sentimental about their offspring, yet so quick to discard them."
White Zetsu A leaned closer. "This one looks tender, doesn't it? The flesh is so soft… What do you think?"
"What is there to think about? Let's get rid of it!" White Zetsu B declared, a greedy smile spreading across his face. His jagged teeth parted as he slowly reached a hand toward Shiro…
"So this is how it ends," Shiro thought, a bitter despair flooding him. "Transmigrated just to become monster food. What a joke."
"Waaah… Waaah… WAAAAAH!"
All he could do was cry, his tiny heart breaking.
But just as White Zetsu B's hand was about to close around him, it froze.
The predatory glee on its face melted away at a visible rate, replaced by a slack-jawed awe. He couldn't help but whisper:
"This… this child… how can give so familiar vibes?"
"So beautiful… I don't think I can bring myself to eat him…"
The [Heaven's Favored] talent was working its magic…
"Huh?" White Zetsu A scoffed. "let me see!"
Shoving his counterpart aside, Zetsu A squatted down, peering intently at Shiro's face.
Seizing the rare opportunity, Shiro summoned all his effort and flashed the most charming, innocent smile he could.
"He… he really is cute! And quite adorable…"
White Zetsu A was just as stunned. He had never encountered such a disarmingly likable child.
More importantly, a strange aura radiated from Shiro, an energy that made both of them feel an incredible sense of comfort.
It felt strangely familiar, almost… like family.
The two Zetsu stared in continuous marvel, both sensing that this baby was something truly special.
"Let's bring him back for Lord Madara to see," Zetsu A suggested. "Obito has been insufferable lately. A new plaything might be a refreshing change of pace!"
"Agreed!" Zetsu B nodded enthusiastically.