"The latest chapter of 'Naruto' has been released, touching true emotions and hot-blooded tales! 'Weekly Shonen JUMP' has sold out in many bookstores and convenience stores across Japan. The president of Shueisha declares this will be a work that revitalizes the industry..."
"Latest news on the 'Naruto' anime project! The production team announced it will premiere in October, with an advance OP version already on limited sale at C91. The trailer screened at the event, wowing Japanese anime fans with its top-notch quality... Here are the names of the director and voice actors..."
"Who's Mizuki? Why isn't he more impressive? As the first villain, he is too weak, isn't he?"
"Above, which episode do you think is this? The protagonist has just become a Ninja. Do you expect the first villain to be 'incredibly terrifying' right off the bat?"
"Trash Shonen manga, I want to watch Yuri!"
"Passionate lolis [censored], student uniforms, click here www.xs..."
…
Logan sat at his computer browsing information about 'Naruto'. Apart from the Japanese official website accessed via VPN, domestic ACG forums and video sites were also riding the hype. The attention was very high, with most ACG-related public accounts and popular content creators giving positive reviews. At this rate, the anime would undoubtedly dominate the new releases.
As if looking at the various posts and netizens' comments from another angle, when Logan looked at these, he lost the carefree mindset of a bystander in the past, and his mood was quite complicated.
He had literally jumped out of the manga, and it was like a bunch of people gathered around Facebook to discuss the cat grooming profession that others envied for its tranquility and healing. However, the cat grooming profession did not exist at all. It was just a way for a university professor to demonstrate the media's unreliability to students.
Thinking about it carefully, though the analogy seemed unrelated at first glance, the meaning was actually similar... As Logan has dual identity of a bystander and an insider.
This feeling was particularly intense when people on a certain prominent forum discussed the last frame of the latest chapter, where his masked figure appeared. The wild speculations and jokes made Logan break out in a cold sweat.
Time passed slowly. When Amanda came into the room and saw the light on the computer screen, she immediately scolded him. Logan had no choice but to comply and prepare for bed.
"Why did you change your clothes today? What happened to the previous set?"
"They didn't look good." Logan's calm demeanor helped him give an evasive answer to keep his secret.
Amanda looked at her son in great surprise. Her son was so big, and although he was not short, he was just a homebody. When had he ever cared about this?
After dealing with his mother, Logan closed the door again. He fiddled with the mouse out of habit, and after a while, he found himself unsure what to open.
The anime and novels he once enjoyed no longer interested him, and his previous search for information about Naruto was purely his reflexive action after returning from crossing over. He wanted to do something and see if there was any solution.
But what happens next?
As the night grew quieter in the neighborhood, Logan gradually emerged from his mild anxiety, realizing he seemed trapped in a loop.
There wasn't much he could do. What is the use of finding a lot of information on the Internet? Most of it is useless content that Logan has long known. Strengthening himself before the journey also seemed futile since there was no immediate crisis or clear direction.
He suddenly found that being drawn into a manga allows him to travel back and forth between the two worlds... He instinctively wanted to protect himself and seek a sense of security, but for now, apart from a 'setting' that inexplicably affects him, this has no other direct impact on his daily life.
It's not that diligent training isn't necessary, as a solid foundation can better withstand future storms. It's just that Logan had overreacted a bit.
The sound of the TV from his parents' room wasn't far off. Logan sighed, then turned off his computer. Overreacting wasn't shameful, and realizing it in time was key.
Society is quiet and smoothly operating. Logan felt like a grain of sand falling through the cracks of two worlds, unnoticed by anyone, jumping out of the parallel lines.
'Well, let's just take it slow.' Logan thought. He was playing an endless single-player puzzle game. The only clue he could think of was far away in Japan. Until more signs were revealed, it would be inappropriate for him to rush. It would be troublesome if he inadvertently attracted the attention of the authorities.
'But money is still an important issue.'
After turning off the light, Logan lay on the bed. There Outside his door, he heard soft footsteps pacing. Seeing his lights out, the footsteps retreated.
Money still needed to be earned. Staying calm wasn't about doing nothing. The cost of an overseas trip wasn't cheap, and there would be hassles with visas and passports, plus the issue of convincing his parents...
He has never been familiar with social affairs since he was a child, and Logan knew more about Ninja techniques than booking plane tickets for a trip. Logan counted on his fingers and had a headache thinking about it. He felt that it's easier to complete an S-Rank mission than doing this kind of thing.
When he heard his parents' steady breathing from their room, Logan was still staring at the ceiling while lying on the bed. The excitement of returning from crossing over after a long time and the trivial affairs made it difficult for him to fall asleep. He looked at the light seeping through the curtains, not knowing if it was from the sky or the city, then got out of bed.
Glancing at the schoolbag in the corner, Logan suddenly remembered he had weekend homework, but soon, he put it behind him more decisively than ever.
'I'll do my homework in an hour. I'll do it after one last game. I'll definitely pull an all-nighter to finish it. Whatever, I'll just copy it tomorrow...' Logan just skipped all the intermediate steps, there's nothing wrong with it.
Putting on his shoes, Logan opened the window. Warm wind blew through the greenery of the community.
After six years, he had mindlessly busied himself at the computer upon returning. He hadn't yet taken a look outside his home. He had passed the city in an instant, but hadn't been explored since his departure. Logan had always been a shut-in, rarely attending class gatherings, meals, or karaoke, and often avoiding mall trips with his parents. But now, the bright lights symbolizing the prosperity of Fresno City had an alluring charm.
His body brimming with power, as he hadn't consumed much Chakra before returning. From a two-story height, he easily flipped down from the windowsill, landing smoothly without needing to cushion his fall. The inertia of Chakra on Earth made one doubt its existence, but for now, it is enough for him to use for a long time.
Avoiding the camera, the Ninja's night walk began, running from the thick tree trunk into the towering skyscrapers.