Naruto Uzumaki woke up in an unknown and strange room. Looking up from the hay bed at the light coming throw one window. He quickly realized that he didn't recognize at all. He looked up and quickly was able to figure out that he wasn't in his room. The six teen year old, was in a room he didn't know at all. He let out a deep sigh as he saw the simple room he was in. The wooden floors walls. He slowly got to his feet, as he felt a bit off.
Stumbling to the door, he glanced down at himself. Gone was his usual orange jumpsuit. Instead, he wore loose-fitting brown pants and an old, sleeveless gray shirt. He stood barefoot, but that wasn't the weirdest part. No, what really threw him off were the missing whisker marks on his face—completely gone, as if they'd never been there.
Heart racing, he yanked up his shirt. His stomach, where the seal mark should have been, was bare. He couldn't feel Kurama—the Nine-Tails—at all. It was as if the fox had been taken away, leaving him feeling strangely hollow inside.
"What the heck…?" Naruto muttered, trying to piece together what was happening. He couldn't remember the last thing he'd done before waking up here. Naruto couldn't at all place what happened before this moment.
However, he knew that he had to figure this out. He couldn't start to panic, he had to figure things out. He walked to the simple wooden door and pushed it open. As the light of the day hit him. He saw the landscape with terraced rice fields. They stretched in every single direction; he could see people working everywhere. Looking up, he saw a small village about a half mile away.
Naruto stared for a moment, feeling disoriented. If he wanted answers, he had to start by heading to that village. He also noticed a large river running alongside the town, feeding the rice fields in the hills.
Walking along a dirt trail that seemed to head towards the village. Looking around, Naruto was certain he had never been to this place ever before. His only hoped was that the people here could tell him where he was.
"Well, guess I better get going," he mumbled to himself, fists clenched in determination. He wasn't going to sit around and wait for answers. He was Naruto Uzumaki, after all. He'd figure this out, one way or another.
Naruto made his way toward the village, his eyes scanning the people hard at work in the rice fields. Men and women bent over, harvesting the crops, their clothes simple and worn. The closer he got, the clearer it became—this was nothing like Konoha.
As he approached, he noticed the village's layout. The houses were built along a dirt path, old-fashioned and sturdy, but nothing fancy. He caught sight of a blacksmith's shop, the fire glowing from within, and a stable with a few horses. It all looked so... plain. Naruto couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. Where was he?
He wandered through the village, unsure of where to start. The buildings were all so similar, but one stood out—larger than the rest, with people coming and going. Everyone was wearing simple kimonos, no flashy outfits, just practical clothing for everyday life. It was clear that luxury didn't exist here.
Naruto stepped inside the larger building, feeling eyes on him the moment he entered. Inside, he saw a group of older men gathered, deep in conversation. Their voices were low, but with a little focus, Naruto quickly picked up on what they were discussing.
They were talking about him. And someone else.
Naruto's heart skipped a beat. *What's going on here?* He took a step closer, straining to hear more. Something was definitely off, and these people knew more than they were letting on.
"So, it seems our guest has finally awoken," the man at the head of the group said, his eyes settling on Naruto.
Naruto tensed, instinctively ready for anything, but the elder's tone was calm. "This is good. We were worried about you, kid," the man continued, his voice steady and composed. "We found you yesterday, floating by the river. Honestly, we feared the worst."
Naruto's brow furrowed. *Found me?* He had no memory of that.
The elder kept talking, his gaze never leaving Naruto. "You weren't alone, though. We found a young woman nearby. She looked similar to you, with weapons like the ones we discovered with you."
Naruto's heart raced. Another person? And they had weapons like his? His mind immediately flashed to his friends. Was it someone from Konoha? Sakura? Hinata? Or someone else?
"Who is she?" Naruto asked, his voice more serious now. "Where is she?"
The elder nodded slightly, seemingly expecting Naruto's urgency. "She's resting. Not far from here, in the village. But I'd suggest taking it slow for now. The girl seems to be doing okay, she was banged up, but nothing serious."
Naruto let out a sigh as he was glad to know that at least this person was okay. That this friend most likely was not hurt horribly. That if she was in a similar state as him, then she should at least be okay.
"What did the person look like?" Naruto was curious as he might figure it out who based on their looks.
"Oh well, she had long black hair and strange pupilless eyes. We think she might be one of the clan ninja from the south of us but we are not sure. But other than that, we have nothing," the elder reasoned. "Do you know her?"
Naruto's eyes widened as the elder described the woman. *Long black hair... pupilless eyes?* There was no mistaking it.
"Hinata," Naruto muttered under his breath, his mind racing. That had to be her. She was the only person he knew with those distinct features—the pale, pupilless eyes of the Hyuga Clan.
The elder raised an eyebrow at Naruto's reaction. "Do you know her?" he asked calmly.
Naruto nodded quickly. "Yeah, I think I do. Her name's Hinata. She's a ninja, like me." He couldn't hide the relief and concern that washed over him. *But how did we both end up here?*
Naruto took a deep breath, focusing on the elder again. "Can you take me to her? I need to see if she's okay."
"Who are you exactly?" The elder asked curiously.
Naruto squared his shoulders, determination flooding his veins. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja from Konohagakure. I'm gonna be Hokage one day!" His voice rang out, filled with the fiery spirit that defined him.
He watched the elder's expression shift, curiosity piqued as the weight of his declaration hung in the air.
"Konohagakure, I've never heard of that place or a position called the Hokage," the elder said with a tilt of his head. "Funny you say Uzumaki, but you don't have red hair and you are nowhere near the land of whirlpools."
Naruto felt a wave of confusion wash over him at the elder's words. "What do you mean you've never heard of Konohagakure? It's one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries! And the Hokage is the leader of our village!"
"Ninja villages there's no such thing as ninja villages," the elder countered," there are ninja clans you fight each other mostly as mercenaries for various Lords, but no ninja villages. There are countless ninja clans like the Senju or Uchiha down in the land of fire to the south of here. You are in the land of Rice," he informed Naruto. "Now the world is at a state of constant war and those lords use people like the young ninja prodigies to fight them. We are lucky we are out of the way from any conflicts and can enjoy being left alone."
Naruto's brow furrowed in disbelief. "What do you mean there's no such thing as ninja villages? That's crazy! We have villages to protect us, to train us. It's not just mercenaries fighting for lords!"
He shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around this new world. "Konoha is in the Land of Fire. It's home to a lot of powerful clans and ninja like the Senju and Uchiha. We work together to keep peace and protect our people."
Naruto crossed his arms, frustration and confusion battling within him. "I don't know how I ended up here, but I need to find Hinata and get back to Konoha. This place… it's not right."
He looked the elder straight in the eye, determination burning in his gaze. "I'll figure this out, and I'll get back to where I belong!"
"The land of fire is a place divided between many clans there is no Konoha but there are farming villages. Normally the lords use the Uchiha or Senju in their wars it is a bloody mess," he explained
Naruto clenched his jaw, trying to process the elder's words. "But that can't be right! Konoha was built to unite the clans and end the fighting! We've made progress—real progress!"
He could feel his heart pounding. "You're saying there's no village like mine? No home for everyone to come together?"
The elder nodded solemnly. "Each of the lands like the land of fire, wind, and so forth are divided among many clans. Each of them has their own goals and agendas. There are many powerful clans in each of the regions, such as the Land of Fire with the Senju, Uchiha and the many others who work as mercenaries, but also control their own fiefdoms as well. It's a bloody mess of constant warfare."
Naruto took a deep breath, refusing to accept this reality. "I can't just stand here while everything falls apart. If there's no Konoha, then I'll have to change that! I'll find a way to bring people together again, no matter what!"
His resolve hardened, and he felt a sense of purpose rising within him. Even if he was in a strange land, he was still Naruto Uzumaki, and he wouldn't give up on his dream.
"Sure you should, the land of fire is where you want to go and not the land of whirlpools," he asked curiously. "Your clan lives there after all."
Naruto shot the elder an annoyed look. "I'm not worried about the Land of Whirlpools right now! My home is in Konoha, and that's where I need to be."
He shook his head, frustration bubbling over. "I can't just abandon my dream of becoming Hokage because I'm in a different place! I'll figure out how to get back. And if there's a way to help unite the clans or protect the people here, then I'll do that too!"
"I can't give up fighting for my friend," Naruto declared with no shortage of determination. "I will fight for a better future, this one seems horrible, and maybe that is why I was brought here."
As Naruto's words hung in the air, the door creaked open, and in walked a familiar figure. Hinata stood there, her long black hair cascading down her back, and her signature pupilless eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and relief. She wore a simple yet elegant kimono, but it was the familiar aura of strength and kindness that drew Naruto's attention.
"H-Hinata?" he stammered, unable to hide the relief flooding through him.
Her gaze flicked to the elder, then back to Naruto, worry etched on her face. "Naruto! I'm so glad you're okay!"
Naruto took a step toward her, the confusion and tension momentarily fading. "I thought I was the only one! What happened to us? Do you remember anything?"
Hinata shook her head slowly, her expression mirroring his concern. "I don't remember much… Just waking up by the river. I was worried about you."
Naruto felt a rush of warmth at her words, but the urgency of their situation pushed him to keep focused. "We need to find a way back home. There's something seriously wrong here, and I can't leave you behind!"
Hinata nodded, her resolve strengthening. "We'll figure it out together, Naruto."
The elder watched the exchange, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "You both seem quite determined. But if you truly wish to return to your home, you will need to understand the challenges that lie ahead in this world."
Naruto turned back to the elder, a fierce determination igniting within him. "Then tell us what we need to know! We'll face whatever it takes!"
The elder rose from his seat and motioned toward a nearby table. "If you truly wish to understand where you are, then take a look at this."
He carefully unrolled a large, worn map of the region. As Naruto and Hinata peered down at it, they immediately noticed something unsettling. The land, which should have been familiar, was completely divided. Where Naruto knew Konoha should be—a powerful and thriving village—there was nothing more than a small symbol, marking a minor clan and a shrine.
"This... this can't be right," Naruto said, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand hovered over the map, where Konoha should have been. "There's no Hidden Leaf Village?"
The elder shook his head slowly. "No, young man. In this world, there has never been such a village. The land has always been divided between clans and the lords they serve. The place you speak of doesn't exist here."
Hinata, standing beside Naruto, placed a hand on his arm, sensing his shock. "Naruto… what does this mean? If Konoha was never built, then…"
"It means," Naruto said, swallowing hard, "that this world is stuck in the past. There's no unity, no peace between clans like in our world. They're still fighting each other, and Konoha—what we know—is just… gone." He clenched his fists, the weight of the revelation crashing down on him.
The elder looked pointed to the various key cities, and clans which were very numbers on the map. There were countless factions and territories as well. "The Uchiha and Senju clans still exist, as I mentioned earlier, but they are constantly at war. Clans like the Hyuga, the Yamanaka, and others fight for survival and the favor of local lords. But Konoha? There is no hidden village that brings them together."
Naruto's heart pounded in his chest. "No Konoha? No peace?" He glanced at Hinata, whose eyes were filled with concern but also determination. Both Hinata and Naruto were amazed at leaning this world was in such a horrible situation. It was all unacceptable to the both of them, who hated the idea of this world and how horrible it was most likely for everyone.
Naruto clenched his fist and slammed it on the table. "Then we'll build it. If Konoha doesn't exist here, we'll make it ourselves. We'll unite the clans just like the First Hokage did!"
Hinata smiled softly, her faith in Naruto unwavering. "We can do it. Together."
The elder, surprised by their resolve, studied them carefully. "You two speak of uniting clans like it's so simple. But this world is ruled by warlords and mercenaries. To create something like your Konoha will take more than just words."
Naruto's gaze hardened. "I know that. But I've never backed down from a challenge before, and I'm not about to start now."
The elder let out a deep sigh, intrigued by Naruto's determination. "Then you may want to start by visiting the shrine where your so-called Konoha should have been. The clan there is small, but they are peaceful. Maybe they'll offer you more insight into this world."
Naruto exchanged a glance with Hinata. "Then that's where we're headed. We'll start with that shrine, and we'll figure out how to make this world better."
