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Part 1 of The Tale of Rei Uzumaki
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Published:
2025-08-12
Updated:
2025-08-13
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1,702
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2/?
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in memoriam

, ,

Summary:

He sees a handful of people milling about the Kyuubi Monument. Smells the sadness and anger coming off them in waves. The name engraved at the top peers down at him mockingly, too far to read.
“At least I know you’re actually dead,” he murmurs. He thinks of a twisting, orange mask and tries not to shudder. “Though that kind of sucks for everyone else, doesn’t it?”
Predictably, Naruto Namikaze does not reply.

(or: An OC-Insert as Naruto's twin brother in a world where Naruto does not survive.)

Chapter 1

Chapter by ,

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

He is draped in a curtain of briny red. 

He hears whirling tides and the sharp whistle of wind. He hears a fluttering breeze, sweet and pungent and spun with gold. He hears wood crackling, snapping, creaking as they’re devoured by colorless flames. 

He hears whirling tides, and he hears himself scream. 

Salt and iron mix on his tongue. All around, the forest burns. 

“—you alright?”

Rei’s chopsticks still. “What?”

“Are you—”

“I’m fine.” He catches the Hokage’s minute frown and glances down at his ramen. The noodles swell with cold broth, toppings lazily skimming its surface. “Just tired.”

“Did you not sleep well last night?” When Rei purses his lips, the Hokage hums. “It’s important to get proper rest, Rei-kun. That’s especially true now, seeing as you’ll be joining the Academy soon.”

Rei briefly closes his eyes. “I know.”

The Hokage’s throat clicks with unspoken words. “Are you excited?”

“...I’m nervous.”

“It’s normal to be. I imagine everyone else will be feeling much the same.” The Hokage places a hand on Rei’s shoulder, causing his gaze to snap upwards. He looks wistful. “Even I felt similarly when I first entered the Academy.”

“Wouldn’t you be too old for that?” Rei pokes at his overblown noodles. “You know, since you’re like, eight hundred.”

The Hokage winces, letting out a chuckle as he lifts his hand. “I’m afraid I’m not that old, Rei-kun. Though it sometimes does feel like it…”

Rei relaxes. “Y’said something about a surprise earlier…” 

“Ah, yes…” The Hokage reaches into his robe, then pulls out a toad-shaped coin purse. “A housewarming gift. It’s filled with your monthly allowance, along with a little extra to buy anything you’d like.”

Rei stares at the object for a long moment before taking it from the man’s wrinkled hand. “Thank you.” 

The Hokage smiles. “You’re welcome. Just make sure to spend it wisely.”

I’m five, Rei almost wants to say. Very impressively, he holds his tongue.

He smells ozone, bitter and touchy. He smells red-hot steel. He smells something sickly-sweet that cuts through the air. 

He sees strange masks, painted in reds and blacks, come into sharp focus. He smells scalded matcha and wheat. 

He hears the name “Rei Uzumaki”, and he feels himself die. 

“I’m home,” Rei calls out to no one. He decides not to do it again, lest the lingering ANBU grow even more depressed. 

He toes off his shoes near the front door, padding through the hall in his socks. He leaves the lights off, though pauses when he catches sight of something vaguely rectangular on his bedside table. It smells familiar.

After a moment of hesitation, he peers into the now-identifiable paper bag. Inside is what appears to be an entire package of tissue paper, all crammed in at the very top. Under that is a sleeping cap. 

...He thinks it’s meant to resemble a dog, though the squared overbite might nix that theory. Honestly, he’s going by scent alone. 

The cap rests atop an old, shuriken-patterned blanket and a stuffed toad that’s definitely seen better days. Both items he’d received as a toddler, and neither of which he’d had the opportunity to reclaim from the orphanage.

He exhales, lips curling into a wry smile. “Thank you.”

He sees a handful of people milling about the Kyuubi Monument. Smells the sadness and anger coming off them in waves. The name engraved at the top peers down at him mockingly, too far to read. 

“At least I know you’re actually dead,” he murmurs. He thinks of a twisting, orange mask and tries not to shudder. “Though that kind of sucks for everyone else, doesn’t it?” 

Predictably, Naruto Namikaze does not reply.

Notes:

this fic has been rewritten three times now. here's to hoping this is the last...!
previously the MC was a bit of an edgelord. i'm very much hoping that the characters, including Rei, are much more likable now.
anyway: apologies that this chapter is rather short - they'll be (much) longer in the future. if you liked it, i'd love it if you left a comment! <3

Chapter 2

Chapter by ,

Summary:

previously on Dragon Ball Z: The titular character of "Naruto" is confirmed dead. Now, follow Rei Uzumaki as he flounders through life in a world that's no longer predetermined.

Notes:

second chapter posted today, babeyyyyy

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Rei wishes he could be excited about this. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to dredge up anything other than an overwhelming sense of existential dread nowadays. 

In other news, he’s displeased to report that ice breakers aren’t any more entertaining in ninja school than they are anywhere else—especially when its participants are assaulting every one of his senses at once. If he hadn’t already had an even worse experience in the orphanage he’d “grown up” in, this would be a terrible way to find out he doesn’t like kids.

“Uzumaki-kun.”

Rei suddenly remembers that he exists. “Sensei.”

After a long moment of silence, Iruka frowns. “Please state your name for the class, as well as one thing you’d like to share about yourself.”

Incredibly, every single thing Rei’s ever known flees his mind. “I’m Rei Uzumaki,” he replies slowly, stalling. He comes up dreadfully short.

“...And?” Iruka presses. Rei does not want to say something as inane as, ‘My hair is red’. He fears he might have to. 

“DO YOU LIKE DOGS?” someone shouts. Iruka stares. 

“...I like dogs,” Rei offers, not bothering to turn his head. The random child cheers. 

This is how Rei dies. On the edge of the schoolyard, hungry and lunchless. 

“Hey! You’re Rei, right?”

Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. 

“Or, uh. Uzumaki-san or whatever.” The boy’s face is screwed up, like the concept of being polite is abhorrent to him. He smells like mud and fur. “Anyway. ‘s a good thing I helped you out in class, huh? I figured nobody would be dumb enough to say ‘No’. Obviously, I was right.”

Rei’s not entirely sure if he’s meant to be contributing to this conversation. He hopes not.

“You know, I’ll be getting a ninken real soon. His name’s Akamaru.” Rei winces. “He’s gotta live with his mom a little longer, but after that, I can start bringin’ him to class. Since I’m nice, I’ll even let you meet him.”

The other boy plops down next to Rei, back against the wall. He sets his lunchbox in his lap, though briefly ignores it in favor of… whatever this is. 

“It might not be for a while though,” he sighs. Rei raises his head towards the sky, wondering where it all went wrong. “It’s great being able to hang out at the kennel and all, but I can’t wait ‘til I can show him around and stuff.”

Rei hums. The other boy finally seems to remember that he’s actually there.

“Oh, hey. Where’s your lunch?” he asks, looking around as if Rei had hidden it. “Did your mom forget to pack something for you?”

A beat passes. “I don’t have a mom.”

The boy blanches. Rei looks away. “Oh. Well.” He huffs, scratching his cheek. “Then…” He glances down at his own lunchbox, making a face. Rei does not think he likes where this is going.

“It’s fine,” he says preemptively. His unwanted companion does not appear to be listening.

“You can have some of mine,” The boy says finally, setting his open lunchbox between them. When Rei just stares, the other boy frowns, pushing it a little closer to Rei. “What? Are you picky or something? It’s not bad.”

Rei’s stomach grumbles. He closes his eyes, pained, barely twitching as the other boy forcibly places chopsticks into his limp hand. He doesn’t remain still for long, fairly concerned that doing so might lead to being fed outright.

He sends the other boy a sidelong glance, firming his grip. “Don’t you need these?”

“Psh. It’s fine.” Kiba—ugh, he was doing so well—waves his hand flippantly. “My sister’s not here to yell at me for using my hands.”

Rei turns his gaze onto the food, trying not to make a face. “...Right.”

Kiba points out something wet and purple. “You should try that,” he suggests, not sounding particularly innocent.

Rei goes for the rice. 

Before Rei can make it more than halfway across the schoolyard, an arm hooks around his own. He sighs, watching as the grass drags beneath his heels.

“Kiba! You can’t just drag people around like that!”

The boy stops in his tracks, staring blankly at his sister. Rei practically dangles at his side, reflecting on his life choices. “Why not?”

Hana purses her lips, sending an apologetic look to Rei. “I’m sorry about him. He’s an idiot.”

Kiba bristles. “Hey! What’d I do?!”

“I just told you,” she snaps. “Let that poor kid go.”

“He’s fine.” He jerks his head towards Rei. “Right?” 

Rei sighs. Hana frowns.

“He’s just like that,” Kiba insists, unruffled. 

“Kiba, drop it.”

Kiba fumbles at the interruption. A large hand steadies Rei before he can fall face-first into the ground. 

“Use your legs, kid,” Tsume Inuzuka suggests, flashing a fanged grin. He jolts to his feet, much to her apparent amusement. “So.” Her eyes flick towards her son. “Who’s this?”

Kiba, too, appears to be standing straighter than before. “That’s Rei.” He slouches a little, seeming to remember himself. “I promised I’d let him meet Akamaru sometime.” 

Tsume’s gaze slides back to Rei. “Is that so? When’s that?”

“I dunno,” Kiba tries. “That’s why I’m tellin’ you.”

She huffs. “You know what I told you.”

“But—”

“You can wait a few weeks, brat.” She raises a brow. Despite being the reason for the argument, Rei feels rather left out. “Or are you tellin’ me you’re too immature for a ninken this year?”

“No!” Kiba blurts out, alarmed. “I’ll wait!” 

Tsume snorts. “That’s what I thought. Maybe we’ll talk about visits after that, yeah?”

Kiba glances between her and Rei, clicking his tongue. “I guess.” 

“Good.” Tsume reaches out to ruffle Rei's hair, leaving behind the scent of dogs and lawn clippings. “Sorry about that, kid. We’ll figure somethin’ out sooner or later.” 

Rei tries not to squirm. The moment she lifts her hand, he takes a subtle step backwards. Judging by the upwards quirk of her lip, she notices. 

“Can’t he still come over, though?” Kiba wheedles, causing Rei to freeze. “We don’t gotta go to the kennel.”

He slowly turns. Much to his chagrin, Tsume seems to be considering it. Before she can say a word in the positive, he stands straighter, pretending to hear something off in the distance. “Sorry, can’t. I think my mom’s calling for me. Bye.”

“Aw, what?” Kiba whines. Rei’s already made it to the end of the yard by the time he hears an indignant, “You don’t even have a mom!” followed swiftly by a wounded yelp.

Notes:

i'd love to claim to have a consistent posting schedule, but it's far more likely that i'll continue to update whenever a chapter is finished. this is simply the way of the world...

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