Lance Shen had once been a parkour prodigy of the twenty-first century.
Just a few months ago, he'd proudly represented his country at the International Parkour Championship held near Japan's Mount Fuji. Fueled by adrenaline and ambition, Lance had been determined to end the competition with a breathtaking flourish a stunning seven-hundred-and-twenty-degree midair spin that would leave the audience roaring in awe.
But fate, as always, had other plans.
In the middle of his spectacular aerial maneuver, Lance's sharp eyes caught sight of two women in the crowd cheering for him. Their voices rang out in clear Japanese:
"Ganbatte yo!"
For just an instant, his focus wavered.
One woman had a face that could stop traffic, the other a figure sculpted by the gods. Both looked strangely familiar too familiar. He'd seen them before, in videos online. Two "legendary actresses" of Tokyo, each celebrated in her own... unique field.
That brief distraction proved disastrous. In professional parkour, losing focus even for a heartbeat could mean the difference between glory and catastrophe.
"Oh no…" he gasped.
Before he could correct his form, the world spun violently out of control. His trajectory broke, his rhythm collapsed, and gravity did the rest. Lance plummeted into a shadowed crevice near the mountain a pit so deep it seemed to swallow light itself.
The last thing he remembered was the chaos of motion, the roar of wind in his ears, and the sensation of falling into nothingness.
When he woke, everything had changed.
He wasn't in his own world anymore. The air was different. The light was different. And his reflection his reflection had the unmistakable red eyes of the Uchiha clan.
Lance Shen had somehow crossed into the universe of Naruto, reborn as one of the Uchiha.
At first, he panicked. But once the shock faded, his logical side took over.
If this truly was the ninja world he'd studied for years, then he wasn't entirely lost. He knew the timeline, the key players, the rise and fall of clans. Knowledge was power and if he played his cards right, he might just survive.
Six Months Later – The Village Hidden in the Leaves
The morning sun spilled across the tiled roofs of Konoha.
As usual, Lance sat quietly in a small eatery near the Ninja Academy, savoring a bowl of hot miso soup and grilled rice balls. His gaze, calm and observant, swept across the street, following the daily rhythm of the village.
A few minutes later, a small boy with spiky black hair and the Uchiha fan crest on his back walked by, heading into the Academy.
Lance's lips curved slightly.
"Copy successful," a mechanical voice echoed in his mind. "Minor Indra Chakra detected. Proceed with fusion?"
"Fuse," he whispered under his breath.
He placed his chopsticks down, left a few coins on the counter, and rose to leave.
Unbeknownst to him, shadows stirred nearby.
From the rooftops, masked figures members of the ANBU watched his every move. Moments later, one of them vanished in a blur, reappearing in the office of the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage," the operative reported, kneeling. "As usual, Uchiha Lance ate breakfast at the diner opposite the Ninja Academy. After Uchiha Sasuke entered the school, he departed. No suspicious activity observed."
"Understood," said Hiruzen Sarutobi, exhaling a slow puff from his pipe.
The Hokage's brows furrowed slightly. For half a year now, Lance's peculiar routine had been exactly the same breakfast at the same place, at the same time, always coinciding with the start of the Academy day.
It made no sense.
Was he observing Sasuke? Or perhaps Naruto Uzumaki?
Hiruzen couldn't afford to take chances.
"Tell the ANBU to stand down for now," he said finally. "And send word to Shisui Uchiha. I need to speak with him."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The ANBU operative disappeared as swiftly as he had come.
Meanwhile, Lance strolled through the sunlit streets, stretching his arms lazily.
"Another day, another lucky draw," he murmured with a grin.
The mood was good today. His mysterious ability the "God System" granted him two functions: Copy and Fuse. Once a day, he could "copy" from anyone he observed, randomly receiving fragments of their skills, chakra, or experience. The results ranged from ordinary training insights to rare phenomena like traces of Indra's or Ashura's chakra.
Today's target had been Sasuke Uchiha. Tomorrow, perhaps Naruto Uzumaki.
That was why he came to the Academy every morning without fail it was the perfect hunting ground.
After all, where else could he casually scan future legends?
Whistling softly, Lance made his way toward the Konoha Police Department, where he worked as a squad leader.
"Morning, Captain!"
Several young officers greeted him as he entered the lounge.
"Morning," he replied with his usual relaxed smile. "Don't mind me. Take it easy but not too easy. If the clan head catches you slacking, I won't save you."
The others laughed, the atmosphere instantly lightening.
"By the way," Lance added, glancing around, "has Personnel assigned replacements for the vacant positions yet?"
"They're still under review," one of the officers answered. "Shouldn't be long before the new recruits join."
"Good. Keep up the patrols."
He waved them off and slipped into his office. Being a squad leader came with perks privacy, for one.
Elsewhere in the village, Shisui Uchiha stood before the Hokage's desk, unease knotting in his chest.
The weight of being both spy and peacekeeper had long eroded his sense of calm. Serving as the bridge between the Uchiha clan and Konoha leadership was a burden few could bear.
Every summons from the Hokage carried uncertainty. Was it another political crisis? Another hint of civil unrest?
"Lord Hokage," he greeted respectfully.
Hiruzen looked up from his paperwork, eyes narrowing slightly. His tone was calm, yet edged with gravity.
"Shisui, there's a matter I need your perspective on," he said, placing down his pipe. "It concerns Uchiha Lance."
"Lance?" Shisui's heart skipped.
Hiruzen continued, "According to ANBU reports, he has made a habit of frequenting the area near the Ninja Academy. Always during school hours. He appears particularly interested in Uzumaki Naruto."
Shisui frowned.
That didn't align with anything he knew.
Lance's morning routine was well known among the clan he simply enjoyed breakfast there. For months, Shisui himself had discreetly observed him, suspecting possible trouble, but found nothing out of place.
Lance never approached Naruto, never interacted with students, never even lingered unnecessarily.
"Lord Hokage," Shisui said carefully, "there's no indication that Lance poses a threat. His visits to that area are personal. He's never acted against the village's interests."
Hiruzen studied him quietly. "So you believe this is purely individual behavior?"
"Yes. The clan hasn't issued any such orders. I can vouch for that."
The Hokage leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. His gaze softened, though his mind remained sharp.
"I see," he murmured. "Then let us hope you're right."
As Hiruzen pondered, Lance was already leaning back in his chair at the Police Department, humming softly.
Another day in the Hidden Leaf, another secret step toward power.
He had no idea the Hokage's eyes were upon him.
Nor did he care.
Because deep within his mind, the voice of the system echoed again calm, mechanical, and filled with promise.
"New fusion complete. Indra Chakra integrated. Physical and spiritual energy increased."
Lance's lips curled into a quiet, knowing smile.
"Perfect," he whispered. "Let's see just how far this can go."
The game had only just begun.