Naruto: I wake up as a uchiha during the massicar

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Chapter 4: Awakening and Reflection

Haruto's POV

After the conversation with the old man, I decided to step outside the small house. As the door slid open, a wave of bright sunlight greeted me, momentarily blinding me. My eyes squinted and watered as they adjusted to the sudden light. Slowly, the world around me came into focus.

The scene before me was serene yet modest. The small house was nestled near the edge of a muddy path leading to a vibrant green rice field. Further ahead, I could see the shimmering surface of a river glinting under the sunlight. A handful of villagers worked tirelessly in the distance, pushing crates along the muddy road or tending to the crops. The air smelled fresh, tinged with the earthy scent of wet soil and the faint aroma of rice plants.

"How long was I unconscious?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

The old man, who had followed me out, approached with a calm yet watchful demeanor. "Two days," he replied. "You were badly injured and extremely weak when we found you."

"Two days…" I whispered to myself, my gaze wandering back to the river. That was longer than I had expected. I needed to know what had happened while I was out—if the ROOT agents were still after me.

The old man pointed to the riverbank. "We found you there, unconscious and barely breathing. You were lucky the current hadn't swept you further downstream."

I clenched my fists at the memory. The ROOT agents had pushed me to the edge, forcing me to leap into the river to escape. Even now, my body ached from the impact of the fall and the toll it had taken on me.

The old man's voice pulled me back to the present. "I don't want to pry, but my daughter noticed something while washing your clothes. There was a symbol on the back—an Uchiha fan. Am I correct in assuming you're from the Uchiha clan of the Leaf Village?"

At his words, my body stiffened. My calm expression faltered, replaced by a tense and serious demeanor. My Sharingan activated instinctively, its three tomoe spinning ominously as I glared at the old man.

"Does this answer your question?" I asked, my tone sharp and rude.

The old man didn't flinch. He simply nodded, his calm gaze unwavering. It was unnerving. Most people—even seasoned shinobi—would show fear when confronted with the Sharingan. Yet, this old man remained composed, as if he'd seen far worse.

"So, what are you doing here, far from your village, young shinobi?" he asked, his voice steady. "From what I know, there hasn't been a war recently, and the Uchiha rarely leave the Leaf. Care to explain?"

My eyes narrowed further. "You seem awfully knowledgeable for a simple farmer. That information isn't something civilians should know."

The old man chuckled, his demeanor shifting ever so slightly. One of his eyes opened, revealing a sharp, predatory gaze. In that instant, I felt a wave of pressure—a primal instinct screaming that I was standing before a predator.

"Well," the old man said with a cryptic smile, "I used to live in Konoha. I picked up a few things during my time there."

His words didn't reassure me. Something about him felt… off. I couldn't put my finger on it, but my instincts were on high alert.

Before I could press him further, the old man clapped his hands together. "Oh! I almost forgot—I need to head to the market. My daughter will look after you if you need anything. Bye-bye!"

And with that, he darted off comedically, leaving me standing there, baffled.

As his figure disappeared down the muddy road, I let out a sigh and turned my attention back to the river. I needed answers—about the system, my current abilities, and the potential danger still looming over me.

Finding a large tree near the river, I made my way toward it, the cool shade offering some respite from the sun. Once I was seated comfortably, I took a deep breath and focused my thoughts.

"System, show status," I commanded, half-expecting nothing to happen. But then, a translucent blue screen appeared before me, hovering in mid-air.

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[Status]

Name: Haruto Uchiha

Race: Chakra Human

Strength: 20

Vitality: 25

Agility: 20

Intelligence: 22

Perception: 25

Abilities:

Sharingan (3-tomoe)

Mangekyō Sharingan (Locked)

Uzumaki Chakra Reserves

Skills:

Fire Style Jutsu: Fireball (D), Great Fireball (C), Phoenix Fire (C), Fire Wall (C), Fire Dragon (B), Fire Dragon Bullet (C), Great Flame Flower (S)

Earth Style Jutsu: Earth Dragon Bullet (C), Earth Wall (D), Earth Spear (C), Mud Clone (B)

Non-Element Jutsu: Substitution (E), Clone Jutsu (E), Shadow Shuriken (D), Kage Bunshin (B)

Genjutsu: False Surroundings (C), Fear Revealing Jutsu (B)

Kenjutsu: Uchiha Style Swordsmanship (S), Fire Dragon Dance (A)

Bloodline Abilities:

Uchiha: Sharingan, Mangekyō (Locked)

Uzumaki: Chakra Reserves (S), Healing (B)

Items:

Mechanical Arm (A)

Sealing Scroll (D), Explosion Seal (C)

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I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as I reviewed the status screen. My stats and skills were decent, though my arsenal lacked powerful S-rank jutsu. That wasn't surprising—most Uchiha S-rank techniques were custom-made and closely guarded. I'd have to work hard to develop my own.

As I pondered how to unlock my Mangekyō Sharingan abilities, I suddenly felt a presence behind me. It wasn't hostile, nor did it radiate malice, so I didn't react aggressively. Still, I turned around, curious to see who it was.

What I saw took my breath away.

Standing before me was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in both this life and my previous one. Her gentle smile and kind eyes radiated warmth, her long dark hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders. Her presence was calming, yet something about her hinted at quiet strength.

"Hello there," she said softly, her voice like a melody.

I blinked, unsure how to respond. My heart raced, though I didn't understand why.

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To be continued…

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