"So let me get this straight," the white sparkling ball said slowly. "You sneezed… and that sneeze caused a storm in the world you are in charge of. And from that storm, a lightning bolt struck me… and turned my body into ash?"
The sparkling ball floated in front of a tall white mannequin. The mannequin sat calmly on a large iron throne that looked like it came straight out of Game of Thrones. The throne was cold, sharp, and made of twisted metal blades.
"How?" the sparkling ball shouted. "You are a celestial being! How can you sneeze?"
The mannequin tilted his smooth, blank head. "Well… the weather is changing. It happens."
"You are joking, right?" the sparkling ball said. "Please tell me you are joking."
"I am not joking," the mannequin replied in a calm voice. "But look at the bright side. You get to reincarnate again. And this time, you will keep your memories. I will even give you some perks. Sounds good, right?"
The sparkling ball went quiet for a moment. "So… I am going back to my old world?"
"Unfortunately, no," the mannequin said. "I cannot send you back there. You will have to reincarnate into a new world."
"Why?"
"Too many rules. Too many policies. Even we have paperwork," the mannequin said with a small shrug. "But now comes the best part."
The mannequin raised his hand and clapped.
CLAP!
Three golden bowls appeared in the air in front of the sparkling ball. They shined brightly and floated gently.
"Let me explain," the mannequin said. "The first bowl contains the world you will be born into. The second bowl contains your innate perk, something special that will always be part of you. And the third bowl contains skills, powers, or abilities that will help you survive in that world. Do you understand?"
"This feels like a dream…" the sparkling ball muttered.
"Oh, it is very real," the mannequin replied.
"So… how do I choose?" the ball asked carefully.
"Simple," the mannequin said. "Just imagine reaching into a bowl and picking one golden ball from inside it. Your choice will become your fate."
The three bowls glowed brighter.
The sparkling ball floated closer.
The first golden ball slowly floated out of the bowl and hovered in front of the sparkling ball. It began to glow, then suddenly turned into golden dust. The dust moved in the air and formed glowing words.
Shinobi World – 2876
"Shinobi World – 2876?" the sparkling ball asked. "What world is that?"
The mannequin leaned back on his iron throne. "Ohhh, that is the Naruto world. But this one is an alternate version."
"Naruto?" the sparkling ball said. "I watched that anime in high school. It has been three years now. I remember the main story, but I do not remember every detail."
"That is actually good for you," the mannequin replied. "Because this is not the same world as the anime. It is an alternate world. Things can be different. So be careful."
"How different is it from the anime?" the ball asked.
The mannequin gave a small shrug. "If I tell you everything, where is the fun in that?"
"Hey!" the ball protested. "You are the reason I died. I at least deserve some information."
"I did not kill you," the mannequin said in a stern voice. "The lightning bolt did. And I am already letting you keep your memories. I am also giving you a perk and a special ability. That is more than enough."
The sparkling ball gulped. "O-Okay…"
Trying not to anger the celestial being again, the ball moved toward the second bowl. Another golden ball rose into the air. Just like before, it turned into dust and formed glowing words.
Innate Perk: Fast Learner
"Oh, that is a good one," the mannequin said with a nod.
The sparkling ball brightened. "How fast will I learn things?"
"I do not know," the mannequin replied honestly. "It depends on you. You will have to find out yourself. Now… the last bowl."
The third golden ball slowly floated up. It spun in the air, shining brighter than the others. Then it burst into golden dust.
The dust shaped into new words.
Ability: Weapon Construct
The mannequin tilted his head. "Interesting. That is a versatile power."
"Weapon Construct?" the sparkling ball repeated. "So I can create weapons?"
"Yes," the mannequin said. "You can shape weapons from your own energy. Blades, spears, bows… maybe even more. It depends on your creativity and control."
The sparkling ball felt excited. A fast learner perk. A weapon-creating ability. And the Naruto world.
"So… what happens now?" the ball asked.
The mannequin slowly raised his arm. His white palm faced the sparkling ball.
"Now," he said calmly, "you go."
The air around them began to twist and spin.
"And try not to die too early, okay?"
"Wait.."
WHOOSH!
The sparkling ball was pulled forward into a bright tunnel of light. The throne room disappeared.
Darkness followed.
—
I felt weak. Very weak. My body felt heavy, and I was so tired that even opening my eyes felt like a hard task.
I forced my eyes open.
The first thing I saw was the face of a red-haired woman. Her long hair was messy and stuck to her face. There were dark circles under her tired eyes. She looked completely exhausted. Blood was slowly dripping from the corner of her mouth.
But even in that state… she was beautiful.
Her smile was soft. Warm. When she looked at me, her eyes were full of love. That gaze brought a strange peace inside me. My fear slowed down. My heart felt calm.
Then I noticed a blond man with blue eyes holding me carefully in his arms.
My mind slowly started working.
Blond hair. Blue eyes. Calm but serious face.
Red hair. Weak body. Blood. Loving smile.
No way…
the woman must be Kushina.
And that man Minato.
Which means
This is the night Obito attacks Konoha.
This is the night the Nine-Tails is released.
My tiny baby heart almost stopped.
That means the baby they are holding…
Is Naruto.
Which means I am
Oh no…
I am Naruto Uzumaki.
Or… Naruko Uzumaki.
Please, I prayed inside my mind. Oh God… oh Hagoromo… please let me be a boy.
While I was panicking inside, Minato gently passed me into Kushina's arms.
The moment she hugged me, everything changed.
Her body was weak and shaking, but her hug was warm. So warm.
I felt like I was melting.
I did not know a hug could feel like this. It felt safe. It felt peaceful. Like a quiet spring afternoon with soft wind blowing around you.
I loved my family in my past life. I really did. But we were not like this. We joked, we insulted each other, we argued almost every day.
When was the last time I hugged my mom?
When was the last time I hugged my dad?
…I could not even remember.
I haven't even talked to them once i left for collage nor they called me once.
Now that I think about it… maybe we were a little broken as a family.
Kushina started speaking to me. Her voice was soft but weak. I could not understand most of the words.
The only word I clearly heard was "Naruto."
She hugged me tighter.
Then I looked past her shoulder.
And what I saw made tears form in my baby eyes.
Behind her… in the distance… was a massive fox.
A giant fox with nine long tails.
It was chained down by thick, glowing chains. The chains were wrapped tightly around its huge body. It was struggling, growling, shaking the ground with its anger.
Its red eyes were filled with rage and bloodlust.
The Nine-Tails.
Kurama.
Then suddenly,
Our eyes met.
For a single moment, I saw something different in those eyes.
Not just rage.
Not just madness.
There was awareness.
Consciousness.
He was looking directly at me.
Then he opened his mouth and let out a roar so loud it felt like the sky was breaking apart.
The ground shook.
The air trembled.
Light flashed everywhere.
And then, Everything went black.