"Before I explain the System," the king began, his voice echoing around them, "you need to grasp two key concepts. First, the System isn't bound by the rules of reality. Second, it possesses a semi-consciousness."
Naruto's mind raced, trying to keep up. The idea of something existing beyond reality's constraints was mind-boggling, and the notion of a semi-conscious system was equally perplexing. He motioned for the king to continue, his curiosity piqued.
The king sighed, searching for the right words. "Think of it like this: the System is a paintbrush, reality is your canvas, and you, Naruto, are the artist."
Naruto's confusion deepened. "A paintbrush? What does that even mean?" he thought, struggling to make sense of the metaphor.
Sensing Naruto's confusion, the king delved deeper. "Do you know what differentiates the talented from the talentless?" he asked.
Naruto pondered, thinking of his own journey, marked by hard work and struggles. To him, talent meant ease, while being talentless was a constant uphill battle. "Ease, I guess?" he replied uncertainly.
The king shook his head gently. "It's about limits. Talented individuals may reach their limits later than those who are talentless. Limits exist in everything – our bodies, intelligence, even our world. But for a player, like you, limits don't exist. The System is there to guide you, to be your brush, painting your desires onto the canvas of reality."
Naruto's eyes widened as the king's words sank in. The system was more than just a set of rules; it was a tool, a facilitator of his deepest desires and dreams. The king continued, "Your journey, Naruto, is a perfect example. You wished for strength, to protect those you care about, to become Hokage. The System guided you down the fastest path to that strength – the path of the ANBU."
The realization hit Naruto like a ton of bricks.
His journey, his quests, even his role in the ANBU – all were steps laid out by the system, aligning with his desires. But a nagging thought surfaced, "Does that mean my friends were just a result of the system's influence?"
The king shook his head. "No. The system doesn't manipulate others. It creates scenarios where your desires can naturally come to fruition. Your friendships were the result of your actions, not the system's manipulations."
Relief washed over Naruto. His friendships were real, not just a byproduct of some system's machinations. It was a comforting thought amidst the chaos of revelations.
The king prompted, "Ask your next question."
Naruto, with a contemplative gaze, posed his question carefully, "What is the purpose of the System, and why was I chosen?"
The king's response was swift but unsettling. "That's two questions," he pointed out. Naruto nodded, a silent acknowledgment.
"The purpose of the System," the king began, his tone solemn, "is something even I don't fully understand."
Naruto's heart sank. If someone as formidable as the king was in the dark about the System's true purpose, what hope did he have of comprehending it? He couldn't hide his disappointment, frowning deeply. "Hey, that doesn't count as an answer!"
"Very well, ask another," conceded the king, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Naruto, seizing the opportunity, delved into another mystery. "What exactly are dungeons?"
The king's answer came in the form of an elaborate gesture, conjuring a shimmering bubble that seemed to encapsulate worlds within.
"So, what's this bubble got to do with dungeons?" Naruto asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Think of this bubble as a universe," he began, his voice steady and clear. "Now, envision this universe moving from one point to another to be its timeline. Before it reaches its next destination, point B, there exists a possibility for a divergence, a branching path.
Dungeons are, in essence, points of divergence in a timeline. They're like replicas of another world, created by the system based on a specific moment where timelines could diverge."
Naruto's eyes widened in understanding. "So, a dungeon is like a 'what if' scenario?"
"Exactly," the king replied. "In the original timeline, events proceed as they were meant to. But the system creates a copy where something different happens – that's the dungeon. It's a place from another world, replicated for the player to experience and influence."
Naruto scratched his head. "And what happens to the original timeline?"
"It continues unchanged. The dungeons don't affect the original course of events. They're temporary, isolated experiences," the king explained. "Once you leave a dungeon, the divergent timeline it created dissolves. It's as if it never existed."
Naruto let out a long sigh, his gaze fixed on the floating bubble. "So, every time I go into a dungeon, I'm stepping into a different 'what if' world?"
"That's one way to look at it," the king said, watching Naruto closely.
"So these dungeons, they're like alternate realities, huh? That's wild!" he mused.
The thought of Maria in the 'Orphanage of Hell' dungeon flickered through his mind, causing a mix of emotions. "Did she really find peace? Was that even the real her, or just some replica cooked up by this crazy system?" Naruto pondered, feeling a twinge of sadness at the uncertainty of it all.
Then his thoughts jumped to Prince William in the cult's dungeon. "And what about him? Did he actually die, or was that just another 'what if' scenario playing out?" Naruto's brows furrowed.
He sighed, looking at the system.
[ Party B's 10 Questions Update: ]
- [ Naruto Uzumaki has asked 4 out of the 10 allocated questions. ]
- [ Remaining Questions: 6 ]
Naruto blinked, focusing his gaze on the system screen before him.
He rubbed his eyes.
What the fuck?!
YOU ARE READING
Naruto : The System Files
ActionNaruto has always had video games to fall back on growing up while the rest of the village pretty much treated him like garbage. What happens when Naruto wakes up to find his life has become one of the video games he loves so much.
