Author Message: Had time to update this story, sorry for the short chapter but wanted to get it much faster rather than extended wait. After this chapter, I'll be typing out the next volume of Student of Uzumaki.
WORDS STYLE:
Flashback
(Leo Voice)
Thinking
[Words from the Past]
SHOUTING
TwIsTeD
Chapter 2: New Life
—YEAR K407—
WITHIN THE GREAT FOREST/INSIDE THE DOLDIA TRIBE'S JURISDICTION
"His name was Pudoria Dordia, he was the Beast God possessing two heads, one being a dog and the other a cat." Spoke a Beast woman called Rakrana, she stood in front of several children who were looking quite amazed. "It is said he rode a white wolf—"
Her attention was drawn towards one student appearing energetic, the kid had spiky silver hair and brown eyes, a snaggle-tooth that took the form of an overly long fang protruding from the upper right side of the mouth. Along with having a pair of dog ears protruding from the top of the kid's head along with a tail that was wagging nonstop. What was very noticeable was the fact the kid had a lot of scars on their hands and some on their face.
"Shīrudo—" She was cut off by the child which in turn caused her to sigh.
"Teacher, it's just like the Sacred Beast!" The child said with a big smile, gaining almost groans from their fellow students. "I heard he was born from the Sacred Tree and it's said that together with his partner they will—" The kid was cut off by another speaking.
"Shīrudo." This caused the energetic one to stop talking as the others turn to the back, seeing a loner-looking kid looking away from everyone, watching the birds fly by in a group. The kid looked rather ordinary, having chin-length grey hair with two cat-like ears protruding from it, green eyes, and a constant passive expression stuck to his face.
"Your doing it again and interfering with the lesson." His words got the kid to suddenly laugh while scratching the back of the head sheepishly.
"Oh, sorry about that, Gādian!" And just like that, the kid sat down with a smile still plastered on their face, the opposite of the passive one who just looked back out at the quiet forest, having recently come out from the rainy season.
"Five years already." Thought the child, walking upon the wooden bridge. From where he was heading, he was given the sight of the whole village that was built the same way. It had wooden platforms connecting to massive trees and bridges to connect them to other trees, most of the platforms were built with houses on them due to the sheer size of the trees they were connected to. Along with that are small roofs atop the wooden platforms and bridges to prevent getting drenched by the rain.
"So far I have gained little knowledge of this world while trapped in the Great Forest and protection of the Doldia Village. Must be I am too young to be taught more complicated things besides those nighttime stories like the Superd coming after me if I stay up past bedtime." He glances down at one of the platforms to see a kid twice his age, sparing against his father on a wooden platform past them saw the ground below where mothers were seen gathering fruits with their daughters before turning to see other mothers walking on the bridges with a basket of clothing followers closely behind with their daughters helping out.
"I have only been able to grasp a minuscule amount of information, mostly just about the tribe's Origins but not anything after, most likely only being fishnet bare minimum for just being a child. Thankfully, the Lana give and written barrier was no issue to grasp yet this village doesn't have even a single book but those connected to the Tribe's history." As he thought that, Madara noticed something from the corner of his eyes and saw the adults on another platform, folding clothes and laying them out to dry were whispering amongst themselves as they were glancing at him.
"Just like my old world." His attention turns away. "I'm an outsider just as much as this body's birth mother, more so at finding out that those born without one of two animal features means they are a hybrid, marking me as the only one in this village." As he thought that, he continues on his way, passing by two adults hauling a large beast both glanced at him with the same gaze as the women yet he ignores them like always, beginning his descent on another platform of stairs before his ears perk up upon the sound of fast approaching footsteps and sigh.
"GOT—" He sidesteps fast, missing the tackle from the silver-haired Shīrudo. "YOU-Wahoo! OW!" The kid ends up falling down the stairs, each step gaining a different sound until stopping at the bottom where the kid lay which Madara simply sighs as he begins his descent, only stopping at the bottom to look at the downed kid.
"This makes the 63rd attempt in trying to sneak up on me, Shīrudo?" As he spoke those words, the body before him starts to shake.
"No fair, Gādian!" The kid sat up almost instantly, turning towards him with a pout. "You always know whenever I sneak up on you."
In response, he extends a hand to help the kid up onto their feet.
"Your too loud." As he said that, Shīrudo pouts even more, appearing at the brink of crying before showing determination and pointing at him.
"I challenge you too—"
"No point," This got wide eyes. "as you recall I have won every spar, 21 of them I have won in the first ten seconds."
"That's unfair," A finger ends up being pointed at him. "you started early in training."
The reincarnated Uchiha merely turns away, appearing uninterested in the talk already.
"That is but an excuse for those who cannot accept losing—"
He stops immediately, eyes widening upon the sight of Shīrudo looking tearful and sniffing. The sight of this caused Madara to look away, now sweating.
"If I accept your duel, will you stop?" And just like that, the kid suddenly brightens like a Christmas tree which only gains another sigh from the slightly older one who starts to walk away with Shīrudo walking after.
"Now that I think about it, doesn't your mother want you to help with the laundry after school now that the rain season is over?" His question got the response of the easiest-read expression, sheer boredom to near disgust.
"That's just too girlish!"
"Aren't you a girl?"
"Tch." Like a wheel being spun, her attitude took another turn towards annoyance.
"I wanna be a warrior, not someone that does housework like a Maid!" And just like that she smiles confidently all of a sudden. "I want to become a swordsman and maybe one day, become one of the Seven Great Powers!" When he heard that last part, his eyes widen a little in surprise.
"Seven…great powers?" It was with that question that Shīrudo turns to him in surprise.
"Wait, you never heard of them?"
"No…"
And just like that, a triumphant smile forms on her face which in turn causes Madara to sweat before she crosses her arms.
"Ha! I know something you don't know for once!" Her smile increases with joy. "I won't tell you unless you beat me in a spar, ten times!" And just like that, an eye twitch was gained.
"Already sundown." Thought the kid as he was making his way up several steps toward his home, his mind preoccupied with many thoughts.
"The Seven Great Powers… Technique God, Dragon God, Fighting God, Demon God, Death God, Sword God, and North God…" Slowly a smile forms on his face. "It's been a while since I heard something that hit my blood boiling to fight. Now that I think about it I recall some talk involving settlements outside the Great Forest. I should try to see if there's a map of the world and perhaps a list of the different species from Gyes—"
(Madara…!)
When he heard that, he looks up to find Leo at the top of the stairs, tongue out and staring at him.
"Woof." Barked the sacred beast who stepped back to give him space as he reaches the top and starts walking past Leo who follows as the two made their way into his current home that appeared empty at the moment due to Gyes speaking with the Chief, his gaze moving around the room that at an empty crib.
"Shouldn't you be in your shrine?"
(It's boring.)
"Of course it is." As soon as he said that, his eyes slowly widen as his ears twitch and it was then that he felt something grab his leg, it was then he heard a giggle. Slowly he turns to find a baby, nearly a year old. His technical cousin, Gyes firstborn, Linia Dedoldia who smiled at the reincarnated one which in turn caused him to smirk and he crouched down to pick her up.
(You started smiling like that the moment she was born.)
"Just reminded of old memories."
(Your younger brother, Izuna right?)
A frown forms on his face as he glances at the beast that stared out at him with its tongue still out.
"Woof."
"It still surprises me how much you know about me." As he spoke that, Linia started to pull his hair as she giggled. It was at this point they heard footsteps and turn to see Gyes entering, a look of surprise on his face before his gaze meets the Sacred Beasts.
"Sacred Beast, did you by chance let Linia out of her crib again?" His questions got a bark before he turns to his nephew.
"He said yes."
"Of course he did."
And with that, Madara hands back the baby to Gyes who takes her.
"Your home late today Gādian, did something happen?" He gives a lost look before a shrug.
"Just the usual routine Gyes, but may I ask for something." That got a look of surprise on his face before concern formed.
"Do we have any books besides those concerning the Tribe?" This had taken him by surprise. "I wish to know more about what lies outside the village—" And almost immediately, a deep frown forms on his face that he took notice of, watching as he walks towards the crib and places a sleeping Linia in it.
"You were never interested before in such things…" He showed him a stern look. "when you first asked to learn the way of the sword, I was surprised at someone your age wanting to learn it but I did not stop you but…why do you wish to learn about what's outside the Village already?"
"I merely wish to understand what exists outside the great—"
"No need to concern yourself with the outside world, if you wish to have new reading material I can find some more for you at a later date, but…." He walks past him and Leo towards the opening but stops.
"Gādian, you are still young yet you are very bright, perhaps the brightest one at such a young age. You may have many questions, such as about your mother but all I can tell you, is don't make the same foolish mistake as she's done and become interested in the outside world. She abandoned her duty, not just to the Village, not just to the Sacred Beast, but to you, her child. She is a disgrace to the Doldia Tribe and as a mother." With that said, he walks out of the home with a stern look not leaving his face. Not noticing his nephew appeared unaffected by his words.
"I don't blame him." He walks over to the crib, looking over the sleeping face of his Cousin. "But it doesn't matter, I have not once thought of any familia feelings when it came to that woman and to whoever the father of this body belongs to." As he thought those words, he heard a whine and turns towards Leo.
"What?"
(You sound like you stole that body.)
"But did I not?"
(You were reincarnated.)
"It doesn't matter, they may call me Gādian but that is just the name of this body. I will always be, Madara Uchiha." With that thought, Leo just whines in response and proceeds to leave. With that, a sigh escapes his lips.
[When we were just kids, you once said to me that 'we are Shinobi after all. We never know when we might die.' And you also told me that 'for neither side to die, both of them would have to reveal what's inside of themselves, hiding nothing at all and to drink together as if they were brothers.' But the both of us are about to die, so right now, we have a chance to drink together, as old war buddies.]
"Hashirama…what would you have done, forget the past to live life as a new person or use this new life as a means to atone for past mistakes?"
xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxxx
NEXT TIME: The Curse of Hatred