3: Forgotten

Asashi-san offered to teach me, and who would be crazy enough to refuse a free training from a Jōnin Uchiha. And so Asashi-san began teaching me the basics of shurikenjutsu, there were times where I failed to hit the target but he just stated some criticism about my skills and gave a tip.

For 3 months, Asashu-san trained me and helped me improved my skills.

Day 1, Asashi-san told me to observed his movements and how he'd thrown his shuriken at the target, I did as I was told I observed his movements. I observed his how his wrist was  positioned, his posture and joints.

Day 5, I finally understand how Asashi-san throw his shuriken. I asked him if he could let me borrow his shuriken to which he agreed, I copied everything he did for the past 4 days, however, I just couldn't hit the target..

Day 15, I finally hit the target, I was delighted from my improvements and after throwing the shurikens at the target for a couple times my wrist began feeling pain as it increases even more when I throw the shuriken.

Day 24, Asashi-san made me do some exercises that involves my arm, hand and wrist. I didn't have a single idea onto why was he making me do all all this exercises, but in spite of my curiosity, I did everything he instructed me to.

Day 37, Asashi-san finally let me touch a shuriken. After he made me do all of those exercises, he never let me touch the shuriken for the past few days. I repeatedly aimed the shuriken at the target, there one thing for sure that I noticed while aiming the target. My wrist were not in pain, I gave Asashi-san a thankful look before returning back to my training.

Day 65, One day we went towards the Uchiha lake as he gave me a loads of smooth flat stones, I gave him a questioning look to which he simply replied that skipping a stone until it reaches at the other side of the river would help my shurikenjutsu. I suddenly remembered a scene I saw in the original story where the one of the two young co-founder of this village meet at a lake and skipped a stone.

Day 77, It was quite hard skipping a stone but I'm making little progress day by day. Today Asashi-san helped my taijutsu improved, even though I'd never mentioned that I'm a bit good at it, but nonetheless I gladly accepted.

My taijutsu style were random, which confused Asashi-san and told me if I would like to learn the Uchiha Clan taijutsu style to which I accepted with joy.

Asashi-san was the second person in this life that I accepted, to me he was like an older brother but I never bothered telling him how he was to me as I felt like it would be troublesome.

At the end of those 3 months since he trained me, we always meet up with to where we first meet but this time he was not here.

Strange. Normally he would be the first one to came here and wait for me, I thought that something might happened to him but I dismissed such thoughts as I know that he is a powerful Uchiha.

Maybe he was just busy with missions, with that though I first trained by myself and waited for him.

I never realized that it was already night time as the moon rises, I finally realized that I've been out for too long since in the morning.

I should come by again tomorrow and check if he's here.

Next day I waited until the night yet he still wasn't there, I repeated this cycle for 10 days but there Asashi-san never appeared at the forest.

I was getting worried about this matter as I reported this matter to Fugaku-sama.

"Fugaku-sama, do you know a Jōnin named Uchiha Asashi?"

I asked monotonously but deep down inside I felt like I was about to burst out from a bad feeling I have in my heart.

Fugaku-sama didn't say anything as he just replied with a nod.

"Do you know where he is?"

Fugaku-sama finally spoke questioning me,

"What is your connection with him?"

"He was training me in the arts of shurikenjutsu for about 3 months already and 11 days ago we were suppose to meet at the forest and train, but he never came, at first I was worried but then remembered that he was shinobi and thought that maybe he was in a mission. I repeat waiting for him for the past 10 days at the forest and he still hasn't came by."

I reported in a summary.

"Well he is just fine Shota." I subconsciously sighed in relief as he pass me a paper that contained a location around the Uchiha clan, I gave Fuagku-sama a questioning look as he replied that Asashi-san's house was in the paper.

I politely thanked him as I run out of the Uchiha Clan Head house and dash at the location.

I knock on his door, after a few moments Asashi-san opened the door, however instead of a slight small smile on his face whenever he would see me, I was welcomed with a confused face and even asked me who I am.

"Asashi-san, what are you saying? I am Uchiha Shota."

He stared at me as he blinked his eyes that was observing me in confusion.

"Do I know you?"

"Asashi-san do you really not remember?"

What is happening?!

"What am I suppose to remember?"

"Can I come inside?"

He didn't say anything as he step aside.

All I did was hope that this was a sick joke.

"I am Uchiha shota, You've been helping me train shurikenjutsu."

"Strange, I don't remember helping a kid training his shurikenjutsu."

There was one conclusion I have in my mind.

"Asashi-san were you in a mission 11 days ago?"

"And why would I tell you that?"

"If you tell me then I might know something."

"How would a kid like you know something?"

I didn't say anything for a moment, but there could be possibilities that an incident happened causing him to have an amnesia without him knowing.

Asashi sighed in defeat and said, "To your question yes I was in a mission 11 days ago."

"Then did something happened to cause you have an amnesia?"

Asashi widen his eyes, what was the kid  in front of him talking about, he thought to himself.

"What are you talking about?!"

"Well you didn't recognize me so I'd assumed that you might have an amnesia."

Asashi paused for a moment not saying a single word.

"Then why don't you explain our relationship and what happened between us."

I did what he said for the next entire 20 days explaining our secret meeting spot and the Uchiha lake where I would improve my shurikenjutsu, he said he still didn't remember a single thing but still decided to help me train.

I was sadden that he had forgotten what we've been doing for the past 3 months and didn't remember anything, but whenever we trained again meeting at our secret spot I would do anything to recall his memory but to my avail it was still a fail.

But one day he didn't arrived at the forest, I hurried towards his home only by meeting him again with a confuse face asking who I am.

I repeated this cycle again where he would forgot about me, but I didn't give up there was no way I would give up recalling all of his memories, he was the second person that made me feel like a normal human being where I could feel emotions.

That is until I grew tired of it, I already did this cycle 5 times where he would forgot about me and I would try to make him recall his memories. I was tired.

Again he didn't show up at the forest, but this time I didn't go to his house and instead trained by myself, I was depressed, Asashi-san continously kept forgetting about me.

I couldn't get it over, that was until somebody appeared and asked if I was okay.

I didn't understand what he meant and that was until I understand it when tears were slowly streaming down to my eyes as my face remained unchanged.

I wipe my silent tears and observed the man in front of me.

"Who are you?"

"Uchiha Kazuma. So what made you cry?"

I didn't know what in a deuce has gotten into me that I explained this complete stranger in my life about what had happened.

"I see. Then do you want me to train you?"

"What gave you that idea?"

"Well, you can just say that I'm helping a Clan member." He replied smiling.

I stared at him for a moment as my gut and brain was having a conflict, my gut told me to refuse his proposal and brain protested and said that learning under Uchiha Kazuma might made me become stronger.

"Thank you."

And for 1 month he taught me skills about kunai, shuriken, and senbon, turn practically anything into a defensive weapon into the training regime, as well as other shinobi skills such as detecting and dispelling Genjutsu, making and avoiding traps which were set up all over the training ground, surveillance, the basics of infiltration, and survival.

And so Kazuma-San became my second Sensei and also my second brother-figure.

One thing I could tell was that Kazuma-San was a sadistic person that find people who was having a hard time training amusing to which includes me. . .  His training were like hell.

At the end of those 31 days Kazuma-san never came at the training ground.

I run towards his house with an unbelievable speed for a 4 years old, Kazuma-san had told me where he'd live.

I knock onto his door. The door opened revealing a irritating face then turned into confusion after seeing me.

"Who are you kid?" He said in a tone of force soft.

My mind went blank as all I could think about was, why did this happened, first Asashi-san now Kazuma-san?!?!

"I apologize. It seems I'm in a wrong location."

I said bowing forcing a smile trying not to burst into tears.

"Well okay kid. Don't get lost next time."

I nodded my head as I head towards my house. My body was burning with heat furiously, I wanted to kill somebody or someone who erase their memories about me as soon as possible.

I clench my hands so hard that I didn't notice my nails already scaring my hand as blood slowly flows out.

I suppressed a furious scream, I was so busy planning what I would to the fucker that made my brother-figure forgot about me as I didn't notice a not to loud and not to quiet creak next to my feet.

I stomp my right foot on the ground as I felt a slim wood on my feet.

I stared under me as I saw a small trap door that was covered with my blood.

I didn't know that there was a  tiny trap door in this house.

I stared at the trapdoor that contained a piece of paper, taking it as there were letters in it.

「Dear to whoever found this riddle,

There are other riddles but was hidden away from an unknown place.

Shall you find the second riddle to this case, then it is most likely you shall be able to uncover the part of the past real truth and be aware as to why does everyone you held dear in your heart forget about you.

The first riddle to this first case is

hidden in the place farthest from home. . . And nearest to freedom from doubt. . .」

「Written by Uchiha Hanako.」

Huh?! What hell is this?!