On the outskirts of southeastern Kirigakure lies a vast cemetery, its tombstones stretching as far as the eye can see. A young man dressed in black stands before one of these markers, gently laying a bouquet of flowers upon it.
At 14 years old, Wayne is here to commemorate the death anniversary of his parents. His memories of them are faint—shortly after his birth, both perished in battle during a perilous mission. His father, not originally from Kirigakure but a scion of the illustrious Uchiha clan, passed on his legacy. Thus, Wayne carries Uchiha blood in his veins. Yet he often reflects,
"Even the blood of the Uchiha clan is no match for the strength of the Pacific that flows within me."
With a slight, respectful bow, Wayne pays his homage and departs.
But Wayne is more than just a grieving son—he is a traveler of mystery. In his previous life, he hailed from an azure planet. A tragic accident sent his soul hurtling across worlds, and he awoke in this strange new realm, discovering that within him rages a boundless, living Pacific Ocean. This internal ocean grants him an inexhaustible reserve of water, which elevates his Water Style jutsu to unprecedented heights. Even his most basic techniques are lethally potent—effortlessly reaching the level of Forbidden Techniques—while consuming less than one percent of his chakra, as if he carries an entire ocean within him.
After his quiet tribute, Wayne makes his way back to the village. The air is thick with tension—Kirigakure is locked in a bitter conflict with Konoha, and ninjas fall in battle daily. Many pilgrims come to the cemetery to mourn their own losses. As Wayne passes by, a few villagers shout his name in recognition—only to quickly scatter, as if they were avoiding a curse. Perplexed, Wayne wonders aloud, "I haven't done anything wrong—why do they stare at me with such hatred?"
He recalls that only days ago—a week at most—a clash erupted between Kirigakure and Konoha. One might expect Konoha, worn down by consecutive wars with large villages, to be faltering. Yet the Konoha shinobi demonstrated formidable strength, annihilating multiple Mist-ninja squads in Kirigakure and causing nearly 200 casualties, while sustaining barely a dozen losses. This lopsided defeat infuriated the people of Kirigakure, and even Fourth Mizukage Yagura could not conceal his anger. An investigation soon revealed that most of the attackers belonged to the Uchiha clan—among them the prodigious Uchiha Shisui.
Now, Wayne finds himself caught in the crossfire simply because his blood carries the Uchiha legacy. Feeling the weight of scornful, hateful eyes from every direction, he silently slips away, well aware that in this perilous world only the truly powerful survive.
After a brisk ten-minute walk, Wayne returns to his modest courtyard. There, a striking figure awaits—a young woman with fair skin, red lips, and sparkling emerald eyes. Though her face is youthful, her bearing exudes authority.
"Wayne, you're always running off and getting into trouble!" she scolds, her tone both exasperated and protective.
Wayne can only offer a puzzled glance as his cousin, Terumi Mei, seizes the moment. "Don't go out these days," she warns firmly, "or someone's bound to kill you. The village despises the Uchiha lineage—no matter if you claim 'my cousin is the brilliant Terumi Mei.'"
Settling down, Wayne pours himself a cup of hot tea and takes a measured sip. "Not bad… not bad at all," he murmurs, though Terumi Mei's thoughts churn with frustration over his constant distractions.
The conversation soon turns to matters of family heritage. "You know about the Citrus family, don't you?" Terumi Mei asks, referring to their intertwined lineage.
Lightly, Wayne replies, "Master Yagura—the Fourth Mizukage—wasn't he from that family?"
Her voice drops to a somber tone. "Yes… his son fell in battle, and it's said that he was slain by Uchiha ninjas."
Stunned, Wayne's mind flashes with the image of a small child—no more than eleven or twelve—reminding him of secrets long buried.
"You idiot!" Terumi Mei shouts in exasperation. "Why do you always focus on the wrong things?"
Wayne shrugs with a philosophical air. "Fortune and misfortune are inevitable. Each day unfolds as it must." But beneath that carefree veneer lies a cold resolve—one that is ready to unleash the might of the Pacific Ocean if provoked.
Terumi Mei's anger softens into concern as she steps forward and clasps his hand tightly. "Come with me—go hide at my house!" she commands, determined to protect her wayward cousin from the dangers that lurk in a world steeped in conflict.