Strategist from the heavens (Tales of a gutsy ninja 3)

Chapter 2 : Unexpected reality

Gaara P.O.V

The clueless expression on Aira's face was something I found extremely hard to understand.

I remember everything...the Aira of the past and my adventures with her in her world.

Why didn't Aira remember?

Chiyo obaa-sama had chalked it down to temporary amnesia...but it didn't seem like that at all. It was as if her memories had been erased...into nothingness.

"I see...so the only one who can decipher the book is me?"

I saw a familiar twinkle in her eyes as she read the book. She jotted down a few points here and there...and Itachi looked at them in confusion.

Itachi: You're not deciphering the book...you are just simplifying it in the same code.

Aira: Gaara, you remember seeing this language, right?

I did. It was the language called English. The base and the alphabets used were completely different from Japanese, making the language nearly impossible to decode - even for Uchihas.

But she had been training me in English - despite insisting that Japanese people aren't very good with English either.

Itachi: So Gaara can understand what is written as well?

Aira: Yeah, so why not ask him instead?

Itachi: Why not ask from the author herself?

Aira: Because Authors have their secrets.

Aira?

I thought she was just teasing Itachi, but the serious expression on her face stated otherwise.

Itachi eyed her cautiously before letting out a sigh. It just dawned on me that the situation was much more dire than I initially thought.

Dire enough to make Uchiha Itachi sigh.

Itachi: You do realise that I can look into your mind right?

Aira: And what do you see? Plain emptiness? Or Confusion?

Itachi: I see inertia.

With that Itachi walked out the room leaving me alone with Aira. The serious expression on her face was replaced with something I'd never seen on her face before.

A look of bewilderment.

Aira: Gaara...there is something I'd like to talk about. RIGHT NOW.

* * * * *

"Have I changed?"

The question was so out of the blue that I tried to cover it up with a laugh. Who was I kidding? As if I'd be able to deceive the 'strategist from the heavens'.

She raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

Aira: You know what I'm talking about. Have I changed?

Gaara: W-Well... considering that you don't have any memory of your adventures in this world, it's understandable that you feel that way. If you just remember, I'm sure-

Aira: That is not what I am talking about. Have I changed... physically?

The question I dreaded the most. And Aira gathered as much by just observing me.

It was times like this that made me wish that I wasn't so much of an 'open book to read' for her.

Aira: When we met Chiyo obaa-sama, the people who work at the Kazekage manor and Uchiha Itachi...all of them were shocked to see me. In fact, I'd say shocked would be an understatement.

Aira looked torn and confused. As if she wasn't willing to believe in what she had realised.

Aira: The book I read just now. It clearly said that I'd taken precautions to ensure that Uchihas cannot use genjutsu on me. And remember what Itachi said before leaving?

Gaara: That he saw inertia in your mind?

Aira: Precisely. He said 'You do realise that I can look into your mind right?' and as proof, he actually did look into my mind and stated exactly what he saw.

Bingo.

Gaara: B-But what about it?

Aira: Isn't it obvious? There is a huge contradiction. The 'strategist from the heaven' Aira should have been able to prevent Uchihas from invading into her mind.

Gaara: Invading...is a strong word. He just looked into-

Aira: The Aira you all know should have been able to stop Itachi from reading her mind. But I couldn't. He didn't even have to exert himself to do it.

Gaara: What are you getting at?

I knew exactly what she was getting at, and it was not good news.

Aira: Even if I don't remember, I still should have my abilities intact. Now there are two possibilities that can explain this contradiction. 1 - that I am the wrong Ryuugamine Aira.

Gaara: No! That's not-

The one who cut me off this time wasn't Aira.

It was the man whom the world feared. The one who had suppressed the world. The scarlet eyes of the Uchiha that spoke of dominance and being absolute.

The one who had appeared out of nowhere - by distorting the space around him.

" Possibility 2 - that you haven't awakened yet. Or to be precise, you haven't returned to how you were before."

He hardly gave Aira anytime to react. Before she knew, he'd thrown her on his shoulder, his Sharingan holding me in place.

Aira: You're...Uchiha Madara!

Aira was in danger.

Right in front of me.

And I was unable to move a finger to protect her.

Was I going to let her slip away right in front of me...again?

Madara: Indeed. And Ryuugamine Aira, I'm going to have you uphold your end of the deal.

Aira had made a deal with Madara?

Madara: And in exchange, I could help you regain what you have lost.