For someone who came from the modern world with its relative peace and structured systems, the sight of a monster on that scale wreaking such destruction was a shock. Even though I remembered the scene from the anime and manga, the reality was terrifying.
Death was everywhere. The sheer size of the monster and the devastation it caused were monumental. I witnessed Kurama swinging its claws and tails, turning humans into bloody mist and demolishing buildings with people still inside, all in the blink of an eye. I could feel its rage and fury even from far away. Then it happened. An incredible amount of chakra, or perhaps mana, began to concentrate in its mouth. My eyes widened.
The Biju Bomb was coming.
Before I could witness the arrival of the Fourth Hokage, my head began to spin. The blood loss and the shock were finally catching up to me. My vision blurred, and before I knew it, my eyes closed and coldness took hold of my body.
I woke up in a panic. The dread I had felt from Kurama was still sitting heavy in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I looked around and found myself lying in a hospital bed. There were a few other patients in the small room. I looked down at my body, trying to confirm whether I was dreaming or not, and there it was. The small, malnourished body of a bit over four years old boy.
I turned my head to the window beside the bed. The sunlight was warm, and the breeze that drifted in helped calm me. That was when I noticed a faint reflection of myself in the glass.
My hair was short and a little wavy. My face still had some baby fat. But my eyes were exactly as they had been in my previous life, a strange mix of gold and green. I kept staring at the window, still not fully believing what was happening. I had fallen asleep and woken up again in Konoha. Maybe I really had reincarnated.
I was still unsure. My beliefs made it hard to accept something like this. But after a moment of silence, I came to a conclusion. I really am in Konoha. This is reality.
I was deep in thought when a short, clearly exhausted medical-nin entered the room. She looked around briefly, then hurried over when she noticed I was awake. Her hands gently touched my shoulders.
“You’re finally awake" she said with a warm smile.
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She glanced around at the others still lying in their beds. Her expression softened with sadness.
"Everyone else in this room has been in a coma since the attack. You're the only one who's woken up." She sighed quietly, then turned her attention back to me with a gentle smile.
"I'm glad you did. You didn't have any critical injuries, but you were in a coma for almost a week."
I blinked, surprised. She noticed and gave me a slightly puzzled look.
"You didn't understand what I said, did you, kid?"
I looked into her tired eyes, marked with dark circles, and replied calmly, "I understood you perfectly. Thank you for taking care of me. I appreciate your kindness."
She looked genuinely surprised at how clearly I spoke. My articulation and composure must have thrown her off. That made me think. Should I start pretending to act like a child? I was still young when I died, but not four years young. I doubted I could pull it off. Then again, I remembered that Konoha had many geniuses who were far ahead of their age. Maybe it would not be too hard to believe.
The nurse scratched her head awkwardly and asked, "Do you know your name?"
That question caught me off guard. I had no memory of who this body originally belonged to. I had not inherited any memories. But I knew exactly what I wanted to be called.
"My name is Noa," I said confidently.
She gave a soft smile. "Not a very common name, but I’ve heard it before. How about your parents, family, or friends?"
I shook my head. "I don’t remember anything about them."
She frowned with concern. "It might be related to your mental state and injuries. Maybe your memories will come back later. Do you understand what I’m saying?"
I nodded. "Yes. And thank you again."
She smiled again. "You’re such a well-mannered kid. We’ll keep you in the hospital for a couple more days just to observe you. Hopefully, your memories will return."
She seemed like she wanted to say more but hesitated. Then she gently patted my head and continued.
"I’ll go check on the other patients now. Try not to move too much. If you need anything, just call for me. My name is Ayaka."
I gave her a small nod as she walked away.
Turning back to the window, I let my thoughts drift.
Konoha isn’t exactly a safe place. Knowing what the future holds, I need to start thinking seriously about getting stronger. Luckily, I arrived before the main Naruto events. When things start spiraling, I’ll be ready. There is no time to play around. I am a man in a boy’s body, after all. I had enough fun in my previous life.
A small chuckle slipped out of my mouth, quickly replaced by a deep sadness.
Sister, I carry your name now. I kept my promise. I will keep your memory alive for as long as I live.
I closed my eyes and began to meditate again. Only one thought remained clear in my mind.
I died for my sister. I avenged her, and I will never regret it. But in this life…
I clenched my tiny hands with a quiet resolve.
I will live with one goal. To become strong. What happened to me in my previous life will not be allowed to repeat.
Never again.