After a couple of days, I was released from the hospital and sent home. Obviously, it was my first time seeing the place, so the feelings were rather mixed. During my stay in the hospital I was visited by a couple more people, most of whom I have never seen before in my life, but apparently, they had a quite drastic impact on my so-called character development growing up. Some people I did know however. Hinata, who, may I say changed drastically, not only appearance wise, but her character to be more exact. What happened to the always shy girl, it appears I shall not know. At least not before my memories come back. I hoped that my... her memories might be triggered if I looked around her stuff, but nothing seemed to work.

The apartment was clean, and rather spacious. I guess I will finally learn to keep things in order when I grow up, that's promising. There weren't as many clothes or things, since apparently, I... she moved everything to Suna, preparing for the big step. Speaking of the Kazekage, who in all shapes and forms forced me to call him by his name. He had to go back home; the man had a country to rule after all.

"Please do not blame yourself" he said, reassuringly squeezing my shoulder,  "This is in no way your fault."

"Yeah. Right. I-I feel like I stole your happiness away... Were you...we, close? O-of course we were, stupid question. I am sorry. I really am."I buried my face in my palms.

"You have no idea how happy I was, when I was told that you are alive. The rest does not matter. Kise, I want you to stop worrying about me. I appreciate it, but you are more important right now. Even if you don't manage to go back to normal, I still care for you alright?"

It wasn't fair. Not on him. Not in any way.

In the corner of my eye I noticed a buffet, on it – picture frames. There were five in total. The first one was a portrait of my mom. I knew this photo, it usually stood by my bed side. The next one, the most eye catching: there, the Group 7, which I was supposed to be a part of, was posing in front of a camera. Sakura and Kakashi were the only ones smiling, Naruto was glaring at the Uchiha boy, who clearly did not want to be there, and I was just standing there, rolling my eyes. This was probably supposed to happen tomorrow... twenty years back tomorrow.

Heh, some group dynamic we had. Looking at the next photo, I froze for a millisecond. It was also Group 7, but all... grown up. Everyone looked so much happier. I focused on myself, my arm was casually thrown over Kakashi and Uchiha, a wide smile playing on my lips. I did change... I mean, will change, I mean... Ugh. The next photo was me and Shikamaru. We appeared to be in our teens, just sitting chatting under some tree. If I am not mistaken, that's his favorite spot in the village. In the last photo, I looked a bit older, there I was, on Gaara's back, both of our faces stretched out in joy. I couldn't look at this one. The guilt automatically squeezed my insides, and I walked away from the buffet.

I glanced at a fancy tv in the corner of the room. During the years I lapsed through, technology has taken a few major leaps ahead. Now you have televisions, computers, and hell knows what else. Trains? Like what the hell are trains? We walked. Ran on water max. I will not be surprised if people are fat now. And shinobi? Are they also such wussies now that they use a freacking metal box to get from one place to another?

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. I hurried towards it, remembering that someone was supposed to come and fetch me. In front of me, stood a man with extremely familiar features. He had jet black hair and the palest face. His lips were stretched into a tight smile and eyes closed shut.

"Sai?!"

"I am glad you remember me. Otherwise might have been a bit awkward, chicken feet"

Alright well, some context is probably overdue. I was made Chunin at an extremely young age of 10. By the time I was supposed to be joining Kakashi's group, a very specific creepy old man, whom I would have gladly sent into oblivion, was tugging at every string to make me join his root something squad. I met Sai there. At one of the meetings before my man the Third Hokage pulled me out. Sai and I weirdly became friends, however. Gotta love yourself the antisocial painters.

"You are one to talk, ghost town... And what is it with the nicknames, jeez. Did all of you lose your creativity growing up?", He let out a little chuckle, a genuine one, which left me gawking. I have never seen him not fake his feelings, especially the positive ones.

"Come on, everyone is waiting, duck-bear"

Yeah, so, when Sai said everyone was waiting, he was not kidding. The whole genin team was back as well as some other people. Don't know half of their names, but I recognized most of them by teams at least. So, we had a blond chick with a mark on her forehead like Sakura and kabedons, khem; Hinata, Akamaru with his striped human owner, bug boi; Shikamaru, flower girl, chips; green power bank, Buns; Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura. As well as some woman with a fan and four pig tales that made her look like a hedgehog. The only ones missing were the other Huyga and the broody Uchiha.

"Sooo. Good gang. Um. Hi, I don't know half of your names, but nice to meet you... Again."

Frankly speaking, people were not jumping with joy at my change of look... well most were not.

"Kiseki! You are now even more youthful that ever!" The green man jumped to wrap me in an embrace, but NOPE. I immediately sat down, avoiding the bone crushing hug. Yeah no. Can't touch me.

I heard Shikamaru let out a chuckle:

"I forgot how much you hated affection"

"Yeah you can convince me for ages that the me you know hugs every stranger, but I will never believe it until I got proof", I claimed, standing back up and dusting my shoulder. I was about to apologize in front of cabbagestrophe, when Naruto cleared his throat.

"Kiseki, we are in a bit of a... well..."

"They don't know what to do with ya, kid", Kakashi sensei spoke, peeking up from his book. Glad some things never change.

"What do you mean?"

"What they are trying to say is," the mysterious blonde with a rack spoke, "Your current ninja level is very close to a Jounin. We could help you study up for an exam, and the let you join the ANBU, but we can't really do that. This whole situation should be kept under wraps, at least until we are certain that there is no way to turn you back, but people remember you at ANBU. You led it for a few years. So, we are in a predicament"

"Of course, there is another option!", smiled Sakura reassuringly, "We can send you back to the Academy."

"Let me stop you right there. Why?" I looked at the adults in the room as if they were pulling a prank on me. Academy. I never went to an academy. Managed to get enrolled in a Genin exam through mom and Kakashi sensei's influence and guidance. I was home schooled and no way in hell am I going to an academy where I could probably beat every kid with just my left hand.

"We figured it's the best way for you to adapt for the time being," Naruto scratched his head, "You would meet our kids and get help from them, you know, fitting in."

"And I there will be. To help, if you will require," spoke bug boi.

"Thanks, uh... skipper*? Not to sound cocky or anything, what if I accidentally hurt them during a match or something. And who am I? I can't just show up out of no where in the village and go to the academy. I can't even use my real name! Your kids most probably know me, I mean the me that is not me right now."

The girl with a fan chuckled for some reason, and Shikamaru, slightly elbowing her, spoke:

"We kind of have a story for your identity as a cover up. It is a stretch, but it's something."

"You will be your own daughter", spoke Sai, about whom I kind of forgot.

"My own da... Yeah no that makes no sense."

"It actually does," smiled flower girl," We talked to Gaara just to make sure the story would be believable, and he said that you had a year-long mission around 11 years back."

"Ok, but where would I hide a kid for twelve years? And why in the world would I do it?"

"Suna? And maybe cause you weren't ready for the responsibility?" suggested fang man, scratching his ear.

I was tempted to hit him.

"What if we had guests from Suna? Or-or a Genin exam? Or..."

The woman with a fan put her hand on my shoulder.

"Walk with me, Ki."

"So Temari, right?", We sat on the roof not far from the Hokage's office, "And you are the Kazekage's sister... I am sorry"

"You couldn't control this, so stop. And as for the academy, I think you should do it." The way she talked to me, made me feel weirdly at ease. I assumed we were very close friends, "Most of the adults will know who you are and what's up, so the only ones you gotta convince are the kids. That will be easy for the most part since they aren't the brightest. And even if we get Suna guests we'll deal with that when the time comes. Will you stop whining or should I kick your ass?"

I smirked.

"Like you ever could, air con." I could see her eyes widen a bit. Whilst I had no idea what an air con was, it came out way too naturally. Temari smiled.

"Knew you weren't lost after all, beef cheeks."

"I will do it. I will go to the Academy and terrorize your children." Naruto's face spread out in a smile.

Most people have already left the office, the only ones staying were Shino, (yes, they have reintroduced themselves) team 7 with their sensei and Shikamaru with Temari.

"And your name? Have you thought about that?" Asked Sai. 

Right. A name. That's important. For some reason i thought back to when my mom was teaching me how to call upon my beast through the summoning jutsu.

"Sweetheart, you need to relax. Having bonds with an animal means knowing what you want in your heart, It means breathing the same air, it means sharing a life with this creature. It means having a similar spirit. All of that is Iki*."

"Iki. I like the sound of Iki Doubutsu"

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*Skipper- family of the moths and butterflies

**Iki has many translations from Japanese, like breath, living or being alive, heart and spirit

I hope you guys like it!