Chapter 1: Awakening
The last thing Kazuki Tanaka remembered was the blinding headlights.
He'd been walking home from the anime convention, still buzzing with excitement about the limited edition Naruto figurine he'd managed to snag—a perfect replica of the Fourth Hokage, complete with kunai and that iconic smile. His phone had been in his hand, scrolling through the convention photos, when he'd stepped off the curb without looking.
The screech of tires.
The horn blaring.
The impact.
Then... nothing.
Well, not quite nothing.
Kazuki's consciousness floated in an endless white void. No body, no sensation, just awareness. He tried to scream, but he had no mouth. Tried to move, but he had no limbs. Panic should have consumed him, but even that felt distant, muted.
Am I dead?
The thought echoed through the emptiness.
"Yes and no."
The voice came from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. Kazuki's awareness snapped toward it—or tried to. In this formless space, direction meant nothing.
A figure coalesced before him. Or rather, something that his mind interpreted as a figure. It shifted constantly—male, female, old, young, human, inhuman—never settling on a single form. Just looking at it made Kazuki's non-existent head hurt.
"What... what are you?" Kazuki thought, and somehow the entity heard him.
"I am what your kind calls R.O.B.—Random Omnipotent Being. Though 'random' is such a limiting term." The being's voice carried amusement. "I am bored, you are dead, and I have an interesting proposition for you."
"I'm... dead." The reality of it crashed over him. "My parents. My friends. My collection—"
"All gone from your reach, yes. Your body was quite thoroughly destroyed by that truck. 'Truck-kun,' I believe the online community calls it? Fascinating phenomenon, really. So many of your kind end up here that way."
Kazuki would have laughed if he could. Of all the ways to die, he'd become a statistic in the isekai trope. "So what, you're going to reincarnate me? Give me some cheat ability and send me to another world?"
"Perceptive. I see you're well-versed in the tropes." The being shifted, and for a moment, Kazuki could swear it wore a smile. "Yes, precisely that. I have watched countless worlds, and one in particular has caught my attention recently. A world of ninjas, of chakra, of—"
"The Naruto universe." Kazuki's consciousness practically vibrated with sudden excitement. "You're sending me to the Naruto universe?"
"Indeed. A world on the cusp of great change. The pieces are aligning for events that will shape its future. And you, little soul, will be placed right in the middle of it."
This was insane. Impossible. And yet, what did he have to lose? He was already dead. His life on Earth was over. But the Naruto world? He'd spent countless hours watching, reading, analyzing every episode, every chapter, every data book. He knew that world almost as well as his own.
"What's the catch?" Kazuki asked, because there was always a catch.
"Smart. I like that." The being circled around him—or he circled around it; spatial relationships were meaningless here. "You'll be reborn, not inserted. You'll start as an infant with all your memories intact. Your 'cheat,' as you call it, will be an AI Chip—similar to the one from 'Warlock of the Magus World,' since I know you've read that particular web novel during your many sleepless nights."
Kazuki's mind raced. An AI Chip in the Naruto world? The analytical capabilities, the perfect memory, the simulation functions—combined with his metaknowledge of the plot? He could actually make a difference. Save people. Prevent tragedies.
"There's more," R.O.B. continued. "You won't remember this conversation. Not immediately. Your memories of your past life, along with the AI Chip, will activate when you turn five years old. Before that, you'll simply be... a child. This is to prevent infant madness—adult consciousness in a baby's brain is rarely pleasant."
"When will I be born? What's the timeline?"
"Year 41 of Konoha's founding. You'll be the same age as one Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki."
Kazuki's mind went into overdrive. Year 41. That put him right in the generation before the Third Shinobi War. Before the Nine-Tails attack. Before everything went to hell.
He could change it all.
"I accept."
R.O.B.'s laughter echoed through the void. "Excellent. Do try to make things interesting, won't you? I'll be watching."
The white void began to collapse, folding in on itself, pulling Kazuki's consciousness down, down, down—
The next five years passed in a strange blur for the boy known as Kazuki Kurogane.
He cried when he was hungry. Laughed when he was happy. Learned to walk, to talk, to navigate the world with the simple logic of a child. The orphanage matron, a kind woman named Yuki-san, took care of him along with a dozen other children whose parents had died in the last war or simply couldn't afford to keep them.
Konoha Orphanage wasn't a bad place. It wasn't warm or loving, but it was safe, clean, and the caretakers did their best with limited resources. The children wore hand-me-down clothes, ate simple meals, and entertained themselves with cheap toys and imagination.
Little Kazuki was a quiet child. Observant. He'd watch the older kids practice throwing kunai made from carved wood, listen to the caretakers gossip about village news, stare out the window at the Hokage Monument carved into the mountain.
Sometimes, late at night, he'd have dreams. Strange dreams of another world with glowing screens, moving pictures, and people who didn't carry weapons. Dreams of a boy who loved stories about ninjas but had never held a kunai in his life.
He never remembered those dreams when he woke up.
But on the morning of his fifth birthday, everything changed.
Year 46, Konoha Orphanage - Morning
Kazuki woke to sunlight streaming through the barracks-style window, hitting him square in the face. He groaned and rolled over, pulling the thin blanket over his head. Around him, the other children in the room were already stirring—the orphanage didn't believe in sleeping in.
"Kazuki! Get up! Yuki-san says it's your birthday, so you get first pick at breakfast!"
That was Kenji, a boy two years older with perpetually messy hair and a gap-toothed grin. Kenji was one of the few kids who'd gone out of his way to befriend the quiet Kazuki.
Birthday. He was five years old today.
Kazuki sat up, rubbing his eyes—and froze.
Something was wrong. Different. His head felt... full. Like someone had taken a sponge that was barely damp and suddenly soaked it in water until it couldn't hold anymore.
Memories.
They came crashing down like an avalanche.
A modern world. Japan. Cars. Computers. Anime. A convention. Truck-kun. Death.
A white void. A shifting being. A deal.
Reincarnation.
The Naruto universe.
Kazuki's breath caught in his throat. His small hands gripped the blanket so tightly his knuckles turned white.
I'm not from here. I died. I was reborn. This is the Naruto world. I'm five years old. It's Year 46. Minato and Kushina are five years old. The Third Shinobi War is coming. The Nine-Tails will attack. Itachi will massacre his clan. I know everything that's going to happen.
"Kazuki? You okay, buddy? You look weird."
Kenji's concerned face swam into view, but Kazuki barely registered it. His mind was spiraling, connecting dots, processing information—
And then he heard it.
[BEEP]
The sound wasn't external. It came from inside his head, clear as a bell.
[System Initialization Complete]
[A.I. Chip Version 1.0 Online]
[Welcome, User: Kazuki Kurogane]
Kazuki's eyes went wide. The AI Chip. R.O.B.'s gift. It was real. It was actually real.
[Scanning host body...]
[Scan Complete]
A translucent blue screen appeared in his vision—visible only to him, he instinctively knew. Data scrolled across it:
═══════════════════════════════════
HOST STATUS REPORT
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Name: Kazuki Kurogane
Age: 5 years old
Chakra Capacity: 8 units (Civilian child baseline: 5 units)
Physical Condition: Healthy, slight malnourishment
Bloodline: Unknown/Civilian
Location: Konohagakure Orphanage
Year: 46 (Konoha Calendar)
═══════════════════════════════════
[Memory Integration: 100%]
[Knowledge Database: Accessible]
[Previous Life Memories: Fully Restored]
[Canon Timeline Information: Available]
[Beginning Sensory Recording... Active]
"Kazuki!" Kenji shook his shoulder. "Seriously, you're scaring me. Should I get Yuki-san?"
Kazuki blinked, and the blue screen vanished. He focused on Kenji's worried face, forcing himself to smile—a skill he'd learned in his past life as a socially awkward otaku.
"I'm fine, Kenji. Just... had a weird dream. Let's go get breakfast, yeah?"
Kenji looked skeptical but nodded. "Okay, but if you start acting weird, I'm telling Yuki-san. Come on, I heard she made rice porridge today instead of just plain rice!"
As Kenji bounced toward the door, chattering about food, Kazuki slowly stood on shaky legs. He looked down at his small, five-year-old hands. Pudgy. Weak. No calluses from training.
But inside his head? Inside his head, he had twenty-three years of memories from his previous life. He had knowledge of the entire Naruto plot—at least up to where the manga had been when he died. And he had an AI Chip that could analyze, record, simulate, and optimize everything he experienced.
This is real, Kazuki thought, his heart pounding. This is actually real. I'm in the Naruto universe. I'm five years old. I'm in Konoha. The Third Hokage is probably still in office. Minato is my age. Kushina is my age. Fugaku, Mikoto—they're all my generation.
[Confirmed. Current Hokage: Hiruzen Sarutobi (Third Hokage). Notable individuals of host's generation detected in proximity database.]
The AI Chip could access information? How much did it know?
[A.I. Chip possesses basic information about Konoha's public records and notable individuals. Detailed personal information will need to be gathered through observation and interaction. Current database primarily contains host's metaknowledge from previous life.]
So it couldn't just download information magically. It would learn as he learned, record as he experienced, analyze as he observed. That was actually better—more balanced. Less like a cheat and more like a tool.
"Kazuki! Come on!" Kenji called from the doorway.
Right. Breakfast. Normal five-year-old things.
Except Kazuki Kurogane wasn't a normal five-year-old, and he never would be again.
The dining hall was chaos, as always. Twenty-three children ranging from ages three to twelve, all talking, laughing, arguing, and shoving rice into their mouths as fast as possible. The caretakers moved between tables, maintaining order and making sure no one choked.
Kazuki sat at his usual spot, a bowl of rice porridge and pickled vegetables in front of him. Kenji had been right—Yuki-san had made something special for breakfast. Birthday privilege.
But Kazuki could barely taste it. His mind was everywhere else.
[Analyzing dining hall layout... Complete. Recording all auditory data... Active. Identifying individuals... Processing.]
Names and faces appeared in his vision as he looked around, the AI Chip matching five years of childhood memories with his adult awareness:
Kenji (Age 7) - Friendly, protective, dreams of being a ninja
Hana (Age 6) - Quiet girl, good at sewing, lost parents in border skirmish
Takeshi (Age 8) - Bully, picks on younger kids, overcompensating for insecurity
Yuki-san (Age 34) - Head caretaker, kind but strict, former kunoichi (retired due to injury)
The AI Chip was cataloging everything. Every face, every voice, every detail. It was recording this moment perfectly, storing it in a database that could be accessed with perfect clarity forever.
Over 10,000 years of storage capacity, Kazuki remembered R.O.B. saying. I'll never forget anything again.
"Earth to Kazuki!" Kenji waved a hand in front of his face. "You're doing the weird staring thing again. What's up with you today?"
Kazuki forced himself to focus. "Sorry. Just thinking."
"About what? You're five, what's there to think about?"
About how I need to get into the ninja academy. About how I need to start training my chakra control. About how I have roughly six years before the Second Shinobi War ends and another ten years after that before the Third War begins. About how Minato and Kushina are probably in this village right now, and I have no idea how to find them without looking suspicious.
"About ninja stuff," Kazuki said instead, which was true enough.
Kenji's eyes lit up. "Right! You're five now! That means you can apply for the Academy next year! Are you gonna?"
The Academy. Konoha's ninja academy accepted students as young as six, though most started around eight or nine. Graduating age varied wildly—in peacetime, it was usually twelve. In wartime, it could be as young as six or seven.
It was Year 46 now. The Second Shinobi War was ongoing, though in its later stages. If his memory was correct, the war would end around Year 55, when he'd be fourteen. That meant the Academy would be pushing students through quickly, training them for combat as fast as possible.
Joining the Academy meant becoming a soldier. Fighting in a war. Killing people.
Kazuki's hand trembled slightly as he raised his spoon.
Can I actually do this? Kill people? I'm twenty-three mentally, but in my old life, the most violent thing I ever did was play video games. Now I'm in a world where children are trained as weapons. Where Kakashi graduated at five and was killing people by six. Where—
[Warning: Host is experiencing elevated stress levels. Heart rate increasing. Recommend calming techniques.]
The AI Chip's notification snapped him out of his spiral. Right. Panicking wouldn't help. He needed to think rationally.
Analyze the situation, Kazuki thought, taking a slow breath. What are my advantages?
[Compiling list of advantages...]
The blue screen appeared again, visible only to him:
═══════════════════════════════════
ADVANTAGES
═══════════════════════════════════
1. Metaknowledge of canon timeline and events
2. Adult-level reasoning and emotional maturity
3. A.I. Chip analytical capabilities
4. Perfect memory and information storage
5. Reincarnated at optimal timeline point
6. No preset destiny or prophecy binding host
7. Twenty-three years of modern education
8. Knowledge of multiple training methods
═══════════════════════════════════
[Compiling list of disadvantages...]
═══════════════════════════════════
DISADVANTAGES
═══════════════════════════════════
1. Child's body with limited physical capability
2. No formal ninja training
3. Orphan status (limited resources/connections)
4. No known bloodline or clan affiliation
5. Unknown if canon timeline is exactly accurate
6. Butterfly effect from any actions taken
7. Psychological adjustment to violence/death
8. Six years until Academy eligibility
═══════════════════════════════════
Kazuki stared at the lists. When laid out like this, it was clear: he had advantages, but also severe limitations. He couldn't just waltz into major events and change everything. He was five years old. He had no power, no influence, no credibility.
But he had time. Six years before the Academy. Nine years before the Second War ended. Twenty years before the Third War and Kannabi Bridge. Twenty-four years before the Nine-Tails attack.
If he played this smart, used the AI Chip to its fullest potential, trained methodically, built relationships carefully...
He could actually change things.
"Kazuki? You're doing it again."
"Sorry, Kenji." Kazuki smiled, and this time it was genuine. "Yeah. I'm definitely going to apply for the Academy."
After breakfast, the children were sent to do their chores. Kazuki's job was helping with the laundry—easy work suitable for a five-year-old. He stood in the courtyard with Hana, hanging wet clothes on lines to dry in the morning sun.
The orphanage was located in the civilian district of Konoha, far from the Hokage Tower and the prestigious clan compounds. The buildings were old but well-maintained, the grounds modest. Through the gaps in the fence, Kazuki could see the village beyond—shops, homes, people going about their daily lives.
This was Konohagakure. The Village Hidden in the Leaves. The setting of countless episodes and chapters he'd consumed in his previous life.
And now it was real.
"Kazuki-kun, you're hanging that shirt upside down," Hana said softly, pointing.
Kazuki looked down. She was right. He'd been so distracted he'd hung the shirt by its hem instead of its shoulders.
[Recording error in task performance. Cause: Mental distraction. Recommendation: Focus on physical tasks while processing information.]
Right. Need to learn to multitask better, Kazuki thought, fixing the shirt. Can't space out every time I'm thinking about something.
"Thanks, Hana."
She nodded and returned to her own basket of wet clothes. Hana rarely spoke unless necessary. In his five years of childhood memories, Kazuki recalled that she'd arrived at the orphanage three years ago after her parents died in a skirmish near the border. She used to cry every night. Now she was just... quiet.
This is a world at war, Kazuki realized, watching her small hands expertly hang a pair of pants. She's six years old and she's already lost everything. Kenji's the same. Most of the kids here are.
The weight of it pressed down on him. In his old world, he'd watched Naruto as entertainment. The fights were cool, the powers were awesome, the tragic backstories were emotional but ultimately fictional.
Here? Here it was real. Hana's tears were real. Kenji's determination to become strong enough to protect himself was real. The fact that the orphanage was full because parents kept dying in wars was real.
[Warning: Host emotional state declining. Recommend focusing on constructive planning rather than dwelling on immutable past.]
The AI Chip was right. He couldn't change what had already happened. He couldn't bring back Hana's parents or undo the wars that had created this orphanage.
But he could change the future.
Okay, Kazuki thought, hanging another shirt with deliberate precision. Let's think this through step by step. What do I need to do?
[Suggestion: Create short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. Prioritize based on timeline and capability.]
Good idea. He couldn't plan everything now—too many variables, too much he didn't know yet—but he could establish a framework.
Short-term goals (Ages 5-6):
Learn to read and write Japanese script (he could speak it fluently from childhood memories, but reading was harder)
Begin basic physical conditioning (push-ups, running, flexibility)
Observe and gather information about the village
Research chakra and how to sense it
Avoid drawing excessive attention
Mid-term goals (Ages 6-12):
Enter the Academy at age 6
Master basic chakra control stages
Develop combat skills (taijutsu, weapons, basic ninjutsu)
Survive until the Second War ends
Long-term goals (Ages 12+):
Bcome strong enough to influence major events
Protect people who died in canon
It seemed manageable when broken down like that. Distant. The major crisis points were fifteen to twenty years away. He was just a five-year-old now. He had time.
[Warning: Overconfidence detected. Survival rate in Shinobi World War II for Academy students: 34%. Survival rate for genin in active combat: 48%. Recommendation: Do not underestimate danger.]
Kazuki's hands froze on the clothesline.
Thirty-four percent survival rate. Less than half of Academy students survived the war. And that was just for making it through the Academy itself, before even becoming a genin.
This isn't a story anymore, he realized with cold clarity. This is real. Those statistics are real. I could actually die. Again. Permanently this time.
"Kazuki-kun? Are you okay? You look pale."
Hana was watching him with concern, her own basket empty.
Kazuki forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just thinking about the Academy."
"You want to be a ninja?" Hana asked quietly.
"Yeah. Don't you?"
She was silent for a long moment, staring at the wet clothes in his basket. "I don't know. Ninjas fight. Ninjas die. Like my parents."
There was no anger in her voice. No bitterness. Just quiet acceptance of a harsh truth.
She's six years old and she already understands death better than I do, Kazuki thought. Better than I did in my old life, at least.
"That's exactly why," Kazuki said, surprising himself with his own conviction. "Because ninjas die. Because people die. If I become strong enough, maybe I can protect people. Make it so fewer kids end up in orphanages."
Hana looked up at him, her dark eyes searching his face. Then, slowly, she smiled—a small, fragile thing, but genuine.
"That's a nice dream, Kazuki-kun."
That afternoon, while the other children played in the courtyard, Kazuki sat under a tree with a worn picture book. It was meant for teaching young children their characters, each page showing a different hiragana symbol with a corresponding image.
But Kazuki wasn't reading it for entertainment. He was systematically testing his literacy.
[Scanning text... Character recognition: 78% accurate. Host possesses basic literacy from childhood education but lacks comprehensive reading ability. Recommend daily practice to improve.]
The AI Chip could apparently assess his skills objectively. That would be useful for tracking progress.
Can you help me learn faster? Kazuki thought at the Chip.
[Affirmative. A.I. Chip can provide optimized learning paths, mnemonic techniques, and perfect recall of studied material. However, actual neural pathway formation still requires time and practice. Estimated time to master basic literacy: 3-4 months with dedicated daily study.]
Three to four months. That meant by the time he was eligible for the Academy at age six, he'd be able to read fluently. Good.
What about chakra? Can you detect it?
[Negative. A.I. Chip can detect host's internal chakra through monitoring biological systems. Cannot detect external chakra without host first developing that sensory capability. Recommend beginning chakra sensing exercises once basic control is achieved.]
So he couldn't cheat his way into sensing chakra. He'd have to develop that skill naturally, then the Chip could enhance it. Fair enough.
Can you scan my chakra pathways? Give me a map?
[Affirmative. Scanning now...]
Kazuki felt nothing, but a new window appeared in his vision—a three-dimensional diagram of his body in blue wireframe, with a network of pathways highlighted in glowing white. The tenketsu points were marked as bright nodes, and he could see the chakra flowing sluggishly through his system.
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CHAKRA SYSTEM ANALYSIS
═══════════════════════════════════
Total Chakra Capacity: 8 units
Active Tenketsu: 0/361
Chakra Circulation: Passive (Unconscious)
Chakra Control: None (Untrained)
Elemental Affinity: Unknown (Testing required)
═══════════════════════════════════
Notable Observations:
- Pathways are underdeveloped (normal for age)
- No blockages detected
- Slightly higher capacity than average civilian child
- Potential for growth: Moderate to High
═══════════════════════════════════
Eight units of chakra. The civilian child baseline was five units, according to the earlier scan. So he was slightly above average, but nothing special. No secret bloodline, no massive reserves, no Uzumaki-level chakra pool.
Just a normal orphan kid with slightly more potential than average.
[Recommendation: Begin basic chakra exercises immediately. The earlier training begins, the more natural chakra manipulation will become. Suggest starting with meditation to sense internal chakra, then progress to leaf concentration exercise.]
Kazuki closed the picture book. Around him, the other children were playing tag, their laughter echoing across the courtyard. Kenji was chasing Takeshi, both of them grinning despite the earlier breakfast tension.
They looked so carefree. So innocent.
But this was Year 46. The war was still going on. In a few years, some of these kids would enter the Academy. Some would become ninja. And if the statistics the Chip had quoted were accurate, only about a third would survive to become genin.
I can't save everyone, Kazuki thought, watching them play. But I can try to save the ones I can reach. Starting with myself.
He stood, brushing dirt from his shorts, and walked toward the edge of the courtyard where it was quieter. There was a small garden area, mostly empty now except for a few struggling vegetables. He sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Okay. Let's try this. How do I sense chakra?
[Accessing metaknowledge database... Found: Multiple meditation techniques from previous life. Found: Canon descriptions of chakra sensing from Naruto series. Compiling optimal beginner method... Complete.]
Instructions appeared in his mind, clear and detailed:
Breathe slowly and deeply, focusing on the rhythm
Turn attention inward, visualizing your body
Feel for warmth, energy, a sense of something flowing
Don't force it—chakra responds to calm awareness, not strain
Even a slight sensation is progress
Kazuki followed the steps, breathing in through his nose, out through his mouth. He imagined his body, just as the AI Chip had shown him—the pathways, the nodes, the flow of energy.
At first, he felt nothing. Just his heartbeat, his breathing, the warmth of the sun on his skin.
Then, after what might have been five minutes or thirty (time felt strange when meditating), he felt it.
A warmth. Deep in his chest, spreading outward like ripples in water. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there.
Chakra.
His chakra.
[Success! Host has achieved initial chakra awareness. Recording sensation for future reference. This is the first step toward chakra control.]
Kazuki's eyes snapped open, his heart racing with excitement. He'd done it. He'd actually felt his chakra. On his first try.
Or was it the first try? The AI Chip had given him the optimal method, compiled from his own memories of the series and meditation techniques from his past life. It had essentially given him a cheat sheet for the most efficient path to success.
This is what the Chip can do, Kazuki realized. It can't give me power directly, but it can show me the absolute best way to train, the most efficient path to mastery. It's like having a perfect coach who never forgets anything and can calculate probabilities.
[TO BE CONTINUED].....
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CHAPTER LENGTH (4195 WORDS)
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