Changing Tides 3 Revised Version
Soooo I am so Screwed ROFL. I have till sunday to finish working on Chapter 4 Chapter 5 pt1 and 5 Part 2. I'm going to see if I can finish everything by then. Knowing me i most likely will. I am getting a new comp soonish. Yay! anyway yeah i got a 32 inch TV today now i can play all my games in hi def and never on a 13 inch tv for a long time. I mean littearlly 13 inches i have 20/20 vision but even that was driving me blind and i had to stand about 10 inches from the TV just to see anything. I also saw I am legend Today and liked it. I know this should be a seperate post but i'm lazy and silly since i am editing while doing this.
ANYWAY!
Changing Tides: Prologue
Changing Tides: Chapter 1
Changing Tides: Chapter 2
Changing Tides
Chapter 3: Reflections That Lie
Aikido walked towards the school gates laughing at the children who hooted and hollered about his amazing skills. The closer he walked to the gate the more he felt the presence of someone who wasn’t hiding their charka so he didn’t feel threatened, although he knew that they weren’t allowing all of it to be felt out into the open. It was stronger than most people’s around here but weak enough not to be seen as an attack on anyone.
“I wondered when you would get here uncle.” Aikido said, never pausing as he walked forward out of the gate as the relative pushed himself off the wall and took several long strides, catching up to the other easily.
“I was curious where you were. I sent Yoshi to retrieve you not long ago or did you forget that.” He said in a voice that Aikido just knew would mean pain for him in a few minutes when they began to spar. The younger man said nothing as he looked back at the academy, a thoughtful look on his face as he turned back around to watch his path.
“Do you know anything about what I used to do?” Aikido asked, turning a corner as they headed to the furthest reaches of the village where there was more water and less chance that either of them could do damage to the village when they got more into their fight and began to actually try and kill the other.
“Haven’t we been through this already?” the older man said, running a hand through his short salt and pepper hair. “I don’t know anything about you at all; your mother kept you a secret from me and the rest of our family.” He paused for a second in his speech as he shook his head at the thought of this sister. “You are my family, still, the blood running through your veins and your water abilities are proof of that enough. You also know that your skills as a ninja were as sharp as my best ANBU, even before we began training.” The Mizukage laughed to himself. “Although constantly training with me seems to have sharpened those skills you already had, memory or not.”
The kage put a firm hand onto his nephew’s shoulder making him stop. Aikido turned to look at the man who looked like he had something important to say. When he spoke again it was barely audible even to Aikido who was only an arm’s length away from his uncle. “I already told you some of my ninja found you not far from this village with no identification on where you could have been from." The man said a he took his left hand off Aikido’s shoulder and slammed his right fist into Aikido’s abs delivering a blow to the stomach.
Aikido hunched over clutching his stomach for a second and winced as he struggled to breathe. It was a punch meant to knock the wind out of him, nothing more and nothing less. When he turned to look at the spot the gray haired man was at he saw nothing but a falling robe and crouched down to the floor in a fighting position.
A wave of water surged towards him and he shielded his face with his forearms, before using his will and made the water split around him instead of going over him. He stopped the water from moving forward and it froze in midair for a few seconds before falling to the ground harmlessly. The young man knew that wasn’t a real attack as it was just a setup and trying to get on his nerves.
His hands formed seals before a portion of the water rose up and made a clone of him. Dark eyes that matched his own looked into his before nodding and making a few hands seals, then disappearing in a transportation jutsu. Now all Aikido had to do was wait. The game of cat and mouse was about to begin and he refused to be the mouse.
An ice sickle came towards him and he strafed effortlessly to his right, as it shattered against a nearby tree. Jumping towards the area where the attack came from, he prepared himself. Seeing a shadow to the left he dashed towards it, before he was able to reach the point though he was kicked from out of the air. Spinning, Aikido twisted in the air and landed on his feet, eyes narrowed at the area where his attack was from. He nodded his head in the direction.
He felt a spike of chakra from the position where he nodded at and saw a body flying towards him. Jumping towards it he jumped and kicked the man in the side, sending him crashing to the ground. Sprinting towards the grounded man he proceeded to deliver several punches to the chest, finishing with a hard kick.
The other already saw his attacks coming and proceeded to block the punches but failed to do the same for the kick. The kick sent him back a few feet into the water that was already on the ground. Bringing his hands up then spinning them around his head once, the water already on the ground followed his command, rising and spinning around his body. He made a motion towards Aikido and the water began rushing towards the younger opponent.
Aikido expected this and leaped forward, jumping into the air and solidifying the water as he ran along it and towards the old man. Before he could reach him he felt the pathway he created begin to turn back into water and he jumped off hoping to close the gap. Twisting in a flip, he landed behind the other. A stream of water rose up and became ice as he pressed the tip of his frozen weapon against the others spine.
“Looks like I win this time, uncle.” He moved the blade forward a bit and knew it bit into the older man’s skin.
“Do you really think so?” he questioned in a light teasing, his arms just dropping down to his sides the water still moving around his feet waiting for a command of any kind.
Aikido felt an arm encircle him and an ice-cold blade against his neck. He knew what that meant-- the Mizukage had made a clone earlier but he wasn’t sure when. The clone he held the blade against to liquefied and then fell into the puddle that was at its feet.
The Kage pressed the blade deeper into Aikido’s neck and expected to see his blood flowing any second. The younger man wasn’t putting up any resistance and seemed to want to die but the Mizukage didn’t want to kill him only to teach him a little lesson about fighting. Digging the blade into the young mans neck he was startled or perhaps not as startled as he burst into water.
A surge of water hit the kage and he glared where it came from. Getting up off the floor he formed hand seals and more then a dozen kunai formed and began to float, moving till they began to encircle him. They floated around the kage before he made another set of seals. More kunai formed till there were dozens hovering around him waiting for his command.
Looking around the kage tried to spot Aikido so that he could release his attack on him. Hearing a sound he turned around and focused on just where he heard that sound. Seeing the nin he moved his hands and formed new seals.
“Kunai storm,” he whispered. After he said that all of the kunai became erect and they pointed in the direction that the old man was facing. The kunais left their position and sped at a blinding speed towards Aikido. Before they made impact the kage saw a gleam of light and knew that his attack would have no effect. The first kunai was about an inch away from Aikido when he just vanished and the blade crashed into something solid, becoming harmless dust as it fell to the floor. The massive amount of ice kunai didn’t seem to graze the surface at all and they all vanished as they broke into shards of ice and dust falling harmlessly to the floor and forming a puddle on the ground as they returned to their liquid form.
The Mizukage clenched his jaw at the extensive waste of his chakra on his technique.
In a nearby tree Aikido laughed to himself as the man’s attack was wasted. A simple trick was all it took for the water to form a mirror and projecting his image there. There was more to that mirror then what met the eye but he didn’t want to use that attack as it would waste too much chakra and this was not a life or death situation.
Aikido stared at the Mizukage and blinked once then twice and then the man was gone, replaced by a woman with long hair. The hair was braided and reached down to her waist. She had kind eyes and was laughing at something. Her eyes were soft but you could tell that she was no push over. She turned towards Aikido and their eyes meet and he felt safe when he looked at her.
Aikido felt the air leave his body as he was brutally kicked out of his hiding place. He looked towards the mirrors he set up as a decoy and saw that they were all shattering, bits and pieces of the ice falling to the floor and converting back into water due to his lack of concentration. Aikido fell to the ground hard and stared up at the sky.
‘What is wrong with me?’ he thought as he watched clouds pass by. He was not one to lose concentration when fighting in any sense of the word but for some reason he couldn’t seem to concentrate as of late.
‘Who could that woman be?’ He thought again as he felt a droplet of rain land on his face. The white clouds he was looking at not to long ago were now becoming gray. It was about to rain and he was doing nothing but watching the sky and wondering who she could be. He knew her yet for some reason he couldn’t recall who she could be.
A shadow fell across him and he stared up to meet eyes the same hue as the woman in his daydream. The only reason he lost this spar.
“You let your guard down.” The man said in a simple statement, his own shirt starting to become a bit damp from the rain as it began to pick up speed and drop down.
“I saw something.” Aikido said simply as he continued staring at the sky. He didn’t want to move at the moment he just wanted to stare at the rain and watch it pour down onto the earth. It was a serene setting which he always loved to observe but hasn’t been able to do recently.
“What did you see?” The kage said as he held out an arm, water began to circle around his body slowly. It took shape at his legs slowly going up his back until the white kage cloak appeared on his body. In his hand a ball of water formed before it expanded and formed the matching white hat. He placed it on his head and looked at the younger man who didn’t seem to want to get out of the rain yet.
“A woman,” he trailed off as he closed his eyes as the rain pelted him. He opened his eyes to stare at those eyes again that reminded him of that woman he just saw in that dream not so long ago. “Who had eyes like yours.”
The kage looked at his nephew in a manner that was between shock and curiosity. He knew that his nephew saw a vision of his twin, Aikido’s mother, and questioned what that meant. The kage couldn’t help but wonder was his memory coming back or was it just a fleeting thought that occurred at the moment.
“Katara,” the Mizukage said aloud to himself.
“My lord!” said a man appearing on the side of the Mizukage. He wore a completely black outfit, arms barred showing a swirling blue ANBU tattoo. His face was covered in an odd porcelain mask, which seemed to be missing chunks and falling apart in places, yet oddly enough it did not show an ounce of his face.
“What is the problem Urchin?” The man said to his subordinate.
“You’re needed at the tower immediately,” he said, looking away from the kage who he knew would punish him for this interruption later.
The Mizukage narrowed his eyes; all his guard knew better than to come interrupt him when he was sparing with Aikido so it must be something big. He raised his arm and water pooled around Urchin’s body encasing him in ice.
“If it’s not important there will be hell to pay and your life will be the price.” Urchin cowered in fear, unable to get out of the ice prison. The Mizukage looked to Aikido briefly before he disappeared in a flurry of water and ice teleporting to the Hokage tower. The ice containing Urchin was released and he stumbled for a few seconds.
Urchin narrowed his eyes at the Mizukage’s nephew who seemed to be getting all of the kage’s attention and none of his anger. Rage welled up in him as he thought of the person who came into the village just two years ago just became the Mizukage’s favorite person in the world. Urchin sneered at the man before teleporting back to the tower himself.
Aikido, oblivious to everything, kept his eyes closed and let the rain pour onto his face as memories began take over him. Lost memories of summer rains and the smell of a forest after a light shower...
Iwillchangethetidesofdestinynomaterwhat
Time was a set event. Minutes turned to hours. Hours turned to days. Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to years. It was something that could not be changed no matter what anyone tried to do or how much you tired to stop it. Even if you were to shut out the world, time wouldn’t stop the same way that destiny couldn’t be changed.
Kakashi wasn’t someone who believed in destiny or fate or anything of the sort but he did believe that no matter what happened it was going to happen. So to a sense he did believe in it although he never thought so strongly on the words associated with it.
He was going to be late to meet up with Sasuke and Naruto but he wasn’t as apt at caring about it, as he should be. The clock on the mission was ticking but, was it ticking to Konoha’s attack or was it ticking for another reason? If an attack on Konoha was going to happen it would happen, although this mission seemed to be attempting to try and get themselves as ready as they could for a counter attack.
“I’m leaving today to go to Kiriga,” the copy nin muttered to the cold gray stone from his perch on top of it. His routine every time he was going to go on a mission was coming here. He had to say his goodbye because it might be his last.
“The Land of Water… you know I haven’t been there since that one time 3 years ago.” Kakashi smiled to himself, as his one visible eye seemed to gloss over, as he was lost in a memory.
“I remember going there when we were younger Obito, do you remember?” he asked as he jumped down, turning to face the stone. “You know that time we had to collect starfish that was only found in The Land of Water.” Kakashi laughed softy at the memory.
“I remember you chasing Rin down the beach with a jelly fish. She was so mad at you for that she didn’t talk to you for weeks after we came back. I still think she resents you for that even now.” Kakashi turned to his right to look at another corner of the memorial stone.
“Do you Rin?” he didn’t wait for a response and let his head fall down his shoulders, shook for a second before he looked up pulling his fragile psyche back together.
“Guess I should get going before they come looking for me ey?” the question was left hanging in the air as he made sure his headband and mask were firmly in place as he began walking to the gates that would lead to the outside of Konoha
Walking from the area that contained the memorial stone he felt a cold gust of wind. Turning back he saw a single snowflake fall onto the memorial stone. It landed on top then disappeared just as quickly as it came.
“I understand,” was all as he left the area entering the streets of the city. Putting one hand in his pocket Kakashi took out his orange icha icha book and began to read. He walked at a slow leisurely pace. He knew that he should be rushing to meet his teammates but it was such a nice day outside and he wanted to bask in the warmth of the setting sun for a few more moments.
The streets were littered with people and children who greeted him politely. Once in a while a random child ninja or not would come over to him and ask him a few questions. If their parents were there they’d come rushing over grabbing their kid and apologizing profusely for the lack of manners their child displayed. If he had his book open like he did now those same children would ask him what he was reading only to have their parent snatch them up and say they’ll find out when they were older. This always made him laugh silently to himself as he walked off. It was at times like this Kakashi hated going on missions; he enjoyed this town and the antics of the people when they saw him. Although he lived here for all his life they tended to change every time they saw him.
Seeing his comrades at the gate waiting for him he put away his book and stealthily snuck over to the two young men who seemed to be having an animated conversation.
“I still can’t believe he’s late again,” Naruto muttered, clenching and unclenching his fist in impatience on wanting to get this mission started.
“You’ve been around him how long and expect him to change?” Sasuke said coldly to the blonde, looking at the gates that led to the forest surrounding the village.
“People change!” Naruto yelled.
“Not everyone changes.” Sasuke stated still in his usual cold and uncaring voice.
“You changed!” Naruto hissed at Sasuke watching him turn around. A younger Sasuke would have glared and yelled back. The older version just shrugged the comment off and kept staring at the gates knowing that what the blonde said was partially true.
Kakashi, deciding that he didn’t want to hear anymore of this conversation used a teleportation jutsu to appear right behind Naruto.
“Yo.” The silver haired man said.
Surprised at the sound the blue-eyed boy turned to deliver a punch only to have it dodged by Kakashi easily.
“Your late.” Naruto said in a soft voice not like his usual self at all. Sasuke turned to stare at the jounin as well.
“Ah, well you see I was watching a snowflake fall,” the man stated simply, smiling behind his black mask at the blonde boy, knowing what his reaction would be.
“Liar!” Naruto yelled and threw another punch at Kakashi only to have him side step it and laugh happily, his memories of lighter days with these two and their female companion coming back to him.
“It doesn’t snow in Konoha.” Sasuke said simply, uncrossing his arms and walking towards the two.
“You’re wrong Sasuke; it does snow just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean there isn’t any snow.” Kakashi said simply.
“You contradicted yourself.” Sasuke muttered, walking to the gates and picking up one of the three traveling packs resting against the wall.
“Contra-what?” Naruto said, going to pick up one of the other packs.
“Nothing.” Sasuke tried to end the conversation.
“It has to mean something if you said it bastard.” Naruto growled out, left hand clenching on the pack and the other balling into a fist.
“Now, now.” Kakashi interrupted. “No need to get into a fight over nothing now.” He went over to the wall and picked up the last pack. “It’s sunset and we have a long way to go before we can rest.” Kakashi began to head for the gates walking outside and waving to the guards. Naruto followed shortly after with Sasuke coming up in the rear, face impassive as always.
Kakashi nodded once and crouched down and began to hop into the trees, speeding quickly through the branches, the blonde and the brunette boys not far behind him. He changed his direction for the port town, on the outskirts of Konoha’s borders. The only common thought racing through all their minds was ‘What awaits us in The Land Water?’
Iwillchangethetidesofdestinynomaterrwhat
Aikido walked into the house looking haggard. Water was running into his face and pouring off his body, making a wet trail where he treaded. He was slumped over, looking half unconscious as if he had just came from a long battle, but it was far from that, he let himself stay in the rain, which kept pouring even now as he entered the house. He left the door open knowing no one in his or her right mind would dare enter this place unannounced.
‘What’s wrong with me?’ Aikido muttered to himself, shaking in fear and looking at his right hand. The memories that assaulted him were not current or anything he could remember and that was what seemed to scare him. The scenes that were still dancing around in his mind were not helping at all. They gave him no clue about where he was from or what he could have been doing before his life here. It was just a giant blank.
“Fuck!” he yelled, slamming a fist into a near by wall, causing a large hole to form. The memories in his head, if they could even be called so, did nothing else but confuse him. No faces, no names, just scenes of a forest and a rainstorm. The only consistent thing was that woman who appeared in about few of his memories, but never stayed long enough for him to really try and figure out who she was. He felt like if he could reach out a little more he could figure it out but he couldn’t seem to figure out that last piece. Aikido took his fist from the well and looked at the damage he had done to his body.
Aikido growled, the water that was pooling at his feet solidified with his anger. It began reacting to him, moving around him in an enticingly deadly dance. It was just waiting for a kill command from its master to show how deadly it could be.
Sighing, his shoulders slumped as he surveyed the damage to his fist. The water that was moving rapidly solidifying and liquefying began to placate as its master lost all the anger in his system.
Walking up the stairs Aikido left a trail of water and mud on his way up to the shower. Living with the Mizukage taught him one thing. The hours were very erratic. So for the most part his uncle gave him the house to do what ever he wanted to with it. Not that there was anything for him to do. He sent a glare through a wall where he felt the charka of a nearby ANBU who was most likely watching him to see if he tried anything dangerous.
‘Fools.’ Aikido thought. If he really wanted to do something did they really think they could stop him from doing it? The Mizukage pretty much gave him permission to do what ever he wanted in the village seeing him not as a threat but as an ally. Sadly the rest of the village didn’t see him the same way. Few were accepting of him after his stay in the village for the past few months, but they still watched him from the corner of their eyes. He knew they were watching him by instinct maybe it was something he developed when he was younger.
“Younger,” he whispered. He wanted his memories back soon. He wanted to know about his childhood and who that damn woman was. He wanted to have that piece of himself that was missing. Then again he was ready to try and start his life over from his current age, although that seemed to prove difficult because of the fact that those memories seemed to be coming in waves recently. A little more then a year of nothing about his past and now he couldn’t seem to stop them from coming at all.
Toeing off his shoes Aikido kicked them to a corner of the bathroom, and mud flung around the room, staining the tiled blue walls. Next to go was the headband he kept wrapped around his neck. It fell easily to the floor with a loud thunck sound as the metal plate crashed into the ground. Taking off his fishnet shirt, he exposed the scars all across his arms with a few fresher ones across his biceps still red and reopening every time the muscle in the arms were used. He let the black shirt drop to the floor, revealing a long jagged scar that took up residence in the middle of his back. The shape was that of a disfigured x.
Aikido walked to the mirror; turning his back to it he bent his arm at an odd angle, running his fingers lightly up and down the scarred skin. It was an old wound--he had it even before he could remember being in this village and at times it would start to hurt. It looked like what ever caused the scar didn’t puncture his spinal cord at all. He didn’t feel sluggish and beside the time when it hurt for no apparent reason it didn’t seem to affect his skills at all.
Dropping his arm to his side he walked to the shower and began to run the water. Dropping his pants and boxers down to the floor in one quick swipe he stepped into the cubicle.
Dirt and grime began to wash off his body, turning the water a dark brown color. Aikido sighed at the dirt before grabbing a bottle of shampoo from the side of the shower. Running hands through thick brown locks, he let the water wash over and relax him. For once in the entire day he didn’t let any memories of what he didn’t know course through his head.
Reaching to turn off the shower when he was finished with it he saw red on his hands. Holding his palms up he noticed that they were blood stained. To a normal ninja this wouldn’t be a big deal at all, but Aikido didn’t kill anyone with his bare hands at all today. When he killed that leaf shinobi he made sure to scrub himself thoroughly, when he was done his skin was raw and clean and had no lingering trace of what he did to the man left on him. How could he have blood stained hands now?
Looking up at the showerhead he noticed that it was no longer spewing water, it seemed to be running blood instead. Looking down to the floor he saw that he was no longer watching water pour down the drain but he was instead watching blood. It was thick and smelled heavy and a few droplets got into his mouth and he noticed that it had the same copper taste that blood tends to have. Aikido pressed a hand against the wall and rested his head against the tiled surface.
‘It’s nothing,’ he told himself, whispering that mantra to himself over and over. It had to be a genjutsu--there was no way he was going insane was there?
Aikido took several deep breaths and again looked up only to notice the blood dripping off his body and from the showerhead. Any normal person would have ran out of the shower as soon as the first droplet of blood poured onto them, but Aikido didn’t fear blood and didn’t want to start to develop a fear now so he stayed.
Aikido’s eyes began to glaze over, his arm tense against the tile and his head dropped down low.
Enemies surrounded him or so he believed, he was topless, he felt sluggish and he seemed to be backed into a corner. The enemies tossed a head to his feet and he seemed to be shocked that they would do something like that to his comrades. Fear wasn’t the emotion he seemed to be, the emotion he was feeling at the moment it was pure rage. How dare these enemies ambush him and kill his allies. He just wanted to get back to his hometown and finish the schoolwork for the coming semester.
Aikido licked his lips, although he did want to try a new jutsu and it looked like now would be the opportunity. Clutching his arm in pain he fell to one knee as the rain fell heavily hitting his face. The enemies began to close in on him and he knew he had to use it or else it could cost him his life.
Letting go of his arm he brought them both to his stomach and made seals. The throbbing pain in his arm a distant memory as he began to rapidly form the seals for a unknown attack. It was going to take up the last of his chakra to keep it up but at the moment this was his only chance. An image of that same woman who happened to appear in a lot of his memories appeared before him forming seals as if guiding him. Simultaneously his deep voice and her light voice a soft whisper on the wind.
“Ice Storm.” The world seemed to get colder as those words were uttered. She smiled at him softly before fading away quickly. The rain seemed to cease in it’s movements before pouring down harder, but this time it wasn’t soft and delicate all around the rain was hammering down harder making imprints into the dirt. It was as if the rain it’s self became hail. The three ninja grunted as several droplets of now falling ice shards hit them harshly.
One of the Nin grunted as a piece of the ice sliced his arm. He stared at it for a few seconds before a new cut appeared on the other arm the ice raining from the sky tearing up their bodies quickly and painfully.
“What is this?” one yelled who seemed to be growing bloodier by the second. Every few seconds he seemed to be gaining more of those shallow wounds and leaking more and more of the crimson fluid.
Aikido felt his charka reservoirs running low as he kept up the attack. Controlling a natural element to the extent he was even with his blood limit was a tiring experience. He was already weak from the poison in his system and he knew that he didn’t have much time left before the attack would cease and they would attack him again, so he made his choice, he would go out fighting.
Sprinting at the nearest one he grabbed their arm and made a one-hand seal, pulling it as far back as he could. The rain focused for a second before a large amount of water fell toward the man’s arm. A sick cracking sound was heard followed by a scream as the man’s arm was broken by a large piece of hail. The arm fell limply to the man's side as Aikido let the arm go. Moving to the neck Aikido grabbed at the weapons pouch, pulling out a kunai and imbedding it in that Nin’s throat.
The other two Nin were so busy fighting off and trying to figure out what was with the rain that they let their comrade be killed. When they heard the blood-curdling scream they turned just in time to watch him get a kunai to the neck. As their comrade was falling back dead they forgot about the rain and began to attack the brown haired man.
Finding strength, Aikido ducked an attack by ducking then rolling to the left. The blood loss seemed to be getting to one of them as he was moving slower and becoming pale as time went on. A jagged piece of ice landed in his shoulder blade and Aikido took that moment when he wince to reach back into the borrowed pouch to draw out another kunai. Launching it at that man’s head, the weapon embedded itself in his forehead. The man stood no chance as his eyes went blank and he fell back.
The last remaining Nin ran towards Aikido and tried to punch him with his right first. Aikido moved to the side and kicked him in the side. A blade of ice cutting the man across the arm as he stumbled forward, he turned around just to get a boot to the face. The man head spun as he dropped to his knees when the two blades of ice cut the tendon at the back of the man’s foot. He yelped in pain before drawing out a blade.
Aikido, not noticing him drawing a weapon, moved slowly to the front of the other nin. Eyes staring intently at the person he had to kill to keep this secret. When Aikido reached the man's front a blade was thrust forward into his chest.
Aikido, shocked, grabbed the blade as the water on the floor reacted violently, surging forward to kill the last remaining enemy without his command. Grasping the blade in his gut he clenched his teeth and pulled the blade out slowly. He knew that it was bad to pull weapons out of a wound but he had to treat it before it became even more infected.
Stumbling back Aikido crashed into the trunk of a tree sliding down it. The rain began to soften as his chakra reserves finally died and he could no longer hold up the jutsu. Looking up he saw figures in the edge of his vision that he couldn’t make out anymore. He just needed a few moments of rest then he’d get up and treat his wounds.
“Just a few moments.” He whispered softly, to no one but the wind. As if reassuring it he would get up soon.
He fell forward into a pool of water and his own blood, unconscious.
His breathing was slow and he was starting to shiver, but the blood he saw before those images came to him was gone. Nothing seems to have changed except the fact that the hot water ran out and he was in freezing cold water.
Drawing back the curtain he got out the shower, grabbing a blue towel off the rack. Toweling off his body then his hair he spared a glance at the mirror where he saw an image of himself that wasn’t himself at the same time. This image was slightly bulkier; the hair was shorter and there were less cuts, bruises, and scars over the body but generally it was an image of himself if he saw one.
Stopping what he was doing he walked over the mirror and stared at him. The reflection that wasn’t his reflection stared at him or rather his reflection before going about what it was doing. The other one’s torso was heavily bandaged and he was slowly peeling away the bandages. His hair was a little past his shoulders which was awkward since Aikido’s hair was much closer to the middle of his back.
The other took off the bandages and it revealed the long disfigured scar on his back. This one was fresh, the bandages clinging to the skin as Aikido’s other self was taking it off. The mark was red as bits and pieces of the wound were coming off, scabbing slightly, but now disturbed by the removing of the bandages. The man turned around showing his full back to the mirror.
Aikido saw the scar was fresh but he already know that. This scar matched the one on his back completely except this one was new and fresh as if he just got it. His own throbbed painfully as if it was just inflicted and he winced partially as if he knew what caused it. He looked at the man again; everything about them was the same. Was this an image of his past self?
‘Could this be me?’ Aikido questioned mentally and nodded, as he knew that it was probably true. The other version of himself ran the water and began shaking before he started crying.
Aikido was appalled and he growled angrily at the image before driving a blade of ice through it. The shards of the mirror fell to the floor, breaking into even more pieces. Aikido refused to believe that the image he saw was himself, he wasn’t that weak to cry over something as trivial as a wound to the back. He turned and walked away from the room, wrapping the towel around his waist trying to forget about the image he saw in the mirror.
Outside, the rain finally stopped.
Changing Tides Chapter 4
ANYWAY!
Changing Tides: Prologue
Changing Tides: Chapter 1
Changing Tides: Chapter 2
Changing Tides
Chapter 3: Reflections That Lie
Aikido walked towards the school gates laughing at the children who hooted and hollered about his amazing skills. The closer he walked to the gate the more he felt the presence of someone who wasn’t hiding their charka so he didn’t feel threatened, although he knew that they weren’t allowing all of it to be felt out into the open. It was stronger than most people’s around here but weak enough not to be seen as an attack on anyone.
“I wondered when you would get here uncle.” Aikido said, never pausing as he walked forward out of the gate as the relative pushed himself off the wall and took several long strides, catching up to the other easily.
“I was curious where you were. I sent Yoshi to retrieve you not long ago or did you forget that.” He said in a voice that Aikido just knew would mean pain for him in a few minutes when they began to spar. The younger man said nothing as he looked back at the academy, a thoughtful look on his face as he turned back around to watch his path.
“Do you know anything about what I used to do?” Aikido asked, turning a corner as they headed to the furthest reaches of the village where there was more water and less chance that either of them could do damage to the village when they got more into their fight and began to actually try and kill the other.
“Haven’t we been through this already?” the older man said, running a hand through his short salt and pepper hair. “I don’t know anything about you at all; your mother kept you a secret from me and the rest of our family.” He paused for a second in his speech as he shook his head at the thought of this sister. “You are my family, still, the blood running through your veins and your water abilities are proof of that enough. You also know that your skills as a ninja were as sharp as my best ANBU, even before we began training.” The Mizukage laughed to himself. “Although constantly training with me seems to have sharpened those skills you already had, memory or not.”
The kage put a firm hand onto his nephew’s shoulder making him stop. Aikido turned to look at the man who looked like he had something important to say. When he spoke again it was barely audible even to Aikido who was only an arm’s length away from his uncle. “I already told you some of my ninja found you not far from this village with no identification on where you could have been from." The man said a he took his left hand off Aikido’s shoulder and slammed his right fist into Aikido’s abs delivering a blow to the stomach.
Aikido hunched over clutching his stomach for a second and winced as he struggled to breathe. It was a punch meant to knock the wind out of him, nothing more and nothing less. When he turned to look at the spot the gray haired man was at he saw nothing but a falling robe and crouched down to the floor in a fighting position.
A wave of water surged towards him and he shielded his face with his forearms, before using his will and made the water split around him instead of going over him. He stopped the water from moving forward and it froze in midair for a few seconds before falling to the ground harmlessly. The young man knew that wasn’t a real attack as it was just a setup and trying to get on his nerves.
His hands formed seals before a portion of the water rose up and made a clone of him. Dark eyes that matched his own looked into his before nodding and making a few hands seals, then disappearing in a transportation jutsu. Now all Aikido had to do was wait. The game of cat and mouse was about to begin and he refused to be the mouse.
An ice sickle came towards him and he strafed effortlessly to his right, as it shattered against a nearby tree. Jumping towards the area where the attack came from, he prepared himself. Seeing a shadow to the left he dashed towards it, before he was able to reach the point though he was kicked from out of the air. Spinning, Aikido twisted in the air and landed on his feet, eyes narrowed at the area where his attack was from. He nodded his head in the direction.
He felt a spike of chakra from the position where he nodded at and saw a body flying towards him. Jumping towards it he jumped and kicked the man in the side, sending him crashing to the ground. Sprinting towards the grounded man he proceeded to deliver several punches to the chest, finishing with a hard kick.
The other already saw his attacks coming and proceeded to block the punches but failed to do the same for the kick. The kick sent him back a few feet into the water that was already on the ground. Bringing his hands up then spinning them around his head once, the water already on the ground followed his command, rising and spinning around his body. He made a motion towards Aikido and the water began rushing towards the younger opponent.
Aikido expected this and leaped forward, jumping into the air and solidifying the water as he ran along it and towards the old man. Before he could reach him he felt the pathway he created begin to turn back into water and he jumped off hoping to close the gap. Twisting in a flip, he landed behind the other. A stream of water rose up and became ice as he pressed the tip of his frozen weapon against the others spine.
“Looks like I win this time, uncle.” He moved the blade forward a bit and knew it bit into the older man’s skin.
“Do you really think so?” he questioned in a light teasing, his arms just dropping down to his sides the water still moving around his feet waiting for a command of any kind.
Aikido felt an arm encircle him and an ice-cold blade against his neck. He knew what that meant-- the Mizukage had made a clone earlier but he wasn’t sure when. The clone he held the blade against to liquefied and then fell into the puddle that was at its feet.
The Kage pressed the blade deeper into Aikido’s neck and expected to see his blood flowing any second. The younger man wasn’t putting up any resistance and seemed to want to die but the Mizukage didn’t want to kill him only to teach him a little lesson about fighting. Digging the blade into the young mans neck he was startled or perhaps not as startled as he burst into water.
A surge of water hit the kage and he glared where it came from. Getting up off the floor he formed hand seals and more then a dozen kunai formed and began to float, moving till they began to encircle him. They floated around the kage before he made another set of seals. More kunai formed till there were dozens hovering around him waiting for his command.
Looking around the kage tried to spot Aikido so that he could release his attack on him. Hearing a sound he turned around and focused on just where he heard that sound. Seeing the nin he moved his hands and formed new seals.
“Kunai storm,” he whispered. After he said that all of the kunai became erect and they pointed in the direction that the old man was facing. The kunais left their position and sped at a blinding speed towards Aikido. Before they made impact the kage saw a gleam of light and knew that his attack would have no effect. The first kunai was about an inch away from Aikido when he just vanished and the blade crashed into something solid, becoming harmless dust as it fell to the floor. The massive amount of ice kunai didn’t seem to graze the surface at all and they all vanished as they broke into shards of ice and dust falling harmlessly to the floor and forming a puddle on the ground as they returned to their liquid form.
The Mizukage clenched his jaw at the extensive waste of his chakra on his technique.
In a nearby tree Aikido laughed to himself as the man’s attack was wasted. A simple trick was all it took for the water to form a mirror and projecting his image there. There was more to that mirror then what met the eye but he didn’t want to use that attack as it would waste too much chakra and this was not a life or death situation.
Aikido stared at the Mizukage and blinked once then twice and then the man was gone, replaced by a woman with long hair. The hair was braided and reached down to her waist. She had kind eyes and was laughing at something. Her eyes were soft but you could tell that she was no push over. She turned towards Aikido and their eyes meet and he felt safe when he looked at her.
Aikido felt the air leave his body as he was brutally kicked out of his hiding place. He looked towards the mirrors he set up as a decoy and saw that they were all shattering, bits and pieces of the ice falling to the floor and converting back into water due to his lack of concentration. Aikido fell to the ground hard and stared up at the sky.
‘What is wrong with me?’ he thought as he watched clouds pass by. He was not one to lose concentration when fighting in any sense of the word but for some reason he couldn’t seem to concentrate as of late.
‘Who could that woman be?’ He thought again as he felt a droplet of rain land on his face. The white clouds he was looking at not to long ago were now becoming gray. It was about to rain and he was doing nothing but watching the sky and wondering who she could be. He knew her yet for some reason he couldn’t recall who she could be.
A shadow fell across him and he stared up to meet eyes the same hue as the woman in his daydream. The only reason he lost this spar.
“You let your guard down.” The man said in a simple statement, his own shirt starting to become a bit damp from the rain as it began to pick up speed and drop down.
“I saw something.” Aikido said simply as he continued staring at the sky. He didn’t want to move at the moment he just wanted to stare at the rain and watch it pour down onto the earth. It was a serene setting which he always loved to observe but hasn’t been able to do recently.
“What did you see?” The kage said as he held out an arm, water began to circle around his body slowly. It took shape at his legs slowly going up his back until the white kage cloak appeared on his body. In his hand a ball of water formed before it expanded and formed the matching white hat. He placed it on his head and looked at the younger man who didn’t seem to want to get out of the rain yet.
“A woman,” he trailed off as he closed his eyes as the rain pelted him. He opened his eyes to stare at those eyes again that reminded him of that woman he just saw in that dream not so long ago. “Who had eyes like yours.”
The kage looked at his nephew in a manner that was between shock and curiosity. He knew that his nephew saw a vision of his twin, Aikido’s mother, and questioned what that meant. The kage couldn’t help but wonder was his memory coming back or was it just a fleeting thought that occurred at the moment.
“Katara,” the Mizukage said aloud to himself.
“My lord!” said a man appearing on the side of the Mizukage. He wore a completely black outfit, arms barred showing a swirling blue ANBU tattoo. His face was covered in an odd porcelain mask, which seemed to be missing chunks and falling apart in places, yet oddly enough it did not show an ounce of his face.
“What is the problem Urchin?” The man said to his subordinate.
“You’re needed at the tower immediately,” he said, looking away from the kage who he knew would punish him for this interruption later.
The Mizukage narrowed his eyes; all his guard knew better than to come interrupt him when he was sparing with Aikido so it must be something big. He raised his arm and water pooled around Urchin’s body encasing him in ice.
“If it’s not important there will be hell to pay and your life will be the price.” Urchin cowered in fear, unable to get out of the ice prison. The Mizukage looked to Aikido briefly before he disappeared in a flurry of water and ice teleporting to the Hokage tower. The ice containing Urchin was released and he stumbled for a few seconds.
Urchin narrowed his eyes at the Mizukage’s nephew who seemed to be getting all of the kage’s attention and none of his anger. Rage welled up in him as he thought of the person who came into the village just two years ago just became the Mizukage’s favorite person in the world. Urchin sneered at the man before teleporting back to the tower himself.
Aikido, oblivious to everything, kept his eyes closed and let the rain pour onto his face as memories began take over him. Lost memories of summer rains and the smell of a forest after a light shower...
Iwillchangethetidesofdestinynomaterwhat
Time was a set event. Minutes turned to hours. Hours turned to days. Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to years. It was something that could not be changed no matter what anyone tried to do or how much you tired to stop it. Even if you were to shut out the world, time wouldn’t stop the same way that destiny couldn’t be changed.
Kakashi wasn’t someone who believed in destiny or fate or anything of the sort but he did believe that no matter what happened it was going to happen. So to a sense he did believe in it although he never thought so strongly on the words associated with it.
He was going to be late to meet up with Sasuke and Naruto but he wasn’t as apt at caring about it, as he should be. The clock on the mission was ticking but, was it ticking to Konoha’s attack or was it ticking for another reason? If an attack on Konoha was going to happen it would happen, although this mission seemed to be attempting to try and get themselves as ready as they could for a counter attack.
“I’m leaving today to go to Kiriga,” the copy nin muttered to the cold gray stone from his perch on top of it. His routine every time he was going to go on a mission was coming here. He had to say his goodbye because it might be his last.
“The Land of Water… you know I haven’t been there since that one time 3 years ago.” Kakashi smiled to himself, as his one visible eye seemed to gloss over, as he was lost in a memory.
“I remember going there when we were younger Obito, do you remember?” he asked as he jumped down, turning to face the stone. “You know that time we had to collect starfish that was only found in The Land of Water.” Kakashi laughed softy at the memory.
“I remember you chasing Rin down the beach with a jelly fish. She was so mad at you for that she didn’t talk to you for weeks after we came back. I still think she resents you for that even now.” Kakashi turned to his right to look at another corner of the memorial stone.
“Do you Rin?” he didn’t wait for a response and let his head fall down his shoulders, shook for a second before he looked up pulling his fragile psyche back together.
“Guess I should get going before they come looking for me ey?” the question was left hanging in the air as he made sure his headband and mask were firmly in place as he began walking to the gates that would lead to the outside of Konoha
Walking from the area that contained the memorial stone he felt a cold gust of wind. Turning back he saw a single snowflake fall onto the memorial stone. It landed on top then disappeared just as quickly as it came.
“I understand,” was all as he left the area entering the streets of the city. Putting one hand in his pocket Kakashi took out his orange icha icha book and began to read. He walked at a slow leisurely pace. He knew that he should be rushing to meet his teammates but it was such a nice day outside and he wanted to bask in the warmth of the setting sun for a few more moments.
The streets were littered with people and children who greeted him politely. Once in a while a random child ninja or not would come over to him and ask him a few questions. If their parents were there they’d come rushing over grabbing their kid and apologizing profusely for the lack of manners their child displayed. If he had his book open like he did now those same children would ask him what he was reading only to have their parent snatch them up and say they’ll find out when they were older. This always made him laugh silently to himself as he walked off. It was at times like this Kakashi hated going on missions; he enjoyed this town and the antics of the people when they saw him. Although he lived here for all his life they tended to change every time they saw him.
Seeing his comrades at the gate waiting for him he put away his book and stealthily snuck over to the two young men who seemed to be having an animated conversation.
“I still can’t believe he’s late again,” Naruto muttered, clenching and unclenching his fist in impatience on wanting to get this mission started.
“You’ve been around him how long and expect him to change?” Sasuke said coldly to the blonde, looking at the gates that led to the forest surrounding the village.
“People change!” Naruto yelled.
“Not everyone changes.” Sasuke stated still in his usual cold and uncaring voice.
“You changed!” Naruto hissed at Sasuke watching him turn around. A younger Sasuke would have glared and yelled back. The older version just shrugged the comment off and kept staring at the gates knowing that what the blonde said was partially true.
Kakashi, deciding that he didn’t want to hear anymore of this conversation used a teleportation jutsu to appear right behind Naruto.
“Yo.” The silver haired man said.
Surprised at the sound the blue-eyed boy turned to deliver a punch only to have it dodged by Kakashi easily.
“Your late.” Naruto said in a soft voice not like his usual self at all. Sasuke turned to stare at the jounin as well.
“Ah, well you see I was watching a snowflake fall,” the man stated simply, smiling behind his black mask at the blonde boy, knowing what his reaction would be.
“Liar!” Naruto yelled and threw another punch at Kakashi only to have him side step it and laugh happily, his memories of lighter days with these two and their female companion coming back to him.
“It doesn’t snow in Konoha.” Sasuke said simply, uncrossing his arms and walking towards the two.
“You’re wrong Sasuke; it does snow just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean there isn’t any snow.” Kakashi said simply.
“You contradicted yourself.” Sasuke muttered, walking to the gates and picking up one of the three traveling packs resting against the wall.
“Contra-what?” Naruto said, going to pick up one of the other packs.
“Nothing.” Sasuke tried to end the conversation.
“It has to mean something if you said it bastard.” Naruto growled out, left hand clenching on the pack and the other balling into a fist.
“Now, now.” Kakashi interrupted. “No need to get into a fight over nothing now.” He went over to the wall and picked up the last pack. “It’s sunset and we have a long way to go before we can rest.” Kakashi began to head for the gates walking outside and waving to the guards. Naruto followed shortly after with Sasuke coming up in the rear, face impassive as always.
Kakashi nodded once and crouched down and began to hop into the trees, speeding quickly through the branches, the blonde and the brunette boys not far behind him. He changed his direction for the port town, on the outskirts of Konoha’s borders. The only common thought racing through all their minds was ‘What awaits us in The Land Water?’
Iwillchangethetidesofdestinynomaterrwhat
Aikido walked into the house looking haggard. Water was running into his face and pouring off his body, making a wet trail where he treaded. He was slumped over, looking half unconscious as if he had just came from a long battle, but it was far from that, he let himself stay in the rain, which kept pouring even now as he entered the house. He left the door open knowing no one in his or her right mind would dare enter this place unannounced.
‘What’s wrong with me?’ Aikido muttered to himself, shaking in fear and looking at his right hand. The memories that assaulted him were not current or anything he could remember and that was what seemed to scare him. The scenes that were still dancing around in his mind were not helping at all. They gave him no clue about where he was from or what he could have been doing before his life here. It was just a giant blank.
“Fuck!” he yelled, slamming a fist into a near by wall, causing a large hole to form. The memories in his head, if they could even be called so, did nothing else but confuse him. No faces, no names, just scenes of a forest and a rainstorm. The only consistent thing was that woman who appeared in about few of his memories, but never stayed long enough for him to really try and figure out who she was. He felt like if he could reach out a little more he could figure it out but he couldn’t seem to figure out that last piece. Aikido took his fist from the well and looked at the damage he had done to his body.
Aikido growled, the water that was pooling at his feet solidified with his anger. It began reacting to him, moving around him in an enticingly deadly dance. It was just waiting for a kill command from its master to show how deadly it could be.
Sighing, his shoulders slumped as he surveyed the damage to his fist. The water that was moving rapidly solidifying and liquefying began to placate as its master lost all the anger in his system.
Walking up the stairs Aikido left a trail of water and mud on his way up to the shower. Living with the Mizukage taught him one thing. The hours were very erratic. So for the most part his uncle gave him the house to do what ever he wanted to with it. Not that there was anything for him to do. He sent a glare through a wall where he felt the charka of a nearby ANBU who was most likely watching him to see if he tried anything dangerous.
‘Fools.’ Aikido thought. If he really wanted to do something did they really think they could stop him from doing it? The Mizukage pretty much gave him permission to do what ever he wanted in the village seeing him not as a threat but as an ally. Sadly the rest of the village didn’t see him the same way. Few were accepting of him after his stay in the village for the past few months, but they still watched him from the corner of their eyes. He knew they were watching him by instinct maybe it was something he developed when he was younger.
“Younger,” he whispered. He wanted his memories back soon. He wanted to know about his childhood and who that damn woman was. He wanted to have that piece of himself that was missing. Then again he was ready to try and start his life over from his current age, although that seemed to prove difficult because of the fact that those memories seemed to be coming in waves recently. A little more then a year of nothing about his past and now he couldn’t seem to stop them from coming at all.
Toeing off his shoes Aikido kicked them to a corner of the bathroom, and mud flung around the room, staining the tiled blue walls. Next to go was the headband he kept wrapped around his neck. It fell easily to the floor with a loud thunck sound as the metal plate crashed into the ground. Taking off his fishnet shirt, he exposed the scars all across his arms with a few fresher ones across his biceps still red and reopening every time the muscle in the arms were used. He let the black shirt drop to the floor, revealing a long jagged scar that took up residence in the middle of his back. The shape was that of a disfigured x.
Aikido walked to the mirror; turning his back to it he bent his arm at an odd angle, running his fingers lightly up and down the scarred skin. It was an old wound--he had it even before he could remember being in this village and at times it would start to hurt. It looked like what ever caused the scar didn’t puncture his spinal cord at all. He didn’t feel sluggish and beside the time when it hurt for no apparent reason it didn’t seem to affect his skills at all.
Dropping his arm to his side he walked to the shower and began to run the water. Dropping his pants and boxers down to the floor in one quick swipe he stepped into the cubicle.
Dirt and grime began to wash off his body, turning the water a dark brown color. Aikido sighed at the dirt before grabbing a bottle of shampoo from the side of the shower. Running hands through thick brown locks, he let the water wash over and relax him. For once in the entire day he didn’t let any memories of what he didn’t know course through his head.
Reaching to turn off the shower when he was finished with it he saw red on his hands. Holding his palms up he noticed that they were blood stained. To a normal ninja this wouldn’t be a big deal at all, but Aikido didn’t kill anyone with his bare hands at all today. When he killed that leaf shinobi he made sure to scrub himself thoroughly, when he was done his skin was raw and clean and had no lingering trace of what he did to the man left on him. How could he have blood stained hands now?
Looking up at the showerhead he noticed that it was no longer spewing water, it seemed to be running blood instead. Looking down to the floor he saw that he was no longer watching water pour down the drain but he was instead watching blood. It was thick and smelled heavy and a few droplets got into his mouth and he noticed that it had the same copper taste that blood tends to have. Aikido pressed a hand against the wall and rested his head against the tiled surface.
‘It’s nothing,’ he told himself, whispering that mantra to himself over and over. It had to be a genjutsu--there was no way he was going insane was there?
Aikido took several deep breaths and again looked up only to notice the blood dripping off his body and from the showerhead. Any normal person would have ran out of the shower as soon as the first droplet of blood poured onto them, but Aikido didn’t fear blood and didn’t want to start to develop a fear now so he stayed.
Aikido’s eyes began to glaze over, his arm tense against the tile and his head dropped down low.
Enemies surrounded him or so he believed, he was topless, he felt sluggish and he seemed to be backed into a corner. The enemies tossed a head to his feet and he seemed to be shocked that they would do something like that to his comrades. Fear wasn’t the emotion he seemed to be, the emotion he was feeling at the moment it was pure rage. How dare these enemies ambush him and kill his allies. He just wanted to get back to his hometown and finish the schoolwork for the coming semester.
Aikido licked his lips, although he did want to try a new jutsu and it looked like now would be the opportunity. Clutching his arm in pain he fell to one knee as the rain fell heavily hitting his face. The enemies began to close in on him and he knew he had to use it or else it could cost him his life.
Letting go of his arm he brought them both to his stomach and made seals. The throbbing pain in his arm a distant memory as he began to rapidly form the seals for a unknown attack. It was going to take up the last of his chakra to keep it up but at the moment this was his only chance. An image of that same woman who happened to appear in a lot of his memories appeared before him forming seals as if guiding him. Simultaneously his deep voice and her light voice a soft whisper on the wind.
“Ice Storm.” The world seemed to get colder as those words were uttered. She smiled at him softly before fading away quickly. The rain seemed to cease in it’s movements before pouring down harder, but this time it wasn’t soft and delicate all around the rain was hammering down harder making imprints into the dirt. It was as if the rain it’s self became hail. The three ninja grunted as several droplets of now falling ice shards hit them harshly.
One of the Nin grunted as a piece of the ice sliced his arm. He stared at it for a few seconds before a new cut appeared on the other arm the ice raining from the sky tearing up their bodies quickly and painfully.
“What is this?” one yelled who seemed to be growing bloodier by the second. Every few seconds he seemed to be gaining more of those shallow wounds and leaking more and more of the crimson fluid.
Aikido felt his charka reservoirs running low as he kept up the attack. Controlling a natural element to the extent he was even with his blood limit was a tiring experience. He was already weak from the poison in his system and he knew that he didn’t have much time left before the attack would cease and they would attack him again, so he made his choice, he would go out fighting.
Sprinting at the nearest one he grabbed their arm and made a one-hand seal, pulling it as far back as he could. The rain focused for a second before a large amount of water fell toward the man’s arm. A sick cracking sound was heard followed by a scream as the man’s arm was broken by a large piece of hail. The arm fell limply to the man's side as Aikido let the arm go. Moving to the neck Aikido grabbed at the weapons pouch, pulling out a kunai and imbedding it in that Nin’s throat.
The other two Nin were so busy fighting off and trying to figure out what was with the rain that they let their comrade be killed. When they heard the blood-curdling scream they turned just in time to watch him get a kunai to the neck. As their comrade was falling back dead they forgot about the rain and began to attack the brown haired man.
Finding strength, Aikido ducked an attack by ducking then rolling to the left. The blood loss seemed to be getting to one of them as he was moving slower and becoming pale as time went on. A jagged piece of ice landed in his shoulder blade and Aikido took that moment when he wince to reach back into the borrowed pouch to draw out another kunai. Launching it at that man’s head, the weapon embedded itself in his forehead. The man stood no chance as his eyes went blank and he fell back.
The last remaining Nin ran towards Aikido and tried to punch him with his right first. Aikido moved to the side and kicked him in the side. A blade of ice cutting the man across the arm as he stumbled forward, he turned around just to get a boot to the face. The man head spun as he dropped to his knees when the two blades of ice cut the tendon at the back of the man’s foot. He yelped in pain before drawing out a blade.
Aikido, not noticing him drawing a weapon, moved slowly to the front of the other nin. Eyes staring intently at the person he had to kill to keep this secret. When Aikido reached the man's front a blade was thrust forward into his chest.
Aikido, shocked, grabbed the blade as the water on the floor reacted violently, surging forward to kill the last remaining enemy without his command. Grasping the blade in his gut he clenched his teeth and pulled the blade out slowly. He knew that it was bad to pull weapons out of a wound but he had to treat it before it became even more infected.
Stumbling back Aikido crashed into the trunk of a tree sliding down it. The rain began to soften as his chakra reserves finally died and he could no longer hold up the jutsu. Looking up he saw figures in the edge of his vision that he couldn’t make out anymore. He just needed a few moments of rest then he’d get up and treat his wounds.
“Just a few moments.” He whispered softly, to no one but the wind. As if reassuring it he would get up soon.
He fell forward into a pool of water and his own blood, unconscious.
His breathing was slow and he was starting to shiver, but the blood he saw before those images came to him was gone. Nothing seems to have changed except the fact that the hot water ran out and he was in freezing cold water.
Drawing back the curtain he got out the shower, grabbing a blue towel off the rack. Toweling off his body then his hair he spared a glance at the mirror where he saw an image of himself that wasn’t himself at the same time. This image was slightly bulkier; the hair was shorter and there were less cuts, bruises, and scars over the body but generally it was an image of himself if he saw one.
Stopping what he was doing he walked over the mirror and stared at him. The reflection that wasn’t his reflection stared at him or rather his reflection before going about what it was doing. The other one’s torso was heavily bandaged and he was slowly peeling away the bandages. His hair was a little past his shoulders which was awkward since Aikido’s hair was much closer to the middle of his back.
The other took off the bandages and it revealed the long disfigured scar on his back. This one was fresh, the bandages clinging to the skin as Aikido’s other self was taking it off. The mark was red as bits and pieces of the wound were coming off, scabbing slightly, but now disturbed by the removing of the bandages. The man turned around showing his full back to the mirror.
Aikido saw the scar was fresh but he already know that. This scar matched the one on his back completely except this one was new and fresh as if he just got it. His own throbbed painfully as if it was just inflicted and he winced partially as if he knew what caused it. He looked at the man again; everything about them was the same. Was this an image of his past self?
‘Could this be me?’ Aikido questioned mentally and nodded, as he knew that it was probably true. The other version of himself ran the water and began shaking before he started crying.
Aikido was appalled and he growled angrily at the image before driving a blade of ice through it. The shards of the mirror fell to the floor, breaking into even more pieces. Aikido refused to believe that the image he saw was himself, he wasn’t that weak to cry over something as trivial as a wound to the back. He turned and walked away from the room, wrapping the towel around his waist trying to forget about the image he saw in the mirror.
Outside, the rain finally stopped.
Changing Tides Chapter 4