Chapter 1: CHAPTER 1
"Damn it! What's wrong with this old thief Kishimoto? Is he really out of ideas? Even the aunt next door is more passionate when fighting over food!"
Shiro, a handsome man with a sharp jawline and piercing eyes, sat at his cluttered desk, glaring at the screen displaying the latest chapter of Boruto. His fingers danced furiously over the keyboard, the sound of keystrokes echoing through the room like machine-gun fire.
The forum was ablaze with heated debates, and Shiro was determined to have the last word. Words poured out like a flood, challenging, refuting, and mocking his adversaries in the great digital battlefield.
Finally, he slammed his keyboard with a triumphant grin, a toothpick dangling lazily from his lips. "Mission accomplished! Today's keyboard warrior quest was too easy."
He reached for his water bottle, ready to toast his victory, but his hand slipped. The water spilled, soaking the power strip beneath his desk.
"Shit! My PC!" Shiro lunged for the plug, but before he could pull it out, a surge of electricity coursed through his body. Darkness enveloped him.
In the vast, chaotic void of the universe, a solitary soul drifted aimlessly. In the distance, a faint light flickered, growing brighter and brighter until it collided with him, merging their essence. The combined soul streaked toward a distant land.
---
Konoha Village.
"Even if it costs me my life, I won't let you win!" shouted Namikaze Minato, his golden hair gleaming under the moonlight. He stood resolute in front of the colossal Nine-Tailed Fox, his hands a blur as they formed hand seals.
Behind him, the spectral form of the Shinigami loomed, its ominous presence casting a chilling aura over the battlefield.
Outside the barrier, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, watched with a grim expression. "Minato! Let me take your place! The village needs you!" he shouted, his voice thick with desperation.
Minato turned, his determined gaze meeting Hiruzen's. "Third Hokage, protect Naruto. That's all I ask. Kushina, now!"
Kushina Uzumaki, her crimson hair flowing like a river of blood, summoned her remaining strength. "For our son! For Konoha! Adamantine Chains!"
Golden chains erupted from her body, wrapping around the thrashing Nine-Tails. The beast roared in defiance, its massive jaws snapping futilely as it struggled against the binding chains. With a final cry, Kushina collapsed.
"Reaper Death Seal!" Minato summoned the Shinigami's power. The ghostly figure's blade cleaved the Nine-Tails in two, sealing its malevolent chakra into two vessels.
"Eight Trigrams Seal!" Minato's final act split the fox's positive chakra, binding it within his infant son, Naruto. With his task complete, he fell to the ground, his life slipping away.
---
Shiro awoke to an oppressive gray haze. He blinked, his surroundings dark and damp. "Where the hell am I?" he muttered, reaching up to rub his face—only to find fur.
"What the—?" Shiro stared in disbelief at his clawed hands. He scrambled to a nearby puddle, his reflection revealing the face of a fox. "No… no, no, no! My handsome face! Why am I covered in fur?!"
The fox in the water mimicked his every movement, and Shiro let out a frustrated cry. "Why do other transmigrators get cool powers or legendary bloodlines, and I end up as half of the damn Nine-Tails?! This has to be a joke!"
He flailed his furry limbs, splashing water everywhere, before collapsing into the puddle with a resigned sigh. "So, what now? Am I just going to be this kid's chakra battery for the rest of my life? No way! I'm not going down like that!"
Summoning his newfound rage, Shiro unleashed a burst of chakra. The Eight Trigrams Seal immediately responded, suppressing his power and forcing him back into submission.
Outside, Hiruzen cradled baby Naruto in his arms. The infant's whiskered cheeks puffed as he cried, disturbed by the sudden chakra surge. "The Nine-Tails is stirring," Hiruzen said grimly. "Reinforce the seal, now!"
Masked Anbu members appeared, unfurling scrolls and chanting incantations. Intricate sealing scripts illuminated Naruto's small body, stabilizing the chakra within.
Hiruzen sighed in relief, looking down at the child. "Naruto… it seems this burden is yours to bear."
Naruto, oblivious to the weight of his destiny, cooed and grabbed Hiruzen's finger, promptly sticking it in his mouth. Hiruzen chuckled, but his amusement turned to dismay when Naruto peed all over him.
Shiro watched the spectacle from within the seal, his irritation momentarily replaced by laughter. "Good job, kid! Way to show that old man who's boss."
But his laughter soon faded, replaced by a deep sense of unease. "Am I really stuck here forever?" he mused. "Hey, I'm not going to be like Kurama, you hear me?!"
"Hey, middle-schooler," a mysterious voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Shiro froze, his ears twitching. "Who's there?!"
The voice chuckled. "Let's just say your story is about to get a lot more interesting."