Given how badly this site has been broken over the last few months, it's a surprise I'm even deciding to update here. I thought I was done with this site. Yet I just can't give up on it as it is where I started writing. So even as it is broken, I will update here occasionally with massive dumps of what's been written since the last time I've updated, so if you want timely updates, follow me on Ao3.

C—yo–he—me?

I—ow—u–on't—me–e—e… Ou—onn—ion–s–eak–ecaus—f–t…

D—ot–ea–me… I'm—re–o–el—ix—u.

We—v–be—tog-her–inc—he–eg-ni-g…

Yo–ca—r–t–e.

"So you've been having the same dream every night?"

"Yeah," Naruto's face scrunched as he answered Athena's question before sighing in exhaustion. "Every night, I'm stuck in this dark void. I can see a little, so it's not completely dark, but everything's blurry. I can't make anything out… Yet I see this several-story-tall entity that I just can't make out standing before me. Before anything happens, I suddenly wake up in a cold sweat…"

Athena scrunched her brow as she listened to Naruto explain his dream. More like nightmares…

Yet the calmness he spoke with led her to believe he didn't feel fear from them. His reaction was more akin to confusion and the desire to seek answers. "Naruto, I know I said this before; Aura and the soul are mysterious. While I have no answer, I do believe that it is your soul reaching out for you to help you remember."

"Yeah, that's what I think too. I've been trying to contact the entity every time I see it." Naruto nodded, an expression of hope lifting on his face. "It's strange, despite its menacing size and aura… I feel calm around it. I don't feel malicious intent or any negative energy from it. I can't help but think you are right."

"Negative energy?" Athena raised her brow as she inquired.

"Yeah—for the last couple of days, I've been sensing this strange sensation all around me." Naruto frowned, furrowing his brow as he focused on the peculiar feeling and nodding. "I started to realize what it was when I could see Pyrrha become sad at something I said or when something frustrates her."

Athena's eyes shone brilliantly as they widened before she smiled. "I think we might be making a breakthrough, Naruto… Being able to detect a particular emotional wavelength isn't common, but it is documented."

"Really?" Naruto's eyes glistened brilliantly.

"Yes…While I would have to do some research, from what I remember when I was helping Pyrrha train and gameplan for particular opponents… I remember seeing a similar trait within one of her opponent's scouting reports on what their Semblance could do. …And if you are sensing these emotional wavelengths, I believe that you are unconsciously remembering how to activate your Semblance, and that is wonderful news."

"Huh? It is? How so?" Naruto pursed his lips and scrunched his face, unsure of what she meant.

Smiling at the boy, Athena chuckled. "Let's start with how memories work without getting too technical… Science of the mind is complicated and still, to this day, is a fascinating field with more left to discover. …In simple terms, there's a portion of your brain that contains the information you've gathered throughout your life, while another section of your brain is devoted to retrieving that information. Amnesia works by inhibiting this retrieval or, in your case, blocks it entirely."

"Ah, okay! That makes some sense!" Naruto nodded sagely. "So I basically have a blockage in my brain?"

Athena grimaced at his terminology. "Yes, but let's not call it that… What you said is more commonly referred to as a stroke and can lead to death if the patient isn't seen immediately."

"Oh…" Naruto's eyes flickered in horror. "Okay… Not a blockage… Just something interfering with my ability to retrieve my memory. Got it!"

"Yes," Athena nodded with a muted smile. "But back to my explanation… As you have noticed, some things are not inhibited. Things like mechanical or muscle memory for you still clearly can move, and from what I have noted from watching you train and practice with Pyrrha is that your movements in combat are so naturally ingrained into your memory that they have become autonomous."

"So from what I can see, if you are now, after all these weeks, beginning to sense negative emotions by tapping into your Semblance unconsciously, it is another step in recovering your memory as you are unconsciously retrieving dormant memories." Athena smiled as realization dawned on her patient.

"Wait… Does that mean…"

"We're getting closer!" Athena chirped. "But there is still a long road to recovery as this is still more akin to muscle memory than active memory."

"Once you begin to tap into that, it will only be a matter of time before you remember everything."

Taking deep, labored breaths, emerald eyes glimmered. A sweaty sheen coated her visible skin and dazzlingly reflected the sun's rays. She had a few noticeable bruises and bumps on her arms…

He was taking care not to hit any vital areas, and yet…

A vivid and near lascivious smile emerged on her face. It was the most intense battle she had ever taken part in, and she wanted more! They both finally felt confident enough to test how well-adjusted he was without his right, and it was marvelous!

Each and every day, they would do very minor sparing and testing, and she couldn't compare! And he still said it didn't feel right! That he hadn't once applied a full effort at any time!

How strong was he?!

Her eyes scanned his form, and it only drove her to ecstasy. Deep but calm breaths. A lax but open stance, ready to strike at any moment. Had a trickle of sweat. This was effortless for him!

Yet, vivid cerulean eyes that were gleaming as brilliantly as hers! He was enjoying this as much as she was—the thrill of combat.

Holding his kunai in his left, the blade pointing inward, he had not once struck with anything but the butt end. At any time he had used the blade, it would have struck and cut her several times over.

Of course, she hadn't been using her Semblance until now… Perhaps now was the time. With just a slight change of momentum, the tide of this battle could change…

And she would show precisely why she was a four-time regional champion.

Pyrrha's eyes sparkled as he disappeared into a blur into the wind. It took some time, but she was finally adjusting to his speed… No wonder why he said her speed was slow before! His speed was sublime! It wasn't enhanced by Semblance or Aura! No…

It was raw, physical speed, and she only dared to achieve such a level of competency! If he wasn't a Huntsman before, what could have drove him to such proficiency?!

Stepping back and drawing her shield forward to absorb the blow, her eyes shimmered as she pushed forward to keep him from following up with the forward assault, forcing him to move where she wanted him to be. It was the only way to stay on top of this fight. She had to be the one to dictate the flow of battle, or he would overwhelm her. She could not fight defensively and hope that she could persist longer.

He did exactly what she expected and rolled with his momentum to end up at her side. He did so with the utmost ease and fluidity she had ever seen. If she had been training since she was twelve, how long had he been training to reach such a zenith?!

Now! Pyrrha saw the follow-through strike coming. She was starting to adjust to his insane speed, but she was always a step slower. So all she needed was a little manipulation in her favor…

Her eyes flickered as she felt the pull on the kunai, but something she didn't expect to happen. He noticed the pull immediately and let go of his kunai, causing it to contact her shield. And he changed his follow-through…

Air left her lungs as his elbow drove into her solar plexus, forcing her to cough violently and double over before Naruto leapt away and landed a few feet away, his stance relaxed. With a tilt of his head, as she doubled over, his lips pursed with curiosity. "That was a new one. What was that?"

"…After you can breathe again." Naruto flinched as Pyrrha was still hacking and struggling to stand back on her feet. "Might have put a little more into that blow due to my surprise…"

"I can feel that…" Pyrrha hacked violently, grunting as she reached down to her metal corset and unclasped it before she pried it open, falling to the ground as her breathing began to settle. She was so thankful she wore a black top under it… He may not have an issue with exposing himself as he did back at the hospital…

But she did!

"Your blow dented my armor into my chest!" Pyrrha felt her breathing stabilized as she stood up and glared at Naruto before her eyes gleamed.

"My bad!" Naruto's head shrunk into his shoulders. "Still don't know my own strength… I still feel I could go harder… Um… What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

With eyes burning vividly in anticipation, Pyrrha's face began to contort into a mixture of horror and embarrassment as her face ripened to a tomato red. Her battle lust was getting out of hand! The moment she heard, he could still go harder…

Only made her want it more!

"Nothing!" Pyrrha nervously answered, her tone shrill, causing her blush to deepen. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine as Naruto's head tilted in that owlish manner, and she cursed to herself. She needed to calm her urges! She was a lady, and it was unbecoming to…

"Alright then…" Naruto scrunched his brow, scratching the back of his head, unsure what he was witnessing. "It's almost lunchtime, and my appointment is a little after that…"

Pyrrha snapped out of her embarrassment, and her eyes widened. She had nearly forgotten that it was today!

Today was the day of his operation! He was going to be able to put on his prosthetic.

Her flush returned in full force as she picked up her corset. She couldn't go out like this! She needs a shower… To fix her armor… Not enough time.

Ugh, how she hated wearing regular clothes! It was such a hassle!

Pyrrha was noticeably anxious.

It was almost time. They had finally received his prosthetic, and the operation was soon at hand. After a few check-ups and last-second measurements to ensure they had everything lined up, they had given him some last-minute encouragement, a few instructions to remember later, and what they would do during the operation; they were now moments before he would be taken back for the surgery.

And he would have a neurotransmitter and the attachment joint attached to his nerves so he could put on his new prosthetic and use it.

She awkwardly glanced at the mechanical arm before glancing at Naruto and then her father. She knew he struggled with his leg when he first came home with it. It was an adjustment as the motions were noticeably delayed.

While everything they heard about the new transmitters were said to be a vast improvement over his model, there was still a sense of unease and apprehension.

Pyrrha could see just what Naruto was capable of with his left. This would be a dramatic downgrade in his performance. While it could perform minor dexterous movements that Naruto was undoubtedly excited to have once more, it would never have the same twitch reaction to what she had just witnessed.

No piece of machinery could ever hope to match that.

But he was enthused nonetheless. To gain access to using both hands again, regardless of the limitations… Was an improvement to his current outlook.

So Pyrrha smiled, even if she felt a pit in her stomach. "Are you nervous? This is a pretty big change."

"Nah, not really." Naruto shook his head, running his left hand through his locks, and chuckled. "I do feel a little anxious, but more excited than anything. I kind of want to see what this new arm feels like. I know it won't be as good, but that doesn't matter to me! Even if I have to use it defensively or for punching, that's more than enough in a fight! I just want to be able not to have to adjust how I put on my shirt and pants every morning, ya know?"

"Hehe, I know the sentiment." Her father chuckled, his eyes glinting in amusement. "To get that sense of normality back… It's something else."

"That's all I want!" Naruto returned with a boisterous chirp. "Don't really care if it can hold up in battle or not. I can work around it. Been working around not having an arm, so even if it is limited mobility, better than nothing!"

Pyrrha shrunk. She had just reached the sentiment, but it seemed he had already considered it and moved past it. What really mattered was having an arm again…

"I hear that." Homer nodded in agreement. "Although, per my friends in Atlas, these models are state of the art and are said to function at such a high level that several Huntsman and Huntresses have been able to return to the active roster. Supposedly, it is fluid enough to react within a few microseconds from the thought of the action. Compared to a model like mine that acts within the millisecond, it is a vast improvement. …My old friend in the Atlas army has been attempting to commission one for me, and I have been seriously considering it despite being comfortable with this old leg of mine."

"Huh? Why don't you? It sounds like there are no downsides." Naruto frowned, genuinely confused, as Pyrrha stared at her father incredulously.

He had been offered an upgrade, and he hadn't taken it? If it was good enough to allow Huntsman and Huntresses to return to the active roster… That meant…

"You aren't wrong." Homer softly sighed, his eyes glistening. "But I've grown accustomed to this life. I don't know if I could handle the change at this stage in my life… I kind of enjoy being retired from the military. Don't want to go back to that life. …So that's why I refused the offer. Besides…" Pausing as he glanced over at Pyrrha, he brightly smiled. "Some things are more important in life…"

" And I'll admit I don't think I could work well under my friend's command." Homer let out a loud laugh.

"James is a hard ass, and I have no desire to go back to active service!"

This was a strange sensation…

Waving his hand the mechanical fingers of his right hand before his very eyes, genuine excitement rose from his core and was expressed outwardly. "Damn! I can hardly feel a difference! Maybe a little slow, but I can work with this!"

"That's wonderful." Pyrrha let out a deep sigh of relief, watching him turn and twist his arm in awe, seeing just what he could do with it. "I was worried it would be too slow for you…"

"It might be, but I can work with it like I said!" Naruto beamed before turning his joyous intent onto Pyrrha. "Hey, could I borrow your sword for a second? I wanna test it out!"

"That's not the wisest decision." Athena frowned, shaking her head while her eyes were sharp as daggers. "You just got out of surgery. You shouldn't even be using it as much and let it set in.

"But I feel perfectly fine." Naruto squinted back at Athena. "I don't feel sore or anything like they said I would feel. I felt more during the surgery… But that's cause I kept waking up during it, and they kept having to drug me. …Something about the anesthetic metabo… something too quickly."

Athena's mouth was left agape, and her eyes flickered in and out at his statement. His body was metabolizing the anesthetic so rapidly that he woke up several times during a thirty-minute operation! And he was already awake!

How was that possible?!

"If you are sure," Pyrrha hesitantly withdrew and handed Naruto Milo, taking her mother's words of caution seriously.

But she also believed what Naruto said was also true.

Taking the blade from Pyrrha, letting the mechanical fingers wrap around the handle. Naruto took a few test swings in front of him, slowly increasing the speed. However, after a certain limit, he stopped and flipped the blade several times in his grasp and frowned for the briefest of seconds. He then grinned as he flipped the blade one more time and handed it back to Pyrrha. "Yeah, noticeably slower. But good enough!"

Pyrrha, having adjusted to Naruto's speed, blinked several times as she took Milo back, her eyes shimmering like her mother's. Those last few swings she couldn't even track and had felt the wind pressure behind the motions.

And it was still too slow for him!

Homer whistled while Athena's jaw was nearly unhinged. "Damn… I'm considering taking up James' offer for the quality of life upgrade."

"I still think ya should! Feels great!" Naruto laughed, smiling brightly as he brought his new functional arm before him, examining every detail.

But he lifted his gaze from the mechanical prosthetic as he caught motion from the corner of his eyes. And sitting upon the window seal of the room…

Was the same orange fox that continued to linger in his presence, its muzzle curled in a smile.

The pain had long subsided. He let out a gasp of breath he had been holding in.

The process had finished.

"I do apologize, dear… I know the pain is horrendous…"

'It's fine." He snarled as he took a breath, rising from the operation table, a lone visible eye glancing over his mother's pale figure. "As long as the operation was successful, I will endure whatever it takes… I must defeat him."

"I understand." A sinister smile spread on his mother's lips as she gently grasped his left shoulder. "Why don't you try and move it? If the pain has ceased, it should be finished integrating with your nervous system."

Lifting the pitch-black flesh of his left arm, he snarled for a moment as it took far too long for it to respond. But respond it did.

Clenching his fist several times, feeling it becoming more responsive by the second, his lone onyx eye gazed into his mother's deep red voids and snarled. "I wish to test its efficiency."

"Very well," She snapped her fingers, and a creature emerged from the shadows.

A simple one… But one he could test the reaction of his arm.

Without hesitation, it roared and leapt at his seated form.

And shrilling howled as the black hand grasped its throat, holding its entire weight and momentum at bay with ease.

"Durable… Good." He muttered as he slowly increased the pressure as he stood before the wolf-like creature.

And with a sickening snap, its head squeezed off, and it began to turn to smoke and mist as he scoffed, lifting his arm and examining it further. With a simple nod, Sasuke turned his head back to his pale-skinned mother, his lips almost quivering into a smile.

"It's acceptable."

R & R.