Waking up in a child's body was one thing. Realizing I was in the Naruto universe—an entirely different, incredibly dangerous world—was another. But the real shock? Learning that I had only four years before the story's official beginning.
Four years before Naruto Uzumaki graduates. Four years before the events of the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru's invasion, the Akatsuki's rising movements, and all the chaos that follows. I wasn't just in Naruto; I was on the verge of one of the most turbulent eras in this world's history.
And I wasn't ready
Not yet.
I sat in the hospital bed, quietly analyzing my situation. Physically, I was weak. The body of a eight-year-old child lacked the muscle and coordination of my old life. But that didn't mean I was helpless. I had my mind, my memories, and most importantly—a plan was already forming.
Step One: Information Gathering
I needed to confirm a few things before making any moves. Where exactly was I? Who were my parents, if they were even alive? Did this body have any previous identity, or was I starting fresh?
Over the next few days, I observed and listened. The nurses mentioned my name—Oliver. Not a traditional Naruto-verse name, which told me I was either a foreigner or an orphan given a strange name. That could work to my advantage.
Through bits of overheard conversation, I pieced together my location: Konoha. The Hidden Leaf Village. That was both a blessing and a curse. It was the safest village for now, but it also meant I was at the center of everything when things inevitably went downhill.
Step Two: Training the Body
If I wanted to survive, I needed to start training immediately. Chakra control, strength, agility—everything. Green Arrow's skills would mean nothing if I couldn't even hold a bow, let alone fire it accurately. And Patrick Jane's genius would be useless if I didn't have the endurance to keep up with the ninja of this world.
Luckily, the Naruto world thrived on training young. If six-year-olds could start ninja training, so could I. But brute force wasn't my only edge—I had knowledge.
I knew the Tree Climbing and Water Walking exercises would be critical for early chakra control. I knew simple yet effective taijutsu forms, like what Lee and Neji trained in. And I had one other major advantage: I understood how training smarter was better than training harder.
I needed to optimize my growth. That meant:
• Bodyweight training to build endurance and flexibility.
• Meditation to refine chakra control early.
• Observation exercises to sharpen my perception, leveraging Patrick Jane's abilities to their fullest.
Step Three: Finding My Place
I had no parents to rely on. That much was obvious. That meant I had to integrate myself into the village's systems. Joining the Ninja Academy might be unavoidable, but my real learning would happen outside of it.
I needed a mentor. Someone who could train me without questioning too much.
Iruka? Too by-the-book.
Kakashi? Out of my league—for now.
Might Guy? Potentially useful but too focused on taijutsu.
Then it hit me—Shikaku Nara.
A genius. A strategist. A man who wouldn't underestimate a sharp mind. If I could prove myself valuable enough, maybe, just maybe, I could learn from him. The Nara Clan were known for their intelligence. That made them my best bet.
Step Four: Building a Network
A lone ninja was a dead ninja. Connections mattered. Allies mattered.
Naruto? Too young and too much of a wildcard right now.
Sasuke? A ticking time bomb with a tragic fate.
Shikamaru? Now that was potential.
Shikamaru's laziness would make him easy to manipulate—get him interested, challenge his mind, and he'd stick around. If I could position myself as his intellectual equal, I'd gain a powerful ally early.
Hinata could be another potential connection. With her self-esteem issues, if I played my cards right, I could nudge her toward confidence before Naruto ever did. And if I had access to the Byakugan, even indirectly, I could really refine my observational skills.
I didn't need to be best friends with these people. I just needed them to see me as someone worth keeping around.
Step Five: Creating a Fighting Style
The ninja world didn't have archery. Not in any practical sense. But that didn't mean I couldn't bring it here.
A bow wouldn't be my only weapon, though. I needed versatility. Kunai, shuriken, traps—every tool a shinobi had, I had to master. I wasn't going to be the strongest, but I could be the smartest.
I needed to take the best of Green Arrow's precision, Patrick Jane's mind games, and combine them with what this world offered. A mix of long-range combat, deception, and tactical planning.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
I had four years before Naruto graduated. That was my deadline. By then, I needed to be strong enough to survive what was coming.
I wasn't a shinobi. Not yet.
But soon?
I would be something far more dangerous.