Chapter 31 Part 1
"Good day, Hokage-sama." I greet the ruler of Konoha, bowing my head courteously.
"'Good morning,' perhaps?" The old woman squinted at me, mocking. And the blatant hint in her voice could have been heard by the deaf. "Have a good time yesterday, children?"
"Gmh... Yes—it seems so." And why am I not surprised she's in the know? "And please—no such shameless insinuations, Hokage-sama! The fact that the girls stayed over because of the rain—"
"Ho-ho-ho... Forgive me, Kaoru-kun. With age, my mind isn't as sharp as in my youth." Sarutobi laughed, perfectly old-womanish, raising her hands in an apologetic gesture. Sure, sure—like I'd believe you had a bout of senile dementia, Hokage-sama! "And... still?"
"Hokage-sama!" I attempt to shame this... old and venerable woman with a stern look. Yes—no doubt whatsoever that she was the teacher of that pervert, Jiraiya! I wouldn't be surprised if she sometimes uses her crystal ball to peep on the men's baths!!!
"Ho-ho! Forgive this little joke, Kaoru-kun. Just a small weakness of an old woman." Sarutobi's smile seemed to gather every wrinkle on her face. "Hmmgh! Yes... I hope my summons didn't distract you from important matters?"
"Not in the slightest," I shake my head. "You, rather, saved me from something."
"Oo-ho~"
"Hokage. Sama." Seriously—the third time, it's no longer funny or even amusing.
"Gmh! Yes, yes—to business." Oho?! Could it be I've actually gotten through to her??? Hm—perhaps I have a gift for teaching?.. "How are the girls feeling?"
"They're lively and full of energy." Sometimes even overflowing! Ah—I pray my home survives... "Sasuko-chan even found herself a mentor for the coming month. But you probably know that without me."
"Hmm..." Sarutobi nodded, her eyes closing. "And Naruko? How was her first lesson with Ebisu-chan?"
"Umm—about that... It seems things went badly." I barely restrained a sigh: the deviation from the course of events I knew caused some unease.
"That foolish girl..." The Hokage muttered under her breath when I laid out a more detailed picture of what had happened with Naruko and her failed mentor. Exactly whom the elderly woman was thinking of at that moment was a mystery to me—but I suspected both participants in yesterday's tragicomedy at the baths fit the criterion with equal probability. "Hmmh... Well—I don't think it's so bad. I'm counting on you, Kaoru-kun."
"Counting on?.."
"Mmh." The woman nodded. "I approve of your actions as Naruko's mentor—for the time being, if and until she finds herself a mentor from among the jonin. Up to now, you've managed rather well—so let's just confirm it a little more officially."
"Haa... Thank you." Not knowing what to do, I decided, just in case, to express gratitude for the "approval." Yes—finding a mentor for Naruko is far harder than for the others. After all, not everyone is well-disposed toward a jinchuriki—including among shinobi. It might well turn out that—aside from Ebisu and Jiraiya herself—hardly anyone else would even agree to train Naruko.
"How are things with Naruko?" The Hokage suddenly shifted the conversation's vector. Um—and here I'd thought Sarutobi had decided to skip this question, which had already become customary at our meetings.
"Unchanged: over the entire period, there have been no manifestations of the Fox." Which is natural—with a divine seal layered atop the demon's prison! Only—that's not worth mentioning. "Naruko is growing more experienced in self-control, so there's no cause for worry whatsoever. I guarantee it!"
"Hmm—good." The woman nodded, satisfied. "I hope the kami show mercy, and the girl never needs the demon's power. With any luck—if her outbursts stay in the past—the common folk will gradually calm down... Keep it up, Kaoru-kun." Her chair creaking, the Hokage lowered her gaze to a small pile of documents. "And keep an eye on her."
It seemed the audience was over.
"A good day to you, Hokage-sama."
Strange...
Was I really summoned just for this brief conversation? A rather ambiguous feeling—as though "something else is buried here"—but I couldn't, for the life of me, grasp the elements eluding me. Were they even there at all? Yet the longer I racked my brain over it, the more it seemed merely an unhealthy bout of conspiratorial suspicion. When everything's so simple you don't believe it—and paranoically hunt for a nonexistent catch.
It's sad, if I'm slowly turning into a neurotic paranoiac. I'd be glad to live more simply—without all these complications—but...
I froze in the doorway: my heart clenched and skipped a beat.
Damn it!!!
A foul sensation filled my lungs, making the act of breathing a nearly impossible feat: the thoughts I'd been diligently driving away with work had returned.
The attack on Konoha... and Sarutobi's death. Exactly one month from now.
And once again—my conscience entered a standoff with caution and selfish fear for myself. On one scale—lives; on the other—my possible well-being.
But is that wrong?! Does wanting to preserve myself make me a bad person? Having told about one thing—it would be hard to stay silent about the rest. Perhaps—even physically. No—I had not the slightest doubt about Sarutobi: despite her post as ruler of the Village, the Hokage was a liberal person. Possessing firm morals and steadfast convictions, Sarutobi Hiruko conducted a moderate policy—one that could be called "peaceful," insofar as such a definition even suits a militarized society of mercenaries and killers.
But the thing is—in Konoha, power isn't held by the Hokage alone. And the moment my "predictions" become known... I think, in that case, I'd simply vanish. I had nearly one hundred percent certainty that the White Snake had carried out her vile genetic dealings under the wing of a certain one-eyed mummy. First, there were prisoners—then clanless locals—and then they'd reached even the clan members! And that—at a time when Sarutobi Hiruko was far younger, which meant stronger, and held great authority as the Third Hokage. But Danzu and Orochi weren't stopped by that in the slightest. Now—when the Hokage's position is no longer so firm, when age comes into play, and Danza has her own personal division, accountable only to her...
At best, I'd be locked up for a couple of years in a room two-by-three, picked apart for "predictions," then studied down to the roots of my hair, have genetic material taken "for breeding"—or maybe just strapped down, drugged up, and screwed (or both in any sequence)—and then dissected on the subject of "how does it all work in there?"—with my organs neatly sorted into separate jars. As for humanity—or rather, its total absence—in the ruler of Konoha's "dark side," I had no cause for doubt.
I'm already like a thorn in Shimura's eye as it is—since I spend much time with Naruko—and I had no doubt that my demon-suppressing abilities would interest her. But if "future predictions" were added to that list... I fear my value would become "excessive."
"Is something wrong, Kaoru-kun?" The Hokage's voice reached me as if from afar. Blinking, I caught myself still standing in the doorway, clutching the door handle.
"N-no—nothing," I mumbled, lips dry.
"If something is troubling you—simply say so," the Hokage spoke, earnest, clearly not deceived by my attempt to hide my agitation.
"It's just..." I mumble, feverishly hunting for a way out of the situation. "Unease. Anxiety. I don't know how to explain—but I have this feeling... as if something very bad is going to happen in the future..."
I said it—and bit my lip. Conscience insistently demanded I say more—but I overpowered my own impulses.
"'Very bad,' you say?.." The Hokage drew out, speculative, evidently pondering something. "Mhm... Perhaps that's so. And how long have you felt this unease, Kaoru-kun?"
"Several days... I think." Gathering my spirit, I answer. My lips produced a small chuckle—which came out more nervous than I'd wished: "Perhaps there were seers among my lineage?.. But who could I ask about that?! Ha-ha... ha... Forgive me for taking your time with my worries. Sorry for the disturbance. A good day to you, Hokage-sama!"
Bowing once more, I quickly left the office of Konoha's ruler—with an overly hurried step, more fitting for shameful flight than ordinary walking.
"Divinations?.. That would be convenient." Sarutobi's quiet voice caught up with me already in the corridor. I'm not sure exactly how I managed to hear it through the closed doors.
But I didn't dwell on such questions.
In that very moment, I was repulsive to myself.
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