For most people, today began as yet another ordinary morning: they woke up, took a shower, had breakfast, and went off to burn through their lives. In one of the many apartments in Japan lived Takahashi Kuro — confident, serious, an exemplary student, athlete, and son.
Now he stood before the mirror in his school uniform. A white, perfectly ironed shirt, a neatly tied tie, a blazer, and dark-blue trousers. It seemed about time to head to school, yet instead the young man, barely holding back tears, tried to force himself to smile.
Just a couple of days ago, the doctor, avoiding his eyes, gave him the diagnosis. Cancer.
That terrifying word now echoed constantly in his mind.
He barely remembered how he had run out of the hospital that day, getting lost in the alleys of his own hometown for the first time. The whole world seemed to turn gray, and his former worries ceased to exist. Now he looked at his life as if through a broken mirror.
Why? What did I live for? Who was I trying for? Didn't I deserve more? Why did this happen to me? Is this the end?
These past days, Kuro had also tried calling his father to tell him about the diagnosis. Their relationship had always been tense. For as long as he could remember, he tried to live up to his family's high status and his father's endless expectations. And only now, left alone in such a difficult moment, Kuro realized just how foolish his actions and desires had been.
Deciding to ignore all obligations — school and training — Takahashi collapsed onto his bed and soon drifted into sleep. It had been so long since he allowed himself such freedom.
It was strange, perhaps, but he felt completely free.
By evening, when Kuro opened his eyes, he somehow already knew what he needed to do. Throwing on a jacket and grabbing his phone, he walked to the nearest store. After buying food and coffee, he sat on a bench and watched the lively street. People walked along the snowy road, absorbed in their tasks, problems, and thoughts, not even noticing how beautiful the world around them was.
It was hard to say how long he sat there — ten minutes, an hour, or three — but one persistent thought settled in his mind:
If life is so short, why not finally do what I want?
He took out his phone and started looking up skydiving options. Adrenaline, freedom, the feeling of flight — things he had never allowed himself before.
At that moment, Kuro stood up and walked forward. Stepping onto the road, his body froze, sensing danger. Turning his head, he was blinded by bright headlights, and the blaring horn of a truck drowned out the diagnosis repeating endlessly in his mind. One moment — and the life of a talented, hardworking young man was cut short. A hit. Pain. Darkness. And a single fleeting thought:
Seems like this really is the end…
Takahashi did not immediately understand what was happening. He was surrounded by impenetrable darkness. His body wouldn't move, and his thoughts were stuck in a chaotic whirlpool of memories. Over and over, he returned to moments from his life, desperately trying to find even a single day when he had been truly happy — but he failed.
Soon, something appeared from the void before him. A bright silhouette radiating blinding light. Kuro tried to focus his gaze, but it was too bright to discern any features. The being seemed infinitely large and distant at the same time.
"Takahashi Kuro," it spoke with a voice that echoed both in his mind and throughout the space around him. "You have fulfilled your purpose. Now the master will grant you a second life."
The young man frowned, anger and resentment flaring in his heart. His hands suddenly managed to clench into fists.
"Purpose? What purpose?!" he struggled not to scream. "I died without achieving anything! Why did I have to die so young?! It's unfair!"
The being remained silent, as if it hadn't heard him at all.
"Silent?" Kuro's voice trembled with fury. "Answer me! Why?!"
But no answer came. Only the endless light continued to fill the space. Takahashi fell silent, exhaling as he tried to calm his rage. Of course, he understood that anger wouldn't change anything, but it was difficult to cope with everything happening. If this truly was his chance to start again, he wouldn't repeat his mistakes.
"Fine," he finally said, raising his head. "If I'm given a second life, then I swear I'll live it the way I want."
The light grew even brighter, blinding Kuro, and then before him appeared a snow-white sphere.
"Place your hand on the sphere to choose a new world," the entity's voice echoed in his mind.
Takahashi frowned but still chose to ask:
"A new world? What does that mean?"
There was no reply. Instead, the sphere began shimmering, as if waiting for his decision. With hesitation, he reached out and touched it. Feeling faint warmth, he noticed familiar names flashing before his eyes: One Piece, Supernatural, Pokémon, Sherlock, The Walking Dead, Bleach…
The words changed rapidly until everything suddenly froze on one title:
Naruto.
Kuro jerked his hand back, realizing what had just happened. He loved the anime, of course — but watching it on a screen and living in it were entirely different things. That world was full of professional killers, dangers, and wars. He opened his mouth to try speaking to the entity again, but the sphere began cracking apart, its fragments forming a new, darker one.
"Place your hand on the sphere and choose a power," the entity spoke once more.
A spark of hope flickered in Takahashi's chest. If he got lucky, perhaps he could live a happy life with powerful abilities. This time he reached out more confidently, and new names flashed before him: Ichigo, Yagami Light, Superman, SpongeBob, Harry Potter…
The flickering stopped on the name:
Ryomen Sukuna.
Kuro froze. Sukuna — the main villain of Jujutsu Kaisen, the King of Curses. He wasn't sure whether to consider it a blessing or a curse. After all, while Sukuna was at the top in his own world, in Naruto — with the Otsutsuki and other monsters…
What version of Sukuna will I get? The four-armed demon with two mouths? They'd kill me at birth. Or…
"You will receive the peak version of the character as perceived by you. The character's abilities will be adapted to the chosen world. Proceed well."
Before Takahashi could process the words, he felt a powerful push to the chest. His body was propelled out of the void…
When he managed to open his eyes again, he was greeted by a bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. A cold breeze brushed against his skin, sending a slight shiver through him. But his body felt strange — smaller, yet surprisingly stronger.
Did I really reincarnate as a child? I thought I'd be a newborn…
Immediately after that thought, a piercing pain stabbed through his head, and memories flooded in.
He was now Nara Kuro.
His grandfather was one of the clan elders, and his father had long been considered a genius ninja even by Nara standards. His mother, however, was not from any clan — she grew up in an orphanage and barely managed to graduate from the Academy. The family disapproved of his father's choice, but he stood firm and married his childhood love.
Their marriage had been very happy — until Amara became pregnant. Her body was not ready for it, but despite the medics' warnings, she chose to give birth. In the end, a healthy, strong boy was born, with an insane chakra reserve — a boy who would, unfortunately, never know his mother's love.
His father, Ashima Nara, fell into depression, spending his days with a bottle of sake, distancing himself from everyone, perhaps to avoid reminders.
The original owner of this body had been hurt and furious because of it, trying desperately to get his father's attention. But now this body belonged to him, and he no longer intended to prove anything to anyone.
Instead, his grandfather, Enzo Nara, took over raising him. The old man was strict and uncompromising, never sparing him in training. He must have realized the boy had talent and drive — perhaps deciding to shift the responsibility for their family from the useless father onto him.
Perhaps, in the future, that would benefit him.
As for the time period he found himself in — things were bad. If he understood correctly, only the First Great Ninja War had happened so far. Which meant hell lay ahead. And though he had watched the anime, he could hardly predict exact events.
For now, he needed to focus on one of the last memories: the beginning of Academy training, just two weeks away.
With his current power, that shouldn't be a problem — after all, Ryomen Sukuna was the King of Curses.
Right after that thought, a ringing echoed in his head, and a single line appeared before his eyes:
Unlocked character power: 1%
What the hell?! Aren't I supposed to get all his powers? …Though, with my luck — heh — why am I even surprised? My luck wasn't great in my past life either.
Hopefully at least he got the right form of Sukuna — the nineteen-finger version with Ten Shadows. His original monster form was incredibly strong too, but most benefits came from his unique physique — which would only hinder him here. Meanwhile, the potential of Mahoraga seemed limitless. With Sukuna's powers, Ten Shadows, and ninja techniques, he could become unimaginably strong.
Strong enough to fulfill any desire.
Kuro's eyes caught a falling leaf. Focusing, he raised his hand and, effortlessly, split the leaf in two with a faint pulse of chakra.
"Yeah… I think this life will be far more interesting."