Naruto Online: The Strongest Player

Chapter 1: Naruto Online

"You have got to be kidding me," I muttered, staring at my computer screen in disbelief.

The announcement of a new VRMMORPG game called Elemental Nations had just popped up in front of me. It promised an immersive experience like no other, and the United Federation was even offering Tier 1 access for a dirt-cheap price—something I could actually afford with my savings.

"This is really happening, isn't it?" I said aloud, standing up from my seat and accidentally knocking my chair into a cluttered bookshelf. Torn clothes and empty cans tumbled onto the floor, a reminder of the cramped, suffocating space I called home.

I couldn't help but reminisce about my old life. I wasn't from this world. In my universe, Earth had never faced the horrors and devastation that this world had endured.

'The most I had to endure was brain rot…to be honest this might actually be better than Jerkmate…nah, who am I kidding.'

Around 200 years ago, nuclear warfare had ravaged the planet. Nations turned against each other, unleashing destruction that wiped out half the world's population. Living on the surface became impossible, forcing humanity to seek refuge in underground bunkers—cramped, uncomfortable, and devoid of true freedom.

My own living conditions were far from ideal. Sharing three tiny rooms and a living space with my family, my own room barely fits my computer and bed. I had crammed in a bookshelf and stored belongings under my bed, making the already limited space feel even more constricting.

"Did anything fall, Michael?" my mother's voice called from her room, distant and muffled.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it," I replied, though I hadn't actually seen her face in three days. 

Opening my door was nearly impossible due to the limited space. The living room was occupied by my brother's latest project, confining us all to our respective rooms.

Despite the discomfort, we rarely complained. My brother was earning a substantial amount of credits, and the hope of moving to a more spacious environment kept us all motivated to endure.

Surviving in this world came with its own set of challenges. My food supply was down to just a few days' worth of canned goods, and the bathroom—a button-operated compartment—was perilously close to overflowing.

"A couple more days," I reminded myself, a mantra I clung to in times of hardship. Survival required resilience and patience, qualities I had honed over time.

I sat back down and clicked on the trailer sent by the company that had taken the world by storm—Rangers Tech Limited.

'Is this really what I think it is?' I thought as my eyes landed on a headband that looked eerily familiar.

The trailer continued, revealing a man clad in red armor, standing above tens of thousands of people who stared at him in fear.

"Do you know what I was like during my glory days?" he asked coldly, directing his question to a man wrapped in bandages.

The bandaged man looked down at the masses below, a smile creeping onto his lips as his eyes turned red and began rotating. "Fire Style: Majestic Flame Destroyer."

The clip ended abruptly, lasting barely 30 seconds.

A message followed:

[We do not want people to know too much. So, simply enjoy what has been shown. Now, for a little background about the game before you begin to play. Everyone will begin in this vast world, which is split into six separate continents connected through various means. The world is massive, yet only a limited number of players can join as Shinobi of one of the five great villages. It is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additionally, for safety reasons, those below the age of 16 and above the age of 40 are unable to become Shinobi. However, we will not ban you from experiencing the world of Elemental Nations. Now, enjoy yourselves!]

'This is definitely the Naruto world,' I thought, my excitement growing.

Back in my old world, where anime was wildly popular, I had been a huge fan of the series. Here, anime still existed, but it was mostly slice-of-life—people were sick of war-torn stories.

But Elemental Nations was different.

And I was going to be a part of it.

…

It had been a day since the announcement, and after clearing the clutter in the living room for about an hour, my brother was able to pass me the Tier 1 headset that I was able to purchase.

I was extremely excited. Mainly since if this really was similar to the Naruto world I knew about, I would definitely be able to become a powerhouse inside of this game.

The United Federation had already promised that there would be a possibility to earn money through the game, which made me excited. This might be my way to help my family!

 Being unemployed in this world, which barely had an education system sucked. More than that, the business degree which I had from my old world didn't help since there barely were opportunities to earn here, since the Federation had control of everything.

I sat down on my bed, with the Gear set covering my eyes. It just looked like a regular helmet, yet had a goggle-like part covering my eyes. 

I plugged it into the wall and then closed my eyes.

A timer showed up, for 30 seconds, to which when the servers would be activated and everyone could log into the game.

[The game is now online]

This was the last thing I had heard before I reopened my eyes to be in a completely different location.

...

(Authors note: Hi guys, hope most of my old readers will be back for the re-write. As I mentioned before I only do write when I have problems in my life and right now, being completely honest my life is an utter mess. Hope you guys will have a semblance of joy from this fanfic. Enjoy!)