Konoha, Year 42.
The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air of Konoha Hospital. Within its stark white walls, a small figure lay motionless on a pristine bed. He was no older than five.
Beside him, two middle-aged ninjas, their foreheads bearing the symbol of the Leaf, spoke in hushed tones.
"Is this Shanzhou and Mina's child?" one of them asked, his gaze fixed on the boy with a discernible shadow of pity in his eyes.
"Yes, Captain," the other replied. "His name is Renzou Uchiha. After Shanzhou-sama's passing, the poor child collapsed from grief at the funeral and hasn't regained consciousness since."
The Captain's expression deepened. "Shanzhou's pension and bereavement compensation must be the highest possible. This child has suffered enough."
"Understood, Captain!"
Moments after they departed, a subtle stirring rippled through the small form on the bed.
"Ugh... damn it," a weak voice rasped. "Finally awake. That time-travel business was a real drag."
Indeed, the boy now inhabiting this five-year-old's body was not the original Renzou. He was a soul from another world, thrust into this new reality within the Hidden Leaf Village.
Three hazy days drifted by in the hospital as the newcomer slowly pieced together the fragments of his new life's memories.
Renzou's mother, Hyuga Mina, had been a rising star within the Hyuga clan. Her future seemed bright until she committed a grave transgression in the eyes of Konoha's noble families: she fell in love with a member of the Uchiha clan. The rigid social structure dictated that to maintain blood purity and ensure the inheritance of their powerful kekkei genkai, nobles were to marry only within their own clan. Mina's choice was a direct violation of this unwritten law.
Cast out from the Hyuga, Mina soon married Uchiha Shanzhou, who himself had been ostracized by his clan. Their union gave birth to Renzou. But happiness proved fleeting. During a mission alongside Konoha's White Fang, they were ambushed by shinobi from a rival village. Only the White Fang survived.
The orphaned Renzou was subsequently raised by his father, a Jōnin within Konoha's Anbu. Tragically, his father, too, had perished just three days prior, sacrificing himself to protect his comrades. The original Renzou, overwhelmed by this second devastating loss, had succumbed in the hospital, making way for the transmigrated soul.
"So, I'm the protagonist of a time-travel novel, huh?" Renzou mused internally. "Too bad there aren't any cheat codes or handy systems." During his three-day daze, a part of him had desperately hoped for some kind of otherworldly assistance. None materialized.
Gazing at the nascent sunlight filtering through the window, a mix of emotions stirred within him. His previous life had been… ordinary.
Now, Renzou found himself in the unique position of possessing two powerful bloodlines within Konoha. Yet, at the tender age of five, neither the Sharingan nor the Byakugan had manifested.
"Well, no use dwelling on what isn't," he thought, a new resolve hardening within him. "I'm here now, in this body. I'll just have to make my mark."
As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, intending to finally get up, he caught his reflection in a nearby mirror and froze.
His eyes were different.
His left eye held the telltale crimson of a single tomoe Sharingan—undeniably the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, while his right was a stark, pupil-less white—undeniably the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan.
"What the—?!" Renzou breathed, scrambling to the mirror for a closer look. "It actually awakened!"
"Sharingan and Byakugan…" he whispered, tracing the contours of his reflection. "But I remember the original Renzou hadn't awakened either. That's why he was looked down upon…"
Then, fragmented memories of the original Renzou's despair flashed through his mind. Intense emotional trauma could trigger the Sharingan. As for the Byakugan… well, it had simply appeared.
Suppressing a surge of elation, Renzou squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, his eyes were once more a normal, unremarkable brown.
It's Konoha Year 42, he reminded himself. A time of growing unrest. Revealing such a rare talent now would be foolish. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Upon his discharge, Renzou immediately went to the academy to inform his teacher, Murayama Shigeru. Having heard of Renzou's father's passing, Murayama offered his condolences and suggested Renzou return home to rest, asking him to come to school the following day.
Renzou thanked his teacher and accepted the suggestion. He was still adjusting, and taking stock of the current timeline seemed prudent. On his way back, he passed by the village playground, observing the children's games. Continuing his walk, he took in the sights and sounds of Konoha, the bustling vendors and the flow of people, instinctively following the ingrained memories towards his new home.
"I'm back," he murmured, stepping into the quiet house.
A thin layer of dust coated the wooden floors, and the traditional Japanese-style rooms felt both familiar and alien. A wry smile touched Renzou's lips.
He started to speak, but the words caught in his throat, escaping as a sigh.
Shedding his outerwear, he changed into more practical clothes and located a bucket, towel, and mop in a storage room. The task of cleaning began.
As dusk painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, Renzou finally set down the mop, a sense of accomplishment washing over him as he surveyed the now-tidy home.
"Finally done," he muttered, a pang of hunger hitting him. "Time to see what's for dinner." He headed towards the kitchen. "Let's see what culinary delights await Renzou."
…Staring at the solitary packet of instant noodles on the counter, Renzou fell silent.
So much for high expectations.
"We're supposed to be a Jōnin's family," he grumbled inwardly. "Instant noodles every day? Seriously?" He sighed. "Oh well, this will have to do for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll go out and buy some proper groceries. My father's pension should be more than enough to keep me fed until I'm older."
After quickly consuming the noodles, Renzou cleaned his dishes and then sat in the small courtyard, his gaze drifting towards the distant Hokage Rock.
"The world of Naruto," he murmured. "Definitely not a walk in the park."
In his previous life, he'd been a young man on the cusp of adulthood, his life upended by a seemingly random twist of fate. One moment he was celebrating with friends, the next he was here, in a world teetering on the brink of war.
Bringing his focus back to the present, Renzou channeled the small amount of chakra he could currently manipulate towards his eyes.
"Sharingan, open!"
"Byakugan!"
In an instant, the two distinct and powerful pupils reappeared, the world around him sharpening with newfound clarity and detail.
I still don't fully understand how to train these, he thought. I'll need to learn from the Hyuga and Uchiha clans eventually.
After a moment of studying his reflection in a nearby puddle, Renzou moved to the back of the courtyard. Two wooden training posts stood there, along with some weighted gear. His father's training equipment, no doubt.
Renzou picked up one of the weights. Three or four kilograms, he estimated. Light for a Jōnin, but perfect for him to start with. He spent the next half hour familiarizing himself with the equipment. Later, after a thorough search of the house, he discovered five scrolls tucked away in a dusty corner. A flicker of anticipation sparked within him as he unrolled them one by one.
They contained: Chakra Extraction Technique, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu, Water Style: Water Barrier, Lightning Style: Earth Walk, Wind Style: Wind Cutter, and the Shadow Clone Technique.
A genuine smile spread across Renzou's face. "Perfect!" he thought. These were exactly the basics he needed.
It's Year 42 now. The Third Great Ninja War starts in Year 46. Less than four years to get stronger. Time is precious.
A wave of self-pity washed over him momentarily. All those time-travel stories with overpowered systems and ancient mentors… and here he was, an orphan with a mixed heritage and a steep learning curve.
"Well," he sighed, looking out the window. Night had fallen, a gentle summer breeze rustling the leaves. "Getting late. School tomorrow. Better get some sleep."
Turning off the light, Renzou lay in bed, staring at the ceiling until his eyelids grew heavy. Soon, the quiet rhythm of his breathing filled the small room.
The night passed in peaceful silence.
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End of Chapter 1