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

Chapter 5 - A rebellious child

General P.O.V

Deep inside the lake, a huge turtle sensed two sources of chakra. One of it was huge...that of a seasoned ninja.

The other one had his chakra.

Isobu: Ryuugamine Aira...

He didn't think he'd see her again. Not after they got separated at the Gedo Mazo statue.

He wished to go and meet her...but decided against it.

'Cut off any escape from the lake...and prepare for a fight.'

Was Aira preparing to fight him?

Alongside the man who almost succeeded in sealing him in the statue?

Isobu: Aira-san...what are you thinking?

On the surface, Aira used the deva path Pain for support. Pain stood with his hands stretched.

Aira: Can you sense where he is?

Pain: I couldn't. It couldn't be a sensor block...that kind of techniques cannot outsmart my Rinnegan.

'Not to mention, the Uzumaki clan excels at sensing chakra.'

Aira: I wonder why I didn't want to involve Yukimaru.

Pain: Yukimaru as in the boy who could sense Isobu's chakra?

Aira: Yeah...but there something off about the entire thing. Even though I know that taking Yukimaru's help is the most logical thing to do, there is something that is stopping me from executing it...

Aira P.O.V

"Do you really think this will work?"

Honestly...I don't know.

It's just that there was no other option available.

A reunion with Isobu was a necessity. According to the diary, Isobu could read my mind. Asking him about my past self is the quickest way to regain my memories.

Aira: I wouldn't ask you to help me if I thought it was impossible.

Pain: I'll leave it at that. So what do you want me to do?

Aira: Cut off any escape from the lake...and prepare for a fight.

'There is something telling me not to involve others in this matter...'

Aira: Pain-kun, do it now!

Pain: Chibaku Tensei!

The deva path Pain had created a ball of black mass that floated above the centre of the lake.

Ripples soon turned into huge waves and the entire lake was plunged into chaos.

Do you know what it feels like being close to the centre of gravity? It feels like something is pulling at your insides. Simply put, it makes you sick.

I held on tightly to Pain, because my life truly depended on it.

Pain: What are you doing?

Aira: What does it look like I'm doing? I feel like I'll get sucked into the vortex if I don't hold on...

Rock.

That is what his chest felt like. Hard...and not comfortable at all.

.

.

.

Minutes seemed to stretch to hours as we waited.

And then, without warning it happened. A huge wave swept over our heads and pulled us into the lake.

Aira: NAGATO!

Within a split second, I was deep under water. Okay, maybe his chest wasn't so uncomfortable after all. It was still better than this biting cold!

This couldn't be the reason I came to this world, or according to Gaara, came back to this world.

I can't just die here!

But amidst that panic, there was a part of me that seemed to be relaxed.

This wasn't the first time I came here.

This wasn't the first time I almost drowned...

As my vision darkened and my body gave up on struggling, I saw what looked like a turtle. Even though it was so far away, I could still see it. Which meant, it must be humongous.

This wasn't the first time Isobu saved me.

"Aira...are you alright?"

And then, I lost consciousness.

* * * * *

"And, to what do I owe the honor of being invited to this...party?"

Three days later, I found my self attending Madara's tea party. I had never liked the taste of bitter matcha tea but it helped me calm down and accept the inevitable. The Narutoverse was similar to Edo period Japan.

And so, I plastered on a smile and watched as Madara poured tea with the elegance which comes with regular practice of tea ceremony.

Aira: I didn't know you were a Nippon Danshi(respectable Japanese man - male counterpart of Yamato Nadeshiko).

So the past me enjoyed a cup of tea with one of the greatest villain of all time?

Madara: No, I believe this is the first time you get to taste my hospitality. Last time, you taught me about meditation, moments after Pain nearly killed you.

Aira: Oh... okay.

If you ask why I was all of a sudden able to relax in the presence of Nagato and Madara... despite the fact that they were so candidly discussion how I almost died was because - I had an ally by my side.

A voice in my head who knew me better than anyone else.

"I-If someone like me can be of help then..."

How can a turtle who addresses himself as 'boku' be considered a monster?

Madara: You're smiling.

Aira: Yes, I am.

So from now on, he'll read my face expression to find out what I think. This surely has to be better than him reading my mind like an open book.

Gaining Isobu was going to be the highlight of my revival.

And with this reconciled ally, I can now begin to put my plan into action...one that Gaara will not find very amusing.

Aira: Now that everything has settled, let's get the main event started. Uchiha Madara-san, would you like to enter into a contract?

Pain: A contract?

Aira: One that names you the king.

(A/N: Minna-sama, sorry for the delay in the update. But...the dreaded schedule of University has rendered it almost impossible to update chapters regularly.

So with deep regrets I place this story on Hiatus...but I'll still update chapters whenever I can...

Thank you for following the development of Aira's story)