A gentle breeze rustled the paper doors of the Hyuga compound, casting long shadows in the dimly lit training hall. A small boy sat cross-legged in the center of the room, his delicate features twisted in deep concentration. His tiny frame trembled slightly, yet his white, pupil-less eyes remained shut, his breath slow and steady.
Across from him knelt a tall man, his posture regal, his gaze sharp yet patient. The flickering candlelight cast his shadow long and imposing against the wooden walls.
"Indra," the man's deep voice broke the silence, calm but firm. "Feel for the warmth inside you. It is there, waiting to be acknowledged. Focus."
Indra Hyuga, barely three years old, exhaled slowly, pushing aside stray thoughts. Then, for the first time, he felt it.
A tiny spark ignited in his navel, no larger than a flickering candle's flame. It was faint, yet undeniably present—a warmth that was neither foreign nor familiar. His breath hitched, his small fingers curling instinctively.
This is it… my chakra!
A surge of excitement coursed through him. For the first time in three years, he felt real.
Three years…
It had been three years since Indra opened his eyes in this world.
His memories of his past life were intact—vivid, untouched by time. He remembered the world he came from, the life he lived, and the way it had all ended. COVID-19 had taken him, or at least, that's what he assumed. The details were blurry. One moment, he was drowning in fever and exhaustion, and the next…
He was here.
The first year had been a nightmare.
The sensations of infancy, the inability to speak or move properly—it was a prison unlike any he had ever known. His thoughts were sharp, his mind intact, but his body? Weak. Helpless. He had screamed, cried, struggled against the terrifying reality forced upon him.
Yet, with time, acceptance came.
By the age of two, he had mastered the language of this world, piecing together words from the conversations around him. He learned to read, to write, to understand.
By the age of three, he had grasped his place in history. He was born nearly fifty years before Naruto's time. The legendary battle between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha was not just a story but a recent memory to the elders of the village.
This was a different era—one defined by war and ambition.
Once Indra understood his circumstances, he became obsessed with knowledge. His parents spoke often about chakra, especially why children were not allowed to unlock it before the age of three.
One evening, over dinner, his mother had explained it to him. "Your chakra pathways are too fragile before then," she had said gently. "Forcing chakra through them too early could cause permanent damage."
His father, Hiroshi Hyuga, had nodded in agreement. "Chakra is a balance of physical and spiritual energy. To wield it properly, your body must be strong, and your mind must be disciplined."
Indra had listened intently. Chakra wasn't just an energy source. It wasn't some fantasy magic—it was a force of life itself.
He had waited patiently. And now, at last, the moment had arrived.
As the heir of the Main Branch, Indra had privileges that others in his clan did not. He would never bear the Caged Bird Seal, unlike those born into the Branch Family. His father, the current Hyuga Patriarch, was both strict and fair, teaching him the importance of the clan's traditions while also expecting him to uphold them.
Beyond his immediate family, the Main House also included the elders' families, forming a complex political structure that he would have to navigate as he grew older. The weight of responsibility already loomed over him.
But for now, he had one focus—mastering his chakra.
Back in the training hall, Indra exhaled slowly, focusing on the warmth in his core. The tiny flame in his navel flickered, barely noticeable at first, but as he concentrated, it grew stronger—like a whisper turning into a murmur, then into a quiet hum. His breath hitched. He could feel it. He could actually feel it.
A slow smile spread across his face, excitement bubbling in his tiny chest. His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear, but from sheer realization. He had spent three years in this world, powerless, waiting for this moment. And now, he was finally here.
Across from him, his father, Hiroshi Hyuga, observed him in silence. His sharp, lavender eyes were trained on his son's every movement, analyzing his form, his breathing, and—most importantly—his chakra control.
He's learning fast. Hiroshi had seen many children awaken their chakra before, but few displayed such immediate awareness of its flow. Most struggled at first, either pushing too much chakra at once or failing to control its direction. But Indra…
Hiroshi's gaze softened for the briefest moment. He truly is my son.
"You feel it now, don't you?" Hiroshi finally spoke, his deep voice calm but firm.
Indra swallowed and nodded quickly. "Yes… it's warm," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hiroshi studied him closely. There was awe in his son's expression—pure, untainted wonder. It was rare to see a child so young grasp the gravity of what they were experiencing. Most simply rejoiced at the power, never questioning its depth.
"Good. Now, guide it. Slowly. Do not rush. Direct it through your pathways in a clockwise motion."
Indra obeyed, his small frame still trembling with excitement. Hiroshi watched as his son carefully pushed the warmth outward, tracing the correct route with remarkable precision.
This control… it is beyond his years.
A soft gasp escaped Indra's lips.
Hiroshi's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's wrong?"
Indra quickly shook his head. "Nothing. It's just… it feels so real." He clenched his tiny fists, his body shaking slightly from the sheer rush of sensation. "I thought it would be different. More like… just an energy I could feel. But this is—this is—"
"Alive," Hiroshi finished for him.
Indra looked up, eyes wide.
Hiroshi nodded. "Yes. Chakra is not just energy—it is life itself. It is the force that connects your body, mind, and spirit. That is why wielding it requires control, not just strength."
Indra took a deep breath, nodding firmly. "I understand."
Hiroshi gave a single nod in return. "Now, let it flow naturally. Do not force it. Your chakra pathways are still weak, like newly formed streams. If you push too hard, they will crack under the pressure."
Indra furrowed his brows, adjusting his focus. Slowly, the chakra began to move with greater ease, as though his body was recognizing something familiar.
Hiroshi folded his arms, his mind drifting to the past. At Indra's age, my own chakra control was nowhere near this refined. Even among Hyuga prodigies, children usually required months of guidance to establish proper circulation. Yet Indra was adjusting within minutes.
Could it be inherited talent? Or something more?
"You have a higher chakra reserve than most children your age," Hiroshi noted aloud. "Likely due to your strong spiritual energy."
Indra lifted his gaze, eyes shining with determination. "Does that mean I can get stronger faster?"
Hiroshi's lips pressed into a thin line. "Potential means nothing without discipline," he said firmly. "Power is not something to be rushed. It is something to be cultivated."
Indra nodded, absorbing every word.
Hiroshi exhaled slowly, his earlier thoughts lingering. If this level of awareness continues… he may surpass even my expectations.
His gaze softened slightly. But he is still just a child.
"For now," he continued, "focus on refining your chakra. Let your body grow accustomed to it. Meditate daily. This is not a task to be completed—it is a foundation for everything you will become."
Indra straightened his back, fists clenching with renewed resolve. "I'll do it."
Hiroshi stood up, his tall frame casting a long shadow over his son. "Good." He turned to leave but paused at the door.
"Remember, Indra… strength is meaningless without control. Patience will take you further than raw talent ever could."
Indra clenched his fists and looked down at his small hands. He was still weak. Still just a child. But today, he had taken his first step.
Hiroshi lingered for a moment longer, watching his son's tiny frame. This boy… he may be the one to change the Hyuga forever.
He left the training hall in silence.
Meanwhile, Indra inhaled deeply, focusing once more on the tiny flame within him.
He would grow stronger.
He had all the time in the world.