The Taoist In The Multiverse!

The office was drenched in an orange hue as the sun begun to set on the horizon. Below the windows, the scene of villagers going left and right on the streets was accompanied by the occasional Shinobi and Kunoichi in green vests.

Observing all of this, the old man seemed to have a thoughtful look on his face. As for what he was thinking, nobody knows.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

Turning around, he sat down on the chair facing the table with piles of documents everywhere before answering in his usual rough tone.

"Come in."

The door clicked open and a man dressed in gray armor and a bird mask entered the office before closing the door behind him.

The man silently took out a scroll from the handbag on his waist, put it on the table and knelt down in silence.

The old man remained silent throughout all of this and while reading the content of the scroll.

When he put down the scroll, there was a frown on his face and also confusion.

"Is this report accurate?"

"Yes, Sandaime-sama."

The third hokage leaned back on his chair and took a puff out of his old and trusted smoking pipe. His eyes faced the smoke as he pondered on the information.

"Did you investigate, Sparrow?

Sparrow, who remained kneeling nodded. "Sir, at the time, I was uncertain of the exact meaning behind the term. To clarify, I consulted the ANBU archives. Based on historical records, 'sects' are primarily religious or ideological organizations. While their influence has waned over the past century with the rise of ninja clans and villages, some sects still exist, such as the Fire God Sect and the Sect of Lord Jashin. Both have been linked to entities believed to originate from 'outside'. According to the Second Hokage's own investigation after a mission issued by the Miko of the land of demons, these groups may have connections to beings such as Moryo, a dragon suspected to be an invader from outside our world."

The Hokage stopped puffing at this moment, his expression darkened and he put down the pipe. In his mind, a memory played out.

The scene unfolded amidst a serene expanse of nature. In the center of a tranquil lake, an open room sat atop a platform, its structure blending seamlessly with the water's reflective surface. The room was simple yet elegant, with wooden beams supporting a canopy of fabric that fluttered gently in the evening breeze. Around the perimeter, chairs faced outward toward the crystal-clear waters of the lake, where schools of salmon glided gracefully beneath the surface, their movements casting fleeting shadows.

The setting sun painted the sky in hues of amber and crimson, its light dancing across the rippling water. Two men, seated on the wooden chairs, appeared immersed in the breathtaking scenery. Senju Tobirama, his sharp features softened slightly by the tranquil environment, leaned back with his arms crossed. Beside him sat Uzumaki Ashina, his white hair shimmering faintly in the fading sunlight, his posture dignified and composed.

For a while, neither spoke, as though words would disturb the peace of the moment. But Tobirama, always the pragmatist, turned his gaze toward Ashina, his eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation.

After a pause, he finally broke the silence. "What was that thing?"

Ashina's expression remained unreadable as he glanced sideways at Tobirama. "Thing?" he echoed, his tone as neutral as the surface of the lake.

Tobirama sighed, clearly exasperated but striving for patience. "We've all seen it, Ashina. What's the point of hiding it? My brother married your princess; our clans are bound together. No matter what, we have no intention of doing harm to you or your people. So why not just tell me the truth?"

In the shadows behind them, Hiruzen Sarutobi and four other ninja stood watching the exchange. None of them dared to make a sound. They had never seen their teacher, the formidable and often curt Senju Tobirama, speak with such humility and patience. It was a rare sight that filled them with both awe and curiosity.

For a moment, Ashina remained silent, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water. Then, with a deliberate slowness, he closed his eyes. The silence stretched thin, broken only by the faint rustle of the breeze and the occasional splash of a fish breaking the surface. Finally, Ashina spoke, his voice heavier than before.

"The thing you saw," he said, "calls itself Shinigami."

Tobirama's brow furrowed. "As in… the god of death?"

"Yes." Ashina nodded, his eyes opening to reveal a rare trace of weariness. "To be honest, even we do not fully understand what it is. You see, many sealing techniques are, in essence, a form of space-time ninjutsu. In our pursuit of sealing souls, we inadvertently came into contact with one of them—a being that calls itself the King of the Shinigami."

He paused, his gaze growing distant. "That creature is neither human nor ghost. It exists beyond our comprehension, in a realm separate from ours. And yet, it communicates, as if it were sentient. In the end, we reached an agreement with it, forging a pact. From that pact, the masks you've seen were created."

Tobirama's sharp mind processed the information quickly, but the implications unsettled him. "You made a pact… with a god of death?"

"Yes." Ashina's tone was resolute but tinged with a hint of resignation. "Through that pact, we gained the ability to summon the Shinigami, to bind it to our will in exchange for souls. It feeds on them, you see. But not just any souls—only those judged guilty by King Yama in Hell."

Tobirama leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes fixed on Ashina as a thought crossed his mind. His tone, calm and measured, betrayed the storm of thoughts swirling within his mind.

"You said this Shinigami can seal souls," Tobirama began, as if musing aloud. "If you managed to reach this place where the souls supposedly go to... wouldn't it also be possible to reverse the process? To bring souls back from the dead?"

Ashina's stoic demeanor faltered for the briefest moment, his brows twitching in response. He turned his head slowly, meeting Tobirama's gaze with a sharp intensity. The question lingered in the air, heavy and charged, as if the tranquil lake itself had paused to listen.

Behind them, Hiruzen's breath caught, and the younger ninjas exchanged uneasy glances. They had never heard their teacher speak of such things before, and the weight of his question sent a chill through the air.

Ashina's expression darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line. For several long moments, he said nothing, his gaze drifting back to the shimmering water as if searching for answers within its depths.

Finally, he sighed, a rare crack in his composed facade. When he spoke, his voice was quieter, tinged with unease. "In theory… it might be possible."

...

Hiruzen took a deep breath and he made a decision on the spot.

"Lizard." A single word was said, and soon after, a shadow suddenly appeared inside the room, kneeling right next to Sparrow.

"Hokage-sama."

"I want you to keep a close eye on Shigarai Yuta. Go to the archives to retrieve his file. Just follow and record his actions in secret. Unless anything strange happens, you can just submit the report once every week."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Lizard nodded.

"Sparrow, continue your mission normally, no need to bother with Yuta."

"Yes!"

Unbeknownst to any of them, a similar situation was playing in the roots secret underground base.

....

The tranquil practice grounds behind the Ninja Academy buzzed with activity. Rows of students, dressed in standard academy uniforms, practiced under the watchful eyes of their instructors. The sounds of shuriken slicing through the air, the rhythmic thuds of punches on training dummies, and the occasional chatter created a symphony of discipline and effort.

Amidst the organized chaos, Yuta and his group stood at the edge of the field, catching their breath after an intense Taijutsu session. The sun hung high in the sky, its warmth filtering through the trees that lined the perimeter of the grounds.

It had been two months since Yuta enrolled at the academy. In that time, his routine had solidified into a rigorous schedule. Each morning, he would wake, wash up, and meditate for an hour. His talent increased with each practice, and although a mere two months barely added to the accumulation of five years, it was clear that his progress is only going faster with each passing day. Afterward, he would spend time studying independently, focusing on both the ninja curriculum and his own personal growth, before heading to the academy.

The books on science, biology and chemistry in his room were proof of his commitment, as for what this commitment is... Yuta coughed to hide his embarrassment, what's wrong with taking the super soldier serum route anyway? Captain America is no less a hero than others even with that. Besides, his approach will be much more ethical, of course! It's just the cells of a dead guy, he won't mind.

In the afternoons, Yuta trained with Rin, Anko, Ebisu, and Obito. Their daily sessions had become a cornerstone of his schedule, fostering the friendship among the five of them. On weekends, when classes weren't in session, Yuta dedicated himself entirely to self-study and intense practice. The sense of progress, bolstered by the tangible results of his system, was addictive. He likened it to leveling up in a game- a constant, gratifying loop of effort and reward that drove him to push harder.

Almost like opening card packs and getting Neymar Jr on one of them, unfortunately, he has no idea how much money his dad in his previous life spent and they still never succeeded.

This disciplined lifestyle had unexpected benefits, allowing Yuta to cross paths with Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi during his training. Though their interactions were limited, they had developed a mutual understanding. Yuta couldn't call them friends just yet, but it was fair to say they were on friendly terms.

During these two months, Yuta had also cultivated a strong bond with Rin, Obito, Anko, and Ebisu. Despite their varied personalities, the five had become close friends.

Yuta even managed to find in his heart enough initiative to befriend Obito. Although he really dislikes what he did in the future he knows, he didn't ignore the fact that Madara planted a cursed seal on Obito's heart. Who knows how manipulated this guy was by him with that technique... That's why he decided to give him a chance. In any case, there's many years to prepare before the war. Perhaps by then, he will have found a way to save both Rin and Obito, if not, at least he will try to save Rin.

As for Obito, he couldn't possibly compete with the ancestor of the Uchihas at this point right? In any case, if Obito dares to harm Kushina and Minato in the future, he will definitely kill this guy with his own hands.

---

Lunch Break

After their Taijutsu practice, the tired students broke for lunch. Yuta and his friends gathered under the shade of a tree near the training field. As they unpacked their meals, the conversation naturally drifted toward their classes and upcoming exams.

Anko, munching on a rice ball, spoke first. "I swear, Taijutsu is fine, but Ninjutsu? It's like my chakra has a mind of its own. It does whatever it wants, not what I tell it to."

Ebisu adjusted his glasses, nodding in agreement. "I feel the same way. Ninjutsu's precision is… challenging. You make one mistake in chakra control, and the technique fails. It's frustrating."

Rin smiled sympathetically. "Espionage is the hardest for me. I just can't seem to blend into a crowd or manipulate people the way the instructors expect. It feels unnatural."

Obito groaned, dramatically flopping onto the grass. "You're all lucky! I'm terrible at everything! Shurikenjutsu? My kunai fly in every direction except the target. Taijutsu? I trip over my own feet half the time. Ninjutsu? Don't even get me started. Why is Ninpo so damn hard!?"

Anko snickered. "You're not that bad, Obito. You're just… unique."

Yuta listened quietly, his serene expression betraying none of his thoughts. He knew the difficulties each of his friends faced, but thanks to the system, his own progress had been steady and rewarding. Among the civilian students, he was undoubtedly at the top in every subject.

Theoretical subjects, in particular, were his forte, and he consistently held the highest scores. While most students dismissed these as unimportant compared to practical skills, Yuta knew exactly how overpowered it is and what it can achieve, Boruto is probably the worst anime he ever watched, but it showed what Orochimaru could do with an endless flow of money and all the time in the world.

The real first place, however, always went to Hatake Kakashi. His natural talent and discipline ensured he outperformed everyone in practical exams, leaving little room for competition.

As the conversation turned to grades, Rin glanced at Yuta. "What about you, Yuta? How are you feeling about the trimester exams?"

Yuta's lips curved into a faint smile. "Excited. I'm confident I can place well, though I don't expect to surpass Kakashi in the practical subjects. My goal is second place- the ten-thousand Ryo reward will be mine."

Ebisu nodded thoughtfully. "That's a smart goal. Second place is achievable, especially since most of the clan kids don't take the academy seriously. The Uchiha and Hyuga are the only ones who put in effort, and we don't have any Hyuga in our class."

Obito, still sprawled on the grass, waved a hand weakly. "Hey, don't forget about me. I'm an Uchiha, and I'm putting in effort! Just you wait and see, I will definitely become Hokage!"

Anko burst out laughing. "Effort doesn't count if it doesn't show, Obito. You're more like the tail of the crane than a proud Uchiha prodigy. Do you want to be the weakest Hokage?"

Obito sat up, pouting. "I'll prove you all wrong one day. Just wait."

After all, you don't have to worry about competition to become the Hokage if you destroy the village and built it again from the ground . Yuta thought of a morbid joke he once read on reddit about this guy.

Ignoring the banter, Yuta turned his attention to Anko and Ebisu. "Both of you have a strong chance of breaking into the top ten. Your grades in theoretical subjects are excellent, especially in strategy and tactics. Anko, you're second only to me, and Ebisu, you're solidly in third place."

Anko grinned, puffing out her chest. "That's right! This money is as good as mine."

Ebisu adjusted his glasses again. "It's not just about the money. Entering the top ten will give us access to better resources- weighted clothes, ninja tools, ration pills. It's an investment in our growth."

Rin nodded. "I don't have to worry too much about that. My parents can afford those things, but I understand how important it is for you two."

Obito hesitated, then added, "My grandma has enough to support me for now, but I don't want to rely on her forever."

Yuta's expression softened as he looked at his friends. He understood their struggles and ambitions, and he admired their determination. "If any of you need help improving in your weaker subjects, I'm willing to assist. There's still time before the exams, and we can work together to ensure everyone performs their best."

Seeing their hopeful smiles, Yuta sighed, if only they had enough Chakra, he could have taken them to practice tree climbing and water walking, alas, it might take until next year for that.