Rebirth?
My eyes blinked open, groggy and slow. I scanned the room around me.
"…This isn't my room?"
The ceiling was cracked. The walls were yellowed. I sat up and glanced at my skin.
Way lighter than it should've been.
With a groan, I fell back onto the thin mattress.
"Of course. I had to get reborn."
Clicking my tongue, I stared at the ceiling. Reincarnation? Really?
I was lazy, man. The thought of doing life all over again just felt… exhausting.
Still, I dragged myself out of bed, stumbling through the run-down apartment in search of a mirror. If I was going to be someone new, I had to at least know who I was.
I found the bathroom.
It stunk.
The water was shut off.
"Figures." I muttered, snorting.
"Guess I couldn't afford the bills."
The place was cramped—maybe 1.2 meters across. Cracked windows. Moldy corners. I was already forming a theory about my new identity.
I stepped in front of the mirror.
Looking back at me was a short boy with sun-kissed blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He was scrawny, underfed… but still somehow kind of cute in a messed-up way. White shirt with a red spiral crest on it. Black shorts.
Yup.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki."
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"God really tossed me into the Ninja World?"
Could've been worse. At least it wasn't Berserk or Warhammer 40K. I'd take chakra over literal hell any day.
I ran a hand through my messy blond hair and exhaled slowly.
"Alright… first step? Learn the Transformation Jutsu. Then figure out what point in canon I'm at."
Leaving the bathroom, I headed toward the front door. As I stepped outside, I was hit with the sights and sounds of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Bright skies. Wooden stalls. Chatter echoing off narrow streets.
Beautiful.
Everything was so full of life. Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
As I wandered, I caught a few glares from the villagers. Whispering. Judging.
I ignored them.
Thick skin's mandatory when you've survived 21st-century internet culture.
Eventually, I found myself in a plaza, and I looked up to see it—the Hokage Monument.
Familiar stone faces carved into the mountain.
"Alright. So I'm not in an alternate timeline."
I kept walking, slipping through crowds, noting the shinobi here and there. Even if they tried to blend in, I could still spot them.
I've always been observant like that.
Then I made my way toward a massive building near the monument. The Hokage Mansion.
While I walked, I tried focusing on my chakra.
"It flows through the body like blood. Heart generates it. Pathways act like vessels…"
It took time… but eventually, I felt it. Warmth. Subtle. Faint.
But it was there.
Progress.
At the mansion entrance, a receptionist greeted me. She looked… basic. Probably a side character. Nothing worth remembering.
I plastered on my best innocent face.
"H-hi, miss. Is the old man Hokage available?"
She blinked, surprised. Then smiled. "Yes, he's free. Follow me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. So those old fanfics were wrong. Hiruzen doesn't have staff that hate Naruto?"
Makes sense. No way the Hokage would keep someone hostile around the Jinchūriki—not if he's smart.
She knocked on a large wooden door. A warm voice answered:
"Come in."
I stepped in.
And there he was.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage. In all his red-and-white-robed glory.
He looked younger than I expected—sharper. Wiser. He radiated power and warmth.
A real leader.
I threw on a grin.
"Old man~ how've you been?"
He chuckled. "I'm doing quite well, Naruto. And you, my boy?"
I shrugged.
"Same old. But something's been bothering me…"
His expression shifted to concern.
Hook.
"I see… what's troubling you?"
Line.
I looked away, sighing.
"I tried going to the library, but the librarian won't let me in…"
"I just want to get stronger."
Sinker.
Hiruzen smiled, a little nostalgic.
"There's still three years before you start the academy," he said gently.
I shook my head.
"That's why I can't waste time. I want to protect my precious people."
For a moment, he just looked at me. Then he nodded.
"Alright. I'll teach you the Transformation Jutsu. Watch closely—I'll only show you once."
He raised his hands.
Rat → Tiger → Boar.
I locked them into memory immediately.
"Got it. Thanks, old man!" I flashed a grin.
"I'll repay you by stealing that hat one day."
He laughed heartily. "I look forward to it."
"Yeah… no thanks. I'm not babysitting a whole village." I muttered internally.
Waving goodbye, I turned and left, heading back to my apartment.
The sun was setting. The village bathed in gold.
And for the first time in this new life—
I felt ready.
---
Author's Note:
Thanks for checking out Chapter 1 🙏
This is my first real fic and I'm just here to enjoy the process. I'm in 9th grade, writing this for fun and growth—so if you've got suggestions, criticism, or just wanna vibe in the comments, go for it!
More chapters coming daily.
Let's build something cool. 💥
---