Hello, it's me again!
I hope you all liked the prologue. I just completed the first chapter. I'm not used to writing long stories, but I will try my best to give you longer chapters in the future. As always, feel free to correct my grammar, it's gladly appreciated.
Update (January 07, 2017): The prologue and the first chapter have been updated. I corrected some mistakes and added new content. This story might upgrade to M in the future.
With that please enjoy and review.
I learned by listening to my parents that the Third Shinobi War had ended not that long ago. That's why my father had so many forehead protectors. He was making new ones for the people who lost theirs. During this year we had the Kyuubi attack. The beast didn't destroy all of Konoha, mainly the east side where there were training grounds and a few houses.
After the attack, I had made myself a mental note to find out everything that I could about this place for the next few years.
Fast forward four years into the future and now you have me, the current me, the one who was reborn in a freaking manga.
I am a healthy six year old girl. With long black hair, ocean blue eyes, a button nose, rosy cheeks and the list goes on. I am an averagely normal kid. I annoyed my parents, which is even funnier especially considering the fact that I have the mind of an adult. I often make innuendos. This isn't right, I know, but the look on their faces when they try not to blush or look outraged at me is just too much fun to pass up. I laugh, run, and play with the neighbor kids. I explore the village and take note of where I should go back, for searching purposes. The most important of all is that I am Nishiwaki Tsumugi, the new student at Leaf Academy but don't get your hopes up. This is the civilian school.
I heard my father's footstep down the hall of our small four room apartment coming toward my bedroom. I was already up. I was always up around six in the morning, I guess old habits die hard. Having lived a life where my daily schedule was starting everyday, for ten years before I died, around six in morning. Masujiro didn't knock. Once inside my room, he knelt besides my bed thinking I was sleeping, he kissed my forehead and whispered in my ear "I love you sweetie, stay safe." He always says that before he leaves to go outside the village to sell merchandise.
As a matter of fact, neither of my parents are Shinobi. They're both merchants. My father, Nishiwaki Masujiro, sells weapon of all kinds. He is the type of man who had a rough life and isn't impressed with a lot of things anymore. He often looks bored, but he has the biggest heart when it comes to caring for his family. I frequently compare him to a big teddy bear. I don't look like him. My father is big tall man with short brown hair, his eyes are almond shaped while mine are more wide and round. He doesn't have a delicate figure, my mother is delicate though. She is the perfect picture of a doll. Her skin is ivory just like mine. We could be twins, me and her, if it wasn't for the age gap and the fact that she's my mother. Aiko works with my father in the family business. She's in charge of the shop that we have downstairs. We sell weapons and sharpen them for the Shinobi of Konoha. We're also making headbands.
It was around seven in the morning when I decided that I should probably go eat before going to my first day at school. Aiko was already there sipping some delicious looking coffee when she noticed me staring at her. What I would do to have a cup of hot steaming coffee, right now.
"I made something special for you this morning sweet heart! There are pancakes in the oven for you. " I smiled and then proceeded to take two pancakes out of the enormous pile that she made.
"You know... Mugi-chan, today is your very first day at school. Are you excited? My little girl is all grown up now! " she already had tears forming in her dark blue eyes. I smiled.
"Yeah, I'm sure it's going to be fun. " she didn't look pleased with my answer, but whatever I'm not a morning person even though I've been awake for a while now.
Half an hour later I was dressed, I had my lunch box secured in my yellow backpack, all my new pencils were in the right place with my recently bought books and paper sheet. I was ready for school. My first day at the Leaf Academy was starting.
Aiko took my hands and we started walking toward the academy. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. I could not stay in place. I was fidgeting with the hem of my newly bought orange dress and kicking rocks with my left foot to calm my nerves. I should be happy, right? No, I was starting at the civilian Leaf Academy. It means that in the future events of this universe, I could not protect myself or the people I care about. Aiko and Masujiro didn't want their precious little girl to go to the Shinobi academy. No matter what I did it simply didn't work and I did a lot of things to convince them. For example, I helped in the store, I read story books about Shinobi, I even try to throw some of my father's weapons, and in the end I had a temper tantrum every time they said no to me.
"Look, Mugi-chan. We're here! " she said with a bright smile while searching my face for a good reaction. No, this isn't going to happen right now. I am mad.
She then grabbed my hand and started to talk to one of the teachers. My mother then informed them about my hearing problem and my difficulties with pronunciation. I was glad about that, I didn't want to look like a fool explaining why I was talking the way I am. Even though it's not what they think it is. I'm pretty sure they never heard another form of communication, in which case they will probably understand that it resembles an accent and not a hearing problem. She then kissed me goodbye and went to work.
Three months had passed since my first day at the academy. In that period of time I learned that I needed glasses. So obviously they bought me the most retarded pair I ever saw. We didn't make a lot of money and I knew that, it's just that they chose to buy the kind you see in anime. The one pair that all clumsy or nerd characters wear, the round ones. It covers half of my face, but at least I can see. So I got that going for me, which is nice.
I also started to write and draw maps in a notebook of all the places I should go to start training without being seen by an adult. I wasn't going to wait to get attacked to do something. As much as I would like to remember how I died in my previous life, this time around I needed to be prepared and ready to fight back. I want to live a full life this time.
The first spot on my list was the library. Which I will go whenever I want, I just have to ask Aiko or Masujiro and they would let me. The library is close enough to our place, so my parents can watch me walk all the way there without trouble, plus they know the librarian. The potential of this place is huge. The building is filled with scrolls and books on how to become an apprentice Shinobi. With enough luck and work I could perhaps ask one of the Shinobi or Kunoichi there to help me understand the basics. So far I haven't had the courage to ask anyone.
The second place in my notebook is the back alley of my parents shop. I only have to tell my mother that I want to play outside and then she would open the back door regularly to check on me while she works. Normally, Aiko just yells at me to come home to eat, so I know I have to stay close to hear her. With that knowledge in mind, I only have to climb over the wooden fence and practice by the forest. I had already painted targets on the trees there, not so long ago. So it's rather easy for me to train there with some of the kunai that I have stolen from my father.
The third location is the most complicated one. I have to go to school in the morning, then tell my mom that I have been invited to play at one of my friend's houses. From this point I have run to one of the training ground near the Forest of Death and work on my stamina and speed. The training grounds there are never occupied due to the amount of insects coming from the woods. I'm not into getting bitten all over my body, but that's the only place where people never go. I make the most of it when I'm there and run around the terrain for as long as I can. Then rapidly work on my strength before I have to head back home. Which is approximately around nine pm.
The fourth place is my bedroom, I didn't need to write that down, obviously, however, this is as important as the other three. I practice my yoga and meditation there, with a makeshift mat. It doesn't look like it, but it helps me stay focused.
My training was somewhat going well for someone who didn't really know anything.
The time here don't go by fast. I thought while scribbling another flower on the bottom page of my history book. It had been two more months. I was close to my seventh birthday and I was still in the civilian school.
The worst of it all was that I had not met a single canon character yet.
I yawned, for the sixth time since the beginning of the lesson. This is going to be a long fucking day. It's only 10 am and I'm already complaining. I wish something interesting would happen. In my old life I would have been scrolling on Pinterest or something.
I stretched my arms in front of me and laid my head on top of them, may as well take a nap.
I gasped and jump on my feet, then turn toward the offending hands that had slapped me across the head and yell "You fucking asshole! " Stunned, I took a step back and look at my feet. Did... Did I... Shit! I just spoke in English. Where the hell did that come from? Everyone is now looking at me with question marks in their eyes.
"What did you just say Tsumugi-san? Try to speak slowly this time and remember to pronounce the entire syllable when you talk... " I look up to my teacher with watery eyes.
"Humpf... I'm... sorry I yelled. " I whispered, then proceed to sit back on my chair, ignoring the question completely.
I swear I'm going to punch that guy some day. He always makes fun of his students. He didn't need to tell them about my problem. Well, it doesn't really matter now... They all know anyways and I'm not seeking pity because I have a terrible accent. Even if I did try to make a kicked puppy face at him, it didn't work.
I looked at the clock on the wall and close my eye in annoyance at least lunch is coming... And dear God, I'm begging you, don't make any of those kids come near me today.
I sat in my usual spot on the grass next to the dumpster of the school. Thinking about the plan that I made a while ago when I was revising the way I was training. I thought about practicing at night and what I could achieve during this extend period of time. That way I won't have to lie every time I'm going to a friend's house and tonight will be the perfect time, the sky is clear and there's no sign that it will rain.
That night I went to sleep earlier. I slept till midnight.
I still could hear both of my parent talk in their room. So, I sat on my bed and started to meditate.
Half an hour later, I sneak out of my room wearing black leggings with a dark gray long sleeve turtleneck dress, my hair was put in a loose braid and was dangling over my right shoulder with that I had strapped a brown belt around my hip to hold the customary beige bag that contains Kunai, Shuriken, and two ninja scrolls with basic jutsu in them.
I looked back, making sure no one had seen me getting out of the apartment, and then proceeded to run to the nearest training ground.
It was one in the morning when I came to a stop.
"Damn... this is more stressful than I though... " I said while sitting to calm my breathing. I was now in training ground three. How cliché. I took a good look around then rose to my feet.
"This place is spooky at night... I feel like someone's watching me... Jesus lord, maybe that's a bad idea, I shouldn't be here alone... " I whispered once again in English.
Well, I can't go now, can I...? I just arrived here. I should probably start throwing weapons or something. This feels awfully awkward. I really have the feeling that someone is behind me. Must be the dark... I've watched too many horror movies in my other life to feel comfortable at night surrounded by forest.
I laugh.
"What are you laughing at? " a voice spoke right behind me. I could feel his breath on my neck. I slowly turned my head with my eyes practically popping out of my skull. I took a step back falling on my backside.
I then started to scream.
"Maa... Maa... Don't be so loud, I won't hurt you. Did you get lost? " I stopped. Wait a minute... This tone of voice sounds strangely familiar.
"Do you need help getting back home, little girl? " I stared in shock and couldn't even make a sound. Is this...
A big thank you to my Beta, Space Jester!
