Amaya Uzumaki POV
I woke up a little before sunrise.
I sat up in the hospital bed and stared ahead, but not at anything in particular. I looked at my hands, remembering how injured they were the day before and how there was almost no trace of that left.
I don't feel any pain in my body either, I noted. I looked toward the window and saw Shisui and Kakashi in the armchairs in the room, each in one, sleeping.
– They didn't want to go home – I heard that familiar voice and looked in the opposite direction from the boys – They said they'd stay here until they were sure you were okay.
– Minato-sama... – I said, looking at the blond in the other armchair, near the room door.
My gaze turned back to the two boys in the chairs near the window, clearly settled in any which way and certainly having been there for a long time. You two..., I smiled weakly watching them.
– How are you feeling? – Minato spoke again and I looked at him.
– I'm fine, but... – I lowered my eyes for a moment, remembering the other day.
– They explained what happened – I looked at the blond.
– I-I... – My voice faltered.
– Amaya-chan... – He came to the edge of my bed, stroking my hair – You don't need to blame yourself for what happened – I looked at him – Your intentions were good, I'm sure of it. Besides...
– None of us could have imagined that would happen – I heard Shisui speak and saw that he, like Kakashi, was already awake.
– And we don't blame you for what happened – Hatake added, and I looked at them, feeling a lightness spreading through my chest.
– Kakashi-kun... Shisui-kun... – I smiled weakly – Thank you – And the two smiled back.
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Minato and I had to insist a bit before the two boys agreed to go home. So stubborn, I thought. And it also seems I'll have a lot to discuss with them later...
Instead of going back to the Hatake clan house, I asked Minato to go to the Analysis Team. Since I had remembered the name to unlock my memories, I wanted to show them to the village representatives as soon as possible – just as I longed for answers.
Inoichi seemed surprised by our unexpected visit. I quickly explained to him that I had recovered the name of the child who sealed my memories and that I wanted him to search again for the new information I should have.
Once more, I sat in the chair in front of the Mind Reading Amplification Machine. Minato joined the other members and Inoichi stood in front of me.
– Are you sure you don't want to wait a little longer? – The blond asked quietly.
– I need to know what made me do all that – I clarified – And I want those responsible to pay, so others don't have to go through the same thing I did – He gave a weak nod of agreement.
– Then let's begin – I assented.
I leaned back in the chair and Inoichi placed his hand on my head. I closed my eyes just like him and took one last deep breath. I felt my body sinking, as if being submerged in water. Please, I thought, show me the truth...
Sukea
Various images flashed past me at extreme speed, until they stopped at the view from inside one of the tanks where we were kept in the lab. That's when Sukea began something like a mental narration.
"I'll try to explain everything I know, everything that was passed to me, and what you'll need to do from now on, taking my place."
Various images flashed before me, moving from the tanks to the lab rooms where we were tested.
"We are beings created from the cells of two distinct families, but only one of them is the same for all: The one called the Uchiha clan. Most of us share the common characteristic of black eyes, typical of the clan.
Each of us carries Uchiha blood, combined with the DNA of other clans. This is to find a clan compatible with them.
The reason?
The search for the awakening of a kekkei genkai characteristic of the Uchihas: A doujutsu called the 'Sharingan'. I couldn't find out much about this doujutsu, but I know this is the reason we're going through all this.
Who created us is another factor that, unfortunately, none of us managed to discover. We're only sure they want to take for themselves the power they seek to awaken by using us as test subjects."
The images changed again and I saw myself in the lab's combat room.
"If you're seeing this, it means you know this place and know exactly what happens here.
For some reason, it seems those who created us don't know exactly how and when the Sharingan awakens. I couldn't find out precisely either, but it seems the more emotions we feel, the closer we get to awakening it.
I managed to discover most of this by escaping during one of the pain threshold experiments. I found some files and hid them before being found and confined again.
So, for all of us, I need to ask you two things that might chill you to the bone:
The first is to bury your feelings as deep as possible and do anything to stop our creators from achieving their goal. If they can get their hands on the Sharingan, I can't imagine what will happen to us...
And the second is that if, by luck, you find a way to escape this place, come back here to retrieve what I hid about the experiments. Since you have my memories with you, you'll know where the documents are when you look.
I know it's very likely you'll never want to set foot in here again, but... This is our story, our origin. And so others don't have to go through this, please, do your best to find those responsible."
One last time the images changed and Sukea's image appeared before me.
"You need to know that the path you'll walk now will be hard, sad, lonely, and dirty. If you're willing to take my place, understand that you'll have to become colder than those who created us.
Your hands will be stained with the blood of those like you. And I know how much that hurts. It might seem like it gets easier with time, but that's not the truth. You just sink deeper into the darkness.
I can't say if anyone will ever know about this, or how long it will take for you to figure it out, but I need you to repeat this to yourself:
You are innocent.
All the blood you spilled wasn't out of brutality.
You protected and saved everyone by doing it.
And the blame for all the deaths that happened... It wasn't yours.
You are not a monster."
As I lethargically opened my eyes, I found myself back in the Analysis Team room. I felt a tear trail down my cheek. I did everything to try and protect them, I thought, and an extremely weak smile appeared on my lips. I'm really not a monster after all...
Kakashi Hatake POV
After going home, I had to get ready for the Academy, since we had classes and the test results. Amaya probably won't be there today, I figured. And if she is, Minato will bring her.
I arrived at the Academy as usual, but it felt a bit strange without the Uzumaki there. Even though we rarely talked in class, just seeing her there made me feel, in a way, calm.
The teacher told us the test results would be posted on the board during break. So I'll find out who won the first bet: Me or Amaya, I thought, excited.
Class went by quickly, but I barely paid attention. My thoughts, involuntarily, were focused on the redhead. A few things from the previous day were making me restless.
The first was about what Shisui said: That Amaya was also reliving her memories because of me, so she could one day fight me. I hadn't imagined she, in part, accepted doing that for my sake.
The second thing was the complete change in Amaya's behavior while in that trance-like state from the lab memories. Not only did she not differentiate reality from the memory, but her strength had become completely different.
The third was about the girl's injuries. Even though Shisui and I found her badly injured, before we even reached the hospital, most of the serious wounds had already healed. It was as if she had a kind of innate medical ninjutsu that healed her at an accelerated rate whenever she was injured, no matter how minor.
And the fourth and most intriguing of all, was what Shisui had said about his reasons for helping Amaya: "A reason of our own," as he called it.
He had the Sharingan, and when we found Amaya, for a moment, I could have sworn I saw her eyes looking like the boy's. But maybe I imagined things due to the situation, I thought and sighed weakly.
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When our break started, I tried to get to the results board as fast as possible, before the other students showed up.
There were several boards, each with the grade lists for each class. I quickly found my class and Amaya's. I didn't need to look for my name, since it was first on the list.
Only three questions wrong, I thought. I almost aced it. I smiled weakly at that. So that means I won the bet with Amaya. I looked for the girl's name, but couldn't find it on our class list. What...?, I wondered, confused.
I looked for the Uzumaki's name on the list again, but it really wasn't there. Something's wrong... She wouldn't have gotten a zero, and even if she had, her name would be at the bottom.
I couldn't stay there any longer, as the first students started coming to the board. I went outside the Academy, trying to find a quiet place to think.
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When I got back to the classroom, I wasn't there for even ten minutes. A jounin teacher from the Academy came to the room and asked me to accompany him. Although I didn't understand the reason, I didn't question him.
I followed him to the teachers' meeting room and, upon entering, saw the Sandaime there. I gave a brief bow to the Hokage and he pointed to the sofa in front of him. I sat there and looked at him.
– Sorry for taking you out of class, Kakashi-san – He said right after – But we needed your presence to check on a situation.
– However I can help – I said promptly.
– How would you describe Amaya Uzumaki's behavior in class? – The teacher who brought me asked.
– She's the reserved type of student, hardly ever talks in class, only when the teacher asks her to.
– And what about her work? – The jounin teacher asked – How does she usually do?
– Well... – I paused for a moment – What I say won't leave this room, right?
– As you wish – The Sandaime said.
– Amaya actually does very well. Although I don't like to admit it, she has an advanced mindset, unique and precise thinking.
– Okay... – The jounin said – And about the test you took yesterday – He looked at me – Do you believe she, in some way...
– Cheated? – I asked, interrupting him, already having a general idea why they called me – No – I answered directly – I considered the possibility because of the time she took to finish the test, but that doesn't fit Amaya's profile – The Sandaime gave a weak laugh.
– I like your direct answers – He said and I looked at him.
– These questions are related to the fact that her name and grade aren't on the board, right?
– Indeed, her grade wasn't added to the board – The jounin teacher explained – But due to something related to her test, we had to call you to confirm if the information we had was true.
– What happened with her test? – I asked and the man looked at the Sandaime as if seeking approval, who gave a weak nod.
The jounin picked up a paper from the teachers' desk and handed it to me. I took it, still not understanding what it was, but when I laid eyes on the paper, I was surprised. Amaya's test..., I pointed out. My eyes scanned it quickly and my surprise only grew.
– Do you understand why we asked if there was a possibility she cheated? – The jounin teacher questioned.
– She... – I said, still in disbelief, and turned my eyes to the two in front of me.