Chapter 1

I dont own Naruto


He ran. He didn't know for how long or where, but he ran. He couldn't stop now or else he would surely die. He turned left, into an alley and dared a glance at his chasers. There were many, very many. Some were equipped with lanterns or torches, others carried rudimentary weapons. Most of them were obviously civilians, but here and there, he could see a hitai ate with the symbol of Konoha.

Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, each breath burning in his throat. His legs felt like they were on fire, but he couldn't stop. Not yet. Not until he was far enough away. The shouts echoed behind him, growing louder with each second. He stumbled, nearly falling, but pushed himself forward, catching the edge of a crate for balance.

They were getting closer.

He turned sharply again, squeezing between two buildings that barely left enough space for him to fit. The walls scraped against his skin, but he forced his way through, emerging onto another street. His eyes scanned for a hiding spot, anywhere he could catch his breath, but there was nothing. The streets were too open, too exposed. He was running out of time.

"There! I see him!" a voice shouted from behind.

Naruto's stomach lurched. He sprinted again, forcing his legs to move faster. His vision blurred with exhaustion. He didn't know how much longer he could keep going, but he had to try. The mob wasn't going to let him live if they caught him.

Another corner, and suddenly he came to a halt. A wall.

Shit, what now? he thought, his eyes darting wildly.

A trashcan! Without hesitation, Naruto scrambled up, his hands slipping on the cold metal, but he pulled himself onto the wall. He had just climbed up as the first person came barreling around the corner.

"Up there!" they shouted.

Naruto's heart leaped into his throat. He quickly looked around—there was only one way out. Further up. Without wasting a second, he hoisted himself higher, scrambling to the roof just as the first pursuer began climbing the wall.

By the time they reached halfway, Naruto was already running across the rooftop. From up here, it was easier—jumping from one building to the next. His breath came in ragged gasps, but the panic in his chest started to subside. He was far enough for now.

Too bad my normal hiding spot's gone... he thought bitterly. The small rundown shed—his sanctuary for as long as he could remember—had been torn down. No one ever looked there, and now, it was nothing but rubble.

His apartment wasn't safe enough, which was why he had continued to use the shed as his hiding spot every year on this day.

He sat down on a roof, chest still heaving, and looked down at the streets below. Small squads of villagers and shinobi searched for him, but for the moment, he was safe. Or so he thought.

A noise behind him.

Naruto spun around, his body tensing, and froze. Two shinobi in black coats stood there, their faces hidden behind blank white masks. Fear shot through him like ice. He opened his mouth to say something, maybe plead for mercy, maybe fight back—but before he could react, one of them stepped forward and kicked him.

The world spun as he tumbled off the roof.

He hit the ground hard. The world spun, a blur of colors and sounds mixing into a chaotic whirlpool. Get up! You have to get up!

Footsteps echoed around him, and then voices. They were coming closer. He fought against the fog clouding his mind, pushing himself onto one knee.

But it was too late. Just as he was almost back on his feet, he felt a fist connect with his ribs. Pain exploded through him, and he tumbled back to the ground, gasping for air.

"Get him!" one of the shinobi shouted, their voice laced with triumph.

Naruto rolled onto his side, cradling his ribs, desperately trying to catch his breath.

This can't be it!

He pushed himself up again, his palms scraping against the rough pavement. But as he did, a sharp kick landed squarely on his side, sending him sprawling back to the ground.

"Stop squirming, demon," the man sneered, their tone devoid of any compassion. "You think you can escape your fate?"

A chorus of jeers erupted from the mob behind them, a tide of angry faces mixed with hatred and fear. Civilians and shinobi alike surged forward, fists raised and weapons drawn, drowning him in a wave of hostility.

I can't... I can't take this!

The strikes came fast and furious, one after another, fists connecting with his body, the pain blurring into a dull throb. He tried to crawl away, but the mob pushed him back down, their voices rising in a cacophony of rage.

"Get him! He deserves this!"

Each blow felt like a hammer striking an anvil, resonating through his bones. He could barely keep his eyes open, the world around him fading into shadows. The chants of the mob mixed with his heartbeat, each pulse a reminder of his desperation.

Why is this happening? I just want to live!

As the crowd pressed in, darkness crept at the edges of his vision. His strength waned, the ground beneath him feeling colder with each passing moment. He fought to stay conscious, but it was like trying to hold back a flood with his bare hands.

Suddenly the blows stopped and he felt himself being picked up.

Then the world faded to black.


When he woke up, he found himself in a hospital room. He didn't remember how he had arrived there, but it had to have been a while since most of the pain had stopped by now. On the other hand, he had always recovered relatively quickly, so who knew? He sat up slowly, groaning slightly as he moved.

After a moment, he spotted his bright orange jumpsuit hanging over the bed's footend. With a grunt, he swung his legs over the side and stood up, feeling a little dizzy but determined. He slipped on his jumpsuit, adjusting it as he glanced around the sterile room, the smell of antiseptic hanging heavily in the air.

I never liked hospitals. The food is horrible and the nurses all hate me. Still I always end up back here.

He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the present. He strode over to the window and swung it open, letting the fresh air rush in. Two quick jumps, and he was already on the roof of the next building, the cool breeze brushing against his skin. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the village.

As he stood there, taking in the familiar sights of Konoha, his thoughts turned dark. What happened back there?

Shaking his head, he pushed the memory away. He didn't want to dwell on it. He had more important things to do.

With a determined leap, he launched himself into the air, bounding from rooftop to rooftop until he landed softly outside his apartment. The door creaked open under his hand, and he stepped inside, instantly greeted by chaos.

His home was a total mess—clothes strewn everywhere, dishes broken, and general chaos filled the room. He moved further inside, noticing that his window hadn't survived either. Great, just what I needed, he thought, sighing. Luckily, he remembered he still had a few glass panes hidden behind his wardrobe.

With a determined mindset, he began cleaning up and repairing what he could. He swept away the debris and managed to patch the window just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting shadows across the room. It was late when he finally finished, and exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

In need of sustenance, he quickly made himself some instant ramen, the familiar smell bringing a small comfort to his chaotic day. After wolfing it down, he made his way to bed, flopping onto the mattress and staring at the ceiling, replaying the day's events in his mind.

As he lay there in the silence, something strange happened. Suddenly, a blue, semi-transparent screen popped up before him, shimmering in the dim light.

[Virtual Shinobi]
[Enter]

He blinked, staring at the screen in confusion. What the fuck? Where did that come from? A genjutsu?

Naruto shook his head, trying to clear his mind. This has to be a dream or some kind of trick. He reached out, hesitating as his hand hovered over the glowing text.

Is this even real?

His heart raced as a wave of curiosity washed over him. The screen didn't disappear, and he felt an inexplicable pull toward it, as if it were calling his name.

"Okay, just touch it," he muttered to himself, "What's the worst that could happen?"

With a swift motion, he stretched his hand out, just for it to not make contact. Hmm, weird.

"Enter!" he voiced out loud, frustration creeping into his tone.

For one second, nothing happened. The screen remained, glowing steadily before him, almost teasingly.

Then, with a sudden rush of energy, the screen flickered and expanded, engulfing the room in a radiant light. Naruto squinted against the brightness, feeling a strange warmth enveloping him.

"Wha—?" he began, but before he could finish, the light intensified, pulling him forward with a force he couldn't resist.

In an instant, he felt his body disintegrate into particles of light, a tingling sensation coursing through him. This can't be real! This has to be some kind of joke!

But the more he fought against it, the more it felt like he was being drawn into a current, swirling and twisting until he was completely submerged in the light.

Then, just as abruptly as it had begun, the world around him shifted. The light faded, and he found himself standing in a vast, digital landscape, stretching endlessly in all directions.

"Whoa..." Naruto gasped, eyes wide with amazement. The sky was a vibrant blue, pixelated clouds drifting by. He could see mountains in the distance, their surfaces shimmering as if made of glass.

Before him stood a character menu, hovering in the air, displaying various classes and abilities.

[Choose Your Class]

Ninja

Samurai

Mage

Rogue

[Locked]

[Locked]

"What the—?" he murmured, eyes darting between the options. Is this really happening?

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind. Welcome to Virtual Shinobi, Naruto Uzumaki. Your journey begins now.

"Journey?" he said aloud, bewildered. "What kind of journey?"

As he contemplated the options, excitement bubbled within him. This is my chance! A new adventure!

With a determined grin, he looked at the classes again. "Ninja seems fitting..."

He reached out, selecting the class with a tap. The screen flashed once more, transforming into a new menu that read:

[Choose Your Ability...]

Wind Affinity

Fire Affinity

Lightning Affinity

Earth Affinity

Water Affinity

Dual affinities [Locked]

Kekkei genkai [Locked]

Naruto's eyes widened, his heart racing at the vast array of options before him.

Wind Affinity... he mused, thinking about how he loved to feel the breeze rush past him as he practiced his shadow clones in the empty fields. And Fire... that could be cool! But Lightning? He remembered watching the older ninjas use it in awe.

What do I want to focus on?

He took a moment to think. The world around him felt alive, and he could almost hear the whisper of the wind encouraging him.

With determination gleaming in his eyes, he reached out and tapped Wind Affinity. The screen flashed brightly, and he felt a rush of energy fill him, as if the very essence of the wind had embraced him.

Ability Selected: Wind Affinity.

You now possess the ability to manipulate wind-based techniques.

"Awesome!" Naruto exclaimed, excitement bubbling up inside him. This could really help me when I start my training! If I can somehow take it out of the game, that would be great.

Suddenly, the surroundings faded, and he found himself standing in front of a door with the words Mission Acceptance Hall written above it. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, greeted by a spacious room filled with sunlight streaming through large windows. A long table dominated the center, and at the table sat the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with several Chunin and his teacher, Iruka.

"Jiji? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, confusion mixing with excitement.

"Ah, Naruto! Glad to see you ready for your first mission!" the old man replied, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Huh? Yes, I guess so," Naruto said, still trying to grasp the surreal situation.

Before he could ask more, a holographic interface materialized in front of him, displaying a list of missions. His eyes scanned the options, and his excitement dimmed slightly as he noticed the stark limitations. Everything above D-Rank was locked.

He read through the list, noting the rewards: Ryo, equipment, and jutsu scrolls. What the hell are those missions? Where are the cool missions like escorting a prince or things like that.

"Would you like to accept a mission?" a Chunin asked mechanically, their expression blank.

"Uh... sure!" Naruto replied, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

As he selected a D-Rank Mission, a new screen popped up detailing the task:

Mission: Retrieve Lost Cat
Location:
Hidden Leaf Village
Reward: 500 Ryo, basic equipment
Difficulty: D-Rank

"That's it? A cat?" Naruto groaned, but deep down, he knew he had to start somewhere. Gotta show everyone what I'm made of!

"Good luck on your mission, Naruto!" Iruka said, but his words felt scripted, repeating like a broken record.

"Thanks, I guess," Naruto replied, his excitement returning as he realized he was still in a game-like world. This is so weird…

The people at the table continued to nod and repeat their lines, making it clear they were part of the game's structure. "Would you like to take on another mission?" one of the Chunin asked again.

"No, I'm good! Just the cat!" he declared, eager to set off.

As the mission details faded, he felt a surge of determination. "Time to show the village what I can do!" With newfound energy, he bolted out of the mission hall, ready to embark on his first adventure.