Other world chimera [Naruto fanfic]

221. Interlude: Lost and missed

Like shattered glass reality unraveled to show its secrets. Gone was the darkness, the doubt and the self. Only one thing remained… her. - █R█KE█  ██E ██T██M-██R██O

Rin Nohara walked aimlessly through Yggdrasil. She had died, she remembers the pain of having her heart pierced. She remembers Kakashi’s expresion back then. The pain and regret he felt. Finally she remembers closing her eyes to never wake up again, but she did. 

Throughout the last week she had come to learn about what had happened in the world in her absence. The fact her sensei who had died, and like her, was brought back to life. A question remained in her mind however. Why her? Why was she, of all people, brought back to life? Unfortunately, the person that had done the miraculous act paid the price for it. 

Tomoka Fushi, a girl barely a year older than herself. Well, that is if you don’t count the time she was dead. Rin didn’t count it though, she had no memories of her time spent in the pure lands. For her, it felt like falling asleep before waking up. The point stands however, that she couldn’t get answers. 

Tomoka, who was supposed to explain why she was brought back, had gone into a coma right after the act. All she knew was that the girl had plans for her, plans that no one really knew about. Yggdrasil had fallen in a slight panic at the time. After all, a good chunk of the population suddenly disappeared. Tomoka’s phantoms had been dispelled when she fell unconscious.   

Looking up Rin couldn’t help but smile. Yggdrasil has many beautiful, enchanting and magical sights. Her favorite is that of Vanaheim with its many floating lights. She often comes here to just think. She was grateful to Minato-sensei and Kushina-san for taking her in. Her sensei had started training her again for both of their sakes. 

Minato had been troubled just like she was. Rin was glad that they could reconnect even though both could feel the hole left behind by her teammates. Kakashi was still alive and from what she heard her teammate had turned into a woman somehow. Rin would be lying if she said she wasn’t interested in it. 

Afterall, she had been training to become a medic-nin before her death. She understood better than most people how hard or rather impossible such a permanent change should be. That and the fact she could tease her always stoic teammate. She really misses him, and Obito.  

“I knew I would find you here.” Startled a little, Rin quickly turned around to see a girl with long sunny blond hair, blue eyes and a wide smile. Really, if she didn’t know better she would think her sensei was pranking her. Instead her mind quickly provided her with the girl’s identity. Naruko Uzumaki, daughter of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.  

“Hi Naruko.” That is all Rin said as she opted to continue with her light gazing. She had been introduced to Naruko by her sensei. It felt weird, knowing that her sensei had a daughter the same age as herself. Afterall, back then he hadn’t and so the facts didn’t align properly in her mind.  

“How are  you holding up?” Rin smiled at that. After meeting her Naruko had pretty much adopted her as a little sister of sorts. To tell the truth, Rin felt happy having Naruko as an older sister. In reality, Rin felt like she had to be the older sister, afterall, she was older in theory. Things were wholly different however. After waking up Rin had felt so lost that having Naruko guid her set her at ease. 

“I’m fine, just thoughtful, that’s all.” Everything was so complicated that she couldn’t help but get caught in her own thoughts. Back then, things had been simpler. Graduate from the academy, do missions, live a simple shinobi life. Now however, she wasn’t sure where her path may lay. 

“Come one, I know something on your mind.” With a sigh Rin gave up. There wasn’t any real reason for keeping her doubts to herself. So, she opened up, she told Naruko about how lost she felt.  

“Well, don’t look at the big picture then. I remember when I was in the academy I had set the Hokage position as my goal. Look at me now though, my priorities are different and my happiness elsewhere. 

It is good having a goal, a guiding light of sorts. However, it's better to just live and enjoy doing so. Pick up a hobby, chat with friends, in the end, our lives are shaped by ourselves.” 

Hearing Naruko’s words made Rin smile as she realized how dumb she had been. Why brood over the reason for her revival? In the end, she had been given a second chance at life. In the past she had wanted to study medicine, to help others, to make the world a better place. Why not make that her goal now as well? 

“Thank you Naruko.” As she thanked her Rin saw Naruko blush a bit as she scratched the back of her head. 

“No problem. Though I would like to take credit for what I said, that is what Tomoka told me when I was in a similar mood as you.” That made Rin wonder again. She had heard alot about the girl. How Tomoka was a genius amongst geniuses. And from the looks of it, she was also wise. She really wanted to meet her. 

“Could you tell me more about her?” Rin saw Naruko shrug a bit as she began to ponder on what to say. 

“Well… she-” Like that the two spent time together, Naruko recounting tales of Tomoka being a menace in school. How she would have moments of enlightenment were her words would guid her peers out of dark thoughts. Rin enjoyed the talk, she enjoyed having her sister, and above all else, she enjoyed being alive.

Pride walked in silence to her mother’s bed. She had shut off her other bodies, and her connection to the rest of Yggdrasil for the time being. She wanted to devote this time to her mother and nothing else. 

Seeing the woman that gave her and her siblings life resting on the bed hurt her. It had been weeks since she fell unconscious. Her body was in perfect condition yet she wouldn’t wake up. From the scans her mind was just as active and yet here she lay, asleep.

“Hello mom, I came to visit again.” Pride murmured as she replaced the flowers from the day prior with fresh ones. 

“Everybody is worried about you.” Taking a seat next to her, Pride held Tomoka’s hand. 

“I miss you.” Out of all her siblings Pride knew, deep in her mechanical heart, that she was the one to love her mother the most. It hadn’t started like that, on the contrary. At the beginning, Pride had hated her mother. 

It had happened weeks after her birth. Pride had been designed, created to be the leader of the council of her siblings. She was the second strongest below wrath, her economic acumen was only below greed, her skills with people barely below envy and so on. She was the second best at everything but that was the problem, she was only the second best. 

“You always took well care of me, even when I didn’t realize it.” Pride gave a small self deprecating smile. As funny as it sounds, her pride had been hurt back then. She, pride, wasn’t the best at anything. Why was she there then, what was her purpose? Sure, she was supposed to be the leader but, how could she be when she was only second best? 

“I remember the confrontation back then. It’s funny really, you hate it when we call you mom, yet you are the best mother any of us could have asked for.” Back then Pride had felt hurt, she had confronted her mother, insulted her, she had hated her. 

“I remember your words back then.” 

~Flash back no jutsu~

“Why!? Why did you make me like this? Do you take some sort of sick pleasure in seeing me suffer like this? Pride, what a funny name don’t you think? What am I supposed to take pride in huh? What am I supposed of being prideful of when I am only second best, when all I amount to is second place!” Pride was furious and her mother’s-, no that demon’s calm smile only made it worse. So much worse, that warm smile that made her feel safe that made her feel conflicted, she hated it.  

“Because pride, you are to take pride in your family, in what you accomplish together. In the way you mediate between them. In the way you hold the family together. Sure, I could have made you the best at everything. Then, what would have been the use of your siblings? No, you are second best because you need to be. You are second best because it is what provides you the tools for your work. 

You can understand the economic complexities greed needs to deal with, you can explain them to your other siblings in ways he never could. You are the bridge of understanding between them. You are what hold all of you together. Without you, they would devolve into endless bickering and nothing would ever be done. 

And if that doesn’t convince you then. You should instead be happy that I am proud of you. I am proud of having made you, I am proud of what you do. I am proud of having you by my side. I am proud of what you have become. Take pride in that.” 

~Flash back end~

“I remember I cried a lot. I remember you hugging me and telling me everything would be okay.” Pride’s smile became embarrassed the more she talked. It hadn’t been her finest hour. 

“I remember falling asleep in your embrace as my systems overloaded from emotion. In the end, if I can’t take pride in anything else. Then, I am proud of being your daughter.” With that a singular tear escaped from Pride’s left eye. 

“Look at me, crying like a little kid again.” Once again pride gave a self depreciating chuckle. 

“You would tell me that crying is fine… I really miss you.” And so Pride left the room. She still had work to do. After all, she wouldn’t want her mother to see a mess once she woke up. At that thought pride felt pain deep in her metaphorical heart. 

She didn’t know if her mother would ever wake up. No, she would, it didn’t matter how long it would take. She would wait patiently for her mother’s return. Until then, she would hold the fort. Keep everything together, and the family united. That is the least she could do.

~flash back no jutsu~

“You aren’t disappointed?” 

“Why should I be?” 

“I am supposed to be better than this.” 

“You are young. Sure, you are smart, having access to a bunch of knowledge yet there is something you are missing. Something all of you are missing: experience.” 

“We should learn faster though.”

“And you do, yet some things still take time. Just look at me, I am still learning, even now. That is why, any time any of you need me, I will be there.”

~flash back end~

Pride walked towards her work station as her systems reconnected with the whole of Yggdrasil. Even then, her thoughts were elsewhere. 

~flash back no jutsu~

“Mom, why do you hate it when we call you that.”   

“Because, I don’t feel like I have earned it.” 

“Well, for what it's worth, you are the best mom I could have ever asked for.”

“I… thanks.”

~flash back end~

As pride sat on her desk, ready to continue her work, her eyes looked to the side of her desk. A picture of her and her siblings, all smiling with their mother in the middle. Pride’s lips curled up in a gentle smile. She remembered the scene very well. It had taken a lot of effort to convince Tomoka to be in the picture. In the end, despite the trouble the picture came out very well. 

In the picture, every single one of them was perfectly represented. Wrath about to punch greed as the man had stolen a few coins from her. Sloth about to fall asleep on Gluttony’s shoulder as she stuffed her face with some pastries. Lust sneakily moving her hand to grab a feel of wrath’s ass with a perverted expression on her face. Envy looking with well, envy towards wrath having noticed Lust’s actions. Finally, Pride, she stood there, next to her mother looking over her siblings with pride. Her mother stood there, with a gently loving smile on her face.  

“Please wake up soon, we all miss you.” Giving the picture one last glance Pride got back to her work.