Dense leaves overlapped to block out the sky, a cool breeze drifted between the trees, and dazzling sunlight shone through the gaps in the foliage onto the ground, forming numerous dappled spots, while the sounds of birds and insects chirping echoed through the forest from time to time.
Yet at this moment, a young boy lay atop the Hokage Rock, his straight black hair and white eyes standing out distinctly.
The boy sat up, looked at the village below the Hokage Rock, and muttered, "What a ripoff! As a senior college student, I finally made it through four years of university, stayed up all night surfing the web, and damned if the head teacher didn't catch me! In a reflex, I turned tail and ran, bolted to an intersection, and-who knows how rotten my luck was-a truck running a red light sent me flying with one hit! That's how I ended up right here-Konoha."
The boy looked up at the sky, touched the mark on his forehead, and complained helplessly, "Sigh, fine, Naruto it is! And they had to make me part of the Hyuga Clan! A 'cataract' eye! Looks like my whole life is destined to be that of a caged bird."
As for the mark on his forehead, any fan knew it was meant to protect the Kekkei Genkai; the Hyuga Clan was divided into the Main Family and the Hyuga Branch Family, passing down the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai from generation to generation. Children of the branch family had to receive this mark at a young age.
The boy was five years old this year. In his past life, his name was Nie Ruri, and in this life, he was Ruri Hyuga, possessing both his own memories and those of the original owner of this body. Both parents had been members of the Hyuga Branch Family, had accidents while on missions, and died in the line of duty.
After quitting the job of looking after war orphans this year, he took the relief funds provided by the village and began living independently on his own.
Why didn't I cross over into the Uchiha Clan?! That has the strongest Sharingan! As a transmigrator, Ruri knew just how powerful the Sharingan was in the later stages of Naruto.
Mangekyou Sharingan, Susanoo, Izanagi... Recalling those heaven-defying, invincible jutsus, Ruri let out a soft sigh.
As for the Hyuga Clan in the later stages, the strongest ones could only manage to be extras, and even Neji Hyuga, hailed as a genius, was later killed in a single blow by the Ten-Tails.
Tch, whatever, no use thinking about it. What others have, I don't. Better get a move on-in this ninja world where death can happen at any moment, strength proves everything. If I'm not careful, I might get killed by Pain wiping out Konoha single-handedly before I even make it to the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Finished with these thoughts, Ruri pulled himself together, walked to the innermost edge atop the Hokage Rock, struck a pose, took a deep breath, and formed Hand Seals. The veins beside his temples on both sides of his eyes bulged, and his hands assumed the Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palm Stance, striking out while speaking as he moved.
"Two Palms." "Four Palms." "Eight Palms." "Sixteen Palms." "Thirty-Two Palms."
Following Ruri's thrusting palms, an invisible dark palm print pushed smoothly against the tree trunk. With fingers and palms striking out in unison, he rapidly executed the Thirty-Two Palms. The force of the strikes almost pierced the tree trunk right through, the entire process smooth as flowing water, accomplished in one go.
Ruri was now able to gather chakra quite well. If any member of the Hyuga Clan had been watching from the side, their jaw would have dropped to the ground.
It was hard for them to believe this was thirty-two palms executed by a five-year-old child.
Still no good. Haven't reached Genin level yet, chakra isn't enough to perform the Sixty-Four Palms! Ruri was very dissatisfied with his current progress.
Ever since birth, he had lived by the principle that an early bird catches the worm; while others were still learning how to walk, he was practicing chakra concentration and exploring and studying the gentle fist of the Hyuga Clan, all for the sake of surviving better in the future!
Although Ruri had no cheat abilities or the like, there was one area where he excelled over everyone else: mental strength. Even though Ruri was only five years old, his original mental strength was that of an adult in his twenties.
The benefit that massive mental strength brought Ruri was that the range he could see when activating the Byakugan was a distance further than that of others.
Because he was still too young, the chakra generated by his own body was too scarce to provide him with an abundance of chakra, so the current Ruri was unable to execute the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
Looking at the tree trunk he had nearly pierced through, Ruri rubbed his tender, bloodshot small hands and muttered, "Sigh, still too weak. I need to grow and get strong as fast as possible. In this world where geniuses run amok, strength proves everything!"
Ruri looked up at the sky, noticing it was already dusk.
"Before I knew it, I'm feeling hungry. Whatever, let's call it a day for training and continue tomorrow! Now, time to go eat some Ichiraku Ramen! It's been so long since I tasted their ramen!"
Ruri rubbed his belly, then jumped down along the Hokage Rock.
Night had fallen, but the streets of Konoha were brilliantly lit, their bustling lively atmosphere no less vibrant than during the day.
Aside from ordinary villagers, many ninjas returning from missions had also come back, putting down their packs and enjoying this hard-won peace.
Ruri walked wearily through the bustling streets of Konoha, breathing in the fresh air of the village. The autumn evening breeze blew against Ruri's face, helping to shake off a bit of his fatigue.
Ruri looked around, sizing up the crowds coming and going on the street, and his mood settled down along with it.
After all, this is still a two-dimensional world; this Konoha Village still can't compare to a major metropolis from my past life!