Rinko's DormRinko sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the faint shimmer of a glyph hovering in his palm. His sharp eye scanned the intricate design as he adjusted the flow of aura to maintain its form.He closed his hand, letting the glyph dissipate, and stood up. "Now for something bigger," he muttered, stepping into the center of his room.Focusing his aura, Rinko visualized a larger glyph beneath his feet, one sturdy enough to support his weight. It appeared with a faint hum, lines of energy weaving themselves into a refined Schnee insignia.Carefully, he placed one foot on it. The glyph flickered for a moment but held."Good.." Rinko mused as he placed his other foot on the glyph and stood tall. The platform beneath him remained stable, its surface smooth and unyielding. He gave it an experimental bounce and nodded in approval."It's not flashy," he said, stepping off and letting the glyph dissolve into nothingness, "but it's functional. Options are good."He grabbed a towel to wipe his hands, not because he was sweating, but simply to occupy himself.This new skill intrigued him. It wasn't as explosive or showy as the techniques he used as a shinobi, but there was something satisfying about its precision.His thoughts were interrupted by the soft chime of his Scroll. Rinko grabbed it, glancing at the screen. The notification was from Ozpin."Huh," Rinko muttered, raising an eyebrow. "What does he want at this hour?"Without hesitation, he rose, stretched briefly, and headed for the dorm entrance.The cool evening air greeted him as he made his way across Beacon Academy, the towering spire of Ozpin's office illuminated against the night sky.Ozpin's TowerThe elevator doors slid open with a quiet chime, revealing a scene that immediately piqued Rinko's interest. Inside the office were General Ironwood, Glynda Goodwitch, Ozpin himself, and a rugged-looking man nursing a flask.Rinko's sharp instincts kicked in as he stepped out of the elevator, the doors closing softly behind him.He didn't recognize the drunk man, but there was something about him—a subtle resemblance to Raven Branwen.It was just Kakashi's sharp Intuition at work when he looked Qrow.The man, Qrow Branwen, glanced at Rinko with a raised eyebrow, clearly trying to place him. Ironwood and Glynda also gave him questioning looks, though their expressions were more reserved."I apologize for any interruption I may have caused," Rinko said with his usual polite demeanor, bowing slightly as he addressed the room. "I believe Professor Ozpin has called me here?"Glynda opened her mouth to speak, but Ozpin raised a hand, cutting her off. "Ah, Rinko Schnee. Welcome," he said with a small nod, his tone warm but unreadable. He turned to the others. "That will be all for now. I need a private word with Rinko."Ironwood, Glynda, and Qrow exchanged glances but didn't question Ozpin's decision.With respectful nods, they moved toward the elevator. Qrow, however, gave Rinko a lingering glance as he left, muttering something inaudible under his breath.As the elevator doors closed behind them, Rinko turned his attention back to Ozpin, who gestured to a chair in front of his desk. "Please, have a seat."Rinko nodded and took the offered seat, his posture relaxed but alert. "You called for me, Headmaster," he said, his tone polite but curious.Ozpin leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on his desk. "Yes, I did. I hope I didn't disturb your evening too much.""Not at all," Rinko replied smoothly. "Though I am curious what presence at this hour."Ozpin's faint smile didn't quite reach his eyes."You've exceeded expectations once again," Ozpin began, setting his mug down on his desk. "Today's match was far from easy, yet you handled it with remarkable composure."Rinko nodded slightly, his voice even. "I simply did what was necessary, Headmaster. There wasn't much more to it."Ozpin lightly chuckled at what Rinko spoke."You make it sound so simple. And yet, few your age would have managed what you did. It's as though you've faced challenges far greater than the arena before."Rinko tilted his head slightly, his casual stance unchanged, though there was a subtle tension in the way his hands rested at his sides. "Everyone has their struggles, sir. I'm not unique in that regard.""True," Ozpin acknowledged, his tone thoughtful, "but the way we handle those struggles often reveals far more about us than the struggles themselves. Your performance earlier wasn't just skillful—it was deliberate, calculated. You fought like someone who wasn't just looking to win, but someone who already understood the cost of losing."Rinko's gaze flickered for a moment before settling back on Ozpin. "Losing isn't something anyone enjoys, sir. It's only natural to want to avoid it.""Ah, but there's a difference between avoiding loss and understanding it," Ozpin countered, leaning forward slightly.He continued, "You didn't just fight to win; you fought as though you knew what was at stake, as though the consequences were more than just a mark on a scoreboard. That kind of insight doesn't come easily—or without experience."Rinko's posture stiffened momentarily as he loosened at the end with a shrug,"I've had.. a few lessons online."Rinko lied."Undoubtedly," Ozpin said, his voice softening. "And yet, I wonder... do you ever feel as though your preparation came from more than just training? As though certain skills, certain instincts, come to you not because you've learned them, but because you've remembered them?"Rinko frowned, a faint crease forming between his brows. "Remembered? I'm not sure I follow, Headmaster."Ozpin smiled again, this time with a hint of wistfulness. "It's not uncommon, you know. There are moments in life where we feel as though we've been here before, that the challenges we face are strangely familiar, even if we cannot explain why. Some might call it intuition. Others might call it memory—though not in the traditional sense.""You're talking about déjà vu?" Rinko asked, his voice carefully measured."Not quite," Ozpin said, his gaze unwavering. "I'm speaking of something deeper. A sense that your actions, your choices, are guided by echoes of something far older than you. A lifetime of experience, carried forward not in the mind, but in the soul."Rinko shifted slightly, his stance losing some of its casual ease. "You're talking about Intuition..?""Close, something greater than that."Rinko paused as he analyzed and absorbed what Ozpin had just said, and it clicked him, "Reincarnation..?"Ozpin's smile softened, a trace of melancholy in his expression. He nodded slowly, as though he had anticipated this moment."Yes, Rinko. Reincarnation." Ozpin's voice carried an almost mystical calm as he spoke, his words deliberate."The concept has existed for eons, yet remains an enigma to most. The soul, unbound by the frailties of a single existence, continues its journey—carrying the weight of countless lives lived before. It's not always apparent, of course. Not every soul retains the memories of the lives that came before it. But the echoes remain—the subtle patterns, the instinctual drives—that guide us in ways we often don't even realize."Rinko remained still, his gaze fixed on Ozpin, though a flicker of recognition passed across his expression. "You're talking about the soul's imprint. The things we can't quite explain, but feel all the same."Ozpin's lips curled into a faint smile, though there was an unmistakable depth to his eyes. "Exactly. And those echoes—those whispers of past lives—often manifest in ways that go beyond mere coincidence. Actions, choices, reactions—sometimes they don't feel like they belong to us, as though they are a continuation of something far older than we can comprehend.""...Yes, but... why are we talking about reincarnation?" Rinko's voice was calm, though there was an edge to it, a faint ripple of unease beneath the surface.It wasn't fear—not quite—but a cautious awareness, as though Rinko had a sinking suspicion of where this conversation might lead.Ozpin's eyes remained on him, unreadable yet searching, his smile thin but persistent. "Hmm... before I answer that, tell me honestly, do you remember your childhood, Rinko Schnee? If so, could you recall an event from your childhood?"Rinko stiffened, his mind racing as he kept his posture composed. This was dangerous territory.Kakashi, the man inhabiting Rinko's body, had no memories of Rinko Schnee's past beyond the fragments he'd pieced together from observation and hearsay. Yet, he couldn't admit that—not without giving himself away.He adjusted his stance slightly, letting out a small, thoughtful hum, as though recalling distant memories. "I grew up within the Schnee Manor with Weiss," he began, keeping his tone steady, calm. "We spent most of our time studying under private tutors, but I distinctly remember when Weiss and I attended elementary school together. It was brief, of course—Father didn't think it was worth continuing—but it was nice while it lasted. I still remember the two of us competing on spelling tests and how Weiss would always try to beat me."He offered a faint chuckle, as if lost in the nostalgia of the fabricated memory.Internally, Kakashi was praying it sounded plausible enough.Ozpin raised an eyebrow, his expression one of polite intrigue. "Is that so?" he said, his voice mild, yet tinged with something else—something sharper beneath the surface.Rinko nodded, maintaining the façade. "Yes, sir. Weiss has always been competitive. Though, I'm sure you already know that.""Indeed," Ozpin replied, reaching for something on his desk. His movements were deliberate, calculated. He pulled out a thin folder and set it on the table, sliding it slightly toward Rinko. "It's fascinating, though, that you remember attending elementary school with Weiss. You see, I happen to have a copy of the official records here."Rinko's gaze flickered to the folder, though he didn't move to open it.Ozpin continued, his tone light but carrying a subtle weight. "According to these records, you never actually attended elementary school. Your father withdrew you from the system and kept you entirely under private tutelage until Weiss graduated. You wouldn't have had the opportunity to share a classroom with her."Kakashi, inhabiting Rinko's body, felt his heart skip a beat. He kept his expression neutral, but internally, his mind raced for an explanation. 'How could he have known this? Why did he have that file?'Ozpin leaned back slightly, his fingers steepled. "Curious, isn't it? Memories can be so unreliable at times. Sometimes, we believe we remember things that never happened. Other times, we can't seem to recall events that shaped us profoundly. Wouldn't you agree?"Rinko's lips pressed into a thin line, his mind scrambling to recover. "Perhaps I misspoke," he said evenly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil within. "I meant to say that Weiss and I studied together under our tutors. I suppose I conflated that with something else."Rinko's forehead formed a bead of sweat.Ozpin's smile returned, but it was smaller now, less amused and more knowing. "Ah, of course. An easy mistake to make."The atmosphere between them grew heavier, silence stretching just long enough for Rinko to feel the weight of Ozpin's gaze. Kakashi, despite his calm exterior, couldn't help but feel exposed, as though the Headmaster saw through him entirely.Ozpin broke the silence with a soft, almost casual tone. "You've always been quite the storyteller, haven't you, Rinko? It's a skill not many possess—to weave tales so convincingly."Rinko met Ozpin's gaze, forcing a faint smile. "A habit, perhaps. It makes conversations... more interesting.""Indeed," Ozpin replied. "Though, I find the truth to be just as compelling, if not more so."Kakashi could feel the subtle shift in the conversation, the deliberate way Ozpin was drawing him out, pulling threads from the fabric of his story. He realized then that this wasn't a game he could easily win."Still," Ozpin continued, his tone thoughtful, "it's always fascinating to meet someone with such... vivid memories. Even when they don't quite align with reality."Rinko maintained his composure, but inwardly, Kakashi felt the weight of Ozpin's words pressing down on him. The Headmaster wasn't accusing him outright, but the implication was unmistakable: he knew.A flicker of unease stirred within him, though he refused to let it show. Rinko gulped internally, forcing himself to remain still as Ozpin's gaze never wavered. The older man's expression turned knowing, almost as though he'd been waiting for this very moment."I've suspected for some time now," Ozpin began, his tone calm yet deliberate. "Your actions, the way you move, the ease with which you handle yourself in situations that would leave most frozen in fear—there's a certain... familiarity to it."He paused, his words lingering in the air like a gentle echo. "A presence of mind that seems far older, far wiser, than what someone of your supposed age should possess. It's as though you've lived before—or, perhaps, remembered it. As though you've lived more than once."Rinko felt a chill creep up his spine. His mask of calm was flawless, but inside, Kakashi—the remnants of the man he used to be—stirred uneasily.There was no point in hiding it anymore.The words he'd been dreading had been spoken aloud.[End]