On a bright day in the village of Konoha…
The sky stretched in a clear, cloudless blue, while the spring breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of sakura blossoms from the village center. Leaves fluttered softly as a middle-aged man strolled down a dirt path toward a secluded training area. His face was partially obscured by bandages covering his right eye, and an X-shaped scar on his chin gave him a harsh, unforgiving appearance—a remnant of a past filled with battles.
He was Danzo Shimura, a key figure behind Konoha's political scene and assistant to the Hokage.
Danzo came to a halt. In the distance, cling—cling! the sound of metal striking tree trunks rang out. His eyebrow twitched. Someone was training. His curiosity was piqued. Silently, he slipped into the shadows of the trees, his steps nearly inaudible as he drew closer.
In front of him stood a small girl, no older than five. Her long black hair hung loose, and her pale white eyes marked her as a member of the Hyuga clan. Though her form was small and her technique unpolished, the intensity on her face spoke of pure determination. She continued to throw shuriken at a wooden board, her eyes narrowing with concentration.
Danzo narrowed his remaining eye, noting the girl's bare forehead. No curse mark. Interesting.
As he stepped closer, the girl seemed to sense his presence. Her tiny body stiffened. In an instant, she turned and took a defensive stance.
"Who's there!?" she called out warily.
Danzo raised a single hand slowly, his tone calm but cold.
"Don't be alarmed, little one. I'm Danzo Shimura, assistant to the Hokage."
Seeing her defensive posture, Danzo was unbothered and asked, "What is a member of the Hyuga main family doing in a place like this?"
The girl's expression shifted instantly. Her eyes widened, and her body trembled slightly as she registered the man's status. He was the one known, even in the brief historical books she had read, as the Hokage's right hand. She immediately knelt on one knee and bowed deeply.
"My apologies for my rudeness, Danzo-sama," she said in a small but clear voice. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, her childish demeanor making the sight oddly endearing.
"My name is Hyuga Mizuki. I'm not from the main family. I just arrived in Konoha… about a week ago," she said honestly, withholding the deeper truths she shouldn't share. But she took a gamble. If this was truly the Hokage's assistant, it was best to appear sincere from the start.
Mizuki had only arrived in this world about a week ago. She didn't yet fully understand the nature of this place, let alone its political intricacies or history. All of her knowledge thus far came from the memories of the body she now inhabited—the memories of a small girl born outside of Konoha, in a village on the border between the Land of Fire and the waters of the Land of Water.
According to fragments of memory, the girl had been found by a Hyuga clan member while on a mission near the border. Upon realizing the child possessed the distinct Byakugan eyes, the ninja brought her back to Konoha. But upon their arrival, something strange occurred.
As per protocol for those from the branch family, the Hyuga elders decided to apply the cursed seal to her forehead. However, the girl's body reacted unusually. Rather than accepting the seal, her body appeared to reject it, displaying unexpected symptoms that no one could explain. Within minutes, the girl collapsed and stopped breathing. She—died before their eyes.
Yet before the elders could confirm her death and take further action, something unseen occurred: Mizuki's soul—a once-ambitious adult man working an office job in his past life—entered and inhabited the girl's body. He took over her existence just before her death was finalized.
What happened next was a stroke of luck for Mizuki. The cursed seal that had been forcibly placed on the girl's forehead vanished completely. The elders concluded that the sealing attempt had failed. Perhaps, they reasoned, this child was naturally immune to the curse seal. To save face and avoid internal political chaos, they decided to keep the incident a secret.
More than that—the elders made the shocking decision to place Mizuki into the main Hyuga family lineage. A tremendous honor, typically reserved for direct descendants. But in Mizuki's case, it was the result of a grave mistake shrouded in mystery and clan politics.
In truth, if the elders had simply tried again, the curse seal would likely have succeeded. Mizuki knew this well, but she wasn't foolish enough to say anything or question it. She chose silence and accepted the elders' arrangements while building her understanding of this new world.
As someone with an adaptable soul—even in the face of being reincarnated as a little girl—Mizuki wasn't particularly concerned about gender. In her mind, a soul knows no bodily bounds, and adaptation was merely part of survival strategy.
During her first few days in Konoha, Mizuki began to study how this world functioned. She read books and observed daily village life. She realized that ninja—shinobi—were regarded as the primary military force, the spearhead of power for each great nation. They were an armed force under the leadership of hidden villages, which operated independently from each nation's central government.
Konoha, also known as the Hidden Leaf Village, was led by the Hokage—a title Mizuki viewed as akin to a supreme general, responsible for military and political stability. The Hokage was supported by the Konoha Council, comprised of advisors and elders influential in key decisions.
The village's primary income came from its mission system. Ninja completed paid missions assigned by clients from across the land. Additional funds typically came from the Daimyo—the ruling nobles of each nation. How was one chosen to become Hokage? From what Mizuki had gathered from books, it depended on reputation and achievements. It was a meritocracy. The First through Third Hokage were individuals of great accomplishments in war and were hailed for their monumental contributions to peace.
Though the Hyuga elders had ordered her never to speak of her past to anyone, Mizuki chose to share her story with Danzo—at least the version based on the body's memories. She kept one key fact hidden: that she was, in truth, a reincarnated soul. That detail, Mizuki felt, would be too strange for anyone to grasp.
As it turned out, her decision was wise. As Danzo listened to Mizuki's story, his interest deepened. At this time, Danzo was still loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had recently been appointed Hokage. He had not yet fallen into the dark ambitions that would later define him. As the head of the ANBU training unit, Danzo still held ideals about protecting the village and nurturing promising young talent.
Danzo stared at her for a long moment, then said flatly, "Stand up. I just want to talk."
Mizuki quickly stood, her body stiff with nervousness. She could feel his gaze measuring, weighing her.
Danzo's expression remained unreadable. But in his mind, the girl's name had already taken root.
"Interesting…" he muttered. "So you've only just arrived."
The wind blew gently. Leaves scattered at their feet. Danzo looked at Mizuki for a moment, then said:
"Well then, would you care to accompany me for a walk? It's been a while since I wandered the village."
Mizuki looked at the man. His face was hard to read, exuding an oppressive aura. But such an opportunity was too rare to decline.
"With pleasure, Danzo-sama."
And so, they began walking down Konoha's main street. The village was alive—vendors shouting about their goods, children laughing and running about, young shinobi practicing in training yards. But everyone who saw Danzo bowed in respect. His presence still commanded reverence.
Mizuki stole a glance at the man. He looked like a shadow woven into the village itself. No one greeted him openly, but no one dared ignore him either.
"So," Danzo spoke, eyes scanning the crowd, "what's your first impression of Konoha?"
Mizuki looked up at the sky, taking a moment to think.
"Konoha… is warm. But full of hierarchy," she said honestly. "The people smile, but everyone knows their place. Especially among shinobi—they obey structure. I think the village is strong because of that order."
Danzo turned, expression unchanged. But his pupil narrowed slightly. "A sharp observation… for someone your age."
"I've done a lot of reading this past week, Danzo-sama."
"And in your opinion… what's the best way to achieve peace?" Danzo asked, his tone casual, but it was clearly a test.
Mizuki walked slowly, letting out a soft breath before answering.
"Peace isn't about everyone stopping their fights," she whispered. "It's about ensuring no one's strong enough to start one."
Danzo stopped walking. Mizuki halted as well, standing firm before him. Danzo's single eye narrowed sharply, scanning the girl's face, seeking signs she was just parroting words from a book.
But Mizuki met his gaze head-on, her expression calm, filled with certainty. Beneath her small frame was a soul that had endured much.
"…You believe in military strength as the main tool for peace?" Danzo pressed further.
"I believe in deterrence, Danzo-sama. This world is harsh. Even good people can become monsters when cornered. The only way to secure peace is to create fear greater than rage."
Danzo was silent for a moment. Then, for the first time, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Hmph… heavy words for a little girl. But I like them."
'This child… doesn't just know what to say. She understands what it means. There's something behind her…'
"You'll be a valuable asset to this village, Mizuki," Danzo said at last. "But remember one thing… never trust anyone completely. Not even those who pretend to protect you."
Mizuki gave a small smile. "I learned that before I ever came here, Danzo-sama."
Danzo's gaze softened. Konoha continued to buzz with life as always, but this small encounter quietly carved a mark on the village's future.