The sky hung thin with stars, with a beautiful white moon reigning high above. Its watery light filtered through wispy clouds, casting a serene glow upon the earth below.
Atop a rocky mountain, three somber, antiquated heads peered down at the settlement nestled at the mountain's base.
In the village, long stone strips lined either side of the streets. Despite the late hour, a few stores remained open, their warm light spilling onto the street. Occasional drunken shouts mingled with hushed conversations in the night air.
Hidden away amidst various houses, a graceful Japanese-style home stood, its ivy-covered fence lending it an air of mystery. The gentle rustle of leaves, the caress of the breeze, and the soft tinkling of wind chimes filled the air.
Inside the house, silvery moonlight streamed through windows, tracing patterns along the hardwood hallway and into the bedroom, where Toshiro lay on a small bed. His unsteady eyelids and the kicked-off quilt hinted at his restless state.
Suddenly, a frightened cry pierced the room. Within moments, the doors creaked open, and hurried footsteps echoed through the silent night.
"Toshiro! Are you alright?" A girl of sixteen or seventeen years rushed into the room, her concern evident. She cradled the small figure on the bed in her arms, patting him tenderly as though soothing a frightened child, one hand around his head and the other on his back.
"I'm fine, Mei-neechan!" Toshiro replied, though he still felt strangely 'shy' despite being mentally over thirty years old. Mei, ignoring his struggles, placed her chin on his forehead. She continued to rub his back, tightening her embrace as if doing so would ease his fear and panic.
"Did you have another nightmare?"
"Well..." The boy grudgingly gave up after trying, in vain, to escape Mei's comforting embrace. He noticed the scent emanating from her—a combination of shower gel and her unique body scent. Gradually, the anxiety and tension from his dream began to fade.
Mei felt a twinge of sympathy and relief as she saw the boy calm down in her arms. Toshiro, the son of her sister and an elite jounin of the clan, was supposed to have been raised by his parents. However, her brother-in-law passed away on a mission less than six months after her sister became pregnant. That was four years ago. After giving birth to Toshiro, her sister fell ill, and her condition worsened significantly. Tragically, she passed away when Toshiro was just four years old.
"I'm okay, Neechan. I can't even recall the dream I had."
Mei helped cover Toshiro with the quilt, deciding he wasn't lying. She placed him back on the bed and smiled softly at him.
"So, Toshiro-kun, I don't have anywhere else to be. You and I can share the bed! I think you won't experience nightmares ever again with your Neechan here."
"Mei-neechan, there's no need! I'm doing great! I can't even remember the dream after your help."
Mei glanced into the boy's black eyes and chuckled softly. She turned around and leisurely left the room. As she did, Toshiro's saw the pattern on the back of her top—the Uchiha clan symbol. A small sigh escaped his heart. Once the door closed and silence enveloped the bedroom, Toshiro's mind started to drift.
He was a thirty-year-old modern man who had just started getting into fitness. In his early twenties, he transitioned from his illusion of life as a place where anything could be done into the real world.
The experience was fairly positive. He had just begun his business and was preparing to accomplish great things when he unexpectedly entered this odd world.
His teenage years were spent watching the "Naruto" anime, and he was still quite a fan of it. Even now, he can answer any question regarding its lore.
Why did it have to be the name "Toshiro"? Isn't that the name of the short Shinigami from Bleach? But the most concerning part of my name is the deadly surname "Uchiha." His mouth curled into a bitter smile as he remembered his dream. How could I overlook that? A figure dressed in white appeared high in the sky, making seals with both hands facing the full moon. His mouth's corners formed an elongated curve, giving the impression that he was laughing heartily at realizing his long-held desire. "Light up the world, Infinite Tsukuyomi!" Indeed, the scene of Madara Uchiha using "Infinite Tsukuyomi" during the Fourth Ninja War is what triggered the nightmare that just ended.
In my dream from yesterday, an individual wearing an orange mask hovered above the village, murmuring phrases like, "Rin, I'll bring you back." The day before that, I dreamt about a man. In the clan compound, a small figure in an ANBU uniform perched on a telephone pole, carrying a sword on his back. "Oi! This life is not for me!" The four-year-old known as "Uchiha Toshiro" sighed quietly once again, uncertain about what to do. "I just hope that these recurring dreams will gradually fade away with the amalgamation of memories!"
This influx of his memories seems to come with its own issues! Some transmigrators have various systems granted to them, akin to golden fingers or multiple bloodlines. Why do I not have such privileges? And the ROB or someone else decided I wasn't getting any system; the least he could have done was send me to a normal world, unlike the ninja world, which is fraught with blood and killing.
Unlike Toshiro, the Shinigami, who possesses the most potent Ice Zanpakutō and the sexiest lieutenant, how did I end up as an Uchiha, where almost everyone died before the main story started?
***Next Morning***
The village was still asleep when the rising sun broke through the darkness. The street market is getting busier as time goes by, which seems to show that the day is going well. Right in the middle of the village is the Uchiha Clan compound, which is where our protagonist, Uchiha Toshiro, lives.
"Good morning, auntie."
The boy pushed open the bedroom door with one hand and rubbed his sleepy eyes with the other. While greeting the girl while yawning, who was busy in the kitchen.
"Auntie? How many times have I said I want to call Onee-sama!!"
She places great importance on not being called an aunt. Which makes her think of herself as already married and having children, even if she is a teenager. What's more, being the youngest of the family, she always wanted a younger brother or sister and had them call her 'onee-sama'.
Ignoring his aunt's words, Toshiro went straight to the bathroom. He started the water to fill the bucket, and meanwhile, he washed his mouth and face and got ready to freshen up for the day. Looking in the mirror, he reaquiainted himself with his new face. A pair of dark eyes, a fair face with a little baby fat, and spiky dark hair that is similar to Obito's.
"Hmm, I'll be a handsome guy in the future."
After cheering himself up, he went to the dining table in the living room. A girl with long brown hair and beautiful facial features wearing a navy blue turtleneck tee-shirt and an apron was walking towards the dining table with a food container in her hands. She is Uchiha Mei, the younger sister of his mother. After the death of his mother a week ago, she took him under her care and has looked after him since then.
The original Toshiro hadn't eaten properly in a long time and was very sad due to the recent loss of his mother. Three days ago, he blamed himself even more, and after he fell asleep that night, he did not wake up as himself. He died of grief, and I took his place, possibly as a result of the emphatic nature of the Uchiha clan that Tobirama mentioned in the manga.
In recent days, Mei has moved into Toshiro's house and taken on the responsibility of taking care of him. In fact, this is also the tradition of the Uchiha clan, and every time a child in the clan becomes an orphan, the clan will first arrange for the closest relatives to take care of the child's daily life, teach them some common sense, and instill the clan's values. If there are no close blood relatives, they will be arranged to live with the widowed elders of the clan.
Both of them took their seats at the table. The sight of the miso soup, grilled fish, pickles, steamed rice, and natto on the table made them both quite hungry as soon as they took their seats.
""Ittadakimasu"" saying that both of them picked up their chopsticks at the same time and began to eat with fervor. As time passed, apart from the occasional clash of chopsticks and dishes along with chewing and swallowing of food in the mouth, there was little else sound in the room.
He remembers that his mother, even with her deteriorating health, did not neglect to teach him proper manners and also those of the Uchiha clan's, which is like royalty in the Leaf village and the Land of Fire.
Fortunately, by the time I transmigrated, he had gotten past the stage of learning how to read and write, and there was no difficulty for him to understand Japanese as a transmigrator who did not know it. It came instinctively, so there was nothing to relearn, 'phew'.
"I'm done, mei-neechan; I'll go study."
"Hmmm ok. I'll clean up the dishes."
Seeing that he had a good appetite and ate a lot, the girl was also greatly relieved and let him do what he wanted.
The study room is located on the other side of the living room from the master bedroom. The inside is minimally furnished. An enormous square low table occupies the sole central spot in the room, with the exception of a massive bookshelf leaning against the wall. Additionally, the presence of a futon creates the illusion of a light and empty space. The reader can sit on the futon and study using the low table. The table is big enough that it can work as a meeting table between five or six people.
The unbelievable and dazzling nature of this world and my situation were gradually fading away as I went through a normal morning routine until now. But it hit me like a brick with what happened next.
AN : You can read chapters published ahead on my p@treon account - p@treon.com/noviceauthor777