Konohagakure
The sun hung high in the sky, dappling the park near the Arakawa family's home with patches of warm light. The laughter and chatter of children filled the air, accompanied by the rustle of leaves as the gentle breeze carried the joyful sounds across the village, The idyllic scene was rare reprieve for Aiko Arakawa, who sat on a wooden bench, a book resting in her lap. She wasn't reading it, though. Her sharp amber eyes were fixed on her daughter.
Two year old Rei toddled around confidently in the center of a small group of children, her face alight with excitement as she pulled toy shurikens from the pouch Takeshi had given her. The play weapons gleamed in the sunlight as she lined up her "targets," small plush animals stacked neatly on a log in front of her.
"Watch!" Rei declared with a grin, tossing a rubber shuriken with surprising force for her age. It smacked one of the plushies squarely in the face, sending it toppling to the ground, "See? I told you I'd amazing!"
The other kids clapped politely, though their attention wandered quickly. Aiko smiled from her bench, pleased to see her daughter's growing confidence. Rei's older brother, Takeshi, was the one who had been teaching her how to throw shurikens. Even though he was still in the Academy, Takeshi loved studying and practicing, often coming home to "teach" Rei the lessons he'd learned that day.
Her smile faltered slightly at the thought of Takeshi. Recently, he'd begun doubting himself, comparing his progress to the older children in the Academy. Some were graduating early and even starting missions. It wasn't that Takeshi lacked skill—if anything, he was a prodigy in his own right, a straight-A student at the top of his class. But the delicate political climate in the world outside of Konohagakure was making it hard for him to feel secure. The constant skirmishes and rebellions between smaller factions meant the shinobi system was changing, forcing even children to grow up faster. Aiko couldn't help but wish Takeshi could hold onto his innocence a little longer.
A sudden, sharp cry pulled Aiko out of her thoughts. Her eyes snapped toward Rei in time to see her glaring defiantly at a crying toddler holding his head. A young mother rushed over, scooping the child into her arms.
"What happened?" the mother demanded, shooting a fierce glare at Rei.
Aiko moved quickly, striding over to gather Rei in her arms, "Is everything all right?" she asked as calmly as possible, though her heart sank at the familiar tension brewing in the air.
The crying toddler pointed an accusing finger at Rei, "She hit me with her shuriken!"
"It was an accident!" Rei protested, trying to squirm free from Aiko's gentle hold, "He walked right in front of my target practice! It's not my fault he's dumb!"
"Rei!" Aiko exclaimed, her voice stern yet controlled. She knelt down, holding Rei protectively behind her.
The boy's mother was furious now, "What kind of mother lets her two year old run around with shurikens?!" she snapped, "And such nerve, too, from your kind!" Her gaze flicked to Aiko's and the to Rei's hair—more specifically, the unmistakable red streak running through it.
"They're toys, lady," Aiko said coolly, though her tone had hardened considerably, "And maybe instead of lecturing me, you should teach your child to be mindful of his surroundings"
The mother's eyes widened at the retort, her anger boiling over, "It's no surprise, really. You Arakawa wouldn't know decency if it smacked you in the face"
The insult hit deeper than Aiko wanted to admit, but she didn't flinch. She had heard far worse throughout her life, and she wasn't about to give this woman the satisfaction of seeing her react, "Say whatever you want about me," she said evenly, "But leave my daughter out of it"
"Your daughter?" the mother repeated, glancing at Rei with a sneer, "That child of yours is already doomed. We all know what that evil mark truly means. Forever tainted"
Rei blinked up at the woman, confused but unafraid, "What does 'tainted' mean?" she whispered to her mother, tugging on Aiko's sleeve.
Aiko stood to her full height her glare cutting into the other woman like a blade. Her voice dropped dangerously low, "You should walk away now"
The other woman scoffed, pulling her toddle closer as she turned to go, "Demons, the whole lot of you," she muttered loud enough for Aiko to hear.
Aiko's jaw clenched, heat rising to her cheeks as the woman disappeared into the distance. She took a deep breath before kneeling down to meet Rei's curious gaze.
"Listen to me, Rei," Aiko began. taking her daughter's small hands in her own, "Don't ever let people like her make you doubt yourself. This mark on our hair," she said, brushing back Rei's unruly locks to emphasize the red streak, "is the mark of a warrior. A leader"
Rei seemed to think about it for a moment before grinning, "Don't worry, Mama! I know I'm strong. He was just weak, that's all"
Aiko couldn't help but smile at her daughter's confidence, though something about the boldness of her words unsettled her. She made a mental note to talk to Takeshi later, wondering what kind of lessons he was teaching her during their play sessions.
"Why don't you go play with the other kids?" Aiko said softly, patting Rei's head, "You still have a little time before we go greet Papa and big brother"
Rei's amber eyes widened with excitement, "Okaay!" she exclaimed, darting off toward a group of boys playing ninja further up the park.
Aiko sighed as she made her way back to the bench, picking up her book. She flipped it open, though her mind remained distracted. Rei is still so young, she thought, too young to face what the world truly thinks of her. Let her have this innocence a while longer.
The sounds of children laughing pulled her attention back to the park. Rei had now joined a small group of boys playing ninja, her short legs carrying toward them with boundless energy. Aiko watched as Rei stopped a few feet from the group, her grin wide and confident, though she was clearly the smallest one there.
"Hi! Can I join?" Rei asked eagerly, her amber eyes shining.
The boys paused their game, turning to look at her. Among them was a boy wearing a blue bandana, a toothpick dangling lazily from his mouth. His sharp brown eyes gave him the air of someone far older than his years. He tilted his head, studying Rei as if deciding whether she was worth his time.
"Who are you?" he asked finally, his tone curious but cool.
"I'm Rei," she answered right away, pointing a small finger at herself. "What's your name?"
"Genma," the boy replied, then gestured to the others with a causal flick of his hand, "That's Hayate, Ebisu, and... him," He motioned toward a boy with a green jumpsuit, bushy eyebrows, and a bowl-cut hairstyle who was striking an overly dramatic pose, "That's Gai"
"Youth!" Gai exclaimed, punching the air enthusiastically.
Rei blinked, tilting her head in confusion, "What's up with him?"
The boy with droopy eyes, Hayate, sighed, "He's just like that's. Don't ask"
Rei giggled, finding Gai's antics amusing, Her grin widened as she looked around at the group, "Are you guys playing ninja?"
"We are," German replied smoothly, "But you have to be good at sneaking if you want to join the game"
"Oh, I'm really good at sneaking!" Rei said, puffing out her chest proudly, "I practice with my brother all the time!"
"Your brother?" one of the boys asked, raising an eyebrow. It was Ebisu, who wore dark round shades and had a scowl permanently plastered on his face, "What makes his so special?"
"He's in the Academy," Rei replied quickly, "And he's the coolest person ever!"
"What's his name?" Genma asked his tone shifting slightly.
"Takeshi!" Rei said brightly, "he's friends with Shikaku!"
At this Genma raised his eyebrows in recognition, "Oh, I know him. My dad meets the Nara clan sometimes. Guess that makes sense"
Ebisu scoffed loudly, interrupting their conversation, "You're just a girl," he said dismissively, crossing his arms, "You can't be good at anything ninja-related"
Rei paused, her amber eyes narrowing dangerously, "Well, I bet I'm better than you, Mr. Twig!" she shot@ back, pointing at Ebisu dramatically.
"Ha!" A new voice rang out, and the group turned to see a spiky-haired girl with a cheesy grin striding confidently toward her, "Looks like I'm not the only one putting Ebisu in his place!"
She stopped beside Rei and extended a hand to shake, "I'm Anko, and I'm joining the game too!"
"The more the merrier!" Gai exclaimed, clapping his hands together, "This is the power of YOUTH!"
Rei stared at him blankly before turning to Anko, "Is he okay? He seems kinda... weird"
"Don't mind him," Genma grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Anyways, let's start. Rei, you're on my team. Anko, you're with Ebisu. My team wins if we can sneak past you without getting caught"
Rei's eyes lit up with excitement, "Got it! I'm really good at sneaking!"
As the group resumed their game, Rei immediately threw herself into action. She mimicked Gemma's movements, crouching low and darting from one hiding spot to another. Despite her small size, she moved with surprising agility and focus, her mind locked on the objective.
Anko, trying to catch Rei, noticed something strange about the way the little girl moved. Her grin faltered slightly as Rei's playful demeanor shifted into something sharper, almost too intense for someone her age. Those amber eyes, now devoid of their earlier sparkle, glowed with an almost predatory focus. For Rei, this wasn't just a game—it felt like something far more important.
Rei crouched low behind a bush, her breathing steady as her keep amber eyes changed the area. Her team had scattered, each member sneaking toward their goal at different angles to avoid detection. She tightened her grip on a nearby rock, pretending it was a perfectly honed kunai—just as Takeshi had shown her during one of their play sessions.
"Focus, Rei," she whispered to herself, "Be quite like Papa when he goes on missions"
Ahead, Anko was patrolling the imaginary boundary line, her sharp eyes darting back and forth. Though only a child Anko moved with a surprising amount of determination and energy, keeping her head on a swivel as she tried to spot her "enemies." Every so often, Gai—on her team—would shout about the "power of youth," which earned him a glare from Anko for giving away their position.
Rei smirked. Anko and Gai might be fast, but she was smaller and quicker—or so she believed. The Arakawa girl crept along the ground, her tiny frame belting into the foliage. Just a little farther, and she'd be past Anko. Victory was so close she could feel it.
A sudden snap of a twig behind her made her freeze. She turned her head slowly, catching sight of Ebisu peering about a tree, his dark shades reflecting the sunlight. His lips curled into a smug grin.
"You're done, freak!" he shouted, pointing directly at her,
"Not if I beat you first!" Rei shouted back instinctively. She lunged forward, determined to cross the line before he could tag her. She pushed herself harder, twisting and weaving to evade Anko, who had also turned her attention to her.
Rei didn't notice the sharp edge of a broken branch snagging across her arm as she dove through the bush. Her red streak of hair was barely visible as she tumbled forward, rolling to a stop just outside the imaginary boundary line.
"Victory!" she cheered, throwing her hands in the air, "I win! I didn't get tagged!"
Genma emerged from his hiding spot with a slow grin, "Nice job," He said, clearly impressed.
Rei puffed her chest out proudly, "Told you I'm amazing!"
But the celebratory moment ended quickly when Gai rushed up to her, his wide eyes filled with concern, "Rei!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand, "You're bleeding! Youth cannot thrive when wounded!"
"What?" Rei blinked in confusion and looked down at her arm. The raw a long, deep scratch trailing down her elbow to her wrist, a thin trai of blood dripping down her skin. She tilted her head, staring at it like she didn't understand.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Anko asked, her brow furrowed as she came close. She fished into her tiny pouch for a bandage but hesitates when she noticed Rei's completely calm expression, "Doesn't it hurt?"
"I don't feel it," Rei admitted, shrugging. Her tone was so nonchalant it took the others a moment to process what she'd said.
"You... don't feel it?" Genma asked, stepping forward with a frown, "Not even a little?"
"Nope!" Rei said cheerfully, "It doesn't hurt at all"
"You're a freak," Ebisu muttered, stepping away from her like she was something contagious, "My dad told me to stay away from people like you with those stupid red streaks. You're not normal"
The words struck like a kunai to the check, wiping the grin off Rei's face. She looked at him, her hands curling into fists at her sides. The confusion in her amber eyes quickly gave way to anger, but before she could open her mouth to respond, Anko stepped in front of her.
"Shut it, Ebisu!" Anko snapped, her violet eyes blazing, "How can you say that when she's done nothing wrong?"
"Yeah!" Gai chimed in, striking one of his dramatic poses and pointing his finger toward the sky, "Being different doesn't make you a freak! My dad says our unique traits are what make each of us special and youthful!"
Ebisu scoffed and crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed, "Whatever, freaks stick together"
"That's enough, Ebisu," Genma said firmly, stepping between the group to diffuse the tension. His brown eyes flicked toward Rei, who was staring at the group now, her earlier confidence nowhere to be found.
"Hey," Genma said with an unreadable expression, "You're tough. Don't listen to him," His voice wasn't overly warm, but there was a firmness to it that made his words feel solid and unwavering, "That streak? It's cool. Means you've got something the rest of us don't"
Rei blinked, her gaze snapping to meet his. Her fists, still clenched by her sides, slowly relaxed. She studied his face for a moment, as if trying to see if he really meant it, before a soft, almost shy smile crept onto her lips, "You think so?"
Genma gave a small nod, "Yea. Don't let some loudmouth like Ebisu tell you otherwise. He's just mad because you're faster than him"
"You're right," Rei said, her voice still a little quiet, but her confidence slowly returning, "I am faster than him"
"Rei!" Aiko's sharp, concerned voice but through the air, and Rei turned quickly to see her mother approaching with hurried steps. Aiko's amber eyes locked onto the blood trailing down Rei's arm, and her expression hardened.
As the group of kids walked away it give them privacy, Aiko knelt beside Rei and gently pulled her close, inspecting the wound with a furrowed brow, "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" she asked, her tone a mix of worry and sternness.
Rei glanced down at the group, looking a little guilty, "I... didn't notice until they pointed it out. And I didn't want to stop the game," she admitted, her voice small.
Aiko let out a sigh and pulled out a small pouch from the belt around her waist. She quickly retrieved disinfectant and bandages, carefully cleaning the wound. The sting of the disinfectant didn't elicit a single flinch from Rei, which only made Aiko's chest tighten with unease.
She paused, her hand hovering mid-aid as an old memory stirred at the edge of her mind. Stories of Raiden Arakawa, who was said to have never felt pain. His inability to feel anything—physical or emotional—had turned him into a terrifying force on the battlefield. A warrior whose strength was so great, it teetered on the edge of inhuman.
"Does it hurt at all now?" Aiko finally asked, her voice soft but tinged with concern.
Rei shook her head, still avoiding her mother's gaze, "No, I don't feel anything"
Aiko's frown deepened, but she forced herself to push the worry aside as she finished wrapping the bandage around her arm. She'd known from the moment Rei was born with the red streak that her daughter was different, but each new revelation felt like a fresh weight on her chest"
"Come on, baby," Aiko said, tugging Rei into a warm embrace, "Let's Papa and Takeshi should be home by now"
As they walked, Rei glanced up at Aiko, "Why don't people like us sometimes, Mama? You say we're strong because of our mark"
Aiko knelt beside Rei, gently brushing her hair back, "Some people fear what they don' understand. Our mark makes us special, strong, But not everyone sees it that way"
Rei nodded resolutely, "I don't mind. You and Papa say I'm strong, and big brother is always nice to me"
Aiko hugged her tightly, feeling her eyes well up.
As they approached their home, Aiko pushed aside her worries for now. Let her stay young, she thought.Konohagakure
The sun hung high in the sky, dappling the park near the Arakawa family's home with patches of warm light. The laughter and chatter of children filled the air, accompanied by the rustle of leaves as the gentle breeze carried the joyful sounds across the village, The idyllic scene was rare reprieve for Aiko Arakawa, who sat on a wooden bench, a book resting in her lap. She wasn't reading it, though. Her sharp amber eyes were fixed on her daughter.
Two year old Rei toddled around confidently in the center of a small group of children, her face alight with excitement as she pulled toy shurikens from the pouch Takeshi had given her. The play weapons gleamed in the sunlight as she lined up her "targets," small plush animals stacked neatly on a log in front of her.
"Watch!" Rei declared with a grin, tossing a rubber shuriken with surprising force for her age. It smacked one of the plushies squarely in the face, sending it toppling to the ground, "See? I told you I'd amazing!"
The other kids clapped politely, though their attention wandered quickly. Aiko smiled from her bench, pleased to see her daughter's growing confidence. Rei's older brother, Takeshi, was the one who had been teaching her how to throw shurikens. Even though he was still in the Academy, Takeshi loved studying and practicing, often coming home to "teach" Rei the lessons he'd learned that day.
Her smile faltered slightly at the thought of Takeshi. Recently, he'd begun doubting himself, comparing his progress to the older children in the Academy. Some were graduating early and even starting missions. It wasn't that Takeshi lacked skill—if anything, he was a prodigy in his own right, a straight-A student at the top of his class. But the delicate political climate in the world outside of Konohagakure was making it hard for him to feel secure. The constant skirmishes and rebellions between smaller factions meant the shinobi system was changing, forcing even children to grow up faster. Aiko couldn't help but wish Takeshi could hold onto his innocence a little longer.
A sudden, sharp cry pulled Aiko out of her thoughts. Her eyes snapped toward Rei in time to see her glaring defiantly at a crying toddler holding his head. A young mother rushed over, scooping the child into her arms.
"What happened?" the mother demanded, shooting a fierce glare at Rei.
Aiko moved quickly, striding over to gather Rei in her arms, "Is everything all right?" she asked as calmly as possible, though her heart sank at the familiar tension brewing in the air.
The crying toddler pointed an accusing finger at Rei, "She hit me with her shuriken!"
"It was an accident!" Rei protested, trying to squirm free from Aiko's gentle hold, "He walked right in front of my target practice! It's not my fault he's dumb!"
"Rei!" Aiko exclaimed, her voice stern yet controlled. She knelt down, holding Rei protectively behind her.
The boy's mother was furious now, "What kind of mother lets her two year old run around with shurikens?!" she snapped, "And such nerve, too, from your kind!" Her gaze flicked to Aiko's and the to Rei's hair—more specifically, the unmistakable red streak running through it.
"They're toys, lady," Aiko said coolly, though her tone had hardened considerably, "And maybe instead of lecturing me, you should teach your child to be mindful of his surroundings"
The mother's eyes widened at the retort, her anger boiling over, "It's no surprise, really. You Arakawa wouldn't know decency if it smacked you in the face"
The insult hit deeper than Aiko wanted to admit, but she didn't flinch. She had heard far worse throughout her life, and she wasn't about to give this woman the satisfaction of seeing her react, "Say whatever you want about me," she said evenly, "But leave my daughter out of it"
"Your daughter?" the mother repeated, glancing at Rei with a sneer, "That child of yours is already doomed. We all know what that evil mark truly means. Forever tainted"
Rei blinked up at the woman, confused but unafraid, "What does 'tainted' mean?" she whispered to her mother, tugging on Aiko's sleeve.
Aiko stood to her full height her glare cutting into the other woman like a blade. Her voice dropped dangerously low, "You should walk away now"
The other woman scoffed, pulling her toddle closer as she turned to go, "Demons, the whole lot of you," she muttered loud enough for Aiko to hear.
Aiko's jaw clenched, heat rising to her cheeks as the woman disappeared into the distance. She took a deep breath before kneeling down to meet Rei's curious gaze.
"Listen to me, Rei," Aiko began. taking her daughter's small hands in her own, "Don't ever let people like her make you doubt yourself. This mark on our hair," she said, brushing back Rei's unruly locks to emphasize the red streak, "is the mark of a warrior. A leader"
Rei seemed to think about it for a moment before grinning, "Don't worry, Mama! I know I'm strong. He was just weak, that's all"
Aiko couldn't help but smile at her daughter's confidence, though something about the boldness of her words unsettled her. She made a mental note to talk to Takeshi later, wondering what kind of lessons he was teaching her during their play sessions.
"Why don't you go play with the other kids?" Aiko said softly, patting Rei's head, "You still have a little time before we go greet Papa and big brother"
Rei's amber eyes widened with excitement, "Okaay!" she exclaimed, darting off toward a group of boys playing ninja further up the park.
Aiko sighed as she made her way back to the bench, picking up her book. She flipped it open, though her mind remained distracted. Rei is still so young, she thought, too young to face what the world truly thinks of her. Let her have this innocence a while longer.
The sounds of children laughing pulled her attention back to the park. Rei had now joined a small group of boys playing ninja, her short legs carrying toward them with boundless energy. Aiko watched as Rei stopped a few feet from the group, her grin wide and confident, though she was clearly the smallest one there.
"Hi! Can I join?" Rei asked eagerly, her amber eyes shining.
The boys paused their game, turning to look at her. Among them was a boy wearing a blue bandana, a toothpick dangling lazily from his mouth. His sharp brown eyes gave him the air of someone far older than his years. He tilted his head, studying Rei as if deciding whether she was worth his time.
"Who are you?" he asked finally, his tone curious but cool.
"I'm Rei," she answered right away, pointing a small finger at herself. "What's your name?"
"Genma," the boy replied, then gestured to the others with a causal flick of his hand, "That's Hayate, Ebisu, and... him," He motioned toward a boy with a green jumpsuit, bushy eyebrows, and a bowl-cut hairstyle who was striking an overly dramatic pose, "That's Gai"
"Youth!" Gai exclaimed, punching the air enthusiastically.
Rei blinked, tilting her head in confusion, "What's up with him?"
The boy with droopy eyes, Hayate, sighed, "He's just like that's. Don't ask"
Rei giggled, finding Gai's antics amusing, Her grin widened as she looked around at the group, "Are you guys playing ninja?"
"We are," German replied smoothly, "But you have to be good at sneaking if you want to join the game"
"Oh, I'm really good at sneaking!" Rei said, puffing out her chest proudly, "I practice with my brother all the time!"
"Your brother?" one of the boys asked, raising an eyebrow. It was Ebisu, who wore dark round shades and had a scowl permanently plastered on his face, "What makes his so special?"
"He's in the Academy," Rei replied quickly, "And he's the coolest person ever!"
"What's his name?" Genma asked his tone shifting slightly.
"Takeshi!" Rei said brightly, "he's friends with Shikaku!"
At this Genma raised his eyebrows in recognition, "Oh, I know him. My dad meets the Nara clan sometimes. Guess that makes sense"
Ebisu scoffed loudly, interrupting their conversation, "You're just a girl," he said dismissively, crossing his arms, "You can't be good at anything ninja-related"
Rei paused, her amber eyes narrowing dangerously, "Well, I bet I'm better than you, Mr. Twig!" she shot@ back, pointing at Ebisu dramatically.
"Ha!" A new voice rang out, and the group turned to see a spiky-haired girl with a cheesy grin striding confidently toward her, "Looks like I'm not the only one putting Ebisu in his place!"
She stopped beside Rei and extended a hand to shake, "I'm Anko, and I'm joining the game too!"
"The more the merrier!" Gai exclaimed, clapping his hands together, "This is the power of YOUTH!"
Rei stared at him blankly before turning to Anko, "Is he okay? He seems kinda... weird"
"Don't mind him," Genma grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Anyways, let's start. Rei, you're on my team. Anko, you're with Ebisu. My team wins if we can sneak past you without getting caught"
Rei's eyes lit up with excitement, "Got it! I'm really good at sneaking!"
As the group resumed their game, Rei immediately threw herself into action. She mimicked Gemma's movements, crouching low and darting from one hiding spot to another. Despite her small size, she moved with surprising agility and focus, her mind locked on the objective.
Anko, trying to catch Rei, noticed something strange about the way the little girl moved. Her grin faltered slightly as Rei's playful demeanor shifted into something sharper, almost too intense for someone her age. Those amber eyes, now devoid of their earlier sparkle, glowed with an almost predatory focus. For Rei, this wasn't just a game—it felt like something far more important.
Rei crouched low behind a bush, her breathing steady as her keep amber eyes changed the area. Her team had scattered, each member sneaking toward their goal at different angles to avoid detection. She tightened her grip on a nearby rock, pretending it was a perfectly honed kunai—just as Takeshi had shown her during one of their play sessions.
"Focus, Rei," she whispered to herself, "Be quite like Papa when he goes on missions"
Ahead, Anko was patrolling the imaginary boundary line, her sharp eyes darting back and forth. Though only a child Anko moved with a surprising amount of determination and energy, keeping her head on a swivel as she tried to spot her "enemies." Every so often, Gai—on her team—would shout about the "power of youth," which earned him a glare from Anko for giving away their position.
Rei smirked. Anko and Gai might be fast, but she was smaller and quicker—or so she believed. The Arakawa girl crept along the ground, her tiny frame belting into the foliage. Just a little farther, and she'd be past Anko. Victory was so close she could feel it.
A sudden snap of a twig behind her made her freeze. She turned her head slowly, catching sight of Ebisu peering about a tree, his dark shades reflecting the sunlight. His lips curled into a smug grin.
"You're done, freak!" he shouted, pointing directly at her,
"Not if I beat you first!" Rei shouted back instinctively. She lunged forward, determined to cross the line before he could tag her. She pushed herself harder, twisting and weaving to evade Anko, who had also turned her attention to her.
Rei didn't notice the sharp edge of a broken branch snagging across her arm as she dove through the bush. Her red streak of hair was barely visible as she tumbled forward, rolling to a stop just outside the imaginary boundary line.
"Victory!" she cheered, throwing her hands in the air, "I win! I didn't get tagged!"
Genma emerged from his hiding spot with a slow grin, "Nice job," He said, clearly impressed.
Rei puffed her chest out proudly, "Told you I'm amazing!"
But the celebratory moment ended quickly when Gai rushed up to her, his wide eyes filled with concern, "Rei!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand, "You're bleeding! Youth cannot thrive when wounded!"
"What?" Rei blinked in confusion and looked down at her arm. The raw a long, deep scratch trailing down her elbow to her wrist, a thin trai of blood dripping down her skin. She tilted her head, staring at it like she didn't understand.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Anko asked, her brow furrowed as she came close. She fished into her tiny pouch for a bandage but hesitates when she noticed Rei's completely calm expression, "Doesn't it hurt?"
"I don't feel it," Rei admitted, shrugging. Her tone was so nonchalant it took the others a moment to process what she'd said.
"You... don't feel it?" Genma asked, stepping forward with a frown, "Not even a little?"
"Nope!" Rei said cheerfully, "It doesn't hurt at all"
"You're a freak," Ebisu muttered, stepping away from her like she was something contagious, "My dad told me to stay away from people like you with those stupid red streaks. You're not normal"
The words struck like a kunai to the check, wiping the grin off Rei's face. She looked at him, her hands curling into fists at her sides. The confusion in her amber eyes quickly gave way to anger, but before she could open her mouth to respond, Anko stepped in front of her.
"Shut it, Ebisu!" Anko snapped, her violet eyes blazing, "How can you say that when she's done nothing wrong?"
"Yeah!" Gai chimed in, striking one of his dramatic poses and pointing his finger toward the sky, "Being different doesn't make you a freak! My dad says our unique traits are what make each of us special and youthful!"
Ebisu scoffed and crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed, "Whatever, freaks stick together"
"That's enough, Ebisu," Genma said firmly, stepping between the group to diffuse the tension. His brown eyes flicked toward Rei, who was staring at the group now, her earlier confidence nowhere to be found.
"Hey," Genma said with an unreadable expression, "You're tough. Don't listen to him," His voice wasn't overly warm, but there was a firmness to it that made his words feel solid and unwavering, "That streak? It's cool. Means you've got something the rest of us don't"
Rei blinked, her gaze snapping to meet his. Her fists, still clenched by her sides, slowly relaxed. She studied his face for a moment, as if trying to see if he really meant it, before a soft, almost shy smile crept onto her lips, "You think so?"
Genma gave a small nod, "Yea. Don't let some loudmouth like Ebisu tell you otherwise. He's just mad because you're faster than him"
"You're right," Rei said, her voice still a little quiet, but her confidence slowly returning, "I am faster than him"
"Rei!" Aiko's sharp, concerned voice but through the air, and Rei turned quickly to see her mother approaching with hurried steps. Aiko's amber eyes locked onto the blood trailing down Rei's arm, and her expression hardened.
As the group of kids walked away it give them privacy, Aiko knelt beside Rei and gently pulled her close, inspecting the wound with a furrowed brow, "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" she asked, her tone a mix of worry and sternness.
Rei glanced down at the group, looking a little guilty, "I... didn't notice until they pointed it out. And I didn't want to stop the game," she admitted, her voice small.
Aiko let out a sigh and pulled out a small pouch from the belt around her waist. She quickly retrieved disinfectant and bandages, carefully cleaning the wound. The sting of the disinfectant didn't elicit a single flinch from Rei, which only made Aiko's chest tighten with unease.
She paused, her hand hovering mid-aid as an old memory stirred at the edge of her mind. Stories of Raiden Arakawa, who was said to have never felt pain. His inability to feel anything—physical or emotional—had turned him into a terrifying force on the battlefield. A warrior whose strength was so great, it teetered on the edge of inhuman.
"Does it hurt at all now?" Aiko finally asked, her voice soft but tinged with concern.
Rei shook her head, still avoiding her mother's gaze, "No, I don't feel anything"
Aiko's frown deepened, but she forced herself to push the worry aside as she finished wrapping the bandage around her arm. She'd known from the moment Rei was born with the red streak that her daughter was different, but each new revelation felt like a fresh weight on her chest"
"Come on, baby," Aiko said, tugging Rei into a warm embrace, "Let's Papa and Takeshi should be home by now"
As they walked, Rei glanced up at Aiko, "Why don't people like us sometimes, Mama? You say we're strong because of our mark"
Aiko knelt beside Rei, gently brushing her hair back, "Some people fear what they don' understand. Our mark makes us special, strong, But not everyone sees it that way"
Rei nodded resolutely, "I don't mind. You and Papa say I'm strong, and big brother is always nice to me"
Aiko hugged her tightly, feeling her eyes well up.
As they approached their home, Aiko pushed aside her worries for now. Let her stay young, she thought.