The Rise of Ichirou:

Chapter Seven:

New York:

I woke up the next morning, after a night filled with so much pain, after getting dressed, I found my way into the training center, where I saw Miwa and April training together, after watching them train, April said, "Good morning, Ichirou. Sleep well here in your new home?"

I said, "Well, let's see, once taking the boy home, I had to stay there for a little bit, because I was forced to take part in a meeting, which by that time, I wanted return home, by the time the meeting was over, I may have—"

Miwa said, "If it means that you have to show them some moves, then you've done well about keeping them all safe."

Father said, "Ichirou, explain what happened last night?"

My turtle brother came to joint us, along with Casey Jones, when they were all seated, Leo said, "What do we call you?"

I said, "Call me Ichirou."

Leo said, "Alright Ichirou, so you're our long-lost human big brother?"

I looked away, and said, "Yes, I am."

Ralph said, "I know now where I get my anger from."

I began to pace, I turned my back to them; I pinched the Mark, and snarled in a cold whisper, "It's time I walk down my own path. No longer will I be that human, I will never be what the Wizards now see me as, I am Hamato Ichirou, and I will not be who they see me as, I—"

Mira said, "Ichirou, I will not sit here and listen to that. Let alone having them here."

I said, "I know, Miwa. But they're not going to give up that quickly."

Ralph said, "Then let's kick their butts!"

I turned on him, and said, "No, we will not! You don't understand, these humans aren't like other humans, there aren't like those that you all had to face."

Donnie said, "You were led to believe that you were one of them?"

I pinched the Mark, and sneered, "Damn that fool, I serve no one. And, yes I was to believe that."

April said, "Ichirou, you must fight it, you're a Ninja now, they don't belong with us, and we're better off alone."

I asked, "But how? How can I fight this? I can't just 'ignore' him or his calls, you know."

Father said, "This is why you must begin your training, my son."

I looked down, I didn't know what to say, I knew that I had done the right thing, but at the same time, my heart was heavy with regret, I couldn't seem to get my love out of my head, I sighed, and said, "I need some time to think."

Father said, "You will get through this, Ichirou. You just have to face this on your own, this is a sign that you, alone, will have to choose between who you are now and who you were born to become."

I nodded, looked at everyone, and walked back to my temporary room.

I didn't think that leaving the world that I grew up in was going to take its toile on my heart, I knew that if I were to ever return there, then I would have to face everyone again, and I didn't want to face them once more. Not often I saw how my actions had affected the Dark Side.

As I sat down on my cot, I started to scratch the Mark, I wanted it gone, I didn't want this, I couldn't have this, the Mark started to burn, I was about to pinch it, when I heard him say, "Severus."

I snapped, "You have no control over me."

He said, "Severus, you mustn't walk down that path."

I snapped, "All this time, I've been blinded by foolish lies. Not once did I ever know that I wasn't a part of your world."

He said, "But surely I've shown you more than what you now are searching for?"

I whispered, "You've been lying to me, surely you've also—"

He snapped, "You serve me, Severus Snape!"

I chuckled, and said, "You really think that? I've only been gone for a few days, and now I think you've forgotten who's missing."

He snarled, "You think that you're a part of them!?"

I said, "No, my Lord, I would never think that."

He chuckled, and said, "My dear faithful sever ant, you must return back to us."

I thought about that, I knew that Father would want me to begin my training, I thought that if I were to begin my training, then I would return, then when the times right, I could let my 'skills' show, and they wouldn't know that it was me who attacked them.

I giggled at the sudden thought of attacking them all, and I said, "I'll return in a few months, my Lord, and there I shall stay until the second Wizarding War starts."

He said, "Very good, Severus."

I heard a knock; I turned around, saw that it was Casey, and said, "Hi."

Casey said, "Ready to go?"

I said, "Let me tell Father real quick."

April said, "Already taken care of."

I got up, walked out of my room, and I said, "Casey, is April coming with us?"

April said, "Actually, I'm going to get me, Casey, you, and Miwa something to eat, so why don't we all head up to the surface together?"

Miwa said, "Can I come with you all?"

I said, "Why not, I would like it if you also came with us."

Casey said, "That way we don't have to come back down here to eat, we all could just eat up there, and I know a good place too."

Father said, "Where are you all going?"

Casey said, "We're going up to the surface, Ichirou and I are going to find him some new clothes, and then we're all going to get something to eat at Panda Express."

At the mention of Panda, Father said, "Ichirou, make sure that you stay behind…"

I said, "Father, do you know why?"

He only said, "All shall be revealed to you, Young Master of the art."

I was about to ask him what he'd meant by that, but Casey said, "We must get going, Master Splinter."

Father said, "Very well."

As we were about to leave, I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned back to Father, and he said, "I don't think that you should go up there with that thing in your pocket. Let alone having that foolish thing on your arm."

I pulled out my wand from my pocket, he held out his hand, I couldn't help but feel like I was a kid again, and I wasn't allowed to do magic outside of school, I was about to give him my wand, when I pointed it at my left arm, and I said, "Accio Dark Mark!"

I grimaced as the Mark burned, a moment later, the Mark sit self floated in from of us, I still had my wand pointing at it, and I shouted, "I! Serve! No! One! Including! You! AVADA KEDAVRHA!"

After the familiar flats of emerald green, I slowly brought my wand down, and I put it into Father's hand, who was looking at me with a look of satisfaction on his face.

But when we got up to the surface, I saw that a pack of owls were blocking us, and I snarled, "Great!"

I quickly grabbed all of them, and I snarled at the owls to return back to Hogwarts.

I was about to turn back to my siblings, when we all heard someone say, "Professor?"

I turned to glare at whoever had spoken, and I was shocked at who it was.

I sneered, "What are you doing here, Potter?"

He said, "Me? What are you doing here, Professor? I thought that you would still be at Hogwarts."

I sneered, "You should also be at Hogwarts, Potter. What are you even doing here?"

He was about to say something, when Miwa said, "We must hurry, we all don't want to get into more trouble, and you still have to begin your training."

I said, "Potter, what are you really doing here?"

He said, "What are you doing with Muggles, don't you hate them?"

I snarled, "Go back to Hogwarts, Mr. Potter!"

He fled, I calmed down, and April said, "Anyone still up for shopping and food?"

Casey said, "I don't think that we're going to be doing any of that today, April."

Miwa said, "Ichirou, do you know that boy?"

I said, "Just because I'm gone, doesn't mean that they all could find me."

She said, "Change of plans for today, let's find out who these people are, and let's get rid of them."

I said, "But just don't tell anyone, including Father."

She said, "Alright, but when he finds out about this, then you're going to tell him. Got that?"

I said, "Alright, fine."

April said, "So Miwa, how are we going to find out more about them without Master Splinter finding out about this, now that there are others who are now coming after Ichirou?"

I said, "I know a place, but we'll have to make up a plan on how to get my wand."

Miwa said, "You mean that stick that you had to give Father?"

I nodded, and said, "But first, can we at least get something to eat? I'm hungry."

So we went to a place called Panda Express, I had to remind myself that I was a human, as we went in, Casey said, "Just so you know, I'm the cool one, April is the sensitive one, and Miwa is the upbeat one in the family."

I was about to say something, when a man said, "Welcome! How are we today?"

April said, "Good to see you again, Mr. O'Riley."

Mr. O'Riley said, "Ah yes, April, Casey, Miwa, and whose this young man with you all? Surely you must be with the turtles?"

I said, "Yes, I am with the turtles, how do you know them?"

Mr. O'Riley said, "Don't fear, young Ninja, for I was rescued by them, and so, my dear friends, what would you all like to eat?"

Miwa said, "My special."

April said, "My special."

Casey agreed with April, I said, "I'll have one of each of whatever they have."

Mr. O'Riley said, "Alright, young Ninja."

As he worked, I whispered to April, "Does he know about us?"

She said, "Only about the turtles, your Father, us, and now he's going to meet you."

I said, "And he's blind…"

At that moment, he looked at me, and whispered, "Master Ichirou… What an honor…"

I looked at my siblings, they all looked at Mr. O'Riley, I was about to say something, but Miwa said, "What did he say?"

April said, "Mr. O'Riley, do you know our friend?"

He stopped, turned to face all of us, and said in a strange tone, "Long ago, a prophecy was made about a young Ninja, who had to be hidden from his true destiny. When he returned to his family, this young Ninja had to cope with the battle between his family and his unique life that he was raised up in. While he stayed with his true family, learning even much more than what his family taught him, he had to fulfill his true destiny but there's more than just that."

I said, "Do you know who the boy is?"

He turned to me, and said, "The young boy is you, Master Ichirou… You're the next Ninja Master of Ninjutsu. But there are others who must know who and what they're born with."

I asked, "Who else is involved, Mr. O'Riley?"

All he said was, "The two boys, and… Can it really be!?"

I said, "What is it?"

All he said was, "The boy… he's been led down the same path that you, Master Ichirou, were led down. You must save him, for he too had to be hidden, but really, he was stolen from you all at the same time that you were placed into hiding, Master Ichirou. The child must know what his true path is, he must know who and what he's to become. And if not rescued from the fate that you had to face, I'm afraid to say that the boy could or will never be retrievable, and he will not understand the sudden change within him, when the time comes."

April said, "Who is this young boy, Mr. O'Riley?"

He only bowed before me, and said, "The boy must return back home, he has to start his training now, just as you, Master Ichirou. His name's Tie Lung, Master Ichirou and good friends."

We all said at the same time, "Tie Lung?"

He only said, "You'll find out soon, Master Ichirou."

Miwa said, "Mr. O'Riley, can you tell us more about this prophecy?"

Mr. O'Riley said, "As the young Ninja grew more and more in the ways of Ninjutsu, the path of a true Ninja Master. But along the way, the past that he'd left behind, had begun to look for him. Only when did they find him, but what they didn't know, was that as the years went by, the young Ninja Master himself, along with Tie Lung, had not wanted to return. You see, when the past had found him and Tie Lung, it was already too late to change both of their minds. This also included the two young boys."

I sat there; wondering about what he'd said, it wasn't going to be that easy, trying to forefill a prophecy, gosh now I know how Potter feels, my gut was telling me to forget about the Wizarding world, but my heart kept on reminding me of my beloved witch, with a heavy heart, something also came up, whoever this Tie Lung person or kid really was or is, it didn't fit the picture at all, and as I thought more and more about Tie Lung, it just now dawned on me a few nights ago, while Draco was in my quarters, it almost seemed like he had figured it out, although he did figure out that I'm indeed the 'rat's' son, but what he didn't know was that that dream of his, it would someday come true, no matter what.

Finally I said after a moment, "Mr. O'Riley, how could I forefill my destiny, if I was raised differently? I don't—"

He cut me off, and said, "Do you think that just because you had been raised up by those who have fed you lies, that you wouldn't know how to overcome your past, and begun your future as a Master of the Art?"

The Art…

My brain searched for those particular words and that particular memory, as I was doing so, I heard someone say, "The Art, young Master, is one that we all have studied while in school…"

Then it hit me, hard. My eyes widened, and I whispered, "Ninjutsu…"

Mr. O'Riley said, "The art of being a true Ninja Master, Master Ichirou. It is within your blood, you must become one with the art, in order for you to master it."

I whispered, "The art of a Night-fighter… One who practices the Art, will forever be lost within the Dark ways of the Art of a Night-fighter… This has to be something else, it can't be my true bloodline, can it?"

Then I heard the Dark Lord shout, "You'll pay for this, filthy scum!"

"The Art of being a Night-fighter has only one type of fighting style, can anyone guess what type that is?"

"Dark Arts!"

"Well, this type of art is considered Dark Arts. But no, let me tell you all an Art that we, as wizards and witches, don't know much about. This type of art has never ever been known to us. This type of art is called Ninjutsu—"

I jumped out of my seat, paced, while I paced, I just let the memory play in my head:

"Ninjutsu, what's that?"

"It is a type of art that only a few know about, in fact, there's an old legend about the art, that according to some wizards, has turned whoever practices the art, shall not return. Also the legend says that there once was a war between two Muggle families, can anyone guess who the two Muggle families were?"

Silence…

"Let me tell you all who the two Muggle families were, one was called the Hamato Clan, while the other, had a much more strange name, they were known as the Foot Clan. These two clans had a strong dislike for each other, the two leaders, who were once brothers, the Shredder and Yoshi, were both after one woman's heart. Now, there was a woman named Tang Shang, who was the most beautiful woman in the village, she had chosen Yoshi over the Shredder, who now hated Yoshi for taking his girl away."

"What happened to them?"

"There was a fight one night, a fight that involved the two leaders, only the Shredder wasn't about to leave without taking one of the children that belonged to Yoshi, no one knows where the other child had went off too."

"What were the children's names?"

Just then, I realized that I was in this memory of mine, I suddenly wanted out of this memory, a memory that even I knew, I shouldn't be in, but I knew that there was more to it for me to see, I saw that it was my seventh year, I saw myself sitting with a group of new Death Eaters, we all were in a lesson with Gryfinndors, I saw Lily sitting with James and his group, I knew that it was just two years ago, that we had had our fallin' out…

And that made me sick to my stomach, just to even think about it, let alone in a memory where it happened only two years early.

The Professor looked at me, and she said, "I can only tell you all one name, for the other, has been in hiding for protection."

She said that last part while she made her way towards me and my group, her eyes never leaving my face, once she was in front of our group, or in front of me for that matter, I wanted to hear what she'd said that day, for it was too low for any of us to understand, I walked just beside my younger self, leaned down, and she said softly, "You have been led astray, young child, for when the time's right, you shall lead a legacy that of your family, in which you shall be returned to, young child of the Art."

At that moment, she asked me, "Mr. Snape, care to lend me your left arm?"

I saw myself slowly pull out my left arm, then she grippes it tightly, and she shouts to the rest of the class, "Everyone, class dismiss!"

As the others rush out, she snaps, "Miss. Evans, stay behind, I may need your assistants. Go along, Mr. Potter, don't worry about her."

Once everyone was out, the Professor magically closed and locked the door, and put up the Silent Charm, I saw Lily's eyes widen slightly, she rushes to the Professor's side, and she says, "What is it, Professor?"

The Professor forces the Mark up, I saw myself just looking confused, wondering what the hell was going on, then the Professor traces the Mark, once at the bottom, her grip tightens, forcing my younger self to let out a gasped, Lily only said, "Professor…"

The Professor said, "Miss. Evans, take a hold of his left arm, I'll have to make sure that it will never be done!"

Lily does as she is told, only to mutter under her breath, "It can't be done… It will never come true. I can't allow you to find out."

My eyes widened as the Professor pulled out her wand; she took a hold of my right arm, carving something into it, making me scream out loud, all the while, she snaps at me, "This will be your reminder for whenever you think about it, Mr. Snape! You are a Snape! Nothing more, nothing less! Take this as a reminder for the next time you try to cross paths with someone who will kill you… and your family! Tu dolebis, Hamato Ichirou filium meum dilectum forsitan quis audeat extendas manum tuam super eum!"

Then she quickly healed the wound, making it disappear into my skin, she then Obliveates me, forcing me to not remember a single thing about what took place that day.

Once done, she said, "You may go now, Mr. Snape."

As I watched my younger self leave, I knew that the memory wasn't done yet, after I had left, the Professor says to Lily, "Keep an eye on him, Ran. The boy can't know about the truth behind his kettō."

Lily bows, and she says, "Hai, Ayane."

Just then the memory went blank, I'm left standing in front of Mr. O'Riley, who after a moment, said to me, "Master Ichirou?"

I whispered, "What was that…?"

Just then Miwa said, "Ichirou, look at your right arm!"

I hissed loudly as words made themselves known on my bare skin, forcing me to bang my left fist on the counter, eyes shut tightly as the pain grew worse, once it was gone, my eyes narrowed at the phrases that's now forever on my skin:

You shall forever be bound to the pain that of which now comes upon you… Ichirou, the downfall of your generations greatest Master of them all, Master Splinter… For my husband shall forever reign upon this Earth, and you and your family shall be forever gone.

I only stared, how could this even be, not once did I ever know that I'm to not only be a savior, but also be the Shredder's downfall, I couldn't believe that this, this simple statement, was now forever planted onto my already scared skin, I couldn't help but cover up the statement, muttering a spell so that only I could see the truth behind what really happened in my seventh year.

Just then I heard Lily's voice shout, "AAAAAAHHHHH! YOU WILL REGRET THIS, HAMATO ICHIROU! YOU FILTHY LITTLE BRAT! AND I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO, I SHALL MAKE YOU, YOUR FILTHY PETS OF A FAMILY, AND YOUR PATHETIC HUMAN SIBLINGS PAY! YOU DON'T BELONG WITH—"

I heard someone whisper in my ear, "Lies, lies, lies, it's all lies. She's returned only to take revenge upon your decision, she doesn't care what happened, and she only wants you to be led back down that path, in which you have been walking down for so long."

My eyes snapped open, and I said, "Like you would ever care about me, was that just a trick to get me where you wanted me!?"

Lily said, "Severus, you can't! I've—"

I sneered under my breath, "You're lying, and I know you!"

She snapped, "You think that you're apart of them!? How could you be a part of them, when you've grown up in our world!? Were you placed there for protection!? If so, then you're wrong! You are Sever—"

I snarled loudly, "Enough! Mind that little filthy mouth of yours, you filthy little back-stabbing disgusting Mud blood! I never wanted to be there in the first place… I don't belong there either!"

I ignored my sibling's stares, only Mr. O'Riley seemed to understand my sudden outburst, and so he simply said, "That's it, Master Ichirou, that's it. Fight them off, drive them away… No one, not even them and their foolish ways, can know about what true power that has been in your blood from your very birth into the wonderful, yet new, world of Ninjutsu. Keep fighting them."

She snarled, "Don't listen to him, Severus! You know that this path and the Art is danger—"

I snapped, "This so-called-Art is what you and that Professor tried to forbid me from finding out! This so-called-Art is the reason why I haven't looked back at that heck of a life! This so-called-ART is a part of me; it runs through my very blood! And if it hadn't been for my Father, I might have never known of what really happened in our Seventh year! Thanks to you, I may never get to have the peace that I so badly want! Thanks to you, your own son is now in even MORE danger than he should be in, at the age of sixteen! Hadn't you even thought about that!?"

She said, "Sev—"

I snapped harshly, "I don't even WANT to listen to you right now, thanks for the early death wish that you had gotten! That way I wouldn't have to—"

She said, "Severus, no!"

I snapped once more as I begun to pace, "Pathetic, really. No wonder why I had ended our so-called-friendship in our Fifth year. Not only that, but I also know that you and that bloody Professor were hiding something all along… And yet, you didn't have the bloody guts to at least let me, for once, be set free…"

She sneered, "What? Do you possibly think that I would let you be that!? Severus—"

I took a deep breath, and heard Father's whisper, "Be strong, Ichirou. Don't let them see you weak, a Master never shows any weakness in front of their foes, only in front of family are they allowed to show weakness. Remember your training, you must always—"

Lily snarled harshly, "Filthy bloody rat!"

I whispered harshly back at her, "That filthy bloody rat is my Father, thank you very much!"

Father said, "I must leave you now, Ichirou…"

I said, "Thanks, Father. See you later."

As I felt him leave, Lily snarled, "You traitor!"

My eyes narrowed, my hands were now into fists, and so I said harshly, "Who do you—"

Just then, and to my great horror, I heard the Professor say, "Child, you must return back to the—"

At that same moment, Miwa's eyes widened, so did Mr. O'Riley's, and Mr. O'Riley say a bit loudly for me to hear, "No! Master Ichirou, fight her! She has to be stopped!"

I blinked, and I said, "What was that?"

Miwa said, "I'll explain once we finish here, at home."

Mr. O'Riley said, "Miwa's right, Master Ichirou, once you all get home, you two need to talk with your Father about this. This is not only very important information, but when in the wrong hands, it could also be very dangerous. And at this point, if they're both back as you say… Then no one's safe here any longer…"

That's when I heard Lily's cold cackling, I wanted her out of my head, so far she's making me feel sick to my stomach, not leaving me alone, and so I just shook my head, I knew that a headache was about to form, and I didn't want to have that either. So I quickly sat down, put up my shields, suddenly not in the mood to deal with her at that moment, forcing her voice out of my head, as I slowly calmed down; Mr. O'Riley said as he pushed my plate towards me, "There is greatness in you, Master Ichirou. You just have to find it within yourself, and you'll see the true side of yourself."

Miwa said, "That's why Father said that you will have to choose…"

April said, "This is also why Sensei said that you have to begin your training."

I gave Miwa a questioning look, she explained, "Father is both Master Splinter and Sensei, just in case you were wondering. Don't worry, I was also confused in the beginning."

Mr. O'Riley said, "Now is your time to lead a path, but there's danger along the way, Master Ichirou, other's will try to misled you back down a road that you've just walked down, but you must decide what's right, and in order for you to do that, you will be tested."

My eyes widened, I thought back to the dream that Draco was telling me about, and so I said, "So the boy was right, I know this, I will be tested on loyalties."

Mr. O'Riley said, "That's right, you will be tested on loyalty, skill, and whether or not you protect your family."

I said, "You mean that one of these days, I'm going to have to turn against my own family in order to protect them?"

Mr. O'Riley said, "You're right, Master Ichirou."

Just then we all heard the door opened, and we all heard Donnie say, "There you all are, we've been looking all over for you guys. What in the flaps is taking you all so long?"

I said, "Thank you, Mr. O'Riley."

He said, "Your welcome, Master Ichirou."

Leo said, "Come on, everyone, we have a few things that needs to be taken care of first."

Before I could walk out, Mr. O'Riley put a hand on my arm, and he said, "You will become an even greater Ninja Master than that of your family, you just have to face this on your own, and then it is up to you, Tie Lung, and the two boys, to decide whether you all want this war to end in peace or fear."

I couldn't believe that I was to become a savior, I felt like I was in Potter's shoes, and I just said, "Thanks again, Mr. O'Riley."

He bowed low, I decided to return the bow, once I was straightened, he too got up, and he said, "Your quite welcome, Master Ichirou."

I had to ask, "How do you know my name?"

All he said was, "Let's just be thankful that I'm the only one who knows of your very birth and return, Master Ichirou."

I said, "I'd like to keep it that way, if you don't mind."

He said, "You must begin your training to not only learn and rescue those who have now been lost, but to also fulfill your true destiny, Master Ichirou."

I said, "I will."

Just then Ralph said, "Come on, Ichirou!"

As I walked out of the restaurant, I thought of nothing but the prophecy, I mean I know how to hide them and all, but for me to actually be a part of one, I couldn't help but think of Potter, as we all headed back home, I also couldn't help but hear him say, "Severus."

I ignored his voice, I just followed my siblings back down the sewer pipes, forgetting all about his voice, upon arriving back home, I couldn't help but say to my siblings, "I think that we should skip the searching for now, I mean I still have to get used to the entire need-to-save-the-world thing first."

April said, "Good idea, I think that we could help with that."

Leo said, "What's going on?"

Miwa said, "I don't think that we should tell them, Ichirou. It's safer for them to be and stay safe."

Father said, "Is this about what you've just found out?"

I said, "Father, how did you know?"

He said, "I knew that you four would find out, but I also knew that the rest of us couldn't help and or guide you along it. I am trusting you, that whatever has to come and misled you, that you are going to do the right thing, and keep us all safe and from those who have now discovered that you're no longer there."

I said, "But Father, why didn't you send me some sort of sign of what I was going to expect while here?"

He said, "I did, remember the dream that the boy was telling you about?"

I said, "No wonder why I couldn't think clearly."

He said, "You were thinking of ways to keep the boy safe, weren't you not?"

I said, "I was also trying to figure out what that meant."

Leo said, "Ichirou, what are you hiding?"

I said, "I'm not hiding anything, I've just found something out about myself."

Donnie said, "Can we help?"

I said, "I have to do this on my own. Sorry guys, but right now, I have to think about what's been happening to me lately."

I walked back to my room, I really had a lot on my mind, but before I could even think about the prophecy, I heard him say, "What prophecy, Severus?"

I said, "I'm just thinking of the Potter brat, my Lord."

He said, "You shall serve me, Severus."

I lowered my head, and said, "I serve no one!"

He sneered, "Yes, you do!"

I sneered, "I belong to no one!"

He snarled, "You belong to me, Severus Snape!"

My entire body was shaking, I had grip the chair for support, and also I had to snarl, "My! Name! Is! Ichirou!"

He said, "Severus, stop this foolishness right now!"

I heard Father say, "Ichirou!"

I turned to Father, and said, "Yes?"

He said, "It may seem that your fight has already begun?"

I said, "Yes, Father, my fight has already begun."

He said, "Come, it's time for you to practice, as well as, learn some new skills."

Just then I remember something, and I suddenly said, "Father, while up at the surface, we went to a place called Panda Express, and while there, I sort of had some kind of flashback… I can't explain it, it was strange."

Father said, "What was it about?"

I said, "It was two weeks after I had gotten the Mark, all of us were sitting in a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and we had it with another house. While just sitting there, the Professor told us of one particular art that we, as wizards and witches, don't know much about. This was my final year, I didn't really know anything about my real heritage or things like that, but anyways, the Professor told us that the Art, meaning Ninjutsu, was one of the most dangerous, yet fascinating, type of fighting style ever known to any witch or wizards.

"So the Professor told us, basically, about how we, as Master Ninjas and Ninjas in training, had become two forces at war. I only didn't think much about it, because well, I didn't want to get involved with any of it. Of course, now that's changed a great deal. Anyways, while they were telling us this story, they mentioned you, the Shredder, Mother, and two—no, not two—three, yeah three little babies, two who was stolen, while the other was hidden away for protection.

"But while she was talking about the three children, while she was talking about the child who was hidden away for protection… She was making her way towards me and my friends, or towards me for that matter, once she was in front of me, she said something strange, and she said, You have been led astray, young child, for when the time's right, you shall lead a legacy that of your family, in which you shall be returned to, young child of the Art.

"After that, she traces the Mark, shouts at everyone to get out, but another student, who she says to that it wasn't time yet, that they both have to do something in order for me to not find out about something, I wasn't sure because I was confused at what was going on that day. Then she orders the student to take my left arm, and that's when she whispers something, something that made me sick to my stomach, and she said, It can't be done… It will never come true. I can't allow you to find out.

"But then the Professor grabs her wand, forces my right arm up, and she… she… carves some sort of phrases into my skin, all the while, she's saying to me, This will be your reminder for whenever you think about it, Mr. Snape! You are a Snape! Nothing more, nothing less! Take this as a reminder for the next time you try to cross paths with someone who will kill you… and your family! Tu dolebis, Hamato Ichirou filium meum dilectum forsitan quis audeat extendas manum tuam super eum.

"And so, she erases my memory of that day, forcing me to forget about what really took place in my Seventh year. But then, after I'm out of the room, the Professor tells that other student to keep an eye on me, just to make sure that I won't find out about my real blood or anything like that. The memory ends with the student bowing, and saying, Hai, Ayanne. So, what do you think, Father?"

He stood there, just looking at me, I wasn't sure what was wrong with him, but then he grabs my right arm, I knew that he would want to see the phrases, so I quickly lifted the charm, his grip tightens as the words appear, once they were all there, he mutters the phrases quietly to himself, after a while, he lets go, and said while making his way out of my room, "Come, Ichirou, we must prepare you for your showdown with the Foot clan… Especially, if it's with the Shredder himself."

Before I made it out of my room, I heard him say, "You serve me, Severus Snape."

I just followed Father into the training center, where I was to start and fulfill my true destiny.

As Hamato Ichirou, the son of a true Ninja Master, and the next young Master of Ninjutsu.