I woke up, feeling groggy as my eyes fluttered open for the first time I took a moment, assessing the room I was in.
I was in the bedroom that appeared modest yet inviting. The walls were painted a soft, warm cream colour that seemed to gently embrace the room in a soothing glow. One corner was adorned with a cheerful mural—a scene of lush green forests and playful animals, a testament to the thoughtful design intended to make the children feel at home.
To my right, a large window allowed streams of morning light to filter through, casting a gentle illumination over the room. The window had sheer curtains, white with delicate patterns of tiny blue flowers, which fluttered slightly with the breeze, giving the space a light and airy feel. The sunlight highlighted the clean, polished wooden floorboards, which gleamed subtly under the soft light.
And I, at the wall, was in a neat bed, dressed in a light blue quilt with a simple, soothing pattern of stars and moons. The bed was flanked by a small wooden nightstand, which held a single lamp with a soft, warm glow. The lamp's shade was adorned with more of the blue floral patterns, matching the curtains and adding a touch of harmony to the décor.
Against the far wall, there was a sturdy wooden dresser with brass handles, its surface clean and free of clutter. On top of the dresser was a small potted plant, its green leaves a stark contrast against the polished wood. Next to the dresser, a small bookshelf holding a collection of interesting books. One's child could read, but was perhaps school related.
The room also featured a cosy, cushioned window seat beneath the large window, with a few plump pillows arranged methodically. It looked like a perfect spot for quiet contemplation or reading. The overall arrangement of the furniture was practical and well thought out, with enough space to move around comfortably.
The air was filled with a faint, pleasant scent—like fresh linens mixed with a hint of lavender. It was a scent that suggested cleanliness and care, contributing to the room's overall feeling of warmth and safety.
As I l climbed out of the bed, and felt my feet touch the floorboards, I saw my pyjamas. White, was I tricked? No, that is not possible.
I looked at the bed and fixed it, getting rid of my negative thoughts.
I walked to the dresser, pulling out a set of clothes, and dressed myself in a plan, red shirt, and blue shorts.
In a warm room, inviting as this, I felt nothing towards it. Detached to it all.
I walked forwards, opening the door, encountering a woman, dressed in a simplistic, maid-like dress, yet fitting for caregivers of an orphanage. I was fairly certain that was the case based on my surroundings.
In fact, in the memories this body had I think this woman was named, "Takina San," I called out to her, in a rather monotone voice.
"Ah, Akari, you're awake, I see. Right on cue as well, Breakfast is due in 4 minutes, head on down." Her voice was kind, and compassionate, yet held a firmness that a mother should hold. Which was the truth in a sense, she was the Matriarch of this Orphanages family from the memories of Akari. Or my old self.
Either way, I began walking down the hallway, heading to the dining room, observing the area. It was almost uncanny how nice this place looked. It looked more like a home than an orphanage, at least I think that was the case.
Home? I wonder what that would be like?
Shaking my head off of my musings, I decided to check something as I walked.
'Menu.' I vocalised in my head, causing a miniature transparent screen to appear, on the screen were what I could access via the Menu.
Status
Titles
Perks
Skills
Social Links
Map
Inventory
Options
Curious, I tapped the options button, the tutorial did not mention this thus it took precedence over seeing the Jutsu scrolls in my inventory actually.
Options
Toggle Minimap
On
*Off
Notifications
*Notify immediately
Never Notify
Notify when safe
Health Bar and Chakra Bar
*On
Off
At the mention of a Health and Chakra bar, I looked to the top part of my left most side. A lime green bar read 100 and a silver one read 750.
I assume I was in Manga continuity with the silver one representing the colour of my Chakra. The Manga has it so that all Chakra colours are distinctly different which is why the Rasengan is yellow in the Manga,
I toggle the MiniMap on and after seeing what that was like, I turned it off, far too distracting, which was why I toggled notifications to only happen when safe.
With the settings applied I opened up the Menu once again my footsteps still a thing.
I opened up my Inventory and a 10 by 10 grid appeared in front of my eyes, of which some held an image of the item inside that slot beside the grid was the symbol of Ryo with a Zero right next to it.
I checked the 5 depicting a Scroll, in a random order to discover that all 5 of the Jutsu scrolls I got from the perk weren't in the original show. Of course it didn't surprise me. There is, as Kakashi ascribed, more than 1000 Jutsu in this world, and of course that means that there would be Jutsu we do not see.
Anyways in order of the Jutsu:
Katon: En Kunai Jutsu Scroll (Flame Kunai)
Raiton: Rai Kunai Jutsu Scroll (Lightning Kunai)
Doton: Chikyu Shuriken Jutsu Scroll (Earth Shuriken)
Futon: Kaze Shuriken Jutsu Scroll (Wind Shuriken)
Genjutsu: Yume no Kage Jutsu Scroll (Shadow of Dreams)
I held off on learning any of them for now. The inventory closed as I approached a set of double doors.
As I opened the door, a large dining room stretched out before me filled with large tables circular and rectangular in nature, alongside children of varying age's eating breakfast, which seemed to be toast, beans and bacon, and some plates had fried eggs.
One of them, a girl with bright, emerald green eyes and long golden blonde hair spotted me and immediately rushed up to me from what I remember from the body. This girl tried befriending me on multiple occasions only to fail.
"Akari, let's go play."
"Not now, Shiina, I have to eat breakfast."
Was my dismissive response. It seems that Akari was always a serious person, so I didn't have to worry about that. At least, not yet.
"Awww, I wanna play."
I looked at her, holding back the need to sigh, whilst calculating what this could hold.
Shiina might become useful to me in the future, it might be best to keep her close. And besides, I do need a Piece of some kind, even if it's the h pawn.
"Fine, but after I finish breakfast."
"Really? Yay!" Shiina in her clear excitement raised her voice, "I am finally going to play with Akari."
I really wondered what I had just gotten myself in but somebody like Shiina, a natural born socialite would prove useful.
"Say Shiina, can I ask you to do something important for me?"
Almost immediately she would answer.
"Of course."
"Good then I need you to go around the tables and talk to them, then come to me and tell me what they said. Nothing much, just some small things. Also hide the fact that I want what they said, act like you are simply talking with them."
After explaining to Shiina what I wanted her to do, she was confused.
"But why?"
"Because I want to know if everyone is happy or fine here."
I played on her desire's there, lying as easily as I breathed.
"Alright."
With that down, she left as I walked up to the little area, with a cook and got my breakfast. Egg, toast, bacon and baked beans. Yeah, I got the eggs, then left sitting at a table by myself.
Eating, I began to think about my situation.
Let's begin with the timeline, 4 Hokage's no Fifth, and the 3rd is in rule, canonical timeline of Naruto. 2nd, I cannot just assume this world will be the same as the one we know of in Canon, alternate universes exist thus some things may be different, so I should keep that in mind.
The final aspect of this is to assume that Chaos Theory is in effect to some extent.
Chaos Theory is an interdisciplinary area of scientific study and a branch of mathematics that focuses on the underlying patterns and deterministic laws of dynamical systems. These systems, which may be highly sensitive to initial conditions, were once thought to exhibit completely random states of disorder and irregularities.
Chaos theory posits that within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there exists underlying patterns, interconnections, constant feedback loops, repetition, self-similarity, fractals, and self-organization.
The Butterfly Effect encapsulates this principle perfectly. It describes how a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can lead to large differences in a later state, illustrating the sensitive dependence on initial conditions.
A metaphor for this behaviour is a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas or one small flap, one massive tornado.
I can use my knowledge of canon but I should not take it as fully the same.
'Status.' I called out in my mind, wanting to at least see my stats now so I could plan how I would deal with this.
Name: Akari Inori
Clan: Uchiha
Title: None
Age: 3
Level: 1
EXP 0/100
HP: 100
Chakra: 750
CC: 5%
STR: 10
DEX: 15
CON: 10
INT: 280
CHA: 75
Stat Points: 0
Yeah, so I was correct earlier.
The status Menu closed as I began eating, slowly.
This is pretty good, actually. Then again, compared to what I used to eat on a daily basis, anything would be better.
"Alright, Akari, let's go play."
After I finished breakfast Shiina came up to me.
"Sure, on the way you can tell me what you learned."
I get up from my seat putting the plate and cutlery away. Then began walking with Shiina.
Along the way, I of course listened to her, with my indifference to her presence being on display but her not caring. She seemed like a ball of energy, as she talked, and talked without end or did exaggerated gestures when talking.
The information I gathered from her was simply put was impressive.
I gathered that 85% of the Orphans here want to be Shinobi, there's a Shinobi program for orphans allowing them to be paid monthly by the village in the academy and many were content with that idea.
She's certainly useful to me, more useful than a mere Pawn, perhaps a Rook? No, maybe, yes, a White Knight works. She is the White Knight on my board.
With that I stepped into the little playroom with her, entering to find toys of various types scattered about, some very clearly designed for rough play or in other words, to prepare Children to become Shinobi. Or in other words, Shinai, and wooden versions of the weapons Shinobi used, blunted to make them non lethal as even wood can cut if sharpened enough.
The room already had sparring mats as well, so it made it more obvious to me that the playroom can double as a training room. Which was one of the places Akari often played at, with a Shinai.
It's convenient that Akari happened to be serious before I took over, but that was suspicious. Yet the way this was set up it was like that place, worse the Children are being trained without knowing it. Well at least the walls aren't white all around us.
"Akari, let's play with the Shinai."
"Sure."
I was going to suggest that but she is doing it to make it better. Now then, time to hold back my skill, massively. I was well aware of the Skills that would be transferred from my old life to this one, then my Martial Arts skill would as well, and that included Martial Arts such as Kendo, Iaido, and many more.
I picked the Shinai up as she did, and we walked into the circle. The Shinai we both had were smaller ones, meaning tailor made for toddlers and other smaller children.
We both took a stance, hers sloppy and unrefined, while I instinctively assumed a more disciplined posture, even as I consciously suppressed my true skill. When she lunged forward, I met her strike with a controlled parry, allowing her to push me back just enough to keep up the appearance of an evenly matched duel. Her swings were wild and full of energy, each one more enthusiastic than the last, while I carefully calculated every move, blocking and countering in a way that would appear clumsy enough not to raise suspicion.
As the wooden swords clacked against each other, I deliberately missed opportunities to end the match quickly, instead allowing Shiina to believe she had the upper hand. Despite holding back, I could feel my muscle memory itching to take over, but I resisted, focusing instead on making this sparring session a believable challenge. Of course, I chose to win, obviously.
At the moment of her clash with my blade, I forced her back, using the bind to force her backwards before thrusting forwards hitting her upper abdomen, Shiina let out a pained gasp, from the hit but smiled.
"No fair, you hid your skill."
"Deception is a Shinobi's greatest tool, at least that's what the books told us, if you have actually read a book that is."
"Ah, so you do want to be one."
"Who knows?"
"What's with that response? Come on, give me an answer."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Fine then."
At the end of that conversation Shiina pouted rather adorably, not that I cared.
"Fine, I do want to be one."
"Really, then let's become Shinobi together, Akari."
"If you can become one, Shiina."
"Oi, that's mean."
"Shinobi are smart Shiina, thus you need to read, they are strong physically but rely on technique, which you lack." I stated before realising it, "Ah, of course that's from a book I read about Shinobi training."
That was not the case but it was believable. I was seen reading a lot.
"I see, in that case I have to become good at technigue, teknique," Hearing her constantly mispronounce the word I stepped in.
"Technique."
"I just have to become good at Technique then, right? And also read. I can do that." She spoke with determination in her voice.
You've selected your path, Shiina.
I walked up to her, extending my hand, and faked a smile, making sure it was real enough to be believable and delayed just enough to look genuine.
"In that case, do you want my help?"
"Wait, Akari, your smiling?"
"Is it that hard to believe?"
"I must be awesomely lucky to see that."
"I see."
The smile fell, replaced by my usual expression. Almost as if it was natural.
I'm so glad I learned how to fake emotions, like this, it makes me almost human.
"Anyways, I offer to help you and you don't give me an answer."
"Oh, I will take that help, Akari, thanks."
"Good, in that case, get back into your stance, we'll play some more."
The conversation faded, as I once again, hid my skill with the blade but this time showing more skill, in order to make her believe I wasn't holding back.
This began the start of me mentoring Shiina.