Of Life and Names

I woke up in a daze. The pain, while dulled, was still there. Why is it still there? My tummy doesn't hurt much, rather, it's my whole body now. It's nowhere as bad as before, more like a dull ache, but it's there.

I'm in someone's arms. I can feel it, they are carrying me... I wonder, why has the thought of being small and carried not crossed my mind before now? How are they carrying me? This is so confusing... it's like they're treating me like a baby.

Wait...! No...way...

The mental fireworks went off in my head. Somehow I feel as if I hit the jackpot. I really did die, I knew I died! My body, it just couldn't handle anymore! I thought something was off, but I wasn't small enough to be carried around like that...

'Of course! I'm a child! A baby!' My brain isn't suited for complex thought. It took me a long while to understand my situation 'This... this is going to be a long few first years...'

-Three Years Later-

A small dark blur sped through the halls of the orphanage.

Trying to escape the evil matron that seems to have it out for me, I ran. I ran and ran. I was never allowed outside with the other children to look around. I was never allowed toys to play with, though I'm not sure I would. All I was given were books. Books they assumed I couldn't read, and didn't teach me to read. Books I've never seen before, let alone heard of. These children stories were odd. Though the strange stories in my old country were just as prevalent. The strangest thing of all was that I COULD read them, that I COULD understand the language. But for some reason, this didn't feel like my country. So that I COULD was strange.

I don't know why they told the children to stay away from me, or why the adults gave me these glares. They left me alone as much as they could, and just left me with books, smirking while I read. Assuming I couldn't, yet just stared at the children's books I was so bored of. So VERY bored of. But it was better than getting in trouble for random things. If I read, they left me alone. And that was better than being spanked or hit. Better than having others bullying me.

But today was different, for some reason, the evil matron was after me. I couldn't figure out why, but I didn't want to find out. I sped around the corner, and into one of the bedrooms, straight under the closest bed while she kept going past the door. I immediately went to the furthest bed, intending to curl up into the corner until she stopped looking. At least she couldn't hit me if she couldn't find me.

A while later someone stepped into the room. I could see the long red and white robe running down to the floor. But I have never seen a person in the orphanage that had an outfit like this. He continued right up to the bed I was hiding under. My fear. Fear of who this was, what they could possibly want, what could happen from what this stranger was going to do. It all came to me, I was shivering. If the matron had to find someone else to get me, there is no telling what will happen.

The clothed figure kneeled down, and looked under the bed, right into my eyes. THAT FACE! I KNEW THAT FACE! One surprising effect of having all my memories and soul burned into this body, into a newborns body, was that my memory was perfectly preserved, and that I practically had eidetic memory. Somehow my brain had expanded at an incredible pace, one that could keep up with my thoughts, one that could handle who I used to be, and who I am now. And THAT face was definitely in my memories. HOW is that face here?!

"Hello child, may I ask why you're hiding under here?" asked the robed stranger.

I was stiff, with wide eyes, no longer from fright, rather pure disbelief. How could he be here?! HOW COULD I BE HERE?! It's just not possible... So I just have to ask...

"Wh-who are y-you?"

The elderly man simply smiled. "My name is Sarutobi Hiruzen."

And I just gaped. My reaction must have given me away, as he raised an eyebrow. Maybe he thinks I've heard of him? or his title? but he has to know now that I realized who he is. It was just plainly painted on my face. And now that I think about it, some of those people coming in for adoptions had ninja-like attire. Heck, the sandals everyone wear, they just scream shinobi!

He continued on, "The Third Hokage of Konohagakure. But from your face, I'll assume you knew that," as he just gave a tender smile filled with kindness I hadn't seen in years.

I finally started regaining my bearings when he raised his other eyebrow. I crawled out from under the bed, still wide-eyed as I was. Still in shock - but I eventually had the resolve to answer.

"My name, um... my name is Naruna... I don't know my family name, or if I even have one." At that, I saw a sad glint in his eyes, but I continued all the same. "Nobody really talks to me, and all I've ever been called is that, or 'evil brat', or 'little demon'." And there it is again, but this time it seems even sadder, though somewhat grave. His reply though, that would always be engraved into my mind. His reply would leave me in wonderment, in disbelief, and in terror.

He just smiled during his reply, no hint of sadness in his voice, completely hidden from his warm words. "Your name is Uzumaki Naruna."

And there it was. My mind was crashing. Somehow I knew I didn't want the answer, that maybe I wouldn't be the child of who I thought I might be. The moment he stepped into sight though, somehow I knew my life was going to be thrown through a loop - or a hundred. So my mind did the only thing it could - It shut down.

And like that, I passed out on the Third Hokage.