Chapter 2 — Awakening
Warm sunlight drifted through the open windows of the Konoha Academy classroom.
Children talked loudly, tossed paper balls, and ignored the tired instructor at the front.
At the last row, Kazuma Yuta, age twelve, lay sleeping on his desk.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
A sharp pain stabbed through his mind.
Kazuma grabbed his head as two lives collided violently inside him.
Cold iron mines buried in snow.
Samurai shouting orders.
Tree-walking training.
The Third Shinobi War.
A Jōnin's lightning blade.
His own death at twelve.
His breath trembled.
Then another set of memories rushed in—
Running through Konoha's small streets.
Eating warm meals with his twin brother.
Sitting in this academy every day.
Practicing basic jutsu.
Laughing in a peaceful home.
The two memories fused together.
Kazuma slowly lowered his hands and stared at them.
They were clean.
Soft.
Unscarred.
Not a miner's hands.
Not a warrior's hands.
A child's hands.
"Brother? Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked.
Kazuma turned.
Beside him sat Tenzo Yuta, his twin brother, looking worried.
"You froze suddenly. Did something happen?"
Kazuma forced himself to breathe steadily.
"No… just a headache."
Tenzo relaxed and smiled a little.
"Maybe you're nervous about tomorrow's graduation test. Everyone is."
Graduation test.
Yes… the memories of this body were clear now.
He was a normal academy student.
Twelve years old.
No clan.
No bloodline.
Just Kazuma Yuta, a civilian boy.
He pieced the timeline together:
He had died during the Third Shinobi War.
That war ended soon after.
Now, he was eight years in the future, living in a peaceful Konoha.
Naruto Uzumaki was only six years old right now—
a small child somewhere in the village.
Kazuma didn't know Naruto.
He didn't know the future of the village.
He didn't know what would happen years later.
To him, Naruto was just another kid, nothing more.
Kazuma stared out the window.
Sunlight filled the courtyard.
Children laughed freely.
Leaves fluttered in a warm breeze.
This world felt unreal compared to the freezing land where he died.
His thoughts drifted to the strange coin—
the Sword of Rinne coin.
The ancient object he found in the mines.
It had shattered when he died…
and pulled his soul into this body.
Then it vanished forever.
Kazuma clenched his fists.
"This time… I'll live properly.
I'll grow strong with my own hands."
The bell rang loudly.
Tenzo stood up at once.
"Brother, let's go home. If you still feel dizzy, I'll carry you."
Kazuma blinked.
In his old life, no one had ever said something like that.
No one offered him kindness.
No one offered him a hand.
He shook his head gently.
"I'm fine. I can walk."
Tenzo smiled cheerfully.
"Good! Then let's go. We have to sleep early for tomorrow's test!"
Kazuma stood slowly.
His new body felt light.
His heart felt warm.
He followed his brother toward the academy doors, sunlight brushing his face.
For the first time in two lives—
Kazuma felt like he had a real future.
He whispered softly:
"This time… I'll live."
End of Chapter 2