[In Konoha year 36, nineteen years after the end of the First Great Ninja War—which erupted among the five great nations due to conflict over the control of the tailed beasts—your father, Fugaku Uchiha, and your mother, Mikoto Uchiha, were married at the Uchiha clan shrine under the witness of the clan elders. This alliance was intended to strengthen the ties between the clan's lineages.] (Note: Fugaku and Mikoto's marriage actually occurred a bit later, around Konoha year 40; this has been slightly adjusted here.)
[The following year, Konoha year 37, Mikoto became pregnant. That same year, the Second Great Ninja War broke out.]
[Under the leadership of Hanzo of the Salamander, the Hidden Rain Village pursued a plan of territorial expansion, striking first at the Leaf, the Sand, and the Land of Iron. Your father, Fugaku Uchiha, led forces under the Sannin against the Rain army commanded by Hanzo. He witnessed his dearest friend die under Hanzo's poison techniques. That same day, he awakened the Sharingan. With grief-stricken remembrance and hope for the future, he named you, his yet-to-be-born son, 'Jin,' signifying... rebirth from the ashes.]
[In the winter of Konoha year 37, Mikoto Uchiha gave birth, and you were officially born. That same year, Tsunade's boyfriend, Kato Dan, died in battle, and your academy classmate Gekko Hayate was born.]
[In Konoha year 39, the Second Great Ninja War ended. Your father, Fugaku Uchiha, returned to the Leaf. Having missed your birth, he doted on you beyond measure and began training you personally. At two years old, you picked up a kunai for the first time and began to receive your original body's power (Note: Current synchronization: 0.5%). You astonished Fugaku Uchiha with a kunai throwing technique that never missed the mark.]
[That same year, the 'Copy Ninja' Kakashi graduated from the academy at the age of five, hailed as an unprecedented genius and the academy's youngest graduate. It was also the year Shisui Uchiha was born...]
[In Konoha year 40, Kakashi, at the age of six, successfully passed the Chunin Exams and officially attained the rank of Chunin. You watched the exam under the guidance of your father, Fugaku Uchiha, meeting him for the first time. At three years old, your power synchronization was at 2%. You began learning 'Chakra Refinement' and, referencing 'Nen,' attempted to open your 'aura nodes' through meditation.]
[In Konoha year 41, Might Guy and Genma Shiranui graduated from the academy. At four years old, Fugaku Uchiha arranged for your enrollment, but you refused. Out of guilt for missing your birth, Fugaku indulged you for a year. During this time, you were able to peacefully receive your original power. After nearly a year of meditation, you finally opened your aura nodes. Current 'power synchronization' is at 5%. Constitution: 40 (Note: An average civilian is 1).]
[In Konoha year 42, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, Shizune, and Asuma Sarutobi graduated one after another. At five years old, you entered the academy. 'Power synchronization': 10%. You have mastered the Zoldyck assassination techniques: 'Shadow Step,' 'Rhythm Echo,' and 'Sake Awakens.' You have preliminary mastery over the four major principles—Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu—currently at Lv1. That same year, under Fugaku Uchiha's tutelage, you learned Fire Style and successfully mastered the C-rank jutsu: Great Fireball Technique. Status panel notification...]
[Nen nature transformation: Fire +100...]
[That year, you realized that by learning 'ninjutsu,' you could further deepen your understanding of 'Nen.' You began intentionally collecting, mastering, and studying various jutsu...]
[In Konoha year 43, the death of the Third Kazekage served as the trigger for the Third Great Ninja War. That same year, after ten months of pregnancy, your mother Mikoto Uchiha gave birth to a son named Itachi Uchiha. You were five years old. 'Power synchronization': 30%. You have mastered 'breathing styles.' Swordsmanship Lv2, initial Shikai reached. Following the four major principles, you have mastered 'Shu' and 'Gyo.' While testing your 'En' in the southern forest, you saved Shisui Uchiha after he accidentally fell into the water...]
[Three-year-old Shisui began to look up to you as an older brother and became your constant follower.]
[In Konoha year 44, Genma Shiranui, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara passed the Chunin Exams and officially became Chunin. At six years old, having studied at the academy for a year, you continued to receive your original power. 'Power synchronization': 50%. Constitution: 491 (Note: An average civilian is 1). Preliminary mastery of the advanced technique 'Ken.' Swordsmanship Lv3, initial Bankai reached...]
[That year, under the premise of intentionally collecting ninjutsu to deepen your understanding of Nen, you mastered the C-rank Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, the B-rank Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson, the B-rank Water Style: Water Fang Bullet, and the B-rank ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Technique. Status panel notification... Nen nature: Fire +100, +100... Water +100...]
[You began using 'clones' to deal with school while continuing to hone your Nen abilities and receive your original power.]
[In Konoha year 45, the Third Great Ninja War intensified. Casualties among captain-level Chunin were too high, leaving a gap in the Leaf's middle-ranking ninja. Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and their generation of young ninja were promoted to Chunin to fill the void. At six years old, you entered the battlefield for the first time with your father, Fugaku Uchiha. You witnessed the cruelty of war and saw Fugaku activate his Sharingan to sweep the battlefield, vaguely capturing a trace of 'Yin Release' power. After Minato Namikaze arrived to reinforce the battlefield, you returned to the Leaf with your father. 'Power synchronization' is now at 80%...]
"Beep, beep, beep..." The notifications from the status panel rang through Roy's mind like rain hitting plantain leaves.
A hazy world of cognition unfolded before his eyes. Upon that familiar, deep blue Sea of Cognition, not far from the Demon Slayer gate, a wooden door engraved with an 'Eye' pattern creaked open. A sliver of light spilled out from the gap.
In the sunken church ruins ten thousand meters beneath the sea of the Yorubian Continent, Roy clenched his right hand, crushing the Fake Feichuo's Parrot. He stared expressionlessly at the Fake Ging opposite him, thinking to himself that this door had opened at an inconvenient time. His consciousness wavered, and he began to immerse himself, his eyelids starting to droop. He thrust Snow Drift into the ground with his left hand, freeing both hands. His fingers danced like fluttering butterflies as he immediately formed hand seals. From the flood of information surging into his mind, he plucked the Shadow Clone Technique.
Then...
Under the startled and wary gaze of the Fake Ging.
With a soft "Poof," a clone materialized. Carrying the sleepiness that was constantly assaulting him, the clone immediately sat down cross-legged. It took his place in falling into a deep slumber, traversing the multicolored dream tunnel to the familiar Sea of Cognition. Staring at the Naruto gate that had opened just a crack, it pushed the door and dove inside.
Simultaneously, Roy's main body pulled Snow Drift and Lunar Wane back out, holding Solar Eclipse in his mouth. Utilizing his Swamp Space, he crossed a distance of a hundred meters. Three blades rose together, carrying the sword techniques of the Sun, Water, and Wind Breathing Styles as he slashed at the Fake Ging.
The status panel prompted: [The clone replacement method can only last for five minutes. Note: After five minutes, the clone will disappear, and the host's original body will fall asleep again.]
This was a clear reminder to Roy: he had to hurry!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Flames, water, and wind blades erupted simultaneously!
The youth's swordsmanship grew increasingly violent. In an instant, he had delivered an unknown number of slashes, relentlessly attacking the Deep Water Softshell Turtle.
At the Hunter Association's volleyball training ground, Netero sat cross-legged on the floor. His eyes, full of the weight of years and experience, constantly shifted between Roy and the clone sitting cross-legged in the No Man's Land—the one that had already closed its eyes and was emitting light snores. From time to time, he exchanged a glance with Biscuit beside him; both saw a flicker of astonishment in each other's eyes!
"Gah!" In the screen, Xiao Jin let out a crow's cry. Coordinating with the youth, it opened its beak and exhaled a surging line of fire, burning toward the Fake Ging protected by the Deep Water Softshell Turtle.
Wing pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, seemingly having recovered from his frustration. He looked confusedly at Roy's clone sitting right behind the youth, ignored and indifferent to everything. It was just sleeping, not caring about the battle at all. "What is he doing?" Wing asked in surprise.
Since he could manifest a clone, why not coordinate with it to pincer the Fake Ging? Otherwise, wasn't the clone created for nothing?
"Hmmm..." Biscuit rested her chin on her hand and stole a glance at Netero. The old woman's mind was a mess; this was the first time she had seen such a situation. To consume Nen to manifest a clone not for combat, but just to sleep... Was she really too old to keep up with the times, or was there something wrong with the boy's head, choosing to weaken his own combat power?
The clone in the screen continued its deep sleep, a snot bubble even expanding from its nose.
Netero noticed Biscuit's gaze but pretended not to see it. The thin film of Nen focused in the depths of his eyes remained fixed on the screen. Even after some thought, he couldn't make heads or tails of it.
After a moment, he stroked his beard and said, "If it exists, there must be a reason for it. Nen is fascinating precisely because it is so inexplicable."
The old man gave a faint look to Biscuit and Wing. "Young people, go and contemplate it."
Biscuit and Wing shared a look of disbelief.
They looked back at Roy's clone. With long black hair draped over his shoulders and earrings depicting the sun and mountains, the youth had stepped into the Naruto world through his dream, aided by his Nen ability, the Gate of Cognition.
A familiar sensation of falling washed over him.
Unlike previous times, when Roy opened his eyes again, he didn't see the small hut built by his master Sakonji Urokodaki deep in Mt. Sagiri, nor the Ubuyashiki estate hidden by wisteria trees. Instead, he was in a standalone courtyard of a Japanese-style house, where a cherry blossom tree was in full bloom.
The spring breeze brushed against his face, carrying a wave of floral fragrance.
In front of the main house was a wooden veranda supported by thick pillars. In a corner beneath the porch, a water basin tilted, trickling out a fine stream of water.
Roy had black hair and black eyes, wearing loose, broad-sleeved robes. He was lying lazily on a rug, his head resting on a young child's lap, comfortably enjoying the late spring day and... the child's lap pillow.
The child sat with his knees together, appearing to be about three or four years old. His face was almost a miniature version of Roy's. He quietly served as his older brother's pillow, his small hands gently massaging Roy's scalp. He wasn't acting like a typical child at all, but rather a little adult.
"Itachi... a bit more to the left..."
"Here?"
"Further left... yes... yes... ah..."
A numbing sensation spread across his scalp. Feeling Itachi's small hands moving across his head, Roy let out a soft hum of comfort. For a moment, even the fatigue from the battle with the Fake Ging vanished.
"Nii-san, will you teach me swordsmanship?"
Itachi lowered his gaze, his bangs nearly brushing against Roy's face. As they swayed in the spring breeze, they tickled Roy, causing him to close the eye he had just opened. He didn't answer or respond, pretending not to hear. Itachi increased the pressure of his fingers and stared quietly at his face. "Everyone says Nii-san's swordsmanship is incredible, and that you never need a second strike to defeat an enemy. I want to be able to help you and Father, too."
It was currently Konoha year 45, and the Third Great Ninja War was in full swing.
Having received the panel's memories, Roy was now Jin Uchiha, the eldest son of Fugaku Uchiha. He had just returned from the front lines with his father. He had killed many people on the battlefield, harvesting life energy. Unfortunately, with Fugaku protecting him, he mostly encountered small fry at the Genin level. Naturally, he didn't need a second strike to kill them. Once...
He hadn't held back and had swept across the entire battlefield in a single day, killing ten Hidden Cloud Genin. He nearly cut down the Chunin captains leading them as well. It happened that Obito saw him, and with his big mouth, the news spread. Since then, he had gained the title of 'Ten Kills in a Day,' which made Zeno's 'One Kill a Day, Active for Life' seem a bit modest.
"That's just because they were too weak."
"But Lord Sakumo also said Nii-san's swordsmanship is amazing."
"Who?"
"Lord Sakumo Hatake."
Itachi stopped his hands and cradled Roy's head, staring at him seriously. A ripple of emotion appeared in his calm, mature eyes, full of unconcealed admiration. "While Nii-san was away the other day, he came to visit. I hid behind the door and eavesdropped."
"He said that after Nii-san graduates, he wants to be your sensei."
The White Fang of the Leaf... Hadn't he killed Sasori's parents, causing Sasori to lose his family and gradually become twisted in his loneliness? That had led to Sasori's eventual transformation, the assassination of the Kazekage, and further internal strife in the Sand, which the Cloud used as an opportunity to invade and spark the Third Great Ninja War.
Roy recalled Sakumo Hatake's life—his success and his death were both because of who he was. He sighed but said nothing.
Itachi seemed to sense Roy's mood and held his head quietly. "Nii-san, do you not like Lord Sakumo?"
"It's not a matter of liking or disliking." Roy suddenly opened his eyes and reached out a hand, ruffling the cowlick standing up on the boy's head. He said with a smile, "Being 'amazing' isn't necessarily a good thing, Itachi."
Why? Isn't being amazing good?
Itachi tilted his head.
Footsteps sounded from behind them.
Roy's ears twitched. Even without using En, he could easily capture Fugaku Uchiha's presence through the heavy wooden walls.
The youth looked meaningfully at his ill-fated younger brother and said with pity, "Because being amazing means people will target you and use you. It makes it very easy to die."
At that moment, the wooden sliding door was pulled open.
It revealed Fugaku Uchiha's stern, unsmiling face.
After returning to the village, the man's smiles had visibly decreased. As soon as he appeared, he looked at Roy. "Jin, come with me to the clan meeting."