Chapter 01: Transmigration, Hokage Inheritance System
Editor Notes:
Uchiha Clan – One of Konoha's four great noble clans, feared for their Sharingan and feared more for their temper.
Sharingan – A dojutsu (eye technique) unique to the Uchiha, allowing users to copy techniques, perceive chakra, and predict movements. Starts with one tomoe; three tomoe means mastery.
Chunin – The second rank in the ninja hierarchy. Below Jonin, above Genin. Think middle management, but with kunai.
Will of Fire – The beating heart of Konoha: protect the village, protect the next generation, even if it kills you.
Kunoichi – A female shinobi. Deadlier than you think.
Hokage – The top dog. Leader of the village. God of Shinobi on a good day, glorified desk ninja on others.
Uchiha Clan Compound, Outer District
A six-year-old boy knelt outside a sliding wooden door, eyes fixed on the distant sunset bleeding over the village rooftops. His clothes were tattered, dust clung to his skin, and several crisp shoe prints decorated his back like a crude stamp of humiliation.
This was Uchiha Tunan—or rather, the soul within his body was. Three months earlier, he'd transmigrated into this world, reborn as the young heir of a lesser Uchiha branch. The original Tunan? Likely passed on to the Pure Land—or recycled by karma.
Naturally, like all transmigrators blessed by some cosmic HR department, he wasn't alone. His golden finger—a classic transmigration cheat—was something called the Legacy Inheritance System. In short, anyone who truly acknowledged him… would pass all their abilities to him upon death.
It wasn't limited to combat strength. Emotional bonds, admiration, belief—any deep acknowledgment would suffice.
So far, only two people had reached the acknowledgment threshold: his parents.
Both were elite shinobi of the Konoha Police Force, with three-tomoe Sharingan awakened and a decent reputation in the Uchiha clan. In contrast, Tunan himself was… underwhelming. Despite early chakra control training, his talent was painfully average. At best, his future promised a mediocre chunin rank—unless he got lucky and awakened his Sharingan.
But Tunan had no intention of gambling on fate.
He lowered his head, wore a pitiful expression like a veteran actor, and waited for his parents to come home.
A little later, the door slid open. Uchiha Yanbo and Uchiha Nanako stepped inside. Their eyes immediately landed on their dirt-covered son.
Nanako's face softened with concern, but as an Uchiha wife, she kept her silence. Discipline in child-rearing was the man's responsibility.
Yanbo frowned. "You got beat up again?"
Tunan nodded, head down, voice low.
"Hmph." Yanbo's tone was sharp. "Then get stronger and return the favor. An Uchiha doesn't whimper—they retaliate."
Without another word, he strode inside. Nanako hesitated, wanting to help her son up, but Yanbo's bark came from within.
"Leave him."
Her fingers curled into her palms. She turned and went to prepare dinner.
From the doorway, Tunan muttered just loud enough to be heard, his voice choked with staged sobs, "That damn Kakashi… he went too far…"
Yanbo's footsteps halted mid-step.
"…Kakashi?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "The White Fang's kid?"
"Yes…" Tunan's voice trembled with grievance. "Today I told everyone that my Lord Father and Mother were the pride of the police force… but Kakashi said you two were cowards. That you just hide in the village bullying civilians while the real shinobi fight on the frontlines… He said the clan sent only trash to stay behind…"
CRACK!
The sake cup shattered in Yanbo's grip, shards falling to the floor.
He stared at his son, eyes dark. Then without a word, he turned and walked into the bedroom.
"Eat. Then go outside and practice your throwing."
Tunan bowed his head. "Yes, Father…"
After dinner, he walked into the courtyard with a few dull kunai and began practicing. Each throw curved like a drunk mosquito and fell short.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk.
All misses.
Inside the bedroom, Yanbo and Nanako knelt across from each other in silence.
"…You've really made up your mind?" Nanako finally asked. "The frontlines are brutal."
Yanbo's face was hard. "I used to think Tunan's lack of talent was shameful. But today I found out I am the shame."
"I'll go with you," Nanako said firmly.
"No. Stay. Take care of him."
"As an Uchiha, he needs to learn to stand alone."
Outside, kunai clattered on stone. Tunan kept throwing, his eyes calm, his mind cold:
"Sorry. If you two don't die… I'll never take the first step forward. The Will of Fire is about self-sacrifice, right? Then you two can dedicate your lives—to me.
I may not be your real son, but I'll sleep with a dozen strong kunoichi and pass on this bloodline. It's better for you to die as heroes on the battlefield… than be slaughtered later by your own clan."
The thought was heartless—but so was the world he'd landed in. And more and more… he was becoming a real ninja.
He threw again.
Another miss.
Thunk.
In the room, Yanbo heard the steady rhythm of failure. Each sound only strengthened his resolve.
Next Day – Ninja Academy
It was midterms. The afternoon was reserved for combat evaluation, but the morning began with a traditional speech from the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Students stood neatly on the training field in formation.
Hiruzen appeared atop the platform, smiling kindly, and began his sermon about the Will of Fire—how love fuels sacrifice, how sacrifice protects the village, how the next generation carries the torch…
Most students watched him like starstruck civilians seeing a Jonin for the first time.
Except one.
Uchiha Tunan wore a look of pure confusion, as if the Hokage were speaking a foreign language.
Hiruzen's brow twitched. Did I mess up the phrasing?
He reviewed his own words in his head—nope, still golden.
"Maybe the kid's just a little slow."
He kept going. But mid-speech, he noticed something curious: the confusion in Tunan's eyes vanished. It was replaced by a spark of realization—then admiration.
A deep, mature admiration.
"Hmm? He's actually listening? Genuinely?"
By the time the speech ended, all the kids were clapping. But Hiruzen's eyes stayed on one boy.
The other kids respected his rank.
Tunan respected his words.
"This one…" Hiruzen mused, "has potential. A good candidate for the village's future. Or at least… a useful tool."
As he turned to leave, he shot the boy a meaningful look.
Tunan trembled in faux excitement.
Noon – Uchiha Residence
The house was silent.
A full meal had been left on the table, and a note lay beside it, written in his mother's elegant hand. It explained everything: they had departed for the battlefield. Money had been left in the bedroom. Train hard. Don't waste food. Be proud.
The last line was clearly Yanbo's.
"In the Uchiha clan, there are no cowards. No trash."
Tunan set the note down gently, as if handling sacred scripture.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Have a good trip… and don't come back."