White Dragon Hidden in The Leaves

Naruto and I barely had time to catch our breath after the chaotic events in the arena before a masked figure appeared silently behind us. Her sudden presence was enough to silence the bustling energy around us.

"The Hokage wants to see you both," Izumi said simply, her voice cutting through the arena noise like a kunai through silk. She didn't wait for a response, just turned on her heel and began walking toward the exit.

Naruto glanced at me, confusion and frustration bubbling beneath his surface. "Great, now what? We didn't do anything wrong! I wasn't just going to let Sasuke get crushed like that!" His fists were clenched tightly by his sides, his voice barely contained as we followed behind Izumi. I could hear the hurt in his voice, but I didn't say anything, there wasn't much to say. He was right, and I agreed with him. If we hadn't interfered, Sasuke might not be alive and given the future, it would be best to have him around even if he was a wild card.

We walked in silence as we approached the towering structure of the Hokage's office. Izumi led us up the familiar steps, her footsteps silent, even on the creaky floorboards. When we reached the door to the Hokage's office, she paused and turned her masked face toward us.

"The Hokage isn't pleased," she said, though there was a hint of something else in her voice, something I couldn't quite place. "Best to tread carefully."

Naruto and I exchanged a look, but before we could respond, the door opened with a soft creak. Inside, the Third Hokage sat behind his desk, the room filled with the smoky haze of his ever-present pipe. He was a picture of calm authority, his eyes half-hidden behind the soft glow of his pipe's embers and his hat.

"Izumi, you may leave," he said, his voice carrying that usual weight of command. She gave a small bow before stepping out, the door closing behind her with a click that seemed to echo in the stillness of the room.

The silence that followed was unnerving. The Third Hokage took a long, deliberate drag from his pipe before setting it down on the edge of his desk. His eyes moved between Naruto and me, assessing, judging. I felt my fists clench involuntarily.

"You both know why you're here," he said finally, his voice calm, yet laced with a disappointment that was impossible to ignore. "You interfered in an official match during the Chunin Exams. An interference that could have resulted in far worse consequences than either of you realize." He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes never leaving us. "Do you understand what you've done?"

Naruto didn't hesitate for a second. "I'd rather get in trouble than let my friend die!" His voice rang out in the small room.

"I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing either," I added, stepping forward. My voice was steady, despite the pounding in my chest. "Unlike you," I continued, locking eyes with the Third, "I'd rather deal with the consequences than stand by and watch people I care about suffer."

The Hokage's eyes narrowed, and I could see the flicker of emotion in them. The hand that held the pipe paused mid-air. "What do you mean by that, Ayumi?" His tone was measured, but there was an undercurrent of warning. I knew he wasn't expecting what was coming next.

"You've been treating the son of a hero like trash," I said, the words cutting through the smoky air like a blade. Naruto turned toward me, his brow furrowing in confusion. I was going to drop the biggest part of the story now. "The son of Lord Fourth."

For a moment, the Hokage froze. His pipe lowered to the desk, the soft thud of it meeting the wood somehow louder than it should have been. His eyes sharpened, squinting as he leaned forward slightly as if trying to read deeper into my expression.

"Ayumi…" The warning in his voice was unmistakable now. "I don't know where you're getting these ideas, but I suggest you choose your next words very carefully."

I didn't back down. "Oh, I know exactly what I'm talking about." I stepped closer, not breaking eye contact the only thing separating us was his desk. "And when you pass on to the Pure Lands, they'll be waiting for you. The Red Hot-Blooded Habanero will be there too. And she going to be pissed." 

Naruto blinked, his face now a perfect picture of confusion, but I wasn't finished. The Hokage's reaction was everything I needed to see.

"Silence," he ordered, his voice snapping through the room like a whip. His gaze was colder now. "I won't have you spreading such nonsense in my office."

"Nonsense?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "You ignored his legacy. You let Naruto grow up like this alone, Let everyone else in the village treat him like an outcast for something that wasn't even his fault."

Naruto took a step back, his eyes wide and filled with disbelief. "What? Ayumi, what are you saying? Who's Lord Fourth?" His voice wavered, uncertainty creeping into every word.

I turned to him, and my expression softened. "Naruto… come on did you not pay attain in class?" Sighing. "Naruto Lord Fourth is your father."

Naruto blinked at me, taking a few steps back like he had been hit with something. His mouth opened, but no words came out. His eyes darted between me and the Hokage, the weight of what I'd said crashing down on him.

"My… father?" His voice cracked, barely a whisper. "The Fourth Hokage?"

The Hokage's gaze hardened, and his fist slammed down on the desk, sending a loud echo through the room that made both of us jump. His eyes were furious now, his usual calm shattered. "Enough!" His voice boomed, and the room felt like it was closing in on us.

"How did you learn of this?" he demanded, his voice sharp as a kunai, his gaze drilling into me with an intensity that made me tremble. "Tell me, Ayumi. Now."

"It wasn't hard to figure out," I shot back, unwilling to relent. "Naruto has the same look, and if you look at the record Naruto was born the same day that the fox attack happened. There are records of lord Fourth's wife being pregnant around that time. Whether they know who his father was or not, they still treat him like a thrash so why keep it a secret? Why let him suffer like this? It doesn't make any sense!" I shouted the last part breathing heavily.

"You know nothing of what it means to lead a village," the Third Hokage growled, rising to his feet now. His stature, though old, seemed to fill the room. His voice was full of authority, his presence commanding as he looked down at us, his frustration palpable. "I have made decisions to protect this village that you, as children, could never understand. Everything I do is for the good of the people of Konoha."

I could feel my blood boiling, but before I could respond, Naruto's voice cut through the thick tension in the room. He looked up at the Hokage, his face pale but his eyes brimming with raw emotion as they slowly were beginning to slit.

"I don't care about all that!" Naruto's voice shook with both hurt and anger. "I just want to know why… Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't anyone tell me that the Fourth Hokage was my father? Why let me grow up like this. thinking I was just some monster, hated by everyone!" His fists clenched tightly at his sides, and I could see the tears brimming in his eyes, though he fought to hold them back.

The Third Hokage's expression softened just slightly at Naruto's words, but it was fleeting. He shook his head slowly, his hands gripping the edge of his desk. "Naruto, there are things that are beyond your understanding right now. I made decisions to protect you. I have my reasons for keeping these secrets, and they are not for you to question."

Naruto's hands shook as he glared at the Hokage. "I'm not just a kid! I deserve to know the truth!" I took a step forward. "And sometimes, Hokage, those decisions are wrong. You let the village treat Naruto like a monster when you could have done something about it. Minato and Kushina wouldn't have stood for it."

Sarutobi's eyes flickered, but he remained resolute. "You will not lecture me on my responsibilities, Ayumi. I will speak with your grandfather about your actions, and there will be consequences for what you've said today." The Hokage took a long breath, exhaling smoke from his pipe. "You'll understand one day, Naruto. But for now, this discussion is over."

I clenched my fists tightly, as Naruto and I turned to leave, I could feel the Third Hokage's gaze burning into the back of my head. Just before we stepped out of the door, I couldn't help myself. I glanced back over my shoulder, my voice low but clear. "You're wrong," I muttered, the words carrying more weight than I intended. "You're wrong about a lot of things."

The Hokage's eyes narrowed with a mix of emotions, but he didn't respond. His pipe was in his hand as the embers slowly died out.

Once we were out of the office, the door closing behind us, Naruto remained quiet. It was unsettling. Naruto was never quiet. His head hung low, his shoulders slumped as we made our way down the hall and back toward the village streets.

As we stepped outside, the cool evening air hit us, The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the village, the sky painted in hues of orange and red.

Naruto was walking slower now, his head still hanging low. His usual energy and fire seemed to have drained out of him. For a moment, I considered reaching out, and saying something to try and lighten the mood, but I couldn't find the right words. What could I even say? I had just dropped a bomb on him, shattering what little understanding he had of his past. 

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Naruto finally stopped in his tracks. He didn't turn to face me, just stood there, staring off into the distance, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

"I need some time alone, Ayumi," he said, his voice quiet and heavy. There was no anger in his tone, no blame, just exhaustion.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. I knew he needed space, and pushing him now would only make things harder. So, I just nodded, though he couldn't see it.

"Take care of yourself, Naruto," I said softly, watching as he started walking away, his figure getting smaller as he disappeared down the winding streets of the village.

As soon as he was out of sight, I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. The whole encounter with the Hokage, Naruto's reaction, it was more than I had bargained for, but it needed to be done. Naruto deserved to know the truth.

Before I could fully gather my thoughts, I sensed a familiar presence behind me. Izumi appeared silently, her cat mask still firmly in place. For a moment, she just stood there, watching me.

"You did the right thing," she said after a moment, her voice soft but steady. "But even then, no good deed goes unpunished."

I snorted softly, my arms crossing over my chest. "Yeah, I figured as much. Theres no way Id let Sasuke die." As I was sure she wasn't aware of what happened in the office.

Izumi tilted her head slightly, as if studying me, though I couldn't see her expression behind the mask. "You're not wrong. But the Hokage is a leader burdened with difficult choices. Still, I hope the punishment won't be too much for you." There was a pause, her words carrying a strange weight. She stepped closer, her voice low. "Get some rest, Ayumi. Tomorrow's you and all the others will be given time to rest and train before the final part of the exam is done."

I nodded, though my mind was still racing. "Thanks, Izumi."

She stepped back, her cat mask catching the fading light of the sunset. "Goodbye, Ayumi. And… be careful. You've stirred up a lot today. Not everyone will be as understanding as Naruto or lord Third."

I gave a small smile. "I'll be fine but thanks."

Izumi gave a nod, and with that, she disappeared, just as silently as she had arrived.

Looks like I'd get In trouble, I had forgotten that there was a small break, So I needed to get mentally prepared for what was to come.