I think I realized where I was when I met the woman who had delivered me. My friends used to tell me all about their favorite shows and characters. About Rin Okumura and Kakashi Hatake and whatever other fictitious people they loved. Somehow, my mediocre memory was much better now. So I remembered what my friend Jade used to gush about.

"Ooh, Tsunade's the best" She'd say. "She's blonde and has way too big boobs but I swear she's the strongest and smartest female character they made."

And this Tsunade was the one who'd helped me into this new world.

My second infancy was abnormal(God the phrase second infancy is abnormal). Soon after my re-birth I was brought back to what I assumed was Konohagakure with my new 'mother'. Soon after I met a boy who introduced himself as my older brother, called Inoichi. He was joined soon after with other kids his age called Choza and Shikaku.

Shikaku was also introduced as my cousin. And I favored him the most. There was no baby talk or unnecessary comments. He was silent, and obviously incredibly intelligent. At times he groaned over having to watch me, but he also seemed not to mind my company very much.

The reason why was also the reason that worried my new parents most. I was abnormally quiet for an infant. I didn't cry or wail when I was upset. Or babble meaninglessly when I wanted to communicate. No I stared on silently. I was too used to standing on the sidelines quietly watching and observing.

I could have tried to blend in better I guess, but I didn't want to really. Acting like a child felt too demeaning so instead I worked hard at mastering my vocal chords, I wanted to speak. Soon. That at least relived my family.

I remember trying my best to not slur my way through the printed text under little pictures of animals on my blanket when Inoichi and his friends burst in with some kind of cake. Just behind them were my parents with a camera.

Chouza looked the happiest at first. "Baby's first cake!" He cried out and kicked open the door.

All their bluster came to a stop when they realized I was sitting there, not only speaking but reading.

"Dawg. Dawwg. Do-Aah!" Startled, I fell back. Curse my tiny feeble body.

I heard the flash of a camera, and then soon Inoichi was pulling me up into his arms with an enormous smile. They tell me they were so worried about me that hearing that had been like winning the war right then and there.

Something about them warmed me up to them, it helped that they treated me much smarter now. Mom claimed it was from the Nara side of the family. Everyone else was inclined to agree.

The next few years were uneventful, I met children my age and children my brother's age. I enjoyed birthdays and my newfound intellect I had lacked in my previous life.

When I was four, mom decided to introduce me to training. We started simply, working towards getting my young body in shape and simple katas and strategies to keep myself safe. It was a year later that my mom showed me my heritage.

Because she had married out of the clan she had to fight for the right to teach me clan techniques. Even then I had to add Nara to my name.

But it was worth it. The instant my mother showed me the shadowy hands that spread from her I was hooked. There was something about them, maybe their depth or the elegant way they moved, that absolutely entranced me.

And then a few months later it was time for me to join children my age in arguably the most important step in my life. It was time for me to join the academy.