The weather was clear and pleasant. The sun hung high in the sky, casting light that was warm but not blinding. A gentle breeze swept over the rooftops, lifting a hat slightly off its resting place.
Snap! A slender, childlike hand reached up and patted the hat gently, pressing it back down against the face it shielded from the breeze.
Nara Haruki lay there with his eyes closed, his face obscured by the hat, while his consciousness focused on the card projected in his mind.
A man in bizarre clothes and heavy makeup grinned widely on the card, displaying a mouth full of gleaming gold teeth.
[Talent Card: Kurotsuchi Mayuri] World: Death Quality: Blue (77/1000) Effect: Growth Research Talent (You are a natural scientist and researcher. Your talent will shine in the field of research and development.) Field: Exceptional research capabilities in biology and neurology. Passive: Bio-transformation! Accumulation: Research requires vast knowledge and experimental data. All information you absorb will be processed more efficiently, rewarding you with alternative insights. Achievement: Create recognized works to enhance physical strength and fitness. Obsession: To become a scientist who surpasses Urahara Kisuke.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri—the mad scientist from the world of death.
Haruki recognized him instantly. How could he not? The memories of his past life, which followed him even in death, were still vivid.
Mayuri, one of the top three scientific minds in that other world. Though not as powerful as the other two freakishly talented individuals, his contributions in battle were always pivotal, earning him MVP status through sheer ingenuity.
Haruki did feel a bit of regret. Why wasn't his golden finger something more grand, like Aizen's power or the enigmatic store manager's intellect? Still, he could accept Mayuri's card. It suited him in some twisted, scientific way. Though it did sometimes skew his thoughts toward a more unorthodox, even unsettling direction.
Huff.
Haruki pushed himself up from the eaves lazily. His six-year-old frame was still small and skinny, like a bean sprout. His hair was unmistakably Nara—dark, tousled in their signature spiky "pineapple" style.
He was reluctant to leave his sun-drenched resting spot. It was his only refuge from the world's pressures. But that brief respite was over.
Haruki sighed deeply. In his past life, he had been a freshly graduated doctor—mediocre in talent, overworked, and ultimately died on duty. It seemed this reincarnation was a cosmic apology.
Though this new world was chaotic and dangerous, at least he wasn't alone. He had a family. That made all the difference.
Without connections or resources, even the most gifted orphans would struggle to harness a cheat ability like his. With luck, they might survive the battlefield, trade merits for minor jutsu, and slowly climb the ranks. Without it, they were cannon fodder.
But Haruki had a head start. And he would make the most of it.
The inherent laziness of the Nara bloodline tugged at him, but he fought through it. Stretching out his limbs, he hopped down gracefully from the eaves, landed in a crouch, then stood up, dusted himself off, oriented himself, and began walking home.
The Nara clan, with centuries of history, possessed not just powerful shadow techniques, but vast archives of knowledge—especially in pharmacology and human biology.
As one of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the clan shared a tradition of pooling certain resources and teachings. The Akimichi clan, for example, had profound knowledge of chakra pathways and body-enhancement medicine. In an era still lacking trained medical ninjas, their combined efforts were critical in forming the foundation of Konoha's newly established medical corps.
And conveniently, that kind of knowledge was exactly what Haruki needed. At his current age, and with his limited physical talent, he couldn't compete with naturally gifted prodigies in direct combat. Instead, he would lay a solid foundation in research. After all, Kurotsuchi Mayuri was never a frontline powerhouse. He was a master of preparation, intellect, and unconventional warfare.
Much like the Nara clan itself—masters of strategy and cunning, even if in different fields.
Haruki's room reflected his obsession. Books were strewn everywhere, many open to pages filled with complex diagrams of human anatomy and chakra meridians. On the windowsill sat a flowerpot with a plump green caterpillar lying motionless, as if it were dead.
He picked up a book he had previously marked and began his daily studies.
With his inherited high IQ and Mayuri's innate research talent, even the most advanced and dry texts became interesting puzzles to solve. It wasn't just study. It was passion.
Woof!
Time passed quickly, and Haruki was pulled out of his trance by the cheerful barking of a puppy.
Looking up, he saw a half-grown snow-white pup balancing on its head, waving its paws energetically in the air to get his attention.
When the dog saw Haruki looking, its tail spun like a fan, whacking its own head with a rhythmic thud.
Moments later, a pair of hands scooped the dog up. A familiar face appeared beneath it, painted with two camouflage-like markings.
"Haruki, time to feed the dogs today," said Inuzukayama cheerfully, holding the pup in one arm and waving with the other. He vaulted effortlessly over the railing and landed beside Haruki.
Woof woof!
The pup, named Yamamaru, wiggled excitedly at the mention of food.
"Looks like he really likes your new formula," Inuzukayama grinned.
Haruki stood and approached, taking Yamamaru from his friend's arms. He lifted the squirming dog up to examine him critically.
Under Haruki's intense gaze, Yamamaru curled up slightly, the excitement in his eyes dimming. He licked his lips and went still.
"After trying that dog food you made last time, my dad examined Yamamaru and found his physical stats had improved a lot. He's got more stamina and energy," Inuzukayama said excitedly. "He even said he wants to visit your parents soon."
He chattered on, detailing every little improvement in Yamamaru over the last two days, clearly thrilled by the results.