Old draft that I've worked on a long time back.
I personally think the execution could be better or a rework.
Chapter 1:
It felt like I was floating in space, watching the colorful lights of auroras that you usually see in the northern or southern parts of the Earth.
The lights swirled and danced in the black void, and I couldn't feel any part of my body. I couldn't blink, scream, or move, but strangely, I wasn't suffocating. It was as if I was part of the emptiness around me, aware of everything but not quite a part of it. It was an odd sensation, and I might have panicked if the vibrant lights hadn't captivated my attention.
I didn't know how long I stayed like that, unsure if time even existed in this place, watching the mesmerizing light show until a red glowing screen suddenly appeared in front of me.
[Unauthorized access detected]
[Initiating quarantine procedures to isolate external intrusion from the system...]
'Unauthorized access? System? Am I in a virtual reality?' I hadn't worn any headsets or even had access to one, to begin with.
[Unable to remove external intrusion]
[Critical resources corrupted. Analyzing signature...]
Something seemed to be scanning me, trying to figure out what I was. It didn't seem like a sophisticated medical device probing my mind, a messed-up VR experience, or even a dream. In fact, I couldn't recall what I was doing before finding myself here.
[Resolution determined. Redirecting external intrusion to the nearest non-critical directory: Naruto]
With those words, the red digital window disappeared, leaving me puzzled.
'I'm sorry. Whaaaat?' Did it just say Naruto? As in that wildly popular franchise about ninjas wielding weird powers?
I haven't really kept up with Naruto in a long time. Recently, I ended up browsing the internet and intentionally spoiled myself on a bunch of things out of sheer boredom. The series seems to have gone pretty wild as it progressed. Still, I have to admit, despite its flaws, some aspects of the world building are interesting. Still, if I had a choice, I'd rather not live in the Naruto world. It might not be the worst option, though.
Soon, a small blue window appeared at the corner of my right vision.
[External entity registered and anchored]
Eric
Type: [Aberrant] [Human]
Status: None
{Skills} {Traits}
I'm definitely in a digital world of some kind, and my status window is incredibly plain. It's like... barely there. Where's my health bar and stats? Maybe they're missing because I don't have a body here. I'm labeled as "Aberrant" for some reason, but I can't do much about it. Seriously, I don't know what's going on, but it seemed better than being treated as malware and deleted by whatever this thing is.
[Please select one of the following patron options. Failure to make a selection within 2:00:00 will result in a random assignment]
Another blue screen flashed before my eyes, giving me two hours to choose, or it would decide for me. It was extensive, requiring a downward scroll to view all the options.
'... Guess I'll play along.' Realistically, this is probably just a dream, and I'll wake up soon from this lucid dream. 'What are my options?'
My first option on the list was a monstrous creature, resembling a headless, bird-like demon. It was as large as a tailed beast, with huge wings, bone-like protrusions from its chest-mouth, black feathers, a long and slender tail, and skinny, clawed hands and feet.
'What on earth is that thing? I believe this thing is from a Naruto movie or something…' Am I being pushed into some sort of unholy alliance with creatures beyond my comprehension?
[ ] Satori
It brings, it acts, and it ends with Satori. Endless desires breed endless greed, and the Box of Paradise welcomes any willing or unwilling soul into its grasp through its puppet, Satori.
The Box is willing to accept an independent anomaly like you, thanks to your unique ability to act as a conduit and gateway to it. The more willing you are to offer sacrifices to it, the more generously it will bestow its gifts upon you.
'It doesn't get more cult-like than receiving gifts in exchange for sacrifices.' I'm not sure what to think of this "abnormality" the system is tagging me with, but it seems like it's giving me an advantage.
I'll also receive something upfront if I pick this option and a patron. I should carefully read the entire selection, considering there are starting conditions and benefits, kind of like in a video game.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[BLISS] You'll receive a major reduction in damage and won't feel pain, allowing you to survive most fatal injuries. Using the Box of Paradise, you can recover and increase your damage resistance for 4 seconds, with a 12 second downtime. This duration can be extended either temporarily or permanently, depending on the sacrifices offered to the Box.
[GATEWAY TO PARADISE] You gain the ability to absorb anything and send it into the Box of Paradise. Based on your offerings, the Box will reward you with various gifts, including items and innate abilities. If you die, you'll return to the Box of Paradise where you can manifest once more under the starting conditions.
{Starting Conditions}
Opting for this choice will place you inside the Box of Paradise within Kusagakure, the Village Hidden in the Grass. Upon arrival, you can open the Box from inside and release both yourself and Satori into the world. Satori will attack any living beings nearby, except for you. This will lead to a negative reputation with Kusagakure and others if your association with the Box is discovered.
I paused and reviewed the benefits of selecting Satori as my patron. I have to admit, it all seems quite appealing. It's like taking on the role of a self-sustaining tank in a video game, growing stronger by banishing enemies to the Box, and having the safety net of respawning if I die, although I'd have to go through the starting scenario again. I don't think that means resetting all my progress.
It almost sounds too good to be true...
On the other hand, it's probably not wise to casually strike deals or choose a patron who resembles an eldritch horror with an agenda that seems to involve sending everyone to what I strongly believe is some kind of hell. Plus, I'd be making enemies with a ninja village that's likely near the Hidden Leaf Village, where all the major Naruto characters come from. So, maybe not the best idea.
'What are my other options?'
My next choice for a patron is a ghost that looks like a deer skull glowing in blue.
[ ] Soma
Sōma's sole desire is to consume the memories of others.
While it may not fully understand or concern itself with your anomaly, it acknowledges that you are a distinct and unsealed vessel compared to its usual confinement. It's willing to accompany you under the condition that it can continue consuming the memories of others and, as a side effect, share with you the stolen memories and certain abilities of its victims.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[MENTALISM]You can influence the thoughts of others and prevent most mental safeguards from taking effect. You also gain the chance to become skilled at mimicking movements and certain abilities. The effectiveness and proficiency of this ability vary depending on different factors.
[HAUNT] You gain ghost-like abilities, enabling you to pass through solid objects and rendering you immune to physical harm. However, you become susceptible to Sealing Techniques and chakra, with Yin Release proving particularly effective against you. If your physical or spiritual form perishes or sealed, you'll be sent to the afterlife alongside Soma, where you can manifest again by finding a way to escape the afterlife.
{Starting Conditions}
Selecting this option transports you to Daidai village's Sealing Rock, where Soma will be transferred to you. The villagers of Daidai will fear you, leading to a negative reputation if your association with Soma is discovered.
This one is interesting. It offers a sneaky and elusive playstyle that messes with people's minds, both figuratively and literally. I can even steal knowledge and muscle memories to some extent, and there's mind control in the mix too. It all sounds appealing, but we're in the Naruto world here, a place where the power dynamics range from down-to-earth to world-altering. These perks shouldn't be too overpowered.
The starting conditions don't seem too unfavorable. I've never heard of Soma or Daidai Village, but I believe they're from the Boruto series.
Interestingly, I also have a safety net for respawning. I have a hunch that the other options might have something similar. It's as if the system or whoever is offering these choices wants to keep me in check...
There isn't much I can do about it, so I scrolled down to check out my next patron option.
It's one I remember from a Naruto movie: a massive, otherworldly serpent demon with a huge, dark, inky-purple body, surrounded by a sinister aura. It has several dragon-like heads, each with red eyes and blue tongues.
[ ] Moryo
Moryo's ambition is to build his thousand-year kingdom, which relies on world destruction. To accomplish this, he must unify his soul and body and is prepared to use any means necessary.
Fascinated by your anomaly, which enables you to serve as a direct yet independent conduit for him, Moryo can be persuaded to consider your perspectives and adjust his tactics. If not solely for their practicality, then for the sake of his own curiosity and the entertainment of observing the resulting consequences.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[GHOST ARMY GENERAL] You gain the ability to summon and command eight stone soldiers from the Ghost Army. The number of summoned soldiers and their capabilities can increase as you grow in power and influence. You can oversee and direct your subordinates' actions and intentions from any location, not restricted to just the Ghost Army.
Your physical and spiritual attributes are also permanently enhanced beyond human limits, boosting both your abilities and physical prowess. When you die, you'll briefly go to Moryo's prison, and within a day, you'll manifest to your chosen spot in your claimed domain for your Thousand Year Kingdom.
{Starting Conditions}
Choosing this option will randomly relocate you within the Land of Demons. Your connection to Moryo will cause a negative reputation with the family of priests and priestesses responsible for his seal. The Land of Demons' ruler will be cautious of your power and ties to Moryo but might be swayed to see you in a positive light if it benefits the land. The shinobi clan once aligned with Moryo will have a favorable view of you and may follow your lead if you maintain a good relationship with Moryo.
What a grand ambition, to destroy the world in order to build a kingdom.
There's only one perk from this patron, and it might not seem too impressive at first glance, but it's perfect for overseeing a settlement, especially when you consider Moryo's kingdom-building interests. The free labor and security provided by the Ghost Army offer valuable support. If I recall correctly, those stone soldiers are huge and resilient, though a bit stiff in their movements. The enhancement to my abilities is a nice addition, and as expected, I'll respawn if I kick the bucket.
I should think about this one, although dealing with the patron might be a bit of a hassle. It'll be like that game Kenshi, where you can create a character, roam around a sandbox world, and do all sorts of things, even starting your own settlement.
My next patron is a giant wolf demon with two faces—one on top and one under its chin. It has five yellow eyes, six legs, and big wings, along with a long brown tail.
[ ] Black Shadow
Content with ruling over the Tree Felling Village, Black Shadow remains open to extending his dominion, lording over those much weaker than himself, all the while eagerly seeking chances to hone his fangs and claws against more formidable adversaries.
He views your anomaly with great unease, making him susceptible to persuasion and control, allowing you to advance the development of the Tree Felling Village. To avoid any discontent, you must increase his influence and power to a satisfactory level, while occasionally providing sacrifices. Alternatively, you have the option to eliminate Black Shadow altogether.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[TRACES OF LIFE] You carry remnants of the Tree of Life's power and the once-blooming flowers that surrounded it. This grants you access to special healing abilities and an aura under your control, reminiscent of the tree's former flowers. This aura weakens most demons and certain bloodlines. If you meet your end, you will reappear near the root of the Tree of Life at the break of each new day.
{Starting Conditions}
By selecting this option, you'll be transported to the Tree Felling Village where the Tree of Life once stood. You can choose to either eliminate or negotiate with Black Shadow, leading to different results and potential additional perks. Your standing with the Tree Felling Village will be determined by these results.
This option is like picking the healer class—healing, purifying, and weakening demons and foes.
It's amusing that it outright mentions I can kill my supposed patron, but I have a hunch that bumping off a demon won't be a cakewalk. Nonetheless, this doesn't really suit my style, and Black Shadow seems like a bigger pain to work with than Moryo.
Next down the list of patrons is a creature that looks like a mix between a tiger and a wolf, about the size of a tailed beast, and has multiple tentacles extending from its back.
[ ] Roen
Roen is but an animal, guided by instinct rather than intellect. It will do what it must to survive, primarily by absorbing chakra from others.
It is cautious of you due to your anomaly and can prove challenging to manage. Nonetheless, you can gain its cooperation by providing sustenance or directing it to more favorable hunting grounds. In doing so, it is unlikely to turn on you, recognizing that attacking would yield fewer benefits than maintaining a cooperative relationship.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[WILD SANCTUARY] You are immune to any adverse effects from changes in Roen's seal, or Roen forcibly breaking free. You can keep track of Roen's location and instantly teleport yourself to Roen or vice versa.
If you die, you can reappear near Roen after four minutes. If Roen dies, it'll return to its seal within your body and gradually recover to a certain point before it can become active, with chakra absorption expediting the process. If both of you die, Roen's chakra will scatter and must be reconstructed by you for both of you to manifest again at a random location.
[BEAST MODE] You can establish better communication with Roen and tap into its abundant chakra reserves. This enhances your strength, speed, and regenerative abilities for varying durations. You'll also acquire the ability to absorb chakra through attacks or from your environment and can utilize various powerful jutsu.
{Starting Conditions}
Selecting this option will transport you to the Kodon clan's shrine, where Roen's seal will be transferred into your body. This will weaken Roen's seal to some extent but will not fail unless specific conditions deteriorate it. You'll initially have a bad reputation with the Howling Wolf Village and the Kodon clan. However, you can convince them to allow you to stay in the village by aiding its progress. Failing to do so may lead to the village's destruction in the ensuing battle to reclaim Roen from you.
This route seems like a mix of a beast master and fighter style.
I'll become something like a jinchuriki but without a tailed beast, and instead take care of a giant wild wolf-tiger hybrid. If I treat it well and keep it fed, I'll have a powerful ally that can tear through everything. There's also a diplomacy and charisma check with the village and clan at the beginning. If I can make an agreement with them, things go smoothly; otherwise, it could get messy.
Second to last is an unusual-looking patron. It's a massive lion-like creature with three heads. The heads have a mix of wolf and dragon features, with purple armor, lots of spikes, red marks, and big rows of teeth. The whole body is covered in dark grey armor with pink-red marks, and the original armor expands, adding spikes to the tail and pink armor underneath.
[ ] Three-Headed Guardian Beast
Believed to embody an overwhelming concentration of chakra capable of causing cataclysmic events, the Three-Headed Guardian Beast possesses a degree of intelligence, yet its primarily feral nature is driven by destruction. It only seeks to bring ruin to all it encounters.
The Three-Heads pays no heed to your anomaly and doesn't even consider you as a potential target for destruction because of it. You can gain control over the Three-Heads without relying on the Tenrō clan's sealing techniques or external assistance, provided you can satisfy its insatiable appetite for destruction.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[RUINOUS SANCTUARY] You're immune to any adverse effects from changes in the Three-Heads' seal or its release. The death of either the Three-Heads or yourself triggers a destructive multi-elemental explosion.
If you die, you'll reappear near the Three-Heads after four minutes. Should the Three-Heads die, it'll return to its seal within your body, gradually recovering to a certain point before becoming active again, with chakra absorption expediting the process. If both of you die, the Three-Heads' chakra will scatter and must be reconstructed by you for both of you to manifest again at a random location.
[DESTRUCTION MODE]You can communicate better with the Three-Heads and access its plentiful chakra reserves. This boosts your strength, speed, and regenerative abilities for different periods. You can utilize powerful destructive jutsu, with the enhancements increasing as you deal more damage during Destruction Mode.
{Starting Conditions}
By choosing this option, you'll be transported to Yumegakure, the Village Hidden Among Dreams, where the Three-Headed Guardian Beast's seal will be transferred to you. This transfer weakens the Three-Heads' seal to some extent, but it won't fail unless certain conditions deteriorate it. This will significantly damage your reputation with Yumegakure, but you can persuade the villagers to stay in the village and contribute to Yumegakure's growth or face the prospect of mutual destruction.
This one's also a beast master and fighter style, but the beast wants to blow up the world and create chaos. It's like the choice of an average gamer who's bored and puts explosives on their character just to watch the chaos unfold.
I might lean toward that sometimes, but not today.
Finally, the last option for my patrons is five dragons, each representing one of the five elemental natures: earth, water, wind, fire, and lightning, each with their own distinctive appearance.
[ ] Genryu
The five Genryu harbor a partial inclination to witness the prosperity of the Ryu clan, owing to their ancient bonds. Beyond this allegiance, they tend to remain detached from human affairs and seldom interfere in mortal matters unless invoked by the Dragon Guardians of the Ryu clan.
They regard you with great caution due to your anomaly. If you can persuade them, they are open to granting you their power in exchange for your assistance in furthering the success of the Ryu clan.
Upon selecting this choice, you will instantly gain the following perks:
[SUNYATA] You can harness your anomaly to wield the power of the void, greatly bolstering your resistance to all elemental forces. This mastery also lets you control and use various other elements that you're given access to. In the event of your demise, a waiting period of two days ensues before you can reappear near the location of your death.
{Starting Conditions}
Selecting this option will transport you to a random location where the remnants of the Ryu clan or the Genryu are presently found. Your relationship with the Ryu clan and the Genryu will depend on how you interact with them. If people become aware of the Genryu, various factions and individuals may hold a negative opinion of you.
This one seems enjoyable, aiding a clan in exchange for elemental abilities. The perk isn't major, but it seems to work well with the Genryu. If I go for this, I'll likely need to build a good relationship with the dragons and the Ryu clan, possibly getting caught up in their internal politics. Frankly, that sounds like a pain...
I've got seven options to pick from; time to narrow down my choices.
I need to think about a few things: the patrons I'm teaming up with, the perks they offer, and where I'll begin this journey. If I can't get along with my patrons or don't find their perks appealing, it could turn into a messy situation. So, it's important to choose a perk I'll value and a patron I can work well with. The starting location and conditions are important too. I'd rather not begin in a dangerous spot or with a big disadvantage, so let's go for a safe start if possible.
'I actually like Moryo's perk.' For some reason, I'm leaning toward picking Moryo as my patron.
Moryo's an ambitious tyrant from the looks of it, and I might have to work with him closely. Maybe I can convince him to change his ways by using my 'future knowledge' about possible threats, like the Otsutsuki clan, I could either keep him from being a problem or get him to join my cause. In exchange, I'd use his Ghost Army for protection and help with my projects, which could lead to the establishment of his Thousand Year Kingdom without needing to destroy the world.
'I'll be randomly transported to the Land of Demons, so my starting point is unpredictable. It should be far from the major powerhouses, I hope... I just don't want to land somewhere and die instantly like an idiot.'
There are a lot of factors that worry me about working with Moryo. The ruler of the Land of Demons probably won't be fond of me, and the priest and priestess family will be against me.
Honestly, I just want mindless stone soldiers who'll follow my orders without question. Having free labor and security goes a long way.
'… ah, screw it! I'm going with Moryo.'
I mentally chose Moryo, and a smaller window appeared.
[Confirm your selection. Do you want Moryo to be your patron?]
[Yes] [No]
I chose yes and suddenly found myself swirling through the void. A multi-headed dragon serpent, Moryo, loomed over me, its heads encircling as I passed by, taking some of his essence with me.
[Moryo is now your patron]
[You have gained a new perk: GHOST ARMY GENERAL]
'Uh... Nice to meet you,' I thought, unsure if the demon could even hear me. Being polite couldn't hurt. 'Thank you for your patronage?'
[Moryo acknowledges your greeting and introduces himself as the Tyrant of the Thousand Year Kingdom]
[The Tyrant of the Thousand Year Kingdom wants you to set its spirit free and reunite it with its body in the Land of Swamps. The Tyrant of the Thousand Year Kingdom is patient and curious about you. He is keeping a close watch]
My vision suddenly became overwhelmingly bright. The next moment, I was lying on the grass, gazing up at the sunny sky, with a few trees around me. The scent of wood and flowers filled the air, and the sounds of animals echoed throughout the area.
I had arrived in the world of Naruto.