Chapter Text
"Sayuri-hime," a baritone voice called. Rose's brow furrowed in confusion. What the hell? That’s not my ringtone. Rose's eyes shot open to a high ceiling painted a pastel pink color. That was not the color of her ceiling and a hospital would never paint the ceiling pink.
"What the fuck?!" Rose sat up, only to wince as her head erupted in pain. Going slower this time, she glanced around the room in shock. A young man with brown hair and smooth fair skin stepped back. "Wait, what the hell are you doing here?!"
The man's composed expression turned apologetic. He was handsome and moved in an elegant and graceful way when he bowed. His hair was tied back in a ponytail at the nape and he looked to be wearing formal clothes: white button-down shirt, black jacket, a black tie, gray vest, and black pants. Rose stared at the man in confusion before she realized that the whole room was unfamiliar.
The walls were painted the same pastel pink as the ceiling. She was sitting in a huge canopy bed, the drapes and the comforter were both a dark red and the frame of the bed seemed to be made of a dark brown mahogany that gleamed with lustre. There was a patterned oxblood red and silver carpet and there was a silver chandelier hanging in the ceiling. There were porcelain vases as decoration and fancy paintings on the walls. The entire room was bigger than her studio apartment.
"And where am I?!" Rose demanded. She frowned and cleared her throat. Her voice sounded weird too, not at all like her voice, but her throat did feel sore. She touched her head and neck but she found her movements to be sluggish and slow. Her head was pounding in a headache and her chest felt constricted. It felt hard to breathe.
"Sayuri-hime, I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep, but you have lunch with your father," the man said, his head bowing slightly. Rose shot him a confused look. When Rose glanced down at her body, the first thing she noticed was her hands–they were smaller, more petite and were fairer than her own. The second thing off was her body–this wasn't her body. And her hair–it reached her waist–and was white in color. And she definitely wasn't wearing a nightgown to bed. Rose hurriedly jumped off the bed, only to sway when she suddenly felt dizzy, but she ignored it as best she could as she examined her nightgown with incredulous eyes.
"What is this?! Is someone filming me right now?! Seriously, what is all this–where am I?" Rose whirled around, looking in every direction for a camera. Her head spun at the movement and she felt sick to her stomach. There had to be some sort of secret camera filming this, right? Her eyes landed on a mirror.
Rose froze. A small child stared back at her in surprise. She looked about 5 to 6 years old. Her skin was porcelain in shade and her snowy white hair fell in soft waves to her waist. Her eyes were pink. She was dressed in a white regency-style nightgown decorated with lace.
Rose approached the mirror. The person in the mirror did the same.
"Sayuri-hime? Sayuri-hime, can you hear what I’m saying?"
Rose turned to look at the man still kneeling on the floor. "What did you say?"
"Are you feeling unwell, hime? Should I bring a physician over to check on you?"
Rose looked back at the mirror. The child looked back at her. "Do you know who I am?" Rose asked him. Watching as the girl in the mirror spoke with her.
"Of course."
"Well?! Who the fuck am I?!" Rose began to tremble as a suspicion began to dawn on her.
"You’re Sayuri Senju, descendant of the second Hokage."
Rose's legs gave out and she crashed to the ground.
The man hurriedly got up and rushed over with an expression of worry. "Sayuri-hime, are you alright?"
Rose despairingly stared at her reflection in the mirror. Oh shit.
Rose completely ignored the doctor as he tried to ask her questions in a soft voice and stared at the ceiling listlessly instead. Rose was scrambling to remember all the events of the manga.
Then it suddenly occurred to her that she didn't know when in the timeline she was. Rose sat up immediately.
"Sayuri-hime! Please take it easy!" the doctor said.
Rose whirled to face him. "How old am I?" she asked him.
"You're five years old, Sayuri-hime," the doctor said, looking her over with a worried expression.
"Five," she murmured to herself.
"Sayuri-hime, by any chance, are you having issues with your memory?" the doctor asked.
Rose immediately turned to look at his face. "That's right. I can't recall any of my past memories."
"Forgive me for asking, hime, but do you remember anything from last night?"
"I don't."
"Any pain anywhere?"
"I do have some pain. I have a headache, my stomach feels like it's turning, and my throat feels sore."
His face turned grave as he heard her symptoms.
The next thing he does is check her vitals. Checking her pulse, monitoring her breathing. Then, his hand glows with mint green light and he presses his hand against hers as he closes his eyes. Her eyes widened when his hands glowed and she repressed the urge to flinch away when he touched her hand.
The doctor's expression looked serious. "Sayuri-hime, I'm afraid you have been poisoned."
Rose stared at him in shock. Just how bad was her luck?
"Please be at ease, hime. It hasn't progressed far and I know this poison. I will prescribe the antidote and some medicine to relieve the symptoms. Please be sure to drink all of it and get some rest. As for your memory problems, I'm afraid that there's not much I can do for problems of the mind. Your memory will either return with time or it will not. I recommend not overstressing yourself for at least a few days."
She nodded.
"Well then, I'll be leaving. Unless there is anything else."
She shook her head and the same male servant that woke her up led him away.
Rose went back to bed and layed down on it, burying her head in the blankets and stifling the urge to cry. This whole experience felt overwhelming and when exactly will she get home? Then she heard the door open and somebody stepped through.
Rose didn't remove her face from the blankets. "Can I get some privacy here?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled. Steady footsteps approached her and somebody pulled the blanket away.
"Hey!" Rose turned to glare at the intruder but stopped as she took a good look at them. The person in front of her was a man that was around the age of thirty. He had skin like porcelain, glacial red eyes, and spiky white hair. He was dressed in a blue yukata embroidered with an image of roses in silver thread. Everything about him radiated an aura of intimidation and power.
"Oh, um…" Rose fumbled for words and sat up on the bed.
"How are you feeling?" the man asked.
"Uh, I'm okay I guess," she replied.
The man's brow furrowed in concern, but his eyes were strangely cold. "I was worried," he said. "Is it true that your memories are affected?"
"It's true, " Rose replied.
"That won't do. I can't have the heir of the Senju go around like that. We have to fill up the gaps in your memory quickly before you go to the Academy or I won't be able to squash the rumors."
Rose blinked. He seemed more concerned over her reputation than her health. "Who are you again?"
His face darkened immediately. "It seems your condition is worse than I thought," he said stiffly. "We have a lot to work on. As for who I am, I am Ranmaru Senju. I am also your father. Now, get some rest," her father said.
Rose mumbled her thanks. Her father left the room and Rose sighed. It seemed her life was gonna get harder until she could get herself up to speed.
Once she took the antidote and the medicine and ate her lunch, Rose turned her attention to the male servant that woke her before. He seemed to be the leader of her servants. He shifted a bit, as if nervous at her attention, and cleared his throat. "Is there something you need, Sayuri-hime?" he says, as she continues to stare.
“May I ask what your name is?"
"Of course, Sayuri-hime. My name is Ryuu and I am your butler."
"May I ask you a few questions about myself? I'm still having problems remembering things and any bit of information you can tell me would be helpful."
"I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have."
"Thanks. I appreciate that. Could you tell me what my personality is like and how I normally act around you guys?"
"Of course. Hime had an elegant and dignified manner suiting your station and was well-versed in literature, dancing, and embroidery. Your ladyship treated her servants with kindness and occasional indulgence. In terms of personality, you are introspective and gentle-natured."
Introspective and gentle-natured? She sounded like Hinata…
"What about you?" Rose asked.
"I have been in your service since 10 years ago." Ryuu said. Considering he didn't look a day over twenty five, that was disturbing. Where were child labor laws when you needed them?
"And how do I normally act around you?" Rose asked.
"Sayuri-hime has treated me with thoughtfulness and consideration beyond what was required for my station." Ryuu says, bowing slightly.
So she probably had treated him well, right? It’s hard to tell if he’s exaggerating or if he’s saying that she's too soft.
"Alright, that's enough. I might have additional questions later, if that's okay."
Ryuu bowed. "Of course, Sayuri-hime. Please excuse me then." He gracefully left the room, closing the door silently behind him.
Rose shook her head. If anything, she had more questions than answers. She knew nothing. Nothing about where in the timeline she was, nothing about how this world's history diverged from the canon she knew. She was basically starting at zero and it honestly felt overwhelming. Not to mention she felt like she was walking on eggshells with basically everyone she met in this world because of her lack of memories. Plus, she had to deal with feeling like crap because she was poisoned. It was exhausting. But she couldn't give up.
She turned her attention to a maid that was cleaning the windows of her room. "Sorry to interrupt, but can you lead me to the library?"
The maid nodded and assured her hurriedly that it was her pleasure to walk her to the library. Rose would have to dress up first though. The maid would help with that. Not long after that, she wore a pink shirt, some khaki shorts, and black ninja sandals.
She was expecting to be lead outside, to Konoha's Public Library, but apparently the Senju had their own clan library she could peruse.
Soon she was walking in a room full of bookshelves, the librarian pointing out the best books in the subjects she wanted, which were beginning books in Konoha history and world politics. She also picked up a beginner's book on chakra control, which she was actually truly excited to read, as well as a book on making different kinds of poisons. She left the library carrying a pile of books to read and carried them to her room. She placed them on an empty bookshelf, except for one she held on to.
Her bedroom was actually filled with lots of bookshelves. She had skimmed them earlier and most were filled with all kinds of fictional books. Ryuu hadn't been kidding when he said that the original Sayuri had a proclivity towards all things literature. She turned her attention towards the book in her hands–the book on chakra control–and went to her desk to read it. She spent the rest of the evening like that, just reading her book, until Ryuu came back.
"A messenger has arrived, Sayuri-hime. Your mother would like to invite you over to eat dinner with her, but only if your health allows it. How should I respond?"
"My mother?" Rose repeated aloud. "Do you happen to know what my relationship is like with her?"
Ryuu's brow furrowed in concern. "From what I can tell, you had a loving familial relationship with her. She tends to dote on you and treats you like her precious daughter. You've always returned her gestures with the same warmth."
Rose relaxed slightly, hearing that. She probably just wanted to inquire about her health, as any parent would under the circumstances. "Tell her I would be pleased to join her for supper."
Ryuu bowed. "I will notify her right away." Ryuu excused himself and left.
When he returned, he led Rose to a different part of the house, across a labyrinthine-like courtyard filled with osmanthus hedges, and into a garden. A woman with tan skin, straight, long brown hair, and light brown eyes sat in a small gazebo. She wore a white porcelain mask that covered the entire left side of her face and she was sipping tea at a small, circular-shaped table. There was an empty chair across from her and Rose sat in it. Ryuu poured her some tea, but she didn't touch it, and instead greeted the woman across from her.
"Hello, mother. How are you doing?"
The woman gave her an assessing glance. "You remember me?"
"Not quite." Rose chewed her lip, feeling awkward. "I just know you're my mother because Ryuu led me here, after your invitation."
"I see," her mother frowned slightly and looked down at her tea. "How much exactly do you remember? Of people, places, and just general knowledge? Please be honest, I only want to help you."
Rose considered her, but, ultimately, had no reason to lie. Everyone would find out the extent of her lack of knowledge soon enough. "I don't remember anyone, not just you. As for places and general knowledge, things like etiquette and history, I have no knowledge of either. I can remember how to read and talk thankfully, but that's the extent of it. I didn't even remember my own name until someone said it."
"This won't do." Her mother massaged her temples. "You need tutors immediately and to be gotten up to speed as soon as possible. I will arrange for tutors to come to you everyday until you know everything. The worst part is the timing, after this week, you were to begin your studies in the Ninja Academy. We would have to arrange tutors to your schedule and tell your teachers of your extenuating circumstances so they'll be accommodating."
"I'm going to an Academy in a week?" Rose repeated.
"Indeed you are. Your father petitioned the Hokage to allow you enter the Academy a year early. This means that if you fall behind and fail, that will make your father and by extension the clan, look foolish. That's why every expense would be made to catch you up to the level you were before you lost your memories."
Rose swallowed heavily, looking down at her tea. Silence extended between them as servants came in the room, carrying their lunch. Her mother had what appeared to be chicken caesar salad for lunch, while Rose got white rice, Japanese red curry, and chicken katsu.
They ate in silence and when they were both done, Rose said her goodbyes to her mother. At her mother's insistence, Rose kissed her in the cheek (that wasn't masked) in goodbye.
Then her butler leads her to one of the study rooms, explaining that she'll meet her first tutor right now.
Her tutor is a tan-skinned, black-haired man wearing small black sunglasses. He introduces himself as Ebisu and she belatedly recognizes him as Konohamaru's tutor. Rose cheers up a bit because that gives her a clue of where in the manga she is: she must be near Naruto's age.
"I'm here to refresh your memory on chakra control exercises," Ebisu explains. He walks her through Leaf Concentration exercise and then hands her a leaf and tells her to try it.
She follows his instructions, concentrating on feeling for her chakra for the first time. To her surprise, she feels the warm energy pool in her gut when she concentrates. However, moving it is a trial. She tries holding chakra in the middle of her forehead and when she presses the leaf to her forehead, she immediately loses concentration and hold of her chakra. She holds on to the leaf and tries again, it immediately plasters itself to her skin and sticks. She is able to hold it for 3 seconds before it tumbles down qgain. She catches it and tries again and again until she holds it there for ten seconds .
"Since you have forgotten even this, we will run through other exercises as well," he says. They run through other exercises, and while she has some successes, she has some failures as well.
He hands her a scroll with the chakra control exercises he wants her to practice with.
They then run through taijutsu katas. Ebisu corrects her positioning many times, to the point of frustration. After an hour of practicing her katas, their teaching session ends and he leaves.
Ryuu walks her back to her bedroom and a maid helps her into a nightgown. Asking for pajamas had been a no go, there wasn't any in the house. She would have to personally buy some if she wanted any.
She lays down in her canopy bed and stares vacantly at the ceiling, waiting to fall asleep.