(Kai's POV - Konoha Year 38 - Konoha Park)
I stared at Akimichi Toru with a blank face. 'I don't remember any characters named Toru who were Akimichi in the Anime…maybe he is just a random background character, but he is obviously from the Akimichi clan.'
"Oh uh, Hi! My name is Kai, Kai Torikō! It is nice to meet you, Toru," I gave a slight bow.
"I noticed you were alone. Do you want a chip?" Toru was polite. I remember Choji being polite to almost all of his allies; maybe it was an Akimichi thing?
"No, thank you, I just had lunch," I said with a slight smile.
"Do you want to come play then? My brother left to go play with his friends." He frowned, then grinned. "We can play on the slide! Come on!" He didn't wait for an answer and just grabbed my hand and dragged me along.
Needless to say, I was overwhelmed. In my previous life, I never had a friend or anyone to play with, really.
But I'd never admit it, having a friend, even though the kid is only 2, was..I couldn't put it into words, only that it filled me with warmth.
When the day was almost over, and mom came to pick me up, I was almost sad to go; I wanted to spend more time with Toru. It was a weird sensation, unusual yet exciting. I had a friend, an actual living, breathing friend.
"Mama, can we stay a little longer?" I was hesitant; I never asked for too much from my parents, and I didn't want to overtake them. They raised me, even though I'd technically only known them for two years; it was two years of love and care that I'd never received in my previous life.
I'd never gotten the transmigrators or reincarnators from the novels I've read. When they reject their parents, I feel like they are dumb. How could they be so stupid as to reject love and care?
Mom blinked in surprise and sighed, "I'm sorry, Kai, but we need to get home. It is almost dinner time."
I was disappointed, but I got it. I turned sadly to glance at Toru, but all I saw was him grinning.
"Hey, no worries! I'll come back tomorrow! You're my best friend now, so I have to!" I blinked in shock. I forgot Toru was only 2 years old for a second.
I let a small smile cross my face, and I fist-bumped Toru.
"Yeah..best friends."
My mom smiled at me and started to walk me home.
"So, you made a friend, huh, Kai?" My mom had a smile on her face as she talked. I could tell she wanted me to make some friends, to be normal.
I nod as I hold her hand. This was nice. I wanted to…keep this. I want to give my loved ones the world.
But that didn't stop the fear.
I looked around, seeing the villagers and their kids, seeing the fear on their faces, tensions were rising between the 5 Great Shinobi Countries, the Second Great Ninja War was almost here.
I remember the big events coming up, the third great shinobi war, Nawaki has yet to even die,
The nine-tails attack, the Akatsuki, has yet to even be formed. And what could I do? I'm just a toddler with a golden finger I don't even know how to use. I needed to get stronger, to protect the ones I love.
I turned to mom and put on the most serious face a 2-year-old could muster, which probably looked ridiculous. "Mama..I want to become a ninja, like you and dad."
My mom looked down at me in surprise, "Really? That's a big decision, Kai, you're only two years old, it could be a hard journey."
"I'm sure, Mama."
Mom sighed and patted my head. "Ok, I'll tell your father."
(Kai's POV - Konoha Year 38 - 3 months later - Tokitō residence)Three months passed in a blur. Mom told Dad about me wanting to become a ninja, but before training, I needed to grow more, so she planned to train me when I was four, before I entered the academy.
It should put me ahead of my peers by a year, or well, most of them, as Kakashi would be in my generation. So I would just spend my time playing with Toru at the park, pretending to be a ninja, going on the swings, etc.
Meanwhile, things got more tense on the borders of the village, the Second Shinobi war was around the corner, and I couldn't do anything.
(Kai's POV - Konoha Year 38 - 1 month Later - Tokitō residence)I've been trying to figure out my golden finger for a month now, and nothing popped up. I'd try for a system, a sharingan even. But I got nothing. It made me wonder what Toki No Me even was.
Would I activate it when I'm older? Do I need to be a certain age? Maybe do a specific action? Does it center around Trauma like a Sharingan?
I guess I could test more things out when I am older and unlock my chakra.
Other than that, Toru has been showing signs of getting chubbier. He said it was for the Akimichi clan techniques, but I always wondered, what if instead they weren't fat but muscular? Would their techniques work the same?
"Kai! Come downstairs, lunch is ready!" My mom yelled from the kitchen
I smiled and started to get up.
(Kai's POV - Konoha Year 38 - 1 month later - Tokitō residence)
I looked at my parents' glum faces when I woke up, and dread curled in my stomach, and I could tell something was wrong.
The Second Great Ninja War had started.
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Wow, I actually did not expect to write that much, 964 words, nothing compared to other fanfics on this app, but a lot to me
I will try to make chapters as long as possible, anyways a lot of stuff happened in this chapter, like Akimichi Toru becoming Kai's best friend, he is completely OC by the way.
The Second Great Ninja war will be starting next chapter or 2, and you will see the effects of that, and how it has effects on Kai
And we also have Kai's reasoning to be a ninja that isn't just for protection for himself, but for his loved ones, I did this because I did not want my mc to be like the ones in translations or an egoist, he will have EMOTION. He will form bonds in the academy.
I am genuinely enjoying writing this fic, I did not expect me to actually like to write it either.
200 power stones for a bonus chapter, which I am not expecting to get anytime soonlol