Three years later...
Lord Third returned to the orphanage, a familiar sense of unease settling in his stomach. He had come to check on Tsuki, but also to address a pressing matter concerning another young resident.
"He's grown quite a bit since I last saw him," the matron remarked, her voice tinged with fondness.
Hiruzen nodded, his gaze fixed on the boy playing quietly in the corner. "I'm told he's one of your favorites."
"Indeed," she replied. "He's always so quiet and obedient." A wistful smile touched her lips. "A stark contrast to the other one."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. "And what about Naruto?"
The matron's smile faded, replaced by a frown. "Naruto causes a lot of trouble here. We can't keep him much longer. It's partially the reason I invited you here. He bothers nearly all the children, and don't even get me started on how my peers feel."
"Isn't there a child who isn't bothered by him?" Hiruzen inquired, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Yes, and that's another problem," the matron sighed. "The only child Tsuki has formed a bond with is Naruto. And it goes the same way for Naruto. Everyone except Tsuki despises him. Separating them won't be easy."
Hiruzen observed Tsuki, noting the changes in the boy's appearance. His hair had grown long, its spiky, unkempt strands framing his face like a curtain.
Suddenly, a boisterous voice broke through the quiet atmosphere.
"Naruto! Let's go play some football!"
Tsuki looked up, his expression softening as he spotted his friend. "Yuna-sama," he called to the matron, "can Naruto and I have another ball? We want to play together, and the others are using the other one."
Yuna nodded, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"You're so lucky people don't look at you the way they see me," Naruto grumbled as he kicked the ball towards Tsuki. "If I had asked for it, she would have scolded me for no reason."
Tsuki deftly trapped the ball with his foot. "So what? Even if they don't like you, that doesn't matter. It's all talk. If they want to do something, both of us can and will kick their butts."
Naruto grinned, picturing the scene.
Tsuki kicked the ball back.
"Yeah right," Naruto retorted playfully. "Can you even see with that stupid hair in front of your face all the time? You'll probably punch me instead, you know." He laughed, pointing at Tsuki's unruly locks.
"Well, at least my hair doesn't always look like I haven't washed it in weeks," Tsuki quipped back, a rare smile gracing his lips.
The two boys continued their game, their laughter echoing through the orphanage, oblivious to the weight of their shared loneliness and the secrets that surrounded them.
Whoosh!
The Hokage materialized in a swirl of leaves, flanked by two jonin shinobi. Their sudden appearance disrupted the boys' game, drawing their attention.
"You're Naruto Uzumaki, right?" Hiruzen inquired, his gaze settling on the boisterous blond boy.
Naruto, momentarily distracted from his game, frowned. "Hey, you messed up our game!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
Hiruzen offered a conciliatory smile. "Sorry about that. I just need to talk to you for a while."
Naruto crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Can't this wait? We just started!"
The Hokage reached into his pocket, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, actually, this can't wait. But here, let me make a deal." He produced a large packet of sweets, dangling it enticingly before Naruto. "If you come with me, I'll give you all of these."
Naruto scoffed. "You kidding? Even I'm not stupid enough for that."
Tsuki, who had been observing the exchange with quiet curiosity, piped up. "Hey, you're the Hokage, aren't you?"
Naruto blinked in surprise. "He's the Hokage? No way, he looks too old for that."
Tsuki pointed to Hiruzen's back. "Look, it says so on his robe."
Naruto squinted, then his eyes widened. "Oh yeah, it does."
"Hey, old man, where are you taking him?!" Tsuki demanded, his voice laced with a protectiveness that surprised even himself.
The Hokage didn't respond, continuing his purposeful stride towards the exit.
"Naruto is finally being kicked out," a snide voice sneered from behind Tsuki. "Good riddance."
Tsuki whirled around, his fists clenched. "Say that again, and I'll kick the air out of your lungs!"
"Naruto isn't going anywhere," he declared, his voice firm. "I won't allow it." With a burst of unexpected speed, Tsuki lunged towards the Hokage.
"You're not taking him anywhere!"
He swung his fist at one of the jonin, but the shinobi effortlessly evaded the blow. Tsuki stumbled forward, his face colliding with the unforgiving ground.
Undeterred, he scrambled back to his feet and charged again. This time, a swift punch to the gut sent him reeling backward, the air knocked from his lungs.
"Stay down, kid," the jonin warned, his tone stern.
But Tsuki refused to yield. He pushed himself up, his determination unwavering.
"No!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. He glanced down at his fist, noticing the blood trickling from a fresh wound. "He's my friend!"
Even as his breaths grew ragged, Tsuki felt a surge of energy coursing through him. A burning sensation ignited behind his still-closed eyes.
"I said No!"
"Look out!" Hiruzen barked, barely managing to leap back as a shockwave erupted from Tsuki.
BOOM!
The ground shattered beneath the boy's feet, and an invisible force sent the Hokage and the two jonin hurtling through the nearest wall.
"Huh? What is this?... my eyes…" Tsuki gasped, his hand instinctively reaching for his face. He felt a warm liquid trickling down his cheek.
The world around him had transformed. Colors seemed to vibrate with an unnatural intensity, and every sound echoed in his ears.
'"It's so bright… but I'm… dizzy."'
He reached out for Naruto, his vision swimming.
"Naruto…"
Then, everything went black.
Four days later…
"Urgh!"
Tsuki's head throbbed with a dull ache. He tried to move, but his limbs felt leaden, unresponsive. And then he realized—he couldn't see. Something was wrapped tightly around his eyes.
"Hello? Where am I?" he called out, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
Panic gnawed at him. He was trapped in a sterile, white room, devoid of any distinguishing features or reflections. He was alone, confined by a straightjacket and a suffocating blindfold.
"Naruto?" he whimpered, his voice cracking. There was no answer.
"I get it… I'm alone again."
A solitary tear escaped, sliding down his cheek and disappearing into the stark whiteness of the floor.
In the Hokage's Office
Within the Hokage's office, a tense meeting was underway. Hiruzen, his body swathed in bandages, sat at his desk, his expression grim.
"Hiruzen," Danzo's voice cut through the silence, "we must act quickly and eliminate this child before he causes any more damage."
Koharu, seated beside Danzo, nodded in agreement. "I hate to concur, but the boy is dangerous. He nearly killed you with a single blow."
Homura, the third member of the council, leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. "More importantly, even if we eliminate the child, what about his eyes? I know what I saw, and so did the others. He possesses the Rinnegan, the most powerful dojutsu known to man. It was believed to be nothing more than a myth, a tale to frighten children."
Danzo's single eye gleamed with ambition. "Which is why we should keep them. Konohagakure would be unstoppable."
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"What now?!" Hiruzen snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"He's here," a timid voice replied from the other side.
Hiruzen took a deep breath, composing himself. "Let him in."
The door creaked open, and a man with long, flowing white hair and two distinctive red markings on his face entered the room.
"My, you sound stressed, Sarutobi-sensei," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice as he took a seat.
"Jiraiya," Hiruzen acknowledged, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "I'm glad you could make it back. I know it wasn't easy, given your pursuit of Orochimaru."
Jiraiya shook his head. "When I heard the news about you being hospitalized, I didn't hesitate. You are my sensei, after all."
Hiruzen offered a grateful smile. "Is it true what they're saying about the child who attacked you?" Jiraiya asked,
Hiruzen's expression turned serious. "Yes, it's true. The child possesses the Rinnegan."
Jiraiya's mind flashed back to a certain young child he had trained during his time in Amegakure. A child with eyes that held the promise of both salvation and destruction.
"Well, where is he?" Jiraiya's voice was sharp, his tone demanding.
"He is locked up for attacking the Hokage," Danzo replied, his tone nonchalant, as if discussing the weather.
Jiraiya's frown deepened. "Have you all gone mad?!" His outburst startled the council members.
"This child," Jiraiya continued, his voice laced with urgency, "possesses the power to bring salvation to the world in times of chaos or become a tool of destruction capable of annihilating everything. These eyes are the most powerful of the Three Great Dojutsu, once believed to be nothing more than a myth. And the first thing you do is treat him like a criminal?!"
The council members exchanged uneasy glances.
"At least tell me it was for a good reason," Jiraiya pressed, his gaze unwavering.
Hiruzen sighed, the weight of his decision pressing heavily upon him. "When we went to the orphanage, no one suspected him of having the Rinnegan. People were complaining about his friend, Naruto. The matron requested that Naruto be removed... He was Tsuki's only friend there."
Jiraiya's heart sank.
"We thought he'd simply make new friends later," Hiruzen continued. "We took Naruto away, and Tsuki fought one of the jonin I had with me. He was easily defeated, but little did we know we had angered him, awakening a dormant power within."
Hiruzen paused, his voice thick with regret. "A tremendous force repulsed us, killing two of the jonin and nearly killing me. If I had been even a fraction of a second slower to react, he would have killed me as well with that one move."
"I see…" Jiraiya's face was grim, his thoughts swirling with a mix of anger, sorrow, and a profound sense of foreboding.
"One more thing you should know," Hiruzen added, his voice heavy. "That friend he made... his name is Naruto Uzumaki."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief. "Minato's son?"
Hiruzen nodded solemnly.
"Take me to the kid." Jiraiya's voice was firm, his resolve unwavering.
Hiruzen's eyes widened in alarm. "Impossible! The child is unstable. He could kill anyone, including you," Danzo interjected, his voice laced with disapproval.
"Take me to him," Jiraiya repeated, his tone brooking no argument.
Danzo clicked his tongue in frustration. Seeing Jiraiya this serious was a rare sight, and he knew better than to dismiss his request.
The group left the Hokage's office and headed towards a secluded location on the outskirts of the village. Tsuki was confined in an old, abandoned prison near the forest, a relic from the Great Ninja War.
Clank!
The sound of the heavy door opening echoed through the desolate corridor. Tsuki's eyes snapped open, his senses heightened by days of isolation and darkness.
"Hello? Is anyone there? Help! Let me out! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! Just let me go!" his desperate pleas filled the air.
Jiraiya winced, his heart aching at the boy's anguished cries.
"Lower the barrier," he commanded the Anbu guard stationed outside the cell.
The Anbu hesitated, but Jiraiya's imposing presence left no room for defiance. With a resigned sigh, the guard deactivated the barrier.
Jiraiya entered the cell, his demeanor softening as he approached the trembling child. "Hey there," he said gently, "it's going to be okay. Just relax, and I'll get these off you."
Tsuki, freed from the confines of the straightjacket, cautiously removed the blindfold. He blinked rapidly, his eyes stinging from the sudden exposure to light.
Tears had left their mark, his eyelids red and swollen. But it was his pupils that drew Jiraiya's attention. They were a deep, mesmerizing purple, with concentric rings rippling outwards, like the surface of a disturbed pond.
The Rinnegan.
As Tsuki's vision cleared, he saw the man who had freed him. Uncertain of his intentions or allegiance, Tsuki instinctively recoiled, his body tense with fear.
"You'll be alright with me," Jiraiya said softly, his voice a soothing balm to Tsuki's frayed nerves. He extended his arms, offering a comforting embrace.
Tsuki hesitated for a moment, then, drawn by an inexplicable sense of trust, he stepped forward and allowed himself to be enveloped in Jiraiya's warmth.
The Hokage and the others watched the exchange, a cold shiver running down their spines as Tsuki's Rinnegan eyes met their gaze. The intensity of his stare, filled with both pain and power, left them momentarily speechless.
"Sarutobi-sensei," Jiraiya declared, his voice firm and resolute, "I'm taking Tsuki as my student. Not only will I teach him, but I will also protect him. If the other nations learn about his Rinnegan, he could become a target. We must keep this a secret."
"Hiruzen, you cannot allow this!" Danzo protested, his single eye blazing with anger. "This child should be kept under our watch and serve Konoha exclusively."
Tsuki clung to Jiraiya's hand, seeking refuge behind his imposing figure.
"No," Jiraiya said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This isn't up for discussion—"
Hiruzen raised a hand, silencing Danzo with a subtle gesture. He understood the wisdom in Jiraiya's words.
Jiraiya turned to Tsuki, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "Say, why don't we go and get some ramen?"
A flicker of hope sparked in Tsuki's eyes. "Alright," he replied softly, his grip on Jiraiya's hand tightening.
(Edited on 12/9/24)