(I lost my mind...)
(There's a conflict in the timeline of Naruto. This story adopts the new setting from the manga's Jin no Sho: In Konoha Year 63, Naruto and Sasuke graduate from the Ninja Academy at age 12 and become Genin; in Konoha Year 68, Naruto turns 17 on the day the Fourth Shinobi World War ends.)
(If this conflicts with your understanding, we can discuss it, or you can consider it my personal setting.)
Konoha Year 45, on the eve of the Third Shinobi World War, in an underground Root base.
This was the office of Danzo, the 'Shadow of the Shinobi', 'Scapegoat of the Shinobi World', '5.5th Hokage of Konoha', and leader of Root.
Danzo's right eye was bandaged as he intently read a confidential document. The title read: "Experiment Records on Hashirama Cells Fusing with Human Bodies," recorded by Orochimaru.
Standing before the desk was a masked Root member in a gray hooded cloak, reporting:
"Lord Danzo, we have found 86 orphans around Konoha and the Land of Fire, including one infant..."
Danzo didn't look up, responding in a flat tone:
"Send the infant to the Orphanage. As for the rest... select fifteen and send them to Orochimaru. The others are to begin training."
"Yes!" the gray-hooded Root member replied.
As he was about to leave, he paused.
"Lord Danzo, the infant is unusual. He appears only a day or two old, yet he doesn't cry or fuss, and has even opened his eyes..."
Danzo still didn't look up.
"...Keep an eye on him after he's sent to the Orphanage."
From these words, it was clear Danzo wasn't overly concerned; the experiment document had captured his full attention.
"This subordinate understands."
With that, the man flickered and disappeared.
Danzo put down the completed experiment report and picked up another confidential document. It read: "The Third Kazekage has gone missing..."
Not long after, he slammed the paper onto the desk, a thick gloom darkening his usually impassive face.
The quiet night fell upon the Konoha Orphanage, faint lights illuminating a corner of the hallway.
Yakushi Nonou sat by the window, cradling the small infant who had arrived earlier that day.
The tiny body was swaddled in a soft blanket. She gently placed the bottle's nipple to the infant's mouth, letting warm milk flow. Her other hand softly patted his back. A gentle smile graced her lips.
"Drink your milk, little one," she whispered, her voice soft and calming. "Staring at me with such big eyes… do you want breast milk?"
She tilted her head, teasing.
"I'm sorry, I'm not married."
"So I can't give you breast milk."
The infant in her arms was precisely the one sent by Root.
As Nonou spoke, his tiny brows furrowed, mirroring a complex expression. It was as if he understood her words. For a fleeting moment, his gaze reflected exasperation, silently asking: "What is all this? Can you stop teasing me?"
"Hmm?" Nonou's smile froze.
She murmured softly:
"Can you really understand me?"
She studied Kevis's face, hoping to see more signs of comprehension, then shook her head. How could it be? He was just a newborn, only a few days old. Perhaps she was overthinking.
Smiling again, she murmured to Kevis:
"Drink more milk, so you can grow up healthy and chubby. Not crying or fussing actually makes things easier for me."
She continued to pat his back, careful not to let him choke on the milk.
Yakushi Nonou genuinely loved these children. To her, they were lights in the darkness, her reason to survive in this harsh world.
Although the Orphanage manager and caregivers frequently complained about finances whenever an infant arrived, she ignored them and simply worked harder herself.
However, for Kevis in her arms, this maternal scene, full of love and care, stirred a wave of exasperation.
"Let me suckle a couple of times… whether you're married or have breast milk… I don't care," he mused internally.
Of course, these thoughts were only in Kevis's mind. In a newborn's body, the vocal cords were too underdeveloped to form words; even opening his mouth could only produce a "wah-wah" cry.
The nipple was placed in his mouth, and the warm milk filled his tiny belly. Kevis felt Nonou's gentleness and patience, and the helpless restlessness from his past life gradually subsided.
His previous existence, filled with toil and failure over thirty years, suddenly seemed absurd. An accident had inexplicably brought him into this unfamiliar world.
"Yakushi Nonou… is this… Naruto…?"
When he was first brought to the Orphanage by the masked man, he was bewildered. Hearing the caregiver mention 'Yakushi Nonou' connected the dots. Though his mind was still hazy, he began to understand his situation.
Thinking this, Kevis felt a sense of longing and peace. For a failure like him, surviving—even barely—was enough.
Even if he had changed worlds, it didn't matter. Mystical powers might exist here, but at worst, he would die again… which wasn't new to him.
He adjusted quickly, stopped overthinking, closed his eyes, and focused on the milk.
Just as Kevis closed his eyes, a sudden flash of light appeared, piercing the darkness.
Then, with a soft 'ding' sound:
"Target connected. Automatically gained Transcender status…"
"Transcender Panel activated…"
A translucent, data-panel-like interface appeared before him, floating silently and emitting a faint glow. Though his eyes were closed, his consciousness "saw" it clearly.
[Kevis, Transcender (Soul unparalleled; body naturally condenses. Overall evaluation: You possess infinite potential!)]
[Age: 16 hours]
[Body: – (Infant state not calculated; comprehensive quality)]
[Soul: ∞ (Transcender innate)]
[Energy: Bio-energy (Source: Food, cellular absorption in progress)]
[Ability: Transcend (Your cells crave energy to evolve and transcend)]
[System Space: None]
[System Message: I'm so tired! The world is so big, I want to see it. Goodbye…]
Kevis blinked in wonder, the possibilities of this new life unfolding before him. For the first time in decades, he felt truly alive.