I was uncomfortable. My entire body felt incredibly tight, immobile, as if I were trapped inside a cocoon that didn't belong to me. To make matters worse, I couldn't control a single muscle. Was someone crying… or was it me? I had no way of knowing. I only heard muffled voices and distant sounds, as if the world were submerged underwater.
I struggled. I didn't know why or against what, but I did it with all my strength—until I finally managed to pry my eyes open slightly. My vision failed me; everything was blurry, lights and shadows blending together. It took me a few seconds to focus.
Beside me, in a crib identical to mine, there was another baby crying inconsolably. Further ahead, an overwhelming presence: a massive beast, its tails whipping through the air like lashes.
The Nine-Tails…? I murmured—but only meaningless gurgling escaped my lips, the kind only a newborn could make.
That was when I saw her.
A woman with long red hair, her face marked by pain. And beside her, a man with blond hair, determination and sorrow in his eyes.
That was enough.
"Great…" I thought bitterly. "I've been born into the ninja world… as Naruto's twin sibling."
I let out a sigh. A mix of exhaustion and resignation washed over me. All the memories of the future came rushing back like an avalanche.
"Well… at least I have an advantage," I told myself internally, just before fatigue once again weighed down on me like a damp blanket.
I remained like that, doing nothing, uninterested in what was happening around me. What could I do now, in such a tiny body?
Just wait.
Then I felt it.
A warm, colossal energy—like a living flame—slowly entered my body.
And for the first time since waking up in this new world, something ignited within me.
Not hope—not exactly…
But a spark.
"I guess I'll make the most of it," I thought as I closed my eyes.
---
In the blink of an eye, five years passed.
At first, I was honestly a bit confused, wondering why I had transmigrated into this world. But after thinking long and hard about it, I understood one thing:
It's not worth overthinking.
Just enjoy being in a world with powers like chakra, natural energy—and, of course, having a Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside your belly.
But those are just technicalities.
Right now, I was living in the forest after being thrown out of the orphanage—along with my twin.
Yes, twin.
At first, I thought Naruto would be the same as the original—a boy. But it turned out to be a girl named Mito. Which, by the way, sounds like the name of a cocktail.
I figured that since this wasn't the original version, I must be in one of its countless alternate worlds. That would explain the gender swaps, personality changes, and all that.
At this point, I don't even know what to think anymore.
I guess not even Minato or Kushina had any talent for naming things—especially Minato. I mean, seriously… who names a technique something like "Spinning attack technique based on a tailed beast" or whatever?
"Brother!" a voice shouted enthusiastically behind me.
Turning my head, I opened my eyes—and what I saw made me pause.
What the…
Mito was being chased by a large, angry deer. Tears filled her eyes as she ran—surprisingly fast.
Jumping to my feet, I dashed forward as quickly as I could. Passing Mito, I leaped and delivered a kick to the deer's head, sending it staggering sideways and crashing into a large tree, its antlers embedding deep into the wood.
Landing on the ground, I dusted off my hands.
I looked at Mito, who was breathing heavily from the run. My gaze was intense enough to make the Uzumaki girl nervous.
"Mito… what did you do this time?"
"W-well… I was exploring, looking for a four-leaf petal, when suddenly this little deer appeared. And I thought it was cute, so I tried to touch it—but then the bigger one showed up and chased me," she explained, puffing her cheeks adorably.
"So I ran… and here I am."
"Uh-huh…" I said, not entirely convinced.
"It's true! Really!"
Well… at least she kept the verbal tic.
I sighed, running a hand through my blood-red hair.
"Alright, I believe you, you silly little sister. But I told you not to go too deep into the forest. There are dangerous animals out there."
Mito puffed her cheeks again.
"But they're amazing!"
"They're dangerous," I corrected. "Last time we almost died because someone wandered into a giant snake's nest."
"I didn't know it was its nest!"
"Mito Uzumaki," I said seriously.
She stiffened.
"You're grounded. And your punishment… is fishing."
Her face turned pale, as if she had just been sentenced to prison.
"No… I hate fishing."
"Too bad. Now come on—grab a rod and sit down."
I walked toward a large space between the roots of a massive tree. Inside, there was a bed made of dry leaves and thick animal hides.
I picked up two simple fishing rods made from sticks and ninja wire.
Handing one to Mito, she reluctantly took it and sat on a nearby rock by the river, pouting.
---
"Menma, why is it taking so long?" Mito asked impatiently, staring at her fishing rod as if expecting the water to feel guilty and hand her a fish out of pity.
"Fishing is about patience and calm," I reminded her—for the tenth time in the last twenty minutes.
"But we only have two fish!" she complained, pointing at the poor creatures resting on a large leaf by the shore.
"Yeah…" I replied absentmindedly, focused on my line.
"I want more fish. They're not biting. If I jump in, I'm sure I could catch a lot! Really!"
"And you'll really drown—like last time," I said without looking at her. "You can barely float, Mito."
She puffed her cheeks in a perfect display of adorable frustration.
"You just have to move your arms forward and your legs up and down! It's not that hard!"
"Actually…" I paused for dramatic effect. "Actually, yeah, that's basically it. But there's technique involved, you know? It's not about flailing like a dying fish out of water."
She shot me a mock glare—but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.
Then I noticed her rod shaking violently.
"You've got one," I pointed out.
"Huh?! Really?!" Mito yanked the rod with all her strength, and suddenly a fish the size of her forearm flew out of the water, flapping wildly before landing in the grass.
"I caught it!! Menma, did you see that?! I caught it!!" she shouted excitedly, jumping up and down as if she had just defeated a tailed beast.
"Yeah, yeah, champ. Good job," I said with a smile, catching another fish without much effort.
By the end of the afternoon, we had caught around ten good-sized fish for dinner.