TPMITWON Chapter 8: Souta Lies

Pakura's sharp gaze pierced through him like a knife, causing Souta's body to stiffen. The atmosphere between them was so tense that it felt as if the air around had become heavier and harder to breathe.

Souta had never considered that perhaps the previous owner of this body had already been taught how to sense and manage Chakra. After all, it made sense that the entrance exam for the Ninja Academy required every participant to at least have a basic understanding of Chakra.

However, none of this had crossed Souta's mind! No, it had never occurred to him before!

Souta's chest felt tight as that thought haunted him more and more. He had only just arrived in this world today! Yes! Just today!

A few hours ago, all that was on Souta's mind was how to survive in Sunagakure. How could Souta survive as a ninja? How could he endure the various upcoming Ninja World Wars?

It had never occurred to Souta that the previous owner of the body might have learned how to sense and manage Chakra.

Souta's hands clenched tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms. Something within him wanted to curse his own foolishness, but now was not the time to lament. All Souta knew in the past few hours were fragmented memories of the previous body owner—fragments that were incomplete.

"Damn! Why didn't I think of this earlier?!" Souta recalled some information he had managed to gather so far.

Souta knew that he had passed the entrance exam for the Ninja Academy. He knew that a monthly allowance would be deposited every month for orphans like him. However, after graduating from the Academy and becoming a ninja, that money would never be given again.

All this information came from Souta's memories, the previous body owner. But why was there not a single piece of knowledge about how to sense and manage Chakra in Souta's memories? Of course, Souta had no idea why that was the case or understood why it could happen.

After all, the concept of transmigration was already difficult enough to accept rationally, let alone when it came to why there were only a few fragmented memories from the previous body owner.

Souta's legs trembled slightly, not out of fear, but out of frustration. How could he have overlooked something so important?

Souta couldn't possibly tell Pakura that he had just taken over this child's body. If he said that he was not the "real Souta," but someone who suddenly entered this body and had incomplete memories... No! That sounded ridiculous!

Souta shook his head slowly, trying to calm himself. If he said it, not only would Pakura think he was crazy, but perhaps the entire village would laugh at him—or worse, they would consider him dangerous and kill him.

Just imagining that was enough to send shivers down Souta's spine.

Pakura continued to stare at Souta with a sharp and suspicious look. Souta knew he had to say something right now, or the situation would worsen.

Souta took a deep breath and then tried to smile. However, his smile felt stiff and unnatural, as if he had just learned how to move his facial muscles.

"Well... You know, I bumped my head earlier and I kind of forgot how to sense and manage Chakra, so... If you could help me just a little, I would be very grateful."

Souta's voice sounded quieter than he had hoped. He tried to sound casual, but his tone came off as someone desperately trying to cover up a lie.

Pakura did not respond immediately. The girl remained silent, staring at Souta with an expression that was hard to read. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, and her eyes narrowed as if trying to read Souta's thoughts.