Death Meister

Death Meister

03:

He was three years old – finally! Time seemed to move so slowly in the mortal realm – when he realized that he had another family other than Papa Aki and Mama Kei.

It was at the time when he was playing in a beach. It was just a river really, but he always called any body of water 'beach' to give him some sort of fresh feeling. He always came there not only because he liked water – he really did ever since he had first lived. He was fascinated with the Black Lake and always made his way there to calm down – but also because he liked to look at his reflection.

He almost had the same physical features back at his first life, except that he didn't need an eyeglasses. His vision was sharp and he often times found out about things that should not even be happening yet because of this. Harry - Hiroki. He had to get used to his original name in his new life - always thought that Death might have given him this type of vision for his 'protection' but he didn't ask his friend. For him, it wasn't really that important. He was just glad that his eyes was good compared to his first life. He really didn't want any eyeglasses obscuring his vision.

His hair wasn't an ebony black like before. It had shades of red and it was especially noticeable when his hair was hit by the rays of the sun. It was wicked and cool in his opinion. His eyes were still that brilliant shade of green and he was happy it still remained the same as before. Out of his feature, his eyes were his most favorite. His hair was a little longer and wasn't that messy and untameable looking… well, mostly when he finally fixed it. It usually went as messy and unmanageable as his first life whenever he just went from sleep.

While he was there, in the water, he heard some light footsteps coming towards his direction. Instantly, his eyes sharpened and his hundred millennium old mind resurfaced as he didn't recognize it.

He knew by heart how his Papa Aki's footsteps were easy yet a little bit heavy and Mama Kei's bouncy yet almost silent one. He knew them by now with how much his parents emphasized on this and how much he listened to their teachings and advice. And the footsteps this time were light and a little bit cautious.

It was a stranger.

He immediately was wary. He wanted to get out of the water and hide. He wanted to know who the other was to better prepare himself. Even call his parents since that was the instruction told to him. With that decision in mind, he reached his energy, the one called chakra, towards his distressed seal – one that was tattooed to his feet by his Mama Kei – and waited. He didn't move out there. Why?

Because he realized that he was still a kid even if he didn't like it. Kids, in any world, was regarded as naive and innocent. And even if a child was already registered as dangerous, adults couldn't help but hesitate.

Always.

He had often seen it in the Fountain back when he still was with Death. And it never changed.

'But not everyone hesitates. Remember back in your original world.'

He remembered. He would always remember. But those people he tend to input as crazy. And monsters. They were the type of mortals he couldn't resist being vindictive back in Death's underground chamber.

This human wasn't crazy. At least he didn't think so. Because the footsteps suggest wariness and caution. A thinking mind. A careful, thinking mind.

Crazy people were disorganized in his experience. Predictable. This human wasn't. At least he hoped so. But he had every faith in his luck as a Potter. He would survive this if something bad happened. Besides, he sent a distress signal to his Mama. They would come to him.

He forced himself to be carefree, to continue his playing that was interrupted before. But he still listened and planned carefully. So when he heard the footsteps closing in on his place, he giggled rather loudly, to at least look like a normal kid and unthreatening. It became genuine though when the small fishies he had seen earlier flocked around his lower body. Circling him like they were dancing. It was so cool!

But then he heard a snap of branches and his head immediately snapped to where he heard it, mind immediately returning back to serious, especially when he saw an adult there standing in a weird clothes that covered the body of the adult from head to foot. Clothes all in black.

He blinked at that, his mind swirling around the clothes and the thought of 'ninja' before he gave the man a curious smile.

"Hi. You ninja?" he asked, voice tinged with curiosity any kid like his age would have he imagined. And this time, he wasn't annoyed with his slightly butchered words. Because it gave an impression he really was just a kid.

The man's tensed form relaxed slightly, but he was still on guard. He never let his alertness off even in his relaxed form. His hands were behind him as the black clad ninja looked at him rather intensely.

"Yes," the deep voice made him estimate the age of the man in front of him. Probably the same age as Papa Aki, or even a little older. He didn't care much about the age other than it implied more experience, especially when the man's body language screamed of 'danger' and 'experienced'.

He was glad his Papa Aki taught him body language to the deepest level. It was a specialty of him he said. It apparently was a foundation of the taijutsu of the Umino clan.

And with Mama Kei also teaching him about 'ninja language', it made his situation right now a little bit easier. Coupled with his experiences in the Wizarding War and Death, it made his situation even easier.

The man was about to speak again – he knew since the mask that was covering his lower face moved – when he suddenly sprang into action. He was there in front him before and then he was suddenly on the tree standing on his right, his hand holding a long sword weapon.

He blinked and then he was enveloped in a protective hug. He looked at the person holding him and beamed when he recognized who it was.

"Papa!"

"Iruka, are you okay?" Hiroki had to blink his eyes in slight confusion at the name he was called. His name was Hiroki, not-

Papa Aki looked at him and even though it was full of concern, the look was also significant and meaningful and he remembered.

In front of strangers, his name was Umino Iruka.

"Fine, Papa 'Kaku," he answered, his voice subdued. He remembered that a ninja – possibly a bad ninja – was there and this wasn't the time to act happy.

Controlling the childish mentality, impulses and urges of a three-year-old was hard at that age for him.

He looked at his Mama Kei who was in front of him, covering him while looking at the black man. "Who are you?" Mama asked, her voice sounding hard.

It was the first time he heard that from his mama. It made him quiet even more.

"Keiko, it's me. Kazuki," the man said, his voice sounding thick.

The man took off his mask and head cover.

And he saw the shocking dark red hair of the man and his resemblance to Mama Kei.

And then, Mama's weapon dropped and she was now leaping onto the tree branch and hugging the bad ninja. Even Papa Aki's hug loosened up slightly.

"Papa, why is Mama hugging bad ninja?" he asked.

The three adults looked at him and started laughing.

The childish part inside him pouted at being laughed and it showed on his face. But the adult and hundred millennium-old wizard personality inside him that was still integrating felt like laughing at his own question.

Because the answer was kind of obvious.

The black clad ninja named Kazuki was related to them.

. . . . .

Uzumaki Kazuki was his name, Mama Keiko's twin brother and his uncle. He was an 'ANBU' in the 'Konoha' village and wanted them to come and live there with him.

He didn't understand some words spoken as he eavesdropped but he could understood what it was that Uncle Kazu wanted.

Uncle wanted them to live with him in the village he had been living in. ANBU probably meant 'police' in ninja terms. But why would they need police when ninja meant killing? Isn't killing a crime?

He pulled away from the door where his parents and uncle were talking and walked quietly towards his room.

He had to think. He had to meditate. He had to successfully incorporate his adult and millennium-old mind into his current three-year-old mind to understand this new world better.

. . . . .

"Master,"

"Do you think this is a good idea Death? Leaving and going to Konoha?" Harry asked his friend who was now gently playing with his hair as his head rested onto Death's lap. They were inside his mindscape. It was an expanse of open field that was filled with healthy grass and flowers and a single thick and tall tree in the middle where they both are now, wind gently blowing and sky a calming blue, giving him a sense of peace.

"I cannot divulge any future events Master," Death said. He stilled for a second before sighing in exasperation.

"Really, even living another life, my luck is still horribly double-edged," he smiled wryly. Death only hummed slightly before getting quiet again. Harry shook his head a little. Though Death didn't say anything specific, what he had said implied an event that would make Konoha the center of it.

And with him along in the ride.

Setting his mind into proper mindset was easy but slightly stressing. He was glad Death dropped a visit. He certainly needed a familiar face. He would have called but he didn't want to disturb his friend. Death had many responsibilities. He couldn't take him away from things he needed to do.

"I will always be here for you… Harry," Death simply said.

Harry blinked, startled at how Death addressed him. He moved and looked up at Death's serious face and gave a small, genuine smile.

"Took you long enough," he teased, referring to his friend's use of his name.

Death snorted, pushed him back towards the powerful entity's lap and continued petting his head. "That's only the time Master. Don't get used to it,"

Harry chuckled and settled down peacefully.

A/N:

Sorry it took me long to update. I got lazy. Then there's my exam. Now I'm free and I've finished this.

Thanks to all your reviews… I really liked them. And as for Hermione… it's a surprise… *wink*

And please, I know about the slow pace of the story and I understand that it could be boring for you but I need it for his character integration. Both the child-mind and adult-mind of his. And flashbacks won't cut it for me. I don't quite like it that much. So just enjoy the story and wait. They would get to Konoha SOON so be patient.

So, reviews?