Boom!
In the heart of the Kuroro Archipelago, a massive explosion ripped through the dense jungle. Flames shot skyward, and a shockwave rolled across the island, shaking the trees and sending birds scattering into the air.
"Haha! Give it up, White-Furred Giant Ape! You're no match for me!" A clear, confident voice rang out from the forest depths, echoing across the island.
"ROAR!"
A furious bellow followed, shaking the ground with its intensity.
Humans? Here?
Deep within the jungle, at the base of an artificial clearing near a waterfall, a massive tusked ape stood defiant. Its eyes burned with rage, its hulking frame riddled with fist-sized wounds. Its white fur was matted with blood, and its heavy breathing betrayed its exhaustion.
Opposite the beast stood a seventeen-year-old boy, his only clothing a crude loincloth fashioned from animal hide.
The boy was not classically handsome but had a rugged, striking appearance. His sharp brows and piercing tiger-like eyes held an unyielding depth, drawing one in with their intensity. His lean, sinewy frame hinted at a strength honed through countless battles. His shaggy hair swayed gently in the breeze as he wielded two strange pistols, each crackling faintly with energy.
Like the ape, the boy's body bore numerous wounds, but his vitality was undeniable. His breathing was deep and resonant, like a roaring river, and his blood seemed to surge with energy. A faint mist clung to him, the byproduct of intense cellular respiration condensing in the humid air.
His name was Kento Takahashi, though more formally, Shirayama Kaito. "Kento Takahashi" was the name from his past life, while his new name "Shirayama" symbolized his strength, and "Kaito" represented someone who was both an adventurer and a seeker of exploits. This was the only way he could honor his former self.
He wasn't of this world.
Born in a faraway land, he had once been a wandering soul, destined for the afterlife. By a twist of fate, he found himself reborn here. On the verge of death from dehydration, he had stumbled upon and consumed a mysterious Energy Fruit, one of the fabled Devil Fruits. The fruit granted him extraordinary powers at the cost of his ability to swim.
Though reborn, Shirayama cherished this second chance at life deeply.
During his passage from death to rebirth, he uncovered a profound truth: the dreams he once dismissed were, in fact, memories. In his prior life, he had traversed the world of Naruto and risen to its pinnacle.
Unfortunately, the powers he had mastered in that world were incompatible here. Even his former name, Himura Yoru, was lost to him.
To survive, he had to start from scratch. However, with the experience of his past life guiding him, his journey was far more efficient than that of any ordinary person.
For five grueling years, Shirayama endured the harsh wilderness of the Kuroro Archipelago. He battled the island's ferocious beasts, learning from each encounter, growing stronger with every victory.
One by one, he defeated nearly every predator on the archipelago. Now, only one foe remained: the White-Furred Giant Ape, the King of the Forest—the most powerful creature in the entire archipelago.
Defeating it was his final challenge.
Once the King of the Forest was vanquished, Shirayama would leave.
Living here for five years hadn't driven him mad with boredom or isolation because he had a clear purpose. His goal kept him focused, preventing him from succumbing to despair.
Now, however, he had reached his limit. The beasts of the Kuroro Archipelago could no longer push him to grow stronger.
Moreover, after five years of isolation, Shirayama still had no idea where he was or even what time it was in this world.