NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter2 : Akira
Anirudh's first moments in this new life were filled with strange sensations—the softness of warm hands, the muted murmur of voices, and a blinding light that pierced his newly opened eyes. As his vision adjusted, he caught glimpses of two figures gazing down at him with overwhelming love and relief.
His mother, Umeko, was a striking woman. Her pink hair, soft and flowing, framed her delicate features, and her warm brown eyes sparkled with tears of joy. Her voice, tender yet firm, had an air of reassurance. A merchant's daughter who had grown accustomed to a life of negotiations and journeys, she carried herself with elegance but never shied away from hard work. To Anirudh, now Akira, she exuded a protective aura—someone who would give her all for her family.
Beside her stood his father, Toshiro. Tall and broad-shouldered, Toshiro's commanding presence spoke of a man who had built his wealth through sharp business acumen and unyielding determination. His dark hair was streaked with silver at the temples, a sign of his age and experience. Though his demeanor could be stern, his soft smile and the way he cradled Akira in his strong arms revealed his gentle side. Toshiro was a man who valued family above all else, seeing his wealth as a tool to provide security and comfort for his loved ones.
The room itself reflected their status. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries, and the scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. Despite the grandeur, the atmosphere was intimate—a moment frozen in time for the new family.
Umeko looked at the tiny infant in her arms, her voice trembling with emotion. "Akira," she said softly, her fingers brushing his shock of pink hair. "Our bright future. He has my hair, Toshiro," she added with a smile, her voice filled with pride and love.
Toshiro chuckled, leaning in to observe his newborn son more closely. "And my determination, I hope," he replied, his voice warm and steady. He placed a gentle hand on Akira's tiny head. "This boy will have everything he needs to create his own path."
Akira, though a newborn in body, felt the weight of the moment deeply. The love radiating from his parents was undeniable, and it stirred something in him—a strange mix of gratitude and unease. His mind, still tethered to his past life, wrestled with the reality before him. He had been reborn, not as a doctor, but as the son of a wealthy merchant couple in a world that was both familiar and dangerously unpredictable.
As the pink-haired infant nestled into his mother's arms, he thought to himself, Akira… a new name for a new life. He didn't know what this world had in store for him, but one thing was certain: this was only the beginning of a journey that would intertwine his old soul with his new identity.
Two years had passed since Anirudh's rebirth into the Naruto world as Akira, the son of a wealthy merchant family. His memories of his previous life as a medical graduate grew sharper, filling him with a deep sense of loss and uncertainty. He remembered the intricacies of surgery and medicine but recalled only fragments of the Naruto world. In his old life, he had been so focused on becoming a doctor that he'd ignored leisure and entertainment, leaving him with only a vague awareness of where he now lived.
It became clear to him that he was born decades before the main events of Naruto, during a time of growing unrest. From the hushed conversations between his parents and their customers, he deduced that the Second Great Ninja War was on the horizon. The thought sent chills down his spine. This wasn't a world he could survive in without preparation, and he had no overpowered abilities, cheat systems, or special lineage to rely on. His parents, Toshiro and Umeko, were skilled merchants and farmers but had no ties to the ninja world.
Their wealth came from hard work: trading, cultivating cotton, apples, and vineyards, and selling medicines made from herbs. Recently, his mother, Umeko, had begun expanding into clothing manufacturing, overseeing a team of seamstresses and tailors in a new workshop. Though Akira's young body limited his movements, he often watched her work with fascination, her pink hair tied back as she gave instructions with authority and grace.
He saw one major advantage in his situation: his family's wealth. They had resources that could give him access to knowledge, tools, and possibly training. If he wanted to survive this world, he needed to become strong—strong enough to protect himself and his family. The ninja academies would likely accept civilians if they had potential, but that was still years away.
Sitting under the shade of a sprawling apple tree on their estate, Akira clenched his tiny fists. "I have time," he thought, determination flickering in his young heart. "I may not have special powers, but I know how to work hard. I did it once; I can do it again."
For now, he resolved to absorb everything he could—learning from his parents, studying the world around him, and waiting for the day he could take his first step toward becoming a ninja.