Itama felt as if she had fallen into an endless fog and was having a very long dream.
He saw two beams of light suddenly blaze in the distance, followed by a torrent of heavenly fire that cracked the earth and distorted the air itself.
Immediately afterwards, the golden Magic Array emerged from the ground and soared into the sky. The runes flowed in mid-air to form a huge barrier, but it was easily torn apart like paper. When the fragments fell, they turned into the wails of countless living beings.
He saw darkness seeping out from the cracks, like a living tide, turning trees to ash and birds and beasts to ashes wherever it went, leaving nothing but nothingness before even a cry could be uttered.
That is a power that does not belong to humankind. Our war is so insignificant in the face of it, even laughable to the point of heartache.
"If only I could have that kind of power..."
Itama instinctively raised his hand, but only passed through a mist, his fingertips brushing against nothingness.
"Then I can protect my father and brothers, and my comrades in the clan..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two beams of light suddenly began to dissipate, like fireflies in summer, vanishing in an instant.
Just before the blazing white light completely went out, the figure suddenly turned in his direction.
Through the raging fire and fog, across an indescribable distance, Itama could clearly see the other's outline—though he couldn't make out the face, he could feel a gaze piercing through the fog, through his body, as if looking through him at some distant, more indistinct being.
A hint of amusement followed his gaze, as light as a feather, yet carrying a chill that sent shivers down one's spine.
A chill crept up his spine, and Itama shivered violently. The wind in the fog suddenly became biting, and his memories gradually returned.
He looked down at his hand, the dull pain from Kunai's stab still lingering in his palm—when he died at Uchiha's hands in his previous life, he was stabbed more than a dozen times, how could he still be alive?
Am I... a soul now?
He raised his hand to touch his chest, feeling no heartbeat, only a cold emptiness. "Will Shinigami come to take me away? That golden Magic Array, those two beams of light, and that gaze looking over... what was it?"
My head was throbbing so badly it felt like it was going to explode, and countless fragments were colliding wildly in my mind.
"I must be dreaming..."
He squeezed his eyes shut, and when he opened them again, the fog was still there, and the scene of destruction in the distance was still repeating itself. "I'm probably still in bed at home, not awake yet. Maybe my father will come to call me to practice my sword skills soon, and my brother will stuff some roasted meat into my hands..."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but squat down and bury his face in his knees.
The wind howled through the fog, and even though he had no physical form, he still felt cold and panicked. He felt like a leaf being blown about by the wind, not knowing where he was going or where this dream he couldn't wake up from was taking him.
Soon, the stagnant time began to flow again, and he saw villages and seas of red flowers in the distance.
His father, mother, brothers, and Uchiha Clan's enemies all went to the other side. For a moment, he felt as if he had lost his mind and was drifting towards that side as well, but he was interrupted by a powerful force.
His soul sank deeper into the sea of light, where only the feeling of warmth remained real.
I don't know how much time passed.
Itama slowly opened her eyes and found herself in an unfamiliar room. The surroundings were simply and rustic, and the air was filled with a faint scent of herbs.
At that moment, a young man pushed open the door and entered, his eyes cold and his body exuding a mysterious aura.
"Hello, Itama," the boy said.
"To make a long story short, this is my consciousness space, and I want to make a deal with you."
A faint smile appeared on the boy's face; he knew Itama wouldn't refuse.
"What saved your soul just now was one of my magical artifacts. Now, its remaining magic power can allow you to live again in the future, but the outcome is completely random. Are you willing?"
"Okay, but what's the price?" Itama agreed readily.
"If fate allows, we will meet again. As for the price, you will know when the time comes."
After saying that, the boy turned and left, leaving Itama alone.
Although there are still many questions, such as why I was chosen, he might not answer them even if I had just asked them.
And, huh? Fate? Itama scratched his head, a big question mark on his face.
Soon, the room shattered, and he plummeted downwards again.
...
" Feng Shuo, Feng Shuo!"
The faint calls, like cotton threads soaked in warm water, gently wrapped around Itama's consciousness.
He struggled to open his eyes, and in the blurry light, a pale yet gentle face gradually came into focus—the woman's wisps of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat, clinging to her blood-stained cheeks, her lips were sickly blue, yet she was still trying to smile.
" Tatsuki, look! This is your child, a healthy baby boy."
Feng Shuo... That's my name.
Itama's little finger unconsciously curled up, touching the woman's rough but warm palm.
Only then did he belatedly realize that the woman's arms were wrapped with blood-soaked strips of cloth, her clothes were stained with blood, and even her breathing was trembling slightly.
Is it possible that in this life, even having a complete family is a luxury for me?
The excruciating pain from Kunai's stabbing in his body in his previous life seemed to have not yet subsided. Looking at his weak mother in front of him, he was overwhelmed by a tide of grievance and fear.
He opened his mouth, but could only let out a baby's soft cry. Tears rolled down his cheeks and landed on the woman's hand.
Just then, a familiar yet chilling Chakra wave suddenly entered his senses—it was Uchiha's aura, faintly crimson, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, instantly stirring up the fear deep within his soul.
Itama instinctively curled up into a ball, her small shoulders trembling violently, and even her cries became hoarse.
But that Chakra... seems unusually close to me.
He fought back his fear, struggling to turn his little head, his gaze landing on his mother's face. The next second, his breath caught in his throat, and even his sobs were caught in his throat—
The woman was resolutely reaching her bloodied fingers towards her eye socket.
Blood gushed out from between her fingers, staining her cheeks red, but she seemed oblivious to the pain, her eyes filled with a resolute tenderness.
With a soft sound, she gouged out an eyeball that gleamed with a scarlet light, held it in her blood-stained palm, and presented it to him.
Itama's pupils suddenly contracted.
In his previous life, he had heard about Uchiha's secrets—that some members of the tribe would leave Sharingan to their descendants in order to continue their bloodline.
But he never imagined that such a near-mad act would happen to his own mother, to someone connected to him by blood.
Warm blood dripped onto his face, carrying the metallic smell of rust, and also the last warmth of his mother.
For a moment, he forgot his fear and involuntarily reached out his small hand, clumsily touching his mother's face.
My fingertips brushed across her empty eye sockets, her cold cheeks, and the corners of her mouth that she was still trying to lift.
He wanted to remember that face, to remember the love that was so heavy it suffocated him, and to remember those eyes that could never open again.
"I will avenge you."
Itama cried out silently in her heart, and tears welled up again.
"Mother, and Father… I love ' Feng Shuo ' which is blessed by you."
An infant's energy is ultimately limited, and the intense emotional fluctuations exhausted his last bit of strength.
He gazed at his mother's gradually blurring face, feeling the warmth of her gently stroking his head, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.
In the last moment before his consciousness faded, he seemed to feel his mother carefully placing the Sharingan on his chest, as if planting a seed of revenge and protection.
"Dad, Mom, little brother, me." Early in the morning, Feng Shuo woke up to the sound of his new older brother learning to speak.
These days are always like this.
The rain kept falling. Feng Shuo felt an invisible pressure in his heart, as if the whole world was crying.
However, it wasn't all bad; he felt a sense of tranquility, a peace of being isolated from the world.
Yuko's mother's embrace was warm and soft, like a peaceful harbor, making Feng Shuo feel incredibly at ease.
"Baby, don't be afraid, Mommy will always be with you." He hugged Feng Shuo tightly, like his own child.
Feng Shuo felt his mother's warmth, and a strange sense of emotion welled up in his heart.
Although he had memories of his past life, at this moment he was just an infant who needed his mother's protection. He reached out his tiny hand and grasped his mother's clothes.
Yuko lowered her head and looked at Feng Shuo, her eyes filled with love. "This child is so well-behaved, he doesn't cry or make a fuss."
She gently stroked Feng Shuo's hair, and only then did she realize that the child's hair was actually black and white.
" Kenji, look, the baby's hair is so special," Yuko said to her husband beside her.
Kenji nodded, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Yes, it seems this child is destined for greatness."
Although he appeared stern, he actually loved the child.
He walked in front, glancing back every now and then at his wife and children to make sure they could keep up.
Feng Shuo felt a sense of closeness as he sensed Kenji's gaze.
Although he knew that this was not his biological father, his strictness and love made him feel a long-lost fatherly love.
"You must grow up quickly and protect them." The road ahead may be long, but as long as you have family by your side, you will definitely be able to walk it.
Soon it was time to rest, and the family found a big tree and rested in its shade.
Feng Xing followed beside his mother, glancing at Feng Shuo every now and then. "Mom, is my little brother cold?" Feng Xing's voice was childish yet concerned.
"I'm not cold." I'm holding him.
He ran to Feng Shuo's side and reached out to touch his face.
Although Feng Shuo couldn't speak yet, his eyes sparkled with a lively light. He reached out his little hand and grabbed his brother's finger.
"Mom, my little brother caught me!" he laughed excitedly.
"Yes, your younger brother likes you a lot. You're the older brother, so you have to protect him, right?"
"Um!"
Feng Shuo also thought of his older brother, wondering how they were doing.
His mood plummeted again.
"Little brother, this is for you." Feng Xing picked a small flower from the roadside and placed it in Feng Shuo's hand.
Looking at his new brother, Feng Shuo felt a sense of comfort.
I am not alone. At least there are people who love me. I want to protect their smiles. Although I cannot cultivate now, please give me more time. I don't want to see any more of my loved ones leave me.
Tenten days passed, and a month later, the family finally arrived at the shelter.