I awoke by the not so gentle embrace of a pounding headache. My body ached like I had just gone 50 rounds with Goku. I kept my eyes shut as I let out a groan of pain. I felt like shit. My stomach was empty and hurt like hell.

  I slowly blinked open my eyes as I sat up from the bed I was laid on. I hadn’t gone to sleep last night as far as I could remember. That wasn’t saying much considering I had gotten pissed last night with some buddies.

  It was my best mate’s birthday party so me and a bunch of friends used that as an excuse to get royally drunk. I vaguely remembered going to a few bars. I guess I got fucked up a lot more than I thought.

  I lifted the covers and looked down at my body with a surprised expression. My body was… hot. I wasn’t a particular fit guy, not at all. I had a bit of beer belly going on.

  Now however I had a fucking six pack with incredibly defined pecs like I was an olympic athlete or something.

  Another thing was the fact my body was covered in bandages. However that wasn’t the most peculiar thing at all.

  The weirdest and the thing that made me most shocked was the tattoo on my stomach “Naruto?” I mumbled to myself.

  The tattoo was eerily similar to Naruto’s Eight Trigrams Seal. Honestly drunk me was a fucking genius. If I wanted any tattoo then this was it. A dopey grin spread across my face as I placed a finger on the tattoo.

  That’s when I noticed the fact my hand looked much smaller than usual. I jerked my head in surprise and noticed something else weird.

  I reached up and pulled a bit of my much longer hair down in front of my eyes. My eyebrows rose as I saw a very familiar red colour.

  With Naruto already on my mind I couldn’t help but think of Kushina Uzumaki when I saw the hair colour. It was that Uzumaki Red.

  “Did I cosplay as a fucking red haired Naruto or something?” I mumbled to myself as I pushed myself to a sitting position. I ignored the pain as I slung my legs over the side of the bed.

  “Huh?” I said in confusion as I saw the fact that my legs did not reach the floor and that they looked much smaller but also just as toned as my torso and arms.

  “What the fuck” I then glanced around the room I was in, finally realising I was definitely not in my home. Or any hospital that I may have been to.

  This was definitely a hospital. It had that feel and smell but it was sure as shit not one I would have ever thought existed. It looked like one from old times.

  The walls and ceiling were wooden. I got up, I stumbled forward as I put pressure on my legs because of the pain. I stumbled to the widow and I opened the curtains.

  It was dark, clearly the middle of the night or something. It was also definitely not Leeds or anywhere in the UK for that matter.

  My eyes drifted up to the massive mountain that dominated the skyline. My eyes widened into saucers as I saw it.

  “W-What the fuck” I whispered in slight horror as I saw four familiar faces carved into the stone of the cliff face.

  Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Minato Namikaze. As I stared at that last face something stirred within me and my headache suddenly became a thousand times worse as I collapsed to the ground.

  I grunted as the pain magnified and consumed my thoughts. I let out an ear piercing scream that was definitely not my voice and promptly passed out.

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  I smiled widely as I held mother’s hand. She beamed down at me as the midwife held my new baby brother and presented the blonde haired boy to my mother and father.

  Dad smiled widely at me as he stood on mom’s other side. She couldn’t take her eyes off of my baby brother.

  “Kami, come say hi to Naruto” my father, Minato said as he gestured for me to come over as he took Naruto into his arms.

  I moved around mother and stood beside father. He crouched down and put me on eye level with Naruto. I smiled at my new brother as a large smile crossed my face. I would protect him with all my ability. I vowed that to myself.

  Happiness surged within me and I couldn’t wait to experience my life now. I was excited for the future. Fate was a cruel mistress however.

  Before I even knew what was happening, father’s hand was on my chest and I was shoved back. I stared in shock as a Kunai flew through the spot my head had just been in.

  I hit the ground hard as I heard the clash of metal. I pushed myself up to see my dad engaged with a masked man who seemingly had Naruto.

  I got up and rushed to mom’s side as I grabbed her and tried to help her up.

  “Get out of here Kami!” Mom said desperately as she tried to shove me away but the powerful kunoichi was way too weakened form giving birth.

  I watched as father disappeared after he had gotten Naruto. I glared at him as I stood in between him and mother.

  The masked man rushed towards me and I prepared to face him only for him to phase right through me. He grabbed mother who tried to struggle but she was taken away.

  Father appeared beside me a few seconds later “dad! He’s got mom!” I said desperately as father grabbed me and teleported me away. I had gotten used to the feeling of the Hiraishin by now so it wasn’t that disorienting any more.

  I found myself next to a cot where Naruto was “protect him Kami” father said before he disappeared again.

  I rushed over to Naruto and picked him up into my arms as I tried to calm the crying baby.

  I gently cooed and stroked his cheek with my finger like I could remember mother doing with me. I also gently swayed to allow him to relax.

  He soon quieted down as he began to play with my finger. It took a lot of time before father appeared before me again only this time he looked a lot worse for wear.

  “Dad!” I said in shock.

  “Son come, I need you and Naruto’s help” I rushed over and father placed a hand on my shoulder then we vanished.

  “Quickly Minato!” I heard mother shout. I looked up to an absolutely massive red furred creature. It looked terrifying and I froze. I saw mother’s adamantine chains wrapped around the beast.

  “Okay son. You’re about to save the village” Dad said with a broad smile as he guided me to lay down. He placed a blanket down beside me and then had me lay Naruto down on it.

  I wasn’t sure what was going on but he had me lift up my shirt. I realised what he was doing immediately, I had seen his Fuinjutsu, he and mother had taught me the basics already.

  I nodded and lifted my shirt to expose my belly. He smiled at me as he placed his hand on my stomach and on Naruto’s.

  “Your mother is too weak at the moment so you and your brother are going to be the new Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails. Just like mom” Father explained as he made the seal as fast as he could.

  He smiled at me “look after your brother son. I believe in you, I believe you can become great. Just know whatever you do I’ll be proud of you” he said as he kissed me on the forehead.

  I didn’t know why he was speaking as if he was saying goodbye, all I could do was nod resolutely. Father smiled at me “Minato!”

  I saw mother rush towards us and my eyes widened in horror as the giant beasts claw shot towards me and Naruto. I jumped in front of my baby brother to shield him but there was no need.

  I heard choking sounds as I looked up to see mother and father impaled by the beats giant claw. Tears came to my eyes as they smiled at me.

  They tried to convey their love through their looks as father made a hand seal. The nine tails was split and its chakra shot towards me and Naruto and into our seals.

  The creature roared in anger but it had no chance. As the creature disappeared leaving the area in ruins.

  I picked Naruto up and rushed over to my parents, I crouched down beside them as I held the baby to my chest.

  I stared down at my parents dead bodies, their smiles etched onto their faces. Tears fell in droves from my face as I reached out, I hesitated to touch them but eventually I rested my hand on my father’s chest.

  “I’ll raise him. No matter what it takes” I vowed in that moment. The exhaustion caught up to me and I soon collapsed, I cradled Naruto close to protect him. I vaguely recognised Grandpa Hiruzen before I passed out.

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  I awoke with a start, the memory like a shining light in space flared in my mind.

  I remembered everything about the 5 year old Kami Uzumaki. All of his memories anyway.

  The emotions he felt during those last few moments were something a 5 year old should not feel. I realised in that moment I was now this young boy. I was somehow Kami Uzumaki.

  I had got from a 23 year old British man to a 5 year old boy in Naruto.

  I wanted to hope this was just a dream but

  I knew what dreams felt like and this felt real.

  “Ah Kami” I heard an old wizened voice say. I looked up to the door to my hospital room and I saw a very familiar man.

  Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled at me as he walked in. He was in his white Hokage robes, his Hokage hat was on his head and he had a cane that he held in front of him,leaning forward on it slightly.

  I managed a small smile as I nodded at him. I was freaking out right now but I needed to keep my cool to the best of my ability.

  “How are you feeling young one?” Hiruzen said as he walked over.

  “Not very good” I said with a sad shrug “where’s Naruto?” I asked quickly. I knew the old Kami would’ve asked that immediately considering I had his memories.

  “He’s fine Kami. He is being looked after whilst you rest.” Hiruzen said.

  “How’s the village? Dad told me I was saving it when he sealed that beast in me” I questioned.

  “The village will recover. You are a hero Kami as well as your brother. Everybody knows it” Hiruzen said with a smile.

  Well that was different. I knew the next question Kami would ask.

  “Are my parents really… dead?” I asked as I looked down at my lap.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  “Yes unfortunately. But you should be proud. They died for what they believed in” Hiruzen said.

  I wanted to call bullshit in that, they had left their children. Minato could’ve teleported us out of harms way but plot was plot.

  In my head Minato was one of the fastest in not the fastest Shinobi to have ever lived besides the bullshit power ups that appeared in the war arc. I’m talking Kaguya, ten tails Obito and Madara.

  I always thought the way they had died was stupid but again plot must do plot things.

  Anyway that didn’t matter right now. I had a Hokage to deal with.

  I let out a sigh as I looked down at my lap “what about Naruto?” I asked.

  “Naruto is fine Kami. I shall leave you to rest. I’ll bring Naruto here to meet you tomorrow. We can talk when you have had more rest” Hiruzen said as he smiled at me. He then left the hospital room.

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  A few weeks had passed since I had woken up in this world. It didn’t take long for me to heal most of my injuries simply because of Uzumaki healing bullshit.

  I now lived on my own in Minato and Kushina’s home. It was a walled off mansion basically. Naruto slept in a cot in my room and yes I was taking care of him.

  Hiruzen wanted to get a nanny but I wouldn’t let him. I wanted to take care of the kid. I don’t know how the village would feel about us being Jinchuriki when they also knew who our parents were.

  My existence wasn’t a secret. I had memories of walking around the village with Kushina and Minato. People knew who I was and thus they knew who our parents were.

  I had guilt tripped Hiruzen into letting me care for Naruto by telling him what Minato said and what I vowed to do.

  I intended to keep the vow that the old me had made. I had no idea what happened to the old me but I didn’t really think about it.

  I had already started training. I had set up another cot in the training room of the mansion where Naruto slept as I went through physical exercises I could remember from Earth.

  I obviously had no breast milk so Naruto had basically a wet nurse. She came round everyday with breast milk in little bottles every day in the morning. That’s what I fed him with.

  I loved Naruto Uzumaki. He was easily one of my favourite characters in all of anime but I felt a very weird urge.

  I needed to care for him and protect him. The smart decision would be to get a nanny to look after him but unfortunately I couldn’t allow that to happen.

  It was like that vow that the previous me had made actually worked or something. I shrugged at the thought.

  I had plenty of money since I had access to all of my parents belongings which included a massive stash of Ryo. I had plenty of money.

  I went grocery shopping every week for myself since I needed a good diet to help my body grow.

  Also Chakra is part physical and spiritual energy so improving my physical health even further would thus improve my chakra.

  It’s why I was currently sat cross legged on the training mats. I was focused inwards, meditating. I was getting a feel for my Chakra. The best part was that my new parents had been training the old me in chakra control.

  So I already had okay chakra control. I had a shit load of chakra and it’s already increased by a good margin because of Minato’s cool arse seal. It slowly siphoned off some of Kurama’s chakra and allowed it to naturally mix with mine.

  Of course Naruto also had that bullshit Ashura reincarnation crap. It’s like Kishimoto just tossed everything he had made into the bin with parts of the fourth war arc. Kaguya was a big part of that.

  I had the memories of my old self so I had some basic chakra control, I knew about the leaf concentration exercise and I knew the three basic academy jutsu, those E Ranks. Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, and the substitution jutsu.

  I had been practicing with them. I knew how to do them but my chakra control was still a bit off.

  Hiruzen had asked me yesterday if I was okay to have some visitors today. I didn’t really have any idea who would be coming until I remembered that Mikoto Uchiha was best friends with Kushina Uzumaki.

  I had a good feeling I’d be meeting Itachi. Especially since I had memories that said we were somewhat friends. Itachi was always more mature than me in those memories so we weren’t amazing friends.

  Itachi was a smart kid. He was mature. We were both talented and had good teachers in our parents but I was always a lot more boisterous and immature than him so we didn’t really become proper friends.

  It didn’t take long before there was a knock on the front door. I got up and moved to Naruto’s crib. It was much lower than a normal one since I was quite short. I was still 5 years old after all.

  I cradled the baby as I moved to the front door. I put Naruto in his crib in the living room before I opened the front door.

  I was right. Four people were at the door. The 5 year old Itachi Uchiha. Mikoto Uchiha who held the baby Sasuke and finally Fugaku Uchiha.

  Fugaku had a relatively blank look on his face. Mikoto however was giving me a sad smile.

  “Hi Kami. How are you doing?” She asked as she gave me a sad look. Itachi simply stared at me.

  “I’m fine surprisingly. I’ve done my grieving. Father told me to look after Naruto and protect him so that’s what I’m going to do. I can’t afford to waste time grieving” I said as I gave her a nod.

  This was the angle I decided to take. I wanted people to think I had chosen to not grieve. That I had chosen to focus on Naruto and training so I didn’t have to deal with the pain of losing my parents.

  I was also going to use that as an excuse for my personality change. I wasn’t even going to bother trying to fake my personality. I am not an actor after all.

  I also highly doubt I’d be able to fool Shinobi. I also didn’t really feel guilty or anything since I was manipulating them for my life.

  If I suddenly started acting weirdly or trying to fake that I was the same as I used to be, they’d likely think the seal had failed somehow and Kurama was in control which means I would either be locked up or outright killed although I doubt they’d kill me just like that.

  I had no idea what this world was actually like. I got some idea from the kid me’s memories but he was quite sheltered and a bit spoiled, although it didn’t go to his head, he was a good kid. He had good parents after all.

  Mikoto nodded slightly as a small smile came to her face “Kushina would be proud of you for handling this so well. We came to check on you and to make sure you understand that you always have a place with us.” Mikoto said as she smiled at me.

  “Correct. Your father was a good man who intended to do good things. It was… saddening to hear he had passed” Fugaku said as he gave me a slight nod.

  “You do have a place with the Uchiha, Kami. I would be happy to accommodate you and your brother if you wish to not live alone” Fugaku said.

  I almost hummed in appreciation. The man was good. He spoke as if he was trying to help a friends orphaned kid. The old me would’ve accepted immediately.

  But to me. The man with a shit load of knowledge about his world and its people I knew what he was doing.

  Fugaku really did think Minato was a good mana and they were friends. Minato intended to endn the distrust of the Uchihas after all. I also do believe he wanted to help.

  I mean he can help his friends sons and raise them to be great Shinobi but also gain two Jinchuriki for the Uchiha Clan.

  Because I knew what he was doing, I also noticed the very slight narrowing of Mikoto’s eyes. I also noticed Itachi glance at his father for a split second before he refocused on me.

  “I don’t think you’ve actually met yet have you” Mikoto said, changin the suibject as she kneeled down and showed the baby Sasuke to me. I smiled at her and nodded “No I haven’t met… him? Yet” I said.

  “Actually it’s a her. Kami meet Satsuki Uchiha. Itahci’s little sister” Mikoto said with a grin. She seemed to be very happy at having a b… Wait did she say girl?

  Huh.

  I simply stared at… Satsuki. Well if Sasuke is no longer a boy then what else has changed. If something that big is different then what else is.

  Are the Akatsuki even a thing? Is Kurama the same. What else could be different?

  I shook my head and gave Mikoto a smile “well I’m glad Naruto can have a friend” I said as I pushed those thoughts away.

  I couldn’t focus on what could be. I had to focus on the present.

  Mikoto smiled back at me “where is the little one?” She said excitedly.

  I led her over to Naruto’s cot. He was sleeping calmly in his cot. I smiled down at him. He was cute. I didn’t really like babies much back on Earth but this felt different.

  Naruto felt like he was my own. That is of course preposterous. I’m 5 after all. But it still felt like it. I’d be looking after him.

  It honestly baffled me that I was allowed to. We likely had many Anbu bodyguards.

  Mikoto gushed over the baby Naruto. I chuckled at her reaction. I had a feeling she was doing this to cheer me up a bit.

  “He’s like your twin” She said softly as she smiled at me.

  I nodded. We did look really alike. I even had those three whisker marks on my cheeks.

  We talked a bit more but soon they were leaving.

  “Mom, Dad. I’m just going to talk to Kami for a second. I’ll be right outside” Itachi said as the family was heading for the front door.

  I raised an eyebrow slightly as Itachi turned around and faced me. His parents left out the front door and shut it behind them. They were likely waiting.

  “Can I do something for you?” I asked politely. Itachi simply observed me for a few seconds.

  “You want to protect your brother?” Itachi asked.

  I nodded “I ain’t gonna get into a deep conversation about my goals or dreams. It boils down to protecting my brother.” I said with a shrug as I crossed my arms.

  “You’ll need strength” Itachi said simply, a neutral look on his face.

  “I will. I intend to get it.” I said with a raised eyebrow. Itachi was very emotionally intelligent at this point in his life and quite perceptive. I still had no idea what his angel was right now.

  “Can I come over occasionally and spar with you?” Itachi asked.

  “You want to spar with me?” I repeated as I shrugged “sure, you’re welcome to” I said.

  “How about now?” Itachi asked as the corners of his mouth turned up very slightly.

  “I need to feed Naruto and then I was going to train so sure. I’d be happy to be spar” I said.

  Itachi then went out the front door. He came back in a few minutes later “my parents have gone home.” He said simply.

  I nodded and gestured for him to follow. I made my way to the kitchen as I began to get a bottle ready for Naruto.

  “So what made you ask to spar with me?” I asked curiously.

  “I wanted to… see something.” Itachi answered.

  “I assume you ain’t gonna tell me what you want to see?” I asked as I looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.

  Itachi shook his head slightly and I nodded. I got Naruto’s bottle then woke him up and fed him. It took awhile to get back to sleep.

  Soon however I was in the training room. Naruto was off to the side in his cot, sleeping soundly.

  “Any rules?” I asked as I moved onto the sparring ring.

  Itachi shook his head “no just come at me and we’ll see.” He said simply. I had a feeling he was going to try and test me or something.

  I shrugged and rushed forward. I was much faster than back on Earth. The previous owner of this body had done quite a bit of training already. Nothing really that advanced.

  He knew how to tree walk and how to the leaf concentration exercise. As well as some basic Taijutsu and how to throw a shuriken and kunai.

  I shot forward and threw a pretty telegraphed punch at Itachi’s head. I wasn’t really capable of much else. The punch was easily dodged by Itachi. He simply stepped to the side of it.

  It didn’t look like he was going to attack so I used the momentum to spin around and throw a kick to his side. He blocked it with ease.

  He used his block to grab onto my leg and use the hold to toss me t the floor. I hit the ground hard but I simply rolled out of it and back to my feet.

  I rushed forward again. I wasn’t going to win, I knew that. Itachi was strong after all even at five years old.

  I shot forward as I used this bodies memories and muscles memory to push chakra to my palm. I had to use everything in my arsenal which wasn’t much.

  I shoved my hand forward. Itachi furrowed his brows as I grabbed onto his wrist. He went to use his superior strength to break free. He soon realized I had use the tree walking exercise to stick my hand to his arm.

  I didn’t get the chance to use the advantage as he suddenly ducked down and used my momentum to throw me over his shoulder.

  I lost the grip as I hit the ground. I didn’t have the opportunity to roll out of this one.

  “Stop” Itachi said simply.

  I was about to push myself to my feet as fast as I could but I stopped and got up slowly at his word “what’s up?” I asked.

  “I’ve seen what I wanted to see. I’m going to come over everyday and train with you Kami” Itachi said simply. He didn’t really tend to speak with much emotion.

  I shrugged and nodded “sure that’s fine with me” I said as I crossed my arms.

  Itachi nodded in satisfaction “I need to go then. I have to meet up with a friend. I’ll see you later Kami” Itachi said as he gave me a nod.

  “Yeah see you tomorrow” I said as I nodded back. Itachi let himself out.

  I was a bit confused with that interaction. It was definitely a bit weird in my eyes. I had no idea what he was looking for.

  I rubbed my face and immediately dropped down to a sitting position. I had thought about it in the first week I had been here and I’m worried about getting caught out and then it hit me.

  Kurama!

  The fox is literally inside me so getting his cooperation would be perfect. I can gain more power without anyone ever knowing. The best way would be to practice controlling his chakra so tailed best transformations are easier in the future.

  Also circling his chakra with mine will help increase my reserves that is partly what Minato’s seal does after all.

  I am going to start mediating not only to increase my spiritual energy and thus my chakra. I’ll get the physical energy from sparring and growing up.

  I’m also going to see if I can sense Kurama’s chakra and maybe get access to the seal/mindscape. Wherever Naruto was when he talked to Kurama.

  I also made sure to circle my chakra in the direction my hair grew, another decent way of increasing reserves. I know I don’t really need more considering I already have loads, more than a Jonin after all

  But when fighting threats like Madara and Kaguya I’ll need everything i can get.

  Kurama is definitely gonna be my best bet. There isn’t really anything that deadly early on besides the massacre but I hope to stop that.

  I have a good feeling that this “sparring” with Itachi will go on a long way with having a friendship. If I can get in good with Itachi and Shisui, my growth could explode in progress.

  Having two incredible Shinobi to learn from would be fantastic for my growth.

  I hardly expected to get any results from the first session but to my surprise I did. I had my eyes shut as I focused inward on the flow of my chakra.

  The flow of chakra at the seal definitely felt slightly different. My chakra felt… tainted for lack of a better word.

  It didn’t feel pure. The foreign chakra(Kurama’s) mixed with my own soon after leaving the seal. Or more like it was absorbed by my own.

  The chakra siphoned out of the seal was tiny in comparison to my reserves. It would likely be too dangerous to handle more what with the Kyuubi’s hostility.

  I focused on the chakra getting a feel for it and the process in which in was absorbed. I started to control my chakra to absorb it faster. I realised that the flow of Kurama’s chakra didn’t slow down even as I actively absorbed it.

  I soon stopped and the seal matched the rate at which the chakra was being absorbed. It was still having a minuscule effect on my reserves, I couldn’t even notice it but it was good to know.

  I soon opened my eyes and then got up and went over to Naruto’s cot. For how much energy the kid could end up having I can’t believe he sleeps this much.

  I smirked down at the sleeping baby. I couldn’t really describe the feeling running through me. I hadn’t felt it for a long time after all.

  A small smile settled across my face as I looked down at Naruto, the child of prophecy and… my brother.