Naruto: A Shinobi’s Burden

I'm screwed.

That could sum up my current desperate situation. Maybe it was bad luck, or maybe it was some god's joke looking for entertainment, but the only conclusion is that I'm screwed.

The light streamed through my window, giving a clear view of what was below. Laughter, vendors shouting, and children running around could be heard and seen.

This could have been a rather harmonious sight, but what ruins it is a mountain in the distance with three faces carved into it. The more I looked at it, the more despair I felt.

I'm in Naruto. I had already pinched my thigh several times, hoping to escape this nightmare, hoping to wake up in my bed with the alarm clock ringing.

But reality is cruel. To confirm that this isn't a dream, several shadows passed by, jumping from roof to roof on the house parallel to mine.

The only comforting thing about this situation is that it could have been worse. I could have transmigrated into AOT (Attack on Titan) or even Warhammer 40K. If that had happened, I probably would have killed myself on the spot.

I put a hand on my head as I headed to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror.

Staring back at me was a 5-year-old boy with black hair and black eyes. His hair was straight and slightly shiny, falling softly over his forehead. His eyelashes, also black and thick, framed his gaze, giving him a tender look. His skin was smooth and warm-toned, contrasting perfectly with his dark hair.

Overall, he looked like a normal 5-year-old boy, with nothing exceptional about his appearance. As for the future, we'll have to see.

"Aahhh—"

I let out a sigh as I looked at myself in the mirror. It seems I've become a child again. It's somewhat painful, considering that before transmigrating, I was 18 years old. It seems that instead of moving forward, I'm going backward.

After staring at myself in the mirror for a while, contemplating whether to commit seppuku, I resigned myself to going to my bed and lying down.

Staring at the ceiling, I closed my eyes and immersed myself in my thoughts.

First of all, I'm in the world of Naruto. The most important thing right now is information. However, I spent 15 minutes standing by the window, contemplating the abyss, and at no point did any memories from before my transmigration into this body surface.

But considering that there are three heads carved into the mountain, it can be confirmed that the First Shinobi World War has already passed, given that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, died at the end of it.

At the same time, it can be confirmed that it's before the Third Shinobi World War because the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, earned the title shortly after its conclusion.

This is a problem because the years between the First and Third Shinobi World Wars are not few. I could be in the generation of the Sannin, Minato's, or Kakashi's. It seems I'll have to investigate further.

Putting that aside, there's an equally urgent matter: my identity. Who am I? What's my name in this world? Do I have parents? If I have parents, will they notice the change in personality? The only thing I can confirm is that I'm still a boy. I confirmed it by touching my pants a little.

"Screw me," I muttered as I rubbed my temples.

After clearing my thoughts, I decided to explore the village a bit in search of any information that could help me.

Getting up from my bed, I headed toward the door. Before opening it, I pressed my ear against it, listening for any sounds.

"..."

After a while of listening, I let out a slight sigh and opened the door slightly, leaving a small gap to peek outside.

It seemed there was no one in the house, at least for now. Maybe my parents had gone to work, or maybe they were shinobi on a mission. Or maybe I don't have parents at all.

After making sure no one was around, I opened the door completely and went down the stairs to the living room.

It seemed to be a small family home. This could suggest that I have parents, as I doubt an orphan could rent or buy a house like this.

After looking around a bit, I found a photo on top of a dresser.

The image showed a family of three: a man and a woman smiling, while a baby was being held by the woman.

This confirms it. I have new parents in this life.

As I stared at the photo for a while, three knocks sounded at the front door.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

I flinched slightly before directing a cautious glance at the door. Could it be my new "parents"?

I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself, though nervousness and anxiety enveloped me.

After all, they might notice something off about their "son." Considering we're in a military organization disguised as a village, with all sorts of strange techniques in this world, I have no doubt they might suspect that someone else has replaced their "son."

Steeling myself, I slowly headed to the door, trying to calm down. I grabbed the doorknob, turned it, and opened the door.

My eyes widened at the sight before...