After the previous night's terrifying ordeal, sleep had become an elusive luxury. Restlessness consumed him as he tossed and turned, unable to find solace. The memory of the overwhelming malevolence he had sensed lingered, like a dark presence gnawing at his sanity.
Morning arrived, but his eyes felt heavy, burdened by the weight of mental fatigue. The chilling recollection of the night's events sent shivers down his spine, leaving him with an unsettling sense of unease.
Suddenly, a loud banging noise echoed from outside his room. Another child, filled with nervous energy, hastily opened the door. His voice trembled as he anxiously inquired, "Hey Shin, do you know where Sikao and Reiji are?"
With a heavy voice and lingering distress, Shin replied, "No, I don't know. I just woke up."
Without further questions, the child, named Kai, hurriedly dashed off, his footsteps echoing through the dormitory. Kai was one of the few children with whom Shin had limited interaction.
Curiosity piqued, Shin rose from his bed and ventured out of his room. As he stood in the dormitory, he observed other children emerging from their rooms. Some had been awakened by the commotion, while others had been awake earlier.
Soon, Shin found himself sitting in the dining area, surrounded by fellow children, as they mechanically ate their breakfast. The once lively atmosphere was now subdued, weighed down by a somber air. Conversations were scarce, and playful banter was replaced by uneasy silence.
In the midst of this gloom, Dai, the caretaker, entered the dining hall, his face etched with worry. He spoke with a touch of panic in his voice, "Does anyone know where Reiji and Seiko are? Kai hasn't seen them since he woke up this morning. Did they go out?"
No response.
Dai continued, trying to incentivize the children, "Okay, I'm telling you this because we need to find them. If anyone knows their plans or has seen them leaving, please speak up. I promise, on behalf of Emi, that you will not face any punishment. There might even be a reward." Emi grunted in acknowledgment, her voice carrying a weighty solemnity.
Still, no response came from the children.
Finally, Akiko broke the silence, "Big brother, I don't think that anyone has seen them since yesterday".
Dai, who had initially dismissed the situation as a prank, began to feel genuine unease. "Okay, everyone, finish your breakfast quickly and start working on the homework I assigned. Emi and I will search outside for them."
Dai swiftly departed, heading towards the playground, while Emi ventured into the market, seeking answers from the stalls.
Shin was trying to eat breakfast while in deep thought, still haunted by the memories of last night`s meditation, he found that he didn't have much of an appetite.
------Hokage Building-------
The Hokage building buzzed with its usual activity. Nobles and ninjas frequented the premises, either seeking missions or reporting their completion. On the same floor as the Hokage's office, a man sat in a room, observing the bustling affairs below. His face possessed sharp, chiseled features, and his hair was neatly tied at the back with a string. The circular emblem on his attire bore intricate patterns resembling intertwining vines.
Within his office, five diligent assistants worked tirelessly to organize and manage the constant flow of paperwork that required his attention. He swiveled his chair around and caught sight of a floating cloud, its ethereal form taking the shape of either a phoenix or a dragon—its true nature eluding his weary eyes. An expected sigh escaped his lips, and he muttered, "What a drag."
With a resigned expression, he turned his chair to face his working table. Addressing three of his assistants—Sakima, Koki, and Matsu—he requested, "Please bring me all the papers categorized as priority A. I have an urgent meeting at 3."
Sakima stood up and reported in a playful, "Yes, reporting sir, there are 40 mission statements, 60 letters awaiting replies, and 20 domestic agreements in the A Category. Do you like them in a random order or piled according to category?"
Shukaku looked at the boy recommended by the Hokage due to unfortunate circumstances of the Hatake clan with a bit of intrigue and curiosity. The boy in a naughty mood flinched at the soul piercing eyes of the Nara clan head.
"Surprise me today, Sakima", said Shukaku with a playful smile.
-----Hokage Office-----
In the heart of the expansive chamber stood a charismatic young man in his twenties, adorned in the illustrious Hokage robe. His blond locks cascaded in stylish curls, and blue eyes framing a face that exuded charm and confidence. Legends spoke of a smile so captivating that even enemies would find themselves entranced, though such claims were unverified, as no known adversaries had survived to confirm them.
This prodigious figure was none other than the "Yellow Flash of the Leaf," Minato Namikaze, who had ascended to the position of Hokage at a mere twenty years of age. Merely three months into his tenure, the young Hokage had wholeheartedly embraced his role, guiding the Leaf Village toward a new era of strength and prosperity. Under his leadership, the village had swiftly reclaimed its position as the most powerful in the world.
Within the village's ranks, an impressive assembly of formidable warriors emerged. Seven S-rank ninjas bolstered the Leaf's might, including the likes of Minato Namikaze himself, the venerable Hiruzen Sarutobi, the elusive Danzo Shimura, the legendary Three Sannin, and Uchiha clan head, Fugaku Uchiha. With such a formidable array of talent, the Leaf Village stood strong across all fronts, its power reaching unprecedented heights.
The transition of power from the Third Hokage to Minato Namikaze had been anticipated with trepidation. The Third, a long-term rival and dear friend of Danzo, had expected resistance from the formidable elder. However, to his astonishment, Danzo not only approved of Minato's appointment but also pledged his unwavering support, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi dumbfounded. This unexpected alliance solidified the unity and strength of the Leaf Village.
On the international stage, the Hidden Stone Village had conceded defeat in the Third Great Ninja War, acknowledging the Leaf's superiority. Meanwhile, the Hidden Cloud Village grappled with the loss of their Raikage, succeeded by his headstrong and impulsive son, Unruly A. In contrast, the Hidden Mist Village fought valiantly on two formidable fronts, enduring significant losses against the Raikage. The demise of the Third Kazekage, the legendary leader of the Hidden Sand Village, remained shrouded in mystery. Throughout the chaos of war, the Leaf Village emerged remarkably unscathed, with its high-quality fighting force largely intact.
The joyous glow from the news of his wife's pregnancy still lingered on Minato's face as he attempted to focus on the pressing matter at hand—the ongoing missing persons case in the Leaf Village.
The recent spike in kidnappings had become a cause for concern, prompting the Fourth Hokage to personally take an interest when the count reached double digits, leaving no discernible clues.
Suddenly, the tranquility of the room was shattered as Minato's assistant burst through the door, a look of urgency etched on his face. Startled, Minato raised an eyebrow and greeted him, "Ah, Genma, what's the rush? You seem quite flustered."
With a nervous smile, Genma took a moment to collect himself before relaying the details. "Apologies, Lord Hokage. We've had another incident. Six people have gone missing this time."
Minato maintained his calm demeanor, though his expression grew somber at the mention of yet another abduction.
"Take a deep breath, Genma," Minato advised, his voice soothing. "Now, please provide me with the details."
Composing himself, Genma began to explain the unfortunate events. "There have been five reports of kidnappings. Among them, two from the ranks of civilian ninjas, two ordinary civilians, and two orphan boys."
The mention of children being among the victims caused a flicker of sadness to pass across Minato's eyes. The weight of his responsibilities as the Hokage and the impending arrival of his own child converged in his thoughts, creating a mix of emotions.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Minato made a firm decision. He turned to Genma and issued a command in a serious tone, "Genma, I want you to send an urgent summons to the captain of Anbu Team Ro."
-------- Orphanage --------
After completing his morning workout, Shin reluctantly tackled the assignments given to him by Dai. The language exercises, while seemingly straightforward, felt more like a bothersome chore than an exciting opportunity to learn and practice. The language itself felt both strangely familiar and yet alien, adding to Shin's frustration.
As he pondered Dai's return in the afternoon, a realization struck him. "He couldn't find them," Shin muttered to himself, recalling the sinister atmosphere he had sensed the night before. "I bet it's connected to that incident. Somebody must have kidnapped them."
His memories of the anime were a bit hazy, having been consumed by studying and work, with occasional bathroom breaks doubling as opportunities to catch up on episodes. Though he had rewatched parts of it once, time constraints had prevented him from revisiting the series again.
"Hmm, let me try to piece together the major events before Naruto's birth," Shin mused, scratching his head. "First, the Third Great Ninja War comes to an end. Then, right after, Hiruzen resigns and Minato, who had been groomed for the position, becomes the Fourth Hokage. Oh yeah, Rin... I think she dies around that time. What else? Ah, yes! Kakashi joins the Anbu a bit later."
Suddenly he chuckled when he remembered something but then shook his head, "No nobody tried to uncover Kakashi until way later in the anime. what else?"
"Ahah, How could I forget. That snake." his face lighting up with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
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Author`s Notes:
Thank you DunkinB and The_SaadKhan for your power stones.
Sorry guys, I was swamped with assignments and work. I have not been able to work on the chapter until later today. Anyways, Hope you guys like it. Enjoy