Ryo didn't know how long he had been sitting in the small guard post outside Konoha's main gate. The patrol ninja who found him had dropped him off there and left after saying he'd report to the Hokage's office.
The air was warm, filled with the distant chatter of villagers and the sound of vendors setting up stalls near the walls. From the open doorway, Ryo could see the massive wooden gates towering above, sunlight casting a golden glow on their surface.
He rubbed his temples. Everything still felt unreal. The smell of earth, the hum of voices, the faint chakra presence he could somehow sense in the air... It was too vivid to be a dream.
Across the small room, two gatekeepers were whispering. One was tall and thin, the other had a bandaged nose. Ryo recognized them immediately, Kotetsu and Izumo. He had seen them in the manga countless times, usually teasing newcomers or sleeping on duty.
Now they were staring at him with cautious eyes.
"So, kid," Kotetsu finally said, walking closer. "You said you don't remember where you came from?"
Ryo swallowed. "Yeah. I... woke up in the forest."
Izumo frowned. "And you just happened to be near Konoha? That's convenient."
Ryo forced a nervous smile. "Guess I got lucky?"
They exchanged a look. Ryo could tell they didn't buy it. He didn't blame them. If he were in their position, he wouldn't believe himself either.
Minutes dragged by. Ryo's mind kept racing. Should he tell them the truth? That he came from another world where they were just fictional characters? He almost laughed at the thought. He'd sound insane.
Just then, the door slid open.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The voice was casual, familiar, and oddly comforting. When Ryo looked up, his breath caught in his throat.
Standing there was Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage.
The Hokage cloak swayed slightly as Naruto stepped in, the sunlight behind him making the red flames at the bottom glow faintly. He smiled, that same warm, disarming smile Ryo had seen a thousand times before.
"The guards told me about you," Naruto said. "A young man found outside the village with no ID and no chakra signature record. That's rare."
Ryo tried to speak but his voice came out hoarse. "You're... real."
Naruto blinked. "Uh, yeah, last time I checked." He chuckled softly. "You alright, kid? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Ryo shook his head quickly. "I just... I'm fine. Sorry, it's just... a lot."
Naruto studied him for a moment. "Your clothes are strange, and that mark on your wrist... I've never seen anything like it. But you don't seem like a threat."
Izumo coughed. "Hokage-sama, do you want us to hold him for questioning?"
Naruto waved his hand. "No, I'll take him to the Tower myself. Shikamaru's probably waiting anyway. We'll figure this out."
The guards nodded.
Ryo stood hesitantly as Naruto gestured for him to follow. His legs felt heavy, but when he stepped outside, the sunlight hit his face again, warm, real, undeniable.
Walking beside Naruto through the main gate felt surreal. Villagers greeted the Hokage as they passed, bowing or waving. Naruto smiled at each of them, his presence calm and steady.
"So," Naruto began casually, "you don't remember where you came from, huh?"
Ryo hesitated. "I... remember things, just not this place."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. You talk like someone who's seen the world before."
Ryo gave a weak laugh. "You could say that."
They crossed a busy street where vendors were selling steamed buns and tools. The aroma made Ryo's stomach growl softly. Naruto noticed and grinned.
"Guess you haven't eaten, huh? We'll grab something on the way."
Ryo blinked. "You're... taking me to eat?"
"Of course. You can't think straight on an empty stomach."
For a moment, Ryo forgot where he was. He was walking through Konoha, talking to Naruto Uzumaki, the man he had admired for years. It felt like a dream wrapped in reality.
As they turned a corner, Ryo caught sight of the Hokage Tower in the distance. His chest tightened.
Whatever was happening, he knew one thing for sure, this was only the beginning.
---
The Hokage Tower stood tall over the village, its red roof glinting in the afternoon sun. Ryo followed Naruto up the long steps, trying not to look too lost. His legs felt heavy, not from fatigue, but from the weight of everything happening around him.
Everywhere he looked, the world felt alivez people laughing, shinobi walking by, the faint echo of training sounds from the distance. The details were too sharp, too precise. There was no way this was a dream anymore.
When they reached the office, Naruto pushed open the door and walked in casually. A familiar voice greeted them before Ryo could even look up.
"You're late again, Naruto."
Shikamaru Nara stood near the desk, arms crossed, a tired look in his eyes. "You were supposed to check in an hour ago."
"Yeah, yeah, my bad," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head. "I ran into something... interesting."
Shikamaru turned his gaze to Ryo. His sharp eyes studied him in silence for a few seconds. "This the kid the guards mentioned?"
Naruto nodded. "Found outside the forest, no ID, no hit on the chakra registry."
Ryo shifted uneasily. "Uh... hi?"
Shikamaru sighed. "Great. Another mystery. Troublesome."
Naruto chuckled. "You sound just like the old days."
Ignoring the comment, Shikamaru motioned Ryo closer. "Sit down. We need to ask you a few things."
Ryo sat across from them, hands on his knees. The air felt heavier now.
"Name?" Shikamaru asked.
"Ryo Kazehara."
"Where are you from?"
Ryo hesitated. "I... don't know how to explain that."
Naruto and Shikamaru exchanged a glance.
"Try anyway," Naruto said gently.
Ryo took a deep breath. "It's going to sound crazy, but I'm not from this world. I know Konoha, and I know you, the Hokage, the war, the villages. I've seen it all before. But not like this. Where I come from, you're all just... characters in a story."
Silence filled the room.
Naruto blinked slowly. Shikamaru rubbed his temple like he had a headache coming.
"So you're saying we're fictional," Shikamaru muttered. "Yeah, that's new."
Ryo lowered his head. "I told you it would sound insane."
Naruto leaned forward, elbows on the desk. His tone was calm. "You don't look like you're lying. And that mark on your wrist... it reacted when I got close, didn't it?"
Ryo looked down. The faint pattern of shifting ink shimmered again for a second, then faded.
Shikamaru frowned. "That's chakra activity. But it doesn't match any known nature or seal pattern."
"Maybe it's something from his world," Naruto suggested.
Before they could continue, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Naruto said.
The door opened, and a familiar voice called out. "Hokage-sama, you wanted the mission reports from Team 7?"
Sarada Uchiha stepped in, holding a folder. Her dark hair framed her face neatly, her red glasses glinting in the light. When she noticed Ryo sitting there, she paused.
"Oh, you're that guy from the gate earlier," she said.
Ryo blinked. "You remember me?"
"Hard to forget someone who looked like they'd seen a ghost," she replied, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
Naruto waved her closer. "Sarada, meet Ryo Kazehara. He's... well, we're still figuring that out."
Shikamaru gestured at Ryo's wrist. "Watch this."
As Sarada stepped closer, the faint mark on Ryo's skin pulsed again, stronger this time. A low hum filled the room, like static building up. The papers on the desk fluttered.
Naruto's expression hardened. "Shikamaru."
"I see it," Shikamaru said quickly, his chakra flaring for a split second to stabilize the energy. The glow around Ryo faded, leaving faint wisps of smoke.
Ryo clutched his arm. "What the hell was that?"
"Your chakra reacted to hers," Shikamaru explained. "Or... whatever energy you're carrying."
Sarada frowned. "It felt weird. Not dangerous, just... off."
Naruto exhaled slowly. "Alright, here's what we'll do. Until we know more, Ryo stays in Konoha. We'll keep him under supervision."
Sarada blinked. "You mean with us?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, smiling faintly. "He'll join your team for now. Think of it as... cultural exchange."
Ryo's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?"
Naruto grinned wider. "Relax. You'll have food, a place to stay, and some company. Besides, Sarada and her teammates are the best ones to help you adjust."
Shikamaru sighed. "You sure about this?"
Naruto gave him a look. "When am I not?"
Shikamaru muttered something under his breath but didn't argue.
Sarada crossed her arms, studying Ryo carefully. "You'd better not slow us down."
Ryo nodded quickly. "I'll... try not to."
Naruto stood and patted his shoulder. "Welcome to Konoha, Ryo. Whatever your story is, we'll figure it out together."
Ryo tried to smile, but deep down, unease lingered. The world he once knew as fiction was now watching him back, and he had no idea what it expected of him.
Outside, the wind carried the sounds of the village, laughter, footsteps, life.
For Ryo Kazehara, the story had only just begun.
---