5 5

--Yr 54—24, Jan--

He woke up suddenly, to the sharp smell… of hospital disinfects? It invaded his nostrils. Slowly he opened his eyes, squinting at the bright light that brightened the room, confusion filled his mind. What had happened? Right… he had fainted had he not?

His heart was pounding, his mind empty, and there was a buzzing in his brain. Turning his head he saw the window, which he narrowed his eyes at. he stared numbly out the window at his side, having just woken up.

He just laid there on the 'hospital' bed, blinking up at the white ceiling, slowly trying to get his thoughts in order. The room was silent apart from his slightly heavy breathing and the rhythmic sound of the beeping, which usually indicated the fact a person still had a heartbeat.

Closing his eyes tightly he tried visualising the events of that day.

His breathing rate began to steady itself, he sat up slowly. He stared down at his lap which was covered with a white sheet, allowing himself to get his breathing rate at a normal pace. He found himself to be slightly confused.

He grabbed his head with both his hands as the memories of that night flashed in his head.

The image of his mother's lifeless eyes stared directly into his soul, it sent shivers down his spine, only for his heart rate to increase once again. He forced himself to calm down, taking a slow breath and decided to distract himself.

That day was the first time he had seen a dead body.

It was inevitable with the world he was in, but he hadn't expected it to be of people he cared about.

He could see a door, it was near a table that seemed to have a lot of documents sitting on top, an armchair was sat in the corner of the room near the bed. Finally, he spotted a window behind him after he inspected the other side of the room, He looked out the window only to recognise nothing. All there was to be seen was buildings upon buildings, it was nowhere like where he was before.

The sound of the door opening shook the image from his mind, "Ah, you're awake." the voice said slightly surprised at seeing him awake.

He whirled his head towards the direction of the door that was opposite the bed he was sitting at; he squinted his eyes toward the... visitor? Which he assumed was the doctor taking care of him, considering the fact she was dressed in the customary white coat.

He gripped the sheets tightly with his hands, he stared silently at the person who had called out to him.

It was a woman, a doctor from what Kiyoshi could tell, the woman had long hair that was tied back and a kind smile- maybe too kind…

The woman moved closer towards him, "It is good to see you're awake now. My name is Tanaka Akemi, how are you feeling?" the woman, who he now knew as Akemi asked softly, as she moved closer to the bed, he was sat in.

He wasn't sure how to react, what to say, what to think.

He had no idea where he was.

Kiyoshi said nothing but stare at the man uninterested, he huffed and turned his gaze back to the window. 'What do you mean how do I feel? I'm in the hospital meaning I was found at the house, which had my mother's dead body. So how do you think I'm feeling?'

He wasn't alone that day. He heard the voice behind him, saying to have him killed. Had the ninja brought him here? To where ever here was?

He felt completely drained and tired when he had obviously slept for a great amount of time.

Crying would have no benefits for him, his mother was dead, yes but it didn't mean he needed to cry every chance he had.

He clenched his jaw. He had to move on- he had to stay strong or how else would he be able to protect himself.

He started to remember another event that occurred that night, but it seemed slightly blurry.

He closed his eyes tightly bearing no mind to his surroundings, trying to visualise the events of that night trying to remember what had happened around him.

He remembered how to ground began to shake, only if he was more aware of his surroundings then maybe he would know.

His eyes opened once again to look out the window. There wasn't much going on outside the window, it was just mostly buildings, there wasn't anything to look at particularly.

"I am your doctor as of now. You can call me Akemi if you wish." The woman spoke softly as if he was talking to a child- right he was a child.

Kiyoshi listened to the man while his gaze was still situated at the window, 'Akemi? I suppose it's fitting with the smile she had on, 'Bright'.

Silence took over once he had spoken once again. For now, he would act as he should… a child. To some extent

The man decided to speak once again after failing to get a response from the child.

"I understand things must be confusing for you with everything that you have probably witnessed. I want you to know that you're safe here."

Kiyoshi turned his gaze towards the woman, his face telling nothing as he heard the woman's words.

Was there a need to talk right at that moment?

He was supposedly a two-year-old, is this how doctors try and sympathise with two-year-olds?

He turned to her, staring at her silently, not once making a sound as he inspected her. She had grey eyes behind her dark green glasses that sat on her nose, she had black hair that reached the top of her shoulders but not one strand covered her face.

He heard her voice again after he let the silence occupy the room, "Are you feeling any pain anywhere?" she asked as she started checking some charts, she picked up from the table that was in the room.

He hadn't spoken yet since he had woken up. He was just hoping his voice didn't sound as dry as it felt at the moment.

Kiyoshi sighed and decided to give the woman something.

"No, I feel fine." He told her. Is childish voice didn't sound as bad as he thought it would sound. She smiled at the response, "That's good" she hummed.

"Would you tell me your name?" she asked, he nodded, seeing no point in not replying, he wanted answers, they did too, they might as well trade.

His name? perhaps one day he would be able to announce to the world, his name.

Uzuamki-Senju Kiyoshi.

"Suisha Kiyoshi. Where am I?" he responded.

"Well, Suisha-kun. You are in, Kumogakure. Our shinobi found you amongst the dead bodies in your village, which seemed to have "

"What happened? How long have I been here?" his childish voice sounded around the room, his throat felt dry, and his voice was quiet yet loud enough for the doctor to hear.

The man sent a sad smile his way once he had heard the question and continued to explain, "Your village seemed to have been attacked, you were the only survivor we had found. It's a shame what happened, I am truly sorry for your loss… do you understand 'death' Suisha-kun?."

"Yes, I understand it," Kiyoshi responded, not feeling like listening to a simplified explanation of death.

"You have been asleep for a while. Your body was completely drained, your chakra that is. You seemed to have reacted harshly to the circumstances, which resulted in you leaking out your chakra, which seemed to activate a Kekkei Genkai, you have."

He didn't let anything show on his face but confusion, staring into her eyes, expecting her to elaborate. "I have one?" he more so whispered to himself, slightly confused. From which side of the family was it from? The Uzumaki or the Senju. He tried to think, what he could remember of the show he barely watched.

He knew next to nothing about both clans. He didn't remember much about the Senju clan, near to nothing, he remembered nothing if they had even mentioned them much. The Uzumaki, he wasn't too sure, he just knew they had an affinity for fuinjutsu and could live long.

Naruto himself was an Uzumaki, having a lot of chakra, just as he did himself… for him to have a Kekkei Genkai. No wonder he had felt himself get weaker and weaker before he fell unconscious, whatever this 'bloodline' was it drained him and he knew next to nothing about it.

He didn't like that.

She continued talking, promising him he was safe. He was neither blind nor deaf- he could see it clear as day. He was being manipulated, they were overlooking his age, to them, he was something they could mould. She had said there was an attack on the village which was evident as he had seen it with his own eyes- though she never said by who.

She said he had a bloodline- they knew before he did, therefore something must have happened while he unconscious, or perhaps there was a test to figure out if someone has one or not, he wasn't sure. He didn't trust this, it didn't feel right.

He couldn't believe them, it didn't make sense. They said they were able to find him… but they should have found him dead. This 'bloodline' was surely the reason he wasn't dead. These people… they were the ones who attacked his village it made sense.

He passed out from chakra exhaustion, while that was happening he heard those voices- 'kill him' they wanted to kill him, but they didn't. He must have used his kekkei for them to have changed their minds about killing him.

The Mokuton is what she called his bloodline.

That was the only reason he was alive because he had the Mokuton.

Again, something he wasn't too knowledgeable on. He was aware that the first Hokage had this bloodline- his father was a Senju, the Shodai Hokage himself was a Senju as well, was it possible for him to be directly related to the Shodai Hokage, through his father?

What did it make the Shodai Hokage? His grandfather? Being his great-grandson seemed more probable.

To them… he was a naïve two-year-old, yet to properly understand the world- they will be expecting him to accept them as his saviours, people to look up to… to them he was an asset- a weapon.

No matter where he was, that would be how he would be seen as.

Realistically… he had no home to go to now.

He was beyond confused.

He wanted to be a shinobi, but he still did. It was a great opportunity, he knew of Kumogaure, from reading, they were one of the big villages, which would allow him to be a ninja, after joining an academy. Though he didn't wish to be loyal to a village was the cause of his parent's death.

They were in the middle of a war at the moment, that much he knew and he didn't feel like fighting for them. He knew the war would be ending soon, but then soon after the next war will be beginning, and it would be better to be on the winning side.

He sighed.

He gave himself two options. Join another village or no village at all. He didn't need a village to survive, he didn't need them to become a ninja.

All he could do now was simply live for himself now, there was no one he needed to prove himself to. Why did he feel so empty? He weird. He wasn't sure what he was feeling or what he should be feeling. Hatred? Revengeance?

He didn't know Daisuke nor Akia for very long. Though he still missed them, he cared for them, having grown attached to them. They were good people, good souls. Perhaps he didn't feel anything at the moment because… death isn't exactly the end.

After he was where he was, so what or who was to say they too wouldn't get another chance at life too. They were young. He closed his eyes, so was he, when he died.

In this life, he wanted to live longer than nineteen, and for them- He wished them all the best in their next life, and hope they live long and healthy. Perhaps they'll meet each other once again wherever they are, perhaps he could meet them again once his life here ends.

She had left him alone, the doctor that is. Something about him getting more rest. It wasn't the only thing she said, another thing about someone coming to meet him later on… someone who would be taking care of him.

He wasn't surprised at all by that. It made sense, he was barely considered a child, still, in the so-called toddler stage, he needed someone to care for him.

Due to his bloodline, he wasn't being dumped into some orphanage but they're giving him to someone to be taken care of, he wouldn't put it past them to have him live with a ninja.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

All important eyes would be on him, there was no doubt about that. The Mokuton was something the Shodai Hokage had, a Senju. The Senju created Konahogakure, with the Uchiha.

He looked out the window once again in deep thought, what was he to do now? He definitely didn't wish to continue living in Kumoagkure, but what was there to do? It wasn't as though he could waltz right out the village gates and be on his merry way, even if that was the case where would he go?

…For now, he would use it all to his advantage. He will learn what he can from them until he was ready and capable of leaving himself.

After a few more hours, the sky of course darkened as the sun fell. The doctor did indeed come back as she said she would.

The doctor was sitting in front of Kiyoshi with a clipboard, while Kiyoshi was sitting on the side of the bed, his feet dangling over the floor, barely reaching the tiles.

The man huffed slightly, leaning back into the chair he was sitting in before giving a small chuckle, no longer having a serious expression on his face.

"Ah, well it seems I had forgotten I was talking to a child. You seem so mature for your age Kiyoshi." The man spoke with a kindle smile.

The smile made Kiyoshi feel uncomfortable, which didn't stop him from smiling awkwardly at being called mature.

"Uh, Kaa-chan said that too" Kiyoshi continued with the conversation, trying to play the cheerful child, but then the smile he had turned into a frown as he remembered the death of his mother.

He looked down at his lap which Akio Tanaka took notice of and decided to act upon it. The man laid his hand on Kiyoshi's shoulder and rubbed it, "I see you miss your mother very much" the woman spoke.

Not enough to warrant their touch. He refrained from yanking his hand from hers.

"Uh, yes!" he answered a bit too loudly as he looked back up, trying to hide his uncomfortableness.

Before anything else could be said the door barged open, grabbing both Kiyoshi and his doctor's attention. Kiyoshi stared at the man who had just walked in, he felt somewhat intimidated by the figure.

The man took in the room with a single sweep, his dark eyes settling on nothing in particular, with an expressionless façade on, his gaze finally fixed on where Kiyoshi was sitting.

The man had distinctive features; the unknown man was seemingly tall, dark-skinned with a lean muscular build. He had dark brown hair. While on his face was a large scar on the left side of his face that ran from the man's forehead over his eye to his cheek.

Once the doctor saw the man walk in, she dropped her hand from Kiyoshi's shoulder quickly.

Tanaka Akemi stood up, "Kano-san!" Akemi spoke out in surprise, "You weren't supposed to come until later on" Akemi continued.

From where Kiyoshi was seated, he couldn't help but think his doctor was scared of this man who was called 'Kano' from the way his voice wavered. He looked down at his doctor's hands and saw how they slight shook.

The man, Kano ignored the doctor's statement, "Is he ready?" he asked, his face yet to show any emotion.

That was that, he was here to take him. Which he did. His name is Kano Ichiro, a jounin of Kumogakure. He couldn't exactly see what he thought of the man, other than he seemed intimidating- his chakra alone was slightly overwhelming, in all honesty perhaps he was feeling a lot more than he usually felt…

He truly was in a village filled with Shinobi.

The man was middle-aged, perhaps in his early forties, with a few strands of his grey in his brown hair. He was wearing what you would expect from a shinobi to wear. So far Kiyoshi was aware of the rules the man had set as they left the hospital.

He was not to wander about on his own unless he had gained permission from Kano.

He was not to use his bloodline nor tell anyone about it.

They were straightforward. Nothing much, but basic things he had already expected. Though the man didn't treat him like a child but spoke to him as though he was a subordinate, while he walked Kiyoshi towards where they were to live, he noticed how the man would stop talking altogether, look at Kiyoshi with an unreadable look.

Perhaps that was his way of checking if he was still there, or perhaps to see if he was actually listening.

Maybe he just stopped talking because he didn't think he would understand most of what he was saying… which was true. The man was using words he had never heard before, and all the words he did know just mashed together, making whatever the man was saying the opposite of understandable.

Kiyoshi didn't say a thing but just listened, hoping there would be at least one sentence he would understand. Though as he listened he let his eyes wander around the village, that seemed so lively in the midst of war.

They seemed so happy to be amongst each other, while he was still struggling to understand his feelings. His face sat expressionlessly, his mind blank as he continued to follow the man's steps. Both of them in silent.

He slowed his steps, just as Kano did. He frowned slightly, were they at their destination already. The mna turned to look down at Kiyoshi, "Are you tired?" his gruff voice said, a question which Kiyoshi didn't expect. Had he been walking slowly?

He shook his head, "No." a short and simple reply.

"Are you missing your family?" the man questioned him, another question he didn't expect. His lips thinned into a line, not sure where he was trying to get with this. Was he trying to sympathise with him? A way to become someone 'important' in his life?

Just looking at the man in silence, there was no way he was the type to care how Kiyoshi was feeling. He didn't seem all too happy to have to take care of Kiyoshi, back at the hospital.

The man sighed, after receiving no response, "Come."

Kiyoshi watch the man turn right, in a completely different direction they were walking in. His voice, his tone… it sounded more like an order, a demand- he was sure it hadn't meant to come out like it but it was just how Kano sounded when he said it.

He followed the man, unsure where he was leading them… and when they got there he was surprised.

Kiyoshi stood in the green field before a beautiful lake.

Life was full of so much beauty why did he ever want to get rid of it? Maybe it was just this life that was filled with beauty. The serenity of the lake, with the quiet stillness, all-around brought peace to his heart. Even the insects seemed to be at peace.

The sun in its full splendour warm rays. The lake with a calmness reflected the beautiful shade of blue sky as the sincerest of smiles. Its shimmering reflection, casting a silvery sparkle on the still waters before him.

This world was truly quite astonishing. It makes you think of what the world has to offer when you first peek over the horizon and see nature without the haze of discontent.

Without any filter, with the naked eye and the brain open to the beauty of this reality… any reality,

Shifting away from his thoughts he looked towards Kano, he was standing there… like a complete soldier. He couldn't tell what the man was thinking, as his eyes were set on the lake. The look in his eyes, reminded him of his mother… he was reminiscing the past.

He looked around again standing tall as he stood on a large stone, seeing the trees standing tall, as the wind gently rustled the leaves and swayed the grassy strands planted on the ground.

It was refreshing.

He could hear the birds chirping from many different birds each of their songs coming together to make the dawn chorus as rich as any symphony ever made.

"This will be your home now. Kumogakure, think of it as you will, a place you will call home, a place you will make friends, a place you may find family in. I'm not sure what's going through your mind or how you're feeling and if you don't either, that's okay." Kano spoke, his eyes still set on the lake, as Kiyoshi's eyes set on him, listening.

"Death… death is an inevitable thing. Something that just happens, whether we like it or not, it just depends on how we live that life, that determines if you should truly fear death or embrace it. You shouldn't dwell on the past, because the future is everchanging."

Kiyoshi nodded, understanding some of the words. With that said Kiyoshi was realising he must look depressed for the man to have brought him here and tell him such things.

Though he was wondering what death was… he said, death was something but the word he used was unfamiliar.

"What's that word you used to describe death? And what is the word you used for the future?" Kiyoshi finally asked after the silence had settled. Kano turned his head, he didn't look annoyed, angry or confused.

He simply answered his questions and even went so far as to write the kanji in the dirt with a stick.

Eventually, they reached the original destination, which was an apartment complex, unfortunately, it was on the fifth floor.

He didn't want to complain, but it was just the fact he was in the body of a two-year-old that didn't help his case with not complaining. Though he looked at it as a positive, as it would help with the exercises he will continue to do.

The apartment wasn't large, nor was it small. It was nice. It wasn't home it was his current accommodation. Again there seemed to be a new rule added, which was he was not to bother Kano unless it was important.

There really wasn't much to it all. Kano had given him a tour of the place, showing him his bedroom and began to explain how he would be receiving a monthly allowance. Kano had said something along the lines of 'if you use it all, that's not my problem, you can starve if you want. I don't care how old you are, I expect you to act accordingly.'

44,000 yen.

That was what he would be receiving every month, which seemed like a lot but wasn't. He had handled yen before, having been given some coins, or notes from his parents when buying something. Noting the prices of the food, comparing the prices of what would be considered expensive and cheap. He simply just assumed what the equivalent of things would be in euro.

So with this 44,000 yen, he was assuming- estimating it to be around 300 euros.

A month. 300 a month.

Days in a month, contained 28 to 31 days, making it an average of 30 days in a month.

That was roughly four weeks and two days.

Dividing 300 by four, he would be left with about 75 euros a week… 11,000 yen.

Thankfully there were already clothes bought for him, that were neatly folded in his wardrobe.

He was careful with what he did, and what was said aloud. He was being watched he knew it, he could feel the faint unfamiliar signatures of chakra. He didn't like it, he would simply be getting nothing done like that.

--Yr 54—25, Jan--

"Kano-san." Kiyoshi's voice rang throughout the kitchen. The man looked down, at Kiyoshi from where he was seated, staring into his eyes, as he raised a brow.

"What is it?" he responded. It was morning. It hadn't been too long since Kiyoshi had woken up, and it obviously was a long time since Kano had woken up. The man was a shinobi, it was expected. What Kiyoshi was curious about were his missions.

Would he no longer go on missions, or perhaps he will, and would leave someone to take care of Kiyoshi.

He couldn't help but feel slightly awkward being in a new place, living with someone unfamiliar. He just knew he would be spending most of his time in his room. Right he responded, 'what is it?' what was it Kiyoshi wanted.

What he wanted was to leave the apartment, he wanted to at least familiarise himself with the village.

His main priority, were books.

He needed to buy books, and he had the money to do so, he should be trying to save, which he will be doing after purchasing the books he finds.

The books in the village would surely book more informative as it was a ninja village, but unfortunately, it was likely there would be inflation.

The books may be more expensive, after all, they were still in the middle of a war, that had yet to end.

"I want to buy some books. I'm interested in becoming a shinobi like you are, and I wish to gain a better understanding." Kiyoshi responded, staring back at the man. He narrowed his eyes, as he repeated the words Kiyoshi had just said, in his mind.

"A better understanding? Of what?" The man responded again.

"Well, of the world we live in, I suppose. I want to be aware of it all, the politics, I want to know more about the big villages, I want to know what it is I need to know to become a shinobi, I wish to be aware of the economical state of-"

He was cut off, "You want to become a shinobi, alright. You can learn all about that once you gain admittance, which won't be for a while." Kano told him, though his tone was curious.

"So you rather I continue to stay ignorant, until then? I honestly don't think I could learn what I want to learn from the academy nor do I have the patience to wait. I rather begin my journey now, even if it's just one small step forward. I don't want to be worrying about who the first Raikage was when I'm in the academy when I could be refining my taijutsu techniques." Kiyoshi told him, which seemed to be what the man wanted to hear as he nodded thoughtfully.

"Alright, You're determined that's good. What did your parents like about you wanting to become a shinobi?"

"They supported my decision but at the end of the day, it was never their choice whether I become on or not. My mother was teaching me fuinjutsu, so I know a bit about it, but she's not here anymore to continue that teaching… would you perhaps know anyone that could teach me? Or would you know any yourself?" Kiyoshi spoke again.

"Fuinjutsu…" the man mumbled, "That's surprising." Kano continued speaking, yet as his words said, he didn't look all that surprised, which didn't surprise Kiyoshi, seeing as it was likely they already knew he was an Uzumaki, but they wouldn't know that he was aware of that.

"What was your mother's name?" Kano asked, "Suisha Akia" Kiyoshi immediately answered. The man was prying, trying to get something from Kiyoshi, perhaps see if he was aware of his Uzumaki roots… but he didn't seem to continue further on that route.

"What else do you know, if you've already begun doing fuinjutsu?" Kano asked.

Kiyoshi shrugged his shoulders, leaning against the side of the island in the middle of the kitchen where Kano was sat at, on a stool.

"I suppose I started doing stance training and footwork, but of course I haven't actually tried the physical part of it, only preparing for it."

Kano hummed thoughtfully as he prompted Kiyoshi to elaborate so he did to an extent.

"Well, I've been going on walks, running and jumping. I do stretch training too, which helps with flexibility I suppose- I read it somewhere."

"…You can continue doing all that. Your age won't be an issue, everything your doing is fine, nothing excessive. Perhaps I will give you a few tips." He mused, mostly speaking to himself, as he did. His eyes set on the wall before him before shifting back to Kiyoshi.

"You're planning on using your money, to buy the books. It's fine, I'll pay for them, the books have been increasing in price lately, you shoulnd't be wasting your money on them. Buy what you deem important and useful, you can also use the library as well, perhaps go there first and see what you can borrow, just tell them my name when you find something you want, they make you an access card."

He thanked Kano, after wiping the shocked look off his face and took the money the man was handing him. He was glad to have been given the idea of going to the library.

He'll go there first, see what he can find, then go to the book shop. Again, he was not surprised he was simply letting a two-year olf go through the village alone. After all, he had shadows following him.

Even after leaving his accommodation, he continued to concentrate on the signatures, each one different from the other. He found himself thinking what the chakra felt like was what their chakra nature. Something he thought about as he lay in bed the night before.

He found himself calling them different names. Kumo one, Kumo two, and Kumo three but the chakra signatures currently following him were different, a new set of Anbu following him, obviously having changed shifts.

So so name these ones, Kumo four, Kumo five and Kumo six.

Four had an affinity for wind. Five an affinity for fire, there was another one but he wasn't sure what it was, perhaps wind as well? Fire and wind. While the sixth one had an affinity for earth.

He was hoping he was right, but he wasn't sure. It was all just speculation.

Kiyoshi was strolling down the street hands in his bottom pockets, with a relaxed slouch as he looked around.

As he continued walking down the road to where he was told the library was located, he couldn't help but notice the group of four they were going in the direction he was coming from.

One adult and three children, they seemed around 10 years, they were all boys. One of the boys stood taller than the other two with brown hair, while the other two boys stood at the same height, one with striking blonde hair and the other with a hair the colour of honey brown.

The boy with striking blonde hair seemed to be arguing with the adult, "Sensei! why do we need to pull roots from the ground, we're ninjas! last month we got to help during the war now we're just stuff pulling weeds from the ground?! Even group 8 are taking missions outside the village!" he exclaimed.

Their sensei seemed accustomed to his traits, "Kane-kun, how many times do I have to tell you, they don't need us yet, just do the D-ranks, you need to work on your attitude. I don't see the others complaining" he replied, while the boy glared at his other two teammates after he heard one of them snicker.

That's all he heard as they passed by.

Perhaps the war was at a near end if they had them doing that.

--

The broad daylight didn't reach the area of the library Hiroshi was sitting. Instead, it was the hanging lights above him that lit the space that was filled with rows of tall shelves where the books sat.

The room was filled with nothing but silence, the ceiling of the library was quite high, and any sound made would no doubt echo the surrounding area.

The smell of libraries was always different to Kiyoshi, this one was no different. He liked it, he felt as though he could sense the powerful energy of imagination coming from the laying old books on the shelves that want to be read.

The antique smell of the pages of old books that wanted to be turned, the untouched books lying on the shelves that longed to be held, and the smell of the dust coming from these books that have collected over time from negligence.

It didn't take much of an argument to be allowed into the section he was currently in. He simply said Kano's name, and the librarian's attitude changed immediately.

Soon enough he was made his own access card, which wouldn't be done for a while seeing as they had to take his picture. Perhaps by the time he was done with the books he was currently reading the card would be ready for him to take and use for the next day.

Hiroshi was sat between two tall shelves, with books scattered around him. He was sitting comfortably with crossed legs, with a heavy book on his lap.

The book was quite complex and scientific, something you wouldn't imagine a child so young to read, especially with the many pages it had making it quite thick when closed.

He ran his finger on the sentence. He started to read slowly as he came across one word after another.

It was a book on nature transformation.

He couldn't exactly say he understood everything mostly because he couldn't understand some of the words that were used, having not come across them before.

He was sure the librarian was delighted when he went up to him, not for the first, but the fifteenth time asking what a particular word was. It was amusing seeing the man groan in annoyance.

Though it was enough more amusing seeing the look on his face after he asked if Kiyoshi even knew what he was reading, and after giving the man a small jist of what it was he was reading, he stopped frowning as much as he did when Kiyoshi asked for the meaning of a word.