The Void
A vast emptiness greeted me when I awoke from my slumber—no light, no sound, no smell, no taste, not even the sensation of touch. It was as though I had been plunged into the heart of nothingness itself.
In this void, thoughts began to surface, floating to the forefront of my mind like fleeting fragments. Who am I? How did I get here? And most disturbingly, Why am I here? These questions swirled in an endless cycle, echoing through the silence until they too faded, consumed by the void.
Time no longer had meaning here, and I had no way of measuring its passage. I don't know how long I endured this isolation before the silence was pierced by a sound. My heart raced as I turned toward its source—there, in the void, stood a black box.
What in the world is this? I thought, stepping closer. It was like a window, but to where? Peering inside, I saw people. At first, they seemed real—moving, speaking—yet somehow I knew they weren't. No one was there beside me. It was surreal, like a dream... or perhaps some strange kind of magic. How could they all fit inside the box? Were they trapped?
I squinted, focusing on one figure who stood out among the rest. He had wild, spiky blond hair, like he'd just tumbled out of bed. His clothes? A bright, almost blinding orange, as if he wanted to be the center of attention wherever he went. Though I couldn't see his face clearly, I caught a glimpse of odd markings on his cheeks—almost like whiskers.
Who was he?
As I stared into the strange window, the void around me seemed to close in even tighter. The questions—the ones I thought I'd forgotten—started to return.
Who am I?
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light enveloped me, and an excruciating pain shot through my head like lightning. I winced, feeling a strange, earthy taste coat my tongue. Had I fallen to the ground? I wondered, disoriented and confused.
With great effort, I attempted to open my eyes, which I realized had been shut tight. As I gradually peeled them open, the world around me came into view, though everything appeared blurry and distorted. Colors bled into one another, and shapes floated like ghosts in my vision.
I blinked repeatedly, trying to clear the fog that clung to my mind. The light, once blinding, began to soften, revealing a landscape that seemed both familiar and alien. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision, and a gentle breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and fresh grass.'
"Disappointing."
As I looked up at the boy who had delivered those hurtful words, I couldn't help but notice the arrogant glint in his eyes. It was as if he believed the entire world revolved around him, and the weight of his self-importance only intensified my annoyance. I couldn't recall much from before, but something deep within me urged me to rise, to confront this arrogant boy.
"I expected more of a challenge, but I guess all that strength of yours was just a ruse," he sneered.
With renewed determination, I planted my other hand firmly on the ground, channeling all my frustration and resolve into the movement. Slowly but surely, I began to push myself up, summoning every ounce of strength I had.
"Stay down," I heard the same boy say. I huffed in defiance and raised both arms to protect my face. Summoning all the strength I could muster, I charged at him, and for a brief moment, I saw surprise flicker in his eyes before he regained his composure and raised his arms to defend himself.
Seizing the opportunity, I grappled with his stomach, pushing him back a few steps. But he quickly retaliated, driving his knee into my face, causing blood to pour from my nose. I staggered back, reeling from the impact. Before I could recover, he spun around and delivered a swift kick aimed at the side of my face. I managed to block it with my right hand, but the force of the blow sent pain shooting through my arm. I suppressed a whimper that almost escaped my lips.
My gaze darted to his other leg, which appeared slightly unstable. Without hesitation, I stepped onto it, using my weight to my advantage. My right elbow crashed into his face, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud. I could see the shock in his eyes, and a smirk tugged at my lips, but it was short-lived.
Exhaustion washed over me, draining the energy from my body, and I collapsed right in front of him.
-{0}-
I slowly regained consciousness as the sharp scent of phenol wafted into my nose. My eyes fluttered open, revealing a stark white room. Next to me was a table cluttered with medical supplies. I noticed that my hand was bandaged from blocking the kick, and my nose throbbed painfully beneath another bandage. Using my left hand for support, I pushed myself upright and began to take in my surroundings.
Wait, what's phenol? A sudden thought jolted through my mind, causing me to wince. In an instant, a flood of memories surged into my consciousness, overwhelming me. My breath quickened as I struggled to process the influx of information. Gasping for air, I clutched the railing of the bed, feeling as if everything was finally starting to click into place. My name is Ryuichi Uchiha, I thought to myself just as the door swung open.
A man in a lab coat stepped in, relief washing over his face when he spotted me. "Ryuichi! Thank God you're awake," he exclaimed, moving closer to examine my wounds. He hummed thoughtfully as he jotted something down in his notepad. "Everything looks fine. Do you feel any discomfort?" he asked.
I shook my head in response. "Good. Make sure your arm is rested and apply a healing balm once every eight hours for the next week."
"Understood," I replied, swinging my legs off the bed and starting to walk toward the exit.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Make sure to visit the principal's office before you go," he added.
I grunted in acknowledgment, reluctantly nodding as I closed the door behind me, leaving the infirmary.
I walked to the principal's office feeling a bit down. First, I lost my spar, and now I had to face the consequences of taking it too far. I grumbled to myself, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
On my way to the office, I crossed paths with a familiar white-haired ninja—the same boy who had just beaten me.
"Kakashi," I greeted, giving him a nod. He responded with a nod of his own, his expression as unreadable as ever.
I knocked on the door before stepping inside, Kakashi trailing right behind me. The principal, dressed in standard chunin attire, frowned as we entered, his gaze shifting between the two of us.
" DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THIS SITUATION? DO YOU REALIZE THE TROUBLE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ONE OF YOU?" he practically shouted, his voice booming through the room.
I stared down at the floor in shame, feeling the weight of his words. Meanwhile, Kakashi let out a quiet snort, completely unfazed, as if the whole thing was beneath him.
The principal's face reddened with anger as he turned to Kakashi. "YOU! HOW COULD YOU BEAT YOUR FELLOW STUDENT SO BADLY THAT HE ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION?" he yelled.
Kakashi barely acknowledged him, his expression unchanged. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why Kakashi was always so arrogant. Can you at least pretend to care? I thought to myself, exasperated.
The principal, clearly frustrated, let out a long breath before sinking back into his chair. "I'm not paid enough to deal with this... Your parents have been called to the academy, and they'll decide your punishment," he muttered, looking like he was seriously reconsidering his career choices.
Taking that as our cue to leave, Kakashi and I quietly slipped out of the office, closing the door behind us.
"That could've gone way smoother, you know?" I added, shaking my head in frustration.
"It would have gone way smoother if you just learned to accept defeat," Kakashi murmured, speaking for the first time, his tone indifferent.
"Really? Who was it that wanted a rematch because they couldn't accept defeat last time, blaming it on their sprained ankle?" I said mockingly, a grin spreading across my face as I watched Kakashi's eyes narrow.
"I did sprain my ankle before the last fight. If not for that, I would've beaten you," Kakashi replied, matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, right. You sprained your ankle trying to hit me with that ridiculous spinning kick," I shot back, recalling the fight.
"It's not stupid. My father taught me that the night before—I just didn't have enough time to practice it," Kakashi muttered.
"Clearly, he's not as great of a teacher as you think, if you of all people messed it up," I said, refusing to back down. Kakashi looked like he was ready to jump me any second, but I wasn't going to apologize. After all the frustration he's put me through, I figured I was allowed to annoy him just a little.
"Watch what you say about my father," Kakashi warned, his voice a mix of annoyance and pride. "He's the best ninja in the whole village."
"You know my grandfather would annihilate your dad, right?" I said, raising an eyebrow at him. This time, I could clearly see the anger flare in Kakashi's eyes. In a flash, he grabbed my collar, locking his gaze with mine.
"If you're so eager to fight, I don't mind taking you down a notch," Kakashi fumed.
"You're on!" I shot back, twisting his hand, ready to sock him. But before I could move, I felt myself being lifted by my armpits. I flailed like a fish, trying to resist, only to glance back.
"Dad?" I blurted, seeing my father towering over me. I turned to see Kakashi, whose father had decided to do the same, both of us now caught mid-confrontation.
"I apologize, Fugaku. It seems my son has caused you trouble again," Kakashi's father, Sakumo, said with a sigh, looking apologetically at my father.
"While that may be the case, Hatake-san, I'm certain my son played his part in this altercation as well," Fugaku responded, his tone stoic.
Sakumo chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Haha, that's probably true. No matter how many times it happens, I still can't get used to the fact that my boy acts like this."
"Hopefully, this time a suitable punishment will set them straight," my father added, his voice cold. I barely had time to register the words before he shot me a chilling glare, making me shrink where I stood.
"Don't be too harsh on them, Fugaku. They're just kids," Sakumo said, glancing at me with a hint of pity.
Fugaku nodded and set me down, likely ignoring the advice Kakashi's father had just offered. I grumbled under my breath, already dreading the consequences that were sure to come.
Soon both our fathers said their goodbyes and left the academy with us in tow. As we were leaving, Kakashi and I couldn't help but glare daggers at each other one last time before we met again.
-{0}-
The void—I was in it again. This time, I turned around immediately, spotting the same box as before. As I stepped closer, the same blond figure appeared.
"MY NAME IS NARUTO UZUMAKI, AND I WILL BECOME HOKAGE ONE DAY... BELIEVE IT!" he shouted, his voice filled with unwavering confidence. I couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's determination. Slowly, I placed my hand on the window, focusing on the faint reflection that stared back at me. As I concentrated, a sudden realization jolted me out of the void, and I woke up with a start, breathing heavily. My hand gripped the side of the mattress as I tried to steady myself.
"That reflection... it wasn't me" I thought, cold sweat trickling down my forehead.
"Ryuichi! Come down here, now!" I heard, snapping me out of my thoughts. Quickly, I ran downstairs, bracing myself for the inevitable.
I walked toward the dining table, approaching two of the most influential figures in my life—my grandfather and my father—both quietly reading today's newspaper while eating their breakfast.
My grandfather folded his newspaper and set it down on the table, narrowing his eyes at me.
"This is the tenth time in three months you and Sakumo's boy have gotten into a fight," Grandfather said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. I gulped, my eyes drifting to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Grandfather. It won't happen again," I said, trying to ease the tension.
"And how many more times must I hear that same excuse before you decide to actually change?" he asked, his eyes filled with disappointment as they settled on me.
Uchiha Kazan stared at his grandson, his gaze thoughtful yet stern. He knew the boy had a tendency to get into trouble, but he had hoped that, with time, he would grow to be as mature and disciplined as his father. Unfortunately, it seemed Kazan had expected too much, too soon. Perhaps it was unfair to compare him to those who came before, but such was the fate of children born into the Uchiha clan—especially those from the patriarch's family.
"Ryuichi, you are my one and only grandson, the heir of the Uchiha patriarch. People will always be watching you, and your actions reflect the image of our clan. Excellence is expected of you. You cannot waste your time on such childish squabbles. The world does not wait for the weak," Grandfather said, his voice firm. I could see he wanted me to understand something important, but I had no idea what that was. So, I decided to do what any other five-year-old would do in this situation: shift the blame.
"But Grandfather, it wasn't even me who started the fight! Kakashi was being a sore loser and asked for a rematch," I said, pouting slightly.
"While that may be true, you still could have refused the fight. Your actions are no different from Kakashi's," Grandfather said sternly, his gaze piercing through my feeble attempt at deflection.
Ryuichi was about to retort, but when he noticed his father shaking his head, he decided to remain silent.
"Now it falls upon me to give you an appropriate punishment. The last few punishments evidently haven't been up to the mark, considering your lack of remorse on the matter. Hmm... perhaps a month-long suspension from the academy should do it," Grandfather concluded.
Ryuichi stared at his grandfather in surprise. Kazan noticed his expression and asked, "What? Were you expecting something a bit more tame?" He raised an eyebrow.
"No, Grandfather. I'm just confused about what my punishment is," I said, frowning in confusion.
"I just told you. You won't be attending the academy for a month. No classes, no meeting with friends, and most importantly, no shinobi training from the academy," Kazan said proudly.
"I still don't see how that's a punishment, Grandfather..." I muttered, instantly regretting the words as they left my mouth. Maybe it's better this way, I thought to myself.
Kazan was about to respond when Fugaku interrupted. "Perhaps we should add to the punishment... How about not leaving the clan compound until you return to the academy?" he said, still focused on his newspaper.
"Wait, no, you can't do that!" I stood up immediately, realizing I had made a terrible mistake..
"Good suggestion, my boy," Kazan said with a nod. "With that settled, I'll take my leave. I have a long day ahead of me, so I'll see you in the evening."
"Alright, Father. Have a good day," Fugaku replied, finally looking up as Kazan stood from the table.
As soon as Kazan left, I turned to my father, feeling utterly betrayed. "Why did you tell Grandfather to lock me up at home?" I asked, my face full of disbelief.
"I didn't tell him to lock you up at home. You're merely not allowed to leave the compound," Fugaku said, casually returning to his newspaper. "Besides, it seems like a month-long suspension from the academy didn't have much of an effect on you."
"The academy's boring, Dad. All they do is talk about how great the village is and how strong we are. They don't even teach ninjutsu or anything related to chakra," I grumbled as I slumped into one of the dining chairs. "Most of the kids in our class are weak, so I end up fighting Kakashi or the older kids. So yeah, not going to the academy for a month kinda feels like a vacation."
Fugaku listened to my rant with a thoughtful expression. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Hmm... If that's how you feel, how about we make a deal?"
"A deal?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as I leaned in. "What kind of deal?"
"The graduation exam is in three months. If you pass the exam on your first try, I'll convince your grandfather to start your real shinobi training," Fugaku said with a smirk.
=chapter end=