Chapter 7: Chapter 6, The Walls
POV Change
Inside the forests. Three miles from Wall Rose.
A group of Titans could be seen gathering underneath a tall tree. The tallest of them being 10 meter class.
Many scratched and clawed at the tree, almost as if they wished to climb it. Others either stood aside, or sat nearby.
Not performing meaningless work like the rest of their kind. However, their eyes never left the Tree for a single second.
The reason?
"... Hey …". Ilse called out hesitantly at Seiji.
Nesting on a branch at the top of the tree was dinner. Two humans, sitting without movement.
Ilse Langnar, Seiji Uchiha.
"What?" Resting against the tree with his eyes closed, Seiji responded.
"... Um, I . I was just curious if … If …".
The girl fiddled shyly.
It happened then.
GRGGGH!
The sound of a rumbling stomach interrupted her before she could finish her words.
Time seemed to freeze. Seeing him raise an eyebrow, Ilse's face flushed rapidly as she lowered her head, too embarrassed to look at him.
"... You're hungry?"
It had been several hours since Seiji rescued the Female from the Talking Titan. It was no surprise that upon leaving, she decided to follow him.
After all, it had been almost twenty-four hours since she had been on the run. Every second of it spent fearing she would meet a grisly demise.
To which she nearly did. Now seeing another human being, Even if she didn't know who Seiji was, she followed without hesitation.
It had been quite some time since then. However, the joy of having company was quickly diluted by ….
GRGGGH!
That's right, Ilse was hungry. Her last meal was before the Survey corps departed for Trost and whatever she may have felt was suppressed by the fear of death.
It was different now. The things she had seen along the way after rescue had lessened her trauma. However, she was still a girl after all.
Asking a stranger she had barely met for food was slightly embarrassing.
Her stomach, however, seemed not to care for her difficulties, openly voicing its needs and protest for her dawdling.
In response to Seiji's question, the girl let out a low hum.
Seiji frowned slightly. Ilse's heart sank.
'… Ugh! That's right, he doesn't have anything on him. I asked if he had food so stupidly when he probably doesn't. What was I … '.
Her thought process was interrupted.
Under her incredulous expression, the dark-haired boy reached for a scroll and rolled it open. Then placed his hands on the piece of paper and …
PUFF!
A puff of smoke emerged slightly, blocking her vision. When it faded, four cans had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Ilse was silent. Was this a magic trick? She had seen similar outrageous things during the hours before ending up on this tree.
Even then, this took the cake.
"Eat up …". Two were tossed at her before she could process what had just happened.
Ilse fumbled as she caught them, causing one to fall off the tree.
"..".
"... I … I'm … My bad". Ilse smiled awkwardly. Seiji didn't react, and turned to his food after giving her a look.
These were the rations he had prepared for his departure from Konoha.
A lot of it was stored up so he didn't feel bad if one was lost. Even if it was in the midst of Titans, he could retrieve it if he wanted to.
However, knowing the world he was in wasn't an apocalyptic wasteland with no food or water, he didn't feel pressed to do so.
It would be better to conserve the chakra required to use the body flicker technique to get it back.
Not to mention, what was in that canister wasn't food, but water.
Their time after was spent in silence, with Ilse finally getting a meal.
"... um, Thank you …". The silence was broken once again. Seiji looked at the female soldier.
Short black hair that was parted to the right side, lightly tanned skin, and gold-colored eyes with a small patch of freckles below each one.
"... You know, for saving me back then".
The young Uchiha blinked. "I heard you the first time you thanked me". The silence returned once again.
Ilse felt vaguely uncomfortable. Her mouth opening and closing constantly as if she wanted to ask something but didn't dare to.
"I'm … My name is Ilse Langnar. I'm a survey corps soldier". She tried introducing herself.
The dark-haired boy didn't raise his head.
"I already know who you are". Seiji responded apathetically, not giving his name in return. Memories from his last life replayed in his subconscious.
Ilse Langnar, survey corps member. In the Attack On Titan series, she wasn't a notable character of any sort.
In fact, she had died long before the battle of Trost arc, where The Colossal Titan made its second appearance.
Worst still, her only appearance wasn't in the main anime, but rather, the OVA's released after the end of season 4.
"Ilse's Notebook" was the name of the episode. In which, Ilse Langnar, a survey corps member, was stranded outside the walls with no horse, weapons, food, or ODM Gear.
In her perilous quest to make it home, she would come face to face with a Titan who could actually talk, who mistook her for a more prominent Attack On Titan Character, Ymir, the current holder of the Jaw Titan.
In the anime, her sole purpose was to record the Talking Titan's existence in her Journal before meeting a swift end in its hands.
Her Journal being found by Levi, Hange, and Squad Levi the following year alongside her corpse.
A side character but a named one nonetheless. It was sad, really.
As a previous AoT fan, Seiji had realized this the moment he heard the Titan speak and bow. As for when he had arrived?
Well, he had caught up the time she ran into the forest.
Meanwhile,
"You … know who I am?" Ilse was stunned.
Mainly because she didn't know him at all. And frankly, she doubted she would forget someone who looked so …. Ahem! Well, could leave such a lasting impression.
She hadn't seen someone who looked like Seiji before. Mainly because unlike the vast Majority of Paradisians, Seiji came from the Ninja world, and hence, looked and dressed like an Asian.
In Paradis Island, Asians were nearly extinct.
'… I don't know him …'. She thought internally. 'Could he perhaps be one of the ones mom wanted to set me up with?'
The Survey corps was a verified meat grinder.
No surprise, her parents had vehemently been against her joining the scouts. And like all children who had come of age, she decided to do it anyway. As a result, her mother had been trying desperately to get her a boyfriend.
Every time she returned home, her mom always clamored something about giving birth to a grandchild before she killed herself in her suicidal cause.
Worst of all, her father didn't object.
They had a point. It was impossible to deny, but she was nineteen for God's sake.
"Could you perhaps be someone my parents know?"
"No". Seiji responded.
"I don't know your parents. I knew you, however, when It confused you for Ymir".
'It? Wait, he means The … The talking Titan?' her eyes widened instantly.
"... You … You know who the Titan was talking about …".
Ilse asked, eager to obtain information.
"Yep".
"Tell me, who is it?" She asks urgently with bated breaths as she stared at the dark-haired youth before her.
In response …
"No". Seiji replied apathetically, with no intention of raising his head.
"No?"
"No".
"...". Ilse sat speechless. Not knowing how to respond.
"What … Why?"
"Why should I?"
"That …". The girl stuttered. "This … this could be valuable information. A breakthrough that could lead to a revolution. To humanity's victory over the Titans. It could save many lives, and perhaps help many more. Don't you care?"
Seiji paused, his eating movements slowing for a second as he looked at her.
"No".
"...".
Watching him eat, a strange sense of frustration began to well up within.
She didn't understand why he would say the things he said. Nor could she understand what he meant by he didn't care.
He was human too. Wasn't he? Why did he say that?
'…. and why is he out here in the first place'.
She thought inwardly.
No other human apart from the survey corps were supposed to be on the other side of the walls. What was he doing then?
'Perhaps, he left himself. From what I've seen, he can certainly do that. But why? And how can he even do what he can do? Who is this Ymir?'
In the time they had spent together, she had seen things that made her doubt everything she had been taught.
I mean, it wasn't the first time seeing someone kill these monsters so effortlessly. However, it certainly was the first seeing a human who could do so without ODM gear or cannons.
During the walk, he hardly replied to her inquiries, seeming to treasure his words like gold.
When they came into an area with Multiple Titans, he had simply grabbed her and leaped up into the trees. Leading to the current situation where a small Titan horde was below.
In this time, the male before her had displayed superhuman strength and agility. Speed beyond human limits. Vanishing and reappearing like a phantom. And now… pulling food out of thin air?
He was fast, strong, and seemingly a man of few words. It reminded her of what she heard of the squad Captain of the Special Operations squad.
Levi Ackerman. Just, younger and not as short.
But Levi couldn't do what he could. At least, she didn't know if he was capable of killing Titans without ODM equipment.
Ilse felt strange. Something didn't add up, and it wasn't just because of what he could do.
'He didn't even seem to be surprised by the Talking Titan, either. But that would mean he knew why it could talk. No … Perhaps he knows even more than that. Like who the Titans are … What they are, and why they eat us. Incredible. Yet … if he knows, then why not say anything?'
Inwardly analyzing, her thoughts spiraled more and more, unable to reach a definite conclusion.
'Who … Who exactly is he?'
It was unknown how long she spent in her thoughts. However.
"Alright, time to go".
The voice made her flinch. Looking up, she was surprised to see him standing.
"Huh? Now?"
"Would you rather stay here then?" Seiji asked.
The girl was stunned. Following which, she looked down.
What came into view was the numerous pupils all eyeing her.
"... No … no". She stands up with a slight shiver.
Seeing this, Seiji stretch's out his hand.
'Huh?' Slightly confused, she reaches out to hold it. Then yelps as he pulls her to him and holds her close.
Unfortunately, Seiji couldn't care for her reaction. With her close, sensing his surroundings, he Immediately used the body flicker technique.
Under the constant gaze of the Titans underneath, the figures of both humans turned into a blur before disappearing into thin air.
Loud groans resounded instantly from the Aberrant Titans, who just watched their meal disappear. They got up to their feet, their gazes moving in all directions to no avail.
Meanwhile,
Ilse gripped Seiji's arm tightly as the wind howled past her ears. The speed at which they moved was unlike anything she had ever experienced. No horse, no ODM gear maneuver could compare. It was almost unnatural—almost inhuman.
The trees blurred beneath them as Seiji effortlessly leaped from branch to branch, covering miles within moments. Her mind struggled to comprehend it.
'This isn't just skill. This is something else entirely.'
Her breath hitched as she dared to glance downward. The Titans—those mindless, grotesque monsters—were nothing but specks in the distance now. If she hadn't felt the way her body lurched with every movement, she would have thought they had just vanished into thin air.
"Hold on tighter," Seiji muttered.
Ilse barely had time to react before he shifted his grip and moved even faster.
Her arms instinctively wrapped around him, clinging for dear life. The heat of his body against her own was a stark contrast to the cold sweat clinging to her back. For a female who had experienced little male contact, The proximity, the unfamiliarity—it was overwhelming.
Her face turned red.
'W-What am I even thinking about in this situation?!'
Forcing herself to focus on something—anything—else.
Meanwhile,
'…. I see. Chakra sensing doesn't work here ….'.
Leaping from tree to tree, Seiji didn't notice Ilse's peculiarity. Instead, absorbed in his own thoughts.
The reason he and Ilse had ended up on that tree was because Seiji had unknowingly led them to that area.
Not realizing that multiple Titans were up ahead. Almost Twenty of them.
With so many rushing up at once, Seiji would find it difficult to protect himself, much less an additional burden.
The body flicker technique was capable of boosting a Ninja's speed to extreme levels. The drawbacks, however, were just as prominent.
Going at too fast a speed meant potentially overwhelming ones own senses. If you couldn't follow your movement speed, then you could slam into any object in your path.
As an Uchiha, he didn't have this problem. But that wasn't the Technique's only weakness.
It had limited range. No more than a hundred and fifty meters at a time. The greater the distance, the larger the chakra consumed proportionally.
The physical body had to be capable of withstanding such fast movement, even with Chakra blessing. Hence, leading to quick exhaustion.
Not to mention, as an Evasion and Travel technique, It was notoriously difficult to utilize in battle.
So much so that Shishui, who accomplished such a feat was given the Title "Shishui Of The Body Flicker".
Extra movement, Twist and Turns, rapid change of direction, instant usage after already performing a body flicker… It was too difficult, requiring exceptional, almost inhumane control over one's own body. As an ordinary Chunin, Seiji was no exception.
With Titans in all directions, he would have to be careful, even with Chakra boosted speed.
Ilse would instantly become Titan food. Hence, he simply carried her above their reach, all the while pondering why he hadn't noticed the Titans.
Now, he had his answer. Chakra. Or rather, the Titan's lack of it.
In the Ninja world, every living being had chakra. From humans, to animals, to trees. It was impossible not to possess it, as having no chakra essentially meant death.
This was the law of the Ninja world. This world, however, had different laws, and only now was it fully dawning on him what it meant to leave the world of Naruto.
Chakra didn't exist here, hence, a lot of things would become much more complicated. For example, Chakra Sensing.
Sensory type ninjas used Chakra Sensing to perceived people far away. It was effective on inanimate objects, as those things lacked chakra.
Seiji who was used to chakra perception, didn't realize that until now. This meant that in the world of Attack on Titan, everything was an inanimate object in this regard.
From humans to trees, to Titans, It all lacked Chakra. Making his Chakra Perception useless.
'…. In that case, it might not be the only thing. I'm afraid Genjutsu in this world is virtually impossible too…'.
He thought without stopping his movements.
Time elapsed. Eventually, they landed at the edge of the treeline. Ahead, the Walls loomed, standing as an indomitable reminder of humanity's fragile sanctuary.
Ilse barely noticed. Her legs trembled as Seiji loosened his grip and set her down.
She took a step forward and nearly collapsed, clearly unused to being carried at such speeds.
"Whoa—!" She caught herself, her breath coming in short gasps. "T-That was—!"
Her voice halted as she noticed what stood in the distance. Instantly, her eyes moistened at the sight of it.
"We made it!"
A day and a night trapped outside and upon returning, those old walls had never looked more beautiful.
What she thought was nearly impossible was now within reach. Home, she was going home.
Her legs quickened as she ran down the small hill, a smile plastered on her face.
"Come on, we're going … Huh?" Ilse stopped. Realizing that she was the only one running.
Turning around, she saw Seiji still standing in the same spot.
"... Hey … Aren't you coming?…"
"No".
Ilse: ??
Not this again.
"What do you mean?"
Seiji swept his gaze into the distance. "It's been nice meeting you. But this is where we part ways".
Ilse's eyes widened. "You can't be serious".
"I am".
"But staying outside the walls is dangerous".
"I'll manage".
Ilse looked at him, then at the walls in the distance. The open fields to Trost suddenly seemed much longer.
His lack of ODM gear. His strange fighting style. His refusal to share information. It had been eating at her the entire time. And now, as they stood on the precipice of safety, the truth felt more apparent than ever.
"... You … You're not from here. Are you? Is that why you won't follow me into the walls?"
'… You have no idea. Wondered how long it would take her to figure that out'. Seiji thought with a roll of his eyes.
"I guess you could say that".
"Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Seiji exhaled through his nose. "I have no reason to."
"But you're human!" she argued. "And you're out here alone—doing things no normal person can do! You could tell us everything! About the Titans, about that talking one—So many people have died already. What you know could help us!"
The desperation in her voice was evident, and Seiji could hear it. But that didn't change his stance.
"... I saved your life," he said. "That's all I felt like doing. The rest isn't my concern."
Ilse clenched her fists. She knew arguing wouldn't work, but it frustrated her.
"Why are you even out here?" she demanded. "What is someone like you doing outside the walls?"
Seiji stared at her for a long moment. He could tell she was trying to piece things together in her head, but her knowledge of the world was too limited. Even if she had suspicions, there was no way she'd ever guess the truth.
"... Let's just say I'm biding my time here. I'll leave once I accomplish my goal," he finally said.
Ilse frowned. "What could you possibly be here for?"
Seiji turned away from her and began walking toward the tree line.
"If I ever decide to tell anyone," he said over his shoulder, "you'll be the first to know."
Ilse opened her mouth to argue again, but the words died in her throat. She had no authority over him. No way to convince him.
"At least tell me your name".
He paused. Well, there was no harm there.
"Seiji Uchiha". Seiji didn't wait for a response. In a blink, his body vanished from sight.
Ilse's breath caught in her throat.
"... He disappeared again," she murmured. Then turned back again after searching but finding nothing.
The walls of Wall Rose waited in the distance.
'Mom, dad. I'm coming everyone'.
As she ran toward the entrance, she clutched her notebook tightly.
Her mind was in turmoil.
'Who is Seiji Uchiha? What does he know? And… why does he refuse to help?'
She had no answers.
Only questions.
And for the first time since joining the Survey Corps…
She feared the truth.
....
Alright, This is The End Of the Outside the walls Arc. Six chapters in. Let me know how well the FF is so far.