The death was brutal. One moment, I still remembered the burning pain piercing my chest, the metallic scent of blood filling my nostrils, and the darkness swallowing me like a relentless tide. Then… nothing. No white light, just a suffocating silence. Until my eyes opened again.
The first thing I saw was a dark, uneven wooden ceiling I didn't recognize. My heart began to race. What the…? I bolted upright, my hands trembling slightly. They were thinner, younger, almost childlike.
Looking through the window glass, I saw a face I knew all too well but that wasn't mine…
The face of Sung Jin-Woo, but barely fourteen years old. Dark, piercing eyes, a neutral expression and, above all… handsome.
A grin spread across my face — at least I didn't look like the pathetic nerd I was in my previous life.
I didn't have time to figure out how or why. The heavy rumble of rain echoed through the room, accompanied by urgent voices. Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, letting in three hooded figures, drenched from the downpour.
"Lord Hanzō!" one of them shouted, panting. "The scouts have just returned! Konoha's shinobi… they're at our gates! They're preparing to invade Amegakure!"
I froze. Lord… Hanzō? The name rang in my head like a distant echo. Hanzō the Salamander… legendary leader of Amegakure, feared for his cruelty and unmatched skill, a monster even by this world's standards. But I wasn't Hanzō.
Shit… am I screwed?
I looked down at my clothes — light, dark armor covered in weathered metal plates, and at my belt, a breathing mask shaped like a monstrous maw. No doubt about it: I was him. Yet something felt slightly different. My hands bore none of the scars of a seasoned veteran, but the refined, youthful build of Sung Jin-Woo.
Before I could say anything, an electronic chime rang in my mind, clear and cold.
> [Ding! Congratulations, you have successfully reincarnated.]
[Physical Model: Sung Jin-Woo (14 years old). Integrated Identity: Hanzō the Salamander.]
[Scenario: Second Great Ninja War.]
[Mission Objective: Defend Amegakure from Konoha's invasion. Reward: First Shadow Monarch ability.]
My breath caught. Shadow Monarch… The name stirred a strange heat in my chest. That meant… my powers? The shadows, the army, resurrection? If it was true, then I might have just received the key to my survival.
But before I could feel relief, the cold voice returned:
> [Special Bonus: Interdimensional Waifu Summoning unlocked. First summon available after initial victory.]
I blinked. Waifus…? What kind of ridiculous mechanic was that in the middle of a war? And yet, a shiver ran through me. If I could summon legendary fighters from other universes, maybe I could change the course of this war. Or even… take complete control of this world.
The rain still pounded, drumming on the roof like the beat of war drums. The three shinobi were staring at me, waiting for orders. Behind them, another messenger appeared, out of breath.
"Lord Hanzō! They're already in the outer marshes! Our traps didn't stop them, and… we've spotted Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru! According to our scouts, they're elite jōnin under Hiruzen!"
My eyes widened. The Three Sannin… at the peak of their power. A single encounter with them would normally mean certain death. But not this time.
I stood up slowly, feeling a new weight settle into my body — the strength of Hanzō combined with the potential of the Shadow Monarch. My fingers clenched. The adrenaline was pushing away the last traces of confusion.
"Let them come," I said, my voice colder than I thought possible. "Prepare the troops. Close the city gates and flood the underground tunnels. No one leaves Amegakure alive."
The shinobi nodded sharply and vanished into the rain with a hiss of steam. Alone, I stepped toward the window. The rooftops of Amegakure rose into the mist, flashes of lightning illuminating the silhouette of towering steel structures. The scent of iron and rain filled the air.
Another chime sounded in my head.
> [Side Quest: Kill or capture at least one Sannin to unlock an S-rank summon.]
[Additional Reward: +10 permanent shadow soldiers.]
A predatory smile curled my lips. So that's how we're playing this?