(Author's Note: It's been a long time since I last watched Naruto. A week ago, I secretly checked out some explanations of Boruto… and honestly, I nearly wanted to gouge my own eyes out and scream to the heavens. My poor eyes!)
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Life is like this—
Full of ups and downs…
And more downs.
---
Asahi was sleeping when he tried to turn over.
But no matter how hard he tried—
His body wouldn't move.
Something's wrong…
Very wrong.
He struggled to open his eyes, trying to understand his surroundings.
But no matter how hard he tried—
He couldn't open them at all.
---
In his daze, he sensed only darkness.
A warm, enclosing darkness.
Strangely familiar.
He felt himself floating in a gentle current, his limbs moving ever so slightly.
It felt… comfortable.
Safe.
Like—
Being back in a mother's womb.
---
Wait.
A womb?!
---
The realization hit him like lightning.
Asahi tried to curse—
But the moment he opened his mouth, he swallowed a mouthful of liquid.
And then—
A certain piece of "fun trivia" surfaced in his mind.
Most of the components of amniotic fluid…
Were fetal waste.
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"…Forget it."
"Let's not think about that."
---
Asahi felt like crying.
Just yesterday, he had received his Master's degree in mathematics.
He had attended his graduation ceremony.
He had even secured a PhD recommendation—
All that remained was to use his father's connections, enter a lab, and coast through life.
And today?
He transmigrated.
As a fetus.
---
This isn't reasonable.
Not at all.
---
At his age, he had switched to mathematics for one simple reason—
To visit his father's grave.
And yet, before he even got the chance—
He transmigrated.
---
He hadn't been hit by a car.
He hadn't died from overwork.
So how?!
---
Speaking of his father—
That was a story in itself.
His father had been a top-tier mathematics professor at a Beijing university.
His grandfather as well.
The two of them had even participated in classified national research projects—
A legendary father-son duo in academic circles.
---
Because of his father's frail health, Asahi was their only child.
Naturally, expectations fell heavily upon him.
He was meant to inherit the family legacy—
To continue the path of mathematics.
---
But life didn't go that way.
Growing up in Shijia Hutong, Asahi was surrounded by artists.
His uncle studied folklore.
His neighbor was a well-known photographer.
His mother was part of a military arts troupe and loved painting and calligraphy.
---
Everyone around him leaned toward the arts.
Except his father and grandfather.
---
And so—
He did too.
---
But as a child, he didn't dare rebel.
He obediently acted as an assistant to his father and grandfather.
Until one day—
He did.
---
Despite being guaranteed admission into mathematics, he chose to take the college entrance exam.
His scores were high enough for any major.
And he chose—
Anything but math.
---
He even secretly worked with his uncle to enroll in a rival university.
That decision nearly caused his father to disown him.
His grandfather was so furious he had to take medicine on the spot.
---
Years passed.
Asahi went abroad.
Then—
His father fell seriously ill.
And he didn't make it back in time.
---
His father's final words were harsh:
If Asahi didn't return to mathematics—
He was not to visit his grave.
---
In the end, Asahi relented.
He returned.
Earned his Master's degree.
Prepared to visit the grave the next day—
To finally talk to his father.
---
And then—
He woke up like this.
---
"…What kind of joke is this?"
---
If he had transmigrated during high school, he wouldn't have complained.
Who hasn't dreamed of starting over?
Of becoming some overpowered protagonist?
But now?
He just wanted a stable life.
Not a restart from level one.
---
Still—
There was nothing he could do.
As the saying goes—
Since you're here, you might as well stay.
---
Thus began his life as a fetus.
Sleeping.
Floating.
Occasionally kicking.
---
When his senses developed further, he began to hear faint sounds.
A gentle voice reciting:
"The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao…"
---
The Tao Te Ching?
---
Asahi was thrilled.
A cultivation world?!
---
Perfect.
Leveling up.
Treasure hunting.
Secret realms.
---
He was ready.
---
Until—
He was born.
---
And reality hit him.
Hard.
---
What he saw was a grand palace—
With dragon carvings, ornate eaves, and imperial architecture.
His mother handed him to a white-haired old man seated below a grand throne.
People in ancient robes filled the hall, chanting in a language he couldn't understand.
---
Something felt… off.
The architecture resembled the Sui–Tang era.
The clothing resembled Qin–Han styles.
The language?
It sounded vaguely like Japanese.
---
A complete mess.
---
And then—
He saw them.
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Ninjas.
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And heard the word—
Konoha.
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At that moment, everything fell apart.
---
This wasn't a cultivation world.
This was—
Naruto.
---
And judging by his background—
This wasn't even the original story.
---
It was a fanfiction world.
---
"…You've got to be kidding me."