I'm Kazuya Ishida, the only son of a wealthy business magnate and an elusive mother, more concerned with her philanthropic endeavors than her own offspring. Despite the opulence and material comfort surrounding me, I grew up in a cold and solitary environment. My father, perpetually traveling the globe, offered me only fleeting and sporadic attention.
From a young age, I developed a distant and withdrawn personality. At school, I struggled to fit in and forge friendships. My classmates perceived me as haughty and unreachable, perched on my pedestal. "Why am I so unpopular? What is this flaw in me that makes me so different?" These were the persistent questions haunting my youthful mind. But through solitude, these existential inquiries gradually faded, like morning mist chased away by the first rays of sunlight.
It was at the pivotal age of 15 that I fortuitously discovered the fascinating world of manga and anime. On a day when I skipped classes, I stumbled upon an episode of Dragon Ball on television. Immediately, I was enchanted, captivated by the wild and thrilling adventures of Goku and his friends. The epic and heroic battles, the sharp and irreverent humor, the vibrant and colorful graphics... Everything in this anime sparked my wonder and enthusiasm.
Eager to learn more, I voraciously devoured episodes and volumes of Dragon Ball. Then I broadened my horizons by exploring other cult and iconic series such as Bleach, One Piece, and especially Naruto. The latter resonated deeply within the adolescent I was then. I intimately identified with the enigmatic and charismatic character of Itachi Uchiha, a ninja as brilliant as he was unfathomable.
"Itachi is my alter ego, my reflection in the mirror... Cold, distant, misunderstood. He too perceives the harsh reality of his world. But unlike him, I refuse to be a puppet. I will forever be the puppeteer, never the puppet," I thought as I identified with this fascinating and profoundly complex protagonist.
Gradually, manga and anime became a consuming passion for me, an obsession. I dedicated all my time to them, to the detriment of my studies, which I increasingly neglected. Paradoxically, despite this apparent disinterest, my academic results remained unaffected. Nothing mattered more than immersing myself body and soul in these fantastical worlds that allowed me to escape my dull and monochrome existence.
Over the years, I discovered more mature and sophisticated series like Berserk, Classroom of the Elite, and Code Geass. I was literally spellbound by the cunning and manipulative heroes portrayed in these animes. Their icy intelligence, Olympian composure, mastery, and ability to always stay one step ahead of their adversaries fascinated me to the highest degree.
With the firm intention of joining the military in the future, I threw myself into studying various martial arts and combat techniques. Within a few years, I had become a formidable and accomplished fighter, skilled in Krav Maga, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai. But despite my remarkable and spectacular progress, I remained unsatisfied, haunted by a persistent feeling of incompleteness. At 19, as I brilliantly finished my secondary studies, I decided to enlist in the army, driven by an insatiable thirst for surpassing myself and seeking greatness.
Sitting on the bus heading to the training center, I reflected on my existential malaise. "I have always felt out of sync with this world, with this superficial and vain society. That's why I chose the path of arms, this ruthless universe where only strength matters. There, at least, I will find my place," I thought with dark determination.
And my intuition was confirmed. The army turned out to be my natural element. My talents—sharp intellect, iron discipline, and combat prowess—quickly propelled me up the ranks. I became a lieutenant in record time.
But this rapid ascent came at a price. The unspeakable atrocities I witnessed during my missions in Africa, the savagery of the clashes, the devastating absurdity of war... These traumatic experiences only exacerbated my coldness and cynicism, already deeply rooted.
Alas, even the elite soldiers remain vulnerable. During a routine patrol, our convoy fell into an ambush set by rebels. Despite my sharpened reflexes and combat experience, I could not dodge the hail of projectiles that tore into my flesh.
The pain was as intense as it was fleeting. In an instant, darkness engulfed me. "So, this is death? Ultimately, it's not so terrible..." I had time to murmur before sinking into the void.
During what felt like an eternity, my soul drifted in the limbo, a muffled void without spatial or temporal landmarks. How long had I been gone? Minutes, hours, days? Impossible to determine. I only knew that I felt strangely serene, freed from the burden of my existence.