(Unedited)
The mornings in the Fushiguro are routine, especially for Toji, he awoke just before the sun just like always.
The house was quiet; the village still wrapped in the bluish-grey calm of dawn. Toji sat on the bedroom floor cross-legged, eyes closed, breath steady and deep.
Haaa… In.
Fhwaa… Out.
But unlike a year ago, the air around him seemed to breathe with him. His body expanded and contracted with a smooth, constant rhythm, his lungs pulling in far more air than his tiny frame should've allowed.
He'd almost perfected Constant Breathing. Almost.
His chest still burned after ten minutes, and his diaphragm shook with effort — but it was progressing. Every day he held the breathing longer. Every week he pushed past his limits.
He opened his eyes and glanced at the leaves piled up beside him. Time for chakra control.
Toji grasped a handful of leaves; he placed four across his forehead using his chakra to stick them to his skin. Then on each finger he stuck another leaf, ten in total plus another on each of his palms.
Slowly Toji used his chakra to spin the leaves clockwise. Then counter-clockwise, then each leaf spun in different directions. After close to half an hour, with his minded focused Toji starts to move the leaves around his forehead while keeping them spinning.
When he finally cut off the chakra flow, the leaves fell gently to the floor. His stamina had increased by a lot in just one year. Chakra felt more natural now like another limb growing with him.
He stretched his arms to the side, letting the residual warmth settle into his muscles.
Now physical training.
Toji pressed his palms to the ground and lifted himself into a handstand, balancing on his forearms for a few seconds. He shifted his weight, then lowered his legs down and kicked softly back into a standing position.
He rolled his shoulders. Then it began. Push-ups, Sit-ups, Squats. Toji focused on form and consistency rather than quantity.
Even at four years old, his tiny muscles were more defined than any other civilian kid his age, even some clan children.
His lungs kept the Constant Breathing rhythm automatically as he dropped into a long set of push-ups. Warmth spread through his shoulders and core, but his breath remained steady.
He finished with a set of cartwheels, a sloppy backbend, and a front roll. Then a short jog around the backyard, light enough not to alert his Mother.
After catching his breath, he moved to his final training for the morning, martial arts.
He planted his feet firmly, raised his guard, and eased into a stance that came from his previous life. A boxing stance.
Hands up. Chin down. Elbows tucked. He jabbed fast, sharp bursts of movement.
Cross. Hook. Slip. Roll. Uppercut.
Once satisfied, he transitioned smoothly into Muay Thai. Elbows forward. Knees up. Shin checks. Quick pivots. Even at four, his form was cleaner than it had any right to be.
Most of this came from memories he had from his past life knowledge. The angles, the footwork, the distancing.
He finished with a sharp knee strike into the air.
If I keep this up… next year I'll be even stronger.
His breathing settled, his heart rate returned to a steady rhythm.
Toji let out a small sigh. "But I don't have till next year, I start the Academy in a month"
Quitely he looks to the raising sun, still an hour or so before his mother wakes up. Meaning..."Back to it i guess" Toji drops to the ground and begins to do his routine once again.
A full set, Push ups, Sit ups, the Taijutsu training.
"Toji!"
"Aw shit" Toji mutters flipping onto his feet. He bolts to the side of the house before climbing into his room viva window. "Come in"
Yue steps into the room suspicion clear on her face, "Tome for break--". She stops herself getting a proper look at her son. Yue marches over to his bed and yanks the covers off him. "Again" she sighs.
"Sorry mom can't help it" Toji says, giving her a smile, of pure innocents, of course.
"I know son" she mutters under her breath. "Come kid, a growing ninja needs his breakfast"
"Oh pancakes?"
Yue nods, "And Beacon"
~~~~
Konoha was loud today, messengers rushing across rooftops, shinobi squads moving through the streets in tight formation, the ever-present tension of the ongoing war settling like dust on every rooftop tile.
But despite that, the village still had its moments of warmth. Lanterns swayed gently, shopkeepers called out their prices, and the familiar scent of broth drifted through the air.
Toji walked between his parents, practically bouncing with each step. For a four-year-old, he moved with a control that shouldn't have belonged to someone his size, back straight and breathing steady.
Kato noticed. "You're buzzing today," he said, trying not to laugh.
Toji grinned up at him, eyes bright. "I had a good morning, watched the sun come up too"
"That's amazing, Toji," Yue said warmly, brushing his hair back. "But make sure to get some proper rest, even Shinobi need sleep"
"I'm not a shinobi yet." Toji puffed up with pride. "But I will be."
Kato chuckled.
Ichiraku came into view, a humble stand with a warm glow and steam rising from behind the counter. Even from down the street, the savory broth made Toji's stomach growl.
"Welcome!" Teuchi called the moment they pushed the curtain aside. "Ah, Kato, Yue, it's been a while. And you brought Toji!"
Toji climbed onto the stool like it was a throne. "I want miso ramen!"
Teuchi laughed. "You got it, kid."
They ordered, and soon bowls of steaming ramen sat in front of them, filling the small stall with comforting warmth.
As Toji slurped happily, the curtain rustled, and a woman stepped inside. Red hair like flowing flame, bright violet eyes, and an aura impossible to ignore.
Kushina Uzumaki.
Toji's hands paused mid-slurp.
Holy crap… Naruto's mom.
Kushina scanned the stall, spotted a free seat beside Yue, and plopped down with a tired huff.
"What a day…" she muttered before forcing a smile at the family. "Evenin'!"
Yue smiled back politely. "Hello."
Kato gave a respectful nod, shinobi or not, Kushina had a presence to her.
Toji simply stared. Kushina glanced at him and beamed. "Well hey there, little guy! You training to be strong someday?"
Toji puffed out his chest. "I'm gonna be the strongest!"
Kushina laughed—a loud, warm sound that filled the stall. "That's the spirit! You remind me of Minato when he was little. Full of fire."
Toji blinked.
Minato? She's just casually—
Teuchi set a large bowl in front of her. "Extra pork, Kushina."
"Oh yeah!" She clapped her hands. "Time to eat!"
As she dove into her ramen like a hurricane, Toji couldn't help but stare.
Even knowing the future didn't make seeing her in person any less surreal.
Eventually, a masked ANBU appeared at the stall entrance, giving her a small nod. "Lady Kushina, the Hokage requests your presence."
She groaned, waved at Toji's family, and left in a rush, hair fluttering behind her.
When she was gone, the stall felt a little emptier.
"That was…" Toji whispered.
"Loud?" Kato offered.
"Energetic?" Yue tried.
"Yeah," Toji agrees.
After they finished eating, the family walked home through the dimming evening. Lanterns lit the street in soft gold, shadows of the war pressing at the village's walls.
Yue squeezed her son's hand gently. "You're really set on becoming a ninja, aren't you?"
Toji nodded. "Yeah. I want to be strong."
Kato ruffled his hair. "Then we'll support you. But don't forget, you're allowed to just be a kid too."
Toji smiled, but in his heart he already knew:
He didn't have time to be "just a kid." Not in this world. He has to be unstoppable
~End