I can read the memories of other people. I have seen hell in some of those memories and would only wish them upon the most vile of people imaginable. I have lived with the possibility of knowing that most of these could happen to me. But why would that put me down?
I first learned of my ability when I was 6, when I read the mind of one Naruto Uzumaki. It was surprising to say the least, as he seemed to remember everything from birth, including coming out of the womb of his mother. His parents surprised me to who they were as they were incredibly famous though it would be later when I found out about his mother's identity as she wasn't as famous as his father. His father was instantly recognisable, as you saw every time you looked up at the Hokage monument, he was the Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze, a once living legend. However, I also saw hell in his memories, piercing glares that stabbed deep into your soul, drunken villagers chasing after him intent on inflicting serious pain and shinobi who wanted to take 'justice' into their own hands. The worst memory of his I read was what happened to him the day of his birthday, the Kyuubi was sealed into him by his father as a last resort, knowing that his son would utilise it to become great.
I knew then that he was misunderstood and hated for it, though I didn't go up to him or tell my parents about it, who knows what could've happened to me. I wanted to help him but the repercussions would be enormous, so I pretended to not notice him. I wanted to notice him, honestly, and it has haunted me to this day that I did not help him.
Going into the Academy was terrifying, it was a place where people trained to become efficient killing machines, for Kami's sake, how could you not be even a little bit apprehensive about going into it. Turns out it was rather take, especially in those early days, except for Naruto. Even in the Academy, he could not escape prejudice.
It was there that first read Sasuke Uchiha's memories and they were even more confusing than Naruto's, an alternate timeline where everything had gone down the drain, a homicidal brother and a coup attempt were all stuck in there. He seemed to be training in order to prevent the world were shit has hit several fans, to catch up to his brother and to protect Konoha. That last one to me was a bit strange to think at the time but it was honourable.
I also developed a crush on the guy, though I didn't want to be a fangirl about it, I had to be in order to fit in. In those days I was also taunted and sometimes attacked because of my large forehead, not a fun experience, being bullied for something you couldn't really prevent or help.
I also took a second look at Naruto's memories, in which I saw him train in the complex art of fuinjutsu, something that I really didn't think was possible for how much intelligence he showed in class even though I felt sorry for him but then I realised he was more intelligent and mature than he actually let on. I also realised when reading their memories that they actually much further ahead than the rest of the class. I wasn't gonna be left behind but there was a problem there in what to train in. I knew that all civilian hopefuls like myself had very low amounts of chakra but I also knew that this led to high amounts of chakra control. Even in that time, I had read too many books. It took a couple days of thinking but it then hit me that genjutsu and iryo-ninjutsu needed excellent chakra control, I knew then what I needed to do.
As soon as we were dismissed, I ran to the library and straight to the Academy student section and searched. I was unable to find anything on iryo-ninjutsu but I could easily find a book about genjutsu. I checked it out and realised that it actually had too much to be a true book for Academy students but the librarian didn't seem to care when she checked it out, mind you, she did look tired and was probably a bit dopey.
The book even contained stuff on A-rank jutsu but I had more than enough sense to start with thebasics. The book itself was titled, 'Genjutsu Theory' and was by someone called Murakumo Kurama, though it was a long time before I realised just who that was. The book started of w with three different chakra control techniques, one called the Leaf Sticking exercise in which you used chakra to stick a leaf to a part of your body, then there was the Solid Surface Sticking and Walking exercise which consisted of focusing chakra to your feet and then walking up walls, trees and the like and the water equivalent, which would allow you to walk on water if learned.
I set to work practising the first two in secret as my parents, while they were once shinobi, were a bit protective of me and who knows what they would have done if saw their beloved daughter hanging upside-down from the ceiling of her room. They would have pulled me out of the Academy, no doubt.
The exercises were child's play for me and my ultra controlled chakra meaning I could get on with practising genjutsu unhindered.
They first few genjutsu I learned in an instant I quickly realised the pranks I could pull off with them. So I pranked Kiba Inuzuka by making him think that a bluebottle was pestering him. It worked and was hilarious for me and the rest of the class, I'm even sure that Iruka had an amused smile. Before he went up to the boy and put his hand on his shoulder to 'reassure' him. In reality he was breaking Kiba out of the genjutsu, ruining the fun for the rest of us.
I did several such pranks until they were overshadowed entirely by Naruto's pranks which were some of the more creative things I have ever seen. Like when he used a lamb shank to pull Akamaru away from Kiba, scaring the Inuzuka half to death. Eventually, this became routine and everyone laughed for one reason or another at something. Even Sasuke once lost his shit, which prompted even more laughing.
As I progressed through Academy, I learned some surprisingly complex illusions for someone at that age. Like one that used all of the victims inner demons against them, forcing them to break down because they can't handle it, that was just cruel if you ask me and they author of the book agreed with me stating that it should never be used against a friend or ally and even then they advised that was it was just over-the-top and bordering on downright evil.
Time flew through the Academy and soon enough came the day that for a long time, I dreaded. Turns out it wasn't that bad and I found it way easier than one wouldexpect, the place that I fell down at was shurikenjutsu, something that would be corrected in later life.
Overall, though, my scores were best amongst the female members of the class though were not the best in the class, that much I could tell because my shurikenjutsu was so bad.
And it turns out I was right.
On the day that the teams were announced, Iruka walked in with a barely noticeable sadness on his face and without Mizuki, which led me to the logical conclusion that something had happened to Mizuki. The chatter was loud and Iruka was having none of it, "Alright, settle down people, settle down!", Iruka shouted, it would be clear absolutely anyone that he was not in the mood for nonsense today, not any more than what he usually puts up with, at least, "Alright here are the teams, Team 1...", I tuned out Iruka as the only team I really gave a true shit about was the one that I would be on, "Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha under Jonin Kakashi Hatake".
Internally, I was happy. I had seen given a team with only two people in the class that I wouldn't mind being associated with but I had to act shocked by the fact I got Naruto on my team, so I shouted, "SAY WHAT?!".
Truth be told, I was happy I had Naruto on my team and just as much so Sasuke but I had no idea who Kakashi was. Oh my, was I in for a surprise.
To be honest, I don't really think that Sakura is that different from Sasuke in this story.
As usual, please feel free to ask questions, give suggestions and just general constructive criticism. It helps me make the story more enjoyable.
Sincerely, your friend, DaPika.