Cursed Clan

Sigh!

"In this vast world... why did I have to be born into this cursed clan?"

Ryan thought as he sat beside a tree in the clan's training grounds, his body weary from hours of training.

It had been six years since he transmigrated to this world. Of all the clans he could have ended up in, it had to be the Uchiha—the very clan destined for massacre.

About a year and a half after his birth, the infamous Nine-Tails incident struck.

"I have what, three years left? Sasuke's already four... which means I need to prepare myself, either to get butchered or serve my head on a platter."

No matter how he looked at it, with his current strength, he'd be butchered like a helpless chicken.

At first, he had hoped for his talent and even entertained the thought of stopping Itachi Uchiha from his madness. But once his training began, reality hit; he was just an average Uchiha. Not exceptional, not weak... simply average.

Not to mention, his memories of his previous life began to fade. While he retained knowledge of his family, friends, movies, anime, and his 'job,' some details slipped away, leading to a nightmarish psychological effect.

According to most people, it's best to move on and forget since the past is behind them. However, Ryan had no desire to move on at all; instead, he wanted to engrave everything related to his previous life in his memory.

To overcome the psychological effects, he quickly found a solution: he began writing about his past experiences in a notebook he kept close.

He ensured that it wasn't a personal diary, as that would be risky if it fell into the wrong hands. Instead, he framed it as a 'story' to keep his secrets hidden.

"Renji! Let's go; Mother told us to leave early today."

A young girl, around nine or ten years old, hopped over to Ryan and grabbed his hand.

"Izumi nee-san... Let's go."

Ryan, or rather Renji Uchiha, stood up from his spot, nearly reaching Izumi's height. He wasn't as cute as Sasuke or as ordinary as others; at least appearance-wise, he was above average compared to his talent.

Renji Uchiha was the younger brother of Izumi Uchiha, a character destined to die with regrets. He was about three years younger than her.

Sigh!

'Why am I facing the same situation again? A dead father, a mother doing her best, and an older sister who is destined to be brutally murdered? This is not a good script at all... not at all a good script.'

Kiyomi Uchiha is Renji and Izumi's mother, a widow doing her best to support their family. With their father being a non-Uchiha, the clan isn't particularly supportive, though they aren't openly hostile either.

Their home is located on the outskirts of the clan compound, receiving some funding from the village, but it's not enough. The clan's underlying prejudice makes life even more difficult for them after their father's death.

This situation didn't last long, as Kiyomi Uchiha, who had been relatively inactive as a shinobi, began taking on missions whenever possible.

"Renji! How is the academy going? If anyone bullies you, just come to me, alright?"

Izumi said, her other hand clenched in readiness to fight for her brother.

"No, I'm doing well, sister. I mean, who would dare to trouble us, the Uchiha?"

Renji replied with a hint of sarcasm about the pride of the Uchiha clan. Since his tone wasn't directed at her, Izumi didn't catch on.

"Oh, that's good to hear. But don't get too proud, as there are many strong students at the academy. Itachi was in my class, but he graduated three years ago when he was just seven."

Izumi added, her face flushing slightly, leaving Renji feeling a bit helpless.

Isn't it too early for you to be lovestruck? aren't you just a nine-year-old brat?

But he kept those thoughts to himself, not wanting to upset her.

Even though he felt dissatisfied with being in this situation again, Renji initially tried to ignore his feelings, knowing that everyone would ultimately meet a tragic fate.

However, he wasn't just occupying a body; he was a thoroughly reborn person, with their blood flowing in his veins.

Their love for him and his own initially unknown feelings toward them led him to understand a proverb from his previous life:

Blood is thicker than water.

At least for those who loved him, it was indeed thicker than water. His struggle to distance himself from their attachment didn't last even a year and a half.

When he heard the wail of his mother, his emotions stirred at the thought. Soon after, when he learned of his father's death, an overwhelming, suffocating feeling rushed into his mind, instantly transforming his black eyes into sinister eyes.

Yes, he awakened his single tomoe Sharingan at the age of one and a half. However, after that moment, no other stimuli came, and he didn't want to experience anything like it again.

Overall, he couldn't let go of his past, nor could he fully embrace the present. It didn't take him long to resolve this within himself.

I won't let go of the past, nor will I let go of my present.

The only people he loved in this world were his mother, Kiyomi, and his sister, Izumi. At this point, he couldn't care less if the entire world turned to dust; he wouldn't hesitate to turn it to dust himself if necessary.

While he was determined, he was also painfully aware of his weakness. First, he needed to plan for the impending three-year event.

"Why are you dozing off again, Renji? Tell me if there are any cute girls in your class..."

Izumi gently shook Renji, who was currently staring off into space.

"Ah? I don't think so, sister. I mean... we're too young for that, right?"

Renji replied, trying to bring some sense to his gentle sister. She was great in every way—except for her attachment to the 'butcher.'

"Huh?"

The duo continued to bicker as they made their way through the Uchiha compound. About ten minutes later, they arrived at a compound with a small garden outside, where a middle-aged woman was watering the plants.

"Mother..."

Both of them rushed toward Kiyomi, who gently embraced them.

"How was your training? Has anyone troubled you?"

Kiyomi asked, her voice tinged with concern. While the clan members weren't openly hostile, there were still some who liked to stir up trouble.

"It's fine, Mother. No one has troubled us lately."

Izumi assured her, recalling some skirmishes from the past.

"Alright, that's good. Now both of you go and eat. Also, I'll be leaving in an hour on a mission and might not return for the entire week. Izumi, take care of your brother, and if any trouble arises, go directly to the clan leader; he will help us."

After they entered their home, Kiyomi called from outside. Since this had become a common routine, they didn't make a fuss about it.

"Ha, Mom. Be careful on your mission."

"Be safe, Mom."

They both knew their mother was cautious and avoided risky missions. This routine had become their way of reminding her that they would be waiting for her return.

After eating and chatting with Izumi for a while, Renji retreated to his room, locked the door, and sat on his bed, staring blankly ahead once more.