"Uchiha?"
"Uchiha... Uchiha Mei... My name is actually Uchiha Mei now? Did I just transmigrate into the Naruto universe?!"
In a double-occupancy room of a private hospital in Nakano, Tokyo, a black-haired teenager with bandages wrapped around his head muttered in confusion and panic.
The name "Uchiha" was legendary in the ninja world, but so was their tragic downfall. And as for this "Uchiha Mei"—a name that never even showed up in the original series—his fate probably wouldn't be any better. Likely another casualty along with the rest of the clan.
Yet, outside the hospital window, the bustling streets of modern Tokyo rolled on. Sleek cars lined the roads, towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, and stylish men and women in 21st-century fashion strolled about—none of it resembled the Hidden Leaf Village he remembered.
"Could this be a timeline after Boruto?"
But then, deeper memories surged up from within him—his past and present lives intertwining into a dizzying vortex that left him reeling. It took a while before his mind settled.
This was definitely Tokyo, Japan. The world's history, geography, and culture matched what he remembered from his previous life—almost exactly. But some things were clearly different.
For one, in this world, many famous creators in literature and art were different. And Naruto? It didn't exist here at all.
So this wasn't some future version of the ninja world—it was a parallel universe. A modern Tokyo in a world where Naruto had never been created.
"So it's just a coincidence. My last name is Uchiha, but I'm not that Uchiha. In this life, my family is made up of normal people. No ninja training at home, no sudden fire breath attacks. Our relatives in rural Shizuoka are humble folk—farmers and craftsmen—not shinobi."
After sorting through the memories, the teenager finally let out a relieved smile.
It felt like he had just dodged death.
In his previous life, he was just an ordinary guy with a day job. He loved the Naruto manga, but let's be real—no one actually wants to be thrown into a dangerous, war-torn ninja world. Especially not as a member of the Uchiha Clan, whose name was already written in the Reaper's ledger.
And in real-world Japan, the surname "Uchiha" didn't even exist. So his current name was probably just a cosmic coincidence.
"Can't believe it took fifteen years in this world to regain my past memories. But wait... how did I end up in the hospital?"
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a sharp, stabbing pain jolted through the left side of his face—cold and piercing, like an icicle driving into his cheek. Half of his face went numb.
Midnight... a black car... the crash...
A rundown apartment... a crime scene... a dare...
A woman in a white dress...
It all came back to him.
It was the night before high school started. He stayed out late, wandering the city. Then, out of nowhere, a black Toyota Century sped down the road and slammed right into him, launching his body over two meters into the air.
At first glance, it looked like he had just made a stupid late-night mistake. But that wasn't the full story.
He lived in Yayoi-chō, south of Nakano. Just days earlier, a murder had occurred in a nearby apartment complex in Shimoochiai—a woman was killed by a stalker ex-boyfriend.
Fifteen-year-old Uchiha Mei mentioned online that the crime scene was near his home. Some twisted users on the forum egged him on, daring him to sneak in and snap photos.
They goaded him—mocking, baiting, manipulating him—and in a reckless moment of teenage pride, he actually did it. He went there. At night.
And that's when he saw her.
In his memory, he slipped past the police tape and crept toward the apartment. He only meant to snap a few photos from the door. But something compelled him to push it open.
Inside stood a woman in white—pale, ghostlike, her presence utterly unnatural.
She made a strange gesture.
And the next thing he knew, it was as if he were no longer in control of his body. Like a puppet on strings, he walked stiffly out of the apartment, made his way to the road, and waited. Silent. Still.
When the car came, he flung himself into its path like he was possessed.
Screeeeech—!
That was the last thing he remembered: the shriek of tires. Then nothing.
Luckily, the car braked in time. Though he was hit, he only suffered a mild head injury. After a checkup and some bandages, the doctors said he'd be fine in a few days.
But the incident had awakened his past-life memories.
"So this world has ghosts, too? The ninja world was dangerous enough, but Tokyo in this timeline doesn't seem much safer."
The pain in his cheek worsened. Uchiha Mei quickly grabbed his phone and checked his reflection.
A lean, dark-haired teen looked back at him—bright eyes, a sharp nose, and chiseled features.
A face worthy of the name Uchiha.
Except... there was a flaw. On his left cheek was a dark mark, about the size of a pinky nail—faintly shaped like a woman's lip print.
It wasn't a bruise or a birthmark.
"Damn... don't tell me that ghost marked me. She failed to kill me the first time, but she'll probably come back for another try."
Even though it was broad daylight and sunlight streamed through the hospital window, he felt no warmth. Only a creeping chill down his spine.
"If ghosts exist here, there must be exorcists too, right? Like onmyōji or shamans... Where the hell would I even find one? Maybe I should go to Sensō-ji and get a protective charm..."
While he spiraled in worry, something suddenly appeared in his mind like a digital pop-up:
[ID: Uchiha Mei]
[Level: Genin]
[Skills: Sharingan LV1 (0/10), Fire Release LV1 (0/10), Clone Technique LV1 (0/10)]
"A system? Wait—this looks familiar. Isn't this the Naruto game I used to play back in my previous life?!"
"No way... am I hallucinating from the trauma?"
Skeptical, he formed the Tiger hand seal out of habit—and in the next moment, something inside him stirred. A wave of energy surged up his throat.
And then—
A burst of flame, almost six inches long, shot out of his mouth.
"Cough! Cough!"
He doubled over, hacking and wheezing, a small blister forming at the corner of his lips from the heat. But his eyes were shining with excitement.
He glanced across the room. The bed opposite his held a thin, elderly man—probably in his seventies. Sunken cheeks, bluish skin tone. The man was fast asleep, unaware of what had just happened.
Uchiha Mei took a deep breath, closed his eyes... and then opened them again.
Both irises turned blood-red. A single black tomoe spun around each pupil.
"So this is the Sharingan? And that fire earlier... I've not only regained my past memories—I've inherited the system from that game too!"
He stared at his reflection in the phone, fascinated by the mystical eyes.
The Sharingan—one of the most potent bloodline abilities in the shinobi world. If fully evolved, it could grant powers capable of shaking nations.
Even in modern society, that power could change the world.
With Susanoo, he could cleave through mountains and oceans. With a swing, he could cut down Tokyo Skytree like wheat. With Chibaku Tensei and Tengai Shinsei hanging over Tokyo's skyline—it was enough to make his blood race.
But then the pain on his cheek spiked again, dragging him back to reality.
A reminder not to get ahead of himself.
"Getting a system is great and all, but I've got a damn ghost on my tail. With only one-tomoe Sharingan, I don't get any real combat power boost. Level 1 Fire Release can't even cast a proper Great Fireball. Can I really take that thing on right now?"
The system gave him a little courage—he was no longer gripped by sheer panic—but facing off against that spirit still felt daunting.
His Fire Release was just too weak.
"Hhhkkk..."
Suddenly, across the room, the elderly man groaned and twitched violently like he was having a seizure. Sweat poured from his face. His mouth gaped open in silent agony.
"Is he having a nightmare—or a stroke? I better call a nurse—"
But just as Uchiha Mei reached for the call button, something horrifying happened.
A grotesque black tentacle, half a meter long and covered in tumors, slithered out of the man's mouth.