Beyond Lifetimes / A Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter nine: It's All On Me

Sitting at the edge of my favorite pond, I dangled my feet in the cool water, feeling a sense of peace that had eluded me for so long. Ever since my chakra was sealed, a precaution taken by my parents to protect me, I hadn't fallen sick, not even once. 

Zetsu sat beside me, his presence a constant enigma. His half-white, half-black visage was always calm, unreadable, a stark contrast to the vibrant life that surrounded us. Today, curiosity got the better of me, and I turned to him, asking the question that had been on my mind since the day we met. "Where are you from?"

He chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed both comforting and mysterious. "Curiosity killed the cat, didn't it?" His response, typical of him, was evasive yet playful.

I pouted, turning away. His origins were a mystery; he wore no village's headband, carried no recognizable symbols. For all I knew, he could be a rogue shinobi. But despite the questions that hung in the air between us, his presence never felt threatening. Our meetings, albeit unconventional, were something I had come to look forward to.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I murmured, half-hoping he would offer something more, a clue to his mysterious past.

He patted my head gently, a gesture that felt surprisingly comforting coming from him. And then, with a smile that held a thousand untold stories, he sank into the ground, disappearing without a trace. I stayed by the pond a while longer, lost in thought, watching the fish glide through the water with an effortless grace.

Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. My father had explained the significance of the next seal I was to receive. It was a tradition passed down through the generations, a seal that contained the essence of every jutsu ever created by our kekkei genkai. It was more than just a repository of knowledge; it was a means of protecting our heritage, ensuring that our secrets would never fall into the wrong hands. The responsibility weighed heavily on me. Was I ready to bear such a burden?

Returning home, I found my father engrossed in the newspaper, the quiet of the house a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. "Where's mom?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"She's preparing for tomorrow," he replied, his eyes not leaving the page he was reading.

A confession slipped out, my fears laid bare. "Do you think I can do this? I'm nervous... I don't think I'm ready."

My father looked up then, his gaze softening. "Of course, you're not ready. No one ever is. I certainly wasn't." His attempt at reassurance did little to quell the storm within me.

But then, he spoke with a conviction that pierced through my doubts. "You are Konari Nishigami, daughter of Siaga and Kaya Nishigami, and the next head of the Nishigami. You're strong, and I'm proud of you."

My mother's voice echoed his sentiment, her hand on my head a familiar comfort. "We both are. You're going to do great."

Their faith in me, unwavering and sincere, chased away the shadows of doubt. "Okay," I whispered, a newfound resolve taking root.

The day of the sealing arrived all too soon. Roused by my mother in the early hours, I was dressed in a white garment, its design leaving my back exposed – the site of the new seal. The first one, a mark of my family's protection, was on my stomach. This one, however, was a testament to the responsibility I was about to inherit.

We descended into the crystal catacombs, a place of unparalleled beauty that took my breath away. It was here, among the shimmering crystals that radiated light in a kaleidoscope of colors, that I was to receive the seal.

The ceremony was solemn, the air heavy with anticipation. My father and mother, united in their role as protectors of our clan's legacy, prepared me for the sealing. As my mother's hands touched our backs, "ninja art crescent sealing "she invoked the ancient jutsu that would bind the knowledge of generations within me.

The pain was unlike anything I had experienced, a searing fire that coursed through my veins. I welcomed the darkness that followed, knowing that when I awoke, I would carry within me the legacy of the Nishigami clan..