The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and the gentle splash of water.
Noah crouched silently on a thick branch, his black cloak blending into the shade of the towering trees.
His crimson Sharingan eyes swirled lazily as he watched the small figure by the riverbank.
A boy — no older than twelve — stood there, clutching a makeshift fishing rod.
Brown hair, green clothing, a smile so wide it almost didn't fit on his face.
Noah narrowed his eyes.
That's Gon Freecss.
Even without memories from this life, Noah recognized the scene — almost like déjà vu from another world.
He wasn't supposed to be here.
He wasn't supposed to exist.
Yet here he was: reincarnated into the world of Hunters, armed with powers far beyond anything this boy could dream of.
Sharingan. Chidori. Amaterasu. Rinnegan — all sleeping within his soul, waiting for him to call on them.
He had no idea why he had been given this second life.
All he knew was: he would not waste it.
Noah leaned forward slightly as the surface of the lake trembled.
A shadow lurked just beneath the water — a massive, coiling shape.
Master of the Swamp, Noah recalled from half-remembered lore.
A predator. A monster.
The fish lunged out of the water with a deafening splash, its monstrous jaws snapping toward the boy.
Noah instinctively tensed. His hand crackled with barely-contained lightning.
Should I step in?
But Gon didn't falter.
With a loud yell and a mighty pull, the boy yanked back on his rod.
The line groaned under the pressure — but held.
With a roar, Gon heaved the fish clean out of the water, slamming it onto the riverbank with a thunderous crash.
Breathing heavily, Gon grinned at his victory.
"No way... I actually did it!" he laughed, falling back onto the grass.
Noah allowed himself a small smirk.
Strong spirit. Strong body. Strong heart.
For a moment, Noah thought about leaving — disappearing back into the forest without a sound.
But something inside him — something he thought he had lost long ago — stirred.
Loneliness.
Longing.
Maybe... just maybe...
In this world, he could find more than just power.
He could find a purpose.
Noah stood, the branch creaking softly beneath his boots.
His crimson eyes faded back to black.
From the shadows, he watched Gon drag the giant fish toward the village.
And quietly, he followed.