On a rainy night at precisely 12:01 am, June 20th, sometime into the fourth Hokage's reign, a babe with a single strand of black hair and eyes the colour of polished gold was born. He was the first and only son of two Konoha shinobi named Hotaru Takeshi and Miyu Gouda. The midwife and soon-to-be second wife of Hotaru was the first face the babe ever saw as he opened his bleary golden eyes.

Many would say that they could not remember the day they were born, in fact, most claim that remembering anything before the age of two years was impossible.

And yet, Jin Takeshi remembered. He remembered seeing the midwife, Sayuri Yoshida's face, he remembered being held and rocked, then passed on into the arms of another—his mother. He remembered that she was beautiful. Her hair was plain of colour but impossibly silken. Her eyes were golden and almost iridescent, glowing in the darkness of night. Her smile was a warm blanket he felt over his shoulders. Her exhaustion made her visage ever more captivating.

As the months passed, he remembered her singing as she went about the house. The sound of her voice was like the melody of spring—vibrant, wonderful. He remembered her smile; it was as if she never stopped smiling. She often times teased Sayuri and made her blush. She was…mesmerising.

Jin Takeshi never met his father.

He was out on a long-term mission and only returned that day. Jin was told he was brave and strong, but never thought much of him. He had never felt the same bond as he did with his mother. He simply wasn't there. Some would think it callous of him but he didn't hate or even disliked his father. He simply never got to know him.

He would have liked to.

But that night, his mother had left him with Sayuri and went out to greet his father at the gates. He was but a few months old at the time but he remembered the heart palpitations he had. His mother had talked about that day many times, about how excited she was to introduce the two of us.

She never had the chance.

For that day was October 10th, the night of the Kyuubi attack.

~Sayuri~

"Coochie, coochie coo~" Sayuri said as she tickled the baby's naked stomach. The giggle he gave out was perhaps the most adorable sound she'd ever heard in her life.

To think that it was but a year ago that she'd met Miyu and was introduced to her, now, fiance Hotaru. She shook her head wistfully. Miyu was…in a word: colourful—much in contrast to her own serious, if not dour personality.

She was but a mere chuunin graduate of the academy at the time, but she'd stood out enough to be apprenticed to one of Konoha's elite jonin—that being Miyu. Sayuri didn't have many friends due to her…circumstances but the moment she met Miyu she knew she would have in her a great mentor and a great friend.

She thought that would be the extent of their relationship…but, alas, here she was. She was being courted by Miyu's husband, much to Miyu's encouragement (read: coercion). She'd never even kissed the man…but she knew she'd likely have no better life than the one she'd currently chosen. Her circumstances prevented her from being a desired marriage candidate and so, when Miyu and Hotaru offered her a choice to join their family, she jumped at the chance.

She didn't know if she would grow to love Hotaru romantically but even then, the companionship she felt with Miyu was enough above all else. She'd never…been not lonely before. It was like someone had filled a void in her life, or had reached out to her when she was drowning at sea.

It was rash, people would say, for she wasn't even twenty yet. Some could even accuse Hotaru of cradle-snatching given their age difference. However, with the prolonged life granted by the potency of a shinobi's and kunoichi's chakra, that age difference would mean little in the long run. Who would care if you're 210 years old and married to someone 180 years young?

But a 50-year-old marrying a soon-to-be 20-year-old? She could see why it turned heads.

She cared not for it. She was used to being stared at all her life. It didn't matter to her so long as it doesn't bother Miyu. She'd endure anything for what she had now. Her relationship with the Takeshi family was worth it.

"Aga~ Aga~" Jin said laughing as Sayuri's nimble fingers performed the worm dance on his bare skin.

Well, if anything, the laughter of this precious bundle of joy in front of her was also worth everything.

Sayuri smiled, intent on rousing more laughter out of her…step-son? Gosh, that was a weird thought. She was far too young to be called a mother of anyone…but she'd heard of people who were made mothers at an even younger age than she was.

"Agaaa~" Baby Jin spluttered.

Sayuri giggled.

THWOM

Suddenly, like the shattering glass of a fallen picture frame, the scene of the moment changed before her very eyes. A second ago, she was having the time of her life with adorable little Jin. The next, the earth trembled and the sound of thunderclaps reverberated through the village. It was as if the hand of Kami had descended upon them, smiting them for their ignorance, for their foolish belief in peace.

The furniture around them rattled and she would count it a blessing that they'd removed anything that could potentially fall on baby Jin when they baby-proofed this room. Regardless, she took Jin out of his cradle and into her arms. Even now, he did not cry—how well-behaved he was. He only looked curiously at the happenings around him, trying to understand why it was all occurring.

She, too, wanted to know.

And so, she rushed out of her home, with Jin in her arms, evading any potential shelves or cabinets or wardrobes that could collapse on top of them. With her talent in the shinobi arts, it was but an afterthought as she descended down the stairs.

The moment she stepped outside, she stopped in her tracks at what she saw.

Now, the baby cried in her arms.

She, too, was shaken to the core.

Never in her life had she seen such destruction.

It was perhaps five seconds since the initial earthquake. It took five seconds for this…creature to destroy a part—no, a quarter of the village.

She knew what this creature was. Everyone did—so feared was its power.

The Kyuubi. The Nine-taled Fox of death.

She saw it raise its tails again.

Oh no.

She turned around, wrapping Jin up in her arms, shielding him with her body, hoping to all that is good that at the very least, Jin would be okay.

The earth shook once more…and then the fox was gone in a flash of yellow.

~Baby Jin~

Funerals were…eerily dreary. But for little Jin, it was simply another scene to behold in the wondrous world around him. He did not know why but even as a baby only a couple of months old, he saw that many people weren't very happy to be there. It made him curious as to why they were there then. Everyone was dressed in black, with looks of pain on their faces. Alas, his undeveloped mind could only make sense of so much, so he went back to swatting away that thing in the corner of his vision again.

It was a little red shape that always seem to dodge itself out of the way every time he tried to turn to look at it. Yet, it always remained in his periphery whenever he turned his head back to where he was before. He was initially annoyed by it but, over time, had gotten used to it. Now he just treated it as a game and something to do when he was bored.

"Aga~," He said as he swatted at the box again.

"A tragedy has befallen our village…and the sacrifices of our ninja and our people will not go unforgotten. It was they who fought to protect us and it was because of them that we still live."

It was a distant voice that spoke but little Jin could just barely make it out. He didn't understand what any of the words meant but one, in particular, stood out to him. He didn't know why it did but he remembered the word. It reverberated within his soul.

Protect.

He wondered what it meant.

"Due to the death of our beloved Fourth, I will be reinstated as the acting Hokage until a worthy successor is chosen once again. Do not lose faith…"

The next words faded into jumbled sounds as Jin felt himself get tired and it wasn't long until he succumbed to sleep.

The next year was…unfulfilling. Jin was still cared for by Sayuri and their home was still intact, luckily. Sayuri did a few C-ranked missions every now and then whilst Jin was left at the daycare so that they would have enough allowance to get by. She refused to touch the money that was saved up by the recently passed Takeshi members.

…but the year-old Jin could see that she wasn't very…happy.

At a year and a few months old, he was crawling around on all fours now, sometimes even standing up and walking on his own two feet!…he wasn't very good at it yet though. He kept falling on his face. He wanted to be a bit more grown-up so that Sayuri wouldn't have to worry about him.

However, ever since his parents never returned home, Sayuri was so much…sadder. Little Jin was still a toddler, and yet he could understand that something was wrong with the previously so loving caretaker. Yet, no matter how much he tried to cheer her up, whether it was by bringing her his toys or enthusiastically blabbing at her, she was never able to…smile. Jin would not give up though.

"I'm back…" Sayuri said plainly as she entered the house. She was only gone for ten minutes to the store to buy those green bottle things again. Every time she drank from that bottle, she would become…less of Sayuri and more like a person with very low energy, much like he was when he was sleepy. Jin didn't like it when she drank from that bottle: she often cried after she did. She should drink from his bottle instead! He thought it tasted pretty good and didn't make him tired.

"Aga!" Jin said, waving his pudgy hands at her.

"Here you go, little Jin," Sayuri responded without emotion. She placed his pacifier in his mouth. He appreciated it. His mouth was getting itchy for some reason. It felt like something was growing from it! More teeth maybe? He already had some of those…he guessed he could always use more. He remembered that bigger humans were supposed to have two whole rows of them. Anyhow, having something to chew on was good.

Jin sucked on the pacifier.

Sayuri walked over to the couch, turned on the TV and collapsed, just as she usually did, drinking from that green bottle again.

Jin was in his crib but he wanted to go over and comfort her. He could swear that he was almost able to climb out of it by himself.

Hmm…

He had nothing to do, so it was time to pick at the red letters/shape thing again.

He could make out some of what it said now from that elementary book Sayuri got him.

Memory Synchronization: 1%

He didn't understand what it meant but he'll figure it out one day.

He suddenly started feeling sleepy again. It was nap time. Naps were very important.

.

.

.

.

.

It was the creaking of a wooden object that woke Jin up. As he came back to the world from his dreams, he heard the sobs once again.

The sound of Sayuri's crying was as familiar to him now as the sound of his rattle toys.

Jin snapped his bleary eyes open. Seeing Sayuri upset also made him sad…but today he felt…off. It was as if something inside him was screaming at him to do something. He sat up to see Sayuri standing on a…chair? Why would she need to stand on a chair?

"Aga," He said, letting her know that she was awake.

She was still sobbing. "I'm sorry. I can't—I can't. They treated me so horribly, and you were—you were my only hope of salvation."

She reached up to…was that string? Rope?

That feeling in his chest burned even hotter and he felt…scared. He was very rarely scared—only on that night with the giant fox. But…he was scared now. Terrified. He didn't like seeing Sayuri in pain.

He rolled over and stood up, using his chubby limbs to support himself. Then, he set himself to climb out of his crib. He'd never done it before but something told him that this time of all the times he'd tried mattered the most and that if he'd failed…he didn't really know what would happen but he didn't like it one bit.

Sayuri didn't pay him any mind, stuck in that world the green bottle took her to. He wished he was able to make her stop whatever she was doing but he didn't know how. So he climbed, his leg kicked up and he managed to get it over the crib. This point was he was where he failed all the times before. He needed enough strength to launch himself out and roll over the railings. It was a difficult manoeuvre but he was determined to get it right.

With a mighty leap, he was in the air, twisting and turning so that he would get himself over the ledge. And he succeeded.

He didn't plan on what he'd do after, though.

And so, he had greeted the floor awkwardly. A sharp pain seared through him and he yelped.

It hurt.

A lot.

But he tried not to cry. He didn't cry much nowadays so that Sayuri could be happier. So, from the sheer will of his soul, he pushed the rising bile in his throat back down his gullet and blinked the tears away from his eyes. The pain was coming from his…leg? and his wrist as well…and his face. His face hurt too.

He looked over to Sayuri.

She wore the rope around her neck now.

It was that same feeling again. The one that made him freeze up. The one that made him desperate and scared. He felt like crying. He really tried not to. But he couldn't…hold it back.

He was scared.

So very scared.

"Waaaaaaaah!" He let out a wail.

Sayuri…didn't hear him.

But how?

He was right there! Why couldn't she hear him? Why couldn't she see him?

Sayuri motioned to take a step.

Something within him despaired.

No.

Nonono.

NoNONONONONO.

The feeling in his chest reached a crescendo. It was like someone had filled him up with air. Then something snapped within him and all of a sudden he felt…light.

Memory Synchronization: 2%

Memory Synchronization: 3%

Memory Synchronization: 4%

Memory Synchronization: 5%

Kekkei Genkai [Lust Release] has Levelled Up!

[Lust Release] has created a new skill!

[Thou Shall See Me] (level 1) has been activated.

"SAYU!" Jin screamed.

~Sayuri~

Sayuri was drunk. She was a sad drunk, she realised. The type of person who would pour their frustrations out to a colleague after a glass of wine too many…or sake. Sake was her choice of poison. She didn't have anyone to complain to. She was alone now. Always alone.

She was heartbroken, losing the family she'd always wanted. There was no one left. No one but a baby…

It was her duty that kept her going—her duty to raise Jin. To honour the wishes of her mentor. But as the days went by and turned into weeks and weeks into months, the pit in her heart and the void in her soul grew ever bigger. She'd resorted to drinking herself to sleep most nights. She was in a sorry state, she knew. She'd take C-rank missions or D ranks to buy what supplies she and Jin needed but other than that…well…

Now she stood there, on the creaking chair, ready to end it all. The pounding of her heart drowned out all other noises. The tears in her eyes prevented her from seeing anything but her own despair. She could persevere no longer. The rope was around her neck now. The final step was ready to be taken.

And she took it…almost.

Just before she committed, she felt a strong burst of chakra and all of a sudden, her attention snapped to little Jin. It was as if someone was holding her head, forcing her attention to stay on him and only him. And then…she saw. For the first time in months, she saw the reality she was in. The semi-fugue state that haunted her thoughts dissipated into nothingness and comprehension filled her once more like a bowl from a torrential downpour.

…what…what in the world was she doing?

Was she really a step away from ending it all?

Was she really a step away from leaving Jin an orphan? From leaving him truly alone?…like her?

Jin!

She took in his state and was horrified at what she glimpsed. How in the world he got out of his crib, she did not know, but in that moment of clarity, she realised that the chakra burst she felt came from him. Accidental chakra manipulation…from a 1-year-old? And a boy? That was absurd! But…but he took in the desperation in his eyes, the terror, the fear of losing her.

She swiftly took off the damnable rope from her neck and stepped off the chair, rushing towards her little Jin. She carefully picked him up, examining him. He was injured on his wrist and one of his ankles. His face was a bit red but seemed to have no visible wounds.

The moment her eyes met his, there was no longer any fear there. There was relief and happiness. Jin smiled and giggled, waving his flabby arms around like he was greeting her for the first time today. It made her knees almost give out from under her.

For the first time since Miyu's death, she realised that she wasn't alone and that someone still cared for and loved her.

"Sayu!" little Jin said, reaching out to her face. The moment his pudgy hand touched her face, however, he winced a little.

That snapped Sayuri out of her turbulent emotions and back into action.

"Oh Jin, my baby boy. You got hurt because of me," She said, tears welling up and making her eyes glassy. She quickly made her way out of their home and towards the hospital. "Sayuri is so, so sorry, okay? That's never going to happen again. I promise."

Of course, Jin could only respond with an "Aga!" and "Sayu!"

Yet for all Sayuri knew, the little bundle in her arms would become the little star that she'd orbit her life around until she stopped breathing.