He was lying on the floor, blood pooling around his head. His eyes were wide open, staring at nothing. His mouth was slightly agape, as if he wanted to say something. His phone was still in his hand, the screen cracked and flickering.
He had been playing a video game online "Rogue Ninjas and Side Quests: Naruto's Adventure" with his friends, chatting and laughing. He had just finished a level and was about to start the next one when he heard a knock on the door. He got up and opened it, expecting to see his mom or his sister. Instead, he saw a masked man holding a gun.
Before he could react, the man shot him in the chest. He staggered back and fell to the ground, clutching his wound. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. He looked at his phone, hoping to call for help. But the man followed him inside and shot him again, this time in the head.
The man took his phone and wallet and ran away, leaving him alone in his room. His friends heard the gunshots and his silence over the headset. They tried to call him, but there was no answer. They called the police, but it was too late. He was already gone.
...
He woke up in a small bed, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. He felt a sharp pain in his head and a faint memory of his death.
He looked at mirror near him and saw a body kid, he was a 5-year-old boy around 40 inches (about 3 feet 4 inches or 101.6 centimeters)with white hair and black eyes. He had a bandage on his forehead and a scar on his cheek. He had no idea who he was or where he came from.
He heard a woman's voice calling his name. "Shinji, are you awake? How are you feeling?"
He turned his head and saw a woman with gray hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a simple dress and had a kind smile. She was holding a tray of food and a glass of water.
"Who are you?" he asked, confused.
The woman gasped and dropped the tray. She ran to his side and hugged him. "Shinji, don't you remember me? I'm your grandmother, Hana. You had an accident yesterday. You fell from a tree and hit your head. You've been unconscious for a whole day."
He felt a surge of panic and confusion. He had no memory of this woman or this life. He had no idea what to do or say. He decided to play along and pretend that he was Shinji, hoping to find out more about this world and his situation.
He forced a smile and said, "I'm sorry, grandmother. I guess I lost my memory. Can you tell me more about myself and this place?"
The woman smiled and wiped her tears. "Of course, Shinji. You're my only grandson and you live in Konoha, the village hidden in the leaves. You're a very smart and brave boy, and you want to be a ninja someday.
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He blinked and stared at his grandmother. "Ninja? Konoha? What are you talking about?" he asked, incredulous.
His grandmother looked at him with concern. "Shinji, are you joking with me? You know what a ninja is, right? A person who uses chakra to perform amazing feats and skills. And Konoha is the village where we live, one of the five great ninja villages in the world. You've learned all this in the academy, remember?"
He shook his head, feeling more confused. He had no idea what chakra was, or what the academy was. He had never heard of Konoha or the five great ninja villages. He wondered if he was dreaming, or if he had somehow entered a video game. He remembered playing a game called "Rogue Ninjas and Side Quests: Naruto's Adventure" with his friends, but that was just a game, right?
He decided to ask more questions, hoping to find some clues. "Who is the Hokage?" he asked, recalling the name of the game's leader.
His grandmother looked surprised and said, "The Hokage is the leader of Konoha and the strongest ninja in the village. The current Hokage is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third Hokage. He's an old man with a long beard and a pipe. He's very wise and kind, but also very strict. He's been the Hokage for a long time, except for a brief period when he retired and passed the title to his student, Minato Namikaze, the fourth Hokage. But he died five years ago, during the nine-tailed fox attack. You've seen his face on the mountain, right?"
He shook his head again, feeling more lost. He had never seen a mountain with faces on it, or a man with a long beard and a pipe. He wondered if his grandmother was making up stories, or if he was hallucinating. He asked another question. "What is the nine-tailed fox attack?"
His grandmother looked sad and said, "The nine-tailed fox attack was a terrible tragedy that happened five years ago, when you were one years old. The nine-tailed fox is a monstrous creature with immense power and chakra. It appeared out of nowhere and attacked Konoha, destroying everything in its path. Many people died, including your parents. They were both ninjas who fought bravely to protect the village. The fourth Hokage managed to stop the fox by sealing it inside a newborn baby, but he sacrificed his own life in the process. No one knows who the baby is, or where he is now. The third Hokage returned to his position and declared the baby a hero, but also forbade anyone from talking about the fox or the seal. He said it was for the safety of the village and the child. The nine-tailed fox attack is a dark and painful memory for everyone in Konoha. You've suffered a lot, Shinji. You lost your family and your home. You've been living with me ever since."
He felt a surge of emotion and confusion. He had no memory of his parents, or the fox, or the baby. He had no idea how he survived, or why he was chosen to host the fox. He wondered if he was the baby, or if he knew the baby. He wondered if he had any friends, or enemies, or dreams.
He asked another question. "What is my past? How did I grow up with you?"
His grandmother sighed and said, "Shinji, you're breaking my heart. You don't remember anything about your past? You don't remember your parents, or your friends, or your dreams?"
He looked at her with a blank expression and said, "No, I don't. Please, tell me."
His grandmother took his hand and said, "Alright, Shinji. I'll tell you everything. But you have to promise me that you'll try to remember, okay? You have to try to be yourself again."
He nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and fear. He wondered what his grandmother would tell him, and what he would discover about himself. He wondered if he would like what he would hear, or if he would wish to forget again.
Holding his hand, she began recounting his story from the day he was born. The tale unfolded, weaving through his childhood, friendships, and dreams of becoming a ninja. Each detail unfolded like a forgotten tapestry, revealing a past lost to the recesses of his fractured memory. The weight of a tragic event—the nine-tailed fox attack—hung heavy in the narrative, as his family's sacrifice emerged as a defining moment in his young life.
As his grandmother wove the intricate threads of his past, emotions danced across his face—bewilderment, sorrow, and hints of recognition. The promise to try and remember echoed in his mind, a journey to rediscover the essence of a life erased by the passage of time.
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