Chapter 3: An Important Decision

[Shinji's Perspective]

I stepped into my parents' room—the only place in the house that had somehow remained intact despite the destruction. The room was spacious, furnished with warm-toned decor, and decorated with small plants that added a soft, welcoming touch.

'I guess Mom had great taste in design,' I mused as I took in the space, my fingers lightly brushing the wooden desk.

But I wasn't here to admire the decor.

Ninjas were good at hiding things, and my parents were no exception. I began my search, combing through every drawer, shelf, and hidden compartment. After nearly an hour, I had gathered everything that held emotional or monetary value: family heirlooms, documents, and—most importantly—scrolls.

One set of documents immediately caught my eye.

Land deeds.

As I read through them, I realized just how wealthy my family had been. We owned land on the outer south side of the village, opposite the Hokage Monument—enough to build an entire clan compound if I ever wanted to. There were additional deeds for properties within Konoha, including the very house I stood in.

'So, I'm loaded.'

It was an interesting revelation, but not one I had any immediate plans for. That kind of wealth would mean nothing until I had the strength to protect it.

Among the items I uncovered, one stood out the most—a small, intricately sealed scroll hidden in a compartment within my father's desk. As I unfurled it, my breath caught in my throat.

It was my family's forging techniques, meticulously recorded and annotated by my father.

At the end of the scroll, a personal message was written in careful strokes:

"My son, this scroll contains the legacy of our clan. If you wish to follow in my footsteps, it will guide you. But you do not have to force yourself onto this path. Find your own way, one that brings you purpose. And know that no matter where you go, we will always be with you."

Tears blurred my vision, but I quickly wiped them away. There was no time for weakness—not now.

Taking a deep breath, I moved on to the next treasure: my mother's scrolls. Unlike my father's, these contained something far more dangerous—ninjutsu.

I unrolled them carefully:

Water Release: Water Shuriken (C-Rank)

Water Release: Water Clone (D-Rank)

Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu (C-Rank)

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (C-Rank)

Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu (B-Rank)

A small chuckle escaped me as I traced my fingers over the parchment. My mother had been insanely strict about training, starting me as soon as I could walk. Even so, she had always been a loving and doting parent, indulging my every ridiculous request.

And now, all that remained of her teachings were these scrolls.

I gathered everything carefully before stepping outside. As I turned to take one final look at the house, sentimentality threatened to creep in. Before I could let it linger, someone appeared beside me.

'Can't people in this village just walk up to someone like normal?!' I grumbled internally, shooting an annoyed glance at the man who had suddenly materialized.

Dressed in a formal coat, the man surveyed the damaged house. "Finally ready to leave this place?"

I exhaled. "Yeah. I'll be staying in an apartment for a year before joining the Academy."

This man, Miyagi, was the one I had agreed to rent the house to. Living here—even after it was restored—was something I wasn't emotionally ready for.

Miyagi gave me a nod. "Don't worry about the place. I'll have it looking as good as new once the repairs are done. You can return whenever you feel ready. I know this house holds a lot more meaning to you than it does to me."

His words were unexpectedly reassuring. He had been recommended by the Hokage himself, so the chances of fraud were low, but hearing him speak so sincerely made me feel at ease.

"Thanks, Mister Miyagi. I'll be going now."

As I walked away, his voice called after me. "Good luck with your exams, kid!"

For once, someone didn't vanish into thin air. Progress.

My new apartment was significantly better than Naruto's. It had a kitchen, bathroom, living area, and a large bedroom—with a balcony that offered a stunning view of Konoha.

Stepping into the shower, I let the warm water wash away the tension that had been building from the sheer emotional rollercoaster of the past few days. Once refreshed, I made my way to the kitchen. Thankfully, it was stocked with enough ingredients to put together a decent meal.

After a mild struggle, I managed to make some sandwiches. Not exactly gourmet, but at least I hadn't burned the place down.

As I sat on the couch, staring out over the balcony, I muttered a single command:

"Come out."

Silence.

I frowned. I had been sure those shadow-like figures had saved me during the Nine-Tails attack. If my hunch was correct and I had the Ten Shadows technique, then...

I focused on my shadow, willing something—anything—to happen.

Still, nothing.

For the next four hours, I tried every ridiculous method I could think of. Nothing worked.

Then, I remembered something my mother used to say during training: "Chakra is like a leaf in the wind—you must feel it before you can control it."

Using the leaf concentration exercise as a guide, I entered a deep meditative state, focusing entirely on the energy coursing through my body. At first, my mind resisted, unfamiliar with this new sensation. But gradually, I felt it—something raw and untapped, like an unseen current flowing beneath my skin.

Carefully, I guided that energy downward, into my shadow.

The air in the room shifted.

Two figures materialized before me, rising from the darkness like ink pooling into form.

One was jet black with piercing yellow eyes and an inverted triangular marking on its forehead. The other was a stark white counterpart, its golden gaze matching its twin's, with a similar but triangular marking.

They were smaller than I had expected, only about my height, but considering I was five years old, that wasn't saying much.

I reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on each of their heads. They both nuzzled into my touch, tails wagging in excitement as they sniffed around the apartment like a pair of curious puppies.

I chuckled. "Maybe they're still young... Maybe they'll grow alongside me."

Watching them, a grin stretched across my face.

I had potential—massive potential. Chakra, Ten Shadows... If I trained properly, I could reach heights no shinobi ever had.

'Heh... maybe I could become the strongest in this generation.'

Then, a more sobering thought settled in.

'Or maybe not. There are monsters like Madara and Hashirama out there. They could probably one-shot Mahoraga without breaking a sweat.'

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. No point in getting arrogant.

Instead, I turned to the biggest question of all:

What should I do about the future?

Should I change it? Or should I simply use my knowledge to gain an advantage?