1 CH - 1 Memories Awakened

In the mystical realm of existence, an extraordinary phenomenon known as reincarnation or transmigration occurs, where souls carry memories from their past lives and embark on a journey through different bodies and eras. By some unknown force, one such soul finds itself reincarnated in the Naruto world, a realm of ninjas and adventure.

Resting in an open field, an 8-year-old Uzumaki child captivates attention with his vibrant, fiery-red hair cascading in untamed waves around his face. Bathed in the gentle caress of the warm sun, his fair skin emanates a subtle radiance, enhancing his youthful features. The striking contrast between his fiery locks and fair complexion creates an enchanting visual spectacle.

Upon meeting his gaze, one is drawn to his soft, heart-shaped face exuding an aura of gentle allure. His deep, contemplative ocean blue eyes reflect the world around him, hinting at a profound depth of emotions. Framed by long lashes, these eyes hold an untold story of experiences.

Clad in simple attire, he exudes an air of casualness and carefree spirit, his demeanor unpretentious yet captivating. Yet beneath his composed exterior lies a subtle trace of inner turmoil. An occasional sigh escapes his lips, a testament to the inner battles he wrestles with. His expression reveals a mixture of acceptance and reflection, as if he has faced setbacks beyond his tender years.

In recent days, countless sighs have slipped through his lips. In his previous life, he was an ordinary 22-year-old, strolling down the street, minding his own business, on his way to a nearby food shop for a meal. Lost in his music, headphones securely in place, his attention was unexpectedly diverted by a speeding truck beside him. Now, mind you, there was nothing unusual about the truck itself, so he paid it little mind, assuming safety on the sidewalk. Little did he know that he was about to witness a hazardous encounter unfold before his eyes—a woman on an electric scooter, recklessly maneuvering down the wrong lane.

Oh, the shivers that coursed through his body as he witnessed this perilous convergence of a scooter-riding daredevil and a truck on a collision course. To exacerbate the situation, the woman chose to employ her foot as a brake instead of using the actual brakes on her electric ride. It was in that precise moment when every survival instinct in him screamed, "Flee for your life!" Alas, it was too late. Despite the truck driver's desperate attempts to swerve and evade disaster, the woman continued on her fateful trajectory. The truck veered uncontrollably, ultimately careening onto the sidewalk... and into him. Instantly, his life was cut short, meeting an untimely demise.

Now, let us refrain from blaming the truck entirely for this unfortunate chain of events. Accidents happen, especially in hazardous circumstances. However, he soon came to realize that this was no ordinary truck, but rather the infamous "Truck-kun" from reincarnation novels, seeking him out to embark on a new journey. And so, he found himself reborn as a baby in the whimsical world of Naruto. What an unexpected twist of fate! It dawned upon him that he had wrongly placed blame on the innocent woman riding the scooter. To that lady on the scooter, he extends his sincerest apologies, for it was not her fault. Though he suggests she may want to consider using a taxi for future transportation needs.

When his memories resurfaced, he was no longer an adorable, babbling baby. Oh no, he had already grown into a lively 8-year-old. It seemed that his memories had been sealed during his infancy, as if his brain had instinctively protected itself from overload. It took eight years for those memories to finally break free from their restraints. Can you imagine the astonishment and wonder he experienced upon realizing he had been reincarnated? Any rational person would be utterly astounded, right? (Bob Uchiha: Huh?).

It took him a few days to come to terms with this new reality. Fortunately, it was his own body and soul that had journeyed through the past years, rather than transmigrating into someone else's body. However, even though he had accepted his reincarnation, the shinobi world in which he now resided terrified him. Being born as an Uzumaki, descendants of Ashura Otsutsuki, was considered advantageous for any reincarnator. The Uzumaki clan possessed a formidable amount of chakra, excelled in Fūinjutsu, and boasted various abilities such as the Kagura mind and healing physique.

Yet, being born in Uzushiogakure during the era of the Ninja World Wars was far from ideal, especially since he knew, as a 'Naruto' fan, that Uzushiogakure was destined for destruction prior to the Second Shinobi War. Despite possessing abilities comparable to those of an early Chunin at the age of eight, perhaps due to the influence of his memories from his previous life, he harbored a maturity beyond his peers. Additionally, he displayed a natural talent for sealing techniques, which may have been inherent to his original body even before his reincarnation.

He contemplated saving the Uzumaki Clan from their impending doom, but the question of how remained unanswered. More importantly, with his current strength, which fell far short of Kage-level, Even if he was on that level he knew that he alone could not prevent the impending catastrophe. According to the original canon, Uzushiogakure would be besieged by four villages acting in unison. Unless he possessed the power of a Super Kage like Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara, he stood no chance. Furthermore, At just eight years old he was not even a proper Chunin in overall strength, despite having an abundance of chakra, and let's not forgot time alone couldn't grant him the level of power of Senju Hashirama, as such power could only be attained by the Avatar of Ashura.

Normal Strength alone could not save Uzushiogakure, and he could not rely on supposed allies either. With his knowledge of the original story, he understood the true nature of Konoha under the Third Hokage's rule. He could not devise a strategy to rescue the Uzumaki Clan, aside from escaping. However, would the Joint Shinobi forces allow them to flee?

He also did not wish to run away on his own. After spending eight years living here, he had formed genuine relationships. He could not abandon his comrades in pursuit of future revenge. If he had not fully regained his memories before the destruction, he might have survived and considered seeking vengeance. But now, if he were to survive solely for revenge, whom would he exact vengeance upon? The four villages that laid siege to them? Konoha, the village that abandoned them? Or perhaps a behind-the scenes force responsible for the annihilation, like Black Zetsu or Uchiha Madara?

Fighting against the entire Ninja World for revenge was an impossible task. Even if he were somehow to succeed, what would await him after fulfilling his vendetta? A hollow emptiness. Besides, he was not the chosen one; his death would not change anything.

Although Akira was regarded as a prodigy due to his chakra control, learning aptitude, and particularly his talent in sealing jutsu, his combat abilities remained lacking.

"I should dedicate myself to training as much as possible. It's better than simply waiting for death," he muses, a chuckle escaping his lips at the notion of being able to defeat even a single opponent in a life-or-death battle. However, the laughter quickly fades, replaced by a resigned sigh. "Should I attempt to learn the Rasengan?" he wonders aloud.

Just as he contemplates the possibility of using the Rasengan to overcome at least one adversary in a deadly encounter, a familiar voice calls out to him. "Akira-nii!" He turns his head towards the source of the voice and sees a red-haired girl of six years old. Instantly, he recognizes her as his cousin, Kushina Uzumaki, who, in the original timeline, would go on to become the mother of the destined hero, Naruto Uzumaki.

Kushina's life has been fraught with hardship as well. Her father passed away a few years ago from injuries sustained in the previous war, and her mother tragically died during childbirth, leaving her orphaned. Since her mother was his mother's sister, she was taken in and now resides with them. Over the years, she has started referring to him as her "brother," and his parents have also grown fond of her and treat her as a real daughter.

Not immediately responding, Akira simply gazes at her, until she calls out to him again, wearing a puzzled expression. "Akira-nii, why are you staring at me without saying anything?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Akira apologizes, "Sorry, I was lost in contemplation." He scratches his head and adds, "I suppose I was deep in thought."

Kushina pouts cutely in response. "You've changed, nii-san. Lately, all you do is train. You don't play with me anymore, even when you're not busy. Instead, you're lost in your thoughts and sigh like an adult all day."

Akira chuckles warmly. "Ah, don't worry, Kushina-chan. It's not that I don't want to play with you. I just have some responsibilities now, you know? But I promise, I'll make time for us to have fun together."

Observing her adorable face still sulking, Akira can't resist patting her head and playfully pinching her cheeks. "Now, now, don't be so upset. Didn't I already promise that we'll play later? Tell me, why are you here?"

Kushina brushes his hands off her head, her cheeks turning slightly red, and mutters, "Silly, don't treat me like a little kid. Besides, you're not much older than me."

Though he hears her whisper, he pretends not to, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Huh? What was that? Did someone say they would never play with me again?" he teases, finding her reaction quite amusing.

Kushina's eyes widen in surprise, and she quickly tries to cover up her embarrassment. "N-No! I never said that! Don't twist my words, Akira-nii!"

Akira bursts into laughter, thoroughly enjoying their playful banter. "Haha, Your reaction is so cute. But seriously, why are you here?"

"I'm not cute!" retorts Kushina, her cheeks turning even redder as she pouts. She swiftly changes the subject. "Mom sent me to fetch you for lunch. She made your favorite ramen. Hurry up, or I'll eat it all!"

Akira's face displayed excitement, though internally he wasn't in the mood for food to improve his spirits. However, for Kushina's sake, he responded with enthusiasm, "Ramen? Well, in that case, lead the way, little miss ramen lover! I wouldn't want to keep your mom waiting."

On the other hand, Kushina giggled at Akira's reaction, her earlier annoyance forgotten. "Hurry up, slowpoke! I don't want all the ramen to disappear before we get there."

Pausing for a moment, Akira's expression turned serious as he considered Kushina's words. He asked, "And what about dad? Is he joining us?"

Kushina shook her head. "No, he's still in a meeting."

Akira muttered to himself, "A meeting? Are those council members still daydreaming about getting help from Konoha?" He couldn't help but find their optimism amusing.

It seemed he would have to talk to his father again once he returned. He had previously inquired about the situation in Uzushiogakure, but his father initially brushed him off, urging him to focus on training instead. However, using his youth to his advantage, he persisted until his father finally revealed the situation. Perhaps his maturity compared to his peers also played a role in his father's eventual disclosure.

"Let's go," Akira said as he grabbed Kushina's hand, leading her towards their home. For now, he couldn't do much. Why not simply enjoy the present moment? and Kushina, who saw him holding her hand and leading the way, smiled brightly at that.

As Akira gazed at Kushina's radiant smile, he couldn't help but compare it to her future self as the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. Memories of her tragic fate resurfaced, and his expression turned somber.

"Is this my destiny? Knowing the fate of everyone but being unable to change it?" Despite being aware of the impending death of his loved ones, he was powerless to save them. He despised his own powerlessness and the cruel fate that had befallen them. "Is there any way to save the Uzumaki Clan?"

Suddenly, Kushina turned her head towards him, intrigued by his words. She questioned, "What? Save who?"

Akira shook his head and looked at her, attempting to fake a smile. "Never mind. I was just saving some ramen for dad..." However, before he could finish his sentence, his attention was caught by a number in brackets.

[100%]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: As my previous novel is already on track, I have made the decision to shift my focus a bit towards this new project. I kindly request you, the readers, to provide feedback in the comments section after a few chapters. Let me know if you feel it is too early to judge, whether you enjoy this novel or not, and whether you think I should continue writing it. Please keep in mind that this novel will take some time to establish stable updates

p.s. - I have already written 7 chapters on my patreon, so, this novel is also gonna behind atleast 5 chapters from my patreon

link- p@treon.com/Kaiszer (replace ' @ ' with ' a ' for the link)