Catapedamania - Reborn in Naruto as Uzumaki

Chapter 1: The Vociferous Cries of an Infant

I died again. Great.

In one life, Harper Moore got hit by a truck walking between campus and the cheap convenience store with the good instant ramen.

In another, Uzumaki Kazemi's eyes snapped open, all of two and a half years old, with the realization that she had been reborn. At least this time her hair looked like someone was committing arson, that was cool.

Aged 39

Uzumaki Kushinada had always thought her daughter was a little off. She was just a little too quiet. A little too distant. Until one day, her eyes lit up, sharpening, and she truly began to bloom. And Kushinada had never been gladder. Her third child had worried her for years, and now she was finally beginning to become herself in a way. She stared around with open wonder and curiosity. She laughed, smiled, and played with her older siblings Ryujin and Kukurihime.

Aged 43

Uzumaki Kaito didn't have as much time as he would like to spend with his family. He had to work from dawn 'til dusk and barely had time to eat or sleep. But he always made time. He had the excuse of 'heir lessons' to spend time with his quiet little Hime, trying to build her confidence in her own public speaking. Someday she would have to take his place, but hopefully not for a few decades. He wanted her to be prepared, and at least twenty. He had only been a teenager when he had first begun to muddle his way through leading, and he didn't wish that on anyone, let alone one of his dearest children. His second eldest, his son Ryujin, was loud and brash but exuded confidence and smiled freely, with innocence only children had. He had appeared sadder, now, though he did not know quite why. And little Kazemi, his baby daughter, with her sparking purple eyes and adorable little pouts and love for learning. She seemed to pick up kanji on her own, and he had been giving her harder and harder texts to see just how far she could make it on her own, before asking someone for help.

His job was hard, but the people he loved made it worth every second of hardship. He worked to protect his family, and he would continue to do so until the day he died.

Aged 7

Kukurihime had a lot on her plate. Her father was the head of Uzushiogakure, and someday the responsibility of leading would fall onto her shoulders. And she didn't feel like she'd ever be truly ready. Ryujin, her younger brother, was very charismatic and was beloved by all. And now that Kazemi had gotten past her shy stage she'd begun to show signs of being super smart. And in comparison, Kuri was just...average in comparison. But she was the oldest, and that meant she would do her best to rule. Because that was her job.

Aged 6

Ryujin couldn't do calligraphy. He didn't know what it was. He couldn't concentrate like his awesome older sister Kuri. He wasn't very smart either. He knew this. But still...it hurt when he realised he wasn't good at fuinjutsu like everyone else. Kazemi wasn't even three and she was already learning her kanji. He hadn't passed his hiragana and katakana until he was 4, and her hands were so small but already more stable than his. Kuri had managed to make her first seal when she was 3. And it had worked. He'd barely managed a paint bomb.

Aged 2.5

Kazemi read another book on fuinjutsu, her parents assuming she didn't know most of her kanji yet. Unfortunately for them, she had learnt at least the basics in her previous life after spending a couple of months abroad in Japan to study AI and programming over the summer, allowing her to work her way through books on fuinjutsu she totally shouldn't know about. She got along with her siblings, both were ridiculously smart if kids in her last life were any indicator. She hadn't had any of her own, but her older brother Mark had a pair of 8 year old twins who were nowhere near as smart as Kuri or Ryu. They could do compound interest, squares and Kuri was even starting to learn factorization of all things.

Her mother was wonderful. At first, she'd looked at Kazemi sadly for some reason, whenever she thought she couldn't see her. But she'd always smile and hug Kazemi. At time went on, those secret sad smiles had grown proud and happy. She took her to try new teas, and to see the ocean with whirlpools spiralling across the surface, a soft humming emitting from the seal covered walls, ink like endless kaleidoscopes painting the wall in an array of black.

She didn't really see her father much in this life. He was always in his office, or in a meeting, and when he was at home it was to teach Kuri stuff in his study. But no matter how busy he was, every night, he'd come into her room to tuck her into bed and tell her that he loved her. Sometimes he'd even stay to tell her a story, with dark eyebags and a tired smile as he brushed her hair and sat by her. Whispers of dragons, and seals capable of creating other worlds, of the warring states era he had witnessed the last few years of, and of how much he loved her and their family as she drifted off into a restful sleep.

Kazemi was happy with her new life, even if she knew it wouldn't last.