The Ninja World, Konoha Ninja Village.
Today, the air in Konoha seemed frozen. The heavy smell of smoke and fire could almost be faintly detected, even across the mountain ranges.
Kakashi, the genius who'd been in the same class as him, was now an elite Jonin famed on the front lines. His feat of taking on a hundred enemies alone had struck Konoha like a clap of thunder, but it also foreshadowed how brutal the fighting had become.
Haotian idly fiddled with the sharpened stick in his hand, poking the dirt in front of him again and again as his thoughts drifted far away.
Three years had passed since Haotian had crossed over into this world, and he was still just a dead-last student at the Ninja Academy.
Outside the window, the sun shone as brightly as ever, gilding Konoha's iconic Kage Rock.
The streets bustled with people, the calls of vendors and cheerful laughter weaving together. Life seemed to go on as usual.
An elderly woman from the Uchiha Clan Compound tottered across the crosswalk. A young ninja wearing a Konoha Forehead Protector hurried over to help her. The scene was warm and peaceful, a stark contrast to the brutal conditions on the front lines.
Beneath that calm, however, currents of unease were stirring.
The Ninja Academy's schedule had changed dramatically. Theory lessons had been drastically cut, replaced by endless combat training.
Shuriken, Taijutsu, Chakra control...
Lessons that had once followed a gradual progression were now crammed wholesale into the daily training schedule.
Haotian could clearly feel it: Konoha was tightening every nerve, preparing for the storm that was about to come.
"That's... enough for today." Haotian dropped the stick, brushed the dust off himself, and headed for the classroom.
As he entered, the noise washed over him like boiling water.
The students had gathered in small groups, discussing the recent fighting on the front lines. Their faces showed both admiration for the heroes and uncertainty about the future.
Teacher Yoshino Shoda pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat. The classroom immediately quieted.
"Given the current situation, the school has decided to make a special adjustment." He paused, a trace of excitement in his voice. "To send more talent to the front lines as quickly as possible, students who perform exceptionally well in this combat assessment will have the opportunity to graduate early and become true Konoha Ninja!"
"Oh!!" The classroom erupted in cheers. The students waved their arms excitedly, their faces alight with anticipation.
Uchiha Mei proudly puffed out her chest, as if she could already see herself wearing a Konoha Forehead Protector and cutting a swath through the battlefield.
Morino Iruki slapped his desk excitedly, and even Gekko Hayate managed a rare smile.
Even Uchiha Obito, usually so quiet, had a blazing fire in his eyes. He clenched his fists, seemingly eager to prove himself.
Standing in the corner of the classroom, Haotian gazed up at the ceiling, a faint sneer curling his lips.
He wasn't swept up in the feverish atmosphere.
He knew Konoha wasn't generously giving them an opportunity. The fighting on the front lines had grown dire, and the village desperately needed fresh recruits.
Early graduation might seem like an honor, but it was really just a desperate measure.
How many of those cheering classmates would actually make it back alive from the battlefield?
He lowered his head, his long eyelashes casting a shadow over his eyes.
"Teacher, I..." Haotian began, then swallowed the rest of his words.
Konoha, I'm here, but...
Am I really ready?
Haotian gave a self-mocking smile, bitterness spreading across his tongue.
Ever since crossing over into this world, he'd been living with an inexplicable sense of dread.
He remembered it clearly: that day, he'd just been watching the latest movie, Godzilla vs. Ghidorah. Who could've known something so damn unexpected would happen? He'd been sucked into the television. When he woke up, he realized he'd somehow crossed over—to the Ninja World, no less. And then...
There had been nothing but endless darkness.
When he woke again, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar room, an ordinary orphan in Konoha.
What terrified him even more was that a fearsome being was dwelling inside him—Ghidorah!
The terrifying monster known in another world as the "Space Emperor"!
At first, Ghidorah's radioactive substance had almost killed him. High fever, vomiting, unconsciousness...
He'd hovered on the brink of death countless times.
But as time passed, his body miraculously adapted to the energy. He even began to absorb it, and it merged with the Chakra in his body. The fusion of nuclear energy and Chakra was slowly transforming into a wholly new power within him.
He knew that once this power erupted, it would be capable of laying waste to the world.
And yet, he didn't dare try to use it. He was afraid—afraid that he wouldn't be able to control it and would ultimately become the culprit responsible for destroying Konoha.
Before you continue