It should have been me (SI)

My life is pretty boring and has an ongoing feel of loneliness to it. Ever since covid hit I've been feeling like my life hasn't been the same. Its been three years and I haven't been doing any of the same things I did when I was in high school. I used to have a bunch of friends and I used to actually go and have fun. However once covid everything changed. I started staying at home everyday, eating food and not talking to anyone. And i've gotten okay with that because I've been slowly but sure gaining weight. Therefore, I figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal anymore since I didn't want people to see me like that anyway.

However, 3 years later, I really hate the fact that I got complacent with how I was living my life after some serious self reflection. Now a days my life consist on waking up eating breakfast, reading Naruto Fanfiction, eating lunch, reading Fanfiction, a then going to work to work the graveyard shift at my job then getting home and reading more Fanfiction until I go to sleep.

I didn't really get into Fanfiction until I started seeing what if recommendation on my YouTube timelines about two of my favorite anime, Dragon Ball Z and Naruto. I had decided to give them a try, first it was with DBZ and I liked the what if prospect of the anime. But with Naruto it felt like it was way better and I started liking the idea of a lot these what ifs better than the main plot of the anime.

I always felt like Naruto could have been portrayed way better and I felt like kishimoto was making him too much of a week knuckle headed dimwit for the background he had, as far as what he went through growing up with the villagers and who his parents were, two badass shinobi in their own respective rights. Kushina Uzumaki the Red Death of Konoha and the army killer, Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash and Fourth Hokage of Konoha.

All these things put together I felt could have made him a lot stronger and more level headed. Also I feel like for all the neglect and animosity he got as a child should be payed back in women.

hehehehe* cue Jiraiya perverted giggle

But yeah, ever since I've been hooked Fanfiction, and one night before I went to sleep all I could think about was what if I had Naruto life.

Instantly upon my return to consciousness I knew something was wrong because I didn't feel the stiffness of an old bed greeting me, I felt the weird sensation of weightlessness. Knowing I've only felt this way during rollercoasters and dreams I assumed it was the latter. However, after further evaluation I realized that a couple things didn't fit that assumption. For one, usually there are images to go along with this feeling but right now all I could see was a bunch of nothing just darkness. And for two, the more my consciousness returns, this feeling is starting to feel way too real. Upon this realization I immediately start to freak out and all prior drowsiness is washed away.

After about a good 2 minutes of full blown panicking I try my best to calm down knowing that panicking isn't going to Fix anything. But before I could get any thoughts or idea going, I hear an eerily calm yet authoritative voice behind me that states three words that instantly makes me stop all movement and thoughts.

"Are you done?"

Now I didn't know whether to reply or look for the source but by me not knowing where I am and with no way to defend myself because I'm floating I didn't to possibly anger the only other person that could possibly give me some answer so I choose the former. However. it seems I didn't have to make a choice because as soon as I said yes I was turned to see the scariest thing I've ever seen.

It was a ghostly translucent figure which towered above me by quite a bit. It had long, shaggy white hair, from which two red horns protrude, and purple-colored skin with yellow slitted eyes. It is draped in large white garments and is carrying a set of prayer beads.

Now even though I haven't watched the actual Naruto anime in quite some time, Its still quite hard to forget a being so outer worldly as the one I'm looking at. Knowing this only one name came to mind.

"Are you the Shinigami?" came rolling off of my tongue before I even realized it

Its seems like it was satisfied by this however because I received a pleased smirk.

"Good you recognize me, I was afraid I had to explain who I am."

However once he said that I gained a horrified expression on my face

"Am I dddead" I stuttered out, thinking I must've died I my sleep. But before give it anymore thought I received an answer

"Yes and No but that only depends on what answer you give me to my offer"

Hearing this I calmed down significantly but I was still on edge because I was still in the presence of the Shinigami and I didn't know what his offer was going to be.

"Oookay, then why am I here and what is your offer?" I said, still shivering from the feeling of dread just being near him was giving off.

"You're here because I needed a soul that was knowledgable about the world that Naruto is from since he died and does not want to return because he met his mother and wants to stay with her. So my offer to you is do you want to take the place of Naruto because if I let Naruto's body die completely the kyuubi will be released and there would be no one to stop if from getting captured by akatsuki to fulfill their the moons eye plan."

After hearing the Shingami, speak my initial thought was 'what the fuck!'. But after giving it some thought my next thought was 'holy shit is this really happening?' I always thought that it would be cool if ninjas were real but seeing THE Shinigami, it put the whole the question of if its real to rest. However I know it's definitely not in this dimension. And now that I'm thinking about it, in the anime the akatsuki is already dealt with and Naruto didn't die yet so I know this universe is going to be a lot different with these factors in place. However, I always wanted to live the life of Naruto and his untapped potential and the Shinigami is giving me the golden opportunity. I just had a couple of questions before I make my decision.

"Before I give you a definite answer I have some questions and concerns if you don't mind me asking"

"Yes, I figured you'd would, go ahead and speak you're mind"

"Thank you, now my first question is I was wondering how different is this world of Naruto from the one I know? Is there anything major that would affect my life"

"No, nothing too major about this world changed from the Naruto you knew. Only things of note I would say is the graduating age was moved up to 16 and there are some gender changes as well, mostly male to female. Also instead of just getting neglected he used to get beat from ages 5 to 8 until the Sandaime Hokage started cracking down on the villagers more. And lastly this Naruto was killed by Satusuki on the retrieval mission but she still ended up going to Orochimaru."

'Did he just say satsuki? Wow just like I thought, this world is different but at least I would be older than I thought I would be so that's a plus.'

"Alright, also I would like to know what what happen to me in the dimension if I go to that one? I would hate to make people worry about me."

"In simple terms, your existence would be wiped completely and no one would have any prior knowledge of you"

'Damn no existence huh, I guess it could be worse. Now lets see if I can gets something out of this so I can make life better for myself'

"Ok I have one more question before I make my decision, is it possible for you to give me somethings that I feel like would make my life as Naruto easier"

"If it is in reason I don't see why I shouldn't be able too since I was blessed by my mother Kami in order to make this trip to stop this tragedy from happening"

"Alright thank you, for one I need to be able to speak you guys people speak in that world because I'm pretty sure its not English. For two I was wondering if I would be able to get a kekkei Genkai that I already know how to use since Naruto doesn't have any"

"Alright I should be able to grant you that but no more than two and as for the language that has already been taken care of"

"Okay first I would like to have the same dojutsu that ranmaru has I just want to be able to turn it on and off. And also I want to get dust release but I want to be able to use both already just already if that's not too much to ask."

"Interesting, I thought you would have asked for something like the rinnegan or wood release. Although I'm glad you didn't because those two in particular are beyond my current abilities to give you. Anyways, what you asked for shall be done and you shall have the knowledge of how to use both upon your awakening. You should also know that there is an added benefit to getting the Dust Release which is you should be gaining the affinity for fire and earth chakra to go along with Naruto's natural affinity for wind. However in order to strengthen your Dust release you are going to have to work on your elemental chakra natures."

Once I was told my request was granted I started to smirk smile because I was actually getting excited. I always thought that those two kekkei genkai were underrated deadly if used correctly. And I also get an extra two nature affinities, wind is already the best offensive nature affinity to me but knowing that I get a defensive nature affinity like earth is great, I know it is going to come In handy in my future battles. And last but not least you have my fire affinity where I can spit out fire dragons or my personal favorite, Madara's signature technique, the great fire annihilation. Not to mention all the fire and wind combination techniques I can do with my shadow clones. I wonder if I can make a sort of pseudo scorch release when I combine both at the same time.

But knowing all that I'm gaining I'm starting to feel like I'm going to be a lot stronger than cannon Naruto was in half the time

"Alright that sounds good, I just have one last request but its not for a bloodline or anything I just would like to keep my height and to get the other half of the Kyuubi since its still sealed inside of you"

"That was two not one and I suppose I should be able to give you the other half since Minato is gonna need it and sure the Kyuubi would be pleased one its whole again. And as for the height request, I cannot grant you your full height of 6'2 however, can give Naruto and extra 4 inches of height at most. Naruto is 5'6 right now so that should place you at about 5'10. Now if it that is all we must be going soon so his body doesn't die completely. Also, by the time you wake up you should have assimilated all of Naruto's memories so you won't be confused"

'Alright that's great, with the extra half of the Kyuubi I should be able to mold my chakra more smoothly and Kyuubi's chakra should be less chaotic when I try to use it and hopefully my coils expand with the added chakra so I could have more reserve in my base form. Although I just know I'm going to have to work my chakra control like crazy but it shouldn't be anything I can't fix with a couple of shadow clones. And as for the height, i'll take what I can get as long as I'm not looking up to anyone my age I should be good'

So with everything being settled and all my concerns put to rest, I said five words that would close the chapter of my old life and start the chapter of my new one.

"Alright, ready when you are"