The air in the Hokage's office felt heavy, filled with the unspoken weight of judgment. Scrolls lined the walls, documenting decades of decisions that had shaped Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, eyes sharp and assessing, framed by the deep creases of age and experience.
Beside him were the elders, Koharu and Homura, their expressions neutral but their eyes wary. Danzo stood in the shadow of the room, his presence cold and calculating, studying me with a look that promised more questions than answers.
I stood firm, my gaze steady as I met theirs. I knew these faces, not from personal experience but from the fragmented memories of my past life. Hiruzen, the revered but often complacent Hokage; Koharu and Homura, the gatekeepers of an old guard that resisted change; and Danzo, the puppet master who valued power over people. I had to tread carefully.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Darius, your abilities have brought you and your people to our gates. While your intentions appear sincere, we cannot overlook the potential risks. Why should Konoha trust you and grant you the sanctuary you seek?"
I took a breath, keeping my voice even. "We don't come here empty-handed, Hokage-sama. The villagers I lead are skilled artisans, farmers, and healers. They will contribute to Konoha's prosperity, not drain it. As for me, I offer my strength and loyalty in exchange for a place to call home."
The elders exchanged glances. Homura's eyes narrowed slightly. "Your power at such a young age is…unusual. It raises questions about where your allegiances truly lie."
Before I could respond, Danzo spoke, his tone sharp and unforgiving. "The Root would ensure that allegiance. Join us, and we'll provide protection for both you and your people. Without that assurance, we cannot allow potential threats to enter unchecked."
There it was, Danzo's trap, laid out plainly. The room seemed to tighten around me, the walls pressing in as Hiruzen's eyes flickered with indecision. The man was a legend, but he was weak when it came to resisting Danzo's manipulations.
I tilted my head, my expression unchanged, but my voice carried a bite. "Join Root?" I repeated, a hint of sarcasm lacing my tone. "So, you're basically asking me to become a dog on a leash."
The room went cold. Koharu's eyes widened with disbelief, and Homura's face darkened. "Mind your tongue, boy!" Koharu snapped, her voice quivering with indignation.
Danzo's visible eye narrowed, and the tension in the room thickened like smoke. But I didn't break eye contact. Instead, I met their stares with an unyielding calm that spoke louder than any argument. They wanted fear, compliance. I would give them neither.
Hiruzen finally sighed, the weight of leadership etched into every line on his face. "Darius, understand that this is not an easy decision. We must protect Konoha above all else."
"And I understand that, Hokage-sama," I said, my tone steady but pointed. "But my loyalty isn't for sale, and I won't be coerced into a cage disguised as security. If these are the terms, then we're done here."
I turned, the room silent except for the soft rustle of my cloak. As I walked away, Hiruzen's voice, tired and strained, called after me. "Where will you go if Konoha turns you away?"
I paused at the threshold, casting a glance over my shoulder. A smirk tugged at my lips as I spoke. "First, I'll find chicken."
Danzo's face contorted with confusion, while Hiruzen's eyes softened for a moment as though he caught something deeper in my words. I didn't wait for more questions. I stepped out, feeling the tension in the room dissolve behind me.
....
The streets of Konoha were a maze of bustling vendors, shinobi going about their duties, and civilians navigating their daily lives. The villagers from my group waited near, their faces etched with concern and hope. Hiroshi stood protectively near Aiko, who clung to his sleeve, wide-eyed and anxious. Goro and Kenta stayed close.
"They won't accept us?" Hiroshi asked, the defeat in his voice palpable.
"Not yet," I said, scanning the surroundings. "But this isn't over."
An ANBU operative appeared, silent as a shadow, and gestured for me to follow. They were to escort us out of the village's perimeter. I nodded, motioning for the villagers to follow. We walked in silence, the masked figure leading the way through winding paths until we reached a small park. Laughter and the sounds of children playing filled the air, but one figure stood apart from the others.
A boy with bright blonde hair sat alone on a swing, his small frame hunched as he watched the other kids from a distance. His blue eyes held a familiar emptiness, a loneliness that was as much a part of him as his whisker-like birthmarks.
Naruto.
The ANBU operative noticed me slowing and turned their masked face slightly. "Keep moving."
I ignored them, my eyes locked on the boy. Memories of what I knew flooded my mind, the struggles he faced, the way he was treated by the very village he called home. A part of me felt a spark of anger at the irony. This boy, destined for greatness yet shadowed by solitude, was proof that Konoha's veneer of unity was only skin-deep.
I exhaled, shaking my head with a wry smile. "Ahhh, fuck the plot."
Hiroshi and Goro, catching my pause, looked at me with confusion. The ANBU operative stepped closer, a hint of impatience in their posture.
"Let's go," they said, their tone firm.
But I didn't move. The script I had been following, the safe path of staying hidden, avoiding ripples, it felt suddenly suffocating. If I was going to make a difference, then playing it safe was no longer an option.
"Change starts somewhere," I muttered under my breath, my eyes still on Naruto. And as I stood there, caught between what I knew and what I needed to do, I felt something shift within me.
....
The air around me hummed with the quiet tension of an impending storm. The ANBU operative standing behind me was stiff, waiting for me to move as I stared at Naruto, who sat on the swing, his blue eyes clouded with loneliness. The sight tugged at something deep within me, a reminder that even in a world of strength and power, some were always left behind.
Without warning, I activated my Flash Step, appearing right in front of the swing. Naruto yelped, falling back onto the dirt with wide eyes.
"Why do you look so down?" I asked, a friendly smile on my face.
Naruto's initial shock morphed into a familiar scowl, a defense mechanism I recognized all too well. "Why do you care, huh? And who do you think you are, talking to me like that? You're my age!" he shot back, crossing his arms defiantly.
A vein throbbed at my temple. This kid. I clenched my fist and, with a light, controlled strike, rapped him on the head. "Watch your mouth," I muttered, feeling my patience slipping.
The ANBU operative surged forward, eyes wide with alarm. Before they could get close, I pushed out a thin, precise wave of chakra that shot toward the operative and the other hidden ninjas around us. Their movements stopped, bodies stiffening as their chakra systems locked momentarily, making them slump.
Naruto, rubbing his head, stared up at me with a mix of awe and fear. "What the heck are you? And what do you want from me?" he muttered, the bravado in his voice wavering.
I crouched down, meeting his eyes. "The name's Darius. I know those eyes you have. The eyes of someone who has nothing."
Naruto's eyes widened before narrowing, a defensive smirk appearing on his face. "Ha! What are you trying to be, some kind of dramatic hero? Cringe!" He laughed, and that laugh grated on my nerves. Without hesitation, I flicked his forehead, harder this time.
"Enough with the attitude," I sighed, standing up as Naruto rubbed the new sore spot, glaring at me.
"Hey, what's your problem?" he grumbled.
Before I could answer, a sudden rustle of movement drew my attention. A group of Konoha's top shinobi appeared, surrounding the clearing, their eyes full of suspicion. At the forefront stood Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, with Koharu, Homura, and Danzo flanking him. The presence of multiple elite guards indicated they were prepared for trouble.