The screen glowed in the darkness of my room, its blue light casting sharp shadows across the walls. A simple prompt hovered before me, stark and unyielding: [Start Game] with two options—[Yes] or [No]. My finger lingered over the mouse, a prickle of unease crawling up my spine. What kind of game was this? No title, no instructions, just a choice that felt heavier than it should. Curiosity won out over caution. I clicked [Yes], half-expecting a crash or a scam. Instead, the screen flickered, and a new menu appeared.
BLOODLINES]
[Senju]
[Nara]
[Uchiha]
[Yamanaka]
[Uzumaki]
[Hyuga]
My heart raced. This wasn't just any game—it was Naruto. The bloodlines were unmistakable, each tied to the iconic clans of the shinobi world. I didn't hesitate. The Senju were legendary for their monstrous chakra reserves, and if I was diving into this world, I wanted every advantage. I selected [Senju], the choice locking in with a soft chime.
Another menu slid into view: [Time Period]. The options were [Main Time], [Senju Uchiha War Period], and [Kakashi Period]. I leaned back, thinking hard. The main timeline—Naruto's era—was the one I knew best, every major event etched into my memory from countless hours of watching and reading. Changing the past or jumping into Kakashi's time felt like gambling with the unknown. I clicked [Main Time], sticking to the script I could predict.
Next came [Village]: [Cloud], [Stone], [Leaf], [Rain], [Mist], and an odd option—[Orphan]. The note beside it read, "Can pick this with another village." I snorted. The Leaf Village was the obvious choice. Not because I loved its goody-two-shoes vibe, but because a Senju in the Leaf would be treated like royalty. Respect was a currency I could use. I selected [Leaf] and moved on.
The [Appearance] screen was more fun. I grinned, tweaking sliders to craft a look inspired by Killua Zoldyck—sharp white hair, pale skin, and a lean, wiry frame that screamed potential. If I was going to be a shinobi, I'd look the part.
Finally, [Parenthood]. The options were limited by my Senju choice: only Senju or Uzumaki relatives were available. The name Tobirama Senju caught my eye—the Second Hokage, a genius of jutsu and strategy. Distant relative or not, that kind of lineage would open doors. I locked it in, my heart pounding with anticipation.
The final prompt appeared: [Start]. I clicked it, and the world dissolved into white.
When my vision cleared, I was somewhere else. Soft light filtered through paper screens, and the air smelled of warm milk and cedar. A woman's face hovered above me, her dark eyes gentle as she spooned something mushy into my mouth. I was a baby, I realized, my tiny limbs flailing uselessly. Panic spiked, but a notification blinked into view.
[Observe: Lv 1]
Kuyama Api
Kuyama is the orphanage head. For more information, level [Observe].
An orphanage? So that's what the [Orphan] option meant. Kuyama's face softened as she cooed, oblivious to the system screen only I could see. With nothing else to do, trapped in this infant body, I focused on her and spammed [Observe]. The skill was basic, but maybe grinding it early would pay off.
[Two Years Later]
The Leaf Village sprawled around me, alive with the chatter of merchants and the clatter of training kunai. At four years old, I stood in a quiet training ground near the orphanage, my white hair catching the sunlight as I practiced chakra control. The system had shaped me into something extraordinary for my age, and I wasn't wasting it.
Status]
[Name] Archon
[Health] 50
[Chakra] 500
[Chakra Control] 15%
[Stamina] 125
[Skills]
[Leaf Exercise: Max]
[Chakra Strings: Lv 2]
[Wall Walking: Lv 1]
[Observe: Lv 3]
I'd named myself Archon, a nod to my desire to rule my own fate in this world. [Leaf Exercise] was maxed out, my stamina a beastly 125 thanks to relentless training. [Chakra Strings] let me manipulate faint threads of energy, and [Wall Walking] was a work in progress, my attempts leaving scuff marks on every tree in sight. My chakra pool—500 points—was absurd for a kid, a gift of my Senju blood. But control was my bottleneck, hovering at a measly 15%.
I focused on the tree in front of me, channeling chakra to my feet. The bark felt solid under my sandals, but as I took a step, the connection slipped, and I tumbled to the grass. A notification pinged: [Chakra Control: 15% → 16%]. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless.
Kuyama's voice echoed in my mind, urging me to train smarter, not just harder. The Leaf Village was safe for now, but the main timeline meant trouble was coming—Akatsuki, Orochimaru, all of it. I'd chosen this path for control, for knowledge. Now, standing in the shadow of Hokage Rock, I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't here to be a bystander. I was here to become a legend.