Naruto: Copy System

"Shin, I'm worried."

Kushina's voice was filled with anxiety. She was smart. If they had encountered enemies so far from the clan grounds, she could only imagine the horrors that must have befallen Uzushiogakure.

"Worrying won't change anything."

Shin shook his head. Despite not being well-liked, he had received his due within the clan. He didn't want to see the Uzumaki Clan destroyed.

But he was powerless to stop it. He had known about the impending disaster, but who would have believed him?

Besides, he didn't know when it would happen. Even if people believed him, they wouldn't have been able to prepare.

The enemies had targeted the Uzumaki Clan. Their attack was swift and brutal. In the original story, Uzushiogakure fell before Konoha could even send reinforcements.

As for him saving the clan? Don't make him laugh. He wasn't going to get cocky just because he'd taken out a Jōnin. Going there would be suicide.

They sat by the river, Kushina leaning against Shin. Shin was a transmigrant; his body was that of a five-year-old, but his mind was not.

Kushina, however, was just a five-year-old girl. Even though children in the ninja world matured quickly, the events of the night had shaken her to her core.

Only in Shin's arms did she feel a sense of security.

"Shin, promise me you'll never leave me."

Kushina looked up at him, her eyes pleading.

She was terrified. When Shin had faced those ninjas, she had been so afraid he would be killed.

She was relieved he was okay. If he hadn't been, she didn't know if she would have had the courage to go on. The thought of being alone was unbearable.

"I promise, Kushina. I'll never leave you."

Shin met her gaze, his voice firm and reassuring.

Kushina hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. Exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she drifted off to sleep.

Shin smiled as he watched her sleep. He pulled out his pouch and examined its contents.

He had already checked the Jōnin's pouch. Besides ninja tools and two Jutsu scrolls, there were some Soldier Pills and rations.

He opened the pouches of the two Chunin.

Kunai, Shuriken, even Senbon. More Soldier Pills, rations, and a few Explosive Tags.

Explosive Tags were valuable, but expensive. Their blast radius was small, but their destructive power was significant.

He also found a Jutsu scroll containing the Chakra Refinement Technique and the basic Academy Three.

The Academy Three consisted of the Substitution Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Clone Jutsu. They were the most basic E-rank Jutsu.

But basic didn't mean useless. The Transformation and Clone Jutsu were easy to see through.

Clones created with the Clone Jutsu couldn't attack; they were no match for Shadow Clones.

The Substitution Jutsu, however, had its uses. It allowed for a quick swap with another object, useful for dodging attacks.

The Chunin had used it to escape Shin's attack.

Of course, as the most basic Jutsu, it wasn't invincible. Its effectiveness depended on the user.

The Substitution Jutsu allowed the user to swap with another object, but it wasn't Space-Time Ninjutsu. It relied on speed.

So, it was less effective against stronger opponents who could easily see through it. It was just an E-rank Jutsu; it couldn't compare to something like Sasuke Uchiha's Amenotejikara.

Shin studied the Academy Three. He was a genius; it didn't take him long to master these simple Jutsu.

Hours passed. Dawn arrived, the sun peeking over the horizon. The warm sunlight seemed to dispel the darkness and gloom.

Kushina woke up, rubbing her eyes. She looked around frantically, calming down only when she saw Shin.

"Morning. Have something to eat."

Shin handed her some dried meat. It was part of the food they had hastily packed before fleeing their home.

"I'm not hungry," Kushina said, shaking her head.

It wasn't that she wasn't hungry; she simply didn't have the appetite.

"You have to eat. We need our strength in case we run into danger."

Persuaded by Shin, Kushina ate a few pieces of meat.

"I sent out Shadow Clones to scout. The invaders have left," Shin informed her.

He had sent out ten Shadow Clones to gather information. The invaders had left around four in the morning.

And Shin knew they were safe now.

Because the System had awarded him the Common Replication Card for completing the Survival mission.

"They left? What about the clan grounds?" Kushina's face lit up, but then her expression turned to worry.

Shin shook his head, remembering the images his Shadow Clones had sent back. It was a bloodbath.

He didn't know if there were any survivors. His clones hadn't found any.

Kushina's heart sank. She knew it wasn't good.

But as long as Shin was okay, she didn't care about the rest.

After resting for a while, Shin and Kushina left the forest and headed towards the clan grounds. They could smell the stench of blood from a distance.

"Kushina, don't be scared," Shin said, holding her trembling hand.

Kushina nodded bravely and continued walking.

But when they finally reached the clan grounds and saw the carnage, Kushina threw up.

Even though Shin had seen the images through his Shadow Clones, the sight still made his stomach churn.

Over two hundred Uzumaki, practically all dead. The blood... it was truly a river of blood.

And it wasn't just the blood of the Uzumaki. There must have been casualties among the invaders as well, though their bodies were nowhere to be seen. They must have taken their dead with them.

"Kushina, are you okay?"

Kushina shook her head, the meager breakfast she'd eaten now gone. The scene was too horrific.

"Shin, our clan...?"

"The Uzumaki Clan is gone," Shin said with a sigh. His desire for strength intensified.

In this world, without power, this was the consequence. If the Uzumaki Clan had someone like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, would they have met such a fate?

Crack!

A faint sound, but Shin's sharp ears picked it up. He looked towards the source. "Who's there?"

"Don't... don't kill me!" A young girl's terrified voice. Then a scream, followed by silence.

"Red hair... A survivor?" Shin pulled Kushina towards the sound.

A girl their age lay unconscious in a pool of blood in front of a burned-out house.

There was a cellar nearby. She must have hidden there to survive.

She must have made a noise while climbing out, alerting Shin. Then, the sight of the destruction must have been too much for her.

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