Amaya POV
I was sitting on the steps in front of the Naka Shrine, the temple belonging to the Uchiha clan. Minato had gone inside a few minutes ago for a meeting with the clan leader, Fugaku Uchiha
It was late afternoon. I was watching the sun go down on the horizon, making way for the night. What will it be like? I thought. From what I was "taught" in the lab, at night there's the moon and thousands of stars
Even in Konoha, I had never seen the night sky. The windows were kept locked and the curtains drawn in the room where I stayed
I pulled my knees close and wrapped my arms around them. I rested my head on them and closed my eyes for a moment. The images came back like a punch to my mind
* Flash Back On *
I felt my body light, as if floating
My eyes stayed closed, my arms slightly out, swaying as if I were underwater. It was like being wrapped in a cloak of calm
– Test number 072604...
I heard a low voice, catching my attention. I know that voice…, I thought vaguely
Where am I? Why am I here, wherever this is?
– Subjects 26 and 01, ready
– We'll test them at full potential
I felt my body slowly tilt forward until my feet touched a cold floor. I forced my eyes open. A blinding light filled my vision and I raised my hands to my face, but soon adjusted to it
My eyes darted around the room. It was some kind of chamber, completely white. The walls were bare, except one to my left covered with mirrors
I've seen this before…, I thought quickly
I was in Konoha, with the Intelligence Division. Inoichi must be playing back my memories. But he said I wouldn't stay conscious during the process…
So why am I seeing this?
In front of me was a child, a boy, like me. But he looked older, his build more developed. Blonde hair like Inoichi's but black eyes like Shisui's
Those eyes… a nervous thought ran through me
Why am I nervous seeing this? I don't remember this boy. The only thing vaguely familiar is this white room
– Subject 01, begin
The voice echoed in the room. The boy in front of me stood up and, reluctantly, so did I. Two doors opened on the right wall, pulling my attention there
There were some tools, weapons I recognized: swords, kunai, shuriken, and others. What's the point of this? I wondered. The moment I looked back at the boy across the room, something came flying at me
I threw my head back instinctively, barely dodging the object. I fell on my back and stared at the boy. He had kunai in his hands. So that's what he threw at me! I thought
– Pick your weapon – he said in a grim voice
He wants me to fight… him? I thought confused
– The rules are simple – he went on as he moved to the arsenal beside him – Only one of us walks out of this room – he stopped by the weapons – We can use any weapon here, and jutsu too. But I doubt someone like you can even form decent hand signs – he stopped and looked at me – It's a fight to the death
What?! I thought, scared
When did this happen? I can't remember any of this. But if it really did, it must've been just a test. After all, I'm alive and I couldn't have killed someone like him
I stood up, still staring at the boy. I glanced back at the kunai stuck in the wall behind me. He's serious, I thought
I looked at the arsenal at my side. I had no experience with any of the weapons there, actually I'd never used a weapon before. All I had was theory and mental analysis they'd implanted in me. Nothing else
This won't end well, I thought. Will all my memories play out like this? As if I'm living them again?
I grabbed two wakizashi, one in each hand. They were like katanas but shorter and lighter. Do I really have to fight to kill someone? I asked myself silently
But I had no time to answer because the boy lunged at me with a katana. I crossed the blades in front of me, blocking his strike
It was heavy, like the sword itself, and I could barely hold it. I stared at the boy's dark expression. He won't stop, I thought
I slid my blades down his katana, twisting it to the side toward the floor so I could retreat
I stepped back a bit, keeping my eyes on him. He looked at his sword now off balance, then back at me
– You're the first to block my attack – he said calmly
First? I thought. Then others…
– Yeah, you're just another one of the many who've been here – he said, making me look at him – You know why we have numbers? – he took a step toward me and I gripped the wakizashi tighter – They mark the power level expected of each of us
Power level? I thought. Wait, they said Subject 01 start… don't tell me he's the strongest of all
– For a frail little girl, maybe you'll entertain me for a while – he said arrogantly
The boy raised the katana to his face level. How many has he fought? I wondered. Or worse, how many has he killed? I spun my blades in my hands, crossing them in front of me
If he's doing this for fun, I thought, then I've got no choice but to fight for real. But it's basically impossible with just these swords. If only I knew how to do a jutsu…
He set his feet on the floor, ready to run. I did the same and we rushed at each other. Our blades clashed again, but this time I pushed my wakizashi up to his katana's guard
Since he needed both hands to hold the sword, he couldn't block direct blows without letting go. I put all the strength I could in my right arm, keeping my blade on his katana up in the air
With the other blade, I struck his chest. He stepped back as I expected and dropped the katana. I managed to cut a small line on the front of his clothes at chest height
He looked at the cut in his clothes and I kicked his katana away. He turned his attention back to me, stopping for a moment. I saw a slight wicked smile creep on his face. He's sadistic enough to smile in a fight?! I thought
He raised his hands and clapped them quickly. He made a hand sign I recognized immediately. Ram, I thought, used in fire-style jutsu. Wait… he can use jutsu? He formed the other seals, slowly
– Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu! – he finished and aimed at me
I dropped my swords and backed away as far as I could, but the fire was coming right at me. The room's big, I thought, but not big enough to stay out of range. The only thing that could save me was a water or earth-style jutsu
But water jutsu takes too long. Earth is my best option, but I don't even know if I can pull it off! I joined my hands, forming the tiger, rabbit, boar, and dog seals fast. I slammed my hands onto the floor
– Earth Style: Earth Wall! – I said
I felt something inside me gather and rush to my hands at an insane speed. At the same time, a wall of earth literally rose up in front of me just as the fire hit
I'm remembering…, I thought and closed my eyes. I remember blocking his jutsu and even in that moment I felt happy I could do something like that
But… what happened next?
I heard the fire crash into the wall and could feel the heat near me. I stepped back a few steps, bumping against the white wall of the room
I saw the kunai the boy had thrown before, stuck there. I pulled it out and held it in my right hand. At that moment, the wall I'd created broke apart, its chunks flying at me
I raised my left arm to shield my eyes from the dirt. At the same time, I felt something hit my stomach. A wave of pain shot through me, leaving me breathless and dizzy
I felt the boy grab my neck, pinning me to the wall. I tried to push him away with my left hand, but he was much stronger than me
– Earth Style, huh? – he said, looking at me
I'm going to have to kill him, I thought. There's no other choice. Kill him with the kunai, hit a vital spot. Quick, painless
I was right…, I heard a voice echo in my head. It's me talking to you, fire-haired girl. When I looked at the boy, I saw him with a faint smile. Wait, how can you… I thought, but he cut me off
We don't have much time. Listen carefully: I didn't want to fight you, at all. Just like you, I didn't want this. But the people who made us, the ones who put us here, they don't care. I'll pass everything I know to you, and then I want you to kill me
What? I asked him, completely confused
Like I said at the start, only one of us can leave here. And honestly, you've got more chance than anyone I've seen so far. You're still young but almost as strong as me, and I'm a few years older
But I don't want to kill someone, especially someone like me! I thought
I know. I've been in your place. That's why I need you to take my place now, like I took it from the one before me. My memories will pass to you, and with them you'll understand a little of what's happening here. So please, don't let them get what they want
Like a wave, countless images hit my mind. They were so fast and so many. I couldn't keep up. I shut my eyes, dizzy
As soon as I let go, do it. You're our hope
No, I begged, watching the scene, stop, I don't want this to go on. Whatever comes next, I don't want to remember. Please, Inoichi, stop…
Just a little more… I heard Inoichi's voice, faint and distant in my mind. I started forcing the memories, trying to stop them
The next moment, I felt the boy's grip on my neck loosen. I looked at him and saw his nose bleeding. Whatever he did, I thought, it's taking a toll on him
My emotions screamed not to do it, to find another way. But my mind screamed the opposite
From that moment, I chose which principles I'd live by
I gripped the kunai tight and struck a quick, clean blow between his ribs, piercing his heart. I pushed his body back, falling with him to the floor
I felt a strange tightness in my chest and my vision blurred a little, even close to him. What is this? I thought. What a terrible feeling…
You're… really sad for me? I looked at the boy in front of me. I'm thankful you did this, truly… When you want to access the memories I gave you, when you're ready, think of my name
Your name? I asked. Did they give you one? He managed a faint, weak smile. Like you, they didn't, but if I could choose, I'd like it to be…
I couldn't hear the rest, only saw his lips move. I nodded weakly and twisted the kunai in his chest, making him let out his last breath. His chest rose once more, letting out the air. His eyes stayed open, looking at me until his last second
STOP! I screamed mentally and everything around me started to fade
Other memories came, but this time quickly. Other kids, my age or younger, one by one, killed by my hands
I saw myself in that same room over and over, and the only thing in common each time was red, the same color as my hair, covering the floor. And my hands covered in blood
Weren't the memories supposed to help me and the other kids? I thought. So why did I keep killing them? Why did I just make more massacres? Is that what I really am? A monster made to kill?
The images rewound all at once and I found myself back in the Intelligence Division's room. My breathing was uneven and I panted quietly because of it. I looked at my hands, remembering all the blood that had once been on them
Was that why I didn't remember anything? I thought. Did I just block all those memories? Why did I forget every life I took?!
– Amaya-chan… – I heard someone call
I lifted my eyes and saw Minato and Inoichi near me, standing in front of me. Their expressions were impossible to read, a mix of fear and pity
– Sorry… – I said quietly – I didn't remember that and I couldn't keep watching… – I felt a kind of tightness in my chest – I wanted to help, but…
– It's alright – Inoichi said quickly – I should've realized you didn't remember that – I looked at him – We'll stop here – I nodded weakly.