It had already been twelve months since I was reborn into this world. Despite only twelve months having passed, it seemed like a flash of an eye.
I never considered myself a genius, but I was effectively so to my father, the tribe, and Uncle Inoichi. While an ordinary baby would spend about nine months learning how to walk and more than a year learning full sentences, my teen mind and the upgrades done by Nano facilitated my ability to walk by eight months and speak near-fluently.
Of course, there were still moments where I muddled my words—it was to be expected. After all, my body was still a child's. But my physical growth had all surpassed that of a normal infant. Because of Nano's gradual improvements, my coordination, muscle power, and learning rate were all way above those of a normal infant.
To everyone else, I was a prodigy but for me, this was only the start.
Although it was still early morning, I wasn't sleepy at all. Instead, a surge of energy kept me awake as I focused on my mindscape, eyes locked on the chakra analysis counter.
10... 9... 8...
The numbers continued to drop, my anticipation growing with each passing second.
3... 2... 1...
Finally, Nano's mechanical voice rang in my mind.
"Chakra analysis complete. The information will now be transmitted to the host."
I braced myself for the wave of knowledge, but before it could begin, Nano paused briefly before continuing.
"Due to the host's neural growth still being in development, only partial information will be transmitted. This is to prevent any adverse effects on the host's cognitive function. Additional data will be provided gradually as the host matures."
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of dissatisfaction. I had been eagerly awaiting this moment, expecting to grasp the full depth of chakra's secrets. Yet, as frustrating as it was, I knew Nano's reasoning was sound. Overloading my brain at this stage could do more harm than good.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to remain patient. This was only the first step. With time, I would unlock the full extent of Nano's analysis—and when that day came, I would make the most of it.
I prepared myself for the information that was to come. I instructed Nano,
"Nano, if the pain is too severe, do not use anesthetic. I want to get accustomed to this pain so that I can tolerate it later."
Nano responded immediately.
"Confirmed."
A second later, a vast amount of information began to fill my head—not randomly, but in a structured manner. Although I felt piercing pain in my head and tension in my nerves, it was not strong enough to make me scream or jump.
For one whole year, I had been analyzing my father's taijutsu, observing his movements, and transmitting the data to my mind. Although it was only a little bit at a time, the repetition was constant, and I could almost perform those movements perfectly—if my body allowed it. Of course, my current physique was a limitation, but this could be remedied with Nano. However, I would have to wait until at least seven years old for my first growth spurt to occur.
Then, the true revelation began—chakra.
All sorts of information regarding chakra flooded my mind:
What chakra is and how it functions.
The methods of absorption and utilization.
Types of chakra nature and their applications.
Chakra properties and advanced techniques.
And among all this knowledge, I discovered my chakra affinities—Earth, Water, Wind, and Yin.
The pain started to subside, allowing me to collect my thoughts and calmly organize the information. My chakra natures were not surprising; Yin was inherited from both sides of my family, and both my father and mother had Earth chakra nature. My Water chakra also came from this lineage.
But Wind—Wind was new.
Even though it was unexpected, I already understood enough about its properties, as it was the most well-documented chakra nature in the anime. It was fast, precise, and deadly—perfect for a combat style that emphasized speed and efficiency.
I allowed a small smirk to form. It perfectly suits my combat style.
After the information settled in my mind, I took a deep breath and commanded,
"Nano, show optimization paths for chakra."
Nano's mechanical voice responded instantly.
"Affirmative."
A blue screen flickered to life on the TV inside the white cube of my mindscape, displaying several options:
Chakra Sensory Development
Chakra Rapid Development
Chakra Control Improvement
Ninjutsu Enhancement
Chakra Shape Transformation
Chakra Nature Transformation
Then Nano added,
"Only two optimizations are allowed due to limited neural and physical growth."
I carefully considered each option, weighing their advantages and drawbacks. If I wanted to develop my fighting style into something swift, deadly, and flexible, I needed absolute battlefield awareness—sensory development was necessary. As a Yamanaka by blood, I had a natural affinity for it, and with Uncle Inoichi around, I had the perfect teacher.
For my second choice, the answer was obvious—chakra rapid development. I needed a significant amount of chakra. I wasn't about to live my life like Kakashi, forced to ration every drop like a broke college student stretching his last packet of instant ramen. No, sir. I wanted to be able to spam Rasengan like Naruto on drugs, raining down jutsu without a care in the world.
Moreover, improving my sensory abilities would also boost my chakra control bit by bit. It wouldn't be a huge increase, but enough to execute sensory techniques properly.
With my decision made, I declared,
"Optimize Chakra Sensory Development and Chakra Rapid Development."
The moment the words left my mouth, a wave of pure, euphoric pleasure surged through me. It was dangerously close to the blissful sensation of Aunt Itsumi's embrace—so much so that I briefly wondered if Nano had just injected me with chakra steroids.
'Was this what drug addicts felt like? Because I swear, I might get addicted to this.'
As the sensation faded, I felt my chakra reserves growing—not at an insane rate, but still noticeably better than before. More importantly, I started perceiving my surroundings in an entirely new way. It was still blurry and mostly inaccurate, but for the first time, I could feel the presence of the world around me.
After the feeling had subsided, I stopped for a moment to think before asking,
"Nana, based on my current rate of developing chakra, how much chakra will I have compared to Naruto when we are both 10 years old?"
Nano reacted swiftly.
"The host will have approximately 30% of Naruto Uzumaki's chakra at 10 years old."
Although I had anticipated something of this sort, the gravity of the actual figures hit me with unexpected force. Naruto was a cheat code in human form. Not only did he inherit the legendary life force and enormous chakra reserves of the Uzumaki clan, but he also carried within him the Nine-Tails, in addition to the chakra of Asura Ōtsutsuki. This incredible synergy not only augmented his chakra reserve but also granted him a Sage Body—a unique physical type that boosts life force, speeds up recovery speed, and boosts chakra reserves.
In all seriousness, granting Naruto that amount of chakra was equivalent to giving a toddler a nuclear missile launch button and then instructing him on how to use it. No surprise that he turned into an unstoppable force.
Even geniuses like Itachi Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake could not match Naruto's levels of chakra. However, 30% of Naruto's chakra was still an enormous amount.
To put that into perspective, Kakashi has mentioned that Naruto possessed around 100 times the chakra reserve that he did. That was on Kakashi's or an elite Jōnin's level by the age of 10, and that was more than enough for me.
Satisfied with my progress, I exited my mindscape, opening my eyes to find that the sun had already risen. I turned my head and saw my father in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
It was still amusing to think about how my father had been forced to learn how to cook. When Aunt Itsumi and Yoshino discovered that his cooking skills were downright atrocious, they were horrified. They had spent months drilling the basics into him until he could at least make something edible. While his cooking was passable, it was still nowhere near the level of Aunt Itsumi's or Yoshino's meals.
During this past year, my father had continued his duties as a Jōnin of the village, but he deliberately avoided high-risk missions. I knew it was because he was hesitant to leave me alone in this harsh world. And for that, I was grateful. I did not doubt my father's strength, but this world was unpredictable. Kage-level threats like Kakuzu still roamed freely, and even the strongest ninja weren't immune to the unexpected.
After finishing breakfast, I watched my father train in the garden.
A thought crossed my mind, and I asked, "Dad, when will you teach me Taijutsu and Shadow Jutsu?"
He glanced at me and smiled.
"I will start teaching you Taijutsu when your body is developed enough to handle training without stunting your growth—so at least when you turn five. As for Shadow Jutsu, it will take even longer. You need a deep understanding of chakra, Yin chakra, and how its properties apply to our clan's techniques. And, of course, you'll need enough chakra to execute them."
I didn't hesitate. "I already know what chakra is and how it works."
My father paused mid-training and looked at me, clearly amused.
"Oh? Then tell me, what is chakra? And while you're at it, explain Shadow Jutsu and how Yin chakra plays a role in it."
I took a deep breath and responded confidently,
"Chakra is the essential energy that exists within all living beings, formed from the fusion of physical energy (gained through exercise, vitality, and genetics) and spiritual energy (honed through meditation, knowledge, and experience). It flows through the body's chakra network and can be used to enhance physical abilities, perform Jutsu, and even sense the environment. It is produced and extracted from the 130 trillion cells in the human body."
Then, I continued,
"As for Shadow Jutsu, it utilizes Yin Release, a chakra nature derived from spiritual energy. Yin chakra governs imagination, mental constructs, and illusions, allowing it to give shape to something intangible. The Nara clan's Shadow Jutsu specifically manipulates shadows through the projection of Yin chakra, binding and controlling targets by linking their movements to the user's own. The stronger the user's control over their Yin chakra, the more refined and powerful their Shadow techniques become."
My father stood frozen for a moment before finally asking, "How do you know all of this?"
I had already prepared my response.
"I learned about chakra from Uncle Shikaku and Uncle Inoichi. When I visited them, I asked them to teach me. Uncle Inoichi explained the basic concepts of chakra, while Uncle Shikaku gave me books to read and answered my questions when I needed clarification."
After hearing this, my father sighed and muttered, "Those two spoil you too much. Uncle Shikaku was never this soft with me when I was younger."
I simply grinned. "Well, that's because I'm the genius of both the Nara and Yamanaka clans."
Hearing this, my father ruffled my hair, shaking his head.
"Don't let praises blind you. There are many geniuses in this world, but few survive. Even fewer reach their full potential. A genius with talent is a good ninja, but a genius with talent and hard work? That's a monster."
His words carried weight. Raw talent wasn't enough. Hard work, discipline, and adaptability were what turned potential into power.
I nodded, my expression serious. "I understand, Dad. I will work hard and make you proud."
He gave me a small, proud smile before returning to his training.
As I observed my father training, something passed through my mind.
"Nano, scan my father's Taijutsu and look for any weaknesses or inefficiencies."
Nano's voice answered immediately.
"Affirmed. Beginning combat pattern analysis… Processing…"
I had been watching my father's Taijutsu for a year, so breaking down my father's movements came naturally to me. While my body couldn't support this quality of analysis by itself, Nano supplemented my current capabilities.
After a couple of seconds, Nano gave a lengthy reply.
"Detected slight lag in position-switching movements. Identified an inefficient combo pattern that leaves an opening during transition. Suggested countermeasure: Adjust leg placement by three degrees to enable quicker weight redistribution."
I digested the information, then got up and went over to my father.
"Dad, you have a slight lag in your stance when transitioning from defensive to offensive movement. It creates a small opening during your transitions. Experiment with shifting your leg positioning slightly—it should improve faster weight distribution and smoother attacks."
My dad raised an eyebrow, obviously doubtful. But he still listened to my advice, readjusting his stance before unleashing a series of strikes.
The contrast was instant. His movements were considerably smoother, quicker, and more controlled.
He stopped, looking at me in amazement. "How did you know that?"
I shrugged. "I've been observing your Taijutsu for more than a year. It was natural for me to break it down at this point."
My father simply blinked at me for a moment. Then, out of nowhere, he burst out laughing—a deep, hearty laugh. He strode over, swept me up in his arms, and exclaimed proudly,
"My son is a genius! I was worried you took after your mother's family more, but it seems the Nara clan's analytical ability is still going strong in you!"
I smiled, feeling a little bit proud of his words.
As my father held me up in the air like a trophy, I couldn't help but sigh internally.
'Seriously? Just a minute ago, he was lecturing me about not being blinded by praise, and now he's parading me around like I'm the second coming of the Sage of Six Paths. Talk about mixed signals…'
Shaking my head, I looked at him and deadpanned, "Weren't you just telling me not to get blinded by praise?"
He grinned unapologetically. "That was different. That was about general praise. This is about my son being a genius. Completely different things."
I raised an eyebrow. "So basically, it's okay when you do it?"
"Exactly!" he said proudly.
I facepalmed. "Dad, that's not how logic works."
He scoffed. "I don't need logic. I'm a father. My job is to hype you up one second and humble you the next."
I sighed dramatically. "I don't think that's how parenting works either."
He placed a hand on his chin, pretending to think. "Hmm… maybe not. But it's working so far, isn't it?"
I squinted at him. "Debatable."
He burst out laughing and finally set me down, ruffling my hair again. "Alright, alright, genius boy. You win this round."
I smirked. "I win every round."
He clicked his tongue. "See, this is why I humble you."
I rolled my eyes. "And yet, here we are."
He chuckled, shaking his head, and we both returned to what we were doing—him training, and me plotting the next time I could use his own words against him.
After observing him for a while, I stood up and walked toward the small shrine in our home, where a framed photo of my mother was placed. I carefully lit an incense stick and knelt in front of it, closing my eyes.
"Mom, I promise—I will become strong enough to avenge you. I will protect the people I love in this cruel world. No matter what."
I opened my eyes, staring at the photograph. My mother's gentle smile was frozen in time, untouched by the harsh reality of this world.
This world was filled with suffering, but I refused to be powerless.
I would carve my path.
And no one—absolutely no one—would take what I loved away from me again.