Uzumaki Zixu was a damn good time traveler—fully aware of his situation and smart enough not to screw things up. After arriving in this world, he didn't act like some clueless fool who couldn't blend in. He stayed calm, observed his surroundings, and integrated himself into daily life like a pro.
As for why he was called Zixu? Well, that was his parents' doing, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. If they had decided to call him Shazhu, he'd still be stuck with it.
But the world he landed in wasn't ordinary—not in the slightest. People here could vanish in the blink of an eye and reappear on the other side of the street like a magic trick. Some could spit fire to roast people alive, while others could make their fingers fly off and create perfect clones to play cards with. What kind of crazy world was this?
It defied all common sense, and the more he learned about it, the more absurd it became.
The people here used an energy called chakra to perform all sorts of techniques—ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Some of it felt like internal energy from martial arts. Some guys with monstrous physical skills could take a direct ninjutsu hit and walk away like nothing happened. Meanwhile, illusion specialists could kill enemies in a genjutsu without spilling a drop of blood.
Among these three arts, only taijutsu didn't rely heavily on chakra. The other two were entirely dependent on chakra reserves. Some fighters even infused chakra into their taijutsu to boost its power. Basically, chakra was a cure-all energy source.
Logically, a world with such a versatile energy system should have advanced technology. At the very least, they should have missile fighter jets, right? But strangely enough, their tech tree was all over the place.
For example, civilians had refrigerators and air conditioners, so it wasn't exactly primitive. But on the battlefield? They were still hacking each other up with swords and kunai, completely ignoring the potential of hot weapons. It was like technology had taken a nosedive when it came to warfare.
After a few days, Zixu had fully adapted to life in Konoha. The funny thing was, he hadn't watched much of Naruto before. He was more of a One Piece fan. So when he first arrived, he didn't immediately recognize which world he had landed in.
"Naruto... I barely watched that one," he muttered. "I remember someone on a forum calling it Black Zetsu Saves His Mom. So I guess that Black Zetsu dude might be the strongest villain?"
With that thought, he immediately placed Black Zetsu on his personal high-risk list. At the same time, he started piecing together more details about his current identity.
He was an orphan.
Ironically, his parents had died in a battle between Konoha and rival ninja villages. Before he traveled through time, he had grown up in Konoha's orphanage. As he got older, his red hair became more and more noticeable.
Naturally, the higher-ups started suspecting that he might be a member of the Uzumaki clan.
Not long ago, when he turned seven, they tested his aptitude. His massive chakra reserves confirmed his Uzumaki heritage. With that, Konoha's leadership approved his enrollment in the Ninja Academy. Only then did he leave the orphanage dormitory and start living on his own.
Zixu had arrived in this world right after leaving the orphanage.
Honestly, he didn't know what to say about it. His body was only seven years old, and they had already kicked him out to live alone. What did they expect him to do, eat his chakra for dinner?
According to the orphanage, his parents had died protecting him from enemy ninjas. In the end, both sides perished, and only the young Zixu survived. His parents' bodies were buried in the ruins along with the enemies they had taken down.
Even though his parents hadn't planned it that way, the fact that they had killed enemy ninjas attacking Konoha meant they had inadvertently helped the village. As a result, Konoha granted Zixu a generous living subsidy. His tuition at the Ninja Academy was waived, and he received a small allowance each month—enough to survive, but not enough to live comfortably.
As for the inheritance his parents left behind?
Apparently, it was supposed to be returned to him. But then, some old bastard with a cross-shaped scar on his chin said, "This is Konoha's war trophy. Konoha has the right to hold onto it."
Translation: They took everything.
To be fair, it was just a few family ninjutsu techniques, but still.
On the bright side, Konoha at least gave him enough money to live on. But that old man with the scar? He was definitely bad news. The guy even took the small inheritance left on the battlefield.
Zixu decided to dig deeper into Konoha's power structure. If he was going to live here, he needed to understand how things worked.
But while gathering information on the streets, he stumbled upon something unexpected.
Being a ninja came with plenty of privileges—like a 30% discount at public facilities and a decent income. But once you became a ninja, you had to obey the village's orders without question. No matter your age, if the higher-ups decided you were ready for a mission, you had no choice but to accept it. Even if that mission was to slaughter your entire clan.
Refusing meant being branded a traitor and hunted down by every major ninja village.
From what Zixu could tell, times were relatively peaceful right now. The village treated its younger ninjas fairly well, and the benefits were decent. But the mission mortality rate was ridiculously high.
If you showed exceptional talent, they didn't care how old you were. Even a six-year-old could be sent on dangerous missions if the higher-ups believed they were capable. Some orphans were even sent to infiltrate rival villages as spies.
Most of them ended up dead.
The sheer number of young spies made Zixu suspect that if he hadn't entered the Ninja Academy, he might have been sent off as cannon fodder. The thought alone made him break out in cold sweat.
"If a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will surely destroy it."
If he didn't display talent, the Konoha higher-ups would probably see him as useless and get rid of him. But if he showed too much talent, he might get thrown into the deep end before he was ready.
For the first time, he realized Konoha wasn't just a village—it was a damn death trap.
Wait a minute...
This wasn't Konoha.
This was Northern Myanmar!
They brainwashed orphans like him, making them blindly loyal to Konoha, willing to give everything for the village. Then, they used those same brainwashed individuals to recruit even more people into the system.
And that old man with the scar?
Zixu wouldn't be surprised if he was secretly running human experiments. Who's to say he wouldn't end up dissected on some lab table next?
The more he thought about it, the more his hands trembled.
His gaze fell to the Ninja Academy admission notice in his hand.
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
This wasn't an invitation to school.
It was an invitation to hell.
In a moment of panic, he threw the notice to the ground. Then, after a long sigh, he bent down and picked it up.
At this point, he had no choice.
As an Uzumaki, his only path was to become a ninja. If he refused, he might end up floating in some glass cylinder, being used as a chakra battery.
When you had no power, you had no choice but to obey.
And for now, that meant stepping into the hellhole that was the Ninja Academy.
After entering the Ninja Academy, the teachers taught them the fundamental knowledge of the ninja world, instilled in them the Will of Fire, and trained them in the art of killing. However, they never taught them how to end conflicts through means other than violence, nor did they consider the lives of civilians.
The wars between ninja villages originally started as battles over resources. In Zixu's eyes, it was a massive mistake to suppress these conflicts through war instead of improving resource utilization.
However, from the perspective of the proud ninjas, civilian affairs were none of their concern. Their role was to protect, while the civilians' role was to produce—much like the feudal relationship between lords and peasants. It created a distinct separation from the masses.
Leaves swirled above Konoha, carried by the wind. Beneath the village's bright and picturesque surface, Zixu could sense an unseen darkness, deep contradictions, and an unsettling numbness.
Staying here too long didn't seem like a good idea. He couldn't be sure if he'd be brainwashed or not. But before thinking about escape, he needed the strength to protect himself. Any ninja could kill him without much effort. As weak as he was now, escaping from this massive pyramid scheme of a village was out of the question.
For now, he decided to learn ninjutsu in Konoha first. Once he perfected his skills, he would decide his next steps. He wasn't blindly confident in himself. When he first traveled through time, he had noticed a progress bar in his mind displaying "Binding…" Currently, it was at 83%. He believed it wouldn't be long before he found out what exactly was being bound.
The Next Day – Ninja Academy
Since he was already here, he might as well make use of it. Zixu accepted his fate as a part of this pyramid scheme. For now, he needed to be cautious, avoid drawing attention, and fully integrate himself into his surroundings.
Every step had to be taken carefully. He already knew these ninjas had the ability to transform. Who knew if his every move was being monitored by one of them disguised as a bird or insect?
Because of this, Zixu became wary of everyone around him—especially small animals. He had personally seen a dog transform into a human before. That alone was enough to send a chill down his spine.
The progress bar in his mind had already reached 93%, making him feel even more uneasy. The villagers' gazes seemed strange, their smiles filled with hidden meaning.
Zixu avoided a group of villagers who gave him an unsettling feeling and entered the Ninja Academy. The morning sun had just begun to rise. Since it was the first day, many children were accompanied by their parents. Kids like him—who came alone—were rare. He only spotted one other boy, a blond-haired kid who was also by himself.
Due to the presence of parents, the opening ceremony felt more like a public event than an introduction to school. The adults were the true center of attention, while the children played a supporting role.
Zixu naturally blended in with the other kids, making sure he looked as normal as possible.
Blend in. Don't stand out. Don't do anything unusual. Talk less, observe more.
Just like how Lin Daiyu acted back then…
On stage, an elderly man dressed in a red and white robe began speaking. His deep wrinkles and warm smile made him appear kind and approachable. His words carried a strong emotional appeal.
Zixu immediately recognized the old man. This was Konoha's Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—the leader of this massive pyramid scheme. It was said that he and that old man with a cross-shaped scar on his chin—Danzo—were close allies.
All the dirty deeds Danzo committed were secretly authorized by the very man standing on stage. The true mastermind was none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen himself. He had cleverly pushed all the blame onto Danzo, keeping his own reputation clean.
Zixu silently labeled him "second only to Black Zetsu" in terms of danger.
From an objective standpoint, the Third Hokage's speech was long-winded and dull.
It was the usual talk about the Will of Fire, equality, and a bright future.
These words weren't meant for the kids. They were directed at the adults. After all, these young children had no real understanding of the Will of Fire. The true goal was to win over the parents first. Once they were convinced, they would naturally pass down the ideology to their children at home.
Smart. Efficient. Brainwashing at its finest.
Although Zixu wasn't moved in the slightest, he still mirrored the crowd's enthusiasm, cheering and smiling just like the villagers around him. He had completely blended in.
Despite his calm outward appearance, his mind was sharper than ever.
Because at that exact moment, the progress bar in his mind finally reached 100%.
And with it came the words:
"Binding Successful."
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