Konoha Village was fifty-one years old.
One of the Five Great Ninja Villages, it remained brightly lit even at night. The streets were lively, small shops still open, laughter echoing through the air. On the surface, everything looked peaceful.
It had been over a year since the Fourth Hokage had taken office.
And yet, the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen was still alive.
Two Hokage existed at the same time.
One was the elderly "Professor," who still carried the title and authority of Hokage.
The other was the Yellow Flash, active on the battlefield, revered as the strongest ninja of his generation.
Such a situation was bound to make the villagers uneasy, even if no one dared say it out loud.
But what no one knew was that inside the revered Hokage residence, in a quiet room, a red-haired child no more than three or four years old sat alone.
"Is it… tonight?"
The boy's name was Namikaze Kirito.
In his previous life, he came from another world—Earth. After dying, he had been reborn into this world of shinobi. By now, he had lived here for three years.
What he never expected… was to be reborn as the first son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Kushina.
Minato and Kushina had married three years ago and soon after had him.
Last year, Kushina became pregnant again.
And Kirito—who knew the Naruto timeline better than anyone—knew exactly what this night meant.
To outsiders, Namikaze Kirito was a cold child.
Even Minato and Kushina sometimes felt their son was distant by nature.
Yet their love for him never diminished. If anything, it only grew stronger.
And the more they cared for him, the more Kirito seemed to pull away.
What no one noticed… was the burning worry hidden deep within his eyes.
"How ridiculous."
"As someone reborn into this world… I don't even have a cheat. And I can't change what's about to happen tonight."
Kirito smiled bitterly.
In his previous life, he had been an orphan.
When he first arrived in this world, he was simply happy... to live again, in a different place.
But Minato and Kushina's care slowly melted his frozen heart.
By the age of two, he had resolved to change the future.
Unfortunately, his body was far too young.
No matter how strong his will was, he couldn't train properly.
It was only this year that he had barely managed to grasp chakra extraction.
Born with Uzumaki blood, Kirito possessed a naturally powerful body—one suited for training Sage Arts.
But no matter how good his potential was, reality was cruel.
Right now, his strength didn't even compare to a Genin.
"Uchiha Obito…"
He whispered the name softly—sadness and hatred intertwined in his gaze.
Tonight was Uzumaki Naruto's birthday.
And it was also the night Minato and Kushina would die.
When a Jinchūriki gives birth, the seal is at its weakest.
Only the village's highest authorities knew where Kushina was delivering.
As for Kirito…
Even without strong combat power, the Uzumaki body granted him keen perception.
He could clearly sense numerous presences outside the room.
ANBU.
Elite forces directly under the Hokage.
They had been ordered to protect the Fourth Hokage's family.
Ding.
Detected strong unwillingness from the host.
The Peak-at-Start System is initializing…
Countdown—
3…
2…
1.
System startup complete.
Congratulations, Host. You have received the beginner package.
Kirito's thoughts froze.
Then—his eyes lit up.
A system?!
A cheat?!
The essential blessing of every Reincarnator—finally awakening now?!
"I can save them…!"
Without hesitation, Kirito focused inward, diving into his consciousness to inspect the newly awakened system.
Open beginner package.
With a single thought, a translucent interface appeared before him, accompanied by a cold mechanical voice.
Congratulations, Host.
You have obtained the complete abilities of the enhanced Emperor—Marshall D. Teach.
Current unlock rate: 0.1%.
"…0.1%?"
Kirito was stunned.
It felt like standing in front of a treasure vault—only to be allowed to take a single coin.
Blackbeard's power was unquestionable.
This was an enhanced version meant to rival the world's strongest forces.
A Blackbeard with Haki equal to Rocks D. Xebec, backed by two awakened Devil Fruits, stood as an existence the world could no longer ignore.
Against an early-stage Uchiha Obito, it should have been more than enough.
But 0.1%?
That was practically nothing.
"Is this a joke?" Kirito said bitterly.
"You call this 'peak at the start'? You expect me to unlock it bit by bit?"
Ding.
Under normal conditions, the system would have activated thirty years later.
At that time, the Host would immediately possess full enhanced Blackbeard abilities.
Due to the Host's intense emotional fluctuations, the system activated early.
Therefore, the Host must unlock abilities from the initial state.
This system focuses solely on strengthening the Host. No missions will be issued.
All actions are left to the Host's free will.
After thirty years, the system will fully evolve.
System entering sleep mode…
The voice vanished completely.
Kirito stood there, stunned.
Thirty years later?
That was basically the Boruto era.
Who knew if he'd even survive the Fourth Shinobi World War?
Still...
Even at 0.1%, he had no choice but to try.
Kirito clenched his small hands.
Dark energy coiled faintly around his left hand.
A pale white halo shimmered around his right.
Even at this unlock rate, he possessed fragments of two Devil Fruit abilities, along with Conqueror's Haki.
Though his body was too young to fully manifest Haki.
"I don't care anymore."
"If I don't do anything… I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
He knew the truth.
With his age and strength, stopping tonight's tragedy was nearly impossible.
But if someone watches their family die without acting… could they still call themselves human?
Kirito refused to leave regrets behind.
—
Flash.
Yellow light filled the room.
Namikaze Minato appeared, carrying a newborn wrapped in cloth.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Minato gently placed the baby down and turned toward Kirito.
"Kirito," he said softly.
"Take care of your brother for a moment. I'm going to bring your mother back."
Before Kirito could reply—
Another flash of Yellow light.
Minato vanished.
"Waaah…"
The newborn stirred, crying weakly.
Kirito stepped forward, gently placing his hand on Naruto's chest.
The crying gradually faded.
Naruto fell asleep.
Moments later, Minato returned—supporting a pale, exhausted Kushina.
He laid her beside Naruto.
"Mom…"
Kirito could feel it.
As a former Jinchūriki, Kushina's life force was rapidly fading.
"Kirito…" Kushina whispered, smiling weakly.
"Thank you… for taking care of your brother."
She hugged Kirito with one arm, resting her other hand on Naruto's chest.
Her eyes were filled with love.
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