Naruto's Kid Isn't Doing As Well As Me

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, reddish glow across the street, stretching a small figure walking along it into a long shadow.

Cherry blossom trees, sparsely scattered along both sides of the road, shed their petals.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, refreshing and invigorating.

"Nanfeng… where did you run off to now?"

"Yo! Uncle, lots of customers today, huh? Business is booming."

"Auntie Momoe, I could smell your red bean soup from miles away!"

"Fuko, let's go play!"

"I can't, it's almost dinnertime…"

The little boy, just returning from outside, seemed quite popular. The owners of the small shops along the alley would playfully greet him as he passed.

As he entered the path leading to his home, neighborhood children his age would also call out to him, wanting to play.

However, the boy clearly had other things to attend to.

It was evident he was well-liked, possessing a certain knack for social interaction, at the very least.

His demeanor and speech didn't quite match that of a young boy of five or six.

His name was Akiya Nanfeng, a transmigrator.

"So beautiful…"

After politely excusing himself from others, Nanfeng arrived at a traditional Japanese-style courtyard and looked up at the scenery before him.

Under the setting sun, smoke curled from the chimneys of various houses, creating a cozy, lived-in atmosphere.

It was quite picturesque.

It was hard to believe that just a few years ago, this very neighborhood had been reduced to ruins after a rampage by the Nine-Tails.

That's right, he had transmigrated to Konoha.

His parents, both ninja, had died in that disaster.

Although he was an orphan, thanks to his cute and handsome looks, mature mind, and the inheritance left by his parents, Nanfeng was managing well so far, unlike other orphans who had it much worse.

He was quite popular in the area.

The village also took good care of orphans like him.

There were quite a few orphans like him.

It had been several years since the Nine-Tails was sealed.

The village had returned to a state of peace and harmony.

Pushing open the gate to his home, Nanfeng walked inside and called out familiarly, "I'm home!"

The room was silent.

No one responded.

Nanfeng was used to it… He walked to the memorial tablet, knelt on the ground, and bowed to the photograph hanging on the wall.

The photo showed a smiling couple, a man and a woman, embracing each other.

They were also holding an infant swaddled in their arms.

The two ninja were, of course, Nanfeng's parents, Akiya Makoto and Koritada.

They were just ordinary members among Konoha's countless ninja, unremarkable.

The photo was taken shortly after he was born.

And then, not long after, they had lost their lives to the might of the Nine-Tails.

"Sigh…"

Nanfeng let out a soft sigh. Every time he saw this photo, his emotions were complex.

It wasn't grief or sadness, but rather a feeling that the fate of being an ordinary ninja in this world was too tragic… lacking any capital or ability to stand out.

His parents were a prime example.

As a transmigrator, he knew better than anyone the dangers of this world.

Bloodline superiority, power-ups, cheat users… they were everywhere.

Effort paled in comparison to talent.

Perhaps the only truly astonishing one was Might Guy… that kick almost ended the story, seemingly falling just short, yet it was an insurmountable chasm.

And it came at the cost of burning his own life.

Other transmigrators either had powerful backgrounds, like the Senju, Hatake, or Uchiha clans, or at the very least, were born into the Hyuga clan. But he, on the other hand, had parents who were just two ordinary ninja, and they were both dead… He didn't even have any cheat abilities.

This made Nanfeng suspect he was being targeted by the 'transmigrator review board'.

Fortunately, he had some ninja background; if he had been born a civilian with deceased parents, he would have had nowhere to turn.

Considering all these factors, ever since he gained consciousness, Nanfeng began training and practicing... Fortunately, due to his parents' connections, there were many basic training scrolls at home. His father, Akiya Makoto, must have originally intended to train him into a Ninja.

Therefore, Nanfeng left early and returned late every day, his whereabouts unknown as he honed his strength.

Beating Six Paths Madara and suppressing Kaguya Otsutsuki was out of the question... Looking at his current situation, his potential wasn't high. It would be good enough if he could survive the Fourth Great Ninja War.

The subsequent crises left Nanfeng no choice but to abandon any thoughts of a leisurely life.

This world had its peculiarities.

Children's talents manifested quite early. Like Kakashi and Itachi, those little monsters were already known as 'geniuses' at a few years old.

Even though Nanfeng started a bit later than them, he wasn't much behind. While other children his age were still playing house or running around the streets, he was already systematically training.

But he couldn't rush things.

His foundation was still very fragile. He was methodically improving his vitality and life force... Overexertion would leave hidden dangers.

It had to be a slow and steady process.

He was a transmigrator, after all. How could he be compared to the natives of this world?

It was known that some clans, in order to force growth, blindly pursued immediate combat power. They quickly cultivated 'fresh blood,' but most of them didn't live long... Their time to shine was limited.

"I'll just go with the flow and leave the future events to the two chosen ones..."

With that thought, Nanfeng smiled faintly.

He got up, ready to cook.

Training was important, but nutrition couldn't be neglected. Eating instant noodles every day wasn't a good idea.

"Nanfeng."

Just then, a familiar voice called out from outside the house.

Nanfeng went out and saw Granny Asashaku from next door standing at the entrance, holding a bento box and smiling.

"Grandma..." Nanfeng's words were sweet.

"Little Nanfeng, I made you some saury, as well as okra soup and tempura. Eat it while it's hot," she said.

"Thank you, Grandma."

Nanfeng's eyes lit up, and he bowed politely.

The old woman smiled and patted his head, her expression kind and affectionate.

Nanfeng was already accustomed to this kind of life where he was doted on... Having a mature soul within his body, he knew how to handle things... And he was good-looking, too. Who wouldn't like him?

In this regard, that kid Naruto was worlds apart from him.

A moment later, Nanfeng sat cross-legged in the living room, eating his meal while unfolding a scroll before him.

"Although I can't compare to Itachi or Kakashi, my physical fitness is already far superior to others. Basic Taijutsu and projectile techniques have achieved some success. I can't fall too far behind. Next, I'll try to refine my Chakra..."

As everyone knew, Chakra was the core of a Ninja, the most crucial element.

After carefully reading the method described in the scroll and memorizing it, Nanfeng finished his meal, wiped his mouth, and began meditating in a proper manner.

Meditation... This wasn't his first time.

Thanks to both his parents being Ninja, the Ninjutsu scrolls left at home, though many were ordinary, were numerous.

They were all C-rank Ninjutsu, with only one B-rank.