"We'll never enter this world again,Never meet friends at the table.Catch every flying moment—You'll never catch it afterward." Omar Khayyam
And that moment came. My clumsy block and tired sweaty hands did their part. Last thing I saw—Sasuke's sword at my head, then unimaginable pain in my left temple.
Vision darkened instantly, blood gushed from my nose, and I crashed flat like a rag doll thrown on the floor. Vision doubled. I couldn't grasp where I was or what I touched, like sky and earth swapped. Felt like a hammer drove a nail into my skull.
Unending roar in my ears, everything rang disgustingly; seemed I'd puke any second.
Sasuke was beside me instantly. I tried saying something, but my speech was slurred, and I couldn't hear him. I shook, arms and legs cramped. Nonexistence pulled me like quicksand into a swamp. Just like then... before death.
Sudden panic gripped me, one I'd never felt. Fear of meeting them again upon dying clenched my heart. The Devourers caused all my nightmares. Even emotionless, I felt animal terror toward them, like a tiny bug that doesn't fear but still flees the predator.
Clouded consciousness faded. Seconds later, vision blackened, and I fully lost touch with reality.
How long and where I lay—unknown, but when consciousness returned, I felt extremely unnatural. Head didn't hurt, like no blow happened; vision and hearing fine. Overall condition gave no cause for complaint.
If it were Konoha hospital ward, it'd be wonderful. But it wasn't.
I lay in warm crystal-clear water, staring at a white ceiling glowing like a big lamp. Everything felt native, cozy, familiar, yet inexplicably mysterious. Like a paradoxically lucid dream where you see and remember every detail but know you're in your mind's halls.
"Am I... dead again?" I asked aloud and sat up to look around.
My gaze fell on a snow-white corridor stretching into fog-dissolved distance. Walls and ceiling fully white, floor same, only ankle-deep bluish water added color.
The sight made me swallow fear. After Devourers, any tunnels or basements recalled their lair. Such places I wanted to avoid by nine lands.
"Knew fighting without a helmet was dangerous. So reckless," I pursed my lips.
Sasuke pushed from curiosity, wanted to show off, and I yielded, hoping it'd pass. But I ended up the failure who didn't even live to main events.
I decided not to dawdle. Prospect of being eaten by locals didn't thrill, so with the idea to find Rikudo here ASAP, I stood and looked around. Behind—same endless corridor, but now it didn't catch my eye. Five meters away—an open red door.
So conspicuous amid white—it was eye-gouging. Its color literally beckoned.
Feeling my pouch, I drew a kunai and advanced, trying utmost quiet so even water splash unheard.
I stepped over threshold, revealing an utterly ordinary small 21st-century room. Four by four meters, three high. Unremarkable and seemingly harmless.
Green wallpaper, white ceiling, new linoleum floor, wooden desk dead center, office chair behind, and window.
"Mm... if dying, at least cozy..." I smiled wearily. "Abandoned office beats that stinky dungeon anyway."
Stepping forward, I spotted empty shelf right of door. Behind it, against wall—burgundy leather sofa.
No fixating on interior; ahead—more interesting: on wooden desk lay strange black rectangular object.
Approaching, it was clear—someone's folded laptop.
"Now this room doesn't seem abandoned..." flashed in my mind, and I neared. Wanted to open, see, maybe find where I was. But doubts squeezed soul like a noose.
My principles forbade taking others'. Not mine. Theft unacceptable to me.
Even using another's signature technique like rasengan, conscience forbade. And this—a computer, not mine.
"But what if info on escaping? Take it? No... Not mine; can't do that..." doubts tormented even sans most emotions.
I'd stand rooted, wrestling self and upbringing, but sudden tremor hit. Felt like waking from dream. World faded. Daring last seconds, I opened laptop, eyed power button, pressed.
What next—I didn't catch. Sucked back, like to reality.
Memories of following events mushed. Didn't know where, who these people, what happening? Felt unbearably ill, head splitting so bad no strength to think.
***A day later
"S-sa...suke..." I strained, prying stuck eyelids. Vision doubled, sun blazed eyes so couldn't see friend properly. "Am... I alive?"
Vision slightly better, I found myself on a cot in blindingly bright hospital ward.
"Of course!" he said excitedly, then quieter: "How are you?" asked my friend. Fully turning, I saw his mom—Mikoto Uchiha—and brother Itachi beside him.
"What are they doing here?" question popped, but inquiring too hard.
"But... bad, just head... hurts," I squeezed out creakily, omitting vile nausea bout; bit more, and I'd lose stomach contents.
He stepped back, said something, then his mom. They looked expectantly, but I didn't know what to reply—I hadn't heard. Noting my reaction, they exchanged phrases; then Mikoto-san left the ward.
As soon as she left, Sasuke started telling me something, but only fragments of phrases reached me. It was extremely hard to even make out what he was droning on about. All I could manage was to silently watch with weary eyes.
My friend was babbling something, pursing his lips and staring holes in the floor. You didn't need to be an expert to notice how guilty he felt.
Seeing him like this was a novelty for me. The Uchiha was too proud to blame himself or ask for forgiveness. Hearing that word from him was only possible in the most extreme cases, none of which we'd had until that day.
A few minutes later, the ward door opened, and Sasuke's mom came in—and, to my surprise, Yoshi-san. Despite wearing a medical ninja uniform, she inspired the same fear. Sasuke, spotting her, immediately panicked and, after hesitating, backed up to the wall, as if afraid to even twitch.
Sensei silently sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on my head, wrapped in bandages. A light tingling and chill soon followed. She began treating me with Mystic Palm, and with every second, I felt better. The headache subsided, my vision sharpened, and even my hearing returned. I started hearing the enchanting song of birds outside the window.
But with my well-being came memory too; those few minutes spent in that mysterious room flashed before my eyes like a flock of birds. I sank so deep into thought that I didn't immediately realize what the people standing nearby were talking about.
"She had a ruptured eardrum; she simply couldn't hear you," the woman explained, addressing the adults.
"Yoshi-san... I didn't expect to see you here," I said with a slight smile and thanked her.
"I just recently told you they were transferring me to the hospital—forgot?"
"Y-yeah," I nodded quietly, not recalling any such thing. *'Sasuke really didn't hold back on that hit.'*
"Got it," she tsked and stood up. "Lie still and don't move. We'll discharge you by the end of the week."
*The main thing is to make it to Naruto's birthday—it's my only chance to talk to the Hokage. Whether the three of us end up on the same team depends on this.*
While I pondered, Yoshi-san turned to Sasuke, as if about to scold him:
"You're lucky, kid. Three centimeters higher, and she'd be off to her ancestors," she said, then left the ward without lingering, in her usual confident manner.
"Mikoto-san... it's my fault," I wanted to take the blame as quickly as possible. "Sasuke had nothing to do with it..."
"My son already told me everything that happened," she replied irritably and came closer. "Your father and I decided to buy you protective gear so you can train safely," she added with a small smile.
"Uh... y-yeah? How much do I owe you? I'll pay it all back," I blurted out, hinting that I didn't want to be in debt. Years ago, I'd learned that no matter what the world was like—no one owed me anything.
I had money, but for expenses like that, I'd be on a rice diet for weeks, which was why I hadn't bought full gear that day.
"Consider it on us," came the voice of Itachi, who had been silent until then. "After all, you're helping Sasuke with his training."
"Huh? Th-thank you..."
"Nii-san, I wanted to ask you..." began Sasuke, looking dejected, like a kitten who'd gotten into mischief. "Remember those papers for determining affinity? Ariza got wind nature. Could you... umm... help with training?"
"Hm, wind is a fairly rare nature," Itachi murmured and looked at me intently. "I'll help."
*'Now that I really didn't expect. Maybe they're doing this to placate me so I don't complain about Sasuke, who nearly killed me? They barely know me— what if I blab and ruin the Uchiha reputation? That would explain their behavior,' flashed a theory in my mind. 'What a lucky turn of events—a technique in exchange for my health.'*
"Sorry, Ari," Sasuke mumbled and sat on the chair next to the bed. "If not for that ANBU member nearby, I don't know what would've happened..."
"Wait," I exhaled heavily and asked again: "ANBU member?"
"Yeah..."
*'If an ANBU was nearby, I'd have noticed. Maybe Sasuke waited there a few minutes for me to come to? I need to clarify this later—it looks suspicious.'*
"Did I miss anything important at the Academy?"
"Just the Konohagakure-Iwagakure conflict, other villages, and Minato Namikaze's and the Nameless Shinobi's direct roles in the Third Shinobi World War."
"Nameless?" I clarified, and Sasuke waved it off, like it didn't matter. If I'd been feeling better, maybe I'd have asked. But my head was splitting at the seams, ready to burst any moment. Exhausted, I muttered, *'Whatever,'* and we didn't return to the topic.
Every world has its pros and cons. If the lack of smartphones and the Internet could be called a drawback here, then the level of medicine was definitely an advantage. Healing a broken jaw and temple in a few days—that's impressive.
They discharged me from the hospital on Saturday, not because of bed shortages, but because they had practically fully healed me. They just told me to avoid training and fights, or I might start feeling nauseous.
Sasuke visited me all those days, along with Naruto. I had no idea how, but Uzumaki figured out it was the Uchiha's doing. According to Hinata, who visited me, they got into a fight right at the Academy, and almost at the hospital too, when they showed up at the same time. But seeing Yoshi-san's stern glare, they turned meek as lambs and scattered.
The whole week flew by like that: I tried to figure out what that mysterious room I'd hallucinated was—had I really been there, or was it a brain-trauma delusion? I came up with tons of theories, but leaned toward one: what if it was my subconscious? An Inner World, like Naruto's.
*'But is it? Can I get back there? And most importantly, what was that computer? What if I can use it somehow?'*—those questions kept me up all week.
"Ariza, you've been kinda spaced out lately," my friend commented next to me, and I turned to him.
It was a wonderful Saturday. The sky was so cloudless, as if someone had deliberately eaten all the clouds like cotton candy.
We were outside the hospital's main entrance. Trees and bushes stretched before us, along with a metal fence enclosing the grounds and gates.
"You're right... guess my head's still not right," I excused myself, not wanting to talk about that room. "By the way, did they let you out early today? Class ended fifteen minutes ago, and we've been chatting for half an hour."
"Nah, I just made a shadow clone," the guy grinned smugly. "Bro let me—he said he did it himself."
"I see," I smiled slightly, not telling him I pulled that off now and then too. I knew most of the curriculum ahead, so sometimes I trained at the Training Ground while a shadow clone went to the Academy—if there were no spars that day.
"Doesn't that bandage squeeze your head?" he pulled me from my thoughts, noticing the bandages.
"Well... yeah, a bit," I grimaced, nodding slightly.
"Let me adjust it," he offered. "Just don't move."
"Uh-huh."
Sasuke carefully loosened them, and I watched with mild interest as he concentrated so hard. It was so cute I almost smiled.
Watching my frowning friend, I got so absorbed I didn't notice our classmates—including Sakura and Ino—approaching down the street.
I only sensed their chakra when they called out to us:
"Sasuke-kun?!" Sakura yelled across the street, spotting us through the open hospital gates. Our eyes met, and I grasped the full awkwardness of the situation.
The other girls immediately fixed curious eyes on us, and I swallowed hard.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Tomato?!" the crowd of girls shrieked.
We exchanged slow glances, nodded in unison, and bolted. Leaping onto the hospital roof, I saw the Uchiha fangirls charging after us to clarify things.
We shook them off quickly. Our short escape led us to the Akimichi clan east of the hospital. We stopped on a roof, and I, exhaling heavily, slumped against the wall. My head wasn't ready for this and started aching from the strain.
*'On Monday, they won't leave me alone... Gotta come up with an excuse quick...'* I started brainstorming while healing my head with Shosen Jutsu, but Sasuke interrupted:
"Look, I haven't seen this before," the Uchiha was peering down, so I stood and looked too.
There, in the backyard of a house belonging to one of Konoha's four noble clans—the Akimichi Ichizoku—were two people: our classmate Choji and his father Choza.
"He's teaching him some technique—he'll repeat it now," Sasuke said intently, crouching slightly.
Hmphing, I instantly forgot everything and watched closely. Choza explained the technique's principle to his son actively and loudly enough to hear from the roof. Then he formed seals and demonstrated it. I recognized it immediately—"Butterfly Mode": the clan's secret technique, burning calories to generate so much chakra that their power multiplies, with insect-like wings appearing on the user's back.
*'Choji used this in the war,'* flashed in my mind as the boy futilely tried to repeat it. At first, his strikes were weak, wings nearly transparent. But after a few tries, it improved—though the kid was exhausted, begging his dad to let him rest and eat chips.
"Interesting technique," Sasuke smiled faintly, watching with activated Sharingan the whole time. "Eh, what are you doing?" he squinted, noticing me jotting notes in a notebook.
"No dojutsu like yours, so I gotta write it down or I'll forget," I mumbled, stuffing the notebook back in my pack once done.
"You gonna learn it? But you don't have the calories."
"My chakra reserves are dozens of times theirs, so I don't need the weight. And I'm not after the power anyway—I want chakra wings on my back," I assured him.
"For what?" he eyed me suspiciously.
"Flight. Trust me, flying can save your life hundreds of times. Say stronger enemies trap you—why fight? Just fly away. No idea if it'll work for me, but worth the time," I stated my view, while the Uchiha looked baffled.
"You really think it'll work this time?" he replied skeptically.
"Probably."
"You said that about every made-up technique before, and zero out of twenty worked."
"I have a plan: Body Flicker Technique temporarily reduces weight and boosts speed. Combine it with henge, and maybe I can lift myself since the body's light."
"Fine," Sasuke smiled slightly. He always liked my determination and persistence. Sometimes I thought without those, the Uchiha wouldn't even notice me.
Evening promised to be eventful. I'd prepared everything, thought it through, and set out as the sun touched the horizon, painting the dark sky golden. The silver half-moon shone brightly, stars just starting to twinkle one by one.
It was October 15th. No longer unbearably hot, but not yet freezing. Only the cold evening wind made me shiver occasionally.
My path to Naruto's house wound through empty alleys. I could've taken the short route down Konoha's main street, but the crowd's shouts and footsteps would've distracted me. Instead, distant noise and barking dogs accompanied me.
By 7:30, I was at the door. Naruto opened it, grinning as wide as possible.
"Ari-chan! Yay! I was afraid you wouldn't come! Come in! Everyone's here," he waved me inside.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Something happen? You're never late," my friend asked.
"Nah, not important... Ran into someone..." I brushed it off. No way I'd tell him I'd seen his future perverted sensei at Konoha's hot springs a couple hours ago.
"I invited Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, but only Shik came," the kid grumbled sadly.
"No biggie—you already celebrated at Ichiraku Ramen, right?"
"Wanna more, dattebayo!"
I pretended to laugh, then took off my shoes, hung my jacket on the hook, and we headed to the living room. It was spacious, ten meters long and five wide, with beige walls. Brightly lit, wide windows opposite the door draped in light sheer curtains.
Besides the table, there was a new-gen TV, an orange satin sofa, and wooden chests of drawers. Children's photos of little Naruto and his dad hung on the walls.
But my gaze hit the festive table, and I froze—not from the array of delicious dishes and delicacies.
My eyes darted across the concentration of this world's geniuses in one room. I'd sensed their chakra in the yard and knew who'd be here. But seeing them in person was different: Konohagakure's leader—Minato; great clan head Fugaku; ANBU commander Itachi; famed Kakashi Hatake; Jounin Council member Shikaku Nara; legendary Sannin Jiraiya; plus Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru, all geniuses in my book. The strongest shinobi of this era.
Unfamiliar feelings I'd never had washed over me. Like I'd stumbled somewhere I didn't belong. I was the odd one out. These were the talented elite—or future elite.
*'Fourth must be so busy he turned Naruto's birthday partly into work,'* I thought wryly, knowing the son's party was just a pretext to bond with surviving Uchiha clan members.
The adults talked important matters, barely noticing the kids. Minato sat at the table's head on the left from the entrance; opposite him, across, his son Naruto. Back to the window, facing the door: Fugaku, Kakashi, Shikaku, and Shikamaru. Directly opposite: Jiraiya, Itachi, and Sasuke. Annoyingly, the only spot left for me was between Jiraiya and Itachi, far from friends.
*'Naruto didn't even save me a seat near him? Now I gotta sit with the adults?'* The thought made me tremble more. I didn't feel fear itself, but my body reacted as if I did.
I hesitated. After lingering at the door seconds, I cautiously headed toward Uzumaki, mentally preparing to stand like a post next to my friend all party. Squeezing between Sasuke and Naruto, I scanned the table piled with what seemed every dish in the world.
"Ariza, why you standing?" Sasuke's voice rang out, and everyone went silent. Dead quiet hung, all eyes at the table landing on me. The boys looked confused; adults scrutinized intently. Their gazes touched, slid, probed me. Like they saw right through my entire being.
"Uh-uh-um..." I couldn't describe the feelings. I just wanted to sink into the earth ASAP. "Hello... Sorry for being late," I blurted and bowed.
"There's a spot right here—sit," Itachi said, and I nodded obediently.
Over the years, I'd realized emotions returned gradually—the more I felt them, the faster they recovered. At the Academy, surprise at classmates' antics and shame for them were most common, so those had nearly fully returned.
I sat carefully, noticing the adults still eyeing me, exchanging glances occasionally. But soon they stopped, resuming as if nothing happened.
*'Probably weird seeing red hair like Kushina's. They must all think of her instantly. Or wonder what a kid like me's doing here. Fine, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba—Uzumaki invited them; they're heirs of great clans like Naruto and Sasuke. But me... just an orphanage kid,'* my brain spun excuses.
I sensed their chakra, and even me—with dulled emotions—shuddered. Being near such massive chakra sources was unreal; I couldn't catch my breath.
I knew they were powerhouses. But now I truly got it. They were so far beyond me, unreachable. One wrong move, and I'd be dead before squeaking. Greatest shinobi of the century, pros who could reshape landscapes on a whim.
That fact made everything inside quake.
I stole glances from one to another, breathing quietly like a little gray mouse near a cat. My mind wouldn't quiet: sitting at a table with real killers. How many had Minato slain in war? How many had Kakashi and Itachi eliminated in ANBU years? Hundreds, thousands maybe. Not drawn characters—living people right before me. At one table. Eating, chatting. A society of soldiers equal to armies in power.
My gaze hit Jiraiya; seconds later, eyes met. I wanted to look away but froze. Despite his kills, no malice or hate in his eyes. Just interest and curiosity:
"So, how's the technique?" the Sannin grinned, eyeing me intrigued.
"You know each other?" Naruto asked surprised.
"Kinda... met today," I replied dully, looking down.
"More precisely, this little extortionist wheedled a technique out of me," he clarified, making me feel ashamed. Though true.
Hours ago, passing the onsen, I'd seen scalded Jiraiya fleeing a mob of furious women and couldn't resist intervening. With a clone and henge, I distracted them—and seized the chance to beg training.
"Which technique exactly?" Sasuke jumped in.
"Body Flicker Technique," I answered for the man.
"What?" the boy exclaimed. I couldn't see his eyes, but they must've been saucer-wide.
"Good luck training," the Hokage smiled kindly.
"Thanks, Minato-sama."
"Hey, Ariza-chan..." Naruto couldn't hold back, standing and coming over.
"Hm?" I turned to him.
"Teach me too? Dunno what it is, but sounds cool, dattebayo!"
"Hm, once I learn it, sure? Haven't mastered it yet," I replied calmly.
"Ari..." Sasuke called as Naruto left; turning, I saw him flustered.
"Teach you too?"
"Uh-uh-um..." he trailed, then nodded.
"Sure," I forced a smile.
Naruto and Shikamaru chattered excitedly; I kept ears on the adults. No clue why, but I itched to eavesdrop—no other option. Friends were half-table away; impossible to chat. So, plating treats, I perked my ears.
They started on politics—Leaf-Sand relations, village issues—then shifted to a kid-closed topic. Riddles, near-whispers, like everyone got it half-said.
"We can't let them legally be in the Land of Fire," Shikaku stated grimly, quietly.
"They're already here. Spotted near Tsushima city south of the Land of Fire days ago," Jiraiya explained.
"You have a deal with them, right, Minato-sama?" Itachi asked.
*'Who? Hope not Akatsuki,'* I thought instantly.
"Yes, we collaborate—but not officially yet," Minato replied reservedly.
"But is it safe, sensei? We don't know what to expect?" Kakashi asked worriedly, whispering.
"I'm on good terms with their leader; it's fine," Minato assured, smirking slightly.
"He's too influential, Kakashi—he's reached a level we can't ignore," Jiraiya added.
"If their leader's as strong as rumors say, we must stay vigilant," Hatake asserted.
"They won't harm the village; I'm sure," Fugaku stated.
*'Who? Minato knowing Akatsuki? No way. Or something else? World full of orgs beyond those criminals. Maybe a temp group gone by Naruto's plot start?'*
"No control means no guarantees," Shikaku disagreed.
"It's under control; no worries," Jiraiya grinned, then their eyes crossed to me again, making me uneasy.
*'They noticed me eavesdropping.'* I looked away as Naruto and Sasuke raced to the toilet. *'My chance... while the boys are gone, ask Minato for our team.'*
But before I could speak or apologize for interrupting, the Hokage called:
"Well, Ariza, something to ask?"
*'They read me like an open book. Like sitting with gods.'*
"Uh... yeah," I sighed, mentally recalling my scripted plan. "Hokage-sama... I learned long ago teams form post-Academy: three grads, one sensei. And... I'd like to request you put me with Naruto and Sasuke on one team," I rushed out, and ringing silence fell. "Please..."
"Hah, girl's no slouch," Jiraiya laughed at me.
"Isn't Sasuke planning to graduate early like Itachi-kun?" the Fourth assumed.
"Minato-sama, I think Sasuke's too young to leave the Academy," Fugaku said gravely, eyeing my head bandages. I just clamped my mouth and vowed never to tell the younger Uchiha.
"Due to the recent incident?" Shikaku clarified, noting the clan head's gaze; he replied curtly:
"Among other things."
*'If Sasuke finds out, he'll kill me—bet on it,'* I thought.
"Ariza, I'll consider your request," Minato replied calmly, smiling slightly. I could only nod and thank him.
*'At least I tried,'* I summed up mentally as Naruto and Sasuke burst in, still arguing.
The rest of the evening was more cheerful. Adults dropped work for lighter topics. Naruto and Sasuke's dynamic shifted slightly—I noticed rivalry sparking in their eyes. If I'd listened, I'd know why. But focused on the jounin, I missed their friends' spat. Didn't matter.
One thing clear: this world's altered not by chance. Someone's handiwork. Someone strong, shadowy. What if that person or org caused this world's downfall?
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan