My eyes cracked open slowly and painfully, a blinding white light shining in the distance.
Fuck, is that the sun? I don't remember it being this damn... bright...
As my eyes adjusted, I noticed that while the area was stark white, it wasn't really as bright as before.
I took in the scenery, finding it empty beyond something buzzing in my damn ear.
I tried to move and swat it, attempting to scrunch my nose in annoyance.
I found both actions impossible because I didn't have a body.
"Yup, you won't be able to move in the slightest. I've disabled all your bodily functions!" An excited little voice said in my ear.
The tiny buzzing turned into laughter as a golden fly passed before my eyes. That fly stopped in its tracks as it touched down on the ground.
"That is, all except your eyes. Those beautiful, golden eyes. I could stare into them all day." The fly said as he began to pulsate with red light.
I felt my body react with shock as the insect expanded and grew into a mammal (specifically a macaque), clad in a golden chainmail shirt, a red feathered cap, brilliant blue boots, and a black iron staff with gold caps on each tip.
The monkey grinned at me and waved a hand, jittery with excitement.
"Well then, are you happy? I've given you control of all your... what do humans call them? Talky bits! Those."
"Are... are you Sun Wukong?" I said, my voice unfamiliar and hoarse.
"Haha! You humans truly are delightful. Yes, I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, otherwise known as The Handsome Monkey King. And you, human, are a part of me."
The parts of my body I could control contorted into a picture of confusion as the monkey giggled.
"Heh, that always stumps you guys! Divinity is tricky, and so is enlightenment. Especially when both those states of being are beyond your original station. As a result, both my consciousness and my essence are divided at all times, to keep me humble." The monkey said with an eye roll.
"So, I'm part of you? In what regard?"
"Hmm." The monkey tapped his chin with the staff, taking a moment to think.
"The best way I can explain it is that the Buddha, in his infinite wisdom, has turned my soul into a jigsaw puzzle of innumerable pieces. Each of these pieces latch onto lower beings and live their lives, just as you did previously." The monkey stood at this, gesturing at me with his free hand.
"Once these pieces die, as all mortals do, they recenter the 'main' soul to be reassigned. That's what's going on right now. I assume one or all of you are supposed to complete... some kind of task to permanently return and strengthen me. Or us? Languages just aren't built for situations like this." Wukong... or I guess myself said with a shake of his head.
"Regardless, you're being reassigned. Whatever you did in your past life wasn't enough to reunite with the sum total. Hopefully, in your next life you can change that."
My mind went back to my previous life as a young man on Earth.
I watched anime, read manga, went to school, graduated, and made a decent life for myself... at least until I worked for 84 hours straight on a project that could make or break my permanent career.
I fell asleep at my desk after finishing it, but... that's the last thing I can remember before now.
"Mmhmm! You wasted your little mortal life, which in turn means you've also wasted a portion of my eternal one. Do you know what that means?"
I raised an eyebrow, cocking the bits of my head that were available to the side.
"Me either! I want to try an experiment though. Most of the time, I erase the memories of all the fragments that arrive. Fortunately for you, me, I'm giving you a choice. Do you want to return to your previous world and do all this over again... or do you want to take a chance and get on Buddha's nerves?"
The Handsome Monkey King grinned at me, his golden eyes glittering with red sparkles.
I felt my mouth move on instinct, an instinct that I now realized was not my own.
Twin grins adorned our cheeks as Wukong threw his head back and laughed.
"I knew you'd agree! I always do find the best ways to shake things up! I've taken the liberty of providing a guide. It's not the most... cutting edge, as you humans say, but it is nice. It'll help you pick a world, appearance, and traits that will follow you into said world. Be warned." He said, all humor leaving his body in an instant. "This system, nor I will be able to help you in this world. If you find another fragment of yourself, you'll know and you'll more than likely be able receive or lend aid to them. Finally, if the Buddha or transcendental being finds you, they may erase you. That could have some... terrible consequences because not even I know what happens when a being loses a piece of their soul."
He seemed to mull it over for a bit before I cleared my throat, giving him a look.
"Right right, let me introduce you to the system and take care of the next infinitesimal soul fragment. Later!"
Gold clouds swirled around him, leaving nothing in that space.
Ping!
Hello Soul Fragment Number 5,196,709,375,586,947,284! Today, I will be your multiversal guide. The Buddha, in his infinite knowledge, has compiled a list of potential universes for Sun Wukong's soul to reside. Please choose one.
Before my limited human eyes, an infinite list of every universe in real time unfurled. My vision went blurry as I took in the entirety of the book... if you could even call it that.
As an artificial being, I don't have personal preferences. However, due to my extensive knowledge, this is known as a compendium.
Now, please narrow down your searches.
My thoughts turned to different places I could go as I mulled over the fact that the system contained a personality.
I definitely wanted to head to a fictional world, one from one of the tv shows I loved as a kid.
As if by listening to my thoughts, the compendium shifted, forming into a list of all the anime I watched in my previous lifetime.
Dragon Ball
Naruto
One Piece
Seven Deadly Sins
Hunter X Hunter
Demon Slayer
...
The list stretched on and on as I weighed the pros and cons of each of my choices.
Becoming an average Joe or even a side character in any of these places was an absolute no.
I needed a world where even someone ordinary could become extraordinary. A world where hardwork and talent were praised.
My mind wandered to a certain white haired pervert who more than likely was getting the shit beat out of him in every universe that contained tits.
A smirk crossed my face and I nodded to myself before making my decision.
The Naruto Universe was just too good to pass up.
Please choose a Time Period to be born in.
Warring States
Shinobi Village Formation
First Shinobi World War
Second Shinobi World War
Third Shinobi World War
Fourth Shinobi World War
Within each category, there were milestones and character births, with Naruto Uzumaki's birth being in the center.
After Naruto's birth, I'd only have about 13 years until the beginning of the Canon series and 17 years before the end of Shippuden.
That means I needed to be strong before that, at least Jonin level in both experience and skill.
14 years before the Third Shinobi War would give me time to become a ninja and train for a year before it broke out.
That war would also give me an opportunity to hide behind the capable shield that is Konoha, who won the war without me.
Please create your appearance.
A menu not unlike the character customization for a video game appeared, giving me vastly more options and control than a simple video game would.
It even had something for the more... erotic elements of the world, but I didn't look into those much.
I selected male as the gender, caramel colored skin, golden eyes with a reddish rim, and long brown hair that reached to the tops of my shoulders.
Honestly, it went quite well, and I finalized my decision with a smile on my face.
Initializing changes... Changes complete.
My body shrunk abruptly, while my limbs shortened to thick little sausages. My ability to talk also disappeared, making me click my tongue in annoyance.
You will now select your traits.
Traits are the things that determine the limits of your physical and mental potential within this universe.
Others in your world may possess these or even more potent traits due to their heritage or power.
As per the system rules, you get 100 points for creation traits, and you may select any trait that you wish as long as you have enough points.
Social Status:
Clan Kid: You are born into one of Konoha's exclusive and powerful clans! Cost: 30
High Class: You are born to a rich and successful merchant family. Cost: 15
Ninja Family: You are born to two Ninja parents. Cost: 10
Ordinary: You are born into a civilian family. Cost: 0
Orphaned: You are born to parents or a parent who is destined to die or toss you into an orphanage to rot alone. Cost: -10
Outcast: Holy shit, this kid is a piece of garbage! Cost: -30
Intellect:
Genius: You're smart as a Nara! Cost: 20
Intelligent: You're pretty good! Cost: 10
Average: You're normal and boring: Cost: 0
Below Average: You're not the sharpest tool in the shed. Cost: -10
Dumbass: You're an idiot, plain and simple. Cost: -30
Health:
Robust: You're almost as healthy as a Senju! Cost: 20
Hearty: You never get sick. Ever. Cost: 10
Normal: The occasional cold can really get you down. Cost: 0
Frail: Your mom worried about you... a lot. Cost: -10
Feeble: A strong gust of wind or a sneeze from across the room could send you to the Pure Land. Cost: -30
Strength:
Mountain Breaker: You can crush rock with your bare hands! Cost: 30
Beefy: You've been known to lift a few things: Cost: 15
Normie: You've got a single bicep. Cost: 0
Wimp: No one's gonna ask you to help carry a couch. Cost: -10
Weakling: Your mom doesn't call you her big strong man, even as a joke. Cost: -20
Agility:
Fleet-Footed: You've never lost a damn race in your life! Cost: 20
Nimble: You're faster than the average idiot. Cost: 10
Average: You're the middle of the pack. Cost: 0
Slow: The name speaks for itself. Cost: -10
Crippled: You literally can't walk. Don't select this, dumbass. Cost: -40
Height:
Giant: Between the heights of 6 foot 3 inches and 7 feet tall, you're huge in comparison to all others. Cost: -10
Tall: Between the heights of 5 foot 9 inches and 6 foot 2 inches, you're larger than average. Cost: 10
Average: Between the heights of 5 foot 5 inches and 5 foot 8 inches, you're normal. Cost: 0
Short: Between the heights of 5 feet and 5 foot 4 inches, you're tiny in comparison to others. Cost: 10
Dwarf: Between the heights of Short to Short as FUCK. This is also a "Don't pick this you fucking idiot" situation. Cost: -10
Handedness:
Left Handed: Cost: 0
Right Hanfed: Cost: 0
Ambidextrous: Cost: 10
Other:
High Endurance: You don't get tired! Allows the character to withstand more physical punishment before succumbing to exhaustion or injury. Costs 10.
Enhanced Senses: Ugh, what's that smell? Grants the character an exceptional sense of sight, smell, hearing, or touch, which can be useful for detecting danger or finding hidden objects. Costs 10.
Fast Healing: 'Tis but a scratch! Allows the character to recover from injuries more quickly. Costs 20.
Ok... ok, there's potential with these choices.
The heights confused me a bit, with Giant and Dwarf both being considered bad by the system, while Short was a boon, but then I thought about it.
In this universe, being easily identified and conspicuous is terrible, with the average person needing stealth in several different facets of their life.
That also explained the massive amount of points from Crippled, because a ninja really shouldn't be in a wheelchair (MIGHT GUY).
But anyway, I began selecting, choosing Orphan for both the freedom to train without cumbersome rules and the extra 10 points it gave me.
With 110 points, I went on a damn spending spree, grabbing Intelligent, Robust, Mountain Breaker and Fleet-Footed.
My hand hesitated near the Heights once again, as I contemplated my decision.
Back in my old life, I was a healthy 6 foot 5 inches, but I wasn't a ninja in my old life.
I didn't depend on stealth for both my income and my livelihood, not to even mention my actual LIFE.
But it's just like Wukong said. If I worry about duty and responsibility, right from wrong, and what I need versus what I want... I'll never reach my own enlightenment, just like the original Handsome Monkey King.
There it is, I thought as I tapped Giant, gaining 10 extra points as I continued.
That's my goal... or I guess my 'ninja way' as they say it in the universe.
I'll become the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, stronger than even the Sage of Six Paths.
Anywho, I selected Left-Handed, because I was a lefty back in my old life and it would be easy to readjust.
All the Other categories were great, so I used my remaining 40 points to grab the rest of them.
I selected smell as my exceptional sense and tallied up all my selections before finalizing my choices.
Thank you for your prompt and thorough selections.
Please hold for a moment while I transfer your consciousness to an appropriate body.
While you wait, please consider a name.
Hmm... sticking with the Monkey King theme, I want something that goes with my Monkey heritage.
Listen, I took Japanese in high school, cut me some slack.
Um... maybe...
Enkou Kozaru, The Great Sage of the Hidden Leaf.
The Japanese naming conventions aside, it was a good name. A strong one.
As I gave the system my name, it gave me an even better message.
Your synchronization with the world has been complete. You will now be transported there with only your memories of your past life and memories from the first 5 years of your present one.
Enjoy!
Initializing...
The giant white world dissolved into a myriad of green ones and zeroes, not too different from the Matrix as my vision darkened and eventually went black...
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Enter Enkou Kozaru!
Hello everyone and welcome to Path of the Great Sage!
I was inspired to write this nice piece of literature by NCHammer_23, who made a video about Monkey Sage Mode and put the image of little Kozaru into my head.
Warning! I will most probably get some things wrong. There will probably be typos, miswrites, and errors in the timeline and canon of Naruto. Do I care? Not really. Do you care? Probably. Do I care that you care? Absolutely not. If these things are a deal breaker, please leave. I love constructive criticism, feedback, and even the jokes a reader can make about a chapter, but if you're going to be negative, debate with me, or try and say that something in my story "wouldn't happen in the original story", respectfully, fuck off!
Those of you who are still here, I'll try to keep the updates flowing about once a month! If you enjoyed, please favorite and drop a review! Thanks!