Weeks of training passed by after that. Shura however was still trying to get used to the fact that she couldn't just rely on her powers anymore. She felt as though she were nothing.

Her powers were what made her special. And just like that she couldn't use them anymore, she wanted so desperately to grasp onto anything that would help her keep her powers. But there was nothing to hold on to.

"Come on Shura. You have to get up and try again." The nameless snake soldier hissed at Shura. Shura lay on the ground motionless. She didn't feel anything for the past few days. She was numb, no punches no kicks or anything would make her feel.

She didn't even feel the floor below her. It was like she was standing in a dark room with all her senses turned off.

She couldn't write, she hadn't been able to write like she did ever since she got here. Ever since this all started. So she wasn't a writer... Not anymore.

She couldn't draw like she used to and as much as she used to so she wasn't an artist.

And now she couldn't use her powers so she wasn't a sekai no jumpa. She was not a ninja. She was nothing. She had no sense of identity.

And that alone left her empty and numb.

It was hard to explain, but Shura always had a sense of 'who' she was to the rest of the world. Back home she was the quiet kid who sat in the back of class drawing or writing, in the past worlds she was annoying, ridiculous, or that crazy Sekai no Jumpa.

Now… she was just Vasuki's pet. A toy that the snake king found amusing so he picked it up and fixed it up.

She belonged to someone, she wasn't hers anymore. She hated that feeling as well. She always hated that feeling, that why she hated it whenever growing up someone told her that she looked like her mother. She wasn't Shura, she was her mother's daughter. She wasn't Shura whom happened to be her mother's daughter. She belonged to her mother.

It was suffocating, strangling like a boa constrictor around the neck. Shura wanted nothing more than to scream, she wanted nothing more than for everything to stop spinning around her so she can think! For once just let her think!

Please let her think….

Shura paused; she felt something wet land on her arm. "h-huh?" She questioned raising her hand up to her face. She was crying, tears where streaming down her face in rivers. Wetting her face almost completely. She let out tiny soundless gasps, not even noticing the snake man stare at her surprised.

"How is everything going-?" A cheerful voice sounded out but was cut off. In a flash the young snake soldier was slammed up against the wall. "What did you do?" He shouted turning more monstrous by the second.

"Nothing sir honest! She just started acting this way!" The soldier exclaimed Vasuki looked the young snake man up and down and loosened his grip only for a moment but tightened it up and hissed lowly. "If I find out you did something…" He threatened letting the young snake man's imagination go wild with the possibilities.

The young snake man only gulped in reply.

Vasuki quickly dropped the man and slithered over to Shura who sat there. "Shura….?" The snake king questioned. Shura stopped shaking for a moment and then slowly stood up. "I'm… I'm done for today." She said leaving the room slowly.

Vasuki stood there confused. He could feel the darkness clouding Shura's heart. It bothered him.

'She's not the same as she once was….' He thought to himself wondering what brought this sudden change on. Vasuki also wondered if Shura would manage to find her way out of this funk the torment was mere days away. He didn't need to have a emotionally vulnerable fighter in the ring.

In Shura's chambers she slowly changed out of her work clothes and into her casual clothes that Vasuki had given her. Slipping on the flats Shura sat down and crossed her legs staring out into space.

For years Shura has had a record of meditating and it seemed that it had come to that once more. She normally used it as a last resort but now. Shura needed to know what was plaguing her heart and mind.

Breathing in deeply Shura closed her eyes and thought about the last time she felt like this.

It a few years ago, but now it seemed like eons to Shura.

She was young thirteen and depressed. She was pulled out of school because of bullying from her peers. Shura was a strange child which made her an easy target for any cruel and insecure children.

It was a dark time in her life. Shura didn't like to think about it often. But one thing that did make it worthwhile was the strange dreams of a young boy laughing and talking to her. Shura never saw his face but she was grateful none the less. It was the one thing she had to look forward to. One of the few things that kept her wanting to live.

Snapping her eyes open Shura realized something remembering the dream boy.

Shura opened her mouth and almost as if the name she had spoke so often in the past was foreign to her she said "W…Was he… M…Minato?" It was slow and rough as if she had forgotten how to say the boy she had once called her lover's name.

Shura eyes became full of tears once more. "M-Minato…." She sobbed covering her face with her hands as a memory came back to her.

Shura was laying next to Minato on the grass after training. "Oi, for a pretty boy you're tough!" Shura announced laughing causing Minato to sit up and grin. "I'm not pretty I'm handsome!" he exclaimed playfully. Shura laughed looking up at him "What? Does your mommy tell you that?" She joked as Minato smiled widely "Yes! All the time!" Shura laughed at this.

When the laughter died down Shura sat up and turned to Minato. "Oi. You're not handsome." She said seriously surprising Minato. "Okay…" He said not sure what to think of his boyfriend I mean girlfriend telling him that he was unattractive. Shura looked away and said "Anyone can be handsome." She said before turning back to him. "You're much more than that to me. So much more." Shura said with her face slowly turning pink when she realized what she said.

She then looked away embarrassed scratching her cheek. "Cause I care for you and stuff…" She said trailing off. Minato stared at Shura surprised and smiled truly happy with what he heard.

"Sometimes I think I've met you before." Minato said causing Shura to turn back to him curious. "Previous life?" Shura said not sure if she should believe that. She never really believed being born into another life but she supposed it was possible.

Minato shook his head "No… I don't think so. But I know I met you before. Everything's too natural with you." He said smiling then laughed "I'm surprised we haven't fought!" He laughed causing Shura to tilt her head to the side.

"But we just spared a few minutes ago…?" Shura said causing Minato to laugh even more then hug her. "You're special to me Shura. It doesn't matter to me who or what you are." He said hugging Shura tightly. Shura blinked surprised but her eyes quickly softened and she slowly hugged back.

Sobbing and sniffing Shura clutched her shirt. 'It hurts…! It hurts so much!' She whimpered in her thoughts.

For so long Shura had been locking up her thoughts about Minato. For so long they had been avoided and danced around. But what hurt the most is the fact that she forgot even one thing about him.

Sniffling Shura wiped her eyes. That was right, right now she had to concentrate on saving Minato. Someone as good as him doesn't deserve the pain he must be suffering. 'A thousand deaths…' Shura thought remembering that from the Naruto series. She couldn't wrap her mind around the concept of even one. She'd hate to see a thousand!

Sighing shakily Shura stood up and clenched her fist. She had to become stronger without her powers that was the only way she was going to ever bring Minato back.