Konoha Year 57 — Late February
The biting wind cut through the forest outside Konoha, but Naruto's bare chest glistened with sweat as he trained beneath the rising sun. For the past three months, he had lived in shadows—hunting, fishing, meditating, reading scrolls, and training harder than anyone thought a five-year-old could.
But Naruto wasn't just any child.
He was a man reborn, fused with a system that rewarded grit, and now blessed by the bloodline of the ancient Uzumaki clan.
"System, show me status."
🌀 [Hardworking System – Status Overview] AttributeValueStrength9Dexterity10Constitution12Chakra15Control8Intelligence9
Bloodline: Uzumaki – 100% PurifiedTraits:
🧬 Adamantine Chains (Lv.1)
🔵 Kagura's Mind Eye (Passive Sensory Field)
🦷 Healing Bite (Lv.1 – Heal self or others using chakra transfer)
⚖️ Chakra Resilience (Passive)
Elements: 🔥 Fire, 🌊 WaterSkills: Taijutsu Lv.3, Chakra Flow Lv.2, Cooking Lv.2, Fishing Lv.2
⚡ Kagura's Mind Eye
Naruto sat still in meditation. The moment he activated Kagura's Mind Eye, a web of chakra signatures exploded across his senses.
Birds... squirrels... two ANBU near the wall... Hinata's faint chakra near the compound. But…There—Uchiha district. Why are there so many signatures clustered together this late?
The system chimed softly in his mind.
Ding!Danger Event Triggered: Uchiha District anomaly detected.Mission Created: Save the Innocents.
Objective: Rescue surviving Uchiha children before ROOT and ANBU reach them.
Bonus Objective: Hide survivors from Danzo and Hiruzen.
Rewards: ??? (Dynamic based on performance)
Naruto's heart sank. "The Uchiha massacre… It's happening tonight."
🧬 Adamantine Chains — Control Test
As panic brewed in his gut, Naruto stood, channeled chakra, and released it through his back. Chains surged outward, crashing into trees and yanking a training dummy off its stand.
Ding!Adamantine Chains Skill Activated – Chakra Cost: 20%Target Captured: 1 Dummy – Suppressed
"Still hard to control… but it's enough."
He grabbed his pouch, stuffed it with smoke bombs, kunai, and emergency food, then vanished into the treetops.
🔥 Uchiha District – Midnight
The streets of the Uchiha compound were slick with blood and silence. Buildings burned quietly in the night. Naruto moved through alleyways like a ghost, his senses expanded.
Too late for most… But there—four signatures… children, barely conscious.
He dashed into the ruins of a half-collapsed home. Inside, three girls and one boy—bloodied, crying, trembling. All were younger than seven.
"Shhh," Naruto whispered. "I'm here to help. Don't scream."
The oldest, maybe six, nodded tearfully.
"Kagura's Mind Eye helps me see chakra... but how do I suppress all theirs?"
He formed a seal, gritted his teeth, and channeled chakra.
Ding!Temporary Skill Created: Field Suppression – Conceals chakra from detection within 3m.Chakra Drain: 25%
"I've only got minutes before they search this place."
🔥 Escape & Hide
Naruto carried two kids, the others followed behind quietly. He activated a smoke bomb, then used the chains to silently drag debris over the blood trail. He dashed to an underground tunnel near the forest he found weeks ago.
"In here. You'll be safe for now."
Inside the hollow cavern, Naruto lit a small torch and used his Healing Bite on the worst-injured child.
Ding!Target HP restored: 30%. Chakra: -18%
"Rest. I'll come back with food."
Before leaving, he carved a seal on a rock at the entrance—a detection barrier tied to Kagura's Mind Eye.
"If anyone but me enters, I'll know."
🩸 Back in the Village
The next day, Naruto played innocent, quietly observing Danzo speak to Hiruzen in hushed tones in the Hokage Tower courtyard.
"Only Itachi survived. All others are accounted for," Danzo said calmly.
Liar, Naruto scowled inwardly. You won't touch the ones I saved.
📜 System Update
Ding!Mission: Save the Innocents – Complete.Bonus Objective Achieved: Hidden from Danzo & Hiruzen.Rewards:
🎖 Title Unlocked: Guardian in the Shadows
🎒 Inventory Expanded +5 Slots
💎 New Passive: Stealth Movement Lv.1
🧬 Adamantine Chains Lv.1 ➝ Lv.2
🔓 New Function: Seal Creation Menu (Uzumaki Heritage) Unlocked
Naruto sat under a tree that evening, worn out and hungry.
But alive.
And four Uchiha children were alive too, because of him.
"This time… I changed something. This is just the beginning."