Chapter 2: Memories, Part 1
As Karn absorbed the memories of his new body, he learned that the previous owner was named Ruki Oguchi. Ruki was born into a modest family in a small village near the Fire Nation's border. His family had a unique trait - they matured faster and absorbed chakra more efficiently than most. Clearly, they were the overachievers of their time, setting the bar high for anyone who followed.
By the age of six, Ruki looked like he was nine, making him the pint-sized wunderkind of his village. His family included his father, mother, and grandfather, who all shared this extraordinary trait. They were the "fast-track" version of ninja life, though it didn't make their days any easier.
Tragedy struck with a dramatic flair when their village was attacked. The village, once a cozy little spot, turned into a rubble-strewn disaster zone overnight. Ruki's father and grandfather were killed, and the entire village was razed. Ruki and his mother made a hasty retreat to Konoha, arriving with nothing but their survival skills. The Third Hokage, in a show of "generous" diplomacy, provided them with a small apartment and a modest amount of money—enough to last just long enough to remind them they weren't exactly rolling in it.
"Not that we had any special techniques or great wealth," karn Lan reflects sarcastically, feeling the weight of Ruki's struggles. Ruki and his mother worked tirelessly, juggling part-time jobs and trying to make ends meet. They were living the dream—if the dream was barely scraping by.
When Ruki turned five, he began attending the ninja academy. Of course, he entered at the same time as Kakashi, Rin, and Obito—because why wouldn't he? The academy was like a competitive sports league where everyone was vying to be the top dog.
Ruki had a secret crush on Rin. She had once been his knight in shining armor, offering selfless help when he needed it most. Naturally, he decided to confess his feelings, because what's a little embarrassment among friends? Rin, with the delicate touch of a surgeon, rejected him because her heart was set on someone else. Su Lan, now fully informed, appreciates the irony of Ruki's situation. After all, it's not like unrequited love is a common ninja theme.
As time passed, Ruki, Rin, and their peers made their way through the rigorous training process. Ruki eventually became a Chunin and was assigned to a new team. His teammates included Juri, a girl with a flair for fashion whose mother worked alongside Ruki's. Juri had been a close friend since childhood, and her love for clothes was apparently stronger than her financial sense—saving for months to buy a new outfit was apparently a form of self-discipline.
Ruki's other teammate was Kara Nara, a member of the Nara clan, renowned for their shadow manipulation. The Nara clan's shadow skills were impressive, but not exactly a party trick. Kara wasn't exactly a prodigy, but she managed to become the strongest member of their team, which probably made her the least likely to be mistaken for a ninja's sidekick.
"Her name is Kara Nara," Karn an notes with a touch of sarcasm, recognizing her strength and the fact that she didn't need to rely on overhyped family abilities to be useful.
To be continued…