Chapter 1: A New Year's Crossing
A blanket of stars dotted the night sky, pierced by the brilliant light of a single, full moon. A cold breeze whispered through the leafless branches of winter trees, yet somehow, the barren forest around him seemed to thrum with a latent vitality.
Akizuki Ryouma walked through the bustling city streets. Though the wind was gentle, its bite was deep and chilling. He pulled his jacket tighter around himself, his eyes dropping to the glow of his phone screen.
The text message was from his father, a simple question asking if he had time to come home for the New Year.
He let out a deep, misty breath and tilted his head back to gaze at the heavens, at the countless glittering stars scattered across the dark canvas.
When he was a boy, the two simple words "New Year" had been filled with pure joy: holidays, family reunions, and lucky red envelopes. There were no relatives nagging him about marriage, no aunts and uncles interrogating him about a respectable career.
"What should I do…" he muttered under his breath, the words a quiet cloud in the cold air. "I've been gone a whole year and have nothing to show for it except being a year older. Should I even go back this time?"
He was talking to himself, posing the question to the empty night.
"Hey, what are you so lost in thought about?"
A small, delicate hand landed on his shoulder, and a figure popped out from beside him.
He turned to see a girl with a sweet, cheerful face smiling up at him. The sight sent a familiar, quiet ripple through his heart. This was his colleague, a girl whose bright spirit was perfectly captured by her name. Of course he had feelings for her.
"I'm just heading home, you know where I live, right?"
She pouted playfully, then noticing his distant expression, her head tilted curiously. "What's up with you today? You seem totally out of it."
"Yeah… my parents are asking if I'm coming back for the New Year…"
"Ohhh…" she drew the sound out, understanding dawning on her face. "I get it. You're scared your parents will think you're a failure, too embarrassed to show your face, and you're debating whether to run away from the whole thing, right?!"
"Hey!" Ryouma stared at her, but he couldn't find a single word to argue back. What she said, blunt as it was, hit squarely on the truth.
She stuck her tongue out in a quick, apologetic gesture. "Ah, I'm just teasing! You know me, I just say whatever comes to mind! Don't take it to heart, okay?"
"'Just say whatever comes to mind'?" Ryouma's mouth twitched in disbelief. "You're twenty-one years old, only three years younger than I am."
"Hmph! So mean, no wonder you can't get a girlfriend!" she huffed, scrunching up her pretty face before turning on her heel. "I'm home!"
She skipped a few steps ahead of him. Just as he stood there, confused by the sudden shift, she glanced back over her shoulder, her smile bright and warm. "I'll tell you in advance—Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year," he replied with a soft smile and a wave, watching her retreating form until she disappeared. He realized, with a start, that the heavy weight in his chest had lightened just a little.
From a nearby shop, a familiar song drifted out—the one from the movie "People on the Journey," sung by Wang Baoqiang. The simple, straightforward lyrics felt like a physical blow to Ryouma's heart, each word a heavy fist driving home everything he was feeling.
If you have money or not, come home for the New Year…
Right then, his phone vibrated with an incoming call.
"Hello, Ryouma?" His mother's voice was as warm and comforting as ever, a steady anchor in his turbulent thoughts.
"Yeah, Mom. It's late, you're not asleep yet?"
"Oh, just about to… Well, Ryouma, did you see the message your dad sent you?"
Ryouma froze for a second, his breath catching. "I saw it…" he finally said, the words hesitant. "But the company is really pushing overtime this year. I might not be able to make it back…"
"Oh… I see…" Her voice was soft with disappointment. "Your father and I… we haven't seen you in a year. We miss you."
As she spoke, he could hear his father's muffled voice in the background. "Don't bother him with all that! We don't want him worrying about us over there."
Ryouma's heart clenched. He shoved his free hand into his pocket, his fingers tightening around the single, crumpled hundred-dollar bill he found there. "I… I'll talk to the boss again. See if I can get him to approve the leave…"
"Oh! Okay, that's good! And Ryouma, please be careful over there. The weather forecast says a cold front is coming tomorrow, so you have to wear more layers…"
He listened to his mother's familiar, rambling concerns. In the past, it might have made him impatient, but this time, he listened to every single word.
"Mom… you and Dad need to look after your health, too. And Dad, with his bad foot… please don't drag him out square dancing every night."
"You silly boy…"
After he hung up, Ryouma let out a long breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, and a genuine, weary smile finally touched his lips.
Buzz… Buzz…
A new text message pulled his attention back to his phone. He glanced at it, and a short, humorless laugh escaped him.
"Dear user, congratulations on your successful registration as a member of the Celestial Court Club. You have been granted one Grand Lottery draw. Reply with 'Grand Draw' to participate."
"Wow, the scammers are getting creative these days," Ryouma muttered, scratching his head.
"Ah, what's the difference? My bank account's empty and my phone credit is almost gone. Let's see what millions I can win."
With that cynical thought, he typed out the words 'Grand Draw' and hit send.
It was only after sending it that he noticed the message had no sender number, just a blank space.
As he stared at the screen, puzzled, the phone buzzed twice more.
Grand Draw Result: Naruto World.
The moment he read those words, a wave of dizziness slammed into him. The world spun violently, and a terrifying, tearing sensation ripped through his very being. Then, everything went black.
Some time later, consciousness slowly returned. A splitting headache pounded behind his eyes. He groaned, forcing his eyes open, and was immediately blinded by dazzling sunlight. He pushed himself up, squinting until his vision adjusted. As the world came into focus, his breath hitched. He was no longer on a city street at night. He was standing in the middle of a strange, dense forest.
It had been night. Now it was day. The towering trees, the rich scent of earth and greenery… this was definitely not his world.
"I… what? Where is this?" Ryouma stammered, his mind reeling. "Did I… just get transported to another world?"
He tried to piece together his last memories before the blackness.
The dizziness. The tearing sensation.
Classic symptoms of dimensional travel, according to every story he'd ever read. And the trigger…
"That text message!" He patted his pockets frantically, but his phone was gone. At that moment, a grand, solemn voice echoed directly inside his mind.
Naruto World. Transfer successful. The host has been granted a complimentary lottery draw.
"Huh?" Ryouma flinched at the sudden intrusion, but the words were clear. "A lottery? Another one?"
The Grand Draw determined the destination world. The complimentary draw is for functional abilities.
"Ah…" Understanding began to dawn, pushing back the panic. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to think. Combined with everything he knew from fiction, this had all the hallmarks of a system.
After a moment to collect himself, he tentatively formed a question in his mind. Why me? Why was I brought here? Is there something special about me?
Host authority level is insufficient. The question is denied. Please proceed with the lottery draw.
The voice was immutable. As it faded, a massive, intricate lottery wheel materialized in his mind's eye. It was covered in a dizzying array of options, the text so dense it was hard to read. He could just make out a few phrases like "Sword of Xuanyuan" and "Ruthless Heavy Artillery" before his focus wavered.
Seeing no other choice, he thought, Draw a lottery.
The wheel instantly became a blur of colors, spinning at a frantic speed.
"Stop!" he yelled internally, not wanting to wait. The wheel obeyed, screeching to an immediate halt.
Congratulations. You have obtained the booster item: World Eye! Function: Unlimited exchange for ocular jutsu skills. Amplifies the power of all ocular jutsu.
A stream of brilliant light erupted from the depths of his consciousness and shot directly into his eyes. Ryouma blinked, raising a hand to his face. He felt… normal. He blinked again, widened his eyes, trying to feel some new power, but nothing happened. It seemed he needed an actual ocular technique to use it first. The grand voice spoke again.
Achievement: Apprentice Immortal Unlocked.
Obtained Apprentice Immortal function: Divine Power.
VWOOM!
A sensation like a golden river erupted in the dark space of his mind, flooding through his entire body. It felt as if every cell was being reborn, washed in pure energy. With every slight movement, he could feel power coursing just beneath his skin.
Ryouma's jaw dropped. He stood there in stunned silence for a long moment before a surge of wild excitement took over. He threw a punch into the empty air in front of him, and to his astonishment, the space around his fist rippled.
The host's first complimentary draw and physical transformation are complete. The Naruto World is now officially open.
New Mission: Become a Ninja.
Reward: 100 Almighty Points.