I found myself looking at a white wall. I looked around to see the place is a closed space with nothing in it, except me.
Then I noticed something else, noting that I should have noticed it before. I didn't have my body. I tried to talk but failed. I tried to will myself awake but that failed too. So left with no other choice, I started waiting. After some time, a screen popped up in my vision.
Pick a Name: …
'Name, like a username? How about LoneRanger1?'
The chosen name is not valid. Assigning a random name…
Assigned Name: Arata.
'So my name is now Arata. Great! So, what is next?'
Pick an Elemental Affinity
Earth
Fire
Lightning
Water
Wind
'Elemental affinity? Like magic? Hmm… Wind is good, you can fly and such but lightning is way cooler. So I pick lightning.' The screen disappeared and there was another wait. That got me thinking, 'What am I doing here? What are these questions supposed to mean?'
'Let's see… I was going home from college. I was right in front of a bank when I heard a loud voice like a gun. And then… Nothing.'
Pick Timeline
Second Great War
Third Great War
Fourth Great War
'What? I don't know what all this means. Can you elaborate?'
Pick Timeline
Warring Clans Era
Minato's Generation
Kakashi's Generation
Naruto's Generation
'Naruto? Does that mean I will reborn in Naruto World? A world with trained killers on every corner, where people throw away lethal nature-defying techniques around like it's nothing? Yes! Count me in.'
I celebrated my new exciting life for a while then started thinking about when to born. 'Warring Clans Era is out. Too much blood, too little time to get stronger. Same with Minato's and Kakashi's generations. Depending on my advantages I might be able to prevent Obito from going nuts and stop the fourth war before it starts though. Who am I kidding? Most likely I won't even make Jounin. Having a previous life might be an advantage but it's a disadvantage too. It means it will be hard for me to get used to all the fighting that's going on in the world. That's why the safest choice would be Naruto's generation since everything would fall into place even if I don't do anything. Yes. Naruto's generation then.'
Select Starting Age
'There are no options. Does that mean everything goes? Great! Now I don't want to become a baby again. Too helpless. I should probably start when kids go to the academy. What age was it again? Six it is.'
Select Starting Place
'I don't need to think about this. Even though there is a lot of drama going on, Konoha is my choice since it has most of the characters I admire in the world. My choice is Konoha.'
Select a Focus
Talent%
Potential%
This choice was based on percentage. There are two rules. The sum of the two percentages should be 100% and neither of the choices can go below 1%. This was the toughest choice of all. 'I like potential better than talent but I can't make myself too talentless lest I end up with no way to reach my potential. 'I think I will do 20% Talent with 80% Potential. I don't know enough to think much on it anyway.'
After I made my choice everything plunged into darkness.
I woke up with a little headache. When I opened my eyes I saw a wooden, unfamiliar ceiling. I frowned, then remembered what I thought to be a dream. I raised my hand and looked at it. It was small, like a kid's. "So it was all real," I whispered. "What should I do now?" Just when I started to formulate a plan for the days to come, I heard a creak and turned my head to the door.
The person standing there was Hana I remembered, don't know how. 'It must be the memories of the body. How does this work anyway?'
A gentle voice took me out of my ruminations. "Arata get up and get ready. You wouldn't want to be late on your first day at the academy."
I quickly got up and nodded. "Right. Thanks, Hana-san." Hana nodded back absentmindedly when I nodded then made a double-take when I talked. 'I didn't talk before. Figures.' Forcing myself to be calm I said the first thing that came to my mind. "Now that I am starting the academy, I no longer have to keep silent."
Hana looked surprised. "I thought you couldn't talk!" She exclaimed and came closer and smiled gently. "Why didn't you talk before? What does it have to do with the academy?"
I sighed. 'What now? I hope she buys this. There is no way a child can conceive a convoluted lie anyways so I have a good chance.' I took a deep breath and said, "I promised myself to stay silent until the time I go to the academy."
Hana looked at me questioningly. "I understand that. But why did you make a decision like that?"
I gave her my best innocent face. "I heard ninjas don't talk in missions and it was hard. So I thought I would start early."
Hana watched me blankly for a second, shook her head then said "Okay. I need to wake your friends up. You quickly get ready and make your way to the dining hall."
I nodded and took my towel. I made my way to the bathroom to find it empty. "Yes! I don't have to bathe in front of others now. Got to act quickly." I quickly took off my clothes, brandished my soap, and started bathing. I finished in a few minutes and draped my towel around myself. Then I returned to my room to get dressed for the special occasion.
I got out of my room wearing black pants with a black shirt. They were nothing great but looked good on my small frame. I reached the dining room and sat at a table. Then I started thinking about my new life, giddy with expectation. 'I can't believe I have reborn in Naruto. Now I can do all those cool things like spitting flame or yes! Rasengan!' I started cackling madly. When I finished I noticed everyone's eyes on me. I looked down, embarrassed to be the focus of everyone's attention even if they were just kids. As a response, I scratched the back of my neck and smiled bashfully. That made everyone lose their interest in me.
'It feels like I am forgetting something though. What can it be? Yes! Status!'
Name
Arata
Age
6
Level
0
Experience
0/100
HP
10
CP
10
Control
1%
CHA
10
CC.
1
Strength
1
Endurance
1
Dexterity
1
Speed
1
Intelligence
10
Wisdom
10
Stat Points
0
AFFINITY
Lightning
50%
'I have so little HP that a breeze could kill me. Some stats are self-explanatory but it's better if I check them out just in case.' I started focusing on stats to see what I can learn about them.
HP: Your health. You will die if it reaches zero.
CP: Amount of Chakra you have. You will pass out if it reaches zero.
Control: Your Chakra Control. Shows how much of the Chakra you are expending on doing what you want rather than wasting. Chakra Control limit is 100%.
CHA: Your Chakra modifier. You gain 50 Chakra on every level up for every ten CHA you have.
CC: Your Chakra Control modifier. You gain 1% Control for every CC you have.
Strength: How powerful you are. Effects damage of bukijutsu and taijutsu. Effects your HP regen at 1%HP/h for every point.
Endurance: How sturdy you are. You gain 10HP for every Endurance you have. You gain 1 durability for every Endurance you have.
Dexterity: How good you are at controlling your body. You gain increased motor control for every Dexterity you have.
Speed: How fast you are. You gain increased speed for every Speed you have.
Intelligence: How good you are at memorizing things. You gain increased memory for every Intelligence you have.
Wisdom: Your perception and Chakra Recovery. For every Wisdom, you gain stronger perception and 1% Chakra/Min.
'1's all around. That's sucks. I can't even use 1 Chakra. At least I regenerate all my Chakra in ten minutes.'
Hana's voice took me out of my thoughts. "Breakfast is ready." I looked up and saw kids running towards Hana. 'I don't want to be last.' I stood up quickly and started running towards the line to get my food. 'My first food in Naruto-verse. This is amazing
After breakfast, we six-year-olds gathered in front of the gate and started waiting for the person that supposed to take us to the academy. A few minutes later she came. She was a tall, lean woman with brown hair and matching brown eyes. She was wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt with a knee-length black skirt. She came in front of us and loudly cleared her throat.
Everyone stopped doing what they were doing and started waiting. The woman smiled, "Some of you, meaning trouble makers, knows me." A few kids smiled awkwardly at that. The woman looked at every 'troublemaker' and continued, "My name is Rena and I will be in charge of taking you to the academy for today. Make sure to memorize the way because I won't be helping you out after this." She paused for a moment. "Is there any question?" I raised my hand. Rena looked at me, surprise evident on her face. After a second she cleared her throat, "Arata. You can ask."
I nodded, "Isn't it dangerous for us kids to go to the academy without any adult supervision?"
Rena snorted. "You won't be going without supervision, it just that no one will be helping you find your way."
"Why don't you help us?"
The talker was a boy with dark brown hair and bright green eyes. 'What was his name? Yes, Kotatsu.' Rena gave him such a look that both Kotatsu and other kids close to him started to sweat. Rena gave the same look rest of us too but less intense. "You can only talk if I give permission. Is that understood?" She asked with a raised voice.
"Yes!" Most of us answered her question. Some of the kids didn't answer and Kotatsu said no.
It seemed like Rena too noticed but didn't really say anything. Instead, she turned to Kotatsu and answered. "We won't help you because you are no longer normal kids. An academy student is between a kid and an adult. That's why we will protect you but won't be holding your hands while doing so." She made another sweep with her eyes and asked, "Is there any other question?" She continued without giving us any chance to raise questions. "No? Good. Move now, we are going to be late. And let me remind you again, do your best to memorize the way to the academy."
We were out of the orphanage in a minute and started following Rena to the academy. I made my way to Rena to ask a question I had. When she noticed me, she turned to me slightly and raised a brow. I moved a little faster to get in line with her and asked, "Rena-san. Can I ask a question?"
Rena sighed. "What is it, kid? Are you trying to make up for all those years you didn't talk?" I chuckled. She then made a come gesture with her left hand towards me.
I asked, "Rena-san. I heard some kids move to their own houses when they start the academy. It seems they are getting a salary per month too."
Rena nodded. "True but they are not getting a salary. They are getting a pittance." I tried to interject and ask my question but Rena motioned me to wait. "I understand your question. If you want to be sponsored by the village you should do well in the academy. If you manage to skip a class you would get the best chance but not really necessary. Did this answer your question?"
I nodded. 'I don't want to skip a year. As I remember, Sakura was perfect at theory classes but bad at practical. She didn't skip a year, so it's safe to do well in theory classes.'
While I was thinking, Rena stopped and turned back to the kids. So I stopped with her and took a step to get myself in her line of sight. Rena made a sweep with her eyes, looking at every kid one by one and probably counting to see if everyone is here. She nodded once, pointed at the big gates nearby, and said, "We are here. Inside, you will do whatever your instructors say and be on your best behavior. Remember. You have two years to show your instructors that you can be ninjas or you will be moved to a regular school." She stopped, seemingly waiting for something. She sighed exaggeratedly and yelled. "Now scram!" Words came with some kind of weight. I felt it trying to get in my brain and do something but it failed so I was left looking at Rena curiously while others started running towards the gate. It was bad but I managed to throw myself beside Rena before getting trampled. Rena looked at me oddly and said "Follow your friends." I nodded and started walking towards the gates behind the other kids.
I made my way to the front yard where kids were waiting. Some of them were still looking behind to see if Rena was coming. I glanced behind, she wasn't. I walked towards the front of the group to see what they were waiting for. There was a shinobi with a scar on his nose. 'I doubt there is more than one academy teacher with a scar like that. He must be Iruka.' I walked in front of him and cleared my throat so he can notice me. He looked at me questioningly. I smiled and asked. "Mister Shinobi, what are we waiting for?"
Iruka chuckled. "Call me Iruka-sensei and we are waiting for the Hokage." He smiled at my frown and continued, "He will give you a speech. He should be here soon."
I nodded. "Thank you Iruka-sensei." Iruka nodded and got back to watching other kids.
We waited for a few minutes for Hokage. He didn't come with a group of guards as I expected of a politician. He was alone. He was very old with liver marks dotting his face but he seemingly had all the confidence in the world for himself. It was so great you could feel it. 'Wait, how can you feel confidence?' After a second it was gone but if other kids' faces were anything to go by, they were still feeling it. They were looking at him like they were looking at a deity.
Hokage waited for a second and started talking. He talked about the will of fire, about the hardship of shinobi about becoming upstanding citizens, and about friendship and family. After a few minutes, kids were still gawking at him but I was frowning. 'How is he doing it?' While thinking, I notice him looking at me. I turned to him and waved. Hokage smirked and got down from the platform. Then Iruka-sensei came and ushered us to classrooms.
I was in classroom 101 with some of the other kids from the orphanage. The class was the same as it was in the anime. I sat on the back beside the window and started to think about the odd things that happened. 'With Rena, everyone was afraid and with Hokage, everyone was awed. I didn't feel what Rena did but felt the Hokage whatever he did albeit shortly. Why? Ha! Skills.'
Skills
Gamer's Mind Passive
· Allows user to calmly and logically think things through.
· Allows for a peaceful state of mind.
· Immune to psychological status and effects.
Gamer's Body Passive
· Allows user to have a body according to their status.
· Sleep recovers HP and CP.
· Sleep can remove injuries.
'Yes! Gamer's mind. Take this Sharingan, you won't be doing anything to my mind. Wait, does that mean I can go against Itachi?' I snorted. "Of course not."
"Hey, Arata."
I turned to see a girl with blond hair and dark brown eyes. She was close to my face, so I leaned back and asked, "What is it?"
She beamed when I talked. "Hey, Arata, why didn't you talk before?"
I smirked. "Special training."
She looked awed. 'Ha! Kids.' She came even closer and said, "Hey, hey, can you teach me too. I want to stop talking but I can't! Come on, teach me!"
"Sorry, I can't teach you. I have my own training to care about." I said sighing, then added. "My training only works for kids under six anyway."
"Aw, too bad." She held my hand and pulled. I felt myself going towards her. 'Damn, she is strong.' "Don't sit there all the way back. Come forward. We can hear sensei better there."
I took away my hand with some hardship and said, "No, I am good here." That made her pout. 'Cute!' I leaned towards her and pinched her cheeks. After that, she raised her nose and with a hmph, went back to where she came.
After a few minutes, Iruka came inside the class and told everyone to sit down.
'It's time I start learning to be a ninja.'
After Iruka came in, a blue-haired man followed. He had a box in hand. He put the box on sensei's desk and took something out. It was a book. He put a few of them on the closest desk and told the kid there to take one and pass the rest back. After everyone got their book, blue-haired shinobi got out and left us with Iruka.
Iruka opened his mouth to say something but a shout cut his word. "Yes! I am in time!" The new kid who was very orange with a patch of yellow on his head turned to very serious and a little pissed off Iruka and said, "Oops." Iruka just pointed to class and Naruto sat on a desk close by.
'Wait. I am in the same class as Naruto?' I quickly looked around and sure enough, there were others from rookie nine. I leaned on the window and started listening a lecture about what Hokage wanted to say in the front yard. It was as it was on the tin, just talk about shinobi and their hardships. After the lesson was over, it was time for the lunch break.
Iruka showed us the cafeteria and told us to get in line. I put my hands in my pockets and started walking slowly behind running classmates. I got my food in a few minutes and sat on an empty table. A few minutes later another kid sat at the same table. I looked up, it was Sasuke. He nodded at me, I nodded back and continued eating my food.
After dinner, Iruka took us out to the backyard. There he said, "Anyone taught taijutsu, raise your hand." Nearly half of the class raised their hands. Iruka nodded and started taking notes. He then said, "The ones that didn't raise hands." He pointed to other side. "Wait there." I walked there slowly and picked myself a place at the back of the group. Iruka started pairing the kids that know taijutsu. When he was done with them, he turned to us and started calling people. After a few pairings, I heard my name. "Arata. You are with Naruto." 'What the hell? Sigh. I can't believe I will be beaten on my very first day in the ninja academy. Well, such is life.'
Quest Alert!
Win the Spar.
You are paired with Naruto for a taijutsu spar. Win the spar and show everybody you know how to punch.
Success
o 50 Experience
o 10 Rep with Class 101.
Failure
o 10 Experience
o -10 Rep with Class 101.
'50 Experience is halfway to level 1! I can't lose this no matter what.'
Iruka called us to a dirt ring. Naruto and I stood two opposite edges and Iruka said, "You know the rules by now. No permanent injuries. Ready?" We nodded. "Start."
Naruto started running towards me with a grin, his right hand in a fist. I positioned myself slightly to my right, and as soon as Naruto threw his punch towards me, I sidestepped and punched him at the side of his chin. He dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. I quickly glanced at Iruka but it didn't seem like he was going to stop the fight so I did the best thing I could, started pushing Naruto for a ring out. He resisted with all his power which was a lot for me. Giving up from pushing him all the way, I backed out until my feet touching the edge of the ring and started waiting.
Naruto must have understood my intention since he started to move to the side but I just moved along the edge. Naruto tried to get a better position for a few seconds but soon enough he started running at me again with a startling 'hiyaa!' He jumped when he was close, so I sidestepped and pushed him outside the ring as I planned.
"Arata won by ring out. Next…" I tuned Iruka out and made my way to our group.
Quest Alert!
Quest Completed: Win the Spar
· 50 Exp
· 10 Rep with class 101.
After the fights, Mizuki came and started showing us katas for Academy Style Taijutsu. As soon as I managed to do the first kata, a screen popped up.
You learned Academy Style Taijutsu.
Academy Style Taijutsu 1/80
Academy Style Taijutsu is the close-range fighting style every shinobi learn in Konoha.
· Increases Strength while fighting with this style by 2%
· Increases Endurance while fighting with this style by 2%
· Increases Dexterity while fighting with this style by 2%
· Increases Speed while fighting with this style by 2%
'Bonuses can reach 160%. That's staggering. I wonder how long it will take to reach level 80. It will take long considering I choose 20 for Talent but I might be pleasantly surprised.'
I continued practicing katas I know the rest of the day and after the day was over, came the time for exploration. I looked at others. They were grouping up to go places. I thought some more time to think about where to go then remembered something from a fanfiction I read about Naruto. 'I should go training grounds to check if there is any natural dungeon there. I quickly made my way to the center of the village and found a map. It was detailing where the training grounds are.
I walked for a while and found the first training ground close to the academy. I got inside the fence covering the training field and waited. There was no pop-up. I took a step outside and got in again. It didn't work. 'Hmm. Was I wrong?' I looked around to see if there is anything out of place and sure enough, I found a glowing leaf symbol on a boulder near the entrance.
I made my way to the boulder and touched the leaf. As soon as I did, a screen popped up.
Training Dungeon 1
o First Layer Level 1-5
o Second Layer Level 5-10
o Third Layer Level 10-15
o …
The list was going all the way to level 100. 'It seems I won't have any shortage of things to kill. That's good. It's too bad I don't have any way to fight things that are waiting for me there.' "Some other time then." I turned back and started walking, intent on finding my way back to the orphanage.