Year 54 of Konoha, September.
Uchiha Kagami-jin, just over six years old, wasn't out playing like other children his age. Instead, he sat quietly on the tatami in his room, sighing again and again.
He was a transmigrant. After an accidental death, a mysterious voice brought him into this world. But in the six years since, he had never once heard that voice again. Not that it mattered, since he was here, he had long since accepted the reality of his transmigration.
The real problem was… he had been reborn as a member of the Uchiha clan.
Yes, an Uchiha! An Uchiha! An Uchiha!
It was nothing short of a nightmare. Kagami-jin had watched Naruto. He didn't remember every detail, but the big events stuck with him. And among them… was the Uchiha massacre.
At present, the clan still stood strong. But Kagami-jin knew it was only a matter of time before tragedy struck. He would not be spared. He was just an ordinary clansman, not Itachi's younger brother. When that night came, he would either fall to Itachi's blade or to Obito's. "Nightmare start" barely even began to describe it.
For years, he hadn't known the exact timeline of the massacre. So he focused on training, building stamina, and practicing shurikenjutsu, all in preparation for escape. Six years of effort dulled his sense of crisis a little.
But this morning, everything changed.
His father took him to the academy entrance ceremony. And there, Kagami-jin saw Sasuke.
And he remembered. The Uchiha massacre happened not long after Sasuke entered the academy. Half a year, maybe a year at most. That meant his time was running out. The noose of death was tightening around his neck, choking the air from his lungs.
He had to find a way to survive within six months. If he failed, then his fate was sealed, cut down by Itachi in the name of Konoha. After all, Itachi had slaughtered even his beloved Izumi and his own parents. To think he might spare an ordinary clansman like Kagami-jin was wishful thinking.
A way out! A way out! A way out!
If he wanted to live, Kagami-jin had to shatter this deadlock. From now on, training could no longer just be diligent; it had to be desperate.
And if possible, he needed to befriend Itachi. Of course, Itachi was unlikely to spare him for mere friendship, but it was better than nothing. He had tried before, but Itachi was an ANBU while Kagami-jin was just a kid; meeting him was difficult. Over six years, he had barely managed to make himself vaguely recognizable to himself.
Now that he had entered the academy, maybe he could use Sasuke as a bridge to approach Itachi.
Second, he needed to learn ninjutsu. He couldn't afford to blend in with carefree classmates. He had to surpass them all, stand out, and grow stronger and stronger. The problem was… he wasn't sure if his talent was enough. Hard work was essential, but true genius required more than effort alone.
Just then, the door slid open. A man wearing the Leaf shinobi uniform entered, Kagami-jin's father, Uchiha Takayuki.
"Kagami-jin," he said sternly, "your mother tells me you skipped training today. What's going on? Are you trying to avoid school?"
At this, his expression hardened. Uchiha Takayuki could tolerate many things, but never neglected education.
Kagami-jin quickly pushed his troubled thoughts aside and replied gently,
"Father, I don't resent going to school."
Takayuki's tone softened as he sat down across from his son. He was very satisfied with this child.
"Then why didn't you train today? Something troubling you?"
Normally, Kagami-jin never slacked. He always found time to practice his shuriken and physical conditioning, earning himself the title of genius among his peers. In truth, Kagami-jin knew it had nothing to do with talent, just sheer effort. Real aptitude would only show once ninjutsu training began.
Looking seriously at his father, he spoke.
"Father, I want to learn ninjutsu."
Uchiha Takayuki was a chunin, fortunate for Kagami-jin, since he could seek guidance at home.
"You want to learn ninjutsu? Then tell me, can you mold chakra yet?" Takayuki asked, surprised.
Kagami-jin nodded. He had been secretly working at it all along. In the past, his inability to mold chakra had kept him from starting ninjutsu earlier. But now, he could produce at least a small amount.
Takayuki's stern face broke into a smile of satisfaction. His son was truly exceptional, already shaping chakra and eager for ninjutsu, while most children his age had only just entered the academy.
"Very well. After school tomorrow, I'll teach you your first jutsu."
Kagami-jin's face lit up with joy. After chatting a while longer about everyday matters, Takayuki left.
As the door slid shut again, Kagami-jin sat in thought.
Learning ninjutsu from his father alone wouldn't be enough. He had to shine at the academy, maybe even graduate early!
Realistically, he knew it was almost impossible. Even a prodigy like Itachi had needed a year. What chance did he, an ordinary clansman, have?
But Kagami-jin's era was the post-war era. During the wars, children were thrown into shinobi training at absurdly young ages, forced to master jutsu early. Back then, starting at six wasn't impressive; it was shamefully late. But in peacetime, everything was relaxed. Itachi's generation was among the first post-war cohorts, and even they had only dabbled in basic ninjutsu at home. By Naruto and Sasuke's cohort, six years in the academy left them with little more than henge and shadow clones. Most didn't even know how to mold chakra at enrollment.
Placed in that context, Kagami-jin's abilities already qualified him as a genius.