Naruto: Before Chakra Emergence

The sun shone brightly that afternoon, casting a warm glow across the bustling streets of Konoha. Yet, despite the serenity of the day, Shiro Rai, a young private detective, felt a gnawing unease in his chest. It had been one of those rare quiet moments, where his mind wandered to the mundane—the unfinished paperwork, the unanswered emails, the endless cases of cheating spouses, scams, and petty thefts. He rubbed his eyes as he sat on a park bench, his usual jacket slightly crumpled, a long sigh escaping his lips.

He had been trailing Hikaru Arata, a successful businessman, for the past week, tasked with investigating a potential affair. His client, Hikaru's wife, was desperate for answers. But all Shiori had found so far was a man too busy for his family, but not much else. Still, Shiori was paid to observe, not to make assumptions. He needed evidence, concrete proof, and it was always a long game.

With the sun setting, he prepared to pack up and call it a day. Hikaru's trail had gone cold, and there was no point in continuing the surveillance tonight. He reached for his phone to send a quick update to his client when something caught his eye—a little boy, no older than six or seven, crouched on the edge of the sidewalk, carefully reaching for a ball that had rolled into the street. The boy's carefree innocence tugged at Shiori's heart. The streets were busy, cars and trucks speeding past with little regard for pedestrians. But this boy was oblivious, focused only on his toy.

Shiro's heart skipped a beat as a truck, far too fast for the narrow road, barreled toward the child. It was clear the driver hadn't seen him. Without a second thought, Shiori threw his phone into his pocket and lunged forward. The world seemed to slow, his body reacting faster than his mind could comprehend. With all his strength, he pushed the boy out of harm's way, the weight of the impact knocking him off balance. Pain shot through him as the truck collided with his body, sending him tumbling to the ground.

His breath caught in his chest. The coldness spread rapidly as the world around him darkened. The sounds of the busy street faded, replaced by a strange, echoing silence. His eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open.

Then, from the depths of the darkness, two voices emerged. One was soft and soothing, while the other had a gruff, authoritative edge. Their words, like a whisper carried on the wind, felt strangely familiar, yet completely foreign.

"Destined child, one with the pure heart. We greet your arrivals!" The feminine voice echoed first, calm yet powerful, like a beckoning call.

The second voice, rougher and deeper, continued, "Your fate has been sealed. Welcome, Shiro Rai."

Shiori's mind swirled in confusion. Was he dreaming? Had he truly died? The world around him spun as everything went black.

Some time later...

A soft warmth spread across his body. He felt a strange pressure on his backside, followed by a gentle thud. A sharp cry of surprise burst from his lips—his voice high-pitched and foreign, like a baby's wail. Was he... crying?

His eyes slowly opened to a blur of colors and light. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus. The world around him was no longer the dark, cold road. Instead, he was wrapped in something soft and warm, held gently in unfamiliar arms. The face above him was kind, with a woman's features, her eyes filled with warmth and tenderness.

"Shh, little one," the woman whispered, a comforting hand brushing against his cheek. "It's okay. You're safe now, my son."

Shiori's mind scrambled. His body felt so small, too small. The voices. The truck. He had been... in an accident. Did he reincarnated?

The woman's voice was gentle, yet firm. "Your name shall be Shiro Rai, I wish you be the guide from prophecy arrival."

The words made little sense to him, but he could feel the weight of them. Was this some kind of strange dream? Or worse, was this... his new reality?

A maidservant, dressed in simple but elegant robes, stepped forward and took the baby—him—into her arms. "I will prepare him for the ceremony, my lady."

The woman who had been holding him nodded softly, her eyes filled with emotion. "Do not let him feel alone, little one. He must never forget who he is. He has a great destiny ahead of him."

With that, Shiro was carried away, cradled in the maid's arms, and taken into a warm, welcoming room. Soft light filtered through ornate windows, and the air smelled faintly of incense. The echoes of the voices from before seemed distant now, as if they were part of a different world. But their words lingered in his mind: "Destined child... one with the pure heart..."

He wasn't sure where he was or how this had happened. But one thing was clear—his life, whatever it had been before, was now over. He was someone else, in a different world, with a new name and new family. And for some reason, they seemed to expect something from him.

As the maid gently laid him in a cradle, Shiro's small fists clenched. His mind raced with questions, but the answers remained just out of reach.

For now, all he could do was stare at the unfamiliar ceiling above him and wonder what kind of future awaited this new version of Shiro Rai.