Naruto: The King of Despair

As soon as his eyes opened, Nara Shikato, a survivor of the Nine-Tails attack, found himself lying on a hospital bed, his body weak and battered. It hadn't even been a day since the devastating event that shook the village of Konoha to its core. The attack had left countless shinobi injured and crippled, and many had lost their lives. Compared to their suffering, his injuries seemed minor. A faint sigh of relief escaped his lips as he noticed his arms and legs intact.

He forced himself to sit up, grimacing at the dull pain coursing through his body. Memories of the previous day flooded his mind, and with them, a gnawing sense of unease. Just hours before the attack, he had experienced something inexplicable. Foreign memories had invaded his mind—fragments of a life that wasn't his. A high school student from another world.

"What… was that?" Shikato murmured, his voice hoarse.

He clenched his fists, recalling the moment he discovered the presence of a system. In his excitement, he had locked himself in his room, eager to explore the perks it offered. A golden finger… something that could give him an edge. He had been overjoyed. The system had granted him all-element chakra affinity, the Tenseigan, and even a perfect sage body. The possibilities had seemed limitless.

But now, as he opened the system screen again, his heart sank.

[Name: Nara Shikato]

[Age: 4]

[Chakra Affinity: Yin]

[Bloodline Ability: Zetsubougan]

[Special Body: No Chakra Body]

[Jutsu Learned: Summoning Jutsu]

His eyes widened in disbelief.

"What the hell?" he nearly shouted, his voice cracking with frustration. Everything he had been granted—the perks that had filled him with hope—were gone. His chakra nature had degraded from all elements to just Yin. The Tenseigan had turned into the unfamiliar Zetsubougan, and his perfect sage body had transformed into a 'No Chakra Body.' The loss was overwhelming.

As his breathing quickened, fragments of the previous day's chaos resurfaced in his mind. The monstrous fox, the dark aura, and… that bear.

"Monokuma!"

Upupu!

A sinister laugh echoed in his mind, sending a chill down his spine. Before he could process it further, a familiar figure appeared in the corner of the ward. A small, black-and-white bear stood there, rubbing its paws together, its red eye gleaming with amusement.

"Upupu! Welcome to my twisted wonderland of despair!" Monokuma declared, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'm your headmaster, Monokuma—the bear with flair and a heart full of chaos! Let's turn that hope of yours into delicious despair, shall we?"

Shikato's rage boiled over. Ignoring the protests of his injured body, he lunged at the bear, only to collapse halfway, his strength failing him. Medical personnel rushed to his side, restraining him as he thrashed weakly.

"Damn you…" Shikato spat, his voice trembling with frustration.

The medics exchanged concerned glances, attributing his outburst to trauma. They injected him with a sedative, and his vision blurred as he was forced into unconsciousness. As the world faded, Shikato caught a glimpse of Monokuma's wide grin.

When Shikato's eyes fluttered open again, the medical ward was quieter, though he could feel the wary gazes of the staff nearby. Sitting on his legs, as if it owned the world, was Monokuma. The bear's posture was relaxed, a bag of chips in one paw, crumbs scattering onto the pristine sheets.

"You're awake! Upupu! I was starting to think you'd sleep forever," Monokuma said, springing to his feet with exaggerated enthusiasm. "And look at you! You're not trying to attack me this time. Progress!"

Shikato glared at the bear, his hands trembling with suppressed rage. He wanted answers, but more than that, he wanted to rip the smug grin off Monokuma's face. Still, he forced himself to stay calm. The medics were still watching, ready to intervene at the first sign of hostility.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Shikato demanded through gritted teeth.

Monokuma tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Me? Do something to you? Upupu! Why, I'm just an innocent bear spreading the gospel of despair. Whatever happened to you was pure chance."

"Chance?"

"Random selection, my dear Shikato," Monokuma said with a mischievous chuckle. "You were just… unlucky. Upupu!"

The words hit Shikato like a punch to the gut. Random. He had been chosen for this nightmare by sheer misfortune. Despair gnawed at his resolve, but he refused to let it consume him. He couldn't—wouldn't—let this bear win.

Monokuma, sensing the turmoil within Shikato, leaned closer, his grin stretching impossibly wide. "Oh, I almost forgot!" He pointed a stubby paw at the system screen that hovered beside Shikato. "Read the message. It'll explain everything. Upupu!"

With a sinking feeling, Shikato turned his gaze to the floating screen. A bold message flashed across it:

Dear Shikato,

This system will generate points based on the negative feelings you create in others. Greater intensity means greater points. Monokuma has been provided to you as a summon. His powers will come in handy, but beware—if you fall too far into despair, he will mercilessly take over.

Shikato's breath hitched. The words were a chilling reminder of the stakes he faced. He glanced at Monokuma, who was now munching on his chips, his expression one of gleeful anticipation.

"So, what do you think?" Monokuma asked, his tone mockingly cheerful. "Ready to embrace despair, or do you still have a sliver of hope left? Either way, I'm going to enjoy this. Upupu!"

Shikato's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. He didn't know how he would survive this twisted game, but one thing was certain: he would not let despair consume him. Not yet.

And Monokuma… Monokuma would pay.