In the Leaf Village Academy courtyard, a boy sat quietly beneath a lone tree, its aging branches swaying with the breeze.
Dappled light filtered through the canopy, casting an ethereal glow over his slouched form. His gaze was empty, fixed on the sky above—as if searching for something beyond the clouds, something long gone.
Students shuffled past in groups, their laughter hushed into whispers when they saw him. Some looked away. Others didn't bother.
"I heard his parents died when the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked…"
"Yeah. He's dead last in the class. Even Naruto beats him—Naruto, of all people."
The boy heard them. Every word. But he didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. The words sank into him like rain on stone—heard, but meaningless.
He shut his eyes slowly, letting sleep take him like a tide, not out of peace… but out of exhaustion. The kind that no rest could fix.
...
In a realm far beyond human comprehension, Travis found himself standing inside a palace so majestic it defied reality. The floor beneath him gleamed like polished starlight, and the walls shimmered with a soft pulse, as though the building itself were alive. Every surface glowed with divine opulence, every corner whispered of impossible power.
He glanced around in awe, unsure whether to be amazed or terrified. His eyes finally landed on the massive throne ahead of him. A man sat there—old, serene, draped in robes that flowed like liquid silk. His eyes were shut, yet his presence filled the room like thunder waiting to strike.
"Yo… umm, what am I doing here?" Travis asked, slowly stepping forward.
"You have died. Now you must be judged."
Travis frowned. 'I knew that, but what am I getting judged for? I thought when people die, they just die. No weird afterlife talk, no cosmic courtroom.'
The man opened one eye and chuckled.
"That's true. I'm surprised you even know that. The judgment thing? I was just messing with you. Usually, when someone shows up here, they start crying or confessing everything they've ever done. It's… entertaining. But you—you're calm. I like that."
Travis stared at him, uncertain whether to be flattered or worried.
"So instead of boring questions, I'm going to offer you something interesting. How about the chance to become a god in a world of your choice?"
"A god?" Travis raised an eyebrow. "Like powers and all that?"
"Exactly. One wish. No limits. Whatever you want—anything your imagination can come up with."
Travis scratched the back of his head, eyes narrowing in thought.
"One wish, huh? I gotta think of something good."
He turned away and began pacing, letting the silence stretch. Ten minutes passed, maybe more. Eventually, he stopped.
"I want to have all the abilities of Keyaru."
The old man raised an eyebrow, then grinned like a child who'd found a new toy.
"Oh… nice. You'll become unstoppable in less than a few months. A healer, a destroyer, a manipulator of minds and bodies. Very well. Let's make this even more fun—you'll find a surprise waiting for you in the world you choose."
Travis nodded once. "Send me to Naruto. Six years before the story begins."
"Fine choice. I'll give you a body—nothing special. Just a random background character. He was supposed to die in a week from suicide, so do whatever you want with his life. That's it from me. We won't talk again. Good luck."
---
Travis gasped as cold wind slapped his face.
His eyes fluttered open, the dream-like palace vanishing into memory. He was no longer in a realm of stars and divine offers. He was under a tree, in a village he instantly recognized.
Konoha.
The sound of rustling leaves. The smell of dirt and old wood. The faint voices of students in the distance. He sat up slowly, the weight of a new body settling over him like a blanket. Thin arms. Weak lungs. A faint ache in his chest.
The name surfaced in his mind like a whisper.
Haruto.
He frowned.
"Haruto, huh?," he muttered under his breath. "Well… it'll do, I guess."
And with that, Travis—no, Haruto—smirked faintly and stared up through the trees.
He stood up, dusting his pants as he looked all around him. In the anime and manga, he was all too familiar with the schools layout. Of course not every detail but the one's that mattered.
' OK. I'm in the same class as that numskull Naruto. Bound to be a fun adventure for sure. ' he thought.
『Ding!』
Welcome to the Heal System.
You grow stronger by healing others and stealing their abilities. Every ability you steal is recorded here. You can also create loyal followers by healing and rewriting their memories.
You won't get everything at once. Progress slowly—heal, steal, control, and unlock new skills with Restoration Points earned by healing injuries and trauma.
Manage your chakra carefully. Use your power wisely.
Good luck, Host Haruto.
' A system. Nice. So I can only heal for now. Where do I start? ' Haruto thought, scanning the playground nearby.
He spotted a group of kids playing on the monkey bars. Just then, one of them slipped and fell, landing hard on the ground. Perfect timing. A small smile tugged at Haruto's lips.
Without hesitation, he sprinted over to the boy, who was on the verge of tears from the scrape on his arm.
"Hey, kid. Let me help you," Haruto said softly, crouching down and reaching out his hand.
Heal, he commanded silently.
A soft green light pulsed from his palm, washing over the boy's wound. The scrape sealed up instantly, skin smoothing as if nothing had happened.
But then something unexpected happened—Haruto felt a faint sting in his own arm, a dull ache spreading through him. It wasn't much, but the pain was real.
He blinked, realizing that while the boy was healed, some of the pain had transferred to him.
『Ding!』
You healed a minor injury.
Restoration Points +5 acquired.
You absorbed a small fraction of the target's pain.
No abilities detected to steal.
Current RP: 5 / 50 (Deep Heal unlock)
' Pretty simple, I guess. I wonder what would happen if I healed Naruto or Sasuke. Man, I'd be OP. But maybe the best move is to build myself up slowly, step by step.' Haruto thought, a spark of determination lighting his eyes.
The kid wiped his tears and smiled gratefully before sprinting back to his friends, his scraped arm already healed as if nothing had happened.
Haruto stood up and stretched, glancing back toward the Academy's bustling courtyard. His mind drifted to the many beautiful women scattered across this world—the fierce and mysterious Tsunade, the graceful Kurenai, and the wild Anko. All those Onee-sans would grow up soon enough.
"I'll wait for the girls my age to grow up first," he mused with a sly grin. "I'm not that evil… yet."
A slow, confident smirk curved his lips. The journey was just beginning, and he couldn't wait to see how far he could go.
TO BE CONTINUED