Chapter 2: Echoes of the Past

The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows over Konoha's houses as Hyougen made his way home. His house wasn't far from the celebration grounds—after all, the Uchiha clan's district was still in the heart of the village. It had yet to be relocated to the outskirts, as he remembered from his past life.

As he stepped inside, he was met with silence and darkness. The only sound was the soft creaking of the wooden floor beneath his feet. His gaze lifted toward the wall, where two framed portraits rested—a man and a woman. Their faces were familiar, yet they felt distant, as if they belonged to a different lifetime.

Two Years Ago...

An eight-year-old boy stood before three men, with the Uchiha clan leader at the center. His face was calm, but if one looked closely, they might catch a glimpse of hidden sorrow—perhaps even pity.

Hyougen looked up at them, confused by their serious expressions. Then, one of them spoke, his voice quiet but weighted.

"Boy, we regret to inform you that your parents were killed by enemy shinobi during a mission. We were unable to recover their bodies… From now on, you will receive a pension until you turn twelve."

The child stood motionless, showing no immediate reaction. The words were clear, yet his young mind struggled to grasp them. Killed? Gone? Never coming back?

End of Flashback

Hyougen's gaze lingered on the portraits for a moment before he took a deep breath and continued toward the kitchen. He lit the stove and began preparing his meal. It was a simple task, but he was grateful for the knowledge from his past life, which provided him with a wider variety of recipes. He chopped some vegetables, added spices and salt, and began cooking a dish he recalled from his previous world: Makhlemeh.

He carried his food to the living room and ate in silence, his mind racing with thoughts.

"In the past, my dream was simple—to grow stronger and live a happy life with my mother and father. But now… after their deaths, that dream no longer holds meaning. My new goal is simple: revenge against those who took them from me."

His fingers clenched into a fist before he slowly released them, regaining his composure.

"But I'm not a fool. I can't pursue revenge without power. Right now, I have nothing but the Uchiha name… and I haven't even awakened the Sharingan."

Despite his pain, despite the deep loss he had suffered, his eyes had yet to manifest the power his clan was known for. It was frustrating… even the shock of regaining his past-life memories had failed to trigger his bloodline.

Yet, he never doubted his talent.

"I picked up genjutsu techniques easily, but I never pursued them further. Without the Sharingan, they are meaningless. Most of my father's genjutsu techniques rely on it."

Placing his empty plate aside, Hyougen stood up, his gray eyes gleaming with newfound determination.

"My first goal hasn't changed—strength. And the first step toward that? Awakening the Sharingan… no matter what it takes."