Growl…
My stomach made a loud sound. I am hungry.
The hag had given me only half a rice ball for dinner. Half. For a three-year-old who works all day.
I lay on my thin bed and closed my eyes. Focus. I activated my chakra sense.
The caretaker, asleep.
The other kids, asleep.
The matron, asleep.
No strange chakra nearby. Good. Maybe there are still some rice balls left in the kitchen.
Slowly, I pushed off the blanket and stepped down from the bed. The wooden floor felt cold under my bare feet. I moved carefully, trying not to make any noise.
Step by step, I made my way toward the kitchen. When I reached it, I quietly opened the drawers and cabinets. Nothing.
Empty bowl. Empty container.
"Come on…" I whispered under my breath. "There has to be something. This is an orphanage. They should keep emergency food."
I stood on my toes and opened another cabinet. Still nothing.
Just as frustration started rising inside me
"Top shelf. Next to the bottled sauces. There are some rice crackers." My whole body froze.
A cold chill ran down my spine. Slowly, very slowly, I turned around.
The matron was standing in the doorway.
Watching me. Damn it.
I should have kept my chakra sensing active. That was my mistake.
I forced a small, awkward smile. "Haha… I was just hungry. I needed something to eat."
Her face was calm. Too calm.
"You can take the crackers from the top shelf," she said.
What? She has never been kind to me. She barely feeds me.
And now she catches me stealing food at midnight… and suddenly she is generous?
No. I do not buy it.
"Why?" I asked carefully.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Why?" she repeated. "Because I am not a demon like you. The least I can do is let you die with a full stomach."
My heart skipped a beat. What the hell?
That escalated fast.
Abuse, I could understand. Hate, I could understand.
But killing? That is a different level.
My mind raced. She is serious. There was no joke in her voice. No anger either.
Just cold decision. For a second, I did not know what to say.
Think. You are three years old.
Act like one.
"P-Please don't kill me," I said in a small, trembling voice. I forced tears into my eyes and tried to make the most innocent, cute child face I could manage.
Inside, my brain was working fast.
Distance to door, five steps.
Distance to nearest knife, two steps to the left.
Chakra level, stable.
Weapon Construct, not tested yet.
This might be the first real test of my new life. And I am only three.
"That face might work on others… but not on me." Before I could even blink, she disappeared.
My eyes widened. Body Flicker Technique. She reappeared right in front of me.
Too fast. Way too fast. Before I could react,
THWACK!
Her kick slammed into my small body. Pain exploded in my ribs. I flew across the kitchen and crashed into the wall at the other end. The air left my lungs.
I dropped to the floor like a broken doll.
"I may not look like much," she said calmly, walking toward me, "but I was a chūnin in my youth."
What the hell?!
A chūnin?
This old hag was a shinobi?
Then why is she trying to kill me? She should know I am only the vessel. I am not the Nine-Tails itself.
I coughed. I could taste iron in my mouth. Blood.
"Maybe after killing you," she continued, her voice shaking slightly, "my daughter will stop haunting me and finally move to the afterlife."
What?
Is she insane? Is she under a genjutsu?
Or is she just broken? Before I could think more.
THWACK!
Another kick hit my stomach.
THWACK!
My side.
THWACK!
My back.
Each hit felt like my bones were cracking.
Fucking hell. How am I supposed to fight like this in a three-year-old body?
I tried to move.
Too slow. Too weak.
She grabbed my throat and lifted me into the air like I weighed nothing. Her fingers tightened. Crushing.
Choking.
"Gwah!"
I clawed at her wrist, but my hands were tiny.
Useless.
"Finally," she whispered, tears falling from her eyes, "you can find peace, my daughter." She's crazy. Completely crazy.
My vision started to blur. Dark spots formed at the edge of my sight.
Air. I need air.
Think.
Think!
If I do not do something right now, I am going to die.
Again.
I raised my small arm toward her throat. No more holding back.
Release everything.
I pushed all my chakra out at once.
A thin layer of blue chakra formed around my body. It flickered like fire, wild and unstable. Her eyes widened.
"What the? You really are a demon!" she shouted, tightening her grip on my throat.
My vision darkened for a second. Now!
Chakra Armament: Fang Manifestation.
Three sharp chakra blades burst out from my knuckles. They were made of pure blue energy. Not very thick, not very stable, but long enough.
Long enough to reach her face. I swung my hand forward.
Slash!
"AAAHHH!"
Blood sprayed from her cheek as she screamed. Three deep cuts tore across her face.
"YOU DEMON!"
She staggered back, her grip loosening. I dropped to the floor and gasped for air.
"Haah! Haah! HAAAH!"
My throat burned, but I could breathe again. No time to rest.
I rushed toward her.
I lifted my hand again, aiming for her face.
She panicked and raised her arms to guard it.
That was the opening I wanted. I changed direction mid-swing and slashed downward.
Her ankle.
Slash!
For a second, nothing happened.
Then
"AAAHHHHH!"
Her foot separated from her leg. Blood poured onto the floor.
She collapsed with a heavy thud, screaming in pain.
Her neck was now at my height. Within reach.
This is it. End it.
I stepped forward and raised my chakra claws to cut her throat.
But even injured,
She was still a former chūnin.
Too fast.
Thack!
Her fist slammed into my face. I felt something crack. My body flew backward.
Thud!
I hit the wall hard and dropped to the floor.
"Ggaah…"
Pain exploded across my jaw.
I think it is broken.
My ribs too.
Breathing hurt.
Moving hurt.
Everything hurt.
My vision became blurry. The room spun. "You demon… you devil… you will rot in hell!" she screamed.
Even with one leg gone, she forced herself up on her knee.
Her hands moved.
Hand signs.
Fast. Smooth. Trained.
No
She inhaled deeply.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive ball of fire rushed toward me.
For a strange second, I thought. So this is what a real jutsu looks like. It was bright.
Powerful.
Beautiful.
If it were not aimed at me, I would have admired it. The heat hit my face.
I am going to die. Again.
But just before the flames could reach me. A figure appeared between me and the fireball.
Boom!
The fire exploded against something solid.
Smoke filled the kitchen. Through my blurry vision, I saw him.
A man wearing a simple blue outfit. A grey flak jacket.
Strapped sandals. Arm guards reaching his elbows.
And a fox mask. ANBU.
You're late, I wanted to say. But no sound came out.
My body felt heavy. There was a loud thud.
Then silence.
I closed my eyes.