On the southeastern outskirts of Kirigakure lies an immense, somber cemetery.
Looking up, one can see tombstones stretching endlessly toward the horizon.
A young man dressed in black stood solemnly before one particular grave, gently placing a bouquet of fresh flowers upon it.
He was fourteen this year. His name was Wayne. Today marked the anniversary of his parents' deaths.
Wayne hardly remembered them. Both had perished not long after his birth—rumored to have died during a mission outside the village.
His father, a foreign shinobi, was said to be from the Uchiha clan of Konohagakure.
Thus, Wayne inherited the Uchiha bloodline—though it came with more curse than blessing.
"Even the Sharingan can't match the vastness of the Pacific in my mind."
With a slight smile, Wayne bowed three times before the grave and turned away.
He carried a secret—he was not of this world.
In his previous life, he had lived on a blue planet known as Earth. After a traffic accident, he woke up in this dangerous ninja world.
But with him came a mysterious phenomenon—an ocean in his mind. The Pacific Ocean itself.
Thanks to that ocean, Wayne possessed an endless reservoir of water. His Water Style ninjutsu was unparalleled, monstrous even. A simple Water Bullet from him could match a Forbidden Technique in scale and devastation.
Even more terrifying—his chakra consumption was less than one percent compared to ordinary ninja when using Water Style. After all, he wasn't drawing chakra from himself, but from the boundless sea sealed within his consciousness.
After paying his respects, Wayne made his way back into the village.
He passed many along the way. These days, Kirigakure was embroiled in skirmishes with Konoha. Death was a daily occurrence. Many were visiting loved ones—just as he had.
"Wayne!?"
Someone spotted him and abruptly changed direction, as if avoiding a walking curse.
Wayne froze for a moment, dumbfounded. He hadn't done anything, yet…
He recalled something from the past week—one of the recent battles against Konoha.
Logic said Konoha should be exhausted, their forces stretched thin from battles against other villages.
But that wasn't what happened.
In a shocking counterattack, Konoha's forces had annihilated several of Kirigakure's squads. Over 200 Mist ninja lost their lives.
In contrast, Konoha lost only a handful.
That lopsided casualty count left the entire village reeling. And upon investigation, most of the Konoha ninja responsible were from the Uchiha clan.
Among them—Uchiha Shisui. A phantom on the battlefield.
The defeat ignited hatred. Kirigakure, already wary of Konoha's famed clan, now blamed them for the bloodshed.
And Wayne? Just a boy with Uchiha blood—an easy target for blame.
"I didn't even leave the village... Why are they looking at me like that?"
Wayne kept walking, trying to ignore the glares that followed him.
He knew better. The ninja world was treacherous—power alone meant nothing without wisdom. Staying low and acting weak was often the best way to survive. Pretend until you're unstoppable.
He picked up his pace and soon arrived at a small courtyard—his home.
Inside, someone was already waiting.
A girl with porcelain skin, ruby lips, and striking emerald eyes. Though still young, she already carried the grace of a future beauty.
Her angry pout and crossed arms betrayed her frustration.
"You're still out and about with everything going on! Idiot!"
She glared at him. "My stupid little brother!"
"…"
Wayne gave her a deadpan look. "Are you trying to act like Uchiha Itachi or something?"
"Don't give me that face! I've got something important to say!"
She stomped her foot. "You need to stay indoors for the next few days! Someone might try to kill you!"
"The village is boiling over. They hate the Uchiha more than ever. Even if you scream 'Terumi Mei is my cousin!' it won't help."
Her sweet voice was laced with real concern.
Wayne sat down, calmly pouring himself a cup of tea and taking a slow sip. "Mmm. Not bad."
Terumi Mei, furious, clenched her fists. Her cousin was a walking headache.
Yes, the Terumi Mei. One of Kirigakure's most talented kunoichi and his blood relative.
Wayne's late mother had been the younger sister of Terumi Mei's father—a proud member of the Citrus clan.
"You've heard of the Citrus clan, haven't you?" Terumi Mei asked, exasperated.
Wayne gave her a look. "Yagura… the Fourth Mizukage… he's from that clan, isn't he?"
"He is," she said, nodding. "And his son died in that same battle. It's said he was killed by an Uchiha."
Wayne blinked. "That guy had a son?!"
He tried to recall Yagura's face—a boyish man with a baby face. Now she's saying he had a kid?
"You IDIOT!!!"
Terumi Mei nearly exploded. "How is your brain wired!? That's what you focus on?!"
"Fortune and disaster come as they will. If it's time, it's time," Wayne replied flatly.
But in his eyes—cold light flickered.
He didn't want trouble. For years, he'd remained reclusive and out of the spotlight.
But if someone really forced his hand…
He would let them taste the fury of the Pacific.
"You better behave."
Terumi Mei scowled, then suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Come. You're staying at my place. You're hiding out till things calm down."