Naruto: Monthly Refreshing Stand Abillity

As Ishiki Kujo walked back into the Hidden Leaf alongside his unit, crowds had already gathered along the village streets.

They held flowers, wore wide smiles, and stood in waves to welcome the returning heroes of war.

Although the triumph was officially attributed to Orochimaru, Ishiki Kujo, and Uchiha Shisui, every ninja who had fought on the border was a hero in the eyes of the villagers. Without their sacrifice, there would be no peace.

Still, everyone knew—the man who single-handedly forced Iwagakure to surrender was Ishiki Kujo.

No one knew who started it, but the moment Ishiki stepped into the village, someone shouted his name.

It echoed down the street like thunder—and then came the chants for Shisui, for Orochimaru.

But no name could overpower Ishiki Kujo's in the hearts of the people.

He was the undisputed star, the pride of Konoha.

In that moment, surrounded by cheers and applause, Ishiki felt something stir inside him.

A sense of belonging.

He liked this version of Konoha.

What he didn't like, though, was the way the girls on both sides of the road were looking at him—that shy, dreamy gaze teenage girls gave their imaginary prince.

It made Ishiki, who preferred a quieter, more reserved presence—someone like Shizune—feel awkward.

His eyes scanned the crowd. He spotted Mirina with a crimson face, and Chika looking at him with starry-eyed admiration… but no sign of his sister, or of the one girl he secretly hoped to see, the one who always had a tiny pig in her arms.

"I won't lose either. I'll be a hero of Konoha too!" came a fierce voice beside him.

Ishiki turned and saw Anko Mitarashi staring at him, eyes full of burning ambition.

"Keep it up. I've got high hopes for you. Lord Orochimaru does too—you're gonna be great." Ishiki ruffled her hair like a big brother.

Anko puffed her cheeks and shot him a furious look.

"Tch! Damn it!"

Only a year older than her, and yet he was already this strong. No way was she going to let him hog all of Orochimaru-sama's attention!

Anko clenched her fists in determination. She'd train twice as hard. No—two hundred times as hard. Then she'd leave him in the dust.

After the flower-strewn streets and the cheers came the celebration feast the village had prepared for its heroes.

By the time Ishiki returned home, it was already past midnight.

The house was no longer the old Fourth Hokage's—he and Rinfa had been relocated after the war. It wasn't large, but it was warm.

That was Ishiki's first thought stepping through the door.

The second was the surge of calm he felt seeing Rinfa waiting for him inside.

She reached up and mussed his hair with a fond smile. "Brat. You're finally home."

"Yeah." Ishiki batted her hand away, eyes narrowing in mock indignation before he flipped his hair. "So? Miss me?"

"Quit showing off." Rinfa rolled her eyes. "Go get cleaned up. You're gonna be busy tomorrow."

"Hey, I just came back from a battlefield. Can't I rest at least one—"

Before he could finish, she shoved him into the bathroom.

"Mhm. Thanks for your hard work," she said half-heartedly, barely hiding her smirk.

Inside the bath, the smile faded from Ishiki's face.

When Rinfa touched him, he'd felt it—his eyes and body had suddenly burned.

He knew that sensation. He'd felt it once before.

She had a piece of the Saint's Corpse inside her.

But how…?

He'd been around her for years and never noticed a thing.

Wait.

Back when he first arrived in this world, she'd hugged him from behind in the hospital, and he'd suddenly burned up. Back then, he thought it was just embarrassment.

But what if it wasn't?

What if that had been a reaction from the piece of the Saint's Corpse inside him, resonating with hers?

But why would she have one? And what part of the Corpse did she possess? What was her Stand?

Sinking fully beneath the water, Ishiki tried to calm his mind. He couldn't piece it together.

But then—why guess?

They were family.

And family talked.

Resolved, Ishiki emerged from the water, dried himself off, dressed quickly, and strode out of the bathroom.

"Sis, we need to talk."

He stormed toward the kitchen.

"It's about the Corpse, right?" Rinfa turned, stirring noodles, smiling knowingly.

Ishiki blinked. "You knew?"

"Of course. When you sensed the Corpse piece inside me, I sensed yours too. I didn't expect you to find more in just one trip to the Land of Earth, though."

"Wait… you've known I had a piece all this time?" Ishiki was stunned.

"Obviously." Rinfa nodded. "You knew too—you just forgot. Our uncle told you everything when you were little."

And then, a Stand appeared on her shoulder.

Tiny, pink, shaped like a beast with starry markings all over its skin—its cold blue eyes locked onto Ishiki.

He recognized it instantly.

[Tusk].

Act 1.

Just like in Steel Ball Run—Rinfa's Stand was unmistakable.

"Why did I forget…?" Ishiki's voice dropped.

"When you were five, you cracked your skull open. You nearly died. We brought you back, but your memories didn't come with you." Rinfa's smile was sad. "That's why I became a medical ninja. I promised myself no matter how bad you got hurt, I'd be able to bring you back."

"That's sweet and all, but I'd prefer you just hoped I didn't get hurt in the first place." Ishiki rubbed his head, trying and failing to remember anything from before he was five.

"But after I lost my memory, none of you told me anything about the Corpse?"

"Uncle said not to. Said it was better for the 'new' you to live without that burden. But now that you remember, I won't hide anything from you. Because this is your responsibility."

"Responsibility?" Ishiki's eyes narrowed.

Rinfa looked into his eyes, her expression serious.

"The responsibility of the Kujo bloodline."