Konoha Year 54.
"Failed again."
Kaze stood in front of the full-length mirror in his living room, arms crossed, examining his reflection like a disappointed parent at a parent-teacher conference. Sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a refined yet striking face, and a tall, well-proportioned physique. Even among the famed "Four Uchiha Elites," he was undeniably one of the most handsome. The Uchiha bloodline was seriously unfair—every guy looked like a model, and every girl could cause international incidents just by existing.
But beyond the devastating good looks, there was something else worth mentioning… Kaze wasn't originally from this world. He was a transmigrator. A decade ago, he opened his eyes and found himself in the Uchiha clan, which sounded cool in theory—until he was five years old and thrown into the Third Shinobi War like a toddler in a gladiator pit.
Oh, and his parents? Brutally slaughtered right in front of him. Classic. That was when his Sharingan awakened, and through a combination of panic, adrenaline, and dumb luck, he barely managed to survive the war.
"If I wrote my life story as a web novel and posted it on Qidian, people would roast me for using the overused 'Qidian Orphanage' trope," Kaze muttered.
(T/N: You don't say. Also, for those who don't know what Qidian is—first off, how?! Second, I guess you still have some brain cells left then (good for you), and third, it's basically the Chinese version of Webnovel, full of raw novels and fanfics. If you're feeling brave and don't mind sacrificing some brain cells, go check it out. There are some good novels in there… but finding them is pure luck.)
Ever since the war ended, Kaze had resorted to... unconventional training methods. His favorite? Subjecting himself to genjutsu and forcing himself to relive his parents' tragic deaths over and over again. Healthy coping mechanisms, right? He'd replayed that memory at least two hundred times by now.
Not because he was some emotional masochist—though, at this point, it was hard to say—but because he was trying to awaken the third tomoe of his Sharingan. It should've worked by now. According to all Uchiha lore, trauma plus Sharingan equals a power-up. Yet, no matter how many times he tortured himself, he was still stuck with his basic, non-HD Sharingan.
As he stared into his reflection, he saw the two tomoe spinning rapidly at first, but gradually slowing down, struggling to progress any further.
"At this point, I feel like I should at least get a refund," Kaze grumbled.
(T/N: No Returns, No Refunds.)
Like many fanfic protagonists, Kaze had the advantage of knowing this world's story before arriving here. He'd watched Naruto in his previous life, so he had a decent understanding of the lore, major events, and characters. He knew that intense emotional stimulation could awaken the Sharingan, and if pushed far enough, it could evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Unfortunately, despite all his efforts, he hadn't managed to make it happen. No matter how hard he pushed, he was always just a little short. It was like trying to break a high score in a game that refused to give him that extra point. Today was just another failed attempt. He sighed, glancing at his reflection again. "Maybe next time… Or the next nth time," he muttered.
"Ten years, huh… Xiaoyu."
(T/N: These CN authors and their pet names. Seriously Little Fish.)
Kaze muttered to himself, addressing Xiaoyu—not a younger sibling, but a stray cat he had found in the village years ago. When he first picked it up, it had been abandoned, practically a walking furball of despair. Seeing how they were both alone in this world, Kaze decided to take it in and named it Xiaoyu. Thanks to his care, the cat not only survived but thrived. And, to Kaze's surprise, it could breathe fire. That's when Kaze realized: Xiaoyu was no ordinary cat. It was a ninja cat. With enough training, Xiaoyu could perform the Great Fireball Jutsu just like Fugaku's youngest son. The crazy part? It didn't even need hand seals. A truly elite ninja cat.
(T/N: Hopefully the cat's fireball can hit a target for once.)
"Meow!" Xiaoyu lazily stretched, acknowledging Kaze's words in the most unimpressed way possible.
Kaze walked over, squatted down, and scratched the cat under its chin. "You probably don't even understand what I'm saying, huh…" He let out a dramatic sigh. "Kumogakure has already agreed to a truce. In a couple of days, they'll send someone over to sign the peace treaty."
Normally, no one would bother memorizing the in-universe calendar of an anime, but Kaze had actually committed some of it to memory. Konoha Year 54 and 55 were turning points in history. This year, Kumo ninjas were going to try and kidnap Hinata. And next year…
(T/N: Ah, no wonder all your Chinese Naruto timelines are a mess 90% of the time. You don't even memorize the basic timelines. Shame on you.)
"Next year is the Uchiha Massacre." Kaze's voice grew heavy with melodrama. He glanced at Xiaoyu. "You remember Itachi, don't you? That guy who kept stealing your dango?"
(T/N: Dango – A traditional Japanese sweet dumpling made from rice flour, usually served on skewers and often enjoyed with tea. It comes in different flavors, like Mitarashi (sweet soy glaze) or Anko (red bean paste). A favorite snack of the Uchiha clan!
P.S.: Did you guys also notice it?)
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Kaze started venting his frustrations to his cat. From the moment he arrived in this world, he knew the massacre was coming. He'd tried to talk some sense into Itachi, tried to prevent it, but it was pointless. His influence was nothing compared to Hiruzen's divine intervention. Itachi, was too deep into the "Will of Fire" cult.
With less than a year left, Kaze was running out of options. "Maybe I could try bonding with him…" He laughed bitterly. "Yeah, like that would work. He killed his own parents, his lover, and probably his goldfish for the sake of the village. Do you think he'd hesitate to kill me? Probably already sees me as a hardcore Uchiha loyalist. I've spent years dropping hints that the Uchiha could be Hokage, after all. Who knows how that's been shaping his view of me."
"Xiaoyu, what do you think? Should I leave the village?"
"Meow~" The cat yawned, stretching again. Clearly, it was really invested in Kaze's life choices.
"You agree?" Kaze glanced at the cat but then shook his head. Leaving meant becoming a rogue ninja. Even if Hiruzen's faction didn't hunt him down, he was just a regular Chūnin with no overpowered system, no secret bloodline, and certainly no plot armor. He'd be easy prey for the likes of Orochimaru or Obito. To the other villages, he was basically a walking Sharingan farm, just waiting to be harvested.
"Then what about siding with the Third Hokage?"
"Meow?" Xiaoyu tilted its head, looking as confused as Kaze felt.
"Yeah, no. Even if Hiruzen wanted to protect me, Danzo would definitely have me killed for my eyes. Best case scenario? I end up with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
No matter which path Kaze considered, they all led to death. Or, at best, a life with no freedom. And the Mangekyō Sharingan? Yeah, that was still a pipe dream. Ten years in, and he still hadn't unlocked it. Meanwhile, other transmigrators got cheat abilities or legendary bloodlines and became unstoppable forces of nature. Kaze? He spent ten years struggling just to reach Chūnin.
Lying back on the tatami mat, Kaze sighed dramatically. "Am I really screwed?" He stared blankly at the ceiling, contemplating his hopeless existence. Just then, a rustling noise caught his attention. He glanced sideways and saw Xiaoyu hop up onto the windowsill, push the window open with its paws, and disappear into the night. Kaze didn't think much of it. The cat had always been the adventurous type. Probably off to commit some ninja cat mischief.
"Maybe I could use my knowledge to trick Obito?" The thought flitted through his mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly. Who was he kidding? He was just a regular guy. The second he revealed any future knowledge, Obito would probably just hit him with a genjutsu and make him spill everything, including who I fantasize when I masturbate.
(T/N: This was my own addition. Now I am regretting it. )
"So there really is no way out?" The more he thought about it, the more hopeless it seemed. If only he had faked his death during the war and lived out his days as a civilian. It would've been a much less complicated life—no genocidal clans, no eye-hunting, just… regular stuff. Maybe he'd run a bakery. Or a small ramen stall.
(T/N: Maybe then you will become the next sage of six bowls by now.)
Time passed in silence. Kaze wasn't sure how long he had been lying there when he heard another noise. His eyes snapped toward the window, where Xiaoyu was squeezing back in through the gap. But this time, it wasn't empty-handed.
Between its teeth, Xiaoyu was gripping a strange-looking fruit. It resembled a giant pineapple, but the swirling patterns on its skin looked eerily like crackling lightning. Kaze blinked. Then he blinked again.
"Wait… why does that look like a Devil Fruit?"
(T/N: Well that's all for the first chapter. Let me know what you guys think of this chapter or if I need to improve my writing.)