[Ahem, better put on some armor—your life is your most valuable asset!]
[Note to readers:]The timeline in this story was carefully selected by the author after much consideration (mostly because everyone has their own interpretations, and it's hard to unify them all).[So please read with an open mind—thank you!]
Year 5 of Konoha
At this point in time, the Hidden Leaf Village was like a newborn—just beginning to take shape. Still under reconstruction, the economy wasn't thriving.But the village had warmth.The war hadn't reached this place yet, and people were able to live stable, peaceful lives and raise families in relative security.
In a small courtyard, Hoshikawa Haru lay on his back, staring up at the starry night sky. Lost in thought, a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Stability really is better than chaos," he murmured."Even if there's conflict inside the village, it's better than living in fear or hiding."
The cool night breeze brushed against his face, and he squinted in contentment, letting himself relax. But suddenly—a voice shouted from behind, snapping him out of his daze.
"Hoshikawa Haru! I've called you several times already! Get inside for dinner!"
The angry voice made Haru jump to his feet. He brushed the dust off his clothes in a hurry, replying without hesitation.
"Coming!"
He slipped off his sandals and stepped barefoot into the house. The first person he saw was his mother, Sakura Kinomoto, standing with her hands on her hips, fuming.
Seeing her glare, Haru wisely chose to surrender early. He walked up to her with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, Mom. I know I messed up."
Sakura's anger fizzled instantly. She huffed, muttered something under her breath, and disappeared into the kitchen.
Taking that as a small victory, Haru sat down obediently at the table.
Across from him, his father, Hoshikawa Yota, chuckled.
"So even our little grown-up has a side that's afraid of Mom. Now that's a rare sight."
Haru buried his face into the table and groaned.
"Dad, please… don't make it worse."
Yota, who knew when to stop teasing, chuckled again. Then, after a brief moment of thought, he said:
"After dinner, I'll teach you how to refine chakra."
Bang!Haru was so startled with excitement that he tumbled right off his chair. But the fall didn't faze him at all—his wide eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Really?! You're not kidding, right?"
Yota dramatically clutched his chest, faking injury.
"Alas… my own son doubts me. Maybe I should just forget the whole thing—"
Before he could finish, Haru bolted to him, clinging to his arm with puppy-dog eyes.
"No, no! I believe you! I really believe you! Dad, you're the best—no one in the world compares to you!"
Haru's over-the-top flattery was incredibly effective. Yota couldn't help but smile, visibly pleased by his son's affection.
Praise from your own child—especially one as mature as Haru—was a powerful thing.
Yota nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright then. Eat up first. We'll start after dinner."
With his father's promise secured, Haru wasted no time. He gobbled down his food in just a few minutes. Then he turned his big, eager eyes on Yota.
"I'm ready!"
Chuckling helplessly, Yota excused himself to Sakura, then led Haru outside to the courtyard.
Haru sat cross-legged, face full of determination—like a warrior preparing for battle.Yota, meanwhile, lounged comfortably nearby, completely relaxed.
"This is your father's own chakra refining method," Yota said, pulling out a scroll with a hint of pride."It's on par with anything the major clans possess. Guard it well."
He spoke as though presenting a priceless heirloom. And Haru knew he wasn't exaggerating.
This wasn't some marketplace technique.
Today's Konoha was vastly different from the future versions seen in the anime. Back now, clan pride was everything. The noble houses looked down on commoners and guarded their techniques jealously. Ninjutsu, even the simplest forms, was highly restricted.
And chakra refinement—the very foundation of becoming a ninja—was no exception.
If you couldn't refine chakra, you couldn't use ninjutsu.And for civilians, acquiring proper chakra techniques was nearly impossible.
The big families handed their methods down from generation to generation, often keeping them superior to anything accessible to outsiders.
But Yota, an elite jonin with impressive strength and status, had developed his own technique—equal to those of the noble clans.
"Got it!" Haru nodded eagerly, immediately diving into the scroll with shining eyes.
Yota didn't disturb him. He simply sat silently, watching his son, thoughts swirling beneath the calm surface.
"I wonder how talented Haru really is…""If he lacks talent… sigh…"
Chakra refinement technique alone wasn't enough. Talent played a crucial role.
In the ninja world, you had to admit it—innate talent mattered. A genius could learn a B-rank technique after seeing it once. A regular ninja might fail after dozens of attempts.
Hard work might bridge the gap, but that journey was long—and not guaranteed.
Yota hid his worry well, but inside, he was anxious.The world was unstable. Danger could break out any moment. If Haru had no talent, he'd always be vulnerable.
Strength meant safety.
An elite jonin wasn't just a rank—it meant power, experience, and survival. He didn't want his son to be weak in a world like this.
Haru, of course, had no idea about his father's internal struggles. He was fully immersed in the scroll.
"Wow… Compared to the crude chakra methods people use nowadays, this one is so much more refined. My father even explains the key points in detail."
"So this is the advantage of having a strong family background… No wonder Tobirama wants to reduce clan dominance and lift up commoners."
Haru couldn't help but reflect—and feel a bit lucky.
"I'm so glad I have a father like this.""We may not be part of a major clan, but my father is no less than an elite jonin. I was born into a good life—truly blessed."
He felt a quiet joy in his heart.
Because… he wasn't originally from this world.
In his previous life, he had been an orphan. He died one day trying to save someone in need.
He thought his life had ended there. But when he opened his eyes again, he had been reborn—into the Naruto world.
Not only that, but into the first generation of Konoha.
Five years had passed since then. Slowly, he had come to know and care deeply for his new parents.
Based on his day-to-day observations, Hoshikawa Yota was undoubtedly an elite jonin in both strength and reputation.
And Haru—he had something special too.
He was born with a particularly strong spiritual perception. Deep in his mind, there existed an old, rusted clock—its origin unknown.
But it allowed him to see things others could not.For example—momentum.
Everyone carried a unique energy. Some stronger, some weaker. And the strongest aura Haru had ever seen came from his father.
His mother, Sakura Kinomoto, had once been a special jonin, but after Haru was born, she retired to become a full-time homemaker.
And for Haru, this life was good. Warm. Happy.
But he also knew that the ninja world wouldn't stay peaceful forever.
That's why, ever since he turned three, he had begged his father to teach him chakra refinement. And today, that wish finally came true.
Clearing his mind, Haru let go of distractions and focused inward.
Time slipped by.
Half an hour passed in a flash—and then, suddenly, Haru managed to draw out his first strand of chakra.
At that exact moment, somewhere deep in his consciousness…the rusted clock let out a loud, echoing click.