"Noah!"
His head spun violently. Vertigo gripped him like a vice.
He didn't know why. He remembered drinking... but why was someone calling his name in Japanese? The strangest part: he understood it perfectly.
"Noah! Are you okay?"
The shouting worsened his headache, and a flood of memories surged into his mind.
He opened his eyes, took in the people around him-and remembered.
He had been drinking, but an accident had crossed him into this world. Luck had favored him: he arrived with both Yin and Yang Release. He had arrived during the disaster of the Nine-Tails.
His parents were gone. He had joined the local orphanage. Then, an old man adopted him.
At seven, he had saved Shisui Uchiha during a suicide attempt.
"Noah, are you okay?" A blonde boy leaned over, concern written across his face.
"You look weird."
"I'm fine, you idiot," Noah replied instinctively.
He froze. The familiarity of the boy's face struck him before thought even registered. He fell silent, thinking.
I saved Shisui... and used Yang Release to regrow his eyes? He touched his chin. That sounded like something I'd do.
After saving Shisui, he had sabotaged Danzo. The Uchiha were still alive, and Danzo was gone? Good. The sooner Danzo died, the better. Shisui hadn't returned officially but stayed in the shadows to train him.
Five years of training turned them into master and student. Then Noah had replaced Sakura in Team 7.
"Was I that capable?" His face shifted as he saw the Third, Kakashi, and others gathering.
The memories poured in.
He had trained under Shisui, but his physical skills were terrible. In ninjutsu, though, he was unimaginable. Yin Release recreated the special eyes; Yang Release fueled a chakra mode. He even made a version of the Spectral Knight. He mastered spatial arts and Wood Release.
This was all his doing.
He had improved Nathan and Justin's strength. He had saved Zabuza and Haku. He had saved the Third Hokage.
"I really was... something else, wasn't I?" he thought.
"But why the memory loss? The Snake Master?"
He remembered: after throwing the Third out of the barrier, he had used his chakra mode and the Spectral Knight to defeat the Snake Master and the reanimated puppets. He got careless. The fleeing Snake Master ambushed him, leaving him semi-amnesiac.
How did I stay cautious my whole life, only to get cocky the moment I cut loose?
"Noah... you..." A handsome black-haired boy appeared.
"Are you really okay? Do you need to rest with the Uchiha? I'll find the best doctors."
"Justin, I'm fine..." Noah didn't know what to say.
Seeing the ninjas around him genuinely concerned gave him a rare feeling. This place... really suits me.
I need to remember my combat skills. And the plan for the Yang Chakra Seeds? That needs to continue...
"Noah?" Kakashi squatted, patting his shoulder with a closed-eye smile.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for saving the village."
"No need. I am... a Leaf Ninja, after all."
"...Noah!"
The vertigo returned. Excruciating. But he recognized it; he had felt it twelve or thirteen years ago in his memory.
He adapted. Closing his eyes, he felt his body.
Finally, familiarity and comfort washed over him. The surging power within-his own-returned. He felt like he was seeing the world anew.
This is my power. This is what I know.
Opening his eyes, he saw the Ancient One and King Odin watching with concern. Relief followed. He had placed his body in Kamar-Taj, the safest place in this world, before leaving.
"Teacher, Your Majesty." Noah stood, bowing as the dizziness passed. "Thank you for your hard work."
"We did nothing difficult; the hard work was yours, Noah," Odin replied.
"How was your harvest?"
"I have what I wanted," Noah nodded.
"Teacher, Your Majesty... how long was I gone?"
"About half a year," the Ancient One said. "Do not worry; it was not long."
Noah breathed out. At least he didn't have to worry about Hermione tearing him apart. Of course, he was joking. But he truly cared, wondering what she'd think if he were gone too long. Half a year was just a blink for a sorcerer. Kamar-Taj likely finished its initial reforms in that time.
He felt the urge to run and see the world-but politeness held him. He lifted a finger, and his soul's power surged. Magic-the strongest power he had ever known-exploded forth.
He smiled. Magic felt smoother. Switching systems had been jarring.
"These are my gains from the other world. Now to turn them into magic."
He produced the Reanimation jutsu data taken from the Snake Master, translated into English, and handed it to the Ancient One and Odin.
Trying this alone would be impossible; with these two higher beings, it would be simple.
They examined it, deep in thought.
"Very interesting," Odin sighed. "But it will require careful thought. Completing this magic won't be easy."
"It isn't," Noah agreed. "It took quite some effort to obtain."
"You want to see Kamar-Taj now, don't you?" the Ancient One asked.
"Go, child. Half a year may be short for us, but for you, it has been a long time."
"Yes... twelve or thirteen years have passed in the blink of an eye," Noah sighed. Experiencing growing up again wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Watching a person grow is an excellent experience," Odin said. "Go see what you want, then rest. Leave this to us."
Noah nodded eagerly. He had missed them. After so long away, his mind was full of faces... especially one particular face.