"Death fractured my porcelain skin so I could become adamantine."

adamantine (/ˌadəˈmantʌɪn/)

adjective

1. refers to any especially hard substance, whether composed of diamond, some other gemstone, or some type of metal.

2. unable to be broken

Confession time:

I am a pretty stupid individual who should have known better than to jump to conclusions. My impulsive nature is also to blame but that's something I doubt I'd ever learn to control. Karin and Suigetsu told me to pack my stuff. Had I taken a moment to reflect and look at my surroundings, I would have, eventually, come to the right conclusion which was: They were not sending me away. In fact, they planned on coming with me. The sight of two backpacks and their serious facial expressions gradually morphing into smiles had been a wake-up call. We were leaving Sound and I could not be happier. I know what you must be thinking. 'But the village has changed!' and 'There is peace now!'

Bullshit.

The surface is nice and welcoming but I know better. It's still dangerous and creepy since Orochimaru's hideouts are all over the place, abandoned true but I still wouldn't step a foot in there if you paid me. Speaking of the Snake Sannin, if you had great discomfort at home as you watched him from behind a screen, I ask you to picture how I felt every time he paid us a visit. He got slightly better over the years but snakes should never be underestimated. It's in their nature to be sly and deceitful.

Point is, I won't become a Sound ninja, nor a Grass or a Mist one. Years ago, long before my birth, Karin got to experience how warm chakra feels like. Specifically, Naruto's. Aside from keeping you alive and helping you in battle, chakra means so much more than that. It mirrors your true self and for a sensor type like my mother, that's the ultimate proof of somebody's intentions. She is a great judge of character because of it. "Chakra doesn't lie, Seina. People do." is what she told me once. As such, she insisted that if I am to become a ninja...let it be in the land where the world's hero was born. Suigetsu wasn't against it so, here I am, a few days later, marvelling at Konoha's greatness. It's not the Konoha I grew-up dreaming about or the one that shaped my childhood heroes into legendary warriors but it has peace and Naruto as Hokage.

Frankly, that's more than I hoped for.

Our new house is smaller than the former since it's located in the middle of the village close to the Nara clan. Not that I mind. All the space in the world wouldn't tone down the sound of my parents' quarrels, which I've gotten used to. Kind of. It still makes me want to bash their skulls against a wall but that's a thought for another time. Right now, my heartbeat trumps over any other noise. How could it not when the date marked on the calendar mocked me for an entire week? Today is The Academy Entrance Ceremony, aka the beginning of the end. An end I will sign up for. How twisted is that? I shake my head and grip my forearms. This is it. There is no going back. I push all thoughts of fleeing to the back of my mind and tell myself this is the right decision. I was reborn for a reason. Whatever that reason may be, it must be connected to Boruto and his peers.

As disturbing of a thought that is.

I narrow my eyebrows in disbelief as the Hokage' son makes his entry. I don't know whether I should cry or laugh. Go figures he'd be a jester, much like his father had been. If he becomes even half the man Naruto is, I don't see the problem. After the scolding is over and so is the grand speech, after papers are signed and hands are shaken, we are ushered inside the building.

"Do your best Seina-chan!"

"And don't pull your punches, not even against the Hokage's son!"

"Suigetsu..."

"What? They will fight, you know they will. Kids do that all the time."

I giggle to myself at their antics and nod, waving goodbye.

Let the fun begin.

Outside from its training grounds, The Ninja Academy looks like any other school. Normal. I shudder at the word, convinced shinobi and normal don't belong in the same sentence. Anyway, imagine my surprise upon discovering who my teachers are. One of them is known for bugs and invisibility while the other for dango and mental instability. To tell you the truth, I don't know what unsettles me more. Shino's attempts at being sociable or Anko gaining weight and wrinkles. Nevertheless, they are both trying which is more than I can say for my classmates. They are a loud bunch and as if that wasn't bad enough, the class also mainly consists of clan heirs. Loud and arrogant is what they are.

Huh, I fit in better than I thought I would.

Joking aside, we give our teachers a rough time which is a statement for their patience. Or in Anko's case, the amount of fucks she gives. Which are few in number unless your bento box happens to contain dango. Fortunately, I don't speak from experience since eating sweets is not something I do often.

I peak a glance at my deskmate who is quiet as usual. Kakei Sumire has purple-coloured eyes and hair, the back of which is tied into long braided ponytails. Compared to the rest, she seems more level-headed though she is also meek and shy. Beats me why she chose to become a kunoichi. Anko and Shino named her Class Rep within a week from starting, probably glad they had a decent option to begin with.

"Today we discuss about the Fourth Shinobi World War."

"Even babies in their crib know that story." somebody snorts and the class erupts into fits of laughter. I feel kind of bad for Shino.

"Yeah dattebasa. What is there left to say?" Boruto asks and a few murmurs of agreement echo.

"Shut-up baka." Sasuke's and Sakura's only child retorts. "We attend the Academy for a reason."

"Well, I agree with him. Our parents have told us this story before."

"Not you too Chocho." Sarada laments.

"Mina-san, please pay attention." Sumire tries to amend the situation but to no avail whatsoever.

I sigh and cross my arms against my chest. "Do you know about the Kage Summit that took place before? How the Shinobi Nations had reached an understanding? Or how hard it was for people to let go of their grudges and leave behind decades of bad blood?"

Silence follows my questions, not that I expected a different reaction. "No?" I arch an eyebrow. "Then shut-up and listen. The day you know more than Shino-sensei, is the day you get to throw a tantrum. Though by the time you reach that level of intelligence you shouldn't feel the need to do that."

I'm a hypocrite. In my past life, I wasn't much better than them. In fact, I was most teachers' worst nightmare. Rude, hyperactive and more trouble than worth. I couldn't sit still or be quiet. Common sense...what's that? Respect? Where do I buy it from? I was a brat in every sense of the word, regardless of how hard my parents had tried to discipline me. And they did try, only to give-up after my sister was born. Their hope and expectations had passed on to her which gave me even more freedom to be the female equivalent of "a dick". As such, my personality was in dire need of adjustments. Adjustments which dying and a change of scenery had taken care of. Not to say nothing remained from my old self, plenty did. Mostly my short temper and impulsivity and maybe my lack of sanity. (Between you and me, I don't think I ever was. Sane, that is but I'm getting ahead of myself).

I elbow Sumire. "Be firmer next time. Using please makes it a request and requests can be denied." my lips curl upwards into a secretive smile. "A command though? That's different."

Her eyes widen in surprise before she nods and bows her head slightly. "Thank you, Hozuki-san."

I make a face at the mention of my family name. And a bow, really? "Just Seina is fine, Class Rep."

Shino finally starts teaching and I spend my time hanging onto his every word. History becomes my favourite subject because it's easy to like something which you already know. Well, more or less. There is little effort I must put in this class.

The kunoichi classes and the math ones are my biggest headache.

Anko teaches us by throwing dango sticks in random directions. On the bright side, we have a theoretical subject taking place outside. However, it's hard to see the glass half full when you are asked to memorize how many sticks she has thrown in a span of thirty seconds, which isn't little, mind you.

"Most shinobi have about ten kunai and ten shuriken inside their pouch. I say most because that's how much one of these can contain. It's in your best interest to get used to counting flying weapons. Especially when the enemy is aiming for you." she pauses, eating another sweet. "Some, however, like having a second, or even a third pouch. One of Konoha's finest has multiple scrolls which are designed to hold up to one hundred different weapons and that's if you don't get on her bad side."

One kid rose his hand.

"So, we count them all?"

Anko came close to choking that day. "Kami no. If it's past ten, you better give-up the thought of waiting until they remain empty-handed. Good shinobi never do." she advices. "Always look out for poison. Even a single kunai, if it's done justice, could end you."

I take back what I said. Any class with Anko is worth sitting through. The woman is a genius. The kunoichi classes, on the other hand, are pretty much pointless. We are too young to be taught about seduction, that's reasonable but learning how to arrange flowers?

What am I even pursuing? A botanist's career?

If that were the case, I wouldn't have minded but since learning about deadly plants is out of the question, I don't see the appeal. Another teacher teaches this class. Yuki-san looks like she had done her own share of ANBU missions in her prime. She has the looks and the wits and no doubt the necessary skills. Had I been less excited with becoming a frontline fighter, I would have tried my hardest to stick out like a sour thumb and get her to teach me her way of fighting. But since I look forward to flashy jutsu and taijutsu moves powerful enough to give you memory loss, I figured I should ask Sumire for help. The other girls rub me the wrong way. Mostly Sarada. If I can help it, I won't deal with her.

"Ano...you are really good at this." I say as I look down at the Class Representative's flower arrangement. Contraire to what you might think, I'm not a tomboy who hates girly things. I appreciate beauty when I see it and flowers represent that.

Sumire jumped a bit. "You startled me, Seina-san." she smiles shyly. "Thank you, I actually love doing those."

"Just Seina and I'm sorry." Bad habits stick like glue. I internally sigh, glancing from her bouquet to mine. "Maybe you could help me? I know how colours complement each other but their meaning? Not so much."

She claps her hands in delight. "Of course, I'd be happy to. It's why I'm Class Rep."

I frown a bit as I watch her get started onto my mine. "You can always refuse if you don't want to. Just because you are Class Rep, that doesn't mean people should take advantage of you."

She shakes her head, taking out a pink Rose and replacing it with a Hydrangea...I think? "I don't see it like that since I like helping but I thank you for your concern." she cuts a frail leaf off another flower before she speaks again. "This lesson is important. Sending a massage using the language of flowers is one of the safest ways since Konoha has the variety to back her up. Sunagakure's dry climate makes it difficult for flowers to grow, as does Iwagakure's land full of stone and Kumo's high territory. Kiri has the potential but rain represents an obstacle."

I open my mouth then close it, repeating the process a couple of times. "What if a man has to receive your massage? Only girls partake in this class."

Sumire stifles a giggle and raises an eyebrow at me. "What do you think Boruto-kun and the rest of the boys are doing while we arrange flowers? We are taught to pass the massage while..."

"...they learn to understand it." I complete her sentence. Now that makes sense.

"Exactly." she intones as she adds the final touch to the flower arrangement and gives it to me.

I beam at her. It's also the first time I found someone worthy enough of bowing my head to. "It's beautiful, thank you."

Sumire blushes and adverts her eyes. Probably embarrassed. "For nothing." After she recovers, she turns to face me. "Do you want me to explain?"

I nod. "Please do."

Call it stupidity or lack of sleep or one of my characteristic impulses that ought to earn me an early grave. Regardless of how you name it, I won't argue with you but first let us rewind time a little. Today I woke-up slightly under the weather, probably because of the nightmare I had. It was ugly and terrifying and it shattered any confidence I thought I possessed, because really, what the fuck am I doing here?

Everything has been going well up until now but what about later? What do I do when shit hits the fan? To believe a shonen manga would have a peaceful and serene development was wishful thinking at best and a delusion at worst. The Naruto universe had spelled that clearly for its fans: Don't get comfortable, pain is coming. No pun intended. Anyway, back to my nightmare. Did I mention just how useless it made me feel? I started doubting my very existence. I almost shook my parents awake and demanded why they had conceived me in the first place. So, I could fail? So, I could do nothing but watch you and everything in this world crumble?

That's what the first chapter of the manga hinted at. A dark future. Konoha, in ruins, again. In the past, after watching Pain attack the village, I breathed relieved because somehow, The Hokage Mountain was still standing. I told myself that as long as those faces remained, hope would find a way. And I was right. The village was destroyed but its people weren't. Them and Konoha rose from the ashes just like the Phoenix. The Boruto manga though, offered no such comfort. Nothing was left of the legends, nothing but dust. The current Hokage was missing, probably dead while his best friend and long-time rival was not to be found and their female teammate was off healing the injured and counting the dead, hoping she wouldn't have to add any loved one to the list. That's what my nightmare had been about. I also found my parents being reduced to nothing but corpses. I don't care much about the New Generation but Karin and Suigetsu, sane or insane, arguing or getting along, have become my family.

And I refuse to let my family suffer such ugly fate. That applies to Naruto with his trademark grin and to Sasuke with his panther grace and to Sakura with her beautiful resilience. It applies to all of my childhood heroes, period. They deserve more than to die in a sequel and I will be damned before I let that happen.

I needed a strong reminder, a clutch to hold onto for whenever my resolve started to waver. Something other than my memories, something solid, something as real as the rain falling from the sky. Something to think back to should I lose sight of my purpose and let a nightmare fool me into believing the odds won't ever be in my favour.

It was morning and it was early and my parents had yet to wake-up. I did my routine, ate an apple, and left the house as quietly and with as little fuss as possible. My feet took me to the Memorial Stone and if I cried, well it's hard to tell because rain did its job and hid it well. The monument looked as if it was made of obsidian, but it could be any other material for all I know. I sat there, staring at hundreds of names. By the end of it, I was soaked from head to toe, my head hurt and I was emotionally drained. Even so, I placed one of my hands on the Memorial and vowed. "Never again."

Never again shall Konoha suffer such losses.

Suffice to say I almost had a heart attack when I turned around only to find Kakashi studying me with the most bewildered expression I had seen crease the face of...well, anyone. He masked it quickly though.

So, here I am, face to face with The Copy Ninja himself. Half of me wants to bolt in the opposite direction. I dig a nail into the palm of my hand, hoping my scattered brain cells gather together well enough to form a full, preferably coherent sentence.

"You shouldn't be out here in the rain." he tells me, kneeling to my eye-level. To my relief, he doesn't ask me what am I doing visiting dead people, people that an eight-year-old such as myself couldn't have possibly known.

"Neither should you."

I don't know what mystical force compelled me to answer back but it's clear I have a death wish. I'm dumbfounded when one of Kakashi's eyes crinkles in amusement (maybe? I hope?)

Gah, who knows? The man is a walking enigma and behaves accordingly.

"I came to visit some friends. What's your excuse?"

The give and take approach, huh?

"I had a nightmare."

He hums noncommittally. "Aa. Understandable." and doesn't say anything more after that.

For some reason, I feel obliged to explain. Just partially. "I came here to remember nightmares don't have the power of coming true unless you give it to them. That's what kaa-san tells me anyway." Half-truths. Don't look him in the eye.

My voice trembles, however and I hope Kakashi blames the cold. Granted how perceptive he is, I doubt it.

"That's good advice." he pauses "Didn't she also tell you that you shouldn't talk to strangers?"

Fair enough.

"A Memorial Stone is not a place that children usually visit. At least, not during such a bad weather." I wrap my hands around myself, trying to suppress a shiver. "Besides, you are a ninja. Possibly a jonin. If you wanted to kill me, I'd be dead already."

If it's approval I get a glimpse of, it's gone before I can enjoy it. Kakashi puts a hand on my shoulder. "Calling somebody's bluff is a risky move."

"Our whole life is a constant risk." I retort.

"Point taken." he narrows his eye at me then he lets go of my shoulder and we part ways. The thought of explaining to Suigetsu and Karin why I snuck out of the house in pouring rain makes me want to take a detour, see what legend I meet next. Instead of doing that, I keep trudging forward. Brooding ninjas can wait for another day...or several. I think as I sneeze twice.