1 Creation of an Enigma

In the void, time was elusive. One moment it felt like an eternity; the next, barely a blink. Either way, Alex Krieger had a lot to think about. The dim-lit nothingness stretched out infinitely, amplifying the sense of isolation. A decorated Special Forces soldier, he'd been through a lot, seen a lot. Now, in the afterlife—or whatever this was—he had the dubious luxury of time to reflect on it all.

He thought about his first mission—a hostage rescue operation in a remote village. He could still feel the weight of his boots in the muddy terrain, hear the distant cries of villagers praying for a miracle. They'd saved most of the hostages, but one—a young girl no older than his niece at the time—had been killed in the crossfire. He remembered the hollow feeling that had settled in his gut as he looked into the lifeless eyes of the girl, understanding for the first time the weight his decisions could carry.

Then there was the time his unit had been ambushed during an intel-gathering mission. Surrounded and outgunned, they fought like cornered animals, adrenaline and training taking over. Alex remembered pulling the trigger and watching enemies fall, his body on autopilot while his mind screamed in silent horror. They made it out, but not without casualties. Two men from his team never came back, and the ghost of their sacrifice joined the others that haunted him.

Alex began reminiscing the humanitarian mission that lasted three heartwarming months. Deployed to a disaster-stricken area, Alex and his team were tasked with providing medical aid, rebuilding essential structures, and delivering much-needed supplies. During that time, he had connected with the locals, even learning bits of their language. Children would run to greet them every morning, their smiles an infectious balm on the weary spirit. One moment that stayed with him was teaching a young boy how to make a simple water filtration system. Seeing the awe and gratitude in the child's eyes as clean water flowed reminded him that amidst the chaos and violence, there were pockets of pure human connection, love, and hope. For every darkness he had witnessed, there was a contrasting light, a reminder of why he did what he did in the first place. This mission had been a commercial failure in terms of accolades or promotions, but personally, it felt like one of his most significant victories.

And of course, there was his last mission—the one that brought him here, to this void. They had been tasked with neutralizing a high-value target. Intel had been spotty, but the mission was of the utmost importance. They'd infiltrated the compound, fought their way through, only to discover it was a trap. Explosions rang out, filling the air with smoke and chaos. Alex remembered making the call to retreat, but just as he was about to exit, the room he was in erupted in flames. The pain had been intense but brief. His last thought before losing consciousness was a simple wish to have done better.

Guilt mingled with pride as he reviewed his past. He'd made hard calls, saved lives, but also faced losses that cut deep. An emotional cocktail that offered no easy answers, no absolution, and certainly no peace.

Just as he felt his thoughts spiraling down into a darker place, a pinprick of light appeared in the void. It grew rapidly, turning into a shining vortex. Alex didn't so much walk towards it as find himself gently propelled by some unseen force, as if the universe itself had decided he'd had enough time alone with his memories.

As he passed through, the light was blinding but not painful. It was as if he was stepping into a different reality, one filled with hues he'd never seen and warmth he'd never felt. What awaited him on the other side was unknown, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Alex felt ready to face it.

Standing there, radiant as the surroundings but distinctly more corporeal, was a figure Alex instinctively knew was God—or a version of God, anyway.

The figure regarded Alex with an air of serenity, tinged with a subtle hint of curiosity. "You're here to spin three wheels: the Wheel of Reincarnation, the Wheel of Talents, and the Wheel of Abilities."

No further elaboration. No celestial fanfare. Just a simple statement that left Alex both bewildered and curious. He looked at the first wheel that materialized before him. Ancient markings danced around its circumference, like constellations from a sky he'd never seen.

'Three wheels. Three choices I don't get to make. Odd how even in the afterlife, the illusion of control persists.'

God gestured toward the Wheel of Reincarnation, the ancient circle covered with mysterious symbols and phrases. "Would you do the honors of spinning the wheel?"

Alex approached and placed his hand on the edge. "No going back after this, huh?"

"Ah, but you're forgetting: you're already past the point of no return. Might as well enjoy the ride."

Nodding, Alex gave the wheel a firm spin. It revolved slowly, each tick echoing like the gears of a cosmic clock. As it spun, he looked back at God. "How many worlds are there? I see names I recognize and others that might as well be gibberish."

"A myriad," God replied. "Worlds of magic, worlds of science, worlds of swords, worlds of words. Some you know, some you couldn't even fathom."

The wheel began to decelerate, its ticking growing more pronounced. Each world it passed seemed to beckon with its own unique allure and threat. Is it going to be a world I know? Or some place entirely alien?

Finally, the wheel clicked to a stop, landing on "Naruto."

"You'll be going to the world of Naruto," God confirmed, his eyes meeting Alex's.

Naruto. Alex had watched the series, read the manga. A world of chakra, of shinobi, of grand ideals and dangerous conflicts. Not exactly a vacation destination, but it could be... fascinating.

He looked at God, a smirk forming on his lips. "Well, looks like I'll need to brush up on my hand signs and ninja techniques."

God chuckled. "You'll have quite the journey ahead. But remember, knowing the story doesn't mean you'll write the same ending."

That thought, the uncertainty of destiny despite foreknowledge, hung in the air as the Wheel of Talents materialized for the next stage of this surreal journey.

The Wheel of Talents took the place of its predecessor, each facet shimmering with the promise of an innate skill. "Care to spin again?" God prompted.

Alex reached out and spun the wheel. As it set into motion, he glanced at God. "So, I assume these 'talents' sync up with the world I'm going to?"

"In most cases, yes," God replied. "But sometimes, life—regardless of which world you're in—likes to throw curveballs."

The wheel slowed, its sections a blur of colors and names, and Alex found himself holding his breath. A talent that suits a world of ninjas and epic battles? Or something entirely out of left field?

God watched intently, almost as if he too were curious about the outcome, despite his omniscience. The Wheel of Talents clicked slower and slower until it finally settled on "Garou's Martial Talent."

"A formidable talent in martial arts," God declared, locking eyes with Alex.

'Formidable. That's an interesting word choice. Given that I'll be in a world of shinobi, a talent in martial arts is almost too fitting.'

"Soo.. Is that like kung fu on steroids or something?"

"Something like that," God winked. "It's more like martial arts dialed up to eleven, then squared. You'll have an innate understanding and adaptability in martial arts, a fluidity in combat that many will find difficult to match."

The implication weighed heavily on Alex. An advantage, a shortcut, but also a responsibility. How will this talent shape me in a world where every strength can tip the balance in ways unimaginable?

As he pondered, the final wheel, the Wheel of Abilities, phased into existence, ready to deal the last hand of this celestial gamble.

"Ah, the Wheel of Abilities," God intoned, a note of gravity lacing his words. "Would you give it a spin?"

Alex hesitated for a moment before touching the wheel. The Wheel of Talents had been surprisingly kind; what would this final wheel offer him? With a push, he set it in motion.

"Last one," he mumbled, watching the wheel's slow revolution.

"Indeed, the final brushstroke on a canvas yet to be unveiled," God responded, staring at the wheel as if it were a complex riddle.

As the wheel turned, Alex's thoughts shifted to the world he would soon enter. A ninja world, armed with martial talent. Will this last spin bless me or curse me with an ability that will either simplify or complicate life there?

God, seemingly detached, hummed a melody that Alex couldn't place, filling the silence as the wheel continued its unhurried spin.

Finally, the Wheel of Abilities slowed down. Alex found himself holding his breath, the tension palpable.

It clicked into place: "Limitless."

For a moment, God's eternal composure wavered. The divine eyes that had been pools of serenity now flickered with an emotion Alex couldn't quite identify—surprise? Concern? Astonishment?

The room fell into an awkward silence. Seconds stretched longer than they should, heavy with implications neither spoke aloud.

"You've drawn an... interesting ability," God finally said, regaining his celestial poise but not entirely masking his internal upheaval.

'Interesting, huh' Alex thought to himself. 'What does 'Limitless' actually mean?'

"Not going to elaborate on that one?" Alex prompted, sensing that God was holding back.

God chuckled, although it seemed a bit forced. "Oh, it's nothing too special; just a little something that might spice up your journey."

Alex raised an eyebrow, not convinced. God's tone had been a little too casual, a little too dismissive for something labeled "Limitless."

Tension broken but curiosity unsated, Alex—or Tetsuya, as he would soon be known—felt a new surge of light envelop him.

Here goes nothing—or everything, he mused.

As the thought crossed his mind, Alex felt an unexpected force begin to envelop him. It was as if the light around him grew brighter, more insistent, swirling into a vortex. Before he knew what was happening, he felt himself being sucked into the spiraling portal.

Just as he was about to disappear, he heard God call out, almost as an afterthought, "Good luck. You're not gonna to need it though!"

And then he was gone, swept away by a force too colossal to resist, as if he were a leaf caught in an autumn wind.

The portal closed, leaving God alone in the divine space, surrounded by celestial light and endless possibilities.

For a long moment, God stood there, contemplating the wheel that had landed on "Limitless."

"Of all the abilities he could have rolled," God mumbled to himself, the gravity of the moment seeping into his tone, "it had to be 'Limitless.' The implications are... well, limitless."

For an entity that had seen eons pass and countless souls cycle through reincarnation, it was a rare instance of being genuinely taken aback. God glanced at the wheel once more before it vanished, leaving only the lingering weight of what had just been set into motion.

'Well, the tapestry of fate has been woven in an unexpected pattern today' God thought, turning his attention to other matters. But then again, that's what makes existence so eternally fascinating.

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A/N: Let me know if there are mistakes, I'll try fix them. And also if you have ideas you want to see in here also say, I'll try to add it if it works. He will be Minato's age.