Shiraishi blinked in the ethereal white space, trying to make sense of the situation he had found himself in. This place was unlike anything he had ever seen, a surreal and pure white void that defied the laws of reality.
His own body seemed insubstantial, like a wisp of smoke. Confusion swirled within him until a memory emerged, seemingly from nowhere, and seamlessly integrated itself into his consciousness.
As he absorbed this newfound knowledge, Shiraishi's eyes widened, and he muttered, "I crossed over into Naruto?"
The implications of his realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He had entered the world of the Hokage, and as long as he followed the original storyline, he had the potential to become the most formidable ninja in the entire shinobi world. It was a dream come true, one that filled him with an overwhelming sense of joy.
But soon, his elation gave way to concern, as he noticed that something about his current state didn't align with what he knew about Naruto's world.
Just then, a mechanical voice chimed in his mind, interrupting his thoughts. "Unlimited system is turned on. Newbie gift package has been distributed; please check."
Shiraishi furrowed his brow and wasted no time asking the question that burned within him, "Can the system explain my current situation?"
"The host currently exists in Naruto Uzumaki's consciousness," the voice replied, "and your true identity is the second personality of Naruto, representing his extreme and unpredictable side."
Shiraishi was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected to find himself occupying a role as Naruto's alter ego, especially one characterized by Naruto's extreme emotions.
While Naruto had been known for his cheerful disposition, there had been instances when he exhibited intense anger or recklessness. Shiraishi couldn't help but feel uneasy about his newfound identity.
"Please, elaborate," he requested.
The voice continued, "Naruto's first personality represents optimism and tolerance, controlling his body. As the second personality, you can generally only manifest when Naruto's negative emotions reach an extreme point. However, you have a chance to fully control his body."
Shiraishi was quick to inquire, "How can I achieve that?"
The voice explained, "First, by repeatedly taking control of Naruto's body instead of the first personality, you can gradually erode and eventually dominate the first personality. Second, when Naruto's first personality is overwhelmed by extreme negative emotions, a personality switch can occur, but the first personality's consent is required."
This information gave Shiraishi a newfound sense of purpose. He didn't want to remain a secondary personality for the rest of his existence. Instead, he was determined to completely take control of Naruto's body.
"System," Shiraishi said with a grin, "I want to see the starter pack."
"Congratulations on obtaining the nine-tailed chakra one-tail mode, navy six-style shaving, and medically ninja-level chakra control."
Shiraishi carefully considered the abilities bestowed upon him. The one-tail chakra mode allowed him to harness the power of the nine-tails without losing control. The navy six-style shaving provided him with incredible speed, a skill rare in the ninja world. His chakra control was at a medical ninja level, offering precise control over his energy, unaffected by the nine-tails' influence.
Satisfied with his newfound abilities, Shiraishi sought clarification, "Can I use these skills as the first personality?"
The voice reassured him, "Your skills and abilities are exclusive to you, and the first personality cannot access them. Conversely, you can utilize any ninjutsu skills and knowledge that the first personality has acquired."
With this knowledge, Shiraishi felt a renewed sense of confidence. He only needed to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity to take control of Naruto's body.
Referring to Naruto's memories, Shiraishi realized that he was currently at the ninja school stage, with the graduation assessment approaching. Stealing the Book of Seals seemed like a perfect opportunity.
Naruto's violent escape while stealing the book had been a significant turning point in his life, as it had solidified his bond with Iruka and set him on a path to seek the approval of others. Yet, it had also exposed the profound loneliness and emptiness in his heart.
Shiraishi could empathize with Naruto's pain and suffering. He keenly felt the isolation and rejection that Naruto had endured as he grew up. He despised the village and its residents for treating Naruto with such cruelty.
He was determined to protect Naruto from the people who had hurt him, recognizing that the kindness shown by a few individuals had quickly vanished from Naruto's life.
In his memory, Shiraishi knew that there were people in Konoha who could have treated Naruto with compassion, but they had vanished, leaving only the Hokage to care for him. Everyone else had spurned him, causing immense emotional turmoil for Naruto.
Shiraishi's eyes filled with determination as he muttered, "Such a village, such companions, they don't deserve to be protected."
In that moment, he made a solemn vow to become the protector Naruto truly needed, to heal the emotional wounds that had scarred his heart, and to stand up against the adversity that had shaped Naruto's life.