"Get out of here, you fox! You're not welcome!"
"Why did the Third Hokage let that monster stay in the village?"
"You're nothing but trouble, a curse! Why hasn't anyone dealt with you yet?"
"Just being near him feels unlucky..."
"I heard the Fourth Hokage died because of him. Why does the Third keep letting him live?"
The hateful voices rang in Alex Carter's ears, a storm of malice that seemed to pierce the darkness. He woke up with a jolt, his heart pounding like a war drum. Sweat trickled down his forehead, soaking the pillow beneath him. The suffocating weight of the dream lingered, making it hard to breathe.
"Another nightmare..." Alex muttered, his voice shaky.
But this one felt different. The sheer intensity of the hatred, the venom in their words—it was almost too real.
Blinking, he sat up and scanned his surroundings. The small, dimly lit room wasn't his. The furniture, the walls, even the air felt foreign. Slowly, the realization hit him. His body felt... smaller, his hands childlike.
"What the...?" Alex jumped out of bed, his movements frantic. Rushing to a cracked mirror nearby, he froze.
Staring back at him was a child with short blond hair, bright blue eyes, and six whisker-like marks etched on his cheeks.
"No way..." he whispered. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of his situation. He wasn't just in a strange place; he was in another world. **Naruto's world.**
And somehow, he had become **Naruto Uzumaki.**
---
A New Beginning
"System activation detected."
A mechanical voice echoed in his head, cutting through his daze.
"Life Choice System initiating. Host, please make your first choice:
1. Return to your original world and resume your mundane life.
**Reward:** None.
2. Embrace this new life and carve your own destiny in this world.
**Reward:** Chakra Mastery."
Alex's heart skipped a beat. A system? He'd read enough novels to know what that meant—an edge, a chance to thrive. But returning to his old world? Back to the grind, where life felt like an endless cycle of work and exhaustion?
He clenched his fists.
"I choose the second option," Alex said firmly.
"Ding! You have chosen to start a new life. Reward: Chakra Mastery granted."
Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed through him. It was like discovering a hidden part of himself—a current flowing through his veins, subtle yet powerful.
"So, this is chakra..." Alex whispered, flexing his fingers as he felt the newfound energy pulsate within.
But his excitement was short-lived. A chilling thought crossed his mind: Wasn't Naruto under constant surveillance as a child? The Third Hokage's Anbu operatives were likely stationed nearby, monitoring his every move.
"I need to be careful," Alex muttered. "One slip-up, and they'll think I'm a threat."
He took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts. There was no room for recklessness. This world wasn't just an exciting adventure—it was a place where power, politics, and survival were tightly intertwined.
---
As he settled back into bed, Alex's thoughts swirled with plans and possibilities. This world was filled with dangers and opportunities, and he was determined to rise above them all.
He wasn't just going to survive as Naruto Uzumaki.
He was going to thrive.