It was a simple world. Nothing extraordinary. Nothing worth remembering. At least, that's how I saw it. I was just another face in a sea of people, blending in with the background noise of life. I didn't mind it. Most people are so caught up in their own lives that they forget to look at the world as a whole. The endless cycle of work, eat, sleep—rinse and repeat—was a rhythm I couldn't escape. It felt like a rat race, where everyone was running towards something, yet no one knew what that something really was.
You see, I wasn't like the others. I spent my days pondering things most people wouldn't give a second thought. Like good and evil. Light and dark. Most people see light as this pure, untainted force, something to revere, something to protect. But, from where I stood, I saw it differently. I saw light as a deceiver, a blinding radiance that could corrupt just as easily as darkness.
Darkness, on the other hand? That's where the truth lies. The world can't exist without it, just as it can't exist without light. Both are necessary, but the world has forgotten how to balance them. And that's why I never quite fit in. I spent my days watching people, observing them as they lived their shallow, predictable lives, always trying to shine a little brighter, a little better than the next. It was as if they were all racing towards a finish line that didn't even exist.
On a particularly ordinary evening, as the sun began to set and the sky shifted into a deep purple, I made my way home, hands buried in the pockets of my jacket. My thoughts wandered aimlessly, until I reached an empty alleyway. It was there, under the glow of a streetlamp, that everything changed.
I felt it first—a strange pull, like a magnetic force drawing me in. I turned just in time to see a swirling, black circle of energy open in front of me. My heart raced, a sense of foreboding gnawing at my gut. Before I could react, a figure stepped out from the swirling darkness.
The figure was towering, cloaked in a dark, shimmering armor that seemed to absorb the light around it. The silhouette of a man, but not quite human. His presence was overwhelming, like a storm contained within a single body. The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew this wasn't a dream.
"You… are Asteru Kurogami, correct?" The figure's voice was low, commanding, yet strangely calm, as if he was used to being obeyed without question.
I didn't answer immediately. My mind was racing with a thousand questions, but they all came to a screeching halt when he spoke again.
"I am Nova Enigma," the figure continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I am a god of darkness. And I have come to summon you."
I'll admit, I was skeptical at first. A god? Darkness? It all sounded like something out of a bad sci-fi novel. But I wasn't foolish enough to dismiss it entirely. The way he spoke, the aura around him—it was undeniable.
Nova went on to explain the history of the realms, how balance once existed between light and dark. But all that changed when a human, driven by greed and a desire for godhood, allied with the forces of light to conquer the dark realms. The light had spread, consuming everything in its path, leaving nothing but ashes where once there was power.
"The darkness is dying, Asteru," Nova's voice was tinged with both regret and resolve. "But you… You are different. You see the truth. You understand that darkness is not evil—it is the victim, and light is the invader."
I didn't know what to say. How could I possibly understand something as grand as that? But in my gut, I knew he was telling the truth. My entire life, I had questioned the world's narratives—the simple answers people gave when it came to good and evil. This… this made sense.
"You are the one I have chosen," Nova continued, stepping forward. "I will transfer my power to you, so you may restore balance."
Before I could respond, Nova raised his hand, and a dark energy surged from him, surrounding me in an instant. I felt a searing heat followed by a chilling cold as his essence poured into me, like a torrent of knowledge and power. His memories, his very being, merged with mine.
His final words echoed in my mind before his form crumbled to dust.
"In all of creation, you are the only one who understands how the world works even though it was just a guess. I believe in you."
The change was instantaneous. My body surged with power. I could feel the transformation—my mind expanded, my senses heightened. I was no longer the same person. Gone was the boy with messy, unkempt hair and thin, fragile limbs. I stood tall now, with broad shoulders, sharp features, and a strength I had never known.
My hair, once long and messy, was now styled in dark, flowing strands that framed my face, while my gray eyes glowed gold, a constant reminder of the power I now wielded. I wore the armor of the dark—sleek, elegant, and intimidating. But beneath it all, I felt… something else. A loneliness, a burden of knowledge and power that no one else could ever understand.
As I stood there, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what had just happened, I realized that Nova's essence had not only given me power but had also bestowed upon me his memories. I knew everything he had learned in his long existence—how to manipulate darkness, bend it to my will, and create forms of unimaginable strength. There were no limits to my potential.
But with that power came a choice. A responsibility. Nova had wanted me to challenge the false narratives of light and dark, to restore balance to the realms. But there was something else, something deeper. I didn't just want to restore balance—I wanted to understand. I wanted to live, to experience life beyond the constraints of godly duties.
For years, I waged war against the forces of light. I created beings and weapons that rivaled anything in their arsenal, slowly reclaiming the realms of darkness, one by one. The more I fought, the more I understood the futility of it all. But then, when it seemed like the war would never end, something unexpected happened.
I met her.
A human, one who had betrayed her own kind for power, had declared herself the god of light. She was the one who had started it all, the one who had allowed the forces of light to overtake the darkness. And now, she stood before me, in the final battle.
The clash was inevitable. Her power was immense, but I had no doubt that I would prevail. Our battle was fierce, devastating, but I held the upper hand. When I finally struck her down, I didn't feel triumph. I felt… emptiness.
The forces of light, broken and leaderless, were preparing for one final retaliation. But I wouldn't let it happen. Instead of continuing the cycle of war, I did something unexpected. I called for a ceasefire, a peace treaty.
The treaty was simple: light and dark must coexist, each respecting the other's boundaries. No more fighting. No more death. No more war.
And so, the realms were restored. But something inside me shifted.
I had won, yes. But I was tired. Tired of the endless battles, the struggles for dominance. I needed a break. And that's when I discovered something new. Earth's creations—anime, movies, cartoons—they weren't just stories. They were alternate realities, separate universes where people lived and fought and grew. They were… real.
It was there, in the world of Naruto, that I would find my solace.
I couldn't help but smile. I had seen it all—the battles, the endless wars, the cycle of light and dark. But now, I wanted something different. Something more human.
I had been given the power to shape worlds, to change destinies. But for once, I just wanted to experience a life where I wasn't burdened by the fate of the universe.
And so, I chose to step into the Naruto universe, disguised as a wanderer, to watch, to learn, and to let the world unfold around me.
But little did I know, my presence in that world would change everything.
And that, my friends, is where my story truly begins.