"Where am I?"
A young man touched his head, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. His mind was clouded, but after a few moments, his thoughts became clearer. That was when he realized something was wrong—this wasn't his usual body.
His new body felt stronger, more powerful than the frail one he had before. As he tried to make sense of the situation, fragments of memories that didn't belong to him began flooding his mind. Slowly, he pieced it together—he had been reincarnated into another world.
And not just any world. He was now in the world of Naruto.
The memories told him that this body's original owner was named Kazuto, a notorious criminal wanted by the Fire Country for murdering countless businessmen. However, the shocking truth was that all the money he had stolen was used to support orphanages.
But the owner of this body had died due to severe chakra exhaustion after being relentlessly pursued by several elite jonin from the Hidden Leaf Village. His body had reached its absolute limit, unable to keep up with the intense chase, and eventually, he collapsed, breathing his last breath.
And yet, somehow, my soul ended up possessing Kazuto's body. Was it fate? A coincidence? Or was there some deeper reason behind it? Right now, I had no answers.
For now, I needed to focus on adapting to this new body. Testing my control, I channeled chakra into my hand, watching as a vibrant, blue aura wrapped around my arm. It felt warm, dense, and powerful.
"Impressive. His chakra is thick and pure—not bad for a ninja born into an ordinary family," I muttered to myself, clenching my fist.
After several careful examinations, Kazuto decided to stop when he realized that nearly a quarter of his chakra had already been consumed. He didn't want to push this body too far, especially when he was still getting used to it.
Despite that, he felt satisfied. This body possessed an exceptionally pure and abundant chakra reserve—something incredibly rare for someone born into an ordinary family. Most ninja from prestigious clans had powerful chakra, but for a commoner to have this much was almost unheard of.
Curious about his current location, Kazuto reached into the bag left behind by the previous owner and pulled out a folded map. He carefully spread it open, his eyes scanning the various countries marked on it. There were many lands, but his attention quickly focused on one.
Right now, he was in the Fire Country.
Kazuto carefully examined the map, searching for the nearest town. His eyes landed on a small settlement several kilometers away. Luckily, it wasn't a ninja village, which meant the chances of encountering Hidden Leaf Village jonin were significantly lower. That was a relief—he needed time to recover and plan his next move without worrying about being hunted down.
After memorizing the route, Kazuto began moving toward the town. The journey would take around 30 minutes on foot, and he remained cautious, making sure not to leave any obvious traces behind. He avoided open roads, sticking to the trees and less-traveled paths. Though his body was in good condition, he didn't want to take unnecessary risks.
---
Upon reaching the village, Kazuto took a moment to observe his surroundings. It was a simple place, mostly populated by merchants and farmers. The atmosphere was peaceful, a stark contrast to the dangers he had faced before.
Without wasting time, he made his way to the nearest lodge. He needed a safe place to stay for a few days before continuing his journey. Resting would allow him to fully adjust to this new body and plan his next steps carefully.
Kazuto stepped into the lodge, his eyes scanning the modest interior before making his way to the receptionist's desk. The wooden structure had a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the scent of burning incense lingered in the air. He approached the counter, intending to book a room for several days to rest and plan his next move.
As he arrived at the front desk, the young female receptionist looked up, only for her eyes to widen in shock. She stared at him, completely frozen in place. Kazuto's appearance was striking—his sharp, chiseled features, coupled with his strong and domineering aura, left her momentarily speechless.
Seconds passed in silence. Kazuto furrowed his brows slightly before waving his hand in front of her face. "Hello?" he said, trying to get her attention.
The receptionist suddenly jolted upright. "Y-Yes!" she unconsciously shouted, her voice louder than she intended.
Realizing how unprofessional she had just acted, she immediately covered her mouth, her cheeks turning bright red. Embarrassed beyond belief, she looked down, avoiding his intense gaze.
"I need a room for three days. Can you calculate the price?" Kazuto asked, his voice calm yet firm.
The receptionist, still slightly flustered, quickly straightened herself and tried to focus on her task. "One day costs 500 yen, so for three days, that would be 1,500 yen," she responded, her tone more professional this time.
Kazuto gave a small nod, reached into his bag, and pulled out the exact amount. Without hesitation, he placed the money on the counter.
The receptionist accepted it with both hands, then began counting at an impressive speed, her fingers moving swiftly over the bills. Despite her earlier embarrassment, she was clearly experienced in handling transactions.
Once she finished, she neatly stacked the money and placed it into the register. Then, she grabbed a brass key from the key rack behind her and handed it over to Kazuto.
"Here's your key, sir. Your room is on the second floor, third door to the right," she said, now regaining her composure.
Kazuto took the key without much reaction and turned toward the stairs, ready to settle in for the night.