Chapter 1: The Birth of a Bitter System part-1
To the editor: I have already checked the entire story with the Gemini and there is no problem with the content guidelines. All the characters in the plot are 18 years or older. Please don't misunderstand and cause trouble for me. Thank you…
World 1: The World of Ninjas (Naruto Universe)
Ethan Hunt adjusted his tie in the reflection of the hallway mirror. He looked tired. The dark circles under his eyes were darker than the suit he wore to the office every day for the last five years. But today was going to be different.
Today was his fifth anniversary, and he had come home three hours early with a bouquet of red roses that cost him half a week's salary and a box of chocolates that claimed to be imported from Switzerland.
(I really hope Sarah likes these,) Ethan thought, a small smile touching his lips. (She has been so distant lately. She said she has been taking those yoga classes to relieve stress. I should really be more supportive. Maybe I will offer to join her next time.)
He inserted the key into the lock, turning it silently. He wanted it to be a surprise. He crept into the hallway, stepping over the shoes scattered on the mat. He frowned. There was a pair of shoes there that he did not recognize. They were large, black, leather boots—definitely not Sarah's size, and definitely not his style.
(Maybe her brother is visiting?) he reasoned, though a cold knot began to form in his stomach. (No, her brother is in Canada. Maybe the plumber?)
He walked toward the bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. Sounds were coming from inside. They were not the sounds of a plumbing repair. They were the sounds of rhythmic creaking and muffled moans that were definitely not expressions of pain.
Ethan felt his blood turn to ice. He pushed the door open.
The scene before him was like a cliché from a bad drama movie. His wife, Sarah, was entangled in the sheets with a man who looked like he spent more time at the gym than at a job. They froze. The man looked at Ethan. Sarah looked at Ethan. Ethan looked at the roses in his hand.
"Ethan!" Sarah shrieked, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. "It is not what it looks like!"
Ethan stared at her blankly. (Not what it looks like? You are naked. He is naked. You are in my bed. Unless this is a very advanced form of naked yoga, it is exactly what it looks like.)
The man, the stranger, scrambled out of bed. He was huge. He looked like he could bench press Ethan without breaking a sweat. Panic flashed in the man's eyes.
"Listen, buddy," the man stammered, backing away. "I did not know she was married. She said she was single!"
"I want a divorce," Ethan said calmly. His voice was steady, which surprised even him. "I am going to call my lawyer. You two can... continue. Or leave. I do not care."
He turned around to leave the room. He wanted to handle this with dignity. He wanted to be the better man.
But panic makes people do stupid things. Sarah screamed, "He is going to take everything! The house! The money!"
The man, fuelled by adrenaline and stupidity, lunged forward. "Wait! You cannot just leave!"
He shoved Ethan. It was meant to be a grab, but it turned into a hard push. Ethan stumbled. His foot caught on the edge of the expensive Persian rug Sarah had insisted they buy. He flailed, his arms grasping at empty air, and he fell backward.
The back of his head connected with the corner of the heavy oak dresser with a sickening crack.
The world went white, then black.
The last thing Ethan heard was Sarah screaming, "Oh my god, you killed him!"
(Well,) Ethan thought as his consciousness faded into the void, (at least I do not have to pay the credit card bill for those roses.)
................
Darkness. Infinite, swirling darkness.
Ethan felt like he was floating in a sensory deprivation tank, but without the water. He tried to open his eyes, but he realized he did not have eyes. He tried to move his hands, but he did not have hands. He was just a point of awareness in a sea of nothingness.
(Am I dead? Is this hell? It is surprisingly peaceful. A bit boring, but peaceful. Definitely better than the anniversary dinner would have been.)
Suddenly, a blue text box appeared in the darkness in front of his "mind." It glowed with a soft, neon light.
[Initialization Complete.]
[Soul integrity: 100 percent.]
[Scanning karmic record... Subject: Ethan Hunt. Cause of Death: Murder by adulterous panic. Primary desire at moment of death: To prevent betrayal. To catch cheaters. To save the innocent.]
(Wait, what is this? Is this some kind of video game?) Ethan wondered.
[Confirming new designation... Subject has been selected for the Administrative System Program. Class: Support Type. Role: Anti-Netorare System.]
(Anti-Netorare? You mean... Anti-NTR? Like, stopping people from getting cheated on? Is that a job? Do I get dental benefits?)
[Affirmative. Your mission is to travel the multiverse. We have detected a high disruption in the space-time continuum caused by "Illegal Transmigrators." These are souls from Earth who are reincarnated into various worlds with "Harem Systems" or "Seduction Cheats." They use these cheats to steal the wives and lovers of destiny's chosen heroes, ruining the plot and causing chaos.]
[You are the counter-measure. You will be assigned to a Host—the victim. Your job is to guide them, upgrade them, and help them protect their relationship. If the Host gets cheated on, you fail. If you fail, you will be erased.]
(Erased? That sounds painful. Or maybe just final. Okay, fine. I have nothing better to do. I was a manager at a logistics company; managing idiots is my specialty. So, I am a System now? Do I have a body?)
[Negative. You exist within the mind of the Host. You can speak to them, view their status, and issue quests. You can also manipulate probability to a small extent—creating accidents, triggering alarms, or temporarily boosting the Host's abilities.]