Book One: The Rise of the Blue-Haired Devil.

      Early in the morning, not even that, late at night, I was woken up by Moku. After waiting for me to get dressed, he took me to the temple, which was in the centre of the village. I didn't bother to ask him why the ritual had to be done at night or even now. It didn't matter. I was full of energy now, because I hadn't practised much the last few days, because it was hard to do it on the road, and I think that training can wait when it comes to people close to me. We walked into a large room lit only by moonlight. It was a hall with strange symbols already engraved on the walls. I, straining my memory, was able to recognise a few of them. Similar symbols were on explosive seals. In the centre of the room stood a man with grey hair. The moon illuminated his aged face, which already showed a few wrinkles. The man carried two blades behind his back. He was wearing a black outfit with long, wide sleeves. The man also had a grey moustache and beard. I could discern wisdom and majesty in his gaze, but that wasn't what frightened me. The volume of the unknown man's chakra was incredible, and I could feel it in my gut. My chakra seemed like a drop in the sea compared to his reserves. It was unimaginable. That alone gave me an undisguised respect for this old man, which was reflected in my eyes.       - Ashina-san. - Mokou greeted the man with great respect in his voice, making a slight bow. I repeated after him, not wanting to incur the unfamiliar man's wrath.       - Moku-san. - The grey-haired man reciprocated, bowing his head slightly. - What's your name, boy? - He continued with interest in his voice, looking at me. His eyes studied my entire body intently, taking in every detail. It seemed that nothing could escape the gaze of this experienced shinobi.       - My name is Michiko, but you can just call me Mi. - I answered him in a calm voice. I could sense this man's aura, so I tried to defuse the situation.       - Mie? It's a pleasure to meet you. Have you been warned about the possible side effects? - The man said, a little surprised. At first he smiled at me, showing that he was indeed pleased to meet me, but after that he became more serious.       - Yes, I know what happens in case of failure. - I made it clear to him, letting him know that I didn't need to explain anything.       - Fine, then get undressed and lie down here. - Ashina spoke in a commanding tone, pointing to where the moonlight was falling. - Don't move or I might apply the symbols unevenly. - He added when I complied with his instructions. I didn't answer him, just nodded to sign that his words had been heard. I closed my eyes, feeling the brush with the unusual ink move deftly across my body. I could feel the alien layer of chakra spreading across the surface of my skin, forming a pattern unknown to me. It frightened and fascinated me at the same time. Now I really wanted to learn the art of fuinjutsu. I was so absorbed in my thoughts and feelings that I didn't even notice when the master of seals finished preparing for the ritual. During this time, about two dozen adult ninjas had already gathered in the hall, having come to assist in the use of such high-end jutsu.       - Mie, do you have one last wish? - Ashina asked before starting. He had performed this kind of ritual many times before, so Uzumaki was well aware of the chances of a positive outcome. That was the reason for his question. He wanted to make amends somehow, since he had, in fact, killed people with his own hands. His question was a gesture of goodwill.       - Teach me Fuinjutsu. - I asked him and looked at him confidently, showing my determination.       - Okay, kid, if you survive, I'll teach you. - said the old man with a bitter smile. It had been a long time since he had seen people who could survive the effects of this technique. He had seen many who aspired to power and might, but all of them had ended badly. This technique literally felt people's emotions, killing them at the slightest sign of negativity. Ashina didn't hesitate, beginning to fold a long series of seals. When he finished, his hands fell on my stomach with such force that I felt my insides stir. In an instant, the many symbols he had previously written glowed a red-brown colour. These symbols drew out a spiral pattern, with me lying in the centre of it. The ninjas in the hall placed both hands on these patterns, beginning to feed a huge amount of chakra into them. I began to feel an incredible rush of energy. I was like a bomb, ready to explode at any moment. I was being pumped with chakra. I thought I was going to die from it. My veins surged all over my body. It was very painful. The pain was piercing my entire being. Every cell in my body was suffering, beating in hellish agony . My body involuntarily arched its back. It was just my body's reflex to such an impact.       From the outside, it might have seemed as if some kind of demon was being exorcised from me, but in fact, it was exactly the opposite. There were two ways to awaken hidden abilities: the first was to get into a stressful situation, you have to be on the brink of life and death to awaken your peculiarity; the other way was more brutal, in ninja forcibly awaken the secret power, pouring a huge amount of chakra into him. Neither of these ways guaranteed a person's survival, so it was believed that an enhanced genome was the real gift.       Black spots began to appear in my eyes. My vision began to blur with each passing second, and the sounds of the real world began to fade. This happened until the world around me lost all its colours. With the same strange feeling, all the pain in my body went away. I was only able to open my eyes again after a while.       - Well, hello, human child! - sounded an enchanting female voice from outside before I could look round. Recovering from my dizziness, I turned in the direction of the voice. In doing so, I quickly assessed the situation. Damn, just who would have thought I'd find myself in my lab from a past life. It was a huge room with several tables, each with different vials of substances of different nature. On some of the tables were devices and on others were human remains, or rather, people who had survived my experiments. On one such table sat a girl with white hair and blue eyes. She was no older than me, perhaps even younger. She looked at me innocently while sitting on a human corpse. I was already having bad thoughts as soon as I realised the place I was in, and then there was her. My past was the story of a mad scientist and a ruthless killer, willing to do anything to achieve his goal. I wanted to forget my past life with all my soul and hoped to the very end that I would start my life with a clean slate in this world, but apparently it would not be that simple. Seeing the actions of the owner of the voice, I entered a state of prostration. My eye twitched nervously, hoping that it was some kind of stupid joke, and the girl just continued to smile sweetly at me, but I felt that it was not a child at all, but some kind of creature.       - Who are you?" I asked after a while. It took me a few minutes to finally come to my senses.       - Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. - The interlocutor laughed gleefully. The laughter sent shivers down my spine, because she was scaring me. - How impolite, Vitya, or you prefer Michiko, though no, I prefer Mi. Yes, I'll call you that. - She continued with a faint smile on her face as she calmed down. At this point, I got a very bad feeling.       - Who are you? How do you know me? - I questioned her, starting to get angry. I didn't like this person's knowledge of me.       - Well, don't get so angry. I'm just having fun. - She spoke in a slightly sarcastic manner, as if reading my mind, though I could see the resentment on my face. - My name is Morgana. And I'm the one who saved you by bringing you into this world. - she clarified the situation.       - You didn't answer my question. I didn't ask your name, I asked who you were. - I threw coldly, realising that this person was evading the answer.       - Where are your manners, Mi? I saved you from death, and you won't even say a word of thanks to me. - The girl said resentfully, turning away from me in a playful manner. Eh, apparently, I will not get easy and quick answers to the questions I asked. I'll have to play by her rules.       - Thank you. However, I don't believe you did it for nothing. What do you want for my rebirth? - I spoke in a more normal voice, thus trying to apologise. Though I couldn't believe that the creature in front of me had just given me a second chance.       - I have big plans for you, so don't be in a hurry to die in this world. I'll give you a little bit of my power. Still, your life is very interesting to watch, but be aware that your death will not mean a transition to Heaven or Hell, but a disappearance from existence. Your soul will be destroyed. That is the price. - said the beast with a smirk. I broke a sweat at that statement.       - What do you mean, "disappear from existence"? - I blurted out without even thinking. Panic appeared in my eyes. Morgana broke out in another fit of insane laughter, seeing the fear and panic in my eyes.       - Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, you're so funny, ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..." she continued to laugh. I stood there as if mesmerised. - It means bang, you're gone. You will simply become nothing, some atom in the universe of the universe, which will not have a chance for reasonable existence. - She spoke in a mocking manner, jumping up from the table and starting to walk slowly towards me.       - Then I renounce your power. - I stated nervously, starting to back away. I was getting scared around this person. Something inside me was saying, "Run and don't look back! Run!" However, for all my desire, I couldn't leave this room. For a second, Morgana even stopped, looking at me perplexed with a look as if, "Why would you do that?". But, quickly moving away from her stupor, she smiled predatorily.       - No, you can no longer refuse. As soon as you entered this world, you made a contract. My power will only help you live longer. - She said in a childish manner as she continued to quietly saunter towards me.       - But I didn't agree to this! - I shouted in panic, realising that I was in real shit, because there was no other way to describe this situation.       - I don't need your consent. - The girl said in an innocent voice, scaring me even more. At that moment, my back hit the table, because I couldn't see where I was going. I didn't activate the Byakugan. Morgana had just enough time to approach me. She touched my forehead, a cold and frightening force travelled across it. - Goodbye, Mi! I'll be waiting for you soon! - She innocently added one last time, after which I lost consciousness.       After Michiko passed out, Ashina along with the others didn't stop pumping chakra into his body.       - Don't stop! He will either survive or die! There is no third way! - shouted the head of the Uzumaki clan, seeing that several people had reduced the flow of chakra into the seal. His words made a difference. The ninjas returned the flow of energy to its former strength. The chakra pumping took place for about twenty minutes.       - How much chakra does he have in him? This has never happened before. - Ashina thought, marvelling that the boy was still alive but hadn't awakened the genome as the seal indicated. By this time most of the ninja had passed out from chakra depletion. Only four shinobi remained, including Uzumaki. The seal stopped glowing.       - Enough! The technique is complete! - Shouted the man as he watched the action of the seal. He jumped back a few metres to avoid being hit by the technique. He knew very well that it was very dangerous to awaken more than two enhanced genomes in his body. After another dozen seconds, Michiko's condition stabilised. He stopped jerking around in convulsions. The veins all over his body retracted back, but there was one "but": a ball of blue energy began to form above him, which, reaching a certain density, exploded. The energy from the explosion threw everyone off in different directions, only Ashina watched it with amazement. He immediately put up a protective barrier to avoid being hit by the blast wave, but his defence technique could barely withstand the power of the explosion, which strained the head of the red-haired clan unspeakably.       - He's alive?! - Uzumaki blurted out aloud with a slice of fear and shock as he checked the boy's pulse.