"I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness."
-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Third Person POV:
After a prolonged labor, a baby was finally born, the mother looked exhausted from delivery, the medic gave the baby to the mother. After giving the baby to the mother, he exited the room.
The mother, who had just gone through one of the most painful things a woman could ever experience, took her newborn to her arms.
She looked lovingly into his eyes. She could feel every second, her own strength was slipping her body, and she was slowly dying. But she didn't care.
"Sorry my baby boy, Mama won't be there for you. Grow up to be a powerful shinobi…"
First Person POV, MC
I'm not exactly sure how I got here.
I remember going to prom.
I remember going there with Jenny, a girl from the Drama club who didn't have a date until a week prior. When I asked her out, she readily said yes.
When we got there I overheard that Sussie, Queen of B*tches, and her friends pulled a major 'prank' on Steve, a shy boy from my English class.
Apparently, they created a fake girl online, acted like they were interested in Steve, and when they were supposed to meet for prom, Sussie's entire group showed up with cameras and humiliated him.
Despite feeling sorry for Steve, I ignored his plight.
It wasn't my problem after all. Right?
Wrong!
I should have done something, cause that shy boy, Steve finally had it with those assholes and showed up to prom with a bloody gun as his date.
He pointed in my general direction and started blasting.
Well long story short, I am dead… Well at least I'm supposed to be, but instead, here I am, living my second life…
But do you know the hardest part of my second life?
It wasn't a lack of family. Orphanage matron, Mother, was the first face I remember seeing. My real mother died in childbirth and my father is an unknown person, leaving me to grow up in an orphanage. It wasn't that bad, I already experienced familiar love in my previous life, so I did not need it in my second life. And the food in the orphanage was passable, it was mostly rice and noodles, but we also had fish most of the time. Once a week we even had meat.
I could also handle finding myself in a fictional village full of killers. The occasional ninja, wearing a Kirigakure headband was a dead give away for where I was. And yes, I mean that Kirigakure. The Village Hidden In The Mist. The one from Naruto's anime, where the children kill each other to graduate. An anime I loved watching.
I could even cope with the fact I was in a baby's body, yes it was humiliating to let someone else clean my ass and feed me, but that wasn't the worst part of being reborn in the Naruto World.
The hardest part was that bloody language. Before coming here I was proficient with three languages, but none of them was as hard to learn as Japanese. Every other day I got a headache from listening to everyone's gibberish. I could make out some words, like 'Ohayou Gozaimasu', 'Itadakimasu' and 'Konbanwa'. But I couldn't understand full sentences. That is until I was around 'three' years old. I don't know why but it somehow clicked, I was able to speak with relative fluency.
By talking with the matron and the older kids, I learned that Third Mizukage was in charge and we just got out of the Second Shinobi World War.
While talking with them I realized that I had a reputation for being dim-witted. Mother and older kids talked slower to me compared to others my age. They also waited longer for replies.
Anyway… one day I looked around for a book. All the books I could find had shinobi in their covers, a way to sell shinobi lifestyle to the impressionable kids no doubt.
I took one of the books with me to the outside, lay down under a tree, randomly traced a few kanjis with my finger. I wasn't able to understand what they meant but tried to decipher them regardless.
The matron approached me and looked at me with amusement in her eyes "Are you reading?" she asked.
I opened my eyes wide and used [Puppy Dog Eyes no Jutsu], and asked "Could you teach me?", hoping that it would work.
It seemed to be super effective as she ruffled my hair and brought a pen and paper. She decided to teach me my name first. She wrote down "海斗", Kaito which meant Seaman. But that was not all. There were other ways to write my name, meaning different things such as Supportive Person "介人" or Going Beyond "介渡".
I told her I preferred the way Going Beyond was written, she then gave me a long lecture about how my name was a tribute to the village and I should respect it, but I didn't care. I was not going to let my name be an old South Park joke. I would write my name as Go Beyond (Plus ULTRA).
Later on, she explained to me the basics of Kanji, how a beginner like me should start with the 214 radicals, which are root's for more complicated kanji, she gave me an old-looking scroll and told me to practice them by writing down every day and if I had any questions I could come to her or could ask an older orphan.
I went back to my shared room (3 kids per room) and started writing down all 36 radicals which were written in 2 strokes and below, by the end of the week I had a basic idea what each of them meant and could roughly write them.
I continued practicing kanji every day, and as I progressed more, I learned that kanji was more like a puzzle than an actual alphabet. They're made out of pieces, and each piece has a specific place where it fits in. When you put them together you can see the picture.
Few months after I turned four, I finished learning all Jōyō Kanji. There were many more kanji, but it was quite an achievement for me.
Let me tell you, learning calligraphy is a tedious job, but it would be helpful once I begin learning Fuinjutsu.
A week after being confident with my language skills I approached Mother, I told her I wished to become a shinobi.
What happened next was unexpected to me, from all the fanfics I read, I expected her to be pushing me towards that decision, but it showed on her face she was slightly disappointed, regardless she helped me fill out the Academy registration form and informed me that I would be taking the Academy Entrance Exam.
I found one of the outgoing, older orphans; he was 10 years old and was attending the Academy.
"Yo Nii-san,"
"Hey Kaito"
"Nii-san you are in the shinobi academy right?"
"Yeah I'm gonna be a strong Shinobi soon"
"That's so cool! Well… you see I wanna be an awesome shinobi like you but I'm afraid I won't pass the entrance exam, is it possible for me to borrow your scrolls and books that you no longer use" used [Puppy Dog Eyes no Jutsu]
"Hm sure, come by my room tonight I'll give them to you, but don't forget to train your body, reading won't make you an awesome shinobi like me!"
"Yes, Nii-san"
The next day I had all the academy books from the first year to the fifth year. He bragged about how cool he was for a bit more before giving me the scrolls.
Most of the books were about reading, writing, mathematics, science, geography, and history framed in a ninja-context, the scrolls, however, contained knowledge about ninja arts.
A scroll I particularly found useful was 'Guide To Chakra'.
The scroll contains details of how to unlock chakra, its uses, and what it consists of. According to the scroll, chakra is life energy present in all living beings. It is present in everything be it plants, animals, or even a civilian but they were at deactivate state. Through training, a ninja can use it for various supernatural feats by molding their physical energy with mental or spiritual energy.
Physical Energy is collected from each and every one of the body's cells and can be increased through training, stimulants, and exercise. Spiritual Energy is derived from the mind's consciousness and can be increased through studying, meditation, and experience.
A ninja can use chakra for three major branches of techniques: Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu. There are sub-branches such as Fuinjutsu, Iryojutsu, and Nintaijutsu, but most shinobi do not learn those.
It took me a week to unlock my chakra. I was sitting in my room, meditating, when I finally unlocked it, something unexpected happened.
My ulna bone grew out of my arm, normally, my first reaction would have been screaming, but I since did not feel any pain I calmed myself. I took a deep breath and willed the bone to retract back to my arm.
From what I could understand, I seem to have a Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Limit), Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse).
Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) is a Kekkei Genkai (bloodline limit) which gives its wielder the ability to manipulate their own bones. It very rarely manifests within members of the Kaguya Clan.
Users of Shikotsumyaku possess three unique skills: the ability to control their osteoblasts (cells responsible for producing bones); the ability to control their osteoclasts (cells responsible for breaking down bones); the ability to regulate their bones' calcium density.
Due to Shikotsumyaku's unprecedented power and versatility, the Kaguya clan believed themselves to be invincible. This overestimation of themselves led the Kaguya to pick a fight with superior power, Kirigakure, causing them to be wiped out.
Having Shikotsumyaku was both a gift and a curse. It meant I would have one of the strongest bloodline limits in the Elemental Nations, but it would also mean I was related to the most barbaric clan in it, Kaguya Clan.
The Kaguya clan lived on an island just outside Kiri. From the rumors around the village and what I saw on the show, I could tell that they were a savage, battle-hungry, bloodlust clan who has a tradition of incest. And by incest, I mean first cousin level inbreeding.
The only positive thing I could say about them was that I wasn't officially part of their shitty clan.
Anyway… there was also the fact that I was in the 'Bloody Mist', the village who will have a bloodline purge few years after the Third Shinobi World War unless I stopped it and destroyed the Shippuden cannon.
*Sigh* All I know, for now, is that I need to train hard.
Training Montage
Once I started physical training, Mother saw that I was serious about the ninja academy and approached me.
She informed me that the shinobi academy divides students into three classes. The first class is those coming from clans and families that stemmed from Kirigakure. The second class is made up of children coming from clans and families that helped Kirigakure on the battlefields in the past. While the third class consisted of children of the clans and families who were defeated on said battlefields and annexed into the village.
Apparently, since my birth mother was a no-clan Chunin who participated in the Second Shinobi War before she passed away, I would be placed in the second class. She informed me the academy was going to have an entrance exam in six months.
During these six months, I did physical exercises, practiced the Academy Taijutsu katas, experimented with Shikotsumyaku, and learned the Leaf Concentration Exercise.
Every day, I woke up at six, grabbed a small breakfast, usually a piece of fruit, and started running. Well, that is after going to the nearby park that orphans usually trained in. I ran for half an hour at full speed. I then stretched and gave a five minutes break.
After that, I started with self-rule style taijutsu training. If I couldn't do 500 push-ups, I would do 500 kicks, and if I couldn't do that I would do 500 crunches. After completing my challenges I would walk on my hands for 20 laps around the park, it helped with upper body and balance. I then practiced the Taijutsu katas.
I then went back to my room in the orphanage, experimented with Shikotsumyaku. I could now change the density of my bones to that of steel and create a bone sword out of my ulna. I was still working on doing more.
After having lunch with other kids in the orphanage, I would help out with chores and then practice calligraphy. Hoping it would be useful once I begin learning Fuinjutsu.
Finally, before going to bed, I would work on Leaf Concentration Exercise. I could now stick up to 4 leaves to anyone of my 361 Tenketsu Points, I could even spin the leaves, which was a more advanced version of the exercise.
I felt like I was ready for the exam…
Academy - Entrance Exam, Third Person POV
The matron gathered all 18 orphans who wished to become shinobi or kunoichi and take them to the Kirigakure Academy.
Over two hundred ninja hopefuls were standing in front of the academy gates, there were some Chunin and even a Jounin waiting for them.
The Academy was located in the middle of the village. It was there ninja hopefuls got trained, and Genin without Jounin sensei's got assigned missions in the Genin Corps.
The building itself was easily recognizable, as it was the largest building in the village and there was a giant sign with the kanji for "Mizu" (水) above the entrance.
One of the Chunin with a goatee approached and said. "Good morning everyone, I thank you all for coming here, I'm glad to see so many of you dream to become a splendid shinobi for the village, however not everyone is meant to walk this path, you will now be tested and those of you who pass will start their studies here."
He and other Chunin pass out forms "Please fill out the forms. After you finish, follow me."
Student hopefuls followed him, they were placed in classes of thirty, everyone was seated. Another Chunin with green eyes spoke "The first part of your exam is a written test, you have half an hour to complete. You may start."
While most students were struggling, Kaito found the exam to be too easy. It was designed for preschool kids, and since he was a university student he could have easily gotten full marks. However, he chose to score 85 percent, to not draw too much attention.
Chunnin graded the tests in under 20 minutes and removed students who had scored below 50 percent.
Those who passed were then taken to an open field, placed in groups of twenty-five. "Alright, the second part of your exam is to see how physically fit you are. You have half an hour to run 50 laps around the academy. Those of you who can't fail automatically."
'The running is too easy for me, despite not actively using chakra I could probably run 200 laps before getting tired.' Kaito thought while looking at the children who were dropping after the fifth lap.
Only half of the shinobi hopefuls were left.
For the last test, they were taken to a room with a Sensor Type Shinobi, one by one they approached, and those who have an acceptable level of chakra would become academy students.
Academy - Entrance Exam, Sensory Type Shinobi POV
Kami damn! Some of these kids have no chakra at all. Was I ever like them? No probably not, my reserves may have been below average, but it was still much better than these runts.
"Next, Ryoichi" Damn it, he is one of those pretty boys. I hated them when I went to the academy. They always act superior to you. Hell, this one is not even a Genin, yet he looks to me as if he is my superior.
Never mind that, let's just focus here *touches Ryoichi's arm and senses his chakra level* "Passable..." his reserves are slightly above average. "Congratulations you passed, go to Room 3 and register"
"Next, Senko Shigaraki," wait- is he Shigeno-senpai's grandson? I wonder how that old crow is doing, "Shigaraki please come here!" *touches Shigaraki's arm and senses his chakra level* "Impressive", he already has a High-Academy Student reserves "Congratulations you passed, go to the Room 1 and register"
"Next, Kaito," another orphan, hope this one has some chakra *touches Kaito's arm and senses his chakra level* "Very good" His reserves are also a High-Academy Student, incredible for a no-clan orphan, "Congratulations you passed, go to the Room 2 and register"
"Next Serehoshi Izumi" *touches Izumi's arm and senses her chakra level* "Sorry, you fail" I didn't even feel any chakra from this one, how is she alive? "Please exit the premises"
A Few Hours Later, Orphanage - Kaito's POV
*phew* it was much easier than I thought. Thankfully my reserves are not unbelievably good yet, so it shouldn't cause me much trouble, and I did manage to hide my intelligence.
While I could show I was a prodigy and receive all the resources available to the village, it would also draw the wrong kind of attention, and I did not want that, at least not yet.
I went back to my room and made a list of things to focus on:
1) Stay Alive
2) Taijutsu: WITH POWER OF YOUTH ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, Eight Gates
3) Chakra Control: Medical Ninjutsu, Strength of a Hundred Seal, Tsunade's Strength, Genjutsu, Countless Other Benefits
4) Shikotsumyaku: I have a bloodline limit, I would be an idiot not to train it
5) Fuinjutsu: Anything that can defeat Kurama is worth looking into, possibly Hiraishin
Academy was starting soon, and I was ready.
Hoped you liked it