The war changed everything overnight.
Rohan now called by his new name in this world could clearly sense the tension in the Hidden Rock Village. Patrols increased, fortifications expanded, and more and more shinobi were deployed from the village gates each morning. The peaceful chatter he once heard around his home was replaced by hushed whispers and grim discussions.
Through eavesdropping and the books he secretly studied, he learned a few critical facts. The Second Ninja War was already spreading across the element nations. Konohagakure had allied with Sunagakure, and together they were pushing against the borders of the Land of Earth.
He often saw teams of experienced jonin moving swiftly across rooftops hard-eyed veterans who had survived the previous war. Their movements were sharp, decisive, and full of killing intent. Even as a child, he could sense that these were not mere soldiers but they were weapons forged for war.
Rumors spread through the village like wildfire.
Some spoke of the powerful Sannin of Konohan three prodigies whose strength was said to rival entire battalions. There was talk of the White Fang, a terrifying genius whose speed and skill eclipsed normal shinobi standards. And from Sunagakure, a man wielding deadly poisons the feared Chiyo was causing casualties with mere scratches.
The civilians were terrified. The academy was filled with children being fast-tracked into service, learning how to throw kunai with trembling hands.
But for Rohan, this world of chakra and bloodshed was a laboratory of limitless possibilities.
Every time he saw a ninja channel chakra into their legs and vanish in an instant, his heart raced. Every explosive clay detonation from the Iwa shinobi units fascinated him. Their bodies enhanced beyond natural limits, minds sharpened through rigorous training—it was evolution in motion.
He paid attention to everything:
• The way chakra swirled around a shinobi before they leapt. • The sealing scrolls that released unimaginable power from mere ink. • Meditation techniques that increased chakra circulation.
He observed, analyzed, documented just like in his past life. But he also feel the fear of death in this cruel world.
Every few days, injured shinobi returned some carried on stretchers, others missing limbs. And there were those who never came back at all.
Rohan realized that this world did not simply teach power but demand the outcome also .
One evening, he overheard his parents arguing quietly. His father and mother both a chunin, assigned to the frontlines soon. His mother's voice trembled, trying to remain strong. Rohan clenched his tiny fists. He may have been reincarnated into a child's body, but his mind refused to be helpless.
As the war raged on beyond the stone walls, determination ignited within him. If this was the path this world demanded then he would walk it.
As time continued to pass, another year went by, and he received the news of his parents' deaths. They had been killed in an attack orchestrated by Konoha. Both of them were gone.
He was completely devastated. The people who had loved and protected him in this world were no longer by his side. He was now alone. Just an orphan with no one to rely on.
Now five, almost six years old, he was of age to attend the academy. And he knew that from this point on, he had to stand on his own. There was no one left to care for him. He would have to take care of himself and his own studies—especially the scientific research that defined his very existence.
He mourned for his parents for three days. During that time, he did not read, did not study, and did not think about chakra or experiments. He simply allowed himself to grieve.
But when those three days passed, his resolve hardened.
He decided that he would change this cruel world. He would become strong enough that no one he cared about would ever be taken away again. And through science, knowledge, and power, he would reshape the future of this ninja world.
Rohan's first day at the Iwagakure Ninja Academy was far from glamorous. The building itself was carved from solid stone, reflecting the toughness the Hidden Rock expected from its shinobi. Children his age gathered around—some confident, others nervous, and many already molded by war.
The instructors wasted no time. There were no warm welcomes or friendly introductions. Here, a shinobi's worth was measured only by their ability to survive and contribute to victory.
He quickly realized that most of the children came from shinobi families with generations of military experience. They could already handle kunai, perform basic chakra exercises, and run obstacle courses without collapsing.
In comparison, he was an outsider. Too quiet. Too observant. And his lack of parents placed him at the bottom of the academy's social structure. A war orphan was just another burden on the village.
But while others focused on brute strength, Rohan studied.
His mind was his greatest weapon.
During the first three months, he made significant progress:
• He memorized the academy's chakra theory and anatomical scrolls far ahead of the class.
• He secretly developed a meditation routine that optimized his chakra circulation using biofeedback principles from his past life.
• He analyzed the structural patterns of hand seals and how chakra pathways shifted with each one.
• He charted every muscle movement involved in shuriken techniques, adjusting his form to improve precision.
Even though he lacked raw talent compared to some prodigies, his growth rate was frightening.
He practiced alone every evening. His small apartment became a miniature laboratory. Using crude tools, he dissected dead insects, studied plant structures, and tested how chakra interacted with organic material. He recorded every observation carefully.
The instructors noticed his rapid grasp of theoretical subjects but dismissed him due to his weaker physical performance. His classmates whispered behind his back, calling him a bookworm, a weakling, and someone who could never become a ninja.