NARUTO : REBORN WITH HETERO CROMATIC EYES

One year flew by, and during that time, Ryuga devoted himself to training in chakra control and physical conditioning. Just a month ago, he began attending the Ninja Academy in Konoha, or the Leaf Village, where he had quickly begun observing the familiar faces around him.

Ryuga chose not to interact with either Naruto Uzumaki or Sasuke Uchiha right away. His goal was to monitor for any deviations from the original timeline, searching for evidence of any significant changes and for signs of any reincarnated or transmigrated individuals like himself. Being cautious, he didn't want to draw attention until he could be sure he wasn't dealing with others who might have special powers or unpredictable systems—variables that could affect his plans.

He interacted most with Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara, who were among the more easygoing kids in his class. Choji and Shikamaru were friendly, approachable, and seemed unbothered by his reserved demeanor. However, there was a strategic reason for befriending Shikamaru: he wanted to learn from the prodigy's formidable intellect, rumored to be around a 200-plus IQ. Besides, playing strategy games with Shikamaru could sharpen his own mind, and Wiz could also benefit from these mental exercises.

Initially, Shikamaru had only spoken to Ryuga in a polite, detached manner, rarely engaging beyond basic greetings or chit-chat. Whenever Ryuga suggested they play a board game, Shikamaru would sigh and avoid the topic, clearly uninterested. Not to be deterred, Ryuga finally tried a different approach. He approached Shikamaru one day with a melancholic expression and said, "So… you don't want to play board games with me because I'm an orphan, right? Just like everyone else who avoids me…"

The guilt-tripping tactic worked. The reluctant Shikamaru, feeling uncomfortable with the thought of excluding someone, especially an orphan, agreed to play board games from time to time. As a result, they gradually developed a unique friendship, playing games that tested Shikamaru's genius against Ryuga's strategic abilities.

Throughout his first month at the academy, Ryuga noticed that some things had indeed diverged from the original timeline. For instance, Kushina Uzumaki was still alive. The events surrounding the Nine-Tails attack had unfolded differently: Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had sealed the entirety of the Nine-Tails' chakra within Kushina, losing his own life in the process. This meant that Naruto had been spared from being shunned and feared as a jinchuriki, the vessel of the Nine-Tails. Instead, he lived as a normal child, known and respected as the son of the Leaf Village's hero, while Kushina raised him as a single mother.

Ryuga couldn't help but find it intriguing, given how it changed Naruto's reputation and upbringing. He discreetly used his Byakugan's abilities to scan Naruto, confirming that Naruto still bore the seal of the Nine-Tails, though he displayed none of the telltale chakra surges or temperament of a typical jinchuriki. Still, Naruto seemed oblivious, acting like a typical child, often chasing after Sakura Haruno with a fervor, and showing little of the raw talent one would expect of the Fourth Hokage's son. His shuriken-throwing skills were clumsy, and his control over even basic ninja techniques was mediocre at best.

Despite being aware of Naruto's current limitations, Ryuga maintained his distance from him, content to observe from afar.

Then there was the matter of another academy student who piqued his interest—a boy named Isagi Youjiro. Isagi was a natural talent, particularly adept in taijutsu and shuriken techniques, far surpassing what was expected of a student. He had a subtle but impressive control over his chakra, using it to enhance his movements with minimal effort. Yet it wasn't Isagi's skills alone that caught Ryuga's attention—it was the fact that he had become the new center of attention. Even Sakura and Ino, who, according to his memories, should have been fawning over Sasuke, had their attention fixed on Isagi. This deviation from the original story triggered red flags for Ryuga, as if screaming, "Here's a possible reincarnator with knowledge of the future!"

Ryuga took note of Isagi's background as well, following him discreetly after class to confirm his suspicions. From what he could gather, Isagi was born to a standard ninja family: his mother was a chunin, and his father a jounin. Nothing about his background seemed abnormal, but his prodigious talent and popularity certainly were.

As he watched this potential rival, Ryuga couldn't help but smirk to himself. He didn't particularly mind someone with a more appealing personality or skill level. And while he himself didn't crave a harem, he found the idea intriguing, especially considering his preferences. None of the girls around his age fit his type, but two potential matches stood out in his mind: Lady Tsunade, the legendary healer, and the Mizukage of the Mist, Mei Terumi.

For now, he would keep his distance from Isagi, observing him carefully without interference. The time would come to investigate further if needed.

That day, he arrived at the academy and greeted his two companions as usual. "Morning, Shikamaru. Choji," he said with a slight nod.

Shikamaru yawned, his half-lidded eyes barely open. "Mornin', Ryuga… Such a drag, being up this early."

Choji grunted his greeting, his mouth too full of chips to say anything coherent.

The three entered the classroom and sat in their usual seats. Ryuga's desk was in the middle row at the back, giving him a clear vantage point of the classroom. Sasuke sat to his right in the far row, brooding as always. Naruto was still busy trying to impress Sakura, who brushed him off. Isagi sat by the window, looking calm and focused, already attracting whispers and glances from the other students.

Just then, Iruka-sensei entered the room, quieting the class with his arrival. "Alright, everyone, settle down," he began. "Today, we're covering the fundamentals of chakra control and its importance in developing ninjutsu. Pay attention; these techniques could save your life one day."

The morning passed quickly, with Iruka's lessons transitioning from theory to practice. By mid-morning, the students were outside practicing chakra control exercises. Ryuga focused intently on each task, fine-tuning his control and ensuring his Byakugan was active, albeit at a low level, to monitor his surroundings.

By afternoon, they moved on to basic shuriken throwing and kunai techniques. Ryuga observed as Isagi's skill in these areas impressed the other students. With a single, fluid motion, Isagi's kunai would hit the target dead-center every time, gaining envious looks from many of the boys and admiring glances from several girls.

When classes finally ended, Shikamaru and Choji asked Ryuga if he wanted to join them in a game. However, Ryuga politely declined, citing a personal errand. With that, he initiated what he considered his first self-assigned mission as a shinobi—tailing Sasuke Uchiha.

Since Ryuga had no instructor to guide him in ninjutsu or taijutsu, he decided to learn by watching Sasuke practice Uchiha clan techniques. He'd been following Sasuke secretly for days now, learning his training habits and routines, and today he planned to fully observe and record Sasuke's movements and jutsus. Thanks to his Byakugan's 360-degree vision, he could keep track of Sasuke without looking directly at him, lowering his chances of being detected.

Ryuga shadowed Sasuke back to the Uchiha compound. A few adults gave them curious glances but seemed unalarmed, likely assuming the two boys were engaged in some sort of game.

About an hour later, Sasuke re-emerged from his home and walked to a nearby lake within the compound, where he began practicing his fireball jutsu. Standing at a safe distance, Ryuga activated his Byakugan, studying Sasuke's chakra pathways and muscles movement as he performed the technique. And sharingan, for studying the hand signs of jutsu.

'Wiz,' Ryuga thought, calling on his AI-like skill. 'Copy Sasuke's fireball jutsu. Memorize the hand seals and observe his chakra manipulation closely. Also, run simulations to see if this jutsu can be adapted to other elements.'

The calm, mechanical voice of Wiz responded promptly in his mind, 'NOTICE: FIREBALL JUTSU SUCCESSFULLY COPIED. SIMULATING AND TESTING FOR ELEMENTAL VARIANTS…'

Wiz's analysis continued as Ryuga observed Sasuke's practice, noting each subtle movement and minor adjustment Sasuke made. This technique would be a foundational skill, and Ryuga intended to master it as efficiently as possible. As Sasuke practiced the fireball jutsu repeatedly, Ryuga made mental notes of every aspect of the technique: the exact timing of each hand seal, the optimal amount of chakra required, and even the way Sasuke breathed during each attempt.

Satisfied with his observations, Ryuga remained hidden, pondering his progress and the changes he'd uncovered in this world's timeline. Kushina's survival, Naruto's altered reputation, Isagi's rise as a skilled contender, and Sasuke's current training—each deviation represented both an opportunity and a potential threat.

Ryuga quietly left the Uchiha compound, his mind racing with thoughts about his plans and goals. With the foundation he'd gained from his observations, he was one step closer to creating his unique path in the world of shinobi.

As he walked home, a quiet determination settled over him. He would continue to train in secret, studying the world's hidden truths and learning all he could. The time would come to reveal his power, and when it did, he'd be ready.