I would like to thank my new friend and writer writegood for the collaboration for our main story, of which this is just a side project.
A black void surrounded me.
'Is this what death is supposed to be like? It's kind of boring honestly.' I mused as I floated in the void.
"Hello?"
There was no response and I took the time to just appreciate how pain free I felt after death had finally taken me.
After a while, I simply got annoyed and proceeded to recall my last moments before death. I had high hopes, I'm not going to lie.
I had entered the army and had just received my commission to become an officer. Got promptly sent to a warzone, got ambushed and here we are.
"Hello is anyone there?"
A little louder this time, not that I expect anything, or for that matter anyone, to answer me. An all-encompassing silence was the only response I received.
I shrugged my shoulders and went back to staring at the surrounding darkness. I did this for a while before something occurred to me.
There seemed to be absence of noise, not just silence. Nothing was coming back from the dark void. However, I was dealing with the situation with utter calm. An out of character reaction from someone who demanded action.
I felt no apprehension, anger, sadness, boredom or any emotion at all, just a calm acceptance of my situation. Even the revelation of this unnatural calmness only sparked the tiniest flicker of worry before it too was swept away under the sea of calm.
I spent what must have been hours attempting to force myself to feel anything besides the calmness that had settled over me. It was only partially successful. I could feel the emotion but it seemed to be dulled by whatever was happening to me in this strange place.
My self-reflection had no sooner finished than a blue box appeared before me.
Would you like to play a game? Y/N
I blinked once, twice and then a final time at this glowing box that had suddenly appeared in front of me.
"A game?" I asked aloud just to hear something in the soundless void I was in.
"What kind of game?"
I couldn't help but ask. I didn't expect a response yet to my surprise a smaller box appeared right underneath the first one.
A second chance at life, a new fresh start in another world.
I snorted at the response, life wasn't a game. Yet even though I dismissed the response I already knew what my response would be. This silence and non-action was already beginning to grate on my non-existent nerves.
If I picked yes would I live again or would I dance to the tune of some cosmic entity forced to obey the whims of a master I knew nothing of? Thinking more about the response I decided it would probably be a mixture of both.
It did not bother me too much. After all, being in the army mean taking orders. However, I hoped to gain some form of control.
What if I picked no? Would I go on to whatever the afterlife had in store for me or was this the afterlife and this, my one chance to escape it?
I dithered and dallied back and forth but the decision had been already made. Whatever I faced after accepting would probably be better than an eternity in this place. With slight hesitation, and a healthy dose of apprehension, which was slowly being replaced by excitement, I pressed yes.
Blinking the afterimages away I was able to slowly gather myself and take in my surroundings. Another box appeared before me.
Welcome to the Game of Life. Let's start with the tutorial shall we. Think next, hit the arrow button or say next to proceed.
Not wanting to sound weird, I thought 'next.'
Congratulations. Your self-pride knows no bounds!
I felt a tinge of anger at the snarky tone the statement gave off. This was really starting to get annoying.
You have been blessed with the ability to live your new life as a videogame. Think or say 'Status' to continue. I am sentient and so will be able to provide you with reasons and explanations for available choices. Whether I shall provide them however, is another matter entirely.
'Status' I thought.
Name: -
Age: -
Title: Gamer
LVL: 1 - 0% to next LVL
HP: -/-
Chakra: -/-
PHYSICAL STATS:
STR: -
END: -
DEX: -
MENTAL STATS:
INT: -
WIS: -
PER: -
Points: 5
Money: 0
These are your stats. Each level you will receive 5 points. Stats can also be leveled by manual activities related to the stat such as running or studying. A word of caution, just because you're a videogame character doesn't mean other people are.
NPCs are real people with actual lives.
You can use the 5 points now or you can continue the tutorial and your character customization.
I considered it for a moment before I decided to save the points for later. Apparently, I did not even have basic stats and spending points without further knowledge seemed unwise.
'What do those stats stand for?' I enquired.
STRENGTH(STR) - governs health points +Half of chakra points
DEXTERITY(DEX) - governs reflexes
ENDURANCE(END) – governs tolerance of physical hits
INTELLIGENCE(INT) - governs mental capacity, i.e. Gamer's mind + Half of Chakra Points, tolerance of mental attacks and strength.
WISDOM(WIS) - governs the APPLICATIONS of intelligence, i.e. chakra control PERCEPTION(PER) - governs miscellaneous awareness, i.e. managing to look underneath the underneath, sensory ability/sixth sense
I had absolutely no clue how often I could level or how high my level could go potentially making these free points extremely valuable down the line and besides I could always increase them manually later. 'Next'.
You will be given a body based on the choices you make, the continent and the era you choose to be born in.
I frowned.
Continent? Era?
Clearly I was not going to be reborn into my world or apparently, not even a world that will be familiar to me.
I decided to deal with it the same way I had dealt with situations in my past life, moving forward.
'What will be my first decision then? Do I get to choose the universe am I set to be born in? Is the multiverse a thing?'
My frown was beginning to morph into a full blown migraine. I had not paid much attention to movies, comics, anime or anything of the sort. I knew the popular ones by name but nothing in depth that would give me a leg up right now.
Smart man. Your new universe has already been selected.
You shall be born into the Naruto Universe.
When and where is up to you right now.
The time first actually.
'Naruto? Damn, it has been a while since I stopped reading it." The thoughts flew in my head in a sense of urgency now that it hit me this was definitely going to happen.
Due to my sheer disgust regarding Naruto's naïve viewpoint, I stopped at the Chunin Exams. I think.
My disgust at the time was so great, I blanked my mind towards him and Konoha in general. Loved the universe and powers though.
I remember debating with anyone who would listen about the other forgotten villages.
'Alright then. Nothing to it. What are the timelines available?'
Don't you want to know the history?
'I will figure it out along the way.' I firmly reply. I wish to make my own mark on whatever world I am sent. I had no intention of following whatever that had already happened or was set to happen.
Alright then, here are your timeline eras.
Clan Wars Era:
Insertion Year: 76 B.C.T. (Before Canon Time-point)
Chakra has been around for about a century now amongst the local people, spread by the children of the first user, Ka****.
Various families, each with their distinct ability in manipulation of chakra, form "clans" and wage war with each other and work as mercenaries.
Senju and Uchiha clans of the Land of Fire are making a name for themselves, beyond their own continents, being the largest and most unique.
Violence is rampant, technology is non-existent and medicine is basic herbs and bed rest.
Life span is pitiful and every day is survival.
You have the utmost freedom to impact the world development at this time.
First Structure Establishment: (44 B.C.T.)
Insertion Year: 38 B.C.T.
Five major shinobi villages, within the five major continent sized countries are established with 11 smaller countries formed within their periphery. Tensions are beginning to build up with each major country looking to expand further.
Numerous small countries and even smaller towns begin to pop up with the decrease in violence.
Namely, Konohagure within Land of Fire.
Kumogakure within Land of Lightning.
Sunagakure within Land of Wind.
Kirigakure within Land of Water.
Iwagakure within Land of Earth.
Smaller countries which may or may not have shinobi villages:
Ishigakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Tanigakure within Land of Rivers.
Amegakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Kusagakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Takigakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Land of Sound.
Yugakure within Land of Hot Water.
Shimokagure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Uzushiogakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Yukigakure within Land of Snow.
Soragakure within Land of the Sky.
Each village has their own Kage with each country having their own royalty.
NOTE: You will be inserted just as the First Major Conflict, the First Shinobi War as it will come to be known, is beginning to rear its head as the tensions threaten to spill over..
Canon Timeline beginning:
Insertion Year: 1 A.C.T. (After Canon Time-Point)
This is the standard timeline where the events leading up to the endgame start to unfold.
There is an uneasy peace among the nations.
The Third Shinobi War has just ended.
Your destiny is in your hands but the past has been set according to the canon timeline.
'Eh. No point in going in too early and I have no intention for history to be already written.' I mused.
I sighed and then voiced my decision out loud, "Second choice it is."
First Structure Establishment era chosen.
Insertion Year: 38 B.C.T.
Choose your hidden village or area.
Shortly after a larger blue box appeared before me with a number of checkboxes and choices available.
First up is where you will be born, each location has an advantage and disadvantage to them, as well as limiting what options you have for which clan you are born to. Limit to one chosen perk for location of birth.
Konohagakure, within Land of F-
'Hold up. I have no intention of starting with the major villages. Show me the minor ones instead.'
If I'm going to go into another life, I sure as hell am going to carry my pride and stubborn streak with me.
As you say.
Ishigakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Tanigakure within Land of Rivers.
Amegakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Kusagakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Takigakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Land of Sound.
Yugakure within Land of Hot Water.
Shimokagure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Uzushiogakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Yukigakure within Land of Snow.
Soragakure within Land of the Sky.
'Got to play it smart now. Might as well balance it out.' I hummed before requesting one more filter:
'Show me the ones who are most involved or will be most involved in world matters please.'
The choices immediately narrowed down.
Takigakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Amegakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
Uzushiogakure which doubles up as a country on its own.
I decided to check them out one by one.
Takigakure:
Takigakure no sato, literally meaning Village Hidden by a Waterfall, is located in an unnamed country, bordered by Land of Earth to the west and Land of Fire to the south.
The village was given a seven tailed beast by the Shodai Hokage, making it the only minor village to have one. This is due to the large number of skilled shinobi it creates despite being a minor village.
It is also known for producing Kakuzu, a disgraced shinobi who murdered his own village council after a failed mission to assassinate the Shodai Hokage.
'Wait, hold up! Why is some of the information blocked out?' I exclaimed in annoyance.
Some major information is to be found out by the player themselves.
'Huh. Well hell, there goes my conspiracy theories.'
I gave another deep sigh as I wearily called out, 'Alright, let's see the associated perks of this one and the other two villages as well.'
Perks:
Ruling Class:
You come from ruling clan of the village. Since your ancestors used to partake the Hero's Water, you are slightly stronger than everyone.
+2 to every stat every 5 level increases. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
However, this comes at a cost. Any time you are under [Tired] debuff or any such related debuff, your stats are reduced by Level X 0.4
Of the many hearts (Jiongu):
You are the last of your clan with the Jiongu as Kakuzu stole the forbidden scroll. As such, many expectations are placed upon you by your clan. However, due to the actions of Kakuzu in killing the elders and large portions of your family to steal the scroll, you are looked upon with pity by a majority of the village.
Every 5 levels, you gain:
+3 to STR, END. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
With every h**** you add:
+ HP, CP same as amount at the time.
-Chakra Control by half. [Only when in use or until fully trained]
Kenjutsu Gifted
You are a prodigy in the bladed weapons of any type. Weapons last longer in your hands and you also learn repairing and crafting much more easily.
+50% to Kenjutsu learning exp gain.
Every 5 levels, gain +3 STR, DEX, PER. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
Next.
Amegakure.
Literally meaning, Villages Hidden by Rain. It is a small but industrialized hidden village in an unnamed country and as the name suggests, rains almost every day which ends up in a lake surrounding the village.
Ame ninja are said to be notoriously short tempered but are frequently hired for assassination missions.
The current ruler is Hattori Hanzo. He sincerely believes in the ideals of peace and hopes to achieve this by the unification of the five great countries. However, he is very paranoid.
Perks:
Inherent Rain.
Most Ame shinobi tend to gain water nature affinity due to growing up around rain all the time but you take it a step further. At a cost of not being able to do any fire jutsus, you gain a [Natural] water affinity, slowly rivalling that of the Nidaime Hokage.
2X faster mastery of Water natured chakra.
2X HP, CP when it is raining.
Ruler's Heir:
You are the sole heir of a prestigious clan of Ame.
+50% reputation gain with people, both positive and negative.
+50% ***** resistance. [Will slowly increase further as stronger toxins are introduced]
[Natural] ****** techniques user.
2X speed when raining.
Industrialized Progress
You are the son of two civilian scientists and thus, you have to use your brains to use your smaller chakra reserves to the max. In innovative ways.
+3 to INT, WIS and +2 to PER every 5 levels. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
Uzushiogakure.
Literally meaning Village Hidden by Swirling Tides. It is the shinobi village of the Land of Whirpools. Its ninja are renowned for their immense knowledge and application of Fuinjutsu.
Perks:
Natural Strength
Uzumaki clan members are known to have a long lifespan and large amounts of chakra but you are an anomaly even for them!
+ 4 to STR, END every 5 levels. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
+20 HP, +30 CP every 5 levels. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
-40% Chakra Control.
Physical Chakra
Your chakra reserves are so massive that they actually layer on top of each other to create a dense chakra nature. It can be used to create solid things out of chakra which have varied uses (to be found out by user).
+50 CP every 5 levels. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
+50% resistance to genjutsu.
-15% Chakra Control.
Art of Sealing
You are gifted in the sealing arts. You do your clan and ancestors proud!
+50% exp. Gain to calligraphy, sealing techniques.
+4 INT, WIS every 5 levels. [Points added will continue to increase as you grow stronger]
'Hmmmm. Choices, choices.'I mused.
I let out a deep sigh as I looked over the choices.
'Looking at Takigakure at the start, being from the ruling class would be a good start no doubt because of the little I remember, the villages and the countries function as a dictatorship but the permanent detriment when tired puts me off though.'
'Jiongu, of the many hearts?! What in the hell does that mean?! Gives off some seriously creepy vibes. I'll kill because I need to but this makes it sound like collecting so that's out as well.'
'Kenjutsu? I'll pick up a blade but not as a sole focus. Meh, the entire village is out then.'
'Uzushiogakure? Home of the Uzumaki I presume. Wasn't the main guy from here or something? Don't want anything to do with anything that happened so I guess this village is out as well. So that leaves…. Alright damn.'
My thoughts flew as I bit the bullet and let out my answer in a burst.
"Amegakure, Ruler's Heir Perk and let's see… I already chose my timeline. Let's get started then."
Alright then.
Due to your past life as a soldier, you will be slightly healthier, with a stronger body than average, a blessing because of the era you have chosen.
Since you have not said anything regarding your appearance, default appearance will be taken, i.e. continuation of your past life modified to fit into this new universe and its people.
You will remember this conversation but will forget most information regarding the world as well as your personal details of your past life. The game mechanics knowledge will come naturally to you however.
Thank you for completing the Character Creation! Now beginning reincarnation process, have fun!
"Wait what-"
I blinked before a flash of light blinded me and the next thing I knew I was staring up at a ceiling above me wondering what the fuck just happened?
Moving felt strangely sluggish and a wholly uncoordinated experience. The surrounding walls and ceilings seemed to be made out of concrete and I saw wooden bars surrounding me along with several other toys.
It hit me right as I glanced down and took in my too small hands and tiny body. I was a baby again. I couldn't even get mad, the unnatural calmness still hadn't left me. It felt my emotions were slightly sluggish and conjuring them felt like wading through thick mud.
Reincarnation complete, now starting basic tutorial, to open your status page, please vocalize or think, 'status'.
I blinked as I stared at the box. "Uhh… Status?" I ventured, raising an eyebrow, feeling like a complete dunce all the while.
The world seemed to pause as a screen appeared before me before another screen blocked it out.
This is the Status screen, here you can see your current status.
Remember, the world continues to move as you have this active, but no one else can see it, so be careful!
You do not need to vocalize your intentions, thoughts are enough.
Name: Ikari *******
Level: 1
EXP: 0/100
Age: 3
Gender: Male
Title: -
Debuff: Toddler [Physical and mental restriction – All stats multiplied by 0.5]
STATS
HP – 154 (STR*10 + END*3 + DEX*2) – [77]
CP – 280 (STR*10 + IT*10) – [140] [[LOCKED]]
STR – 12 – [6]
END – 6 – [3]
DEX – 8 – [4]
INT – 16 – [8]
WIS – 12 – [6]
PER – 8 – [4]
Well… that was something to work with at lea-
"WAIT, WHAT?! I- Dammit, I suppose it makes sense. Prestigious clan. Hmmmm. I recall Akatsuki being from here, well a little from the snippets I read from the manga later on anyway."
"Can't bother to think about them, with my appearance, canon timeline has probably been shot to the wind anyway."
Ending my mini rant, I once again glanced at my status page.
"First things first, have to find out about my clan."
DING!
QUEST ALERT!
Find out your clan name!
You know you come from a prestigious clan but you don't even know who they are. Find out more about your clan to start your journey!
Bonus Objective: ?
Rewards: +100 EXP, Your clan name, a title to equip, ?
Accept? Y/N
Well, the game thing didn't give me much of a choice in the way of options seeing as the "N" button was cut out, so I mentally accepted the quest and tried to put together a plan.
Right then, reality came crashing down on me and boy, it came down hard as I closed the status window.
Namely the fact that I was still a toddler. Even worse, with the stat degradation it caused, I could barely put more than a couple of steps in my plan together.
Apparently this intense bout of thinking set off some kind of signal to my mind and I instinctly started fussing about and crying.
To my deep shame, I also managed to soil myself.
Before I could try to humiliate myself further, the door to the room opened and an elderly woman with black hair in a tight bun and a gown of some sort walked in.
She immediately gave me a huge smile and came to pick me up. The sight of her slightly cringing at the smell I was giving off however, stopped my crying and I let off a small chuckle.
Her smile came back in full force and moving with an efficiency that spoke of long practice the woman travelled from drawer to drawer changing diapers, feeding and burping me with the supplies before handing them off to a young woman who had entered after her.
'Mental note to self, have to improve environment awareness.' After the embarrassing treatment, I was brought to what must be a play pen of some sort. One thing I had noticed about the two ladies was that as far as I was concerned, they were talking gibberish but I could understand some words periodically.
DING!
Language Comprehension (Passive): The ability to speak and understand languages and crack codes.
Dependent on INT and WIS stats.
Ame Dialect: 9%
Common Shinto Language: 4%
Well… that's a thing. Now that a general calm was starting to settle over my mind, I began to consider an important question.
'Let's see if I have any inherent skills that came with this body.'
I thought hard, "SKILLS."
Took you long enough.
'Smartass.' I muttered.
Gamer's Body [Passive]
Your body is that of a Video Game Character… somewhat at least.
You regain health slowly and injuries are eventually healed to the previous physical appearance. Rate is increased with the increase in level.
Healing Rate: +2 HP/minute.
Chakra Regain Rate: +2 CP/minute.
Gamer's Mind [Passive]
You have the mind of an RPG Gamer, so a calm mind and ability to make wiser choices… hopefully.
You are able to calm yourself more easily and recover mental balance in stressful situations faster, but be careful, extreme emotional distress can still affect you.
Ability upgrades with increase in INT, WIS and PER stats AND overall level.
Genjutsu Resistance: Lvl 1[0.00%]
Genjutsu Detection: Lvl 1[0.00%]
It was at that moment memories began to assault my mind as I tried to sort through them.
Images of what could only be my mother flashed through my mind, undergoing basic language reading and writing before the lessons abruptly stopped.
Remembering the era I was in, a flash of pain shot through me as I understood where my mother had disappeared. However, the fact that I had no clear memories of my father troubled me.
Obviously, we were rich with all the caretakers and my area to play and be comfortable in. However, my curiosity was beginning to climb up, my active quest playing a part in it as well.
It all came rushing at me, filling my mind for several moments as a gasp escaped my lips. And just like it started it was gone, the memories remain, just waiting for me to call on them, but the pain from the rush of them was gone.
I felt the vaguest sense of panic before it was slowly overtaken by the everlasting calm, which I only superficially felt. Oh, I still felt worry about the impossibly strong people that roamed this land but it took a back burner as my mind whirled with possibilities.
I must state that my interest in replaying and following 'canon' timeline was still nada, zilch if the timeline I picked wasn't an indication already.
I like to believe that I have an understanding of the butterfly effect and just by me existing in this universe, even with the limited foreknowledge, was the equivalent of a tsunami if the effect was to be believed.
I decided to try and fulfil one of my childhood desires which was now possible in this world: Climb a wall.
I tried to do so, forgetting my chakra was not unlocked yet.
Inevitably, I fell and my childish side reared up once more by starting another round of water works. The kind faced woman entered and helped me once more. Meanwhile, I kept cursing my limited self.
I spent the rest of the day trying to run, which I failed miserably. Learning how to walk before running came into play I'm afraid to admit.
However, I DID manage to unlock a new skill. Unfortunately, like the rest of my limited skills, it was next to useless in its base form.
Observe: [Active]
Lvl: 1 [0.00%]
View into someone else's world and find information about them, maybe?
Amount of information revealed depends on the skill level and the level of the person/ object you are observing.
Cost: 40 CP/use.
I must admit, I nearly broke down. I manage to unlock a skill, which required my chakra to be unlocked for full usage. I could not wait for the day to arrive, which I figured would not be too far considering the fact that war was still pretty common in this world.
Dinner time arrived and my two caretakers arrived to escort me there. However, I noticed a grave seriousness in their faces and a smattering of guards posted in the corridors leading up to the dining room.
My excitement started to rise. I might be able to complete my quest after all! With the amount of guards and the tense atmosphere, I figured the head of the family was going to take part in the dinner as well.
When I entered the room, I was downright shocked to be the sole person in the room. There was only a plate for me and another one for, I presumed, the head of the family.
A thought suddenly struck me like lightning, since I was the heir, the head of the family would also be my father.
In my shock, I did not hear the door open and someone enter.
I DID jump in my shock however, when I heard a muffled, deliberate cough.
I turned back and my shock turned into outright horror.
Pale yellow hair to the points of being dirty white, a rebreather, intense eyes and a sickle with weight on the chain attached to his back.
My father, the head of the clan, was Hattori Hanzo.
I started to go pale and understood why my hair was ash coloured, the mix between my father's pale hair and my mother's dark one.
Before I passed out, I heard the notification and briefly saw the quest fulfilment along with my new stats.
DING!
Quest Completed!
Find out your clan name!
Bonus Objective: [Find your father's name]
Rewards: +100 EXP, Your clan name [Hattori], A title to equip [Ruler's Heir], PERK UNLOCKED! [Ruler's Heir]
Ruler's Heir:
You are the sole heir of Hattori clan and son of Hattori Hanzo, the ruler of Amegakure.
+50% reputation gain with people, both positive and negative.
+50% toxin resistance. [Will slowly increase further as stronger toxins are introduced]
[Natural] poison techniques user.
2X speed when raining.
Name: Hattori Ikari
Level: 2
EXP: 0/125
Age: 3
Gender: Male
Title: Ruler's Heir
Debuff: Toddler [Physical and mental restriction – All stats multiplied by 0.5]
STATS
HP – 154 (STR*10 + END*3 + DEX*2) – [77]
CP – 280 (STR*10 + IT*10) – [140] [[LOCKED]]
STR – 12 – [6]
END – 6 – [3]
DEX – 8 – [4]
INT – 16 – [8]
WIS – 12 – [6]
PER – 8 – [4]
Available Stat. Points: 5
Perk: Ruler's Heir.
Genin - starting off around 60-80 level but varied status points spread out.
Chunin – Around 120 levels, spread stats.
Jonin – Around 180 level.
ANBU/Root – Around 210 level.
Hokage/S-rank threats - 250+ level, variation stats depending on their specialty.
Disclaimer not all physical stats need to be at that level to be considered a certain level.
NOTE:
CP involves stamina as well.
Technique costs (Can vary) in CP:
E - 50
D - 100
C - 250
B - 500
A - 1000
S - 5000+
Above are the rough outlines.