'I'm certain. This is the Naruto world.'
A few days after the shocking "Uchiha Itachi" incident, Etsu's first birthday celebration was held. And that's when Etsu was able to meet a large number of relatives.
The reason for the limited interaction that made Etsu feel neglected as a child was indeed because she was a baby. Noisy and chaotic environments aren't good for children.
'Well... I don't think a first birthday party is a particularly healthy event either.'
Perhaps due to her major realization about the world, Etsu had become nonchalant—or rather, memories of her past life were returning at a rapid pace.
Honestly, Etsu had been aware that she had a past life, but it hadn't been particularly significant to her.
As she became more accustomed to life here, it felt like memories from her previous life were awakening one by one. Awakening memories needed triggers, and such trivial everyday memories weren't significant enough to greatly influence "Etsu." In fact, Etsu had been experiencing the passage of time as any ordinary child would.
But the incident from a few days ago seemed to have shaken Etsu's mind. Thanks to the intense stimulus, her memories were reviving faster, and the significance of her past life within Etsu's existence grew.
Living as Etsu had been just one year, and in a baby state at that, but in her past life, she had been twenty years old. Consequently, the personality that could have formed as Etsu became closer to "her" from the previous life. An adult's thinking had truly begun to dwell in a baby's body.
While this wasn't something that could be evaluated as good or bad, there was a truly big problem elsewhere.
'The Uchiha tragedy...'
Etsu had come to know the future. A future that couldn't be avoided even if she knew about it. And the person responsible for it—was born not long ago.
Unaware of Etsu's thoughts, numerous "Uchihas" came to offer their congratulations.
"You must become a splendid ninja worthy of the Uchiha name."
"I wonder if she'll be able to awaken the Three Tomoe Sharingan?"
"After all, she's Kosuke's daughter..."
"Worthy enough to be called the main family..."
"When should education begin..."
'Hey, uncles... I'm only one year old?'
A first birthday party is certainly an exhausting event. Etsu, who slept a lot as a baby regardless of her will, was the main character but kept dozing off and waking up.
They all took photos together—Etsu was surprised that cameras existed in Naruto! But she still couldn't get a grasp on the Naruto world—and then came the highlight.
The first birthday grab!
'Why are such customs similar across times and countries...'
She had thought it was a Chinese tradition, but seeing the array of items laid out on the table and the expectant eyes of the people, it seemed that wasn't the case.
It was actually ridiculous to judge by the standards of her previous life about whether this was Chinese or Japan when she had been born into a different world.
Thread, spoon, brush, and so on...
However...
'Why are such things on the first birthday table!'
A shuriken.
A throwing star.
Is this strange plant an herb?
...Is that ninja wire?
'Have they rigged it so there's a higher chance of picking ninja-related items?!'
They seemed to be mini-sized without sharp edges so a child could grab them, but this was too blatant. She sighed deeply inside, but in reality, Etsu had no other choice.
'If this is truly the Naruto world, and I'm an Uchiha with the Sharingan...'
Of course she had to become a ninja!
When Etsu grabbed the shuriken, cheers erupted from all around. And someone lifted her up high.
'Obito!'
It was her brother, Obito. With his spiky, rough hair, Obito was smiling like a boy should.
"That's my sister! You must become an excellent ninja! Hopefully at the level of the Legendary Three!"
'That's something I wouldn't mind either...'
Etsu reached out with her hand that wasn't holding the shuriken toward Obito. It was too short to reach his face, but Obito brought his face to her small hand himself.
"Etsu-chan. Do you like your big brother?"
"...Uuu-"
He probably wasn't expecting an answer, but Etsu really fell into thought.
As the memories of the woman from her previous life strengthened, she felt that the brotherly feeling she had toward Obito was somehow fading. This wasn't Obito's fault but was due to the changes in Etsu's inner self.
Uchiha Obito. A passionate boy with Uchiha-like black hair wearing goggles.
It was natural that she didn't think of Naruto when she first saw Obito. Etsu hadn't fully awakened to her previous life, and Obito doesn't have a major role in Naruto, only his name appearing. He doesn't have the impact of "Uchiha Itachi."
Uchiha Obito. He gives his eye to Kakashi and dies. Etsu's vision became somewhat blurry.
"Huh, huh? Is it because of me? Don't cry- Etsu-chan-"
Seeing Obito flustered, her tear ducts cooled down again. In a child's body, it was difficult to hold back tears. She didn't want to cry at her first birthday party, so Etsu thought it was fortunate. And in Obito's arms, she thought.
'Yes. I'll accept it. This is the world I was born into. These people are my family. Obito is my brother.'
The cold, modern mindset of "her" was trying to awaken, but Etsu decided to live in the present. It was already sad that it didn't happen naturally and she had to "decide" to do so.
Sad, but...
'Obito... you're going to die?'
She didn't know exactly when Obito died. It wasn't shown clearly. And an even bigger problem followed.
'When Itachi is 13 years old.'
The Uchiha clan will be annihilated.
Of course, that might not be a predetermined future. The concept of parallel worlds exists for a reason. And how ridiculous is it to assume "everything will follow the manga"? In manga or novels, timing is always too perfect, with coincidences and inevitabilities intertwining. There's no rule that everything must proceed 100% identically.
But she had to prepare.
'For now...'
Until the original story begins, she needed to become a strong ninja. Strong enough to survive. Basically, Etsu is of Uchiha blood, one year older than Itachi. She has enough time to become strong.
Since Itachi and Sasuke have a 5-year age difference, she could calculate that it's about 17 years before the original story begins.
'I refuse the death flag right from birth! I will survive no matter what.'
If necessary, she could become stronger than Itachi and fight him, or flee before that day comes. That's what Etsu decided.