Chapter 3: Shadows of Choice

Isamu gazed at the golden door in front of him. This open door was a gateway to the "Naruto" world he had crossed into. It allowed him to enter and exit whenever he wished, meaning he could return to his body.

Yes, that's true; the body he was using was merely a projection of his form in the "Naruto" world. This was what caused the gateway to delay in responding to him after it was activated, as it needed to absorb energy to form the projection.

The reason for this was that, even if the gateway was connected to his spirit, it was still not fully integrated into this world; it was in a state of transition between Isamu and the void, like a ship docked in a harbor. As for its anchor, it considered his current body in the "Naruto" world.

Current Characteristics of the Dimensional Gate:

Energy Absorption: The dimensional gate can automatically absorb the energy around it, enabling it to open channels to other dimensions and travel between worlds

.Power Conversion: The dimensional gate has the ability to convert the power of different dimensions, and it can be activated and used at any time.

Storage Space: The dimensional gate includes an integrated storage space that can be accessed and used as needed.

Void Platform: The dimensional gate incorporates a void platform that acts as a radar to detect new worlds. This platform helps identify gaps between dimensions and discover unknown destinations.

Gate: After discovering new worlds, the coordinates of the closed gates can be established, facilitating the creation of a semi-permanent passage to access them.

Energy Consumption: When opening a dimensional passage in a specific world, the required energy is consumed.

Time Limit: The time limit for traveling to each dimension is one day in the target world.

Energy Consumption Over Time: Energy is automatically consumed when the time limit expires in the worlds that have been traveled to.

Carrying Items: When transporting items to travel through dimensions, it requires consuming the appropriate energy based on the value of those items.

He realized that this treasure would not grant him rewards or gifts every time he entered a new world, but at least it wouldn't force him into silly or dangerous tasks as seen in stories.

He wouldn't have to, for example, become a babysitter for fateful characters, nor would he be erased from existence upon failing a seemingly impossible mission.

The gateway only took him to new worlds that transcended time and space, and he would have to rely on himself for planning and development.

However, the problem lay in not knowing which world he would transition to until he opened the door and stepped through it.

"What if I ended up in a world full of biological dangers, where deadly viruses filled the air and spread with just a breath? Or a world like 'Dragon Ball', where planets and universes are blown up in an instant?" Isamu wondered anxiously.

He could find himself at risk of sudden death before he could even adapt to the surrounding conditions.

Despite having such a unique opportunity, he did not deceive himself into thinking he would become like the heroes in novels, where he becomes the lucky child of destiny, and disasters turn into blessings that help him grow, and that all his future adversaries and enemies would be foolish, and that beautiful women would throw themselves at him and become loyal after a series of ridiculous events.

Still, Isamu was not ready to give up and not use this ability, and the reason was simple.

He thought: what if he became a ninja? What if he survived dangerous missions, the extermination of his clan, and the great wars that might erupt in the future? Even if a century passed, what he would leave behind would be more than just a fleeting trace.

But when he sank deeply into thought, he realized that even his body might not remain intact after his death.

As a ninja from the Uchiha clan, he knew that danger was not limited to direct confrontations. His body itself carried enticing power, which could become a target for others after his departure.

The eyes he inherited, the blood running through his veins, might be sought after by crazies like Orochimaru, who would stop at nothing in their pursuit of their own power.

"Even in death, I might not be safe…" Isamu muttered to himself, recalling the Earth Reincarnation technique created by the Second Hokage.

He then paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and smiled bitterly.

"Wait… why am I overthinking? I'd better adapt to my new identity first before deciding what to do about the crossing

. I've only crossed today, and I haven't absorbed everything that's happening yet, so there's no need to cross again right now."

He glanced at the gates surrounding him, pondering the tightly sealed gates. "The most important thing… is that there are no open gates at the moment."

With this decision, Isamu chose to postpone using his ability to travel between worlds.

….….….….….….…

In a room in the Uchiha courtyard

"I've returned without any problems… It seems the gate really is my way to enter and exit this world."

Isamu, who had previously been lying on the ground, opened his eyes and said this calmly as he recalled how he crossed through the door labeled "Naruto."

He looked at himself, stretched out on the floor.

"But I need to consider my surrounding circumstances before activating the gate; I can't risk my current body and leave it lying around anywhere." He pondered for a moment.

For Isamu, the ability to use the dimensional gate was part of his spirit, and he needed to be able to use it naturally, but he had to consider the circumstances of time and place before using it.

"So, I need time to conduct further experiments to understand how it works precisely." Isamu realized that,

Just as anyone can use their hands, but some become surgeons or boxers or painters, the development of abilities relies on inclinations, external circumstances, and training.

Isamu was fully aware of his nature; he had been an ordinary person in his previous life, and possessing a treasure like this wouldn't change his fundamental nature.

He knows he doesn't possess the strategic skills or combat abilities or the will that fears not death, which would enable him to sweep away everything in front of him and rise to the top. He didn't have these talents in his previous life, nor did he expect to suddenly acquire them in this world.

After some time of contemplating these thoughts, Isamu came back to his senses.

"This will be my home now," he said softly as he opened the door to his room and wandered around the house.

The place clearly reflected luxury; the furniture was sumptuous, and the decor was elegant. However, despite the opulence, he felt that everything was still strange.

Isamu walked around the large courtyard, examining every corner and admiring its details. "As expected of the elder of one of the founding clans of Konoha, this house is like the mansions of rich families that are shown in movies," he thought to himself.

"A large front yard, a central courtyard, a backyard, and two additional yards. Something I never dreamed of owning in my previous life."

When he stopped in front of the memorial plaques set up in the backyard, Isamu honored the names of the family to which his new body belonged— the deceased Uchiha family, which had now become his family.

He felt a sense of gratitude and respect towards those names and said softly, "It's true that I am not your real son, but I will make the world know me as the son of this family."