I stood before the full-length mirror, turning slightly from side to side as a wide, satisfied grin stretched across my face. The reflection staring back was exactly what I had crafted. I had jet-black hair that fell in soft waves and deep-set, piercing crimson eyes. My attire was practical yet stylish: a high-collar tunic in a muted gray-marine hue, paired with three-quarter capri pants. To finish the look, I wore a triple-wrap sash cinched tightly as a belt, a tactical pouch strapped to my thigh, and sturdy open-toed sandals.
R.O.B.: "Mm. Good, I suppose," the deity mused, his voice echoing in the white void. "Even though it makes you look like a five-year-old... Do you really like that look?"
James: "Oh, hell nah! Don't get it twisted," I shot back, waving a hand dismissively at my reflection. "I do not like lolis. I prefer big men, 'melons,' and older women. The only reason I chose this aesthetic is because I can feel like a guy... yeah. It's about the vibe."
R.O.B.: "But why the thigh pouch...?" The Being pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long, suffering sigh. "Never mind. Just so you know, your cat form will still retain that same jet-black fur and the crimson cat-eye color."
James: "Okay. Sounds perfect."
R.O.B.: "Bye."
The farewell was abrupt. Before I could even open my mouth to utter a final word or ask a question, the floor beneath me vanished. A swirling, chaotic portal materialized at my feet, and gravity took hold instantly. I plummeted into the vortex, falling away from the white room.
Back in the void, the R.O.B. watched the portal close with a satisfied nod. Moments later, a second soul materialized in the space James had just vacated.
The R.O.B. turned to the new arrival. "Yeah," he said, pointing a thumb at a different portal opening up. "I'm sending you to HxH (Hunter x Hunter)."
James
My eyes snapped open.
The sensation of falling vanished, replaced by the feeling of hard, sun-baked clay beneath my paws. I blinked, orienting myself. The world seemed much larger than before. I was perched high up, crouching atop a slanted tiled roof.
I looked down at my hands—no, my paws. They were covered in sleek, jet-black fur.
I looked up, scanning the horizon with my enhanced night vision, and my breath hitched in my small throat. Looming over the village was a massive stone bluff, carved with four distinctive, monumental faces.
James: Ah... I'm in Konoha!
I tried to speak, but only a soft meow came out. I ignored it, excitement bubbling in my chest as I took in the wooden poles and red painted symbols.
James: Great! It seems I'm in the Naruto timeline.
The Next Day
Twenty-four hours had passed since my arrival, and the atmosphere in the village had shifted drastically. I was padding silently along a rooftop, my tail twitching for balance. The village wasn't bustling with the usual cheerful energy I expected from the anime. Instead, a heavy, suffocating silence hung over the streets.
Rumors were already flying. It seemed that last night, the unthinkable had happened. Sasuke's older brother, Itachi, had massacred his entire clan, leaving only his little brother alive. The Uchiha district was quiet, a graveyard of memories.
I had grown somewhat accustomed to moving around in this small, quadrupedal body. It was agile and stealthy, which was useful, but there was a major problem.
The System had not appeared.
I tried everything. I tried to access my status window, my inventory, or even my skills. Nothing. I couldn't speak to anyone, and worst of all, I couldn't transform. All that time spent designing my cool human avatar—the tunic, the sash, the crimson eyes—and I was stuck as a cat.
Damn it, R.O.B., I thought, swiping a claw at a loose shingle. What did I do to get stuck with this mess?! I'm just a stray cat to these people!
Just as my frustration peaked, the air in front of my whiskers shimmered. A translucent blue screen flickered into existence, hovering at eye level.
System: [System and Host are now one.]
My ears perked up.
The System! Finally!
System: [Yes, Host? How may I assist you?]
The voice that echoed in my mind was distinctly feminine. It wasn't the robotic monotone I expected; instead, it carried a subtle, almost arrogant pride in its tone, like a queen addressing a peasant.
So, I thought, testing the mental connection, are you like the Solo Leveling System?
The screen seemed to pulse with indignation.
System: [Please. Do not compare me with that mediocre anime.]
I blinked my feline eyes. Oh? So you're better?
System: [I am superior in every way. I can store items in a dimensional pocket, grant quests with rewards proportionate to the difficulty, and if you desire points to spend, you must acquire them by killing. My shop allows you to purchase anything from any anime world, not just this one.]
Hmm, I admitted internally, licking a paw. That is definitely an upgrade. So, now that we're bonded, do I have access to my skills right away? Can I finally transform into my human form?
System: [No. You must first complete a Trial Mission.]
My whiskers drooped. Sigh. You're going to overwork me, aren't you? Why? What did I do? I just wanted to be lazy!
System: [Sigh. What a host...]