[Ahem! Put on some armor—it might save your life someday!]
[Notice to all readers:]
[The timelines in this story have been decided by the author after much deliberation. Please keep in mind that everyone interprets canon differently, and this version follows its own path. Enjoy the journey with an open mind!]
---
Konoha Year 5
The Hidden Leaf Village, or Konoha, was still young—a sapling just beginning to take root in the fertile soil of the Land of Fire. Its streets weren't bustling, and its economy hadn't yet flourished. But it had something far more precious: peace.
The flames of war had not yet scorched these lands, and for the time being, people lived in harmony. In this brief respite from chaos, children laughed freely, families built homes, and hope began to grow.
Under the starlit sky, Hoshino Kaede lay in the courtyard of his modest home, arms tucked behind his head as he gazed upward. The cool night air brushed against his cheeks, and a tranquil smile curved his lips.
"Yeah," he murmured, "peace sure beats running for your life."
Even though the village still wrestled with internal divisions, it was a far cry from the nomadic fear and instability of the Warring States Era. For now, this quiet evening was enough.
Just as he was beginning to doze off in the gentle night breeze, a sharp voice jolted him back to reality.
"Hoshino Kaede! I've called you three times! Come in for dinner, right now!"
Kaede leaped to his feet like a frightened deer. The voice—sharp, commanding, and unmistakably maternal—was not one to be ignored.
"I'm coming!" he yelled, scrambling to dust himself off as he ran barefoot toward the house.
At the doorway stood a petite woman with fiery eyes and a no-nonsense posture—his mother, Sakura Kinomoto. She stood with her hands on her hips, wearing the universal expression of an angry parent.
Kaede immediately turned on the charm, flashing a sheepish smile and lowering his head.
"I know, I know. I messed up, Mom. I'm sorry."
The stern expression on Sakura's face cracked. She huffed, turned on her heel, and disappeared into the kitchen, muttering something about "boys and stars."
Kaede slumped into his seat at the table like a chastised puppy.
From the other end of the room came a chuckle.
"Well, well," said a man lounging against the wall, "our little adult has his scaredy-cat moments too. Tsk tsk, what a surprise."
That voice belonged to Hoshino Yota, Kaede's father—an Elite Jōnin of Konoha, known for both his calm demeanor and terrifying strength on the battlefield.
Kaede buried his face in his arms and groaned. "Dad, please don't add insult to injury."
Yota grinned but didn't press further. After a moment, he rubbed his chin and offered, "After dinner, I'll teach you how to refine Chakra."
CLANG.
Kaede jumped so fast he knocked over his stool and landed on the floor. But the pain didn't even register—his eyes sparkled like polished obsidian.
"Really?! You're serious?!"
Yota feigned heartbreak, clutching his chest. "Oh no, my own son doubts me. Maybe I should take it back..."
"No no no no no!" Kaede leaped forward and clung to his father's arm. "I believe you! I trust you! Dad, you're the best in the entire ninja world!"
The shower of compliments did the trick. Yota laughed heartily, ruffled his son's hair, and nodded.
"Eat fast. We'll start right after."
Kaede inhaled his food like a starving wolf, and minutes later, he was bouncing in place, eyes locked on his father.
"You're really excited about this, huh?"
Yota exchanged a quick glance with Sakura, who gave a small smile and a nod before he led Kaede out to the courtyard.
Kaede sat cross-legged, back straight, face solemn. One might've thought he was preparing to face the Hokage himself.
Yota, on the other hand, flopped into place casually, one leg bent, the other stretched out. He took a scroll from inside his vest and handed it to his son with a proud expression.
"This is my personal Chakra refinement method. It's not something you'll find in public scrolls or academy books. Remember—this technique rivals what the big clans use. Don't lose it."
Kaede's eyes widened. He accepted the scroll as if it were a sacred relic.
He knew his father wasn't exaggerating.
In this era, the clans still held immense power. Civilian-born shinobi were rare, and many of them faced immense discrimination. Ninjutsu techniques were heavily guarded, and chakra refinement methods were often passed down only within clan lines.
This scroll—this knowledge—was a treasure. A civilian possessing a top-tier chakra training technique was nearly unheard of.
Yota was an Elite Jōnin. That status wasn't just a title; it reflected battles fought, skills mastered, and hard-won respect. His chakra method had been refined through blood and sweat, and now, it was Kaede's.
"I'll treasure it," Kaede whispered, bowing slightly before opening the scroll.
Yota watched him with a complicated expression. On the surface, he was calm—but in his heart, anxiety twisted like a snake.
"I wonder if he has talent…"
Even with a good technique, talent was everything. Without it, even the most dedicated student might struggle to cast even a basic Fireball Jutsu. And in the ninja world, that could mean death.
Geniuses could learn a B-rank jutsu in days; others might take months, or never succeed. Effort mattered, yes—but sometimes, talent made all the difference.
Yota had seen too many friends die on missions. He didn't want his son to be another casualty.
Kaede, however, was oblivious to his father's inner turmoil. His focus was razor-sharp, his eyes scanning the scroll like a scholar devouring ancient texts.
"Wow… This is leagues beyond what the academy teaches. Every chakra network point is explained in detail. So this is the power of legacy…"
Kaede couldn't help but marvel.
"No wonder the Senju and Uchiha dominated early Konoha. The playing field was never even."
Still, he felt lucky. Though he wasn't from one of the noble clans, he had a father who stood shoulder to shoulder with them.
He had something even more valuable: a family who cared.
He hadn't always been so fortunate.
In truth, Kaede was not originally of this world. In a previous life, he'd been a simple orphan who died while saving someone else. He remembered the pain, the fear, and then… darkness.
And then light.
He'd awakened as a baby in a strange world—the Naruto universe.
Born in the first year of Konoha's founding, he had grown up during a rare moment of peace. He had two loving parents: Yota, an Elite Jōnin, and Sakura, a former Special Jōnin who retired to raise him.
Since the age of three, he had begged his father to teach him chakra refinement. And today, after two long years of pestering, his wish had been granted.
He cleared his mind. His breathing slowed. His focus sharpened.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then, like the flicker of a candle in the dark—
A wisp of chakra bloomed within him.
It was faint, unstable, but undeniably real. His body trembled with excitement.
In that instant, something deep inside his consciousness stirred.
A ticking.
Somewhere within his mind—far beneath conscious thought—a rusted clock slowly clicked to life.
Kaede's breath hitched. He didn't fully understand it, but he knew instinctively: something had begun.
---
To be continued...
[Next: The Awakening of the Clock Within]
---