The boy hesitated, confusion flickering in his eyes, but he remained still as the Yamanaka gently reached out, connecting chakra with his consciousness. Memories swirled, images and feelings surfacing like fragments of a forgotten dream.
It didn't take long for the truth to emerge. He wasn't some prodigy or secret heir. He was just a boy separated from the merchants he had been traveling with. A life cut short, thrown into chaos, and now placed under the scrutiny of Konoha's most skilled shinobi.
The Yamanaka withdrew and stepped back. "Nothing dangerous" she reported to the waiting ANBU commander. "He's a child, there's no evidence of espionage or hostile intent."
The commander exhaled, his tense shoulders easing slightly. He met the boy's eyes briefly beneath the small star on his mask. So he's just a child, he thought, but even children in this world have to survive.
Hiruzen received the report moments later, his stern expression softening with the hint of relief. Yet even as he nodded, he knew the boy's arrival would change things small as he was, lost as he seemed, the gears of destiny had just begun to turn in Konoha.
After the memory scan, the ANBU commander escorted the boy now firmly in their care through the quiet corridors of the T&I building. The glow of early morning filtered through the windows, painting long shadows across the floor. Rito's small hands gripped the edges of his cloak nervously, the weight of the past few hours pressing on him.
Once alone in a small side chamber, Rito finally dared to speak. "System… why didn't they see my memories from my previous life?
A faint hum filled his mind before the system responded, calm and unyielding:
[Your previous life's memories are sealed. Access is restricted to prevent interference with your current trajectory. Unlocking them now could destabilize your growth and survival in this timeline.]
Rito swallowed, staring at the floor. So… I really am starting over. Everything I know, everything I am, has to come from here.
A short while later, the ANBU led Rito to the Hokage's office. The imposing cylindrical tower of the Hokage Building loomed over the village, but Rito barely noticed, nerves tangling in his stomach. As he stepped inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, turned from the window overlooking the village.
"Hm… you must be Rito," Hiruzen said gently, his voice calm but carrying authority. "I've heard reports about you. You are… an Uzumaki."
Rito blinked. "Uzumaki?
The Hokage's eyes softened. "It is rare for your clan to survive in these times, but you carry the blood and the legacy. That gives you potential… and responsibility."
Rito's heart thumped, a mix of excitement and fear. He barely knew this world, but hearing those words sparked something unfamiliar.
Hiruzen stepped closer, resting his hands on the desk. "Listen carefully,Rito. Being a shinobi is not just about strength or speed. You have power, yes, but what matters most is how you use it. We protect one another. We care for our people. Even when it's hard, even when it's dangerous, we fight for the lives of those around us. That is what keeps Konoha alive. That is the will of fire.
He nodded, absorbing every word. "I… I understand, Hokage-sama."
Rito Hiruzen gave a faint smile. "Good. Learn, grow, and honor the Uzumaki blood you carry. I will guide you when I can, but the path ahead will be yours to walk."
Later, alone in a quiet room within the Hokage Building, Rito sat cross-legged on the floor, the words still echoing in his mind. Will of Fire… Uzumaki… His thoughts drifted to the system.
"System… all my previous memories… locked away. But why? Don't they matter?"
[They are sealed to protect your current timeline. You must learn, survive, and grow without interference. Your past life will serve no purpose until you are ready.]
Rito's lips pressed together. Ready… huh. Guess I better get used to this life fast.
He glanced toward the window, looking out over the village below. The sun rose slowly, golden and steady, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he felt a flicker of determination.
I may not remember my past life, but I will survive this one. I will become someone worthy of the Uzumaki name… and of Konoha.
Rito wakes up in an anbu room provided to him by the Hokage, until they can find a suitable apartment for him .
Gone were his dirty clothes and delicate frame. He now wore a black coat with red outlines and the Uzumaki crest proudly etched on the back, a red shirt, black pants with a currently empty kunai holster, and black shinobi sandals.
His hair having regained its brightness almost as if to resemble his mood, Because today he would be assigned into an academy class.
[New Task]
Huh? What could it be?
[Enroll In the Academy] [Rewards 25xp+1 stat point]
Oh man, I get all of that just for enrolling! Wait System what is the xp for?
[Xp is used for level ups] [Every level up your stats under your level go up]
[Stats below your level stay unaffected]
System show me my stats
Rito Uzumaki: No Title
LVL 1 [XP needed for next level up 0/50]
Strength - 6
Speed - 8
Vitality - 11
Intelligence - 5
Chakra - 16
Ok so my stats wont go up for some time with the level ups, system can I train my stats.
[Yes stats like strength, speed, intelligence, and vitality can be trained]
[Chakra while it will go up passively by training will only noticeably grow with increases to it directly or via upgrading vitality]
A knock on the door interrupted his thought, as he quickly left the system screen.
He answered "come in" an Anbu wearing a hawk mask came in the room and said "come with me Hokage sama wants to see you"
As Rito walked with the Anbu to the Hokage's room he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips, his ninja journey was about to start.
The Anbu knocked on the door and waited until Hiruzen said "come in". Rito walked in and bowed deeply "Hokage sama you called".
Hiruzen smiled "Rito get up" "do you know why I called you here today". "Yes Hokage sama, today is the day I start at the Ninja Academy!" Hiruzen chuckled at the young boy's enthusiasm
"Indeed young Rito, but it won't all be easy the academy is a place to prepare for the ninja world so you must train hard and pay attention" Rito lost the smile and looked at Hiruzen " I was already planning on it old man" He quickly covered his mouth and looked sheepishly at Hiruzen
Hiruzen chuckled but he was surprised, the determination he had seen in Rito's eyes reminded him of his predecessors. "You can relax Rito I'm not mad now lets go Ill accompany you to the academy"
[at the academy]
A Chunin with dark sunglasses, a burly frame, and a scar across his forehead was teaching his class when he heard a knock.
He grumbled at being interrupted but went to open the door, he immediately bowed at seeing Hiruzen not even sharing a glance to Rito. "Hokage sama, It's an honor. What brings you here"
Hiruzen smiled " I'm just here to drop off a new student here Chojiro" "this is Rito Uzumaki he will be joining your class"
Rito walked from behind Hiruzen and bowed to Chojiro "Hello Chojiro sensei i'm Rito its good to meet you" Chojiro snapped out of his shock at seeing the Hokage and smiled at Rito " Thank you Rito, Im Chojiro I will be your teacher. Go ahead and find a seat"
.Rito looked around for any faces he might recognize from the anime and only saw 3 Genma Shiranui who was already chewing on a senbon, Yugao Uzuki who was paying attention to the lesson, and Raido Namiashi who was fast asleep.
The rest he did not know he figured they either died in the upcoming war or just were not shown due to being fodder.
Before moving to his seat he Introduced himself to the class " Im Rito Uzumaki, my dream is to become strong enough to protect the village and its people, I hope to learn a lot from all of you"
Rito then walked to his seat next to Genma thinking that introduction had to have gotten me some good favor with the Hokage.
As he sat down Genma spoke up "That was a pretty cool introduction I'm Genma nice to meet you" Genma then held his fist out which Rito met with his own and he soon sat down.
They were in year 1 so the lessons were still super dull and they haven't really started on any shinobi skills like shuriken jutsu.
And so the rest of the class soon ended Rito soon departed to go to the hokages office he was getting his apartment today
On his way there the system sent a notification which he opened
[Task Completed] [Rewards waiting to be claimed]
As he neared the Hokages door he knocked and waited. "Come in" soon was heard and as he was opening the door he stepped back and the door flung open, a man wearing a bandage across one eye and holding a cane stormed out paying no mind to Rito.
"Stupid Danzo" Rito thought, he stopped in and bowed to the Hokage' Hokage sama"
Hiruzen smiled and asked how his first day in the academy went. Rito thought for a second and answered "Though it was boring I liked learning about the history of the village and the previous hokages. Tobirama Sama was so cooool! I also made a few friends"
Hiruzen listened and smiled when he heard Rito praise his sensei he thought sensei it seems the will of fire is being passed on already he already understands what being a ninja is based on his introduction to his peers.
Hiruzen spoke "Rito an anbu will take you to your apartment, the village will cover its cost while you are in the academy then after you become a ninja you will be responsible for it you will also be getting a 2000 ryo stipend a month from the village'
[In Ritos apartment]
Though nothing lavish it was all he needed 2 rooms a kitchen and a bathroom plus the fully stocked fridge didn't hurt.
The walls were gray with a clearly worn out wooden floor; there was no furniture except a couch in what he assumed is the living room and a small dining table.
He stepped into one of the rooms seeing it had the same appearance as the living room and just a small bed he sighed "man for such a rich village they sure are stingy" "I MEAN NOT EVEN A LAMP"
he continued muttering about the apartment but deep down he was happy. He sat down on the couch and started planning his training, with no parents or anyone to teach him jutsu. It was down to him to work hard.
System claim my rewards, the system panel popped up
[New title available] [ Academy Student: +10% learning speed to taijutsu katas]
He equipped the title as with no sensei to teach him jutsu taijutsu was gonna be his starting point
Rito Uzumaki: Academy Student
LVL 1 [XP needed for next level up 25/50] + 1 stat point
Strength - 6
Speed - 8
Vitality - 11
Intelligence - 5
Chakra - 16
He thought about it and decided to hold on to the point.
He then got started on making his training plan: since I have to focus mainly on taijutsu for now I need to strengthen my body, being a Uzumaki will help me train more. Though I can't afford weights yet I'll save up and buy them when I can.
Ok so i'll wake up at 5am the academy starts at 9 so that gives me enough time to train before. In the mornings I'll do 5 laps around Konoha then quickly shower and go to class. After the academy ends at 3pm I'll go to a training ground and do 300 push ups 300 squats 300 situps 1000 punches and 1000 kicks until i can get my hands on a taijutsu kata scroll.
A system notification popped up and he opened it
[Complete daily training every day] [Rewards 100xp daily]
[1 stat point weekly] [taijutsu kata scroll at the end of 3 months]
[Accept] [deny] [failure to complete training will fail the quest and deduct all your xp gained by the training]
Well I had no thoughts on skipping training so accept. I guess this system is close to the ones I read about with the gamer fics.
Rito soon went to sleep as he had a long day of training ahead of him.