How long has Mikael been trapped in this darkness?
He had no idea. It felt like centuries, though it could've been just minutes. There was no light, no sound—only the emptiness and silence that wrapped around all his senses. Mikael wasn't even sure if he was still alive, or if he had already died.
His body felt weightless, drifting aimlessly. He tried to move, but couldn't feel his arms or legs. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. It was as if he were floating through a void.
Then, suddenly, a blinding light appeared in the distance. It was too bright—like a sun exploding right in front of him.
Instinctively, Mikael shut his eyes tight. The light pierced through his eyelids, sending a sharp pain to his head. Seconds passed. Maybe even a minute. He couldn't tell. But slowly, the pain faded. He found himself breathing—somehow—and slowly opened his eyes.
And froze.
He was no longer surrounded by darkness. Instead, he now stood in the middle of a dense, unfamiliar forest. Towering trees stretched up into the sky. The leaves rustled in the breeze, and he could hear the faint buzz of insects in the distance. The ground beneath his feet felt real—dry, dusty, with the earthy scent of old woods.
Mikael turned his head, scanning his surroundings. None of this looked familiar. It didn't resemble any forest he had ever seen on Earth. It felt more like something out of fiction.
Before he could gather his thoughts, a voice suddenly echoed inside his head. It was flat, mechanical, but calm and clear—like an AI from a sci-fi movie.
"System is binding to host..."
Mikael spun around, searching for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" he called out, alarmed.
But there was no one. No figure, no creature. Just that voice again, now firmer than before.
"System successfully connected to host. Welcome to the Template System."
Mikael frowned. "Template System? What does that mean?"
"This system grants the host access to abilities from various anime characters."
He blinked. "Anime?" he repeated. "Wait… does that mean I'm no longer on Earth?"
"Correct," the voice replied.
Mikael took a deep breath. None of this made sense. But everything felt far too real to be a dream. The forest, the scent of the trees, the breeze on his skin… even the fear tightening in his chest.
He steadied himself. "Alright then… where exactly am I now?"
"You are currently in the Naruto world, at the timeline of the Chūnin Exams."
Mikael swallowed hard. Naruto? The world of ninjas, chakra, insane techniques, and deadly battles?
That meant—Orochimaru, Itachi, the Akatsuki… and the Fourth Great Ninja War?
His legs weakened. "Why was I sent here?" he asked quietly.
"You were randomly selected to receive the Template System and explore alternate worlds," the voice answered in its usual neutral tone.
Mikael rubbed his temples. So he was thrown into the Naruto world—right at the start of the Chūnin Exams, one of the most dangerous arcs in the series. If memory served him right, things were about to get chaotic. Orochimaru infiltrated the exams. Sasuke got the Curse Mark. Deadly fights broke out in the Forest of Death. This was no place for a regular guy—especially not one with zero combat experience.
He took another deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Okay… so if I have this system, how does it work? How do I gain abilities from anime characters?"
"To unlock a template," the system explained, "the host must change the original storyline of this world. Every significant alteration to the plot will generate impact points, which can then be used to access anime templates."
Mikael went silent. "So… I need to interfere with the Naruto story? Change the fate of characters? Make different choices?"
"Correct. Altering the storyline will earn you points, which unlock templates."
He nodded slowly. It wasn't ideal, but if it meant survival—and maybe a way home—it was better than being helpless.
"One last thing," Mikael said. "If I'm really going to face dangerous ninjas… will I get anything to start with?"
The system responded, "Of course. As a welcome gift, the system will now grant the host a beginner's package."