Chapter Two: Small Village Girl

I believe I was four when my true self began to be awakened

According to the priest and priestesses of the Inari shrine, I was left on the porch of the shrine as a new born, by a messenger of the gods. Assuring me that I was a gift sent to them by the Heavens. There on the blanket I had been swaddled in was my name: Menma. This line of answers came as a reply to my three year old self, inquiring why I did not have parents like the other children in the village had. Of course I didn't mind, my childish psyche already deciding that I didn't need one daddy or mommy, not when it seemed that I had plenty of them in the shrine, along with older sisters and brothers that lived in the village just at the foot of the small mountain the shrine resided on.

I think, even as young as I was, I knew I was different from the other children. Things like speaking, walking, eating; things that advanced me as a human being, somehow came natural. By the time I was three I had not only learned how to speak fluently to the adults that surrounded me, but I had a general grasp on the written language of my land as well. The head priest proudly proclaimed that the Heavens truly did send them an outstanding child. But most of all the thing that made me the stray nail that stuck up, was that I could feel it.

I could feel the sensation of something living in me so vividly. A warm, wiggling, living substance that resided in every pore of my body. Not just my body, though, but in everything that resided around me. In the priest and priestesses, in the dogs in the village, even in the wild flowers in the field by the shrine. I remember I had whined to the head priest about it, calling it the "wiggling invisible worms". He had given me a peculiar look, but never mentioned it again, and neither had I; even in my once childish state I knew when to leave well enough alone.

But that bliss of a childhood ended on the fourth year of my being in this world

It had happened when I had asked one of the priestesses where we lived, and of course she answered me with the usual 'silly girl we live in the Inari shrine to the gods', the reply I had gotten every time before, but as I pestered her about where we really lived she yielded with a sigh.

"We live in the Land of Grass, just by the boarder of the Land of Rain," she informed me halfheartedly as she prepared the shrine for afternoon prayers. As soon as the last word left her mouth I suddenly had felt a sharp pain in the back of my head. A throbbing pain that demanded all of my attention, nut just as suddenly as it came it left, leaving a lingering soft pounding in my ears.

"I-Iyako-neesama, I'm going to go get flowers for dinner," I turned to leave, my vision blurring, "I promise, I'll be back for prayers!"

With that I sprinted from the shrine running as hard as a four year old could. Pictures started flashing before my eyes, pictures I couldn't understand. Rooms I had never been in, people I had never seen, things I had never seen; tall buildings, flying things that looked like birds

Planes

Planes?

That was the word my mind supplied. And it had done it for other things. Cars, skyscrapers, computers; things that didn't exist here.

But how did I know that? I couldn't find the answer.

Until I looked up. And there he was. The thing the priest warned all the children to fear and respect. The being that had been painted on countless ceremonial mask that hung in the shrine. The bringer of death and rebirth.

Shinigami

I would know that demonic face anywhere, I had always found his mask to be the most truly mesmerizing one of them all. The red of his face was dull, black teeth elongated to a spears point, a crown of unruly white hair. But his eyes were the thing that truly had me starring. Pools of gold with cat eyed pupils, the parts of his eyes that should have been white, were a bottomless black color. His large figure was enveloped with a pure white formal kimono, tied with a red sash. And finally purple prayer beads hung on his wrist and around his neck.

He truly was a frightening specter. And there we stood.

A small red headed child panting in her light pink yukata, and a larger than life being, simply looking down on her.

"I finally found you, I hadn't expected you to slip through my sensing abilities or the of the Heaven's, but your aren't where you are supposed to be, now are you, Little Drifter," his voice was soft, but deep and covered in a gravelly tone, "It's time for you to stop acting like you're a child, and act your age; its time you remembered where you came from, so I can tell you why you're here."

Another picture entered my already confused mind. It was a drawing of a boy. He had bright yellow hair, it was so spiky, and a wide smile. He was wearing an orange jump suit, and while his eyes were just slits from smiling I couldn't help but think that they were an amazing shade of blue.

Like mine

Finally were the whiskers on his face, just like mine.

Looking at the Shinigami I felt my breath come quicker.

"Why? Why do I need to remember something, Shinigami-sama?" the edges of my vision already darkening, "Why are you taking this away from me?"

Hot tears were already rolling down my face

"Because fate has decided it will be you who helps save this world."

And with that I finally fell into the long awaiting darkness

Breathe

I never knew pain like this existed, well I did, but you never expect it to happen to yourself…yah know?

Breathe

I was an idiot I really was, ignorance really wasn't bliss

Breathe

If only I had been observant

Breathe

But what good would that have done me?

Breathe

It just hurt so damn much!

Breathe

It getting dark! Why is it getting dark?!

Breathe

BREATHEDAMNITJUSTFUCKINGBREATHE

Please just breathe

While the darkness just kept coming my eyes couldn't help but focus on the very thing covering me…

Breathe

And I realized something before there was nothing

I really hate the color red

Slowly I opened my eyes only for them to meet the familiar ceiling of my room in the shrine, small pools of unshed tears lied in my eyes. So I had already died once, but not in this world. No, I was from somewhere much farther than that. A world of technology and science. There were still holes in the memories I had, most of them having to do with who I had been. I didn't know my name from my past life, nor where I had come from, or the people who had been in my life, only general knowledge.

Even with all that I still carried some of my childishness with me, because in actuality I was physically and mentally a four year old child, but spiritually I was much older.

Somehow I couldn't bring myself to care whether the soul that I had had been a reused one. To all the people around me I was Menma of the Inari shrine, of the village just south of the Land of Rain. And that would be enough for now.

Soon enough the meeting became a small distant memory, the attention span of a four year old not quite holding on to the memory of the heavy conversation that had occurred with an almighty spiritual being the previous day.

Little did I know that he would soon become a regular part of my life, and that someone else would soon enter my life.

Someone I would grow to love and hate in my new life

The first time I had met him was when I had wandered into the forest just east of the village. One of the priestesses had decided to bring me along for some errands down in the village.

It was a small village, yes, but the people were happy enough, and no one had been to hard up for food or money. A truly normal and content village. The forest the surrounded the mountain and village was moderately thick and full of life.

I had been wandering the thick under bush when I came upon a small pond. Surprisingly enough it was clear and full of what looked to be healthy coy. Leaning down I was about to touch them when a voice rang out stopping me.

"You shouldn't get so close to that water little girl," it was a deep and mischievous voice, "You might just drown."

My head snapped to the direction where the voice was coming from. There in a nearby tree was a man with an orange swirly mask and a black over coat. His hair was shoulder length and wild and spiky.

"H-how would you know if I'd d-drown!?" my voice came out extra high and squeaky, "I-I could know how to swim, dattebana!"

Somewhere along the line I had acquired the strange tik, but it never unsettled me, so I allowed it to stay.

"Please, like a pip squeak like you would know how to swim," he leapt down from his perch, "Ha, I bet you still don't know how to use the bathroom properly!"

My face was probably as red as a tomato by now, stomping my way over to his smug form, I completely forgot the priest's lesson on 'stranger danger'.

"H-how dare you!" I shouted as I stood tall, even over his looming figure, "I am a big girl! I can clean myself, dress myself, I can do all my chores, I can even read and write! I'm practically a grown up, dattebana!"

By now he was silently laughing. His broad shoulders shaking. With a huff of irritation I turned to leave. I didn't need this! I was technically a grown up! Even if I didn't look it! But before I could get far, two gloved hands wrapped themselves around my small toddler waist spinning me around to be hung face to face with the mystery man. His eyes were a bright red with black dots in them.

The throbbing pain I had gotten the time before was slowly returning. Flashes of different people with the same eyes went through my mind like lightning.

"Ah, so you are a big girl, and quite the pretty one too," his words were low, "but big girls shouldn't wander off without someone to watch over them, they might be stolen away by big bad wolves."

I stiffened in his grasp. His words dripped with a condescending twist, like he was reminiscing about a joke only he and another knew.

"Are you one of these wolves?" I asked innocently as his one red eye continued to stare into my soul.

"Do you think so?" it was a simple enough question, so I answered it simply.

"No, I don't think so," he stilled for a moment before setting my back on my own feet again.

"Now why would you say that little miss?"

"Because you haven't taken me yet," he stilled once more before turning around to head back into the shadowy woods. Once he was partially in the shadows he looked back at me once more.

"I like you little miss, let's do this more often," he turned back and completed his walk into the shadows casually throwing over his shoulder, "By the way, the names Tobi."

Before he completely vanished I yelled out my name

"Menma! My name is Menma," and with that he was gone, even the wiggling worms that followed him were gone.

"You shouldn't be so frank with your name to stranger's brat," a familiar gravelly voice came from slightly behind me. Peering beck I was met with the sight of the all-powerful Shinigami, "Especially around shinobi, and definitely around that kind of shinobi."

Tilting my head to the side I inquired about this.

"What's a shinobi?" the throbbing returned. Shinigami-sama sighed.

"It seems I will have to wait a few more years for all your memories to come back, but that doesn't mean we won't start your training soon, you'll have to be prepared for what lies ahead of you, and to bare what is expected of you," with another sigh he decided to answer my question, "A shinobi is a warrior of sorts, one who protects their way of life or thinking, some are bad and some are good, but all are feared and respected to some extent."

He looked down into my eyes capturing my full attention.

"I know it is hard for you to truly retain our conversations and the gravity of the situation, that is why I am making an exception for you until your full reincarnation is complete, but know that you have a duty, a purpose in this world like everything else," he turned around and headed the way I had entered the forest, "Soon enough all your memories will return and your visions will soon come with them, both the Heaven's and myself expect great things from you Menma."

Following a pace behind him I looked back once more to the spot where the man, Tobi, had been standing.

"Will I become a shinobi too?" I inquired as I began to walk side by side with him, "will I become strong?"

"Perhaps you will," he sighed again, "Some day, brat."

A beat of silence followed before I spoke up again

"Why me?" was all I asked; was all I needed to ask

"I don't know why brat, but the Heavens have their reasoning for picking you," as we were about to leave the forest completely, he began to fade, "But remember this brat; There is no coincidences, only inevitability."

And with that he was gone

Obito had been surprised to see the little Uzumaki clone wander off into the forest alone, really did those priest and priestesses teacher her nothing about self-preservation?

He had not planned to reproach her but he did, after four years of silently watching her from the shadows, it was about time she met him.

She was the spitting image of his old sensei's wife, with a few minor adjustments, like those odd whiskers. But then again she was an odd child, from her looks to her personality.

Bright red hair cut into a straight edge bob. Large rounded bright blue eyes, along with a small nose and mouth. A chubby tanned face with those whisker marks. All tied up into a summer kimono, geta wearing bow.

Then her personality, she carried herself in a way most children didn't. Confident strides, forward staring eyes, unwavering independence. She was a lot like her father, even down to the quiet and calm disposition. No doubt she's adored by the shrine and village. An autumn leaf among boring blades of grass. He truly chose the right one to take.

So she had said he wasn't wolf due to the fact he hadn't stolen her away yet?

Obito chuckled to himself as he made his way back to the Land of Rain

Oh the irony

Once again Naruto was left to swing alone. It had always been this way as far as he could remember. He ate alone, bathed alone, and cried alone. But he did live with jiji. The Third Hokage took care of him while his papa was sick and gave him a home, but the old man was always busy leaving him alone with all the masked weirdos.

Speaking of his papa he had just finished visiting with him. Of course he was still asleep, but Naruto didn't mind talking to him. He would go on and on about his day. How he had chased and caught cicadas and about how much he loved ramen, but as much as Naruto loved visiting his papa, he wished he would answer back some times.

But once his papa woke up they would be together! And seeing as his papa was the Fourth Hokage he would get to see his papa do cool ninja trick and they would train together, and they would find her.

He had heard his jiji talk about it one night to some older people, about how they had to find his sister.

Menma

He had a sister! A younger twin sister! He didn't know why she was lost, but he would help find her when papa woke up! And they would be one big happy family!

And then the villagers wouldn't be afraid to talk to him!

And then he wouldn't be alone…

Shaking his head Naruto hopped off the swing and headed towards his mama's grave, he had to tell her about his day!

A/N heres the second chapter. Kinda dry but very informational! There will be more information about more stuff in the next chapter, but im digging it so far and I hope you guys are too. It really kinda broke my heart to write the Naruto part, but he's a tough cookie!

Threw in a little XXX Holic there towards the end. Goodness I really love that manga!

Please review and critique nicely, if somethings are confusing just say so and ill try to make it smoother next time.

Bye bye cya soon!