On the outskirts of Konoha Village, in a run-down house, a pale-skinned baby lay on a rickety wooden bed, gazing silently at the cobweb-covered ceiling.
The baby had white pupils, silver-white hair, and a glowing, sky-blue Rinnegan eye on his forehead. Small horns sprouted from his head, adding an otherworldly touch to his appearance.
This baby was Kirito, a transmigrant from Earth who had arrived in the world of Naruto about a month ago. He retained memories of his life before the transmigration, though the exact cause of his journey to this world remained unclear. The only fragment he could recall was consuming a "Chakra Fruit" before his soul crossed over.
After consuming the fruit, Kirito found himself in the body of an Ōtsutsuki, a race infamous in the Naruto world for cultivating sacred trees and spreading calamities throughout the universe. Known for their immense power and ruthless nature, they were represented by figures like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the progenitor of much of the conflict in this world.
These insights came from Kirito's previous life memories. Having watched Naruto, he was familiar with the basic lore of this world. Yet, his current circumstances were frustrating. Unable to explore his surroundings, Kirito could only lie on the bed, trying to connect the dots and prepare for his future.
Although Kirito's Ōtsutsuki body should have granted him countless abilities beyond physical constraints, his connection to this body felt incomplete, as if he were wearing an ill-fitting suit. This sensation restricted most of his powers, leaving him with only a limited range of abilities that would gradually increase as the disconnect eased over time.
With no means to move freely, Kirito spent his days reflecting on his memories of the anime's storyline while lying on the wooden bed, plotting his next steps for survival and growth.
Suddenly, a soft shuffling noise broke the silence, like sandbags being dragged across the floor. Kirito turned his head toward the corner of the room. A small creature resembling a seal was wriggling across the ground. It had a khaki, oval-shaped body, stubby forelimbs with sharp claws, a horizontal fish-like tail, and a sky-blue Rinnegan on its forehead. Its sharp fangs peeked out as it opened its large mouth.
This creature was "Little Leopard," a miniature version of the Ten Tails, which Kirito had created by splitting his chakra. He shared a certain level of telepathic connection and vision with it. Kirito had intended for Little Leopard to act as his "vehicle," but the creature's limited mobility and tendency to destabilize if it ventured too far from him made it unreliable for exploration.
Despite its shortcomings, Little Leopard kept Kirito company in his isolated existence. When not recalling the anime's plot, Kirito would watch Little Leopard tumble around the room with endless energy.
Kirito wasn't sure where or when he was in the Naruto timeline. He didn't know if he was inside Konoha or just near its outskirts, nor whether the main story had begun. This uncertainty left him debating his future—whether to align himself with Konoha or keep his distance.
The house seemed abandoned, with no visitors or passersby to give him any clues. For over a month, Kirito remained in this decrepit home without food or water. Thankfully, his body's enhanced physiology from eating the Chakra Fruit kept him alive despite the lack of sustenance. However, the sensation of hunger still gnawed at him, forcing him to devise a method to convert chakra into physical energy to satiate his needs. His immense chakra reserves allowed him to endure.
Kirito also discovered that, as someone from a world without chakra, he had an extraordinary sensitivity to it in this one. With this sensitivity, he mastered controlling the chakra within himself, as well as the natural chakra in his surroundings. By suppressing his own chakra, Kirito avoided drawing unnecessary attention to his presence.
As the evening sun bathed the room in warm hues, Kirito stared out through the window at the red-tinged sky.
Another day has passed... he thought, resigned to his slow-paced existence.
Suddenly, Little Leopard leaped onto the bed, burrowing into Kirito's arms and letting out a contented whimper. Kirito stroked its odd, chubby form. At first, he found the creature's appearance unsettling, but he had since come to appreciate its unique, endearing ugliness.
Night fell, and the moon rose high above the stars. Just as Kirito was about to drift to sleep, a thunderous roar shattered the silence.
"Roar—!"
The sound startled Kirito awake. Little Leopard, equally confused, looked around the room. In the distance, explosions and the sound of collapsing buildings rang out, accompanied by panicked screams and the guttural growls of a beast.
Something's happening outside!
The once-calm natural chakra surrounding Kirito turned chaotic. A violent disturbance spread from the direction of the noise. Kirito focused his white eyes and directed his attention toward the source.
With Little Leopard nestled against his back for support, Kirito activated his Byakugan. The wooden wall before him dissolved into a translucent, black-and-white landscape, revealing houses and figures in the distance.
*Three kilometers... That's my limit... Is
...that where the village's core is?* Kirito thought, realizing how far he was from the commotion. The houses and people he occasionally spotted must have been in the outskirts, while the heart of the village was further away.
Determined to understand what was happening, Kirito pushed his Byakugan further. He focused all his chakra into his eyes, enhancing his range of vision. More details emerged—the bustling figures of ninjas organizing evacuations, civilians fleeing in panic, and flashes of battle.
Not enough! Kirito gritted his teeth as he pushed his limits. His immature brain throbbed under the strain of the overwhelming influx of visual information, but he succeeded. At last, he saw the source of the chaos—a gigantic fox-like beast with nine swinging tails wreaking havoc.
The Nine-Tails?!
Kirito's heart raced. The sight of the massive tailed beast brought him face-to-face with the reality of his situation. He wasn't just in any world; he was in the Naruto timeline during a pivotal moment.
What role would he play in this world? That answer remained unclear. But for now, one thing was certain—his journey was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)