As Kenji stepped out of the hospital, he let out a sigh of relief, finally free from the suffocating walls that had held him captive for the past week. He was ready to tackle this new world head-on, but as he and Chiyo navigated the busy streets of Kohana, Kenji was struck by a barrage of emotions.
"Well, that's that," he muttered, as he gazed at the giant cliffside resembling Mount Rushmore, with three giant heads carved into the rock.
'Unbelievable,' as he gazed at the towering buildings and unfamiliar sights that surrounded him. 'This has to be the Hidden Leaf Village.'
He was amazed by the sheer difference between the world of Naruto and reality. 'Cartoons and reality don't mix, do they?' he thought, struggling to reconcile the two. 'I hope the story I remember is still the same, or I'm going in blind.'
But as they continued to walk, Kenji suddenly stopped, a sense of apprehension washing over him. 'Shit, I don't even remember that much,' frustration creeping into his voice.
Chiyo turned to him, her eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong, Kenji?" she asked.
"I don't know what to do," he said, feeling overwhelmed.
"Don't worry," Chiyo said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it all out together. I'll guide you every step of the way."
But Kenji couldn't help but shake his head. 'You don't even know how bad it is,' he thought to himself.
As they ventured towards the outskirts of the village, Kenji noticed the buildings and crowds start to dissipate, making way for more open spaces and greenery. He spotted towering walls, shaped at the top to prevent scaling, surrounding the area.
'Jesus, these people must be paranoid as hell,' taken aback by the towering height of the giant walls.
He walked in silence, deep in thought. 'This is all so different from Earth. Fuck! I can't treat this place the same, or I'm likely dead. This is going to be annoying.'
Turning down a small path, Kenji spotted a small residence come into view. The walls, made of a combination of wood and stone, provided both privacy and security.
'This must be the home of a ninja family,' Kenji thought as he admired the functional yet modest design of the compound.
As he approached the residence with his mother, Chiyo turned to him with a warm smile. "Welcome home, Kenji." Kenji felt a flood of relief wash over him. 'Thank the Lord!' he thought letting a sigh of relief, 'Families not poor and not being orphan is a double win. That would have been a nightmare figuring my way through that mess.'
Taking in his surroundings he realized that, while the house may not have been grand, it was still impressive in its own right. The single-story, traditional-style home had a tiled thatched roof and white-plastered walls, adorned with intricate carvings and symbols marking the family's status. Inside, the residence was a blend of traditional and modern design, with the main house constructed of wood and sliding paper doors. 'There has to be more to those doors right? No way in hell would there be such weak defenses. Right?...'
Stepping into the small courtyard garden, Kenji noticed a tranquil pond with koi fish swimming within. The house had several rooms, including a living room, kitchen, and bedrooms, all equipped with modern amenities such as electricity and running water. 'At least I won't have to worry about food and water,' Kenji thought as he looked around, 'and they're clearly well-off by the looks of it.'
As they entered what appeared to be the living room, Chiyo asked, "Son, do you want anything to eat?" Kenji nodded, trying to mimic a three-year-old impression. "Uh-huh," he replied. Chiyo headed to the kitchen to prepare what Kenji assumed would be lunch.
Kenji sat at the dining table, staring down at his hands. Now with some time to himself, he was preoccupied with his new reality - stuck in the world of Naruto.
'Alright, let's break this down,' he thought, his mind racing. 'I need to figure this out and fast. First things first, I need to remember the damn story. Dammit, I need a book or something to write all shit down. There's just so much to remember about this world, where do I start?'
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. 'Well, I'll figure out that in a bit, when I go to my room, hopefully, there's a book or something. What's next? Ah yes, that's right. I need to make sure no one knows I'm a man in a child's body. This is just insane. How did this even happen? And what's with these crazy powers? Chakra? Magic? Plus, I apparently might know what the future is, but I don't remember much. The last thing I want to happen is to find myself in a cell or torture chamber for those secrets. Do I tell anyone? Nope, no way I'm doing that right now, I'll assess and then make a judgment call in the future. Who knows who I can trust in this world. I need to be careful.'
He shook his head, staring at the ceiling. 'The most important thing now is to train this body of mine and get in shape, god dammit! Why did I have to be a damn child? At least this world has magic! Or chakra, whatever. I've got to learn how to use that if I'm going to survive. This is insane. How did this even happen to me?'
He started taping his hand on the table as he considered his options. 'Magic, hahaha I can't believe it! Hell yeah, can't wait to learn that. But first, I've got to figure out how to blend in. There's a school if I remember, I can attend that or a mentor maybe? Chiyo will know. I've got to be careful though. I don't want to attract too much attention.'
While he was deep in thought, Chiyo walked in with a tray of what appeared to be sushi in ball-shaped form, a common dish in Japan. 'What the hell are those called again?' Kenji wondered. 'Ah, who cares, I've got better things to do.'
He grabbed one of the ball-shaped sushi and took a bite. A surprised expression washed over his face as he realized how delicious it was. "This is yummy," he exclaimed, glancing up at Chiyo, who was beaming with pride. But as he continued to eat, he couldn't shake off the strange sensation that seemed to be flowing through his body. It felt like water flowing through his body 'Is this chakra? I hope it is.' He wondered to himself, unsure of what to make of the unfamiliar feeling. Hoping for the best, he asked, "Mum, why do I have this tingling feeling in my body? It feels like water in my body."
Chiyo's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her son. 'How is this possible?' she thought. 'Most children's chakra coils don't unlock until they're five or older, even clans kids. Kenji has only just turned three!' She was filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness at the thought of her son's potential as a prodigy.
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"Kenji, give me your hand," she said, still in shock. Kenji extended his hand, and Chiyo took it in hers. She channeled into him, the sensation causing Kenji's eyes to widen in surprise.
'Whoa, what a weird feeling,' Kenji thought to himself. "What is this, Mom?" he asked, his voice filled with interest.
Chiyo was beaming with elation as she began to explain chakra to Kenji. With her child showing potential as a prodigy, she felt a surge of pride.
"Kenji, Listen up," she said, her voice filled with eagerness. "I'm about to teach you about something that's going to be an important part of your life. This is chakra your feeling, it is the life energy that flows through all living things, including ninjas."
Kenji was wide-eyed with wonder as Chiyo continued to explain the concept of chakra. "Chakra is the force that allows ninjas to perform ninjutsu, or ninja techniques," she said. "Each person has a limited amount of chakra, and the ability to use it is determined by the strength of the chakra core, coils, and tenketsu within their body."
'Wow, this is insane,' Kenji thought, his mind racing with the possibilities. 'I'm gonna be a ninja, just like in Naruto. No, I'm going to be way better than the brat.'
Chiyo could see the excitement in her son's eyes, and she knew she was doing the right thing by teaching him. "I have a feeling you're going to be a natural at this," she said, a smile spreading across her face. "Chakra can be unlocked and strengthened through training and experience, allowing a ninja to access more of their chakra and perform more powerful techniques."
As Chiyo spoke, Kenji's finally accepted his new reality, his mind was awash with memories from his past life, where he remembered watching and reading 'Naruto', 'Jesus, it's actually real!' He thought, a rush of excitement coursing through his veins. 'I'm a fucking wizard, Harry!'
He was so lost in thought that he barely heard his mother as she explained the intricacies of chakra and its power. 'I've got a lot to learn,' he thought, 'I'm so ready for this!'
Suddenly, Kenji interrupted Chiyo with a look of pure innocence on his face. "Mum, can you teach me?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement and determination.
"So you're eager to learn how to be a ninja, my dear?" Chiyo asked, her eyes crinkling with motherly amusement as she looked at Kenji's eager expression.
"Yes, Mom, I am!" Kenji exclaimed, his eyes shining with determination.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that, sweetie," Chiyo said, smiling warmly. "But let me warn you, becoming a ninja takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and discipline. Are you sure you're ready for that?"
"I'm positive, Mom," Kenji said, nodding his head vigorously. "I'm ready to do whatever it takes."
"Alright then," Chiyo said, her expression turning serious. "We'll start your training tomorrow. But for now, why don't you go freshen up and play with your toys for a bit? And remember, you're not allowed to leave the compound just yet. I've got some things I need to take care of."
"Got it, Mom. I won't let you down." Kenji said.
"I know you won't," Chiyo said, smiling.
Kenji rose from his seat, his heart racing with excitement as he began to explore his new home. 'Fuck yeah, Magic! No-no, it's chakra now,' he thought to himself, marveling at the strange power that flowed through his veins.
Despite his annoyance at being treated like a child, Kenji knew he had to make the best of his situation. 'I hate acting like a kid,' as he made his way through the lush backyard. He marveled at the well-maintained greenhouse, filled with an array of unfamiliar plants and herbs. It was clear that whoever tended to this garden had a green thumb.
As he stood there, surrounded by the vibrant colors and intoxicating scents, Kenji began to reconsider his resentment. "Oh well," he sighed, acknowledging the fact that this body he was inhabiting was technically only three years old. And he had replaced the actual son of the woman who was treating him as her own.
Determined to scope out the place properly, Kenji decided to explore the rest of the property. He crept along the perimeter, taking note of everything around him. The place was huge - much bigger than he had initially realized. There was a pond with koi fish and even a training room.
He sneaked a peek into the training room, eager to see what was inside. But before he could get a good look, he was promptly kicked out by Chiyo.
'How the hell is she keeping an eye on me when she's in a completely different place?' he thought with frustration. 'Must be some ninja bullshit. Hope not. Are their camera's in this place?' He looked up at the wall and ceiling wondering.
Finally settling in his room, Kenji lay on the bed looking up at the ceiling, deep in thought. "Alright, game plan," he murmured, running through his strategy. 'Training is a go, with Chiyo taking care of that, hopefully, she'll push me. I'm in the Hidden Leaf Village or Kohana, but I've got no clue what timeline it is and I don't remember much. Hmmm... How does the story go again?' he thought, twirling his fingers as he tried to recall the events of the Naruto anime and manga series.
'Naruto goes on some missions in and out of the village, some sort of exam happens, they get invaded…. I think, and some other things I don't remember. Fuck! Oh yeah, that's right, there's that whole thing with Naruto chasing that emo boy, don't they fight, and Naruto gets stabbed in the back? Hmmm, alright, let's think again,' he suddenly sat up, and a realization dawned on him. "That's right! He becomes that fox thingy, doesn't he," he said, smiling at his own cleverness.
'Also something about a group of top-rank ninjas hunting those chakra beast thingies. So, all I gotta do is figure out whether the village has been invaded or if that fox monster has destroyed this village. Shouldn't be too hard,' he thought, rubbing his chin. 'Jesus Christ, this kid has a lot of energy. I want to start moving around again. Might as well do some exercise,' getting off the bed and getting into a push-up position. "One, two, three..." he began, started working out.
It was dinnertime, and Kenji was feeling a bit worried about it all, as he sat down at the table with his mother, Chiyo. The fragrant aroma of the food wafted up to his nose, and his stomach rumbled in hunger, but he was too preoccupied with his thoughts to fully appreciate the meal.
"So, how was your day, Kenji?" Chiyo asked, a warm smile on her face.
"It was good," Kenji replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "Just exploring the place and getting my body used to things."
"That's great to hear," Chiyo said, dishing out a generous serving of rice onto his plate. "You know, I must admit, I'm happy you're exploring the place. But, you know that the training room is out of bounds."
"Sorry mom," Kenji said, picking at his food. "I guess I forgot."
"That's understandable," Chiyo said, nodding. "But I'm glad to see you're starting to move around. You know, your father will be excited to hear the news. He's away on a mission right now, but he'll be back soon."
Kenji's heart sank. "Dad's a ninja?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yes, he is," Chiyo said, a proud smile on her face. "We didn't tell you, because you were too young to know. He's going to be so proud of you when he finds out his son is a little genius."
"I hope so," Kenji said, feeling a knot form in his stomach. He knew he had to be careful around his father, especially if he was a ninja too. "So, what kind of missions does he do?"
"Oh, all sorts of things," Chiyo said, waving her hand dismissively. "Mostly stuff to protect the village and keep the peace. He's one of the best chunin in the village, you know."
Kenji nodded, trying to hide his growing anxiety. "That's amazing," he said, forcing a smile. "I can't wait to learn more about being a ninja."
"You'll do great, Kenji," Chiyo said, patting his hand. "I have no doubt about that."
As the meal continued, Kenji couldn't shake the feeling that he was in over his head. He knew he had to be careful, to keep his guard up and make sure no one suspected that he was a completely different person from the child who was supposed to be living in this body. But with his father being a ninja, with a fresh pair of eyes, and trained experienced ninja eyes, he knew the task ahead of him was going to be far from easy.