AN: So... I'm apparantly a liar. Originally I had intended to post these three chapters that cover the time between the end of the last chapter and the start of the chunin exams when Yumika remembered it.
...then I remembered that I can't do a proper plot twist to save my life and it was taking a bit longer to get the next part done so I guess I'm uploading this now. (Flashback to well deserved negative reviews) Really glad I went back and changed that.
Shonen - A Fresh Start
The first thing I noticed was a melodic sound slowly fading away.
Music.
I liked music.
My eyes shot open and I took in the surrounding forest.
Where am I?
I had no clue, but that didn't bother me.
"Yumika?"
His voice evoked a warm feeling. I decided I liked that feeling and waited to hear more.
I looked at the pallid skinned boy in front of me. The sight of him sparked fire crackers in my chest. I decided I liked that feeling too and kept staring.
"Yumika,-"
That name again. Am I Yumika?
"Do you understand me?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but words didn't form.
That's… weird… or is it?
"Hi- ow, ow ow!"
I didn't like that sensation.
I think that's called pain. Pain is bad.
I crossed my arms and nodded to myself, happy with my newfound discovery.
"Yumika are you okay?"
Oh right, the boy. I should probably answer him.
Talking was painful, and pain was bad, so that was out.
I did what felt right and waved at him with a smile.
The boy sighed.
"At least you can hear me, that's good."
"Yumi, nod if you understand us," came another voice, a lighter pitch. Looking at the girl who'd spoken evoked a different warm, but bubbly, feeling which I decided I liked as well.
I nodded at her, filing away 'Yumi' as another form of 'Yumika'.
A cough sounded from the side, drawing my attention.
A man.
Safety. Home. Trust.
A different category of emotions to the two smaller people.
Teenagers.
A thought occurred to me and I looked down.
I'm a teenager?
I took it in for a second.
Why does that surprise me? Am I stupid?
Worryingly enough I didn't instinctively reject the idea.
"Yumika, I'm trying to talk to you." the man said.
Yes, I can hear you.
I thought before continuing to observe my surroundings.
What am I wearing?!
Steel toed boots. I was wearing steel toed boots.
Also, no sleeves, what was I thinking-
"Yumika!" the man growled out. The sound of it made me squirm.
Don't like that.
My eyes went to him in time to see a fading frustration.
"When someone is talking to you, you need to look at them."
Oh…
A different uncomfortable feeling tugged at my gut.
That's guilt.
I didn't like guilt.
Despite the feeling, I met the man's gaze, like he said I was supposed to.
Sorry…
A part of me recognised that I probably looked pathetic.
The man's angry look crumbled away accompanied by a sigh, and in a calm voice he continued.
"My name is Shikyou Shiin. I'm the head of the Shiin clan."
I nodded, taking in the information.
"You're Yumika Shiin, you're a part of my clan."
Oh, that makes him my uncle or something. That explains the home~ey feeling!
I nodded again, enthusiastic.
"Over there are your friends." he gestured over to the two from earlier, and my gaze naturally followed it. "Isae and Kanshi Shiin, my son."
Bubbles is Isae, and sparkles is Kanshi. Got it.
My gaze hovered back to Shikyou.
"You've probably noticed that you can't remember anything."
I had.
"While you were on a mission you were hit by a harsh pain inducing genjutsu."
I grimaced.
Pain is bad.
"It was too much for you, so we've sealed away your memories so you could escape it."
My face scrunched up further.
Okay, that sounds very bad.
He folded his arms.
"If you want to get your memories back, you're going to need to improve your pain threshold so that the memory of the genjutsu doesn't incapacitate you again."
Like lightning, points and threads connected in my mind, painting a picture.
I pouted.
"Yes, that means getting used to pain."
Do I have to? My memories aren't that important, right?
"Yes Yumika, you do. Try speaking like you did earlier, for example."
I really didn't want to. Pain was bad, pain was stupid.
…but it is Shikyou asking.
…and of what little I knew, I knew I trusted Shikyou.
"Ok uncle-"
It was like swallowing lava, and I had to stop.
I want to cry.
A part of me, some buried instinct, told me no. I decided that part of me was stupid and cried anyway. It must have been unusual, because everyone else was suddenly looking very uncomfortable.
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"We don't need to rush. Take it at your own pace. Okay?"
I was immediately awash with relief, but-
I felt fireworks- Kanshi come close, placing his hand on my other shoulder.
My gaze turned to him, and I saw… faith.
Right now. These people, my friends, know me better than I do…
The dread forming in my gut gave way to an iron determination.
If they think I'm strong enough, then I must be.
The hidden sound village was dreary. It was sad.
…and I don't think this qualifies as a 'village'.
I shouldn't have liked it, but there was something familiar and comfortable about it.
So it's both bad, and good?
My face scrunched up in confusion,
How does that work?
would have to find out.
In contrast to the rest of the village. Home was only positive. I was assaulted as I came in the door by some mad woman. Except she wasn't mad, I was just caught off guard by the sudden unprompted 'hug'.
I decided I liked hugs and gave them to everyone. Kanshi's was the best.
The space itself was fascinating. Every little corner felt like it had a memory, but I could only catch the vague echoes.
Instinct drew me to an open space I figured was a training ground.
This…
In a trance, I began to move, going through a set of controlled stances and movements. My memory faltered, but my body kept moving and it all-
…feels right.
I lost track of time, but I eventually felt that I needed to stop.
"Ha, I was right!" Bubbles- Isae exclaimed. "She would just keep training if we don't stop her."
"Isae, I hardly think this serves as fair proof." Kanshi objected, "this is far from a regular scenario."
I got ready to speak, but didn't even get any words out before I let the chakra flow back to my tongue.
Chakra? Is that what I'm doing?
That was beside the point.
I took out a notebook they'd given me and started writing with the pen that was suddenly in my hands.
Scribble, scribble, flip: 'Did I enjoy training?'
"Enjoy it? It was basically the only thing you did with your free time." Isae answered, "so unless you're a closet masochist, I'd say you did."
I clenched my fist and examined it.
Why?
There had been a familiarity to the motion, but that was it.
I want to know.
Determination shone from my eyes.
"Oi, oi, Y-Yumika, you just finished, shouldn't you take a break?" Isae commented nervously.
I shook my head and took up the starting stance..
"H-hey Kanshi, shouldn't we stop her? If she passes her limit's she's going to break again!"
"It's fine." Kanshi stated resolutely, "I've been keeping track. She's minding her limits, even though she doesn't remember them. Go on, do what you have to."
I moved.
Unlike before, I didn't let my mind fade into the background, I stayed focused.
What was it? What am I looking for?
I slid from stance to stance, motion to motion, but nothing stood out, until-
That wasn't right.
I'd leaned too far forward, my balance was off.
I didn't think much of it and continued, until that same move came up again, mirrored.
Then I stopped.
What… is that?
Satisfaction.
I liked satisfaction.
I think I get it.
I continued.
It's the pursuit of perfection. The process of identifying a flaw and dealing with it.
The more I improved, the smaller the flaws, but also the keener my eye for spotting them.
I stopped again.
Why do I feel restless? Was there something I was supposed to do?
I heard a knock on the main door, answered by uncle Shikyou.
Conversation.
"...she has an appointment, Orochimaru is expecting her."
Hearing that froze the blood in my veins.
That name scared me.
I didn't like that name.
I knew I was supposed to go. Past me had agreed to go.
Why?!
Every step closer to 'Orochimaru' felt heavier than the last, my heart beat faster, and the hair on the back of my neck stood more on edge.
This is horrible, why would I agree to this?!
If it was up to me now, I'd be running, but past me made a decision, and I could recognise that past me knew more than current me.
Then the door opened and-
Eh? That's just a guy.
-I was very confused.
With the way I'd felt coming here I was expecting to meet some sort of demon god or something that would eat my soul.
Instead, I saw a man.
Was past me… stupid?
Parts of my body were still subtly trembling, but my mind felt almost entirely disconnected from it.
I was further confused when the person escorting me here went down on a knee.
"My lord, I have brought the girl."
The man was sitting behind a table reading a piece of paper.
A report.
He didn't seem particularly focused.
I kept staring.
His eyes went up to meet mine.
I kept staring.
His eyebrow twitched.
"What is it?"
I took out the notepad and the mystery pen that came from nowhere.
Scribble, flip: 'That sitting posture is bad for your back.'
Both the adults in the room read it.
"You dare!"
The escort wasn't pleased, and was up on their feet ready to 'throw down' so to speak.
"Stop."
She did so, her face having morphed from anger to fear.
"Yumika is correct, I must have gotten lax." Orochimaru adjusted how he sat into something much healthier. "You may leave."
The uniformed woman did so in a hurry, closing the door behind her.
"Hmm."
Orochimaru got up and approached, and my gaze followed him curiously.
"So this is a result of the secret Shiin technique. I haven't had the chance to observe it before now."
Is it that interesting?
"You're not afraid of me?"
I considered it, then shook my head.
Over the course of the conversation my feelings had aligned more with my thoughts and calmed down. Whatever fear I had left was just the remnants of the adrenaline flooding my body that had yet to flush out.
"You used to be."
I figured that…
My face scrunched up and I scribbled a question: 'Why?'
Orochimaru seemed to contemplate whether he was going to answer or not for a moment, before he smirked.
"You feared my power."
I stared.
That… just sounds stupid.
I considered the outfit I was wearing..
Once is an incident…
I considered the man in front of me..
…twice is a coincidence…
My mind returned to the present.
…one more stupid choice and I might have to recognise a pattern. Fortunately, I don't have to diagnose myself with the 'stupid' yet.
I brought out my notebook again.
Scribble, flip: 'Why am I here?'
If my lack of a reaction to his statement surprised him, he didn't show it.
"You are assisting my research into the nature of the soul. A part of your nature makes you an interesting test case.
I handed my soul over to be experimented on by a scientist?
I let the thought linger.
Well… he seems responsible. As long as he knows what he's doing…
That wasn't so bad.
I considered as I started my supply run, which was apparently a thing I did.
I mean, it felt a bit weird, but that was it. Really past me, what was all the fuss about?
I stopped up.
Right, umm, which way now?
The map was suddenly in my hands.
Still weird. Aha, that way.
I continued.
I'd figured out that sometimes things I needed just showed up when I needed them, and disappeared when I didn't.
I hadn't quite figured out if I was spawning those items from nothing, or if I was carrying them somewhere on me.
Considering that they sent me to deliver supplies without giving me any, it could be either of the two.
I shook off the thought.
I'll just ask Fireworks later.
"Hold it girly!"
Huh?
I stopped and examined the rough angry looking man.
Resigned irritation.
That's a weird one.
Then I noticed his friends coming out of hiding, or at least I assumed they were his friends.
A part of me was sensing trouble, so I double checked the shinobi pet carrier I was wearing. Careful not to startle the adorable lizard sleeping inside.
Hanzo is a good boy!
I only had memories of him for 2 days, but I had decided that I loved him and that nothing bad was going to happen to him, ever.
"Now girly, hand over everything you have!"
My face scrunched up in confusion before I brought out my notebook and pen.
Scribble, flip: 'why?'
"What? You're asking 'why?'" His anger was tainted with confusion, then he regained his confidence. "We're robbing you!"
Scribble, scribble, flip: 'Well, then you're not doing a very good job, I still have all my things.'
A couple of the guys near the 'boss' had a little chuckle at my response, while the man himself went red.
"If you don't give us your things, we will kill you!"
I considered the statement.
Scribble, scribble, flip: 'That's supposed to be a bad thing right?'
"Yes!"
Oh.
I turned back to my notebook again.
Scribble, scribble, flip: 'That sounds like a horrible transaction. It's not like you can't kill me if I agree, right? There is no equivalent exchange!'
The mildly ominous vibe had entirely died.
"That's the point! We're threatening you!"
Interesting.
I drained the chakra from my tongue and tried to do my most ominous voice.
"If you raise a hand against me I will bring you a most painful end, muahaha-"
Ok, ow, ow, ow.
It was getting easier to deal with at least.
Scribble, flip: 'Did I do it right?'
I was met with a deadly silence and pale faces.
Fear.
I didn't like seeing that.
"Y-yeah. That was right."
I nodded to myself.
Scribble, scribble, flip: 'That didn't seem nice. Can we not try to murder each other instead?'
One of the guys further away tried to whisper.
"Boss, I think she was serious about the whole 'painful end' part…"
"Yes, I realised." he whispered back, before turning back to me "Sure, just get out of here."
I waved as I continued my run.
Learn something new every day.
Why am I here?
This town wasn't on the route.
What am I doing?
I didn't really know.
Hmm…
I looked down at the letter I'd written. I didn't know who it was for, or what was supposed to be in it. I just knew that I needed to write it, and that it needed to be dropped off somewhere around here…
Aha, three crows on the window sill, that means I leave it… here!
I turned and left with a spring in my step.
I felt like I'd seen a lot of new-old things this first week. Some good, some bad. Some confusing, some obvious.
"I'm sorry, please leave me alone."
"Oh, no. You're not getting off that easy."
I knew I didn't like this.
I'd seen them at every base, people wearing uniforms or the village's headbands. The second voice was one such person.
The other was also something I'd seen. People without uniforms. That was the first voice.
Something about the whole scenario rubbed me the wrong way. Especially what I came upon as I arrived at this outpost.
The uniformed man raised a kunai, ready to strike.
He didn't get to, because I had his wrist in my grip. Power surging through me, and inked flower patterns spread across my skin.
The young woman on the ground, crawled away in a hurry, relief visible. I liked that.
The man turned his glare on me.
"You've got a problem with me Porcelain?"
That was a thing. Apparently since my past self hadn't given out my name while travelling in this getup, the people here had come up with their own.
I pulled the chakra from my tongue.
"Why were you bothering that lady? Were you going to kill her?"
"Yeah I was, she pissed me off."
I held myself off from clenching.
"What gives you the right?"
"I'm getting real tired of this interrogation brat." He turned his full focus to me. "I'm a ninja of the hidden sound, I can do what I want. I don't need a reason to kill her, I need a reason not to. Get out of my way."
Really?
I tugged and kneed him in the gut, bringing him down on his knees. Then in a swift motion before he could recover, I brought his arm behind him and stepped closer with a knife to his throat.
"What the hell! Are you crazy?!"
"I'm a ninja of the Hidden Sound, I can do what I want." I pulled the knife closer so he could feel the kunai's cold metal, "and you pissed me off. Give me a reason."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry!" He let out in a panicked voice.
"That's not a reason." I said in a controlled monotone, playing further into the role. To sell the act I tensed a muscle as if to follow through on the threat.
"You can't kill me, I'm useful to Orochimaru!"
I paused for a moment and loosened the knife a bit, as if to consider his words.
"So is she, try again."
The knife was back in position.
I could see him sweating through his mask and he wasn't coming to an answer anytime soon.
This really hurts!
I let him go and shoved him onto the floor.
"Don't play games you can't afford to lose."
I took a step.
"Oh, by the way. If I hear that you do something unnecessary like this again…"
I let him imagine the rest as I found a soundproof room where I could scream in pain before continuing my day.
Hopefully he's learned his lesson.
