One, two, three... One more.
My body ached as I swung the wooden weapon up. Sweat poured like a waterfall—wetting my clothes, matting down my hair. My breath came in pants, my heart raced, my muscles trembled. I'd never felt more alive and dead at the moment.
I... still want to continue.
Despite how much my body resisted, despite how much I wanted to take a break, I knew it was important to keep pushing. I wanted to keep living, so this exercise was crucial.
One more...!
My muscles burned as I began to swing the wooden sword up and down once more. I'd long since lost count. I couldn't even remember how many times we'd done this. The only thing I was aware of was my body aching with every move.
I felt like I was being broken down. Every fiber of my being was screaming for rest.
Still, I kept swinging.
Is this the end of my journey? Heh, how laughable. A national martial art champion is going to die from tuberculosis because I was late at checking it. Still...
I continued swinging my sword. The character that inspired me from Naruto taught me that I shouldn't give up no matter what happened. Even when the world was unfair, making you unable to do even the basics that everyone else could, you should keep going and not give up.
"Haa... Haa..."
Eventually, I collapsed on the ground. I couldn't even tell if I'd finished the number I'd started with. It had been difficult just to keep my grip on the sword. I could hardly keep my eyes open. I just felt so, so tired.
Cough!
Blood came up, splattering against the ground. I couldn't bring myself to care, though. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and drift away. This felt like the perfect place for a nap.
But, despite that, I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Not here, at least. Not now.
"Haa... Haa... Haaa..."
The pain. The ache. It all hurts.
But, for some reason, my mind was clear. It was like my head had been scrubbed clean. The sword I held in my hand swung for the last time. It cut the wind before everything came to a stop, the sound, the pain, and even my breathing.
My vision turned black.
"Ugh..."
When I awoke, the pain in my body was gone, as was the blood that had coated the ground. I felt like I'd been reborn. The warm light I felt on the surface of my skin made me feel like I was in heaven. Nothing in my surroundings looked the same as before, though.
There was a white, marble ceiling above. Around me, countless puddle-like floating in various sizes gathered in line. It was almost like someone had pulled the stars out of the sky and put them around me. They were waiting patiently in front of a table with a mirror-like object.
One by one, these puddles entered the mirror and disappeared.
"This is...?"
Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up from within. Like an invisible rope, it drew me forward. I stood up, moving forward as though being called by something.
"Ah."
Soon, my body changed into a similar puddle-like being and I joined the line against my will. When the transformation began, I realized what these puddles were. They were souls.
My soul, too, was now waiting to be judged. The sign above the table told me the person sitting behind typing on what seemed like a large computer was a guide who would lead us to our afterlife.
I could only guess that the mirror was the portal to our next lives. I waited for my turn, wondering where I would be sent, but it eventually arrived in front of the table.
"A large soul, fitting for a reincarnation. Searching for the best place for you."
The guide, an elderly man, said something in a strange language, which I could somehow understand. Strange. Was his big head that towered over his small body because he held too much knowledge?
"You're a little bit problematic. You die in the middle of training even when you know you shouldn't push your body. A maniac was what people call your kind. That being said, you worked hard in your previous life, so you will be rewarded."
His face, which I couldn't see, had a slight hint of a smile. The way he spoke sounded a little sarcastic, but his tone was a bit happy.
"Oh, there it is. There's a place that needs your ability. Step into the mirror after you see a reflection, which will be you in your new life in the new world. You will receive the reward of your hard work on the other side. Good luck."
Once again, I felt a strange power pulling my body. This time toward the mirror direction. My soul got transformed. A reflection appeared on the mirror's surface. A black-haired with a bowl cut stood there.
I couldn't tell the face, but I was sure that I saw my reflection wearing a tight green spandex with a Konoha forehead protector as a belt just before I stepped into a mirror.
"NOOOO! I don't want to wear that spandex!" My soul trembled and screamed loudly upon realizing who I would become.
People said that you shouldn't meet or try to become someone like your hero. I very much agreed with them right now. Never did I imagine I would become someone... A character that inspired me to keep going. Not that I liked it, but this was a second chance given to me, so I would do it.
Around me, stars twinkled brightly as I was pushed toward the mirror, which would lead me to the world I was destined to go to. Universe seemed to gather and form a path under my feet. My body became whole again, but it was smaller and weaker than the one I had just a few moments ago.
As I walked, light gathered around me, followed by a voice.
[Recording previous life achievements. An unbelievable record related to weapon mastery has been recorded. The bonus 'Weapon Mastery' has been granted. You will be able to unlock a new 'Weapon' with each accomplished achievement.]
"What?"
A strange message I didn't understand came out of nowhere. It wasn't like the one before, either. It was a voice speaking directly into my head. Was this the bonus that big-headed guy talked about?
Weapon mastery... A good bonus but if what I thought about my new world was correct, then wouldn't this be a terrible mistake?
No, no, no!
I knew the story of Naruto, I know about the character. If I was reborn in the Naruto world, I would need the power to survive the great Shinobi war in the future. Just wielding weapons wouldn't be enough, I needed more, especially since I would be reborn as someone who couldn't even use Ninjutsu.
I need the power to protect myself!
Still, I was also a bit curious about this bonus, so I stopped on my track and asked.
"What kind of weapon will I be able to get?"
To be honest, I didn't expect an answer to be given. But maybe, this being who granted me new life was pretty kind, the answer arrived immediately.
[Weapon granted will be referenced from the novel, anime, manga, or movies you have consumed in the previous life, complete with the ability, skill, and bonus the character has. You will have the mastery of the weapon immediately, but the power will be scaled slightly to match your world.]
A weapon from the media I had consumed in my past life.
Well, this was way better than I had thought. If that was the case, then wouldn't I be able to get any weapons? Even those fictional, legendary weapons. For example, the Sword of Everlasting Victory, Excalibur, or even the Sword of Rupture, Ea.
In that case, I wouldn't need to worry about Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, I could just kill everyone with a single strike.
The problem was, I didn't know the chance to get such a weapon. I might only get a normal sword or spear that appeared in a random anime I watched or something that was completely useless such as a wooden sword.
[Please don't worry. All 'Weapons' you receive will most definitely have an ability that you can use. However, using the ability will consume your Chakra, so make sure not to waste it.]
That's right, chakra. I was sure that the main power in the Naruto world was Chakra, and the fact that the voice said the weapon's ability consumed chakra confirmed my theory. As much as my new body would be unable to use Ninjutsu, I would still have chakra reserves and the ability to circulate it through my body.
But...
I frowned, "Will the chakra come along with my reincarnation or will I have to start from scratch? I don't think Rock Lee has that big of a chakra reserve."
[Please don't worry, we will display your chakra and the amount needed to use each weapon ability in numbers. The chakra consumption of each weapon is also balanced to match the level of your new body.]
That was convenient. I smiled at the voice and nodded.
"Thank you... for giving me a chance to pursue my dream."
My feet, which had been standing firmly on the stars, trembled, and then slowly, my body started to float. I had been ready to start my new life since the moment I had stepped into the mirror.
"Well then, I will take my leave. Please take care of me from now on."
I bowed deeply before taking another step, which was the final step of the road.
The moment I stepped into the mirror, a voice came out once again, but I didn't know whose it was.
[May your future be a bright one, oh someone who perseveres.]