"If you could only keep your inner silence, unpolluted by memories and expectations, you would be able to discern the beautiful pattern of events."
Nisargadatta Maharaj
"Maybe you'll finally tell me what I did wrong?" I continued playing the innocent little girl. After all, agree that it would be strange if I just walked silently, as if I really broke some law. Although I hadn't broken any laws.
"Calm down and shut up," the guy in the Serou mask snapped.
"How can I calm down? You almost killed me! And now you're dragging me somewhere!" I kept going.
"Don't play the little girl," he smirked. "You're bad at it."
*Damn it...* I fell silent and stared at the floor as I walked on. *Where did I screw up? Why are they taking me to the Hokage? Did I say something wrong to Kabuto? Or do something wrong? Damn, I definitely missed something. I don't think they grabbed me because I 'slept' during the exam. So the reason isn't that. Damn, and now I've played myself. Thought I was the smartest. Now time to pay the price.*
"We're here," the girl's voice pulled me back to reality as we reached the office. "Here," she handed me my sheath with the tekko-kagi, and a second later we were inside the office.
*Something's changed here...* the thought flashed through my head.
I could say it was a perfectly clean room with nothing extra. But truthfully, there was nothing at all except furniture. No papers on the desk, no books or scrolls in the cabinets. Not even a trash bucket.
The only thing left was four frames with portraits of the Hokage. When I finished looking around, I noticed those two ANBU members had long since left, leaving me alone with Minato.
I'd been to the Hokage's office many times, and one thing I knew for sure: he never sits with his back to the door like he was now.
"You're probably wondering why they brought you here?" he responded calmly, without turning.
"Ahem, I'm more curious why they attacked me. And why they arrested me right during the exam—neither before nor after? And why, when we were in the auditorium, they twisted my arm, but as soon as we left, they basically let me go. What's the point? Didn't you ruin your reputation?" I voiced the questions I couldn't answer in my head.
"This isn't an arrest. I didn't order them to attack," for a second, surprise flickered in his voice. "And you'd better not worry about me right now. Trust me, my reputation won't suffer," he replied monotonically. If I didn't know who was in the chair, I'd think it was a wise old man of a hundred.
Interesting, whose idea was it then? And why won't his reputation suffer?
"Then why am I here?" my head was full of questions, and apparently, I wouldn't get answers.
"Come to me," he replied, confirming my expectations. I sighed heavily and headed to his chair. Right now, the main thing was to remember this conversation; I'd analyze it later.
I approached from his left side and stopped in surprise. Before me was a man who looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. Dark circles under his eyes like they were drawn on, and utter exhaustion on his face. At this rate, he'd really turn into an old man. Now it was clear why he sat with his back to the door.
"Listen carefully..." he began, then cut off. At first I didn't understand why, but a second later, my internal "sensor radar" picked up Sensei's familiar chakra. He was moving so fast it was clear: a few more seconds, and he'd burst in. Three. Two.
"Grab on," he extended his hand to me. One.
I managed to grab his sleeve and catch Sensei's stunned face as he rushed into the office... And then... darkness.
"Ow!" I yelped as my back hit something hard. My head was spinning. I tried to catch my breath. That technique didn't agree with me.
"You okay?" Minato asked.
"Good enough," I pried my eyes open and saw we were in a cold, gloomy corridor with walls and ceiling of smooth stone blocks, floor of cracked earth (definitely earth element here). Torches provided light, crackling softly in the silence. "We're deep underground?" I scanned the tunnel. There had to be an exit somewhere; otherwise, how were the torches burning? Fire needs oxygen.
"Yes," he replied curtly and looked around.
"So what were you going to say?" I latched onto his unfinished sentence while brushing off my kimono.
"I'll tell you later."
"Then why are we here?" I asked uncertainly, the same question again. I could sense the chakra of shinobi and others hundreds of meters above us, and it scared me. Dark thoughts flooded my mind, one worse than the last. What if they lock me up and experiment on me... Or interrogate me...
"You'll see. Let's go," he replied, staring into the darkness, and strode forward. I stood there thinking: what if I'm walking to my death voluntarily? Sounds crazy, of course. Minato's Naruto's father, and Naruto's my friend. I trust Minato. I don't sense evil intent from him. But fear still gripped me, and I didn't want to take a step into this dark underground.
"I don't really feel like going," I said, glancing back. Where's the exit?
"No one's going to torture or kill you," he read my mind. "You'll leave here in one piece," he approached with a mocking smile. "And I don't think you'd go down without a fight anyway."
Yeah, logical. I still have a mission, so I won't surrender without a fight—or with one, unless I'm dead. But...
"Against you, I don't have a chance. You're the Yellow Flash of Konoha—there'd be nothing left of me in a second," saying it, I realized resisting now was stupid and too late. If he wanted to kill me, I had no chance. No one would hear me. *"So, Ariza, walk calmly; your life's not in your hands right now,"* I told myself.
"I think when you grow up, enemies won't have a chance against you either," Minato smiled warmly and put a hand on my shoulder. "So let's go."
"If I live to 'grow up,'" I snorted indignantly, air-quoting. I get why he sees me as a kid, but it still stung.
Minato didn't reply, and we walked on.
"Tell me, will they cancel the exam?" I continued, as the silence unnerved me.
"They can't. The agreement's signed, and participants have been in Konoha for a while."
"Will I advance to the next stage?"
"I don't know yet," he replied and fell silent again.
We walked a few minutes to a smooth stone door covered in black symbols and kanji. Holy crap! Seals. They were drawn in a circle on the door, then spread outward like fleeing into the crack behind it.
Minato quickly formed seals and touched the door. The kanji glowed orange and vanished as if they'd never been. As he pulled his hand away, cracks—small and large—spread across the stone slab.
I thought it'd collapse, but it froze like a pattern, and the door slid open. Definitely some magic here.
"Go in," he said, stepping aside.
I entered, and stale air hit my nose instantly. No one had been here in decades. Pitch darkness ahead, but my senses said it was a small room. Hope it's not my future cell.
"Can you light the torches?" came from behind me, probably rhetorical.
"How?" I pretended I couldn't.
"With fire element."
"What if I don't have that element?" I knew I was playing with fire, but I wasn't outing myself.
"You do, and you control it perfectly," I turned and met the Hokage's eyes. No threat, just condescension. He knew. Sensei must've told him!
"Damn," I muttered under my breath and groped for a torch on the wall. Found it quick—lit it right up. It got brighter; I saw the rough stone walls and other torches.
Not many, so I finished fast.
*Done!* I turned confidently to Minato and spotted a new face: the Third Hokage. He stood hands behind back, staring seriously. Fatigue in his eyes, but a spark of interest.
My mind raced: *Why didn't I sense his chakra earlier? And why can't I sense any chakra here at all?* But I didn't dwell; my gaze slid from the Hokage to something more intriguing.
In the gloom between me and the leaders, on a smooth stone pedestal, lay a dark crimson scroll drawing all attention—and a bit of fear. Torchlight danced blue glints on steel insets like a race. Silence pressed; only fire's calm crackle soothed.
I squeezed my eyes shut, shook my head to shed tension, then looked at the Hokage.
"Why am I here?" same question again. I suspected, but didn't believe it.
"We want to give you what's rightfully yours," the Third nodded at the scroll.
"That's why you pulled me from the exam?" I gaped. "Why during the exam, not any other time? Now you'll have problems—and so will I. What do I tell my friends?!" I started fuming. Seriously? For some scroll? It's been here years! Could've stayed twenty more minutes! Wouldn't crumble.
"You don't have to say anything. They won't remember."
"Why won't they?" I asked. Then realized it wasn't for me. The Hokage's eyes stared past my back...
Ice ran down my spine; goosebumps prickled my arms. Couldn't breathe. Legs buckled. Someone behind me I couldn't sense by chakra. But intuition screamed: incredibly strong.
Seconds passed before I dared draw my tekko-kagi and strike the figure behind. Expected counter, dodge, block. Nope. My weapon didn't touch the shinobi—he just vanished. Dissolved. Into thin air.
All I glimpsed: white mask and one red, glowing Mangekyo Sharingan in the dark.
"What. The hell. Was that?!" I stood frozen, weapon raised, sweat dripping from my brow.
Breath steady, hands no longer shaking, I turned to the Hokage—who... were smiling faintly?
"Uh... what's up?" their amused faces baffled me. Why so cheerful?
"Nothing," they exchanged mysterious glances.
"Who was that?!" I fumed again. Screw acting childish; I wanted to know who was behind me!
"Take the scroll and let's go. I'll explain on the way," Minato dodged and exited with Sarutobi. Bet they won't tell me.
I approached the pedestal, slung the scroll over my shoulder. Light, seven to ten kilos, but looked heavier. No fitting in a pocket.
Before leaving, I scanned the room again. How didn't I sense that shinobi's chakra? He was so close. Breathing down my neck. And that Mangekyo Sharingan... Definitely Uchiha. But who? Most Uchiha were massacred. Not Obito or Itachi—I'd recognize them. Unfamiliar eye. And how'd he vanish so fast? Not shunshin—teleportation technique, for sure. How?!
"You coming?" Fourth Hokage's distant voice; I ran to them. No need to douse torches—they'd go out. Won't return anyway.
Catching up, breathless:
"Tell me that Uchiha man's name?"
"Hm... why assume it was a man?" Third smiled lightly, glancing at me.
"Uh... well... I don't know any female Uchiha with Mangekyo Sharingan," I blurted, then froze— *oops...* spilled it.
Wanted to facepalm, hide, headbutt a wall, sink into the earth—anything to take it back.
"Hah, doesn't mean women can't have Mangekyo Sharingan," Sarutobi smirked.
"Logical," I nodded.
"Do you know any men who awakened it?" Minato chimed in.
I paused, weighing my answer, then:
"I do, but I won't say."
"Hah," Namikaze smiled.
"Until you tell me who was behind me, I won't name any Mangekyo wielders."
"We won't tell you."
"Can you at least say there's no threat to the village from them?" I pressed. Needed info to predict events. Better prep, better mission odds.
"No threat, and none possible. But we can't say—the person asked to stay anonymous," Minato said seriously.
"Ahem, fine..." I shut up, thinking. Secret agent maybe? Can't pry classified info. They won't budge. "Someday I'll find out."
"You will, you will—no escaping it," Minato smiled, ruffling my head.
"Hey!" I protested, dodging his hand and fixing my hair.
"Time to go," Minato eyed us and Third. "Grab my hand." We did; teleported to his office.
Teleportation hit me again, but I played it cool—I had more questions. Breathed deep, about to ask, but:
"Well, I'm off, Minato. Good luck," Third smiled and left. What was his point? Just watch?
"Goodbye," Minato and I said together.
"Where do I put this scroll?" I held it. Daylight let me inspect: smooth red, slightly rough, tough paper for scrolls. Thin gold circle with radiating ornate gilding. Inside: All-Seeing Eye symbol—not any clan's. Who left it? Parents dead. No Uzumaki or Saito kin. Guesses only. Iron insets had sunken ornate patterns. Touched one—yanked back. Eerily cold iron, like from a freezer.
"Wherever. It's yours," Minato said casually, sat at his empty desk, rummaged drawers.
"Can show others?"
"Do what you want."
"Why's it mine? And why?" slung it back over shoulder.
"Find that answer yourself," he smiled, pulling a huge folder. "I just had to give it to you."
"Uh..." scratched my neck. One more task for my plans. "Okay, where to now?"
"To your friends," he muttered at a paper, eyes fixed.
"What do I tell them?"
"Ahem, play it by ear..."
I stared; he ignored me. Conversation over. Hurried out to not bother revered Hokage. But paused at door. How'd I forget?! One fact widened my eyes; stomped back to Minato. Crucial—no other chance...
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan