[Author note start]
Not sure why this site doesn't have any way of changing the text to italic or bold, so I will have to clarify some things first.
' text ' - will be thoughts. If I find a way to change to italic, then thoughts will be italic.
" text " - will be outspoken things.
[Author note end]
"You have 3 wishes currently available, choose wisely." being the first thing to hear when waking up from the worst hangover in years was not what I had in mind for my average Saturday.
Being surrounded by walls, floor and roof reflecting a blinding white was the second least likely thing I had in mind for my average Saturday.
Third least thing on mind was to not have any physical body to speak of, and yet despite what should have been an obvious handicap and direct route to death or none existence here I was standing, existing in a room or environment surrounded by a blinding all white.
"You have 3 wishes currently available, choose wisely." A disembodied voice repeated shortly after my unresponsive self.
"So I'm dead or something?" I attempted to ask, yet all I got was yet more of me simply standing around without any body to speak of.
… "You have 3 wishes currently available, choose wisely." The voice repeated once more.
Not knowing what exactly was going on, I could only draw on my extensive experience of fleeing reality through fantasy novels, anime and my own daydreaming. Having thus concluded that this would likely be me finally going bat-shit insane or actually having died from some sort of stupidity while I was drunk for the weekend.
'So this is how reincarnation works? Just some disembodied voice asking you to make 3 wishes before it sends you on your way…' I thought only to have my thoughts interrupted by the voice.
"You have 3 wish-… Yes, the client is currently undergoing reincarnation, for more information simply ask you questions." The voice supposedly responded to my thought questions.
'… Ok then; can you give me a run down on some basic information, such as where I'll be reincarnated, what time period and whether magic or some such exists where I'll be reincarnated?' I thought, hoping to get some free information before I made any post-life changing decisions.
The voice proved quick to respond, following up with its confirmation only moments after: "Affirmative. The client will be reincarnated into the world of Naruto in whichever time period the client chooses. The world has access to the magic variant called chakra. The default parameters for this reincarnation is the following; client will appear as an infant at the orphanage in the village of Konohagakure. The client will have access to a random bloodline, this can including none at all. Lastly, the client will not become aware until after the first year, we at Reincarnation Co. have experience with the client going insane otherwise."
Well, that was informative. Naruto though? It had been quite some time ago I had watched any episodes of that franchise if anything I had only really been reading the occasional work-in-progress fanfic for the last 5 years. Wanting clarification I decided I needed to know whether there were any more things I could avoid using wishes on.
'Alright, so just to clarify; I will without using any wishes be able to choose which time period I'll be reborn in then? Anything else I should know, like do I get to choose what sex, how I look etcetera?'
Once again proving quick to respond; "The client is right, we here at Reincarnation Co. provide free services for the following: Time period, sex, name and 3 wishes. That is all"
… "To further clarify our wishing policies; wishing for more wishes is not viable and any attempt to circumvent the system will be meet with punishment."
… "Lastly your 'looks' will be perfectly average, all clients will be equally average. We remind you that you currently have 3 wishes available, please choose wisely."
That was weird, informative but weird… Wait there is missing something vital there.
'What about my current knowledge, experience and sense of self? Will that carry over in this reincarnation?'
"That is not part of the services provided for our clients no." The voice responded.
So… that is at least one wish locked down there then, 2 wishes left… Now then, what do I wish to achieve in my new life? I could, depending on my choice of time period probably live a completely mundane… and boring life if I wanted to. That is exactly what I loathed about my old life. Mundane, boring and really just waiting to die of old age. That is a no go then, I will go the ninja way like any other character I have ever read about.
What time period then? I don't really have any plans to stick around in Naruto's time, I would be too caught up in his pace, and god forbid I would end up on his team along Sakura or some such, that would be a different kind of hell.
In that case, I should probably go for somewhere around the third shinobi war. It puts me years off the main plot, gives me plenty of time to butterfly the ever living shit out of it and if I get myself a big enough buffer I can even get some ninja training in before the war starts. The academy will even allow me to leave early if I somehow manage to have a talent for it.
I will be staying male for my next life, while I am sure I will still be learning some seduction in the academy I am unlikely to have the womanly charm to pull off any real service missions. Especially not if I am going to be average looking.
Alright, so I will definitely be needing something to elevate my talent or something that will allow me to pull ahead of the average ninja. I still don't want my life to turn out boring though, so I don't want to be overpowered… at least not from the start, being able to solve all problems at the snap of a finger is all well and good, but I am sure that would turn boring real quick.
One of my biggest problems I see as an orphan is that I will not have access to clan scrolls and as such I will be limited to the more known techniques found in the Konohagakure library. My second wish should probably be going to something that will allow me to research new techniques for my natural element(s) without risking harm onto myself…
'Hey, voice. Can I wish for say getting access to one or two elements and have access to a safe way of researching new techniques without harming myself?'
My question was quickly answered with: "A wish can be compiled within reason, so long it has some relevance to the initial premise of the wish the client wishes to achieve."
'Within reason?'
"The client will be warned if a question is too abstract."
'Ok, I think I have my first two wishes then. For my first wish, I wish I can keep all my experience, knowledge, memories and sense of self. Anything really that is part of who I am mentally. As for my second wish, I want the elements necessary to control darkness, as in the concept of darkness. This along with a safe way to research and test new techniques, such as a virtual space for myself and if I may be so bold as to ask for it to be available to me while I sleep, that would be perfect.'
A couple of seconds passed before the voice responded: "Affirmative. The first wish has been granted. Client second wish can be granted if the virtual space does not keep the user well rested if used during sleep. Clarifying: The virtual space for the client will be available at all times, but if used during sleep will exhaust the user as if they have not slept. Is this acceptable?"
That will make it exponentially less useful, but useful and needed either way. I do not see any way I can get around this without using another wish for this. 'That is acceptable; please grant me my second wish.'
"The client's second wish has been granted with new parameters. The client is hereby reminded that you have 1 wish left, please choose wisely."
One wish left, got to make it count. Something that will increase my talent or in some way keep me ahead of the game, but while still needing me to put in effort… Oh, I've got it.
'For my final wish. I want a mind and body that quickly adapts and evolves to the situation and desire of the user. As in my mind and body quickly adapts to new concepts, new stress as well as evolving when put in extreme situations. All this while still keeping humanoid and if possible, I would like a game element to follow, but really just something to keep track of how agile, how strong, etcetera. It will help me keep motivated as well. I basically want a status window I can follow my progress on.'
"The client's last wish has been granted. Please choose your time period, name and sex." The voice surprisingly granting my wish without changes.
'Oh, okay then. I want to be reborn 9 years before the third shinobi war, I want to be male and my name should be Jin. A quick question too before you send me on my way if that is ok?'
"Granted. Ask your question."
'Why grant my final wish without changes?'
"The client's last wish could potentially have simply evolved a way to hallucinate a status screen and the senses to accurately measure the bodily values; as such it was deemed within parameters of the initial premise. The client will be reborn shortly. Any last questions?"
'No, I think that was all. Thanks.'
"Ha! You're welcome, talking and acting like an automatic system gets ya reincarnaters every time. So long sucker!" Was the last thing I heard before everything faded to black and my new life began.
So yea wanted to style everything a little better, but I can't seem to do that. Hope the prologue is an enjoyable read. Next chapter coming soon, like probably tomorrow or Monday.