Chapter 1 Hoshikawa Renzo

Konoha.

It had been thirty years since the foundation of Konoha and the other great shinobi villages. The world had known peace for those three decades—until that peace was shattered by a battle that reshaped the very landscape. The legendary God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, clashed against the Ghost of the Uchiha, Madara Uchiha.

The battle ended with Madara's death, but not without a price. Hashirama, though victorious, suffered grievous wounds. He fought against his injuries for some time, yet even someone as powerful as him could not triumph over the eternal enemy of all living beings—Death.

Konoha Cemetery

A blanket of gray clouds covered the sky, casting a solemn gloom over the village. Nearly the entire populace had gathered at the cemetery, clad in black, each holding a single white lily.

Standing at the forefront was the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. His crimson eyes remained fixed on the grave resting beneath the Fire Stone. Unlike most in attendance, not a single tear escaped his eyes, but the sorrow within them ran deeper than anyone else's. Behind him stood six shinobi—the elite shinobi trained by Tobirama himself.

"Lord Hokage."

"Lord Second."

One by one, the villagers stepped forward under Tobirama's watchful gaze. They first bowed slightly to him out of respect, then to Hashirama's grave. Hands clasped, eyes closed in silent prayer, they placed the white lilies upon the resting place of the fallen Hokage before bowing once more and departing.

Eventually, it was the turn of a fair-skinned, brown-haired boy who appeared to be around ten years old yet stood unusually tall for his age, nearly 150 cm. His dark eyes held a maturity far beyond his years. Like the others, he first bowed to Tobirama, then to the grave, but he lingered, keeping his hands clasped in prayer for an unusually long time.

Pat!

A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

The mourners behind him, still waiting for their turn, had begun to grow restless. Among the six shinobi standing behind Tobirama, a handsome man with an "X" scar on his chin stepped forward and impatiently patted the boy's shoulder.

The boy's expression flickered with frustration, but realizing he could delay no longer, he exhaled softly, bowed once more, and left.

Sigh…

"You really are someone difficult to like… Danzo. Would it have killed you to not to butt in for a minute or two?"

Walking away from the cemetery, the brown-haired boy muttered in frustration, curses filling his mind for the man who had interrupted him.

Host: Hoshikawa Renzo

Age: 10

Abilities: Transformation Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, Clone Jutsu, Body Flicker Jutsu, Wind Style: Gale Palm, Lightning Style: Lightning Dash

Copy Attempts: 0 (1 Attempt/Year)

Current Copies: Senju Tobirama (50%)

Copy Strength Cap: Kage Level (10 Copies Required to Increase the Strength Cap)

Copy Range: 10m (5 Copies Required to Increase Copy Range to 100m)

(Would the host like to inherit the copied abilities?) (Yes/No)

Ten years ago, Renzo found himself reborn as a baby in the Narutoverse. Two years after his birth, he inherited the classic orphan template—both his parents, who had been chunin, lost their lives on a mission.

Until the age of six, he lived in an orphanage. Once he was old enough, he moved into the house his parents had left behind, his mature behavior convincing the village authorities that he could live on his own. Being the son of fallen chunin, he was provided with a monthly stipend until he either turned sixteen or became a shinobi.

Aware of the dangerous world he had been born into, Renzo started training at four, once his body had grown enough to endure the hardships of shinobi life. Through the scrolls left by his parents, he learned to refine chakra on his own and, over time, even mastered some of the ninjutsu they had left behind.

At eight, he received a formal notice from the village to join the newly established Ninja Academy, becoming part of its very first batch of students. However, Renzo only attended the Academy for a year before graduating. His skills had already been above those of his peers even before enrollment—though not quite on par with those from the famous clans.

After graduating, he was assigned to a Genin squad under the leadership of a Jonin, a team he was still a part of. Through years of rigorous training, Renzo had come to an unsettling realization—his potential had limits. At best, he could hope to reach the level of a slightly above-average Jonin.

His chakra reserves? Average.

His reaction speed? Average.

His ability to learn ninjutsu? Average.

The only advantage he had was his intellect, but Renzo knew that was merely due to his older soul. Once his peers matured, that edge would disappear too.

Resigned to living an unremarkable shinobi life, everything changed a month ago.

His cheat—a system, a necessity for most reincarnates—finally awakened.

The ability it granted was nothing short of extraordinary: a perfect replication of all abilities of anyone within ten meters. Strength, talent, ninjutsu, taijutsu—everything would be copied flawlessly.

However, there were limitations.

Renzo could only use this ability once per year. Targets beyond the Kage level were off-limits. The copying process required the target to remain within range uninterrupted—any disruption would halt the process, and Renzo would only receive whatever had been copied up to that point.

Given his single yearly attempt, Renzo didn't rush into using it. He spent time contemplating the perfect candidate. Names like Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kagami Uchiha crossed his mind, but ultimately, there was no better target than Senju Tobirama.

Copying him would provide Renzo with unparalleled benefits—the Senju physique, granting massive chakra reserves; Tobirama's unparalleled genius and learning ability; his kenjutsu mastery; his proficiency in nature transformations. With all these, Renzo would be transformed into an all-around powerhouse overnight.

Having chosen his target, the real challenge was finding the right opportunity. He needed at least five uninterrupted minutes within ten meters of the Second Hokage.

Today Tobirama's presence near the grave happened to be the best opportunity Renzo could get, he only needed to pray for a longer time than most which might seem a little odd but it might also be viewed this child had great admiration for the First Hokage and he won't be interrupted quickly, or at least that's how he had thought.

When the copying process had reached halfway Danzo butted in and he had no option but to walk away, his precious yearly attempt only granting him half-success.

With a somewhat happy and somewhat sad mood Renzo walked back to his house, a single storey wooden house with a small courtyard, still big enough for Renzo to train his shuriken and kunai throwing ability.

After having dinner quickly, Renzo went back to his room and after closing all the curtains sat down on the floor and took some deep breaths to calm his excited heart, speaking inwardly next moment.

"Start"