Darkness. That's all there was. An endless void stretching in every direction. Then, faintly, a voice—deep, guttural, and filled with an edge of malice.
"You... You're not him."
The words rumbled like distant thunder. Confusion gripped me as I tried to process what was happening. The voice seemed to come from inside my head, shaking the foundation of my thoughts. Before I could respond, light exploded around me, and I jolted awake.
The first thing I noticed was the ceiling. Wooden beams stretched overhead, unfamiliar and far too detailed like I had been dropped into a world far sharper than my own. The air smelled faintly of old wood and ink. My heart raced as I sat up, my hands trembling.
I wasn't in my room. This wasn't my world.
Then it hit me—this was Naruto's world. My body felt smaller, my hands rougher, like they'd been calloused from years of running and scraping. I glanced at a cracked mirror across the room. The bright blond hair, the whisker-like scars on my cheeks... It was undeniable. I was in Naruto Uzumaki's body.
A sudden growl echoed again, making me clutch at my temples.
"Weak. Pathetic. Don't think you can control me, human," the voice sneered.
Kurama. The Nine-Tails.
It was overwhelming. My breathing hitched as I tried to focus, to ground myself. I didn't know how I got here or why, but I knew one thing—I had to play this smart. I couldn't let anyone suspect anything was off, especially not people like Hiruzen or even Kurama.
The sun peeked through the window, casting its golden light on the small apartment. I didn't have much time to dwell on my situation before there was a loud knock at the door. A muffled voice called out.
"Oi, Naruto! You're gonna be late for the academy again!"
I froze. My first day. The academy. Naruto's eight years old—this must be the start of it all. My heart pounded as I swung open the door to see a familiar face: Shikamaru Nara, hands tucked into his pockets, Choji Akimichi standing beside him, munching on a bag of chips.
"You are coming, or what?" Shikamaru asked, a small smirk tugging at his lips. He didn't look as sleepy as I remembered from the anime; instead, there was an air of curiosity about him.
I nodded quickly, grabbing Naruto's orange jacket. "Yeah, let's go."
The streets of Konoha were alive with morning activity. Vendors called out their wares, and shinobi moved briskly to missions. I followed Shikamaru and Choji, trying to act natural, though the weight of the villagers' stares pressed heavily on me. I knew their resentment of Naruto, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
The academy buzzed with the chatter of students. As I stepped inside, I spotted familiar faces: Sasuke Uchiha sitting coolly near the window, Kiba Inuzuka arguing with someone, and—
"Ino," I whispered, spotting her blonde hair and sharp features. She was sitting near Sakura, but her posture was slightly reserved, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her notebook. She looked bold, as always, but there was a hint of shyness in her demeanor.
Shikamaru nudged me. "You're staring. Don't make it weird."
I chuckled awkwardly and followed him to a seat. The teacher entered moments later, silencing the room with a clap.
"All right, settle down, everyone. Today, we'll start with some basic shuriken practice."
As we lined up outside for the drills, I caught a glimpse of Sasuke hitting every target dead center. My turn came, and I focused, trying to channel Naruto's raw determination. The shuriken flew, landing slightly off-center, but it was better than I expected.
Behind me, Ino stepped up. Her throws were confident, though not perfect. She glanced my way and gave a small smile. I decided this was my chance to start building connections.
I approached Ino as she finished her turn at the shuriken practice. She was walking back toward the group, her confidence shining despite a slight flush on her cheeks.
"Hey, Ino," I said casually, trying to keep my voice steady. "Nice throw out there. You've got a good aim."
She glanced at me, surprised at first, but then her lips curled into a small smile. "Thanks, Naruto. Not bad yourself. Though, you might want to aim a little more to the left next time."
I laughed, scratching the back of my head. "Yeah, still getting the hang of it. Maybe you can give me some tips sometime?"
Her smile widened, and for a moment, she seemed less reserved. "Sure. But don't expect me to go easy on you."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," I replied with a grin. Shikamaru, observing from the side, shook his head slightly but smirked. "Troublesome, huh?"
By the end of the day, I felt both exhausted and exhilarated. This was my life now, and every decision I made would shape not just Naruto's future but the entire ninja world. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I stood on the balcony of Naruto's apartment, staring at the Hokage Monument.
"I don't know why I'm here," I muttered under my breath, "but I'll make the most of it. Dattebayo."