"Kazuki-kun! Kushina's been kidnapped!"
Kazuki looked at the group of teenagers who had rushed over in a panic. The moment their words hit him, a flood of unfamiliar yet familiar memories crashed into his mind like a tidal wave.
He froze.
I… transmigrated?
This was the world of Naruto.
This was Konohagakure.
According to the memories settling into place, it hadn't even been ten years since the end of the Second Shinobi World War. On the surface, the village was enjoying rare peace—but underneath, tension simmered like a pot ready to boil over.
And Kazuki?
He wasn't some hidden genius.
He wasn't a clan heir.
He wasn't even promising.
He was a war orphan taken in years ago when the Uzumaki clan escorted young Kushina Uzumaki to Konoha.
Just another background ninja.
Cannon fodder at best.
Standing in front of him now were his classmates:
Uchiha Mikoto,Minato Namikaze,and the Hyūga brothers.
Mikoto had grown up alongside Kazuki. They'd trained together since they were kids. She was also Kushina's closest friend.
Minato, on the other hand…
A once-in-a-generation genius.
Even though he was officially only a chūnin, his actual combat ability was already jōnin level. His talent for ninjutsu was absurd—borderline unfair.
Kazuki clicked his tongue internally.
Yeah… that Minato.
The man destined to become Hokage in his early twenties.
The Hyūga brothers weren't weak either. Among their peers, they were considered elites.
And Kazuki?
Just another average chūnin with no bloodline limit and no flashy techniques.
As he digested these memories—
A translucent panel suddenly appeared in his mind.
[System initializing…][Based on the host's current situation, three starting options have been generated:]
Option 1:Remain a bystander. Stay out of the plot and live safely.Reward: C-Rank Taijutsu — Konoha Great Whirlwind.
Option 2:Create chaos. Sabotage the rescue and align with the enemy.Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan.
Option 3:Leave Konoha immediately and participate in Kushina's rescue.Reward: Supreme Starter Gift Pack.
[Rewards will be settled immediately upon mission completion.]
Kazuki's eyes widened.
There it is.
The standard transmigrator starter pack.
Sure enough, the system might be late—
But it never skips the entrance.
He quickly analyzed the options.
Option 1 was the safest… and the most pathetic.
Konoha Great Whirlwind?That's just the taijutsu technique Might Guy later teaches Rock Lee.
Decent.
But hardly life-changing.
Definitely a "background character" reward.
Option 2 looked tempting at first glance.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
But Kazuki wasn't stupid.
With his current strength, he wouldn't even make it far enough to cause chaos before getting captured. Konoha's ANBU and Root weren't decorative pieces.
Even if he somehow succeeded, a non-Uchiha awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan?
He'd be dissected before sunset.
Option 2 wasn't bold.
It was suicide wrapped in shiny packaging.
That left Option 3.
"Supreme Starter Gift Pack."
The name alone screamed main-character treatment.
It couldn't possibly be worse than Konoha Great Whirlwind.
And more importantly—
The wording mattered.
Leave Konoha immediately and participate in the rescue.
It didn't say "successfully rescue Kushina."
It just said participate.
That meant the moment he left the village and joined the pursuit, he'd likely meet the condition.
Kazuki mentally asked the system for clarification.
The reply was cold and simple:
[Final judgment subject to system settlement.]
Fair enough.
Still—
Kushina's kidnapping felt… off.
How could a handful of Kumogakure shinobi infiltrate Konoha, kidnap the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, and leave unnoticed?
This village currently housed:
Hiruzen Sarutobi in his prime.The young Sannin.And elite shinobi like Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang.
It reminded Kazuki of Mizuki manipulating Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals years later.
On the surface, it looked like a simple betrayal.
But the more you thought about it…
The more it felt like someone had allowed it to happen.
No matter.
Kazuki had made his decision.
Complete Option 3 within his limits.
Leave the village.
Join the rescue.
Uchiha Mikoto clenched her fists."This happened while our clan was busy with the shrine ceremony. Those bastards took advantage of the distraction and kidnapped Kushina!"
"I heard it was a Kumogakure spy who'd been hiding inside Konoha," someone added.
Minato frowned. "I'm going to Kushina's house first to check for clues."
Before anyone could respond—
His figure blurred.
And vanished.
The Body Flicker Technique.
Everyone stared in awe.
"So fast…"
"I heard Lord Third personally mentored him."
Kazuki knew better.
That wasn't Hiruzen's technique.
That was the foundation of the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God.
Minato was already on another level.
Kazuki turned to Mikoto and the Hyūga brothers.
"We should split up and search outside the village. There might be traces."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow."You?"
One of the others snorted."Kazuki, you'd just slow everyone down."
"With your strength, going outside is asking to die."
"The dead last wants to play hero now?"
Kazuki rolled his eyes.
He didn't bother arguing.
He channeled chakra to his feet and bolted.
His basic D-Rank movement technique boosted his speed—barely twice that of normal sprinting.
Compared to Minato?
He looked like he was jogging.
Still—
He reached the village gate quickly.
Shinobi had already gathered there.
No way he was getting through officially.
Kazuki shifted direction.
There was another route—an outer wall path he remembered from training.
When he arrived—
Someone was already guarding it.
A young Uchiha Fugaku.
Future head of the Uchiha clan.
Future father of Itachi and Sasuke.
Fugaku narrowed his eyes."Kazuki? What are you doing here?"
Kazuki pointed behind him suddenly."Fugaku-san, look—over there!"
Fugaku instinctively turned.
That was enough.
Kazuki dashed past him.
"Hey! Don't go! It's dangerous outside—Kumogakure shinobi are still out there!"
Fugaku moved to grab him—
But then saw Mikoto and the Hyūga brothers approaching.
He stopped.
"…Tch. If that idiot wants to die, that's on him."
Meanwhile—
Kazuki vaulted the wall and landed outside Konoha.
[Ding!][Host has left Konoha. Mission progress: 50%.]
Halfway there.
Good.
Now what?
As he sprinted forward—
Something caught his eye.
A strand of deep red hair lay on the forest floor.
Kazuki's heart skipped.
"This is Kushina's hair…"
She was known for deliberately leaving strands behind when in danger.
[Ding!][Clue discovered. Mission progress: 60%.][Continue tracking the target.]
Kazuki clenched his fists.
Now the real chase begins.