3 Ryujin Jakka

"Ugh." Slowly opening his eyes Rei felt a sudden heat radiate onto his body. "Where am I." Getting up off the rocky ground Rei realized he was in a completely different location than where he collapsed. Surrounding him was a sea of raging fire and magma seemingly stretching forever in every direction. Other than the rocky pillar he was lying on there was no other land in sight.

"What happened?" Looking down at his body Rei found the wound on his chest was healed leaving only a scar. "It seems the transformation is proceeding well." Suddenly a voice perpetrated through the sea of fire as Rei jumped almost falling down.

"W- Who? Where are you?" Searching around for the voice Rei could only see the miles upon miles of flames creating an intense wave of heat.

"You have a lot of questions for a boy who has just survived death… I am everything you see before you. I am the inferno that lies within the blade." Hearing the voice Rei seemed confused as he looked back to the sea of fire.

"You're this place?" The voice responded as the fires around Rei began to morph. "Indeed though I can tell it is hard for you to understand. Very well I'll change into a state that you can comprehend."

Soon the flames from down below the pillar flew into the air forming a bird-like figure. Rei's eyes shined as a gust of hot air blew over him causing his dark black hair to shake in the wind. "A Phoenix..."

Rei was dumbfounded by the massive eagle-like bird with feathers resembling fire. Staring in a daze it took him a few seconds to wake himself up. "So… Why am I here." It was going back into his memories that Rei finally remembered the village.

"Wait! What happened to the village, my parents!" The Phoenix remained quiet for a moment before answering Rei slowly. "Your parents along with your Clan's men were killed. The only reason you're still alive is that I saved you." Hearing the Phoenix Rei lowered his head. 'So it wasn't a dream that really happened.'

Continuing on the Phoenix's continued to speak. "By injecting my own power into your body your injuries were able to heal faster than normal humans. However, if I remove that power chances are you will die. That is why I want to give you a choice." Looking up Rei asked hesitantly. "And what choice is that?"

"Over the centuries I have seen forces beyond this world begin to come into play. There is no one that can stop them and no one that can keep them at bay. If you are willing to become a Shinigami of this world to keep the order and set the boundaries between life and death I am willing to help you."

Listening, Rei could understand the Phoenix was saying but something still eluded him. What did it mean by coming to Shinigami and what secret forces were they talking about? So many questions flooded his mind but one came to light the most. Opening his mouth Rei asked his final question. "Then tell me why did you choose me."

It was with that question that the phoenix's form slowly returned to being fire. "You remind me of my previous master. Over the years of the Clan leaders, none were able to wield properly however you have the potential. If you are willing to accept my offer then you will become something greater than yourself remember this."

As the voice faded away Rei's eyes shot open as he coughed violently. Covering his face and body were ashes as he stood up. He didn't know when or how but he was clutching the Katana which the phoenix supposedly lied in tightly in his hands. With only smoke remaining the village had finished burning down and was now a pile of burnt charcoal.

Looking at his dead father in front of him tears couldn't help but swell in Rei's eyes. Clutching his fist Rei began to move. While trying to stay mentally stable he took the long golden arrow out of his father's neck finally allowing his body to hit the ground. "Those bastards didn't even give him a fair fight."

Rei could tell his father was outnumbered and overwhelmed. Sparring with him as much as he did Rei only needed a few glances over the battlefield to reimagine what happened. What might have started as five or six sound ninja slowly grew to around forty when they realized they couldn't beat him. And the fact the arrow was sticking out the back of his neck showed he was attacked without any knowledge of the attacker.

Realizing all of this Rei bit his lip's feeling angered about how his father died. Sheathing the katana in his hand Rei proceeded to carry his father's body back to their house. Following his father, Rei also did the same for his mother.

'Ill at least bury them.' Digging a hole next to their house it took Rei over three hours to finally bury his parents. Patting the ground down Rei had made the hole with his bare hands not being able to find a proper tool to use. Looking ahead of him the sun has already come above the horizon shining its light down onto Rei and the rest of his home. 'They'll pay for this.'

Increasing his grip to the point he was trembling he looked down at the sheathed katana in his hands. The words of the phoenix echoed through his mind along with the memories of how he was defeated so easily by Kidomaru. "Hey… If I agree to become a Shinigami or whatever will I be strong enough to kill the one who did this?"

To anyone else Rei would seem crazy talking to seemingly no one but his doubts were cleared when he heard a response. A familiar voice went directly into his head. "Yes." It was a simple answer but it was the only once Rei needed to hear.

"Fine then I agree. I'll become a Shinigami and do whatever is necessary and in return I want you to help me get stronger."

Agreeing to its terms Rei felt something begin to change in his body. Slowly a new type of power began to enter Rei's body, something that wasn't Chakra. "What is this?" Looking down at the sheathed blade Rei began to feel different.

"Though you are technically my master your body is not ready to wield my power. I began the process of changing your body into one suited for a Shinigami when I healed you but it's still only at around 8%" Hearing that Rei spoke in a confused manner. "And what does that mean?"

"It means until your body has fully been converted to one of Reishi you're going to be learning how to control a power separate from Chakra." Rei was surprised when he heard the voice mention a power separate from chakra. "You know you're overloading my brain with all this new information. But no matter what if I'm going to have to train I can't do it here."

Now that Rei had buried his parents he didn't want to stay in this village a second longer. 'That six-armed guy mentioned someone named Orochimaru. If he's their boss then he's also my target.' With a clear goal in mind, Rei made his way through the village. The village was surrounded by a very thick forest which was one of the things that kept it hidden for so many years.

Standing at the edge of that forest Rei took a deep breath before taking a step forward. Navigating the thick shrubbery Rei took this chance to learn more about what he agreed to. Despite being a kid he wasn't dumb enough to agree to something without learning the details afterward.

And so as he walked the forest's density became less and less thick and his knowledge about Shinigami grew. "So Kido is like Jutsu right?" Climbing over a tree stump Rei had felt like a whole new world of information had been opened to him. Responding to Rei's question, the voice inside of the sword spoke.

"Yes, in a way however Kido relies on the user's Reiatsu. By learning Kido and other Shinigami techniques you will slowly grow stronger over time." Rei nodded his head. "I guess that makes sense. By the way, I've been meaning to ask but do you have a name?" The blade did not respond right away to Rei's question before telling him its name.

"My name is Ryujin Jakka."