📖 Chapter 2 – The Son of the Silver Shadow
The Sayuri residence was not just a house: it was a symbol. Perched atop a gently sloping hill, overlooking a strategic part of the Land of Fire, it stood like a silent fortress, untouched by the bustle of ninjas and merchants. There, Rei was beginning his second day of existence in that world… or perhaps his first day as part of it.
Breakfast was served in a spacious hall, lit by sliding panels opened toward an inner garden. Sayuri had not yet arrived, but Rei was already seated with his back straight, observing every object with the attention of someone who did not belong there, yet was determined to understand everything.
The servant who guided him—an older man with impeccable manners—barely spoke a word. He simply left the tea and withdrew in silence. Rei took that moment to examine every corner, every symbol carved into the wood, every painting on the walls.
One word lingered in his mind: control.That woman, Sayuri, controlled everything. Not with brute force, but with presence.
When she finally arrived, her kimono had changed color: now black with crimson edges, more sober, colder. Her eyes fell on him with a mix of assessment and faint curiosity.
"Did you sleep well, Rei?"
He nodded. He still didn't know how to speak to her. Not out of fear, but because he felt that every word he said would be measured and judged.
"Today you'll start a simple routine: observation, reading, basic physical training. We'll see after that."
Rei wanted to ask if he would have tutors, if he would learn ninjutsu, but he held back. Not yet. Listen, observe, adapt.
Sayuri continued:"You'll have access to the private library. The history of the ninja world is more valuable than any premature training. To understand this world, you must know who destroyed it and who rebuilt it."
The woman was not warm, but neither was she cruel. She moved as if every action had been planned ten steps ahead. Why had she adopted him? Why was she protecting him? What had she seen in him?
Hours later, guided by a young woman named Shuri—a guard with a serious gaze but light steps—Rei reached one of the inner rooms of the compound. There were no weapons or battle plans there: only shelves, scrolls, and books of all sizes. Some ancient, some new, some sealed with wax or tied with string.
The title that caught his attention the most was one written in golden kanji: The Noble Clans of Fire. He opened it carefully, feeling the weight of the thick paper. There were the names he knew: Uchiha, Senju, Hyūga… but there were others he did not remember. Was his memory flawed, or was this world different?
That afternoon, Shuri took him to a terrace for body stretching. Not training, exactly, but gentle physical exercises. Rei followed without difficulty. His body responded better than expected.
"You've got a good base for your age," Shuri commented in a neutral tone.
"What is my age?" Rei asked aloud for the first time.
Shuri looked at him, surprised, as if she hadn't expected him to speak."They say you're eight. But no one is sure. Not even you, right?"
He shook his head. He didn't know if he was eight, ten, or older. He only knew he had lived before… or at least he believed so.
"It doesn't matter," Shuri added, looking at him with more interest. "Age doesn't define a ninja. What you do with your time does."
Night came early. In his room, Rei lay on the futon while the breeze gently stirred the curtains. He did not dream of doors, nor of voices. But just before falling asleep, he thought of Sayuri. Who was she, truly? A mother? Another piece on the board? A beacon?
He didn't know yet. But deep down, he felt that this woman—like many others he had yet to meet—would be key to the path he was meant to walk.
And without knowing why, three words came to him, as if someone had whispered them in his ear:"You are not here by accident."