"I've already explained the Three Basic Jutsu to you before, and now we'll move on to the Summoning Technique.The hand seals required for summoning are…"
Souta Kazuki sat in his seat, casually watching Iruka-sensei lecture the class about summoning techniques.
(Before anyone asks—yes, the Ninja Academy covers summoning jutsu! The curriculum lasts six years, and the protagonist is about to graduate. These are just theoretical lessons—no summoning scrolls involved!)
By now, Souta was completely familiar with this world.The world of Naruto.
Looking back, he never expected his life to take such a bizarre turn. One moment, he was just helping a struggling girl—her father was a gambler, her mother was sick, and her little brother was doing his best to keep their family together. If he didn't lend a hand, who would?
But in some twisted cosmic joke, that act of kindness led to him being reborn in this world!
At first, he thought his new life would be a classic tragic backstory—parents dead, an orphan struggling through hardship, underestimated by everyone, and then rising like a dragon king, full of rage and power.
Turns out, he had overthought things.
His parents were alive, his family was intact, and while the Kazuki clan wasn't a major powerhouse in Konoha, they weren't mere civilians either. His father, Kazuki Haruto, was a respected Jōnin, and his grandfather, Kazuki Ryoma, had once been a formidable shinobi before retiring. With a handful of Chūnin in the family, they weren't influential compared to clans like the Uchiha or Hyūga, but they weren't weak either.
As the heir to the Kazuki family, Souta had a relatively privileged upbringing. His father and grandfather personally trained him, and without the usual "tragic orphan" trope, he could focus on growing stronger without unnecessary suffering.
Unlike clans such as the Nara, Yamanaka, or Akimichi, the Kazuki family had no secret techniques. However, Souta had been introduced to chakra training and basic ninjutsu from an early age. Under the strict guidance of his grandfather and father, he had earned a reputation as a prodigy.
At a young age, he had already mastered chakra control, Body Flicker, and substitution techniques, and his skills with ninja tools were exceptional. Among his peers, only Uchiha Sasuke outshined him.
Sasuke saw him as a rival, someone worthy of acknowledgment. Meanwhile, the rest of the class? They were beneath Sasuke's notice.
As Iruka continued his lecture on summoning techniques, Souta found himself intrigued.
Unlike some clans, his family had no inherited summoning contracts. That meant he would have to find his own summoning beast one day.
Power was important, sure, but more than anything, his summon needed style. If he was going to have a summoning creature, it had to be something truly badass—something that would make people's jaws drop.
Still, knowing how the Naruto story would unfold, he figured he didn't need to do much. He could just sit back and let Naruto handle all the world-changing events. As long as he maintained good relationships with key figures like Naruto, Sasuke, and others, he'd be fine.
Integrating into their inner circle had been surprisingly easy, considering his small family background. Over the years, he had built solid friendships with several of Konoha's most promising young ninjas.
And then there was Ino Yamanaka.
In the original timeline, Ino had been obsessed with Sasuke, always competing with Sakura for his attention. But this time? She barely paid Sasuke any mind—her focus was entirely on him!
It made sense, really. He had looks that rivaled the Uchiha, a strong physique, and an air of mystery that only added to his appeal. Even Sasuke, the supposed "heartthrob," seemed to acknowledge that Souta was a worthy rival in more ways than one.
Lost in thought, Souta absentmindedly practiced the summoning hand seals under his desk.
(So first this… then this… and finally—)
BANG!
A loud explosion of smoke filled the classroom.
When it cleared, Souta Kazuki's seat was empty.
Silence.
Iruka's eyes widened in shock.
Wait… what?
His student—gone! Just like that!
The classroom erupted into chaos.
Sasuke instinctively gripped a kunai, scanning the room cautiously.Chōji was so startled that his bag of chips hit the floor.Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his forehead. "This looks like a major hassle..."
Ino's eyes darted around in panic. "Where's Souta?! He was right there a second ago!"
Naruto, who had been napping, groggily sat up and blinked at the commotion. "...Huh? What's going on?"
Iruka, still processing what had just happened, suddenly remembered something.
There was a precedent for this.
Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, had once accidentally summoned himself away while practicing summoning jutsu.
Did that mean… Souta had just done the same?!
A bead of sweat rolled down Iruka's forehead.
Had his student just unlocked an extraordinary fate?
Turning to Sakura, he barked, "Haruno Sakura!"
"Here, Iruka-sensei!" she quickly responded.
"Help maintain order in the class! Nobody panic—I'm going to report this to the Hokage!"
Sakura, being the most disciplined student, was the best choice to keep things under control.
"Understood, Sensei!"
With that, Iruka bolted from the room, sprinting toward the Hokage's office.
Meanwhile, in a completely different place, Souta Kazuki blinked as he found himself standing in an unfamiliar location.
The air was thick with ancient power, and the ground beneath him felt old—older than anything he had ever stood on before. The sky was dark, swirling with an unnatural energy.
And in front of him…
A figure stood, draped in a heavy, dark cloak.
His eyes glowed with an ominous red light, the distinct pattern of the Sharingan swirling in them.
Souta's breath hitched.
This was impossible.
The figure took a step forward, his voice as deep and commanding as thunder.
"So… you are the one who summoned me?"
Souta felt a chill run down his spine.
Standing before him was a legend. A nightmare. A figure that should not have been here.
The Ghost of the Uchiha.
Madara Uchiha.