Awakening: Loli and the Blond Youth

Shiki's entire body felt like it had fallen apart. That was the first sensation he had upon regaining consciousness. He couldn't fathom how, with his strength, he could be attacked in Konoha Ninja City without any warning.

After all, the city guards weren't to be trifled with. Even those alien Otsutsuki couldn't escape unscathed under their heavy defenses, let alone anyone else.

His right eye, in particular, throbbed as if it were about to explode. He couldn't help but groan softly and slowly opened his eyes.

Everything before him was unfamiliar. This wasn't the home he knew. Glancing around, he realized he was in a dimly lit, abandoned room. The space was filled with trash, tables and chairs were overturned, and the air still carried the stale scent of alcohol. Shiki guessed it was likely a disused bar.

Before he could sort through his thoughts, a noise suddenly came from the next room. Shiki's heart stirred, and he immediately got up, tiptoeing to the door. He cautiously peeked out. A fierce battle was unfolding near the abandoned bar counter.

A twin-tailed loli, about seven or eight years old, was locked in a desperate struggle with a monster that resembled a starfish and was covered in tentacles. The loli was small and agile, dodging and weaving between the counter. The monster's tentacles missed time and again, smashing bottles and jars, and the surrounding furniture was torn apart.

"My, my, I didn't expect this unexpected find to be quite so formidable."

At that moment, a male voice echoed from a corner. Shiki finally noticed a blond youth standing there. He couldn't help but frown. When had his senses become so dull? At such close proximity, he hadn't detected anyone's presence at all.

Just like this battle between the loli and the monster, he hadn't sensed anything before.

No, it wasn't that he hadn't sensed anything, but rather that his past experiences were completely useless here. And, judging by the language, it was Japanese. Could this place be Japan?

Shiki reached out and picked up an empty wine bottle from a nearby table. In the dim light, he caught a glimpse of his face—he had become young again.

In an instant, he understood his situation.

"...So, it's another inexplicable transmigration..."

Before he could ponder further, the situation at the counter changed again.

With the blond youth's involvement, even without him directly attacking, his mere presence affected the loli's movements. The loli quickly fell into a disadvantageous position and was forced to throw two gems. The gems exploded on the monster like grenades, and the shockwave sent the loli hurtling towards Shiki.

"Ah!!!" A scream jolted Shiki awake.

If he didn't do something, the loli would surely crash into the wall. At that speed, she would be seriously injured, possibly even fatally.

Although his mind was still in chaos, and he hadn't figured out what was happening, Shiki instinctively reached out and activated his force field control ability, guiding the loli's body to himself.

The loli glanced at him, then tilted her head and fainted.

This child was too reckless, but thankfully, his powers were still intact, though he didn't know how much remained.

Shiki moved the loli to a corner to prevent her from being caught in the ensuing battle.

This bizarre situation brought a moment of silence to the scene. The blond youth shifted his gaze to them, finally noticing Shiki.

The youth's face displayed confusion: "Huh? There's more than one unexpected find here." Upon clearly seeing Shiki, his expression took on a hint of malice. "Oh dear, though this is an unexpected surprise, if it's not one of Old Master Qingxu's favorite children, then I'll deal with this surprise myself. Kill him!"

Following the youth's command, the bracelet on his wrist emitted a dark glow. The previously calm monster instantly became enraged and attacked Shiki.

The tentacles were as thick as an adult's thigh. Shiki instinctively knew he couldn't go head-to-head with it. He quickly retreated a step, dodging the monster's whip-like attack, and continuously evaded the barrage of tentacles. However, the space was shrinking, and his situation was becoming increasingly perilous.

"Oh, how impressive, such agile movements!" The blond youth, standing by the exit, whistled in admiration. "You, young man, are no ordinary person. If you're from our world, then you're even more worth killing. Let the power granted by Old Master Qingxu crush you into meat paste. Don't hold back, enjoy this dinner, haha."

The youth shouted wildly, his expression contorted, truly embodying the image of a villain.

Shiki glanced at the blond youth with his independently opened left eye before focusing on the battle before him. While doing his best to dodge the tentacle monster's attacks, he analyzed his own situation.

Firstly, his physical condition was terrible, extremely weak, like he had just recovered from a serious illness. He might even be weaker than an ordinary person, let alone a child from the ninja academy. Secondly, his stamina was almost depleted from the continuous evasion. To avoid losing his life right after waking up, he had to make a choice.

Should he risk killing the tentacle monster or attack the blond youth? Was there even a choice?

Shiki gritted his teeth; of course, he wanted to do both.

The tentacle monster's attack patterns were simple and didn't pose a significant threat. The key was the blond youth behind it, who held the control. This youth, who appeared to be an ordinary person, didn't give Shiki a strong sense of danger. Instead, his bracelet exuded a dangerous aura, posing a significant threat to him.

This was probably some kind of magical item from a fantasy world, like those scientific ninja tools, usable by ordinary people.

Although dangerous, if he didn't want to be crushed by the tentacle monster, he had to act.

An opportunity soon presented itself. In a tiny opening, Shiki pushed off the wall behind him, cutting across the tentacle monster. Using the strength from his arms supporting the ground, he quickly moved in front of the blond youth.

He held the broken wine bottle he had conveniently picked up from the ground and thrust it directly at the blond youth's throat, showing no mercy, all killing moves.

If this hit, given the fragility of the human throat, it would be instantly pierced, inflicting a fatal wound on the blond youth.

But unfortunately, Shiki's move failed. Midway, his entire body felt as if it were caught in a spiderweb, unable to move.

At this moment, the blond youth calmly took a step back, a mocking smile on his face: "Oh dear, young man, did you think I would overlook your special qualities? I already guessed you'd attack my weak point. This is a trap, surprised, haha!"

The dark light from his bracelet glowed even brighter, and a similar glow appeared on Shiki's body. Even his solely opened, pitch-black left eye was tinged with that strange color.

"Old Master Qingxu's Magic Dress Gear is truly effective. No one can resist Old Master Qingxu's magic."

As the blond youth spoke, he took the wine bottle from Shiki's hand and gestured to the charging tentacle monster, attacking together. "Young man, let me give you a deadly lesson: never get too close to strangers, haha, die."

Beneath the sinister smile was a murderous intent. The blond youth and the tentacle monster, attacking Shiki from both sides, who was unable to move.

At this critical moment, Shiki, who couldn't move, had the corners of his mouth curve upwards into a smile. Under the blond youth's astonished gaze, he slowly opened his right eye, a vibrant green and red light flashing.

"What!?"

"I should be the one saying that! Don't get close to strangers!"

A powerful force field instantly enveloped Shiki, and the violent energy repelled the tentacle monster and the blond youth in the blink of an eye.

The tentacle monster slammed into the wall, shattering into pieces with a "splat," dyeing the wall a deep red.

The blond youth was also sent flying. Thanks to the protection of the magical item, he wasn't fatally wounded, merely tumbling a dozen times in a sorry state. With fragments of his broken bracelet, he shot upwards, along the stairs, and out of the abandoned bar.

At this point, a roar erupted in the air, like an air mass exploding, scattering debris.

Shiki's legs went weak the moment he regained his freedom, and if he hadn't grabbed the ruined bar counter beside him, he would have collapsed onto the ground in his disheveled state.

"Hah, huff, hah!"

He gasped for air, sweat streaming down his face and dripping onto the messy floor.

Using his abilities in his weakened state had indeed drained him completely. He had no combat power left. To ensure the elimination of the tentacle monster and the blond youth, he had held nothing back, giving it his all.

However, listening to the blond youth's furious shouts from above, Shiki felt a bit perplexed. Why was that blond youth so durable? How could he withstand a force field attack that could snap steel and crush giant rocks?

"Aaaah!! I won't forgive you! How dare you damage Old Master Qingxu's Magic Dress Gear! You just wait, I'll be back!"

Hearing the keyword "Magic Dress Gear" several times, Shiki froze. Then, he noticed fragments of bracelets on the ground, and understood why the other party had survived.

"Magic Dress Gear… If that's the case… this world…"

Before he could ponder further, the sounds of small children suddenly echoed around him.

"Where is this?" "Waaah, I want my mommy." "Uwaaa!"

A chain reaction of crying erupted, causing Shiki's brow to furrow even tighter. It was too noisy. It felt like he hadn't heard such sounds in seven or eight years.

"It's time to leave."

Shiki quietly slipped out of the abandoned bar and climbed to the rooftop.

In the night, a modern city unfolded before his eyes, bustling with traffic and shimmering with neon lights. In the distance, a distinctive giant red bridge stood out prominently. He could sense a faint, mysterious aura in the air.

Shiki spread his arms wide, as if embracing the entire world.

"Hello, world."