Chapter 1 - Death and Rebirth

(Word Count: 2,424)

I was sitting after a long day at work, trying to relax by watching some Naruto. It has been a while since I’ve seen it, so I was rewatching it from the beginning. Though I’m a fan of a lot of anime, none of them have clicked with me as much as Naruto has. It has been one of my favorite shows my entire life. Because not only is the world interesting, the characters are relatable, with flaws and weaknesses. As you watch, we see how the characters develop and overcome those weaknesses. Makes me feel inspired to grow and overcome my own struggles. I’ve rewatched it more times than I can count.

Not that I would want to ever be in the world of Naruto. Too much fighting, wars, and death. There’s also too much politicking, with clans being killed off, and people being assassinated for power. 

By now, I was at the part where the gang of bros—Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, Neji, and Naruto—went on a retrieval mission to get Sasuke from the Sound ninjas. Choji’s a really underestimated character, and this is the first time he really gets a spotlight.

Just as I was about to crack open a can of coke, a truck burst through the wall coming right at me. With no time to react, I stared dumbly at the approaching headlights.

Wha-

The truck crashed into me, continued on and ran through the wall on the other side of the living room. I was left on the floor, struggling to breath but the pain was too much and I blacked out.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

I was in a space of pure white. Where am I? What happened? My mind struggled to make sense of it. What the frick? Was I visited by Truck-kun? 

Behind me, there was a poof sound. I turned around and saw a demonoid person in a business suit, and a large roulette wheel. Above the wheel it said “World.” I couldn’t help but be excited, but the demonoid made me nervous.

Currently, the demon was muttering to himself looking over some papers on a clipboard. He sighed, and looked up towards me. “Okay, let's get this over with.” he said, more to himself. I got the feeling he didn’t really want to be here. He put on a fake customer service smile. “Congratulations, you’ve been chosen to be reborn in a new world. Please come spin the wheel for what world you’ll be going to, and you’ll be on your way.” He said monotonously, motioning to the wheel beside him. 

Huh? “U-um, I don’t get to choose?” On the wheel, the options were a lot of different movies, like Harry Potter, Twilight, Star Wars, or worlds of anime like Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece. There were many others, but those were the ones that caught my eye. Harry Potter would be good.

I know that I was gushing about Naruto before, but if I was going to another world, I would definitely choose a relatively peaceful world. Death is very close in Naruto, too close to live comfortably. Not to mention the overpowered villains you would have to face.

The demon tsked in annoyance, and glared at me with contempt. The customer service smile certainly didn't last very long. He really hated his job, didn't he? “No. You don’t get to choose.” 

Seeing no other choice, he walked up to the wheel and gave it a good spin. Come on, give me a good one.

“No wishes?” I couldn’t help but ask. It was a thing, right? Truck-kun means cheats, right?

The demon’s glare continued, but his eyes filled with hellfire. His eyes made my soul shake, it was as if he- no, it - was peering through me. Suddenly its face twisted into a malevolent, sadistic sneer. As if it knew exactly just how to screw me over. The blood drained from my face. I should not have asked questions to the demon. Its hand shot out and stopped the wheel midspin. The world he stopped it on was Naruto. 

“No.” It sneered. “You don’t get any wishes. You're lucky enough you get to keep your memories.”

“W-wait a sec! You stopped it, that doesn’t cou-”

“You spun it, it stopped. It counts.” It interrupted. It smiled, but it was more like baring its fangs. “Bye bye!”

I was then poofed away, sent away to my next life. Everything went back.

When I next came to, I was in a warm dark place. I can only assume that I’m in my mother’s womb. No way, I’ve got to go through this too? They couldn’t do that transmigration thing?

Time passed. I had no idea how long it's been, but I began to come to terms that my past life has ended, and with the type of bloody suicidal world I’ll be living in. I'll have to train hard so I don't die. Hopefully I’m at least a part of some sort of shinobi clan. That’ll increase the chances I have to live. It’ll also help determine if I can become any sort of powerhouse in the future. The potential limit in strength in the world of Naruto was very much determined from your genes. Shinobi from civilian families had lower limits in chakra than those from shinobi clans. All I can do is pray though.

As time passed, I began to hear muffled voices. Did I just develop my ears? Luckily, from the few words that I could actually make out, I could understand them. The one I hear most often was a soothing voice, my new mother’s. It often sounded like she was singing lullabies. It was honestly very touching. I’ve never had a mother before, I was raised by my deadbeat father in my past life, and he died when I was 20, so I tried to show my appreciation by wiggling when I heard her sing. She seemed to like it.

More time passed and I was born. Definitely not something I want to talk about. Plus, coming from a place of cozy warmth, to open air, was a huge shock to the senses. I totally understand why babies cry as soon as they’re born. or should I say “we’re” born? Exhausted, both emotionally and physically from the ordeal, I fell asleep.

I wake up bundled up tightly in a blanket. I was being rocked gently and I heard the familiar singing. I looked up, wanting to see what my mom looked like, but newborn baby eyes really suck, and I couldn’t really see anything but a vague shape. I soon fell back asleep from the gentle rockings.

Time passed, and I was now a few weeks old. My vision had cleared up and I was able to get a good look at my new family. My mother had long pale green hair and beautiful green eyes, her name was Rumi. With the sheer amount of love and care I see in her eyes when she looks down at me, I can't help but to love her back. My father had classic brown hair and eyes, his name is Senzo. He has a much harder face, with a light scar narrowly missing his left eye, but from his eyes and the care with which he picks me up I can tell he's a big softy on the inside. I beam a smile and giggle at him, and he's over the moon, shooting relieved looks at Mom like he's glad I'm not scared of him.

Turns out I also had an older brother! He looked just like our father, named Shoji. Meanwhile, from the glimpses of myself I can catch in reflections, it seems I look like my mother. I have the same pastel green hair and eyes.

I learned that my new name is Norihide Sakai. Which wasn’t so good. I can’t recall any clans with the name Norihide, which means I’m from a civilian family. Good news though, was that it seemed like both my mom and dad were jonin level ninjas. So I know that I can at least get to the same level.

I was also in Konoha, judging from the classic green flak jacket uniform I see my dad go out in. Being in Konoha was both good and bad. I know the most about this village, based on the anime, but there was also Danzo and the elders.

Now I just need to find out what year it is.

My days pass and I can only try moving my arms and legs, trying to roll over as well, under the cheers of my mom, and trying to get my tongue to work properly so I can speak. Days turn to weeks, weeks turn to months. I was able to speak my first word already, I obviously had to say “mama” first, she’s too much of an angel to say anything else first. Since then I’ve been a chatterbox gibbering around trying to work my tongue to speak clearly. My family found it too cute when I butchered full sentences. I did get my first good look at the hokage mountain, and Minato’s face wasn’t on it. Which means that he hasn’t become the 4th hokage yet. Which means that the kyuubi attack hasn’t happened yet. Or worse, the 3rd war hasn’t happened yet.

Some time passed and I found a calendar. Luckily I could read the Japanese letters. I don't know why, I didn't know how to read or speak Japanese before I came here, and I wasn't taught, but I could understand everything. It might be some sort of reincarnation package deal. It's year 50, it seems like the calendar system uses the same 12 months january-december that my old world used, and the years started at 1 on the year the 5 elemental nations are established. I think. Trying to do some quick math, and trying to recall the Naruto timeline I’ve looked over, I’m born 15 years before Naruto. Which means, if my math is correct, 1 year before the start of the 2nd Shinobi War. Well, crap everything three times over.

It also means no ultimate waifu in Hinata. No great waifus in Ino, Sakura, or Karin either. I was also too young for Tsunade, Kushina, or Makoto. In fanfics or whatever, everybody would fall in love with the MC anyway no matter the age difference. But the reality is unless they're creeps, they wouldn't look at me like that. And I'm not some groomer pedophile to go after the younger generation. Who's in my generation? Kakashi and Guy, that meant Obito, Rin, Kurenai, Shizune, Anko, and Yugao.

I’m now 8 months old, and I’ve made great progress. I can now crawl around easily, and I think I’m ready for my first steps. I’ve always failed before, but now I’m ready. I brace myself against the couch and look towards my mom a few steps away with a serious expression. She has a serious face of her own and she nods, brandishing a camera, giving the signal to go. It’s do or die.

I let go of the couch and shakely made my first step. I pause, wobbling before I can catch my balance again. I made another step. Then another. I look at my mom happily, and we both cheer in victory as I make it to her. She showers me in kisses and I giggle uncontrollably.

Unfortunately, mom began taking missions again as a jonin. I began to spend even more time with my brother and dad. My brother would play with me, which is a bit awkward considering I was 30 before, but if I considered it as if I was the one keeping Shoji company instead, it got better. Besides, stacking the blocks was fun. My Dad liked to read, so when he was home and it was his turn to watch me I would sit on his lap and try to read along with him or otherwise play with his beard. When no one is able to watch me, I go spend the day with my Grandma, the only extended family I have. There wasn’t much to do at Grandma’s house but she was super sweet and liked to knit socks and scarves and embroidery.

Kids develop fast in this world and soon I was running around the house causing huge stress to my family. I now venture outside in order to watch Shoji train. It was kinda shocking to watch a little 9 year old jumping 12 feet into the air, doing flips around trees and throwing kunai. Shoji got a huge proud grin on his face whenever I cheered him on.

My first birthday! January 1st. We got a lot of family friends showing up. One person I wasn’t expecting to see was the Hatake Sakumo. Apparently, my parents went to the academy together with Sakumo! So cool. I’m definitely not letting him die. He gave me a set of kunai as his gift. I'm happy with them, but my mother snatches them up and scolds Sakumo furiously for gifting a 1 year old kunai. Sakumo's bewildered, wondering what he did wrong, and looks to dad for help. Dad just tactfully ignores him, to say 'your problem'. Mrs. Hatake, whose name I learned was Aiko, apologized profusely. My mom gave me a haori the same color as our hair. She thought it was the most adorable thing ever. I found it really embarrassing, so the only reason I wore it was because Mom seemed so happy with it.

Time passes and over the course of the next year, I’ve been running around with my brother as he trains. Though I don’t actually practice with any actual kunai or shurikens, mom wouldn’t let me use the set that I had gotten before. I exercise my body. All the while, I cheer on my bro and he cheers me on. He finds it cute when I try to do push ups. That’s right, try. So embarrassing. I also try to sense my chakra, and “knead” it, but no luck so far.

My parents have become busier and busier, usually out on missions. So when they’re home, I make sure to spend as much time with them as I can. I’m basically glued to their side. I knew that the 2nd shinobi war would start sometime this year, and I was scared that the worst would happen. We are a civilian household after all. As much as I hate to admit it, we’re cannon fodder. That, and I couldn’t get that demon’s sneer out of my mind.

It was in September when Kakashi was born. We all went over to the Hatake house. There I was able to see baby kakashi, in the arms of Mrs. Hatake, or "Aunty Aiko." Since Kakashi’s birth, we would visit the Hatakes more often.

As more time passed, I continued exercising with Shoji and helping my mom and dad whenever they’re here. I even got my hands on some wooden kunai and shuriken and began practicing throwing them. I could hit the target most of the time, but making them hit pointy-end first was harder than I thought. My stamina as an almost 2 year old isn’t very much, but at least I can do pushups now.

December rolls around and the Second Shinobi War has been declared.