The horn blared.
Once. Twice. Again.
Zack Walker snapped back to reality.
He blinked, turning his head toward the window. Cars moved normally. No crash. No chaos.
Nothing.
"…Right," he muttered under his breath.
His thoughts drifted again.
Fifteen years.
That's how long he'd been here.
A second life.
No golden cheat. No instant power. Just a quiet, almost useless [System] that had shown up when he was a kid, dropped a single method—[Chakra Extraction Technique]—and then disappeared like it never existed.
Dead silent ever since.
Still… Zack wasn't stupid.
Anything tied to chakra?
That wasn't random.
That was [Naruto-related]. It had to be.
And then there were his parents.
"Plumbers."
Yeah. Sure.
Zack had heard the word enough times to know it was a cover. They traveled too much. Came back injured sometimes. Always brushed things off.
He never pushed.
Didn't need to.
He knew they weren't normal.
Two months.
That's what they told him last time.
"Wait until the holidays. We'll take you home."
Home.
Zack leaned back, eyes dimming slightly.
In his last life, he'd lived twenty-six years with nothing. No family. No one waiting. No one who cared whether he came back or not.
So this life?
He held onto it.
Even if it felt fragile.
Even if it felt… temporary.
He leaned forward slightly.
"What happened to my parents?" Zack asked. "Why aren't they picking me up?"
The driver didn't answer immediately.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"…I'm sorry."
Zack's eyes shifted.
"I'm a colleague of your parents. Name's Jack." A pause. Then, quieter, "In your terms… you have my condolences."
Silence.
Zack just stared ahead.
Didn't react.
Didn't move.
It didn't register.
Not yet.
His parents… were always busy. Always gone. But they never failed him. Never once made him feel unwanted.
And now—
They were just… gone?
Like that?
"I know it's hard to accept," Jack continued. "But it's the truth."
Another pause.
Then—
"I'm taking you to see them. One last time."
Ding.
The sound echoed clearly in Zack's mind.
Sharp. Mechanical.
Familiar.
[System initializing…] [Energy source detected: Emotional Surge] [Condition met: Awakening Protocol]
Zack ignored it.
Completely.
"…How did they die?" he asked.
His voice was steady.
Too steady.
"I'll explain when we arrive," Jack said. "You've probably figured it out already. The Plumbers… aren't normal people."
Zack didn't respond.
Because yeah.
He had.
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
…
The car hadn't fully stopped before Zack opened the door.
He stepped out—
Then walked faster—
Then ran.
Straight to the house.
His house.
His chest felt tight. His thoughts refused to line up. Something in him kept rejecting the situation outright.
Not this.
Anything but this.
Behind him, Jack watched quietly.
"…Still a kid," he murmured.
Inside—
Everything felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Zack stepped in—and froze.
A table.
Two small boxes.
And an old man standing beside them.
Zack didn't look at him.
Didn't speak.
He walked forward slowly.
One step at a time.
Then stopped.
His hands trembled slightly as he reached out—
And picked up the boxes.
At that exact moment—
Something shifted.
Deep within his eyes.
[Bloodline detected: Uchiha] [Condition fulfilled: Extreme Emotional Trauma] [Do you wish to activate: Sharingan?]
No response.
No awareness.
So the [System] chose for him.
[Activating…]
The world didn't change.
But his eyes did.
White faded into red.
Pupils sharpened—
Split—
Evolved.
Three tomoe formed, rotating slowly in each eye.
[Sharingan: Three-Tomoe — Activated]
Zack didn't notice.
Didn't care.
All he felt…
Was the weight in his hands.
The silence.
The absence.
The old man watched him, expression heavy.
The boy didn't cry.
Didn't speak.
Just stood there, holding what was left of his parents.
The old man hesitated… then finally spoke.
"…Zack."
A quiet sigh escaped Max Tennyson as he stood just outside the house.
The kid was too calm.
Too composed.
It wasn't natural—not for someone his age.
Not after something like this.
He glanced toward the yard, eyes distant for a moment.
Benny, Gwen…
He wondered how his granddaughters were doing at school right now.
Hopefully better than this.
Behind him, Jack stepped out onto the porch, folding his arms.
"How's he holding up?" Jack asked quietly. "Is he alright?"
A pause.
"Did you tell him anything? About what we really do?" Jack added. "The kid's sharp. Feels like he's already figured out something's off."
Max shook his head.
"No," he said simply. "Let's go. Give him some time."
Jack frowned slightly but didn't argue. He walked toward the car, opening the door.
"You're seriously not telling him yet?" he called out.
Max followed slowly, stopping just before getting in.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"…After everything his family's been through," Max said quietly, "he deserves the truth."
He got into the car.
Neither of them spoke after that.
Inside the house, Zack stood alone.
Still holding the boxes.
Still silent.
His mind, however, was anything but.
Funeral arrangements.
Logistics.
Reality.
It all came crashing in at once.
No relatives.
No extended family.
No one to call.
Just him.
"…So it's really just me now," he muttered.
His grip tightened slightly.
He didn't have the means for a proper funeral. No connections. No guidance.
Just a vague idea of what needed to be done.
Handle it himself.
Then call Max.
Invite a few of his parents' colleagues.
That would be enough.
It had to be.
Ding.
The sound returned.
Clearer this time.
Closer.
[System Notification]
[Primary Host Emotional Stability: Critical]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Emotional Suppression Lv.1]
[Effect: Stabilizes mental state under extreme distress]
Zack's expression didn't change.
But something inside him… quieted.
Not gone.
Just… pushed down.
Buried.
"…Not now," he murmured.
The funeral was small.
Quiet.
Empty.
A handful of people stood in silence, dressed in black. No speeches. No long eulogies.
Just the sound of wind… and the weight of absence.
Zack stood at the front.
Still.
Unmoving.
Watching as everything ended.
Beside him, Max Tennyson placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Kid… it's okay," Max said softly. "You're not alone. You've still got us."
Zack didn't respond immediately.
For a moment, he just stared ahead.
Then—
"Grandpa Max…" he said quietly.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"…Tell me the truth."
A pause.
"What exactly do you people do?"
His red eyes shifted slightly—
The [Sharingan] spinning slowly, almost imperceptibly.
"…and why can't my parents come back?"
"Grandpa Max… tell me the truth."
Zack Walker's voice was low. Controlled.
Too controlled.
"What exactly do you people do… and why can't my parents come back?"
He already knew part of it.
Or at least… he thought he did.
Fragments from a past life. Late nights. A hidden phone. Watching Ben 10 with classmates when he wasn't supposed to.
Aliens. Plumbers. Protecting Earth.
But this—
This wasn't a show.
This was real.
And clearly… incomplete.
Max Tennyson exhaled slowly, his expression heavy.
"…Alright," he said.
"You deserve to know."
He looked out toward the horizon for a moment before continuing.
"The Plumbers… we deal with things most people never even realize exist," Max said. "Aliens. Illegal arrivals on Earth. Sometimes… things that don't follow any natural laws."
He paused.
"We keep the planet stable. Quiet. Safe."
Zack listened without interrupting.
"We're part of a larger network," Max continued. "An old organization. Off the books. Your parents… they weren't just members."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"They were among the best."
A brief silence passed.
Then—
"That last mission…" Max said quietly. "It wasn't even assigned to them."
Zack's eyes flickered slightly.
"They volunteered," Max added. "Stepped in when they didn't have to."
Zack said nothing.
Didn't move.
"They were sent to stop an alien from obtaining something dangerous. A weapon. Something powerful enough to cause serious damage if it fell into the wrong hands."
Max's gaze hardened slightly.
"The alien… was stronger than expected."
A shadow passed through his eyes.
"Too strong."
For just a moment, the image of Vilgax seemed to linger in his mind.
"They held the line anyway," Max continued. "Bought time. Made sure the mission succeeded."
His voice dropped.
"…But they didn't make it back."
Silence.
The wind moved softly through the cemetery.
Zack stood there, unmoving.
Listening.
Processing.
Accepting.
[System Notification]
[Truth Confirmation Detected]
[Emotional Response: Suppressed]
[New Trait Generated: Cold Resolve Lv.1]
[Effect: Enhances decision-making under emotional distress]
No reaction.
Not outwardly.
"…I see," Zack said quietly.
Max looked at him, something uneasy settling in his chest.
This wasn't normal.
No anger.
No breakdown.
No denial.
Just… acceptance.
"Kid…" Max began, softer this time, "your parents—"
"They were heroes."
Zack finished it for him.
His tone didn't change.
Didn't waver.
"…They sacrificed themselves for this world."
Max went silent.
Because that was exactly what he was about to say.
Zack lowered his gaze slightly.
The faint red in his eyes pulsed once—
The [Sharingan] turning slowly.
Unnoticed.
Unquestioned.
"…Then I understand," Zack said.
But the way he said it—
It didn't sound like a child accepting loss.
It sounded like someone… reaching a conclusion.
And somewhere deep within—
The [System] responded.
[New Objective Generated]
[Path Unlocked: Power Acquisition]
[Primary Goal: Never Be Powerless Again]
"Kid… your parents were heroes."
Max Tennyson's voice was steady now, though the weight behind it hadn't faded.
"They gave their lives for this world."
And just like that—
The story was complete.
Zack stood there in silence.
Then—
"Grandpa Max," he said, lifting his gaze slightly, "can you tell me the name of that alien?"
He already knew.
Or at least… he was almost certain.
But he needed confirmation.
Max didn't answer immediately.
His eyes narrowed slightly, studying Zack's face.
Then, after a brief pause—
"…Vilgax."
The name landed heavily in the air.
Vilgax.
Zack's eyes dimmed slightly.
So it really is him.
His thoughts began moving faster.
A broken watch.
An alien warlord.
Timeline…
"…Two months," he murmured under his breath.
Fragments of memory surfaced—blurry, incomplete.
A kid. A watch. Transformations.
Fights.
Vilgax.
That was all he could clearly remember.
The rest felt… faded.
Like a dream slipping away.
[System Notice]
[Memory Fragmentation Detected]
[Cause: Soul Transition Instability]
[Recommendation: Strengthen Mental Attributes]
Zack ignored it.
For now.
He exhaled slowly, regaining focus.
"…Thank you, Grandpa Max."
Max blinked slightly at that.
The kid was adapting too fast.
Too well.
Something about it didn't sit right—but he didn't push.
Instead, he suddenly glanced around, scanning the area instinctively.
Then he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"Oh—one more thing."
Zack looked at him.
"You absolutely do not tell anyone about this," Max said quietly. "Not your friends. Not your teachers. No one."
His tone carried weight.
Not a suggestion.
A rule.
Then, just as quickly, Max straightened up again—his expression returning to normal, like nothing had happened.
The shift was subtle.
But noticeable.
And strangely…
It broke the heaviness in the air.
Zack's chest didn't feel as tight anymore.
Not because the pain was gone—
But because something else had taken its place.
Focus.
Direction.
Purpose.
Beside him, Max let out a quiet breath of relief.
The boy wasn't breaking down.
That was good.
Right?
Still…
Watching Zack stand there, calm and composed, eyes just a little too steady—
Max couldn't shake the feeling that something had already changed.
And whatever it was…
It wasn't something a normal kid should have.
"Alright, Grandpa Max. I won't tell anyone."
Zack's tone was firm.
He understood.
Not just the words—but the meaning behind them.
Secrets like this… weren't optional.
Max Tennyson studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Good."
…
Time passed quietly.
The funeral came to an end.
One by one, the attendees left—offering brief condolences, a few lingering glances, then disappearing back into their own lives.
Until eventually—
Only Zack and Max remained.
The silence felt different now.
Less suffocating.
More… empty.
Max cleared his throat slightly.
"Want me to give you a ride?" he asked, gesturing toward a worn-down, almost ancient-looking RV parked nearby.
It looked like it belonged in a scrapyard.
Old paint. Faded edges. Barely holding together.
Zack glanced at it.
Then shook his head.
"No need. I'll manage. Goodbye, Grandpa Max."
On the surface, it looked like rejection.
But Zack knew better.
That vehicle wasn't junk.
It was loaded with tech—far beyond anything normal.
Weapons. Systems. Probably alien-grade modifications.
A mobile base.
He just… didn't feel like talking anymore.
Max misunderstood, of course.
He scratched the back of his head with a faint chuckle.
"Heh… kids these days."
Didn't like old cars.
Fair enough.
"Alright then," he said. "I'll head out. Take care of yourself, kid."
He paused briefly—
Then added, softer—
"…And if you need anything, you know where to find me."
With that, he turned and walked off.
Zack watched him go for a moment.
Then turned away.
Back to himself.
…
The road was quiet.
Zack raised a hand and flagged down a passing car.
A normal one.
No hidden weapons.
No secrets.
He got in, gave the address, paid the fare.
No conversation.
No thoughts.
Just silence.
…
The door clicked open.
Zack stepped inside his house.
And paused.
Something felt… off.
Lighter.
Like a weight had been removed—
Or something inside him had shifted.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
[System Scan Initiated]
[Status Check…]
[Host Condition: Stable]
[Anomaly Detected: Emotional Load Reduced by 37%]
Zack frowned slightly.
"…What?"
But the feeling faded quickly.
Whatever it was—
It didn't seem dangerous.
At least not immediately.
"…Forget it."
He wasn't in the mood.
Not today.
He walked down the hallway.
Opened his door.
And collapsed onto the bed without even changing.
The ceiling blurred slightly as exhaustion hit all at once.
Body.
Mind.
Everything.
Before long—
Darkness took him.
…
And deep within—
The [System] continued working.
Silently.
[Passive Integration in Progress…]
[Bloodline Stabilization: 12%… 18%… 24%…]
[Next Phase Pending: Awakening Event]
Zack slept.
Unaware.
While something inside him… slowly began to change.