LAND OF WAVES ARC

I tried desperately to convince myself otherwise, but as I stared at him it was like my childhood memories were surfacing, each filing into an orderly line that was my thought process.

Naruto, an orphan boy whose parents had saved their ninja village called Konoha. Naruto, a bullied child for a demon fox stuffed into his belly. Naruto, the dead last kid in his class. Naruto... the man who had fought wars against otherworldly powers and had won.

If I were a lesser person, I think I may have gone limp, falling to the floor with all of the thoughts that had flooded my mind. I remembered it all clearly as day, almost like something was there telling me exactly what I needed to know. The anime series was burned into my head now, everything making sense. That's when it finally hit me.

These people were killers, even if they were stars for a cartoon show.

And just like my first thoughts about a ninja of this world, I realized that they too are assassins, spies, the lowliest killers without any honor.

I hated that.

I stared at them each, eyes shifting from Kakashi, Sakura, the black-haired boy that I've identified as Sasuke, and to Naruto. I'm sure that Kakashi had noticed the way that my eyes hardened, the guards that I put up, the tenseness in my shoulders... I wasn't sure if I wanted to just die or run away. Far away.

In my mind, I knew it was not my place to meddle with this world. I was a doctor, I was dead, and I was some sort of botched reincarnation. Key word being botched. That equates to mistake, which brings us here. I shouldn't have met these people, I could die or worse... mess up canon in such a way that would bring death to all. I could end this world with my knowledge on it, I could mess up whatever ending these characters had, I could ruin everything.

I had to get away. But, getting away this early after meeting them would obviously make them suspicious, and then they would track me rather than going on missions that would build their character, shape them into what they're supposed to be. The truth is, I am afraid of the future changing. If even the smallest thing changes, the butterfly effect would take charge and potentially shift the outcome of a major event. I didn't like that thought, I was terrified of it. I, however, had to stay neutral on the outside. The battles in my head could never surface beyond my head.

With that last thought, I forced my emotions to turn over to a blank slate. And, just like that, it was so much easier to avoid the elephant in the room. I ignored it, acted like it didn't exist. It was a problem for later. I could always solve it later.

(3rd Person Naruto's Perspective)

Naruto was very uneasy, borderline scared. When this armored girl showed up and was introduced by Sakura-Chan, she looked over each of them and she did not look happy at all. In fact, when her eyes landed on him, he readied himself for her eyes to harden, for her to curse him out or even cast him away. Her eyes did harden, but not for the reason he expected.

Her eyes darted around each of the others, and it seemed that she was more afraid of Kakashi-Sensei than she was of him! Kakashi-Sensei merely shifted his weight onto his other foot, flipping the page to his book casually. Duh, there was nothing to be afraid of, Dattebayo!

On the other hand, Naruto was also confused. Not just anyone wears a full metal helmet, leather pads, and armor! That was stuff that the people during the Warring Era, with the first Hokage, wore! At least, that's what he gathered from the days he didn't skip class to prank someone... His baby blue eyes trailed over to Sasuke as his mood dampened. Even Teme looked mildly surprised at the new girl's choice of clothing. However, Sakura-Chan didn't seem to mind it, and neither did Kakashi-Sensei!... who was still reading his book.

After trying to run up the tree faster than Teme, he was beat. He didn't know how exactly to use -what was it called- Katra to walk up walls, Dattebayo! Naruto shuffled over to Sakura-Chan, but she was busy talking to new girl. He didn't want to interrupt them... but he had to know how Sakura-Chan was able to do the tree-walking-thing! A sheepish, embarrassed look slowly appeared on his face. But what if Sasuke-Teme found out that he asked to help! Wait, no, it doesn't matter if he could get to the top of his tree first! That'll show that stupid Teme! With a new confidence, Naruto marched up to the two girls... before realizing that Sakura-Chan was gone, as was Kakashi-Sensei. All confidence drained when he finally got that he had to talk to the new girl.

But, he put up a brave front. He was going to become Hokage, 'ttebayo!

"Hey, new girl!" He called out. She straightened up, and looked over at Naruto with some sort of startled fright in her large, midnight blue eyes before they went dangerously blank. Naruto just then began to feel intimidated; she was a pretty girl, yes, but she had a rather large sword in her arsenal of weapons that were scattered across her body, ready for use. He faltered, but otherwise stood strong. "Where's Sakura-Chan? I need to talk to her about-!"

"About the tree-walking exercise?" She finished, interrupting the energetic Uzumaki boy. How did she know?! Her eyes challenged him to say otherwise, as if she knew exactly what he wanted and needed. Like she could read his mind, or see into his soul! A gulp made its way down Naruto's throat.

"Um, yeah... that..." his voice had significantly quieted, but the new girl still made the observation that Sasuke could hear them. It was quite obvious, the ravenette had stopped his relentless charges up the tree, favoring leaning towards the two. Sasuke was not yet a master at subtly, nor will he ever be if his overdramatic Uchiha genes would say something about it. "Well, where is she?" Like a rubber band, his demeanor went back to the childish demanding that he had started with.

"Guarding Tazuna, like her mission says to," the girl said dryly. Naruto just about gawked at the sheer bluntness, perhaps even a jab at his pride! She stayed silent before letting out a sigh- one that shouldn't fit in a person so young. "But, I know the theory behind tree-walking..."

Naruto perked up, but was unable to say anything as she went on.

"If I'm correct, your chakra control is lacking because of the ratio of physical to spiritual chakra. What you need to do is concentrate, not on your rival, but on your own success. No, not even that. You just need to concentrate on the amount of chakra that is going to your feet. Nothing else is important, not yet," she explained. Her own gaze went over to a tree... could I do it? She wondered. She walked over to the same tree that she eyed, feeling an intense, warm buzz coming from it. It felt alive, it was just buzzing with life! Chakra, she realized. She almost felt inclined to touch it... with a pull, she reached her arm up and rested her hand against the tree.

A wave of energy engulfed her, she felt an immense amount of security in the tree's chakra. It was solid, like the earth, but still kept a certain, breathy calmness to it, a smooth wash of water and wind. It was just... there.

That was when she finally realized that she was a sensor.

And that uncomfortable buzz from when she first woke up was indeed energy, and not the Force.

She put that tidbit of information in a box in her mind to store for later. For now, she placed a covered foot up to the tree. Almost immediately, she felt the same pull that she did when she first touched the tree. She attempted to pull back, take her foot off from the tree, only with minor difficulty. A large smile came over her face; she was a natural at chakra control. She put up another foot, then stepped up, again, and again, and again. All the while, she felt her own chakra buzz in excitement with the tree's.

From a distance, Kakashi's eyes both narrowed. A faint red glow was coming from his now uncovered eye, and a blanket of confusion lay over his head.

Her face was giddy, and her arms were out to the sides as if to stabilize herself(though such motion was unnecessary and wouldn't work anyway). Was this... the first time she has done this?

Kakashi didn't know what to make of this finding, but knew that it may be important later.

(Normal)

My heart raced as I recalled the event of me going up the tree. It was completely and utterly impossible, it destroyed all laws of physics, but I loved it. I loved the feel of chakra pulling me to the tree, I loved the tree's chakra itself -solid, carefree, and calm-. I felt... like I belonged when I touched the tree.

After my peaceful reminiscing, I calmed my heart and mind. I was alone, outside, in the silence of the forest.

I had picked up on a certain hinderance to my 'sensing ability'- it only worked when I was close enough to touch something. I would have to expand my area of sensing, how? I would be able to teach myself, I assured myself. With that, I sat on the packed dirt that was the forest floor and meditated.

My meditation was a standard, duh sort of thing. Clear your mind, and all that Jazz. I did so, reaching out and attempting to feel something that I wasn't touching.

Thats when I felt it.

The steady hum of the ground, a deep rumble that surrounded me for miles. I could go deaf with the sheer noise around me, but I learned that I could also tune it out. The noise disappeared as soon as I shifted my attention. However, I came up with similar results.

The gentle flow of the wind, a breezy caress loaded with carefree energy. I felt elated, like I could just float in the air around me. This still was not what I was looking for.

This training reminded me of a radio. Change the frequencies if you find something that you weren't looking for. My mind reached out, grasping onto something new.

Steady like the earth, carefree like the wind, a gentle wash of water...

I could feel the trees without touching them.

It was like a song coming from them, a harmony when combined with the wind and ground. There was no tune other than the shift of notes from the ever changing whistle of the wind. I found myself listening intently, relaxing with the sound of nature around me. A gentle smile made its way to my face. Is this what I've been missing out on in the city? It was addicting, as nothing but pure peace and security flowed through the woods.

I continued listening, swept up in the tune, when something intruded.

Large, warm and fluffy like a puppy, sharp and as dangerous as a kunai, hidden beyond a veil- a guard crafted by trauma. Static, ozone, like lightning.

My eyes opened to see the man crouching in front of me, leaning uncomfortably close to my face with a dangerous eye-smile. Well, it was covered by a happy demeanor, but I felt something beyond that.

"What'cha doin'?" He chirped in the most condescending way possible.

I couldn't tell him that I was a sensor. That was most definitely out of the question. He would report me to the Hokage, who might then either force me to join Konoha's forces or imprison me for being a threat to Konoha. Or just straight out have me killed. But, he would probably be able to tell if I were lying as well... I'd have to test that later, when I don't feel like my life is in danger. I merely stood up, trying to get around the question.

"It's a lovely day outside. The wind is perfect, so I was listening. I'd take time to admire the scene around me if I were you too," I replied. Obviously, he could tell that I was dodging the question, but didn't want to arouse suspicion. Too late, buddy.

"Maa, I do agree with you." He continued his eye smile as he stood up, giving me space when he stepped back. "But, I'd rather just have a nice conversation with our new enigma! Tell me, do you not remember anything else?"

I was about to straight up say no, when a dark... something flashed by. Well, flashed by in my head. It was a lock of black hair, falling to the ground as I could see my own sword being lifted by small hands -my hands- shining under the moonlight. My eyes met with those of my opponent, the stormy black eyes that angrily gazed upon my form.

It looked like the hair was my own, as proven by the fact that more of it was whipping around me from whatever previous movement I made.

"...Well?" Kakashi pressed, bringing me out of my trance. Almost on instinct, I opened my mouth before snapping it shut.

No, I couldn't tell him. I can't tell him anything...

I've always admired the silver-haired man from behind the television screen. He was a respectable fighter, excluding the book that he always read. He cared for his teammates, would put his life on the line for his nation(forget about the propaganda - I wouldn't do that for the diabetes infested land I called home!). He was smart -a child prodigy- and protected those dear to him, eliminating any threats as he saw necessary.

It hurt to be on the other side of his mental wall, not being one of the ones he found dear by being a potential threat that may need to be eliminated. Anything that I would say could and would be used against me. It's best that I don't say anything at all, then.

"I'm afraid that I've overstayed my welcome," I let my voice become icy, but gave a smile, refusing to become a major part of this world. "You'll never have to see me again, and I'll never have to see you again, alright?"

He had -has- no reason to keep me.

I walked past him, going to the direction of the most people; the poor Land of Waves that wallowed in poverty.

Though I refused to meddle with canon, I wouldn't stop myself from helping behind the scenes. Going into town, I began to labor; I was going to hunt for them, I was going to protect them, I was going to do whatever I could to make this world a better place if I could.

Calm and steady- crying, lamenting- hungry- tired and weary- in pain-

My breath got caught in my throat as I nearer the village, my resolve disappearing. This was a horrible idea; I couldn't do any more for this village than I could for myself! Especially if I were to be attacked by the constant torrent my sensing created. My rational thoughts scrapes against the anxiety, reminding me that I had once been able to calmly walk through this place. When I first arrived, before I knew of my sensing! If I could just grasp onto that feeling, the lack of all these different, overwhelming chakra signatures...

Everything went silent.

Well, for me it did.

I mean, I could still hear the bustling of the crowd, the cries of hunger and pain, but it felt more like I wasn't in the center of it and more as... myself.

The doctor self. The normal self. The one that didn't have to deal with a world of assassins and spies, but the one who saved civilians amongst others.

My eyes reopened -when did they close?- and I found myself staring into the eyes of another stranger.

Calm, crisp, and clear, like an icicle amongst a fresh snowfall, or a frigid dawn without the morning sheets of frost melting over the grass yet- I saw a pair of chocolate brown eyes watching me with slight concern, probably having had seen my minor panic attack. The owner had fair skin, beautiful long brown hair, a black choker to hide an Adam's apple, and a pink kimono dress while he held a basket. My eyebrows furrowed.

Crossdressers weren't completely uncommon in my city, as LGBTQ+ was potentially at its peak, but this boy had resembled a girl so much that I nearly faltered. He was pretty, I had to admit, but he was a child.(He is a teen. He is my age, in this body.)

A dangerous child, my mind warned me. It was right, this boy was Haku, the pawn and partner of Zabuza Momochi, one of the disbanded Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Thankfully, he didn't recognize me from any encounter we could have had in my early life in this world, if I had one. I even considered the thought that chakra could have some 'chakra memory' like the body could have muscle memory, recognizing an event or action that the mind does not. No, his chakra does not feel familiar.

I would have to test that too, if I could remember or recognize the feeling of one's chakra without using my mind to remember.

I stared at Haku before rushing off to the rest of civilization.

Though I refused to look back at him, I could feel his eyes linger on me as I passed before losing interest. Just like Kakashi, he had no reason to find me interesting or as a threat. That reminded me...

The Bingo Book; the ultimate way of finding out whether one is a threat or not.

There would be many pros and cons to being an addition, many of which I would have to consider.

If I had an entry in the book, it would prove well to give me a factor of intimidation. Lesser hunters or Shinobi would mostly stay out of my way if they were smart enough to realize whether I was stronger than they or not. However, I would most likely have a bounty as well, which would bring me to the interest of stronger hunters and Shinobi -such as Kakuzu or Orochimaru-. I would also be recognized wherever I go, and might not be welcome in some villages, hidden or not. I would also be labeled as a threat to some I may try to help...

If I weren't in the Bingo Book, I'd always be underestimated for my age, giving me an element akin to surprise when I fight back. I wouldn't necessarily need an entry in the book to be intimidating either, as I carried an array weapons on myself -including a doodle scroll that I don't know the purpose of yet-

The scroll.

I just remembered, that doodle might not just be a doodle, especially in the Naruto universe. Dashing back and into an alley, I reopened the scroll.

Just as I thought, they oddly resembled seals. I looked over each doodle, seeing Japanese Kanji hidden throughout each doodle.

I knew these Kanji- I was half Japanese in my first life, though I lived in America. My mother had taken the time to raise me in a bilingual environment, though after I graduated I hadn't used Japanese as much as I should have. Thinking back on it, I had only spoken in Japanese ever since I had gotten in this universe... it was like muscle memory, honestly, when I asked those tied up men "who are you?"

Just like that, guilt swelled in my chest. I tried swatting away the guilt.

'I did that in self-defense. That's perfectly justifiable, me,' I assured myself. It didn't do much to help.

Shifting my attention back to the scroll, I looked over each 'doodle.' One was labeled 'turtle', oddly enough, while one was labeled 'fang'. I thought about it, wondering what each could be as I brought a finger over the turtle seal. The smallest flicker of chakra built up onto my finger, before reaching out to the seal. The ink had melted into the scroll before the scroll spat out a piece of armor, leather plated with what looked like the same mixture of metals that were my helmet and sword handle. Then, the scroll spat out another and another before ending with an entire set of armor.

I shouldn't be surprised; I resembled a samurai with the helmet, and I felt like one when I had the ideals of dignity and honor. It made sense, but I couldn't help the widening of my eyes. The seal had returned back on the scroll, as if it hadn't disappeared in the first place.

I didn't need the armor right now, as it would weigh me down and I'm not in some major battle, so I placed each piece back on the scroll, praying to whatever Shinigami above(might as well appeal to the gods of this universe) that the armor would go back. It did.

So turtle meant 'armor'. I should have guessed. With that in mind, I'm guessing that 'fang' is another sword? Maybe it has poison on it.

I touched the seal for fang, and out came a large sword similarly to the way the armor game out.

Oh, and when I say large...

It resembled Zabuza's sword in size, though it wasn't actually that large(probably, I only had a 2D TV show to base my thoughts off of, and this was a 3D life that I'm stuck in now.) I mean, the sword was in all about my height, including the handle. It was a huge claymore sword, thicker and longer than most had been in the medieval times in my world. Once again, the only swords I could compare it to were those of the Seven Swordsmen, even if this was a dwarf compared to Kubikiribōchō.

It had a long, wide, moon-white blade as sharp as my katana if not more. On the middle of the blade, lining the center, were thin and faint golden decorations that were comprised of dragons and waves. The handle was similar in decor as the one on my katana.

And no, there was no poison on it(I was guessing, at least, by lack of antidote in any other seals. After all, you can never have poison and not an antidote.)

My eyes slowly closed, a peaceful and pleased(almost resigned) smile resting on my face.

For an asthmatic doctor, I guess I'll have to do a lot of strenuous fighting.