Chapter 2: A New Path Begins

Chapter 2: A New Path Begins

As Naruto continued examining his new reflection, deep in thought, a firm voice rang from outside.

"Naruto!! Come out this instant!"

The voice was gruff yet familiar, filled with authority and a hint of exasperation. Naruto—formerly Tenko—turned toward the source.

"So… there's no mistake. I really became Naruto," he murmured to himself. The weight of his reincarnation settled in further. This was real.

With a deep breath, he stood up from his seated position and walked toward the backyard, stepping into a world that was both familiar and foreign.

Naruto stepped outside and was immediately greeted by a vast Japanese-style garden. The ground was layered with smooth stone pathways, surrounded by lush green trees and vibrant flowers. A small koi pond lay at the side, reflecting the golden rays of the morning sun. It was serene—nothing like the rough, industrial village from the Naruto anime.

And in the center of the garden stood an old man.

He had long white hair, tied in a loose ponytail, with strands falling over his face. His chiseled jawline and sharp eyes gave him a striking, warrior-like presence. His body, though aged, was still strong, with bulging muscles barely contained beneath his traditional black gi. Over it, he wore a long, white martial arts coat with golden embroidery, fastened loosely at the waist. His black hakama pants and traditional sandals completed the outfit, giving him the aura of an ancient master.

Naruto's breath hitched.

Jiraiya.

But… he looked different. The goofy, perverted sage Naruto knew was gone. Instead, this version of Jiraiya radiated discipline, strength, and wisdom—like a legendary martial artist.

"Finally, brat, you came out of your room," Jiraiya said, arms crossed. "Now get ready. We're heading to the city."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the front of the house.

Naruto hesitated before following, his mind buzzing with questions. Why was Jiraiya here? And why did he seem more like a grandfather than a mentor?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden roar of an engine.

Turning the corner, Naruto froze.

Jiraiya sat atop a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450—a sleek, black adventure motorcycle, its chrome details gleaming under the sun. Beside him was a small sidecar, clearly meant for Naruto.

Jiraiya adjusted his gloves and looked at Naruto. "Well? Get in."

Still slightly stunned, Naruto hurried over. He grabbed the small helmet Jiraiya tossed him and strapped it on before settling into the sidecar.

And with that, they sped off toward the city.

---

As they rode along the winding roads, Naruto took in the scenic countryside around them. The village was beautiful—wide fields of golden rice paddies, farmers tending to their crops, wooden houses with tiled roofs blending into the mountains. It was a peaceful, classic Japanese village, untouched by modern skyscrapers.

But as they neared the city, the landscape shifted dramatically.

Gone were the wooden houses. In their place stood towering skyscrapers of steel and glass. Massive billboards displayed advertisements for brands Naruto had never heard of. The streets were bustling with modern cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians carrying smartphones.

The signs on the buildings confirmed it.

Sakatura City.

A name Naruto had never heard of in the Naruto anime or manga.

"This world... it's different," Naruto thought. "It's way more advanced than the one I knew."

The blending of modern technology with Naruto's world was jarring. Dungeons? Hunters? Modern cities? This was starting to feel more like Solo Leveling than Naruto.

Eventually, they came to a small electronics store, nestled between towering buildings. Jiraiya parked the motorcycle and stretched.

"Alright, we're here." He ruffled Naruto's hair before heading inside.

Naruto quickly removed his helmet and followed.

Inside, rows of televisions displayed various programs—cartoons, the news, even anime. Naruto blinked.

"This world has anime?" That was unexpected.

Jiraiya stopped in front of a large TV screen, rubbing his chin. He then looked down at Naruto.

"Hey, brat, what do you think of this one? You want it?"

Naruto, caught off guard, hesitated before giving a small nod.

Jiraiya grinned. "Good. Stay here while I talk to the old guy at the counter."

As Jiraiya walked away, Naruto's gaze drifted back to the television.

A news broadcast was airing.

"Breaking news!" the anchor—a beautiful blonde woman—announced.

"Just now, an S-Rank Dungeon Gate appeared in the Land of Fire. This marks the third time this month that an S-Rank Dungeon has emerged in our nation. In response, the Uchiha Clan Guild has dispatched their leader, S-Rank Hunter Fugaku Uchiha, along with a team of elite hunters to enter the dungeon…"

Naruto's eyes widened.

"This… this is just like Solo Leveling," he realized.

His thoughts raced. Dungeons. Hunters. A ranking system. The Land of Fire had guilds now? And the Uchiha Clan was one of them?

As he absorbed the information, he felt a hand pat his shoulder.

Naruto jumped slightly and turned to see Jiraiya smiling down at him.

"Enjoying the news?" Jiraiya asked.

"Yes," Naruto replied, his voice steady.

Jiraiya sighed, rubbing his chin. "Sheesh, it's getting bad already. Three S-Rank dungeons in a month? That's a lot."

Naruto noticed Jiraiya wasn't looking at the dungeon images—but at the blonde news anchor.

Jiraiya continued, "At this rate, if another Omega-Class event happens, the hunters won't be ready to defend the people."

Naruto frowned. Omega-Class? Another new term. He made a mental note to ask about it later.

Jiraiya suddenly smirked and looked down at him.

"Hey, brat. Do you want to be a hunter?"

Naruto blinked. "A hunter?"

"Yeah. A hunter like him." Jiraiya pointed at the TV screen, where an image of Fugaku Uchiha was displayed.

Naruto hesitated. But then, the memory of the Celestial Beings returned.

They sent him here to be the protagonist.

And if he was the protagonist… then he was bound to attract danger.

If he wanted to survive—he had to become strong.

Naruto clenched his fists. His mind was made up.

"Yeah, I want to be a hunter."

Jiraiya grinned. "Oh, really? Then we start training tomorrow morning. Are you ready for a hellish training session with your grandpa?"

Naruto's eyes widened. "Grandpa?"

Jiraiya just laughed. "What? I raised you, brat. Of course, I'm your grandpa!" He ruffled Naruto's hair again.

Before Naruto could respond, a cough interrupted them.

They turned to see the store owner, an older man, standing at the counter.

"Mister Jiraiya, your papers are ready. Cash or card?"

Jiraiya pulled out a black card and smirked. "Card, of course."

As Jiraiya handled the transaction, Naruto turned back to the TV screen, where the news now showed an ominous dungeon gate.

A massive, black portal, swirling with dark energy, loomed over the landscape.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"I need to get stronger."

---

To Be Continued…