Chapter 1: System Activated! Perfect Sage Body!
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In a dense forest, a red-haired boy, no older than five, diligently practiced his swordsmanship with a short blade.
It was midday, the sun beating down mercilessly. Sweat plastered the boy's clothes to his skin.
"Man, this heat is brutal," Shin Uzumaki grumbled, but his training continued unabated. A little sunshine wouldn't derail his pursuit of strength.
"Shin, there you are! What are you doing out here in this inferno? Trying to fry your brains?" A small head popped out from behind a large tree. Kushina Uzumaki skipped towards Shin, her red hair a fiery halo in the sunlight.
Shin paused his practice and turned, a wry smile on his face as he looked at the adorable girl.
"Kushina, now's not really the time for a tea party."
Kushina puffed out her cheeks, her pout on full display. "Shin, you used to hang out with me all the time. Now you're giving me the cold shoulder."
Tears welled up in Kushina's eyes, threatening to cascade down her cheeks. Shin felt a wave of exasperation.
"Kushina, do you think I'm out here baking in this heat for fun? It's not exactly a picnic."
Shin sat down, taking a long pull from his water bottle to rehydrate.
Unlike the carefree Kushina, Shin carried a secret burden. He was a Transmigrant, reborn into the world of Naruto as a newborn baby.
The initial shock of landing in this world, where danger lurked around every corner, had been profound.
Fortunately, he wasn't just some random civilian but a member of the Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Whirlpools. But even that was a double-edged sword.
It was the period after the First Shinobi World War, before the Second had erupted. The Naruto storyline he knew was still decades in the future. This was the era when the Land of Whirlpools faced its imminent demise. Shin didn't know the exact date, but he knew the clock was ticking.
His only path forward was to grind his strength, to maximize his chances of surviving the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools. He wasn't about to let his second chance at life go to waste.
"Shin, are you keeping secrets from me?" Kushina asked, her eyes mirroring the concern she felt for him.
Shin looked at Kushina, his gaze serious. "Kushina, what if I told you that soon, the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki Clan, will face a disaster unlike any other? Would you believe me?"
"No way, Shin. You're pulling my leg, right?" Kushina giggled, taking his words as a joke.
Shin shrugged. If even Kushina, who trusted him implicitly, wouldn't buy it, convincing the rest of the clan was a lost cause. The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools seemed inevitable.
He wasn't exactly Mr. Worldwide; no one would take him seriously.
[Ding!]
A crisp, mechanical chime echoed in Shin's mind, jolting him.
"Replication System activated. Greetings, Master. I await your commands."
Shin felt a surge of excitement. He had a Golden Finger!
But why now? After five years in this world, the system finally decided to wake up?
"Shin, what's up?" Kushina asked, attuned to his every shift in mood.
"Nothing, Kushina. Just remembered something I gotta do. I'll definitely hang out with you tomorrow. Gotta run for now."
Shin sprang onto a tree branch, vanishing in a blur of motion.
Kushina's jaw dropped. That speed and agility were beyond most genin. Shin was hiding some serious skills! Kushina clenched her fists, a playful anger bubbling up.
"If you ditch me tomorrow, you'll be sorry!" she shouted after him.
Instead of heading home, Shin made his way to a secluded riverbank to delve into his system's interface.
"System, lay it on me. What can you do?" Shin asked, a mix of anticipation and anxiety in his voice.
If this system turned out to be a dud, it would be a major letdown.
"This system is designated the Replication System. It can copy anything, from Jutsu to Chakra, even Kekkei Genkai."
Shin's eyes widened. Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Rinne Sharingan—all within his grasp?
The various overpowered Dōjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's immortality, all those S-rank Jutsu and Kekkei Genkai—the possibilities were endless.
"Hold on, there have to be some strings attached, right?" Shin asked, his excitement tempered by a dose of realism. It couldn't be that easy.
"Affirmative. Replication requires the expenditure of Replication Cards. These are categorized into Common, Advanced, and Divine levels."
"Common Replication Cards can replicate jutsu up to B-rank, including B-rank Jutsu, chakra and physical abilities of Jōnin, and so on."
"Advanced Replication Cards can replicate jutsu and secret techniques up to S-rank, including S-rank, chakra and physical abilities of Kage, and common Kekkei Genkai, such as Scorch Release and Lava Release."
"Divine Replication Cards are unrestricted and can replicate any target."
"Alright, so how do I get my hands on these Replication Cards?" Shin asked, barely able to contain his impatience.
"There are two primary acquisition methods. First, the system will bestow upon you one Replication Card annually. The specific category—Common, Advanced, or Divine—is determined by a random variable."
"The second method involves the completion of missions tailored to your preferences. Upon successful completion, you will be rewarded with Replication Cards. Missions are optional, and there are no penalties for failure."
"One card per year, not bad at all," Shin mused. His system seemed to be quite the benevolent benefactor.
And the missions were optional, with no repercussions for failure? That was a relief.
Shin valued his freedom; the last thing he needed was some overbearing system bossing him around.
"Oh, and system, don't suppose there's a welcome package for new users?" Shin asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"The Newbie Gift Pack was granted to you at the moment of your birth, Master. You should be cognizant of its presence."
Shin paused, then ventured a guess. "Could it be the Sage Body?"
The Sage Body was a Kekkei Genkai common to the Uzumaki Clan. Every member of the Senju and Uzumaki Clans possessed it, but Shin had always felt his was different, more potent.
"Affirmative. Upon your transmigration into this world, Master, the system bestowed upon you the [Perfect Sage Body]."
Shin couldn't contain his elation. A [Perfect Sage Body], putting him on par with the legendary Hashirama Senju?
Hashirama, with his [Perfect Sage Body] and self-developed Wood Release, had taken down Madara Uchiha, wielder of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and the full-fledged Nine-Tails!
Did this mean he could achieve Hashirama's level of power? With the system's assistance, surpassing Hashirama and reaching the realm of the Six Paths might not be just a pipe dream.
His future was looking brighter by the minute!
--
Chapter 2: Adamantine Chains and Four Symbols Seal
--
"Whew, with the system in play, at least I've got a fighting chance in this crazy world."
Shin noticed he had five Replication Cards stocked up. He'd been in the Naruto world for five years now, and even though the system had been snoozing this whole time, it hadn't skimped on the annual card handouts.
"Is my luck really this rotten?"
Shin checked the cards and found they were all Common. The yearly card was a random drop; with a bit of luck, he could have scored a Divine card. Sadly, fortune didn't seem to be on his side—not even an Advanced card in sight.
"Let's see what's on the mission board."
Shin opened the system's mission interface and found a single quest waiting for him.
[Survival: Survive the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools. Reward: 1 Common Replication Card. Failure: No penalty.]
"System, are you kidding me? No penalty for failure? If I fail, I'm dead!" Shin couldn't help but complain.
Could this survival mission even be failed? Failing meant kicking the bucket, didn't it?
"And the reward is pretty stingy, too."
"Master, rewards are commensurate with mission difficulty. This particular mission is not classified as high-difficulty."
Shin couldn't argue with that. For someone who was prepared, this mission wasn't exactly climbing Mount Everest.
In the original story, when the Land of Whirlpools went kaput, a good number of Uzumaki Clan members survived, like Karin's mother, for example.
"Time to head back."
Shin channeled chakra to his legs, leaped onto a tree branch, and vanished in a few swift movements.
He lived in a secluded spot, far from the clan's main grounds. It had its perks, mainly peace and quiet.
"You're finally back, Shin."
Kushina was sitting on the steps in front of the house, chin resting on her hands. Her eyes, which had been downcast, lit up when she saw him.
"Kushina, you haven't been sitting here this whole time, have you?"
Shin walked over and pulled her up. It was just the two of them living here.
A year ago, he had still been living with the clan, but things had happened, and he'd moved out.
Kushina had no family left in the clan. Her parents had died in an accident when she was three. Shin was her only friend, so she came with him.
"I've been waiting for you forever. If you hadn't come back soon, I would have starved to death."
Kushina said weakly. She couldn't cook, so she relied on Shin for meals.
"Weren't there some snacks left? You could have munched on those."
Kushina gave an awkward laugh, her small hands fidgeting with her clothes. "I, uh, might have finished those already."
"Alright, alright. I'll whip something up right away."
As Shin was about to lead Kushina inside, he heard a faint sound behind him. He turned and saw a middle-aged man with red hair, dressed in shinobi garb, standing a short distance away.
The man was expressionless. He held a small bundle, which he tossed to Shin.
"This is your living allowance."
Shin caught the bundle and opened it. Besides money, there were two Jutsu Scrolls.
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"Those Jutsu Scrolls are your mother's belongings. The elder instructed me to deliver them to you."
With that, the man vanished in a swirl of leaves.
"Mother's belongings." Shin felt a pang of sadness. He unfurled the two Jutsu Scrolls. They contained two sealing jutsu: the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Four Symbols Seal.
Both were incredibly powerful Sealing Jutsu, especially effective against Tailed Beasts.
"Shin, are you okay?" Kushina asked cautiously.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'll make dinner first, and after we eat, we can practice these sealing jutsu together."
Shin gave Kushina a reassuring smile.
"Huh? That's not right. These are your mother's legacy. I can't practice them with you," Kushina shook her head.
"Kushina, you're my best friend. You were there for me when everyone else shunned me. Of course I want to share good things with you."
Shin placed a hand on Kushina's shoulder, his voice sincere.
Shin was the grandson of the Uzumaki Clan elder. His mother was the elder's daughter, but his father wasn't an Uzumaki.
Not only was he not an Uzumaki, but he was from the Uchiha Clan, once sworn enemies of the Uzumaki.
During the Warring States Period, the Uzumaki and Senju Clans were allies, while the Uchiha and Senju were locked in a bitter feud.
Because of their alliance with the Senju, the Uzumaki had clashed with the Uchiha numerous times. Even though the Warring States Period was long gone, the animosity lingered.
Naturally, Shin's parents' relationship didn't end well. The man returned to the Uchiha Clan, and Shin's mother, heartbroken, eventually succumbed to her grief.
Shin had heard that the man also died on a mission shortly after his mother's passing.
This was the reason Shin wasn't well-liked within the Uzumaki Clan. Even his grandfather, the clan elder, treated him coldly.
Soon, Shin had dinner ready. He was a decent cook, at least good enough for Kushina, who ate with gusto.
After dinner, Shin called Kushina over, and they began studying the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Four Symbols Seal.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains was an A-rank sealing jutsu. When used, it produced multiple chakra chains from the user's back. These chains were not only powerful offensive weapons but could also be used to create barriers and seal Tailed Beasts.
The stronger the user's chakra, the greater the jutsu's power. And what were the Uzumaki known for? Their massive Chakra Reserves, of course.
The Uzumaki possessed the Sage Body. Even Kushina, who had only recently learned to mold chakra, had reserves comparable to an average Genin.
With their powerful chakra and this sealing jutsu, even the Nine-Tails would be wary of facing an Uzumaki.
The Uzumaki Clan's strength lay in their chakra and Sealing Jutsu. The seal used to contain the Nine-Tails in Konoha was, in fact, an Uzumaki sealing jutsu.
"I don't get it at all. Am I just dumb?" Kushina said, staring at the scrolls with a furrowed brow.
Shin was engrossed in studying the Jutsu. After coming to this world, he realized his learning ability had skyrocketed.
He was starting to grasp the concepts behind these sealing jutsu, but mastering them would take time.
After all, these were A-rank sealing jutsu. Many elite Jōnin couldn't learn them; it required a certain level of talent.
They studied late into the night. When Shin finally set the scrolls aside, he noticed Kushina had fallen asleep beside him.
"Silly girl, falling asleep like that."
Shin gently scooped Kushina up and laid her on the tatami mat, tucking a blanket around her.
"Well, time for me to hit the hay too."
Shin stretched. A good night's rest was essential for the intense training he had planned for the next day.
After washing up, Shin returned to his room and drifted off to sleep.
--
Chapter 3: Shin's Sharingan
--
Dawn broke, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink as Shin opened his eyes.
"Another day, another chance to grind. Time to refine some chakra." Shin sat up and began his morning ritual.
He had only received the [Chakra Refinement Technique] a week ago. It was a standard issue scroll provided by the clan.
Despite being ostracized due to his parentage, Shin still received the basic necessities. Things like a living allowance, the [Chakra Refinement Technique], and even those two sealing jutsu from yesterday.
The [Adamantine Sealing Chains] and the [Four Symbols Seal] were prized even within the Uzumaki Clan; most elite Jōnin could only dream of learning them.
Chakra was the fusion of physical and spiritual energy extracted from the 130 trillion cells in the human body. Overdoing it could lead to fatigue or even worse, risking one's life.
Shin spent an hour refining chakra. Despite being only five years old and a newbie to chakra refinement, the amount he generated was startling.
Thanks to his [Perfect Sage Body], the quality and quantity of his chakra were several times greater than that of a normal Sage Body.
Sensing the energy coursing through him, Shin figured his chakra reserves were probably on par with a Jōnin.
And this was just the beginning. If he kept refining his chakra for a few years, could he reach Tailed Beast levels?
He thought of Hashirama, the man who wielded chakra like it was an infinite resource, even the Nine-Tails paling in comparison.
Shin got up, washed up, and prepared breakfast.
"Kushina, breakfast is ready! Snooze, you lose!"
A while later, Kushina emerged from her room, yawning, her usually silky red hair a tangled mess.
"Go wash up, sleepyhead. Breakfast is getting cold. And look at your hair, birds could build a nest in there."
Shin reached out and gently combed his fingers through Kushina's hair. Her face flushed slightly, but she was used to Shin's casual touch.
After washing up, Kushina took her seat at the table.
Shin had prepared a feast: fish, meat, and two large glasses of milk.
Being a shinobi was energy-intensive; they couldn't skimp on nutrition. Proper fuel was essential for training.
Both Shin and Kushina had healthy appetites, so Shin had prepared enough food for five people.
Thankfully, the Uzumaki Clan provided a generous allowance, and Shin supplemented their income by hunting in the forest. Otherwise, they'd be struggling to keep their bellies full.
"Kushina, after breakfast, it's training time. You're coming with me."
Shin said as he ate. As a transmigrant, he knew the dangers of the Naruto world.
He wanted Kushina to become stronger, to be able to protect herself.
Kushina nodded. Staying home alone was boring; she'd rather train with Shin.
After breakfast, Kushina took the initiative to wash the dishes. While she was busy, Shin opened his system interface and accepted the only mission on the quest board.
He hadn't accepted it yesterday, but there was no point delaying. It was a mission he had to complete no matter what.
Once Kushina finished with the dishes, they headed out to the nearby forest.
"Kushina, you work on refining your chakra," Shin instructed.
"Okay." Kushina sat on a clean rock and started the monotonous process of chakra refinement.
Shin took out his weighted clothing and put it on. Then, he drew the short blade from his hip and began practicing his swordsmanship.
Before he got the [Chakra Refinement Technique], Shin had focused on Kenjutsu and Taijutsu.
With his [Perfect Sage Body], his physical strength was exceptional, making taijutsu training twice as effective. The Uzumaki and Senju were natural-born brawlers.
It was just that the Uzumaki Clan prioritized sealing jutsu, neglecting their powerful physiques.
After a thousand swings, Shin wiped the sweat from his brow and took out his kunai and shuriken.
Fifty meters away, he had set up a target. It was crude, but it served its purpose.
Shin focused, his blue eyes morphing into a blood red, a single black tomoe swirling into existence.
The target, which had been a small speck at fifty meters, was now crystal clear.
The [Sharingan], a One-Tomoe Sharingan.
Shin had Uchiha blood flowing through his veins; awakening the [Sharingan] wasn't surprising.
He had awakened it when his mother died, but he had kept it a secret, even from Kushina.
The fewer people knew, the better. If others found out he had the [Sharingan], his life within the Uzumaki Clan would become even more difficult.
Fixing his gaze on the distant target, Shin launched a kunai. With the [Sharingan]'s enhanced vision, he could clearly see the bullseye.
The kunai struck dead center, its force so strong that it pierced through the target, leaving a gaping hole.
After practicing kunai throwing for a while, Shin decided to move on. Compared to kunai throwing, mastering jutsu was far more critical.
"Next up, time to crack this sealing jutsu."
Shin pulled out the jutsu scroll and started studying the [Adamantine Sealing Chains]. He wasn't in a hurry to learn the [Four Symbols Seal]; that could wait.
Mastering the [Adamantine Sealing Chains] would significantly boost his combat power, giving him a way to utilize his massive chakra.
After all, what good was a mountain of chakra if you didn't have the jutsu to use it effectively?
Shin had figured out some basic chakra control techniques, like channeling it to his legs for explosive jumps, propelling him several meters into the air.
That's how he had been leaping onto trees, but his self-taught techniques were rough around the edges.
Not only did they guzzle chakra, but they also put a strain on his legs. He was lucky to have a [Perfect Sage Body]; a normal person attempting those jumps might end up crippled.
"What I need are the fundamentals."
Shin tried to use the [Adamantine Sealing Chains], but nothing happened. He realized he didn't have the fine motor control needed to manipulate his chakra effectively.
Despite his vast reserves, he couldn't achieve the precise control needed to channel chakra for complex jutsu.
How could he learn the [Adamantine Sealing Chains] with such poor chakra control? He needed to master the basics first.
Tree Climbing and Water Walking immediately came to mind. He had to start somewhere, and refining his chakra control was paramount.
Under Kushina's surprised gaze, Shin began his tree climbing training. He had assumed it would be a piece of cake, but it turned out to be more challenging than he anticipated.
"Turns out having too much chakra can be a pain."
The more chakra he had, the harder it was to control. It seemed there was a trade-off to everything.
--
Chapter 4: Copying a Taijutsu Master's Physique
--
"After countless faceplants, I finally nailed Tree Climbing."
Shin looked like he'd wrestled a mud monster and lost. He'd fallen out of the trees more times than he could count.
But it was worth it. He could now scale a tree with the grace of a squirrel, his Chakra finally under his command.
"Shin, how did you do that?"
Kushina stared at him with wide, awestruck eyes.
"Heh, wanna learn?"
Kushina nodded eagerly.
"Nope, not gonna teach you. That's what you get for laughing at me." Shin crossed his arms. Kushina had found his repeated tumbles from the trees quite amusing.
It couldn't be helped. Controlling his massive Chakra reserves was no walk in the park, especially without a teacher. He'd had to figure it all out himself, the hard way.
He'd mastered Tree Climbing through sheer stubbornness and a high tolerance for pain.
"You're so mean, still holding a grudge." Kushina stuck her tongue out at him.
"By the way, you don't like it when I call you 'Shin-chan', right? If I learn how to climb trees without using my hands, I'll stop calling you that, deal?"
It made him sound like a little kid. But Kushina was used to it; breaking the habit would be tough.
Kushina called him 'Shin-chan' because he was younger than her. Well, only by three days, but still younger.
She used to make him call her "big sis," but as a transmigrant, there was no way he was calling someone his own age "big sis."
"Fine."
Shin nodded and shared all the tricks he'd discovered.
With Shin's guidance and insider knowledge, Kushina mastered Tree Climbing in just half an hour. The girl was a natural.
"Shin, I learned way faster than you!" Kushina said, a smug grin on her face.
It had taken Shin over three hours, while Kushina had done it in thirty minutes. But that didn't mean he was less talented.
He'd had to figure it out through trial and error, while Kushina had a shortcut, thanks to him.
After the Tree Climbing lesson, Shin led Kushina to a nearby river for Water Walking practice.
Water Walking was definitely trickier. Water offered no resistance; one wrong step, and you were taking a dip.
Thankfully, Shin's Tree Climbing experience gave him a head start. He only fell in twice before he was walking, even running, on water.
Kushina, on the other hand, wasn't having as much luck. She'd already fallen in a dozen times, much to Shin's amusement.
After splashing around for hours, Kushina finally got the hang of Water Walking.
"Kushina, you're officially a prodigy."
Mastering both Tree Climbing and Water Walking at the age of five, with such precise Chakra control? That was prodigy-level stuff.
"Let's go change first," Kushina said, her clothes dripping.
They went back, changed, and finally had lunch. It was already three in the afternoon.
Kushina had stubbornly refused to eat until she mastered Water Walking, hence the late lunch.
After their meal, Shin decided to skip training and headed towards the clan grounds with Kushina.
"Shin-chan, why are we going to the clan grounds?" Kushina asked, surprised.
"Didn't we have a deal?" Shin lightly flicked Kushina's forehead.
"It's a habit! I'll get better, I promise."
Kushina rubbed her forehead, pouting at Shin.
Shin chuckled. Breaking that habit was probably going to be an uphill battle.
"By the way, Shin-ch.. i mean, Shin, why are we going to the clan grounds? You don't usually like going there."
They lived outside the clan grounds and rarely ventured in, except when they needed supplies.
This wasn't a supply run. Shin wanted to put his Replication Card to use.
As they entered the Uzumaki Clan grounds, the atmosphere became livelier. The Uzumaki Clan wasn't small; they had over two hundred members.
It was a far cry from their glory days during the Warring States Period, but they were still a force to be reckoned with in any Hidden Village.
"Hey, System, when I use a Replication Card, can I see the target's abilities? How am I supposed to copy something if I don't know what they can do?"
"That is for you to determine, Master. This System does not possess such functionality."
"..."
Fortunately, he had some knowledge of the Uzumaki Clan ninjas. He pulled Kushina towards the clan's training grounds.
The training grounds were vast; almost everyone in the clan trained there.
Shin ignored the Genin and Chunin, his eyes scanning for Jonin.
The Uzumaki Clan had its fair share of Jonin; a large clan like theirs couldn't survive without them.
But finding a Jonin in this crowded training ground was like finding a needle in a haystack. Even if they came here to train, they'd likely find a secluded spot.
Common Replication Cards could copy the Chakra and physical abilities of a Jonin at most, so Shin needed to find one to maximize his gains.
"Bingo!"
Shin spotted someone he knew, an Uzumaki Jonin who specialized in Taijutsu.
"System, use a Common Replication Card to copy Uzumaki Hikaru's physique."
Physique encompassed strength, speed, stamina, agility, and flexibility. He could copy each attribute individually, but that would be a waste of a precious Replication Card.
In an instant, Shin felt his body swell. His bones hardened, his muscles tightened, all thanks to an unseen force.
He felt lighter, more agile.
"This power is insane!" Shin threw a punch, the force generating a sharp gust of wind. He was at least seven or eight times stronger than before.
With his [Perfect Sage Body], Shin was already freakishly strong.
Now, with this boost, he felt like he could punch a tree in half.
"System, does the copied strength stack with my original strength?" Shin asked a crucial question.
"Affirmative. Copied attributes are additive to your existing capabilities."
Shin's eyes lit up. If he could keep stacking attributes, why bother learning Jutsu?
If he could stack his physique to the level of Might Guy using the Eight Inner Gates, he'd be unstoppable with Taijutsu alone.
"System, can I keep stacking with no limits?"
"Your limitations are defined by the number of Replication Cards at your disposal, Master. As long as you possess Replication Cards, you can continue to copy and enhance your physique."