"There you are", the familiar calm voice catches me off guard, but I don't bother glancing over my shoulder because I know who it is. Instead, I look down at the gravestone that stood still.
Fourth Fire Shadow
I lower my head further, recoiling at the idea of crying. It's been seven years since the Nine-tail's attack, but the sight of this gravestone never fails to strike with the painful memories.
"I'm guessing there was still so much you wanted to tell Minato Sensei", Kakashi stands beside me, in his left hand was the Make-out Paradise book that he immediately put away. He levels his head to stare at the sky and says, "You know tears don't mean you're weak".
"I never saw you weep for either Rin or Obito", I manage to say in a steady voice.
"Cut it out Hanabi, neither you nor I am made of stone".
"Well, wouldn't it be less exhausting if we were?".
"Indeed yes, but I came here to tell you that Lord Third wants to see you. So say your prayers and head to his office".
I sigh and roll my eyes replying, "What does that geezer want?".
Kakashi sighed, lowering his head to pay his respects to The Fourth Hokage. A chill scattered in the air, cut short when Kakashi spoke, "Are you holding a grudge against Lord Third, Hanabi?".
I bit my lip, recalling the sight of the Nine Tail's Jinchuriki, who is now seven years old. The way the people of this village treat him, not knowing that Minato Sensei has entrusted his own son to us. "Minato Sensei's wishes were not fulfilled. His orphan is being treated like an outcast instead of a hero".
"I understand", Kakashi turns to me, face-to-face, and informs, "You know, for being a disciple of Minato Namikaze you more than anyone else should know that he had a lot of enemies. He's the Yellow Flash of The Leaf after all. Don't you think that exposing Naruto's identity would be the same as making him a target?".
I clenched my jaw and reached for The Flying Thunder God kunai. Just looking at it makes me sad. "You know, Minato Sensei wasn't so creative when it came to choosing names for his jutsus", I scoff humourlessly and turn to stare Kakashi in the eyes, "He wasn't just a teacher or a fine shinobi. He was also family to me". With that being said, I fling the kunai behind Kakashi and raise two fingers as I said, " Lightning Style: Flying Raijin Jutsu".
Before I get to see Kakashi's expression, I was teleported to the gate of the graveyard, looking over my shoulder one last time I saw Kakashi gave me a heads up and I reached to snatch my kunai. Muttering a string of profanities, I began marching my way to Lord Third's office.
***
I managed to march my way to the Hokage's office, approaching the door carefully I stood there until I heard my name being called. That's when someone beat me to opening the door from the other side. At a moment's notice, I was met with eyes so dark I felt they contrasted my signature blue Namikaze ones. The same thing could be said about his dark hair, which was gathered in a low ponytail. The way the atmosphere rapidly changes in his presence, so calm, so composed made a chill scatter throughout my spine. Our eyes connect, yet I can feel the distinction between our distant personalities.
His features are too remarkable to be missed easily, an Uchiha, I concluded. There was no any other exchange between us except a small narrowing of eyes at each other's sight. He treaded away, but not without a final glance. I somehow managed to pay attention to the four highest figures in the Leaf Village, still brooding about the boy. Their eyes fell on me, The Elders, Lord Danzo of The Foundation, and Hiruzen, the Third Fire Shadow of the Leaf. He reclaimed his position as Hokage after the Nine Tail's attack when Minato Sensei died.
"Hanabi Namikaze was it?", Lord Third Hokage asks and I nod, ", Mhmm". Which resulted in me being glared at by the two elders as well as Lord Danzo. "I...mean...yes sir", I quickly correct myself. That Danzo of the Foundation gives me goosebumps. His bandaged right eye and hand always aroused curiosity within me.
"Hanabi Namikaze, I can see you have the potential to become an exceptional shinobi", Lord Third starts, and I resist the urge to tell him to get straight to the point. I mentally laugh at thought of knowing how many other shinobi has he told this to. 'YoU hAvE pOtEnTiAl', I think to myself.
"We decided it's time to discuss with you and make use of your abilities for the greater good", one of the Elder geezers chirps in.
"You are a disciple of the late Fourth Hokage", Danzo's deep voice makes me build up my defenses. "Well no shit", is what I wanted to say, instead I decided to stick with saying a simple yes.
"So tell us Hanabi, what is your chakra nature and release as well as how many jutsus have you mastered under the wing of our late Fourth Fire Shadow?".
"I thought you had cards of information about all Leaf shinobi", I say feeling a little confused. Danzo narrows his eye at me and replies, " Well, it wouldn't hurt if we try to make some small talk with our exceptional shinobi".
"If you want something to talk about, I suggest we talk about the Nine Tail's jinchuriki who is also Minato Sensei's orphan", I retort, directing my dissatisfaction at Lord Third, completely ignoring Danzo. Lord Third and the two geezers remain silent as Danzo speaks up, "That boy is taboo".
I don't bother looking at Danzo, but this time my response was directed at him, "I am talking with the Third Fire Shadow of the Leaf, awaiting a response only from him". From my peripheral vision, I saw Danzo's dissatisfied expression.
"Naruto Namikaze shouldn't be treated like that in his own village!", my voice elevates, "He's a hero".
"You're just as much of a pest like him", Danzo retorts back, but I'm still hellbent on ignoring him.
"Lord Danzo", I growl, avoiding eye contact, "The pest you're talking about has harbored a tailed beast, and is the son of the shinobi who killed one-thousand shinobi in the Third Great Ninja War. I wonder what have you done for your village?".
"How dare you disrespect your elders!", Danzo yells at me as he stands up and slaps his hand on the desk. I felt a chill that I quickly concealed. "You're a brat", he points at me. Then he goes on to turn to Lord Third and says, "Hiruzen and you were suggesting to recommend her to the Anbu Black Ops?".
My eyes widen at what I'm hearing and this time I did look at Danzo and the other two geezers. Their stern faces confirmed it. Me in the Anbu Black Ops?
"What? Is this a joke? Aren't I too young to be considered in the Anbu?", I inquire, having a hand on my hip.
"Why? There was someone way younger than you when he joined the Anbu", Lord Third asserts and my brows crease in confusion. Danzo manages to compose himself and sits down when I keep ignoring him. I take a moment to digest this information when one of the geezers decides to chirp in.
"Itachi Uchiha was eleven years old when he joined the Anbu Black Ops. Probably the youngest member to ever join. And you'll be second, having joined at the age of thirteen".
"Who said I'll accept your offer?", I question and Danzo seemed to have it at this point. "Danzo, please", Lord Third says and turns to me, "Hanabi Namikaze, why do I feel like you hold a certain stigma towards us?".
"N-nothing of that sort", I lie backing away slowly, "your offer caught me by surprise that's all...I need time to contemplate". Holding my breath I don't wait for their response and immediately bolt for the door.
"You weren't dismissed you brat!", I hear Danzo yell along with some other insults, but by that time I'm long gone. Exiting the Hokage's building and the first thing I spot is the great stone faces covered in funky doodles. That managed to bring a smile to my face.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm gonna be Hokage someday!", Naruto Namikaze yells at the top of his lungs, the spirit this boy got surpasses that of Minato's. If he keeps up this energy he'll become a fine shinobi in no time. The villagers start to whisper and murmur as usual. I sighed and strolled away.
***
The sky has finally darkened, the woods seem intimidating at this time of the day. However I'm hellbent on perfecting my Flying Raijin Jutsu. I've exhausted my chakra long enough to take a break, but instead I snatch four shurikens and aim them at the piece of training wood. My aim got better when I imagined the wood as Danzo, having hit my target. "I wonder what you're hiding under those bandages, foolish geezer", I mutter to myself. Then I begin jabbing and kicking the training wood to work on my Taijutsu skills.
By the time I was done practicing Taijutsu, my breathing was so erratic that my heat felt like it skipped several beats. I stared at the sky, the moon shining as bright as ever, hovering it's luminous light over my training site. Before I decided to conclude today's training I wanted to try my Flying Raijin at a greater distance. So I took out Minato Sensei's special kunai and took a moment to appreciate the memory of the first time he presented me with it.
With all the force I could muster up at this point I flinged the kunai in a random direction deep in the forest, marking an unknown spot. I waited several minutes in order to focus my chakra and concentrate. When I felt comfortable in my mental state I raise two fingers and said, "Lightning Style: Flying Raijin Jutsu!".
And sure I was teleported somewhere near a clearing, frantically I began searching for Minato Sensei's kunai. I check for my usual training site, but it's no where in sight indicating that I have in fact succeeded. Before I could dance a victory dance I had to worry about the kunai first.
"Found it!", I exclaimed to no one in particular as I found the kunai engulfed in a bush.
"I'm glad you came"
A voice from the clearing made me tense up immediately, however it wasn't directed at me. Some inaudible chatter followed the voice and I decided that I wanted a clear glimpse. So ever so slowly and cautiously I approach them, making sure I stay in the hiding. I peeked my head carefully from my hiding spot squinting my eyes to see who it is.
My mouth fell agape when my eyes fell on the Uchiha boy I saw today. He was talking to a man in an orange mask, their chatter however was still inaudible. Involuntary, I was stepping closer and closer, but with no progress. Then my body went completely immobile when I realized that I'd stepped on a twig. The crunch of it signified the end of their chatter.
"Who's there?", the Uchiha boy says lucidly. When I've managed to come to my senses again I do the only rational thing I could think of right now. And so I take my kunai and fling it again in an opposite direction to this clearing. I feel the footsteps approaching closer as I raise my two fingers, but I feel every bit of my body ache.
Damn it, I have very little to no chakra left at all.