So I decided to focus on one story at a time or else I'll never get to finish any of them... So that's why this update is coming so fast after last one! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter :)


Chapter 54: Memories

"Happy Birthday Kiu!"

My mom and dad clap joyfully after I blow out the candles on the cake. Even my little sister who's still a baby giggles in my mom's arms. This is the best day ever! I always love my birthdays. My parents always get me a bunch of gifts and make me feel special.

"Since this year you're seven years old, we have a very special gift for you, sweetheart."

Mom says to me with a smile.

"Special gift?"

I ask, trying to hide my apparent enthusiasm.

"This is the first step in making you a full-fledged member of the Kyushi clan."

My dad pats my head while explaining the purpose of my gift. My dad then picks me up and puts me on his shoulder. I giggle at how fun it is.

"Take care you two."

Mom says to us as we leave the house.

"Where are we going, Papa?"

I'm so curious about what he meant earlier.

"Remember what I told you before about our clan's Kekkei Genkai?"

"I remember! The members of the Kyushi clan can only learn jutsu by absorbing it from a fresh dead body!"

My dad lets out a proud laugh.

"That's my girl! So today, we will get you your first techniques!"

"My first jutsu! I'm so excited! What is it going to be?"

"Haha! We captured one of the bandits who attacked us last week and kept him alive just for you, Kiu. He seems to only know the basic jutsu, but it's a great start already."

That's going to be so fun! I practised my physical ability super hard with my clan to be able to take on absorbing new jutsu.

Papa takes me to the tent where they are holding up the prisoner. He looks weak.

"Are you sure he's got enough jutsu for me, Papa?"

"Why don't you find out?"

My dad puts me on the ground and gives me a kunai. I look at him with puzzled eyes.

"To acquire your first jutsu, you have to earn it by yourself. He's tied up so it should be easy for this time."

I look at the prisoner, then I look at the kunai in my hands. I then turn my gaze towards Papa.

"I have to... kill him?"

My hand is shaking a little bit. I'm a bit scared.

"This is going to be the first of many. If you want to survive in this world, you need to kill without remorse to make yourself stronger."

I gulp and hold the kunai tightly. As I approach the prisoner, I see fear in his eyes.

"Please! Don't kill me! I don't want to die!"

His cries startle me and I freeze up.

"Kiu!"

Papa calls my name in a strict tone. It makes me flinch.

"You are a member of Kyushi clan! It is your duty to get stronger and take my place! Do not disgrace your tribe!"

Disgrace?! I don't want to be a disgrace! I have to do this! If I don't then I am not a true Kyushi!

I hold the kunai tightly and stand in front of the prisoner. I prepare to strike him in the neck like Papa taught me. It's the easiest place to strike.

"Monsters! You're all monsters! Get away!"

He's acting all crazy! He's moving all over the place. I don't know if I'll be able to get a clean shot… I thrust my kunai and it hits his shoulder. He lets out a bone chilling scream. I back up a bit. The sensation of the kunai penetrating his flesh felt really weird… I then feel someone push me forward back in front of the prisoner. I look behind me and find out it was my dad.

"Mercy! Please! Mercy!"

His screams are really starting to get on my nerves. I thrust my kunai knife again at him and this time, because he's moving his head all over the place, it hits his eye. He screams louder than before.

"Just hold still already!"

I keep thrusting my kunai knife at him in frustration. I wanted to end this as fast as possible but he's really not making this easy.

After what seemed like an eternity, the prisoner finally stops moving. I think I might've stabbed him more than ten times. Is he really dead…?

"Ah!"

My head is starting to hurt!

"Congratulations, my dear daughter. You've begun your journey as an honourable Kyushi member."

My head! It hurts! Everything… is fading…

I open my eyes and look around. I'm back in my room. I yawn. Was it all a dream? I sit up and rub my eyes. Jutsu, huh… Wait… I feel like I know a lot more about jutsu for some reason. Should I try a technique…?

I quickly get out of bed and stand in front of my mirror. I do a bunch of hand-signs.

"Transform!"

I look back at my reflection and discover that I transformed into my best friend, Mari. I grin widely. I know how to use jutsu! I'm going to be super strong now!

I rush out of my room after undoing my transformation.

"Mama! Papa! I know jutsu! I can use ninja techniques now!"

I'm so excited! This is way too cool! My dad takes me in his arms and lifts me up.

"Ah! My little girl has grown! I knew you'd be happy learning new things!"

I look outside our tent and find the sun starting to set. I feel like I'm forgetting something… Mari! She said she had a gift for me for my birthday! I'm supposed to meet her now!

"Mama, Papa, I need to go out for a bit. I'll be back soon!"

"Alright, don't come back too late now."

My mom says with a smile. I leave the tent and head out of camp. I then go reach Sunagakure. I don't go inside, though, since I'm not allowed to. Mari says they see me and my tribe as "outsiders", whatever that means. It doesn't matter though, Mari comes out to play with me all the time.

"Kiu!"

I turn towards the voice that's calling me.

"Mari!"

I run towards her and we hug each other.

"You weren't late this time."

She says and giggles at me.

"I was almost late, but I sprinted as fast as I could to get here."

We giggle together and she then gives me something wrapped in some colourful paper.

"Is that my present?"

"Yup! There's a catch, though. Don't open it until tomorrow morning!"

"Huh? Why?"

"Because it reacts to the morning sun. If you open it now, it'll spoil the surprise."

I cock my head to the side. That's a strange gift, but if Mari says so, then it must be true.

"Alright, then! I'll go put it back in my tent for now and then I'll come back to play."

"Perfect! I'll wait for you here."

I go back home quickly and find no one there. At this time, my parents are usually holding a meeting with other important people in the tribe. I put my gift carefully on my futon and run back to where Mari is waiting for me.

We play all evening and talk together.

"Oh look, it's a full moon today."

I point at the sky.

"Yeah, you're right. It's so pretty."

There's a bunch of clouds starting to cover it though. Very quickly moving clouds… I follow where the clouds are coming from. These… are not clouds!

"Smoke from the camp!"

I exclaim as I start running towards the camp.

"Kiu! Don't go!"

I stop in my tracks and turn my head towards Mari.

"What…?!"

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

"It's dangerous…"

She whimpers. Then, behind her, two adults show up. Before I can even react, they knock me out.

I slowly open my eyes and blink a few times to clear my vision. I try to move, but I can't! I start panicking. Why can't I move?!

"It looks like she's awake."

A cold voice sends shivers down my spine. There are three people in front of me. One of them is very pale with silver hair and piercing blue eyes. He looks really cold and scary… The one standing next to him looks like Mari's dad! I'm pretty sure it is him! He has the same silky long light brown hair and dark brown eyes.

"Mister? You're Mari's dad right? I'm her best friend! Please help me!"

I feel tears well up in my eyes and roll down my cheeks.

"Ah, isn't she just precious?"

The man standing the furthest away says. That's the Kazekage! I've seen him sometimes coming halfway to our camp to meet my dad on neutral ground. Why is he doing this?

"Please let me go! Why am I tied up?!"

"Why?"

The Kazekage scoffs.

"Because you're part of the Kyushi clan."

What? I start getting a bit angry and annoyed.

"Let me go or when my dad finds you, you'll all be sorry!"

I yell out.

"Your dad? How unfortunate… It seems like there's been a bit of an… accident."

The Kazekage slowly says with a menacing voice.

"Accident…? What do you mean?"

"Let's say a toy of yours blew up and released a very powerful smoke jutsu developed by none other than the genius Kaizo over here. I'm afraid you're the last surviving member of your tribe."

He says with an amused tone.

"…Toy? They're all… dead?"

The toy… The toy that Mari gave me…! Then, she must've known all along… She betrayed me! My tears fall more abundantly and I sob loudly.

"Why? Why did you do this?!"

I say as I hiccup and wheeze.

"Why? Because that's one less threat to our village. Nothing matters to me more than the safety of Sunagakure. I will get rid of anything or anyone who threatens that safety."

The Kazekage looks at me with very cold eyes.

"Matsunoi, place a seal on her memories."

The Kazekage says to Mari's father.

"Lord Kazekage? Wouldn't be better if we just got rid of her? She could become a problem later on."

"If that happens, I'll have a team of specialized Anbu that will be ready to assassinate her if she ever starts posing a threat to our village. I just cannot get rid of such raw talent. She could become the weapon that my failure of a son couldn't become."

They're going to erase my memory? Does that mean I'm going to forget everyone? Mama? Papa? And even my little sister Yuna…? And Auntie Mitsu who always brought us bread and always took care of me when I was younger…

I can't stop my sobbing… Mari's father puts his hand on my head and everything fades to black.


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