Darkness.
That was the first thing I perceived when I regained consciousness. The second was warmth, a comforting heat surrounding me.
It was so soothing that I struggled to stay awake, my mind urging me to sleep. But how could I, when fear and anxiety gripped my heart?
Panic was rising within me, and the reason was simple: I couldn't remember anything. Not a single thing about myself. No name, no age, no family—nothing.
I might have even doubted my very race, had it not been for this faint, reassuring feeling that I was, or at least used to be, human.
I couldn't make sense of my situation. Maybe I could, if only I wasn't on the verge of panic. But who wouldn't feel overwhelmed in a situation like this?
Exhaustion soon consumed me, and I could barely form a coherent thought before slipping back into unconsciousness.
As time passed, I began to panic less. I realized that losing my mind wouldn't change anything.
But who could blame me? Humans naturally fear the unknown. So, I tried to focus and take note of what I did know for certain.
First, as I mentioned earlier, I was in some kind of space. The only sensations I could perceive were darkness, warmth, and something sticky around me.
What exactly it was, I didn't know, because I couldn't see. And that brings me to my second realization: I had no control over my body. All I could do was feel and hear. How much time had passed—days, months, or mere minutes—I had no way of knowing.
There was no sunlight or any other reference point in this darkness.
Occasionally, I heard muffled voices, like they were speaking in a familiar language, but I couldn't fully understand because my ears didn't seem to be functioning properly yet.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I had no memory of myself. But it seemed I still retained some basic knowledge or common sense.
How much of that would remain when I finally emerged from here? And yes, it eventually dawned on me that I was in a womb, about to be born.
But who could blame me for taking so long to figure that out? It's not exactly something anyone would expect to experience
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After what seemed like an eternity, I knew the moment had finally come—I was about to be born.
Don't ask me how I knew; it was just a feeling deep within me, an instinct I couldn't ignore. Suddenly, I felt the pressure as I was squeezed tightly, the sensation overwhelming and uncomfortable.
Faintly, I could hear voices outside, shouts and cries, all blending together in the chaos.
Then, at last, a powerful scream pierced the air—my first cry. It was so loud, it could have echoed for miles. But exhaustion quickly overtook me, and I drifted into a deep sleep.
That was the day a future legend was born. A legend who would become a hero to some, and a villain to others.
That was the beginning of the story of Uchiha Izuna.