Along a Fading Path (Naruto)

Life, it's short, long, sweet, and bitter, paradoxical as that sounds. My previous life was good, but not the best. There was always someone better than me, but also those worse off. Others might not have seen it as anything special, but to me, it was. I loved my family and would do just about anything for them. It was good. It was mine. Sadly, all things come to an end, and my life wasn't any different.

It was a day like any other, sunny and slightly chilly. Winter was here, or, was leaving, to be more exact. I was heading out, not sure where. Everything's fuzzy, twisted. I can't remember.

Anyways, I was crossing the street, carefully looking out for any ice on the road. A loud honk drew my attention to a speeding truck barreling right for me. The driver was frantically trying to warn me and anyone else about his rocket-like speeds. As he drew closer, I leaped aside, narrowly avoiding having my guts splattered all over the pavement. my heart was racing like crazy, adrenaline rushing through my veins.

That was amazing! I started running out of the road, hoping not to be hit by another passing car. Never have I felt such a rush before and I'm so happy to be aliv-

My leg slides, slips, and rises. The world spins and I fall backwards.

H-Huh?

There's a loud crack and great pain assault the back of my head. The world swims and something coppery slithers into my mouth. Slowly, the world begins to fade.

I-I can't feel anything below my neck.

W-What's happening? T-This is scary. I don't want to die. N-No...

Please, anyone.

Help...

...

---------------------------------

Darkness, the void, purgatory. These are just a few of the many names I've come up for this place. Did I really die? Maybe I'm blind, deaf, and in a hospital bed, waiting for the machines that keeping me alive to be turned off. I don't feel anything. Or, maybe this is hell. A few more months of this and I'll probably be insane. At most, I'm presumably been here for a few hours, waiting for something, anything to happen. If this is life after death, then it's a terrifying existence, one I wish to exit as soon as possible.

(Allocate Stats!)

As I ponder what the hell to do, a ray of light pierces the darkness. There's no voice or words, simply a feeling. I have to make a few choices, but I don't know what those choices mean. All it would take is a conscious decision and I can move on. So many questions rise to the surface of my mind. Is this god? Am I finally dying? Or... am I hallucinating?

[10(Base) + 10 (2nd Life) = 20 Points Available

Strength -/+

*How hard you can hit things!

*How much you can lift, carry!

Dexterity -/+

*Lets you use complex weapons and improve your precision with those weapons!

Agility -/+

*How fast and nimble you are!

*Makes you harder to hit!

Charisma -/+

*How charming you can be!

*Let's you avoid most confrontations with words alone!

*But, sometimes, fighting is the only choice!

Cunning -/+

*How fast you can solve problems!

Luck -/+

*How much the universe you live in likes you!

Soul -/+

*How strong your SOUL is!

*Determines your chakra reserves!]

...

(Stats Allocated!)

Well, there's nothing else to do, so to distract myself from the crippling fear and loneliness, I choose, uncertain of what I'm even deciding on.

The strange feeling vanishes and the darkness surrounding me begins to fade away like smoke in the wind. Tiny motes of light start to flash into existence. I fall.

A scream threatens to leave my lips, but I don't have a mouth. I pick up speed and the world only grows brighter and brighter the more I fall. Through my terrifying descent, I start to see strange crystals floating in the air. Menacing power pulses off them in waves. In the recesses of my mind, something urging me to reach out and grab one. They're so close!

[The Blue Crystal

*It's as blue as the ocean and pierces deep into your very soul.

The Red Crystal

*It's crimson colour reminds you of blood and fire.

The Green Crystal

*A calming, relaxing wind emanates from it.

The Gold Crystal

*A regal feeling oozes out of it.

The Obsidian Crystal

*It's calm, almost as if there's nothing to it.]

With my choice made, I hurried and grabbed the desired crystal as I continue to fall. Within seconds, the world is so radiant that I couldn't see a thing. Nevertheless, I can feel a great, spiralling mass of energy in front of me. I'm being drawn to it. Unable to move or change course, I'm helplessly pulled in. The world spins, my consciousness is torn apart, and once more, darkness consumes my awareness.

The pain lasts only a second, as does the darkness. For a third time, a dazzling light blinds me.

"H##ddd21"

"Nanai44ghs?"

"Naahhhh!"

"Nuun222ru1?!"

"Noono."

There! I heard something!

The light dims and I make out strange, blurry things in my field of vision. I could do nothing as they grab me and strike my... butt?

Wait! I felt that! God, I've never been happier to feel pain!

The hand strikes me again, prompting an angry hiss to leave my lips, only, it comes out as more of a cry than anything.

One time was fine, but you can stop now, asshole!

Thankfully, the strange creatures do stop, my tears don't, though. This is the happiest day of my life! But, wait, I'm not alive, or am I? Was my theory of being in a coma right?

...

I have no idea, but the weird blobs pick me up and put me in what feels like a soft bed. Why am I so light?

A yawn leaves my lips. I'm so tired. Why? Why am I so-

My eyes close and don't open for some hours.

============

When I next wake up, it's to a blurry, empty room. The lights are still very strong, hurting my eyes if I focus on any one spot for too long. Still, I can see things slightly better now!

The first task I do is try to move. My limbs respond, but they are extremely weak. I can't even stand yet! This definitely adds more evidence to the coma theory. Atrophied limbs are part of that.

But, that doesn't feel right. My limbs are shorter than before, incredibly so. Even with my horrible sight, I can make out my tiny hands.

What the hell is going on?!

A feeling of powerlessness overwhelms me. Where am I? What's going on? am I blind? Why couldn't I understand anyone?! There were so many questions and so few answers. It's terrifying.

Fear gripped my soul, along with a familiar, awkward sensation. You needed to use the bathroom, but moving right now was almost an impossibility. Shamefully, I defecated right where I lay. The tears came easily enough, my mind being overwhelmed by the situation and stress.

Screams tore free from my lungs. This is scary. Please, someone, anyone, help!! For minutes, I shouted for any form of aid, and thankfully, someone did come. A small blob stopped by my... bed? I could barely make out the blobs expression, but he looked worried, maybe?

"Ggahgea!" He turned around and shouted something. A few moments later, a much taller, feminine looking blob entered the room.

"Hhhyyy,,dd?"

What the hell were they saying?! This was driving you insane!

The woman picked me up, somehow. This was when I realize how small I truly was. I thought it was a trick of the light or perhaps a warped perspective due to exhaustion, but no, I'm positively tiny.

What the hell? A-Are they giants?

...

The woman rocks me, carefully moving me to another room and then removing my pants. No, not pants- a-are those diapers? I continue to cry, the situation having mixed my fears, anger, and sorrow into a mighty roar.

I just want to go home. Why? Why is this happening to me?

Once more, heavy drowsiness begins to press down on your mind, probably due to all my screaming.

D-Damn it...

============

It's been a good week or two since my 'birth.' I... I'm a baby. When my eyes finally adjusted, I was able to look in a nearby mirror and confirm my suspicions. The constant feedings, diaper changes, and 'walks' weren't enough to convince me.

I really did die back then. So, what is this? I were reincarnated as a baby? Is this the afterlife? Again, I had so many questions, unfortunately, I really doubt I'll get the answer to any of those soon.

Either way, with my week or so of existence, I managed to remain somewhat calm and examine the circumstances. It was either that or go insane, to be honest. Being a baby is boring, maddeningly so. I remember reading a few stories like these, where the main character used his early days to train and learned. How the hell am I supposed to do any of that when I can't even take my own shits? Honestly, it's frustrating enough staying sane! Anyone would get stir crazy by being in one spot for a long period of time! At least back home there were computers and stuff to keep me entertained, but here, my only form of entertainment is counting the tiles in my room!

Oh, right, there's also my 'family.' Apparently, I have a brother, who's name I don't know. He seems like a quiet, reserved kid. He barely talks, and when he does, it all sounds really jumbled up. I think it's your ears, maybe they're not all that developed yet? Whatever.

My mother is very affectionate, running to my side the second I even so much as cough. A part of me wonders if there's something to that. Normal people don't have hearing that fine. Hmm... maybe I'm just seeing things?

Anyways, the last person in my family, my father, isn't a very present individual. I rarely see him, and when I do, he always has this serious look on his face. Maybe he has a really important job? Who knows.

Hopefully, my childhood passes by quickly. All I want is the ability to walk and hold things! Is that too much to ask for?! This so god damn boring!

=============

It happened suddenly, without any warning. A malicious, thick feeling crashed into my tiny body. I couldn't beath. I couldn't move. Oh god, I were going to die! No. No.No!! Not aga-

"Shh... gahenae." my mother cooed, gently rocking me in her hands. Only when I started to calm down, did I realize the strange sound in the background was my loud crying.

Explosions could be heard from outside, and as my mother rushed out of the room with me in hand, a red hue could be seen through the window. There were fires, lots of them.

What the hell was going on?!

As I was quickly carried across the streets, I saw something that will be etched into my mind until the day I die. The haunting sight would never leave me.

Right there, off in the distance, was a giant, red, fox-like monster. Just for a second, I stared into its crimson eyes. This thing would kill me. No matter how hard I tried, there was nothing I could do that would even scratch the monster.

And so, I realized that wherever I was, it wasn't earth. Monsters, the men that fought them, and magic were for fairy tails.

If that was the case, then it'd be best if I get used to it.

After all, right now, I was living a fairytale.

===========

The months it took to finally learn the local language passed by at a snail-like pace. It was horrible and perhaps the greatest challenge in my life. Seriously, being unable to move and stuck in one place is worse than what people in prison get. Solitary confinement was a step below your situation, but not by much. Either way, due to my baby brain learning quickly, I eventually picked up on the language, if a bit slower than I'd like.

With my new found abilities, everything came together. There was a strange suspicion in the back of my mind ever since I saw that giant fox. There wasn't any proof before, but now, having learned my name, there's no denying it.

I am 'Uchiha Sasuke' of the Village Hidden In The Leaves. What. The. Fuck?!

No! This is not ok! I've been reincarnated into a death world!! Sure, maybe once upon a time the very idea would have had me jumping for joy, but this place is terrifying. Even worse, since I'm not Sasuke, the original timeline is caput. What are the odds that everything will work out just fine now? All it would take is a single difference and everything could fall apart. Essentially, I'm screwed, and so is the world once Kaguya awakens.

Fuck. What the hell are I supposed to do? Someone... please help.

==========

Time waits for no man, and I'm no exception. No matter how much my situation scared me, doing nothing wouldn't get me anywhere. I were still a baby, only 6 months old, but there were still things I wanted to do. Facing a world-ending apocalypse was not one of them, however, with the blood of the Uchiha running through my veins, I had an advantage.

Being a ninja would not be easy, but if I went down that path, I would have one of the world's strongest weapons, the Sharingan.

Yet, that wasn't my only choice. I  didn't have to be a ninja. Maybe I could pick up baking? Was I really strong enough to beat Kaguya? What if I reincarnated again when she killed me? If so, why not just enjoy this life as much as I could before I died? What's the point of going through all that pain and suffering only to die a pitiful death?

...

For now, I'll focus on something, anything. I needed a goal to keep me grounded.

As I slowly crawled across the floor, so to did time continue at a sluggish pace. My day-to-day life didn't change, soon becoming another boring, monotonous part of existence. However, all of this gave me a lot of time to think. What I was in the past, what I'd do from now on; it all became very clear.

I would be a ninja, if only to protect myself. My previous life wasn't anything too exciting and I never accomplished anything all that great. Still, I liked it. Here, in this world of wizards pretending to be ninja, I had a chance to try something new. I could stay a normal civilian, living out my life and eventually dying, but that just doesn't sit right with me. Worst of all, there's a nagging feeling in the back of my head. It's probably what's driving this desire in me to learn, grow, and become stronger.

What if when I do die and wake up in another world. Most would be happy, but what if the said world is far worse than this? I could be born a slave, having only a life of hardships waiting for me. That's not something I want to do, so rather than accept a terrible fate, I'd rather use the time I have now to improve. Honestly, aside from the upcoming rebellion and massacre, I couldn't be in a better position to train! I'm the son of a clan head and he'd be more than happy to teach me the Uchicha clans secrets and techniques. In the end, while I look like a child, I'm not one. My resolve is stronger and I will stick through the training required. Compared to the insanity that I had to endure in those early months, this will be nothing! All I have to do is show determination!

That said, I'm still a baby, so untill then, I'll enjoy this time of peace available to me. Thing's won't always be this simple.

=========

"Hey, little brother." Itachi Uchiha greeted, with an uncharacteristic smile on his face. By that, I'm referring to the show. It's actually very in character for him to do so in this life, as he smiles every time he comes to speak to me.

His hands carefully ruffle my hair.

My mother walks into the room, calling out to my brother.

"Itachi, it's time for school."

He turns, giving her a frown.

As he gets ready to leave, I cried and cried, unwilling to be ignored. Above all, I didn't want to be alone. So I shouted out to the world, hoping to attract the attention of others. My new mother, my new brother, anyone. This little hobby of mines had an embarrassing side effect, namely, giving me the nickname of 'crybaby.'

Whenever my brother stopped by, he'd poke my head and call me 'crybaby Sasuke.' It became a little joke between him and my mother. I could tell she enjoyed the bond me and Itachi shared, always giggling when she saw him poking my cheeks and nose. One time, she let him carry and feed me. It wasn't breast milk, but the bottle was fine as well. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about the whole breastfeeding thing. She's my  mom but also a stranger. It's just really awkward and you try to ignore it.

============

My very early childhood was spent playing and basically trying to keep mself sane. Reading books was a no go and I couldn't even walk on my own. So, with so many restrictions, I turned to the easiest available source of entertainment.

"Sasuke... please stop." I let out a laugh, pulling on Itachi's hair just a bit more. Somehow, I had convinced him to walk around the house. Mother had recently allowed him to take me whenever she wasn't looking after me. Suffice to say, I made great use of my older brother, bothering and making him take me to other places. Though, technically, wasn't I  older than him?  I should be the older brother.

Either way, being a nice, kind person, Itachi put up with me. Aside from my mother, he was my only friend. It's no surprise I started to really like him, seeing him as something more than what my mind remembered. He wasn't the person that slaughtered his clan; he was just a small, caring boy.

The time spent with Itachi didn't only affect me; the young prodigy began to open up more, giving tiny smiles here and there. When no one was around, he'd tell me about his day and the things he saw in class. It was... nice.

My father's face was a rare sight, but he was around. Stress marred his eyes sometimes, but I could tell he really loved Itachi and my mother. There wasn't any hatred or dislike aimed at me, but neither was there love. I think he might still be forming a opinion of me, but on rare occasions, I did notice him giving me longing looks. Maybe he wanted to hold me?

Curious, I tested out that theory, crying when he was the only person in the house. Surprisingly, it didn't take him all that long to make it to my room. The serious expression on his face made me hesitate for a second, but as he turned, happy that I shutted up, resolve flooded my mind. I wouldn't give up!

More cries left my lips, causing the serious man to sigh and pick me up. He rocked me slowly, caringly.

"Calm down, crybaby Sasuke."

Those words were all it took. If even he could use that ridiculous nickname, then he couldn't be such a bad guy, right? I wanted to laugh but kept my mouth shut instead. He was a busy man, so maybe crying so much wasn't a good idea.

With a pleased nod, my father turned around and headed back to his room. The thing was, he carried me off with him. And so, I fell asleep in his lap, watching him fill out some paperwork.

Busy indeed.

============

Time kept turning, and before I knew it, I was a year old. All through this year of life, there had been a small, blue square at the edge of my vision. It took a great deal of time, but I  finally managed to figure out what it was. If I focused on it at just the right angle, the small screen would expand and cover my field of vision.

It was a stat's screen, like one from a game.

A myriad of questions assaulted my mind, but the most prominent one was why?!

Life would certainly be a bit more... interesting from now on.