Ch.4
The warm breeze tousled my long brown hair as we walked down the busy streets of Konoha. Kurenai-sama was leading me and Kiba to the Hokage's office to decide what will happen with me. Currently, Kurenai was in front of Kiba and I, who was walking next to me with Akamaru sitting comfortably in his jacket. I can't explain it, but for some reason I felt safe with Kiba at my side. I mean, Konoha is a huge village. It's strange to me, intimidating, even. But Kiba makes it feel a little less.
We weaved our way between people and passed shops and vegetable stands with kids running around everywhere, playing and laughing. There were so many different streets and turns and corners that if I were to be alone here I would surely get lost. I'm glad Kiba is still here, it's a little difficult to keep up with Kurenai's fast pace.
Once we turned a corner, I saw a giant red building at the end of the street. It sat at the base of a big cliff, right below the Hokage's faces.
"I-is that it?" I asked Kiba, pointing at the semi-intimidating building. He looked at me, then to where I was pointing and nodded before saying, "Yeah, that's the Hokage tower." I gaped up at it as we got closer. Once we reached the entrance, two guards stepped aside and let us through; watching us all carefully. I hurried past them and into the tower. Kurenai led us through hallways and stairwells, nodding at the guards as we passed.
I started to get nervous about meeting the Hokage. Would he not like me? Would he think of me as a threat to the village? A spy? Would he banish me? Or worse, would he have me… executed? I started shaking as we reached a set of large double doors with the word Hokage written on top. Kiba must have noticed my shaking, cause he gave me a small smile and said, "There's no need to be nervous, he's a nice guy, really." I smiled softly back at him before nodding. My shaking lessened a bit at his words, but was still there. Kurenai stopped before the doors and turned to look at us.
"Okay, Kiba. You're going to stay out here or leave while Ashi and I go in. Understood?" She asked him. He grumbled but none the less said alright and plopped himself on one of the chairs positioned near the door. "All set?" Kurenai questioned me, quirking a brow. I drew in a shaky breath before nodding. She smiled softly before turning to the guards by the door and nodding at them. They moved aside and watched us as she knocked on it roughly. We heard a soft "Come in!" before she started to push the door open.
I quickly looked over my shoulder at Kiba to see him already looking at me. He winked at me and I smiled softly before turning back around and following Kurenai into the Hokage's office.
The first thing I noticed was all the windows bringing in bright light. Next were all the books and scrolls lying around. Then, was the desk with scattered papers and the person behind all of this was the Hokage himself. He was a very old man. He had aged splotches on his face and white hair and beard. In his mouth was a pipe, and he was slouched over with his elbows propped onto the desk; one hand holding his pipe.
He was looking at me with an eyebrow cocked, puffing on his pipe. Kurenai-sama bowed once she closed the door and sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I quickly followed suit, bowing hastily and scrambling into the other seat.
"Lord Hokage, this is the girl I told you about earlier." Kurenai said, gesturing to me. He looked at me for a moment before speaking.
"What is your name, child?" He asked me. I looked at him timidly and shrunk back in my chair slightly. "My name is Ashi." I spoke quietly. He raised an eyebrow, "Don't you have a surname?" I looked down and clasped my hands together on my lap. "I can't remember what it was." I explained.
"Hmm, Kurenai here has told me that she and her team found you in the forest outside Konoha covered in blood. What were you doing out there? How did you get hurt?" He questioned further, staring at me with interest. I thought really hard, I want- no I need to remember who I am. I tried really hard, but all I got was a major headache. "I… I don't know. I don't remember anything. Only my name." I sighed deeply, furrowing my brows and rubbing my temples in frustration.
The Hokage looked at me while puffing on his pipe. "So you must have amnesia. Maybe from trauma, or from that blow to your head." He stated. I stared at him. How did he know about my head? As if he read my thoughts, he said, "You have bandages around your head, dear." I lifted my hand to my head, and sure enough there they were. I looked at him sheepishly, feeling stupid. I quickly mumbled a quiet oh.
"Now I must figure out a place for you to stay…" The Hokage mumbled. My eyes widened slightly. "Your-your letting me stay?" I thought for sure he would kick me out. He glanced at me, looking slightly amused. He chuckled roughly. "Of course, child. I'm not going to send you out of the village, it's not safe. Speaking of which, do you think you've had any ninja training?" He questioned. I thought for a moment. Have I? Something tells me that I have.
"I'm not entirely sure. But I feel like I have…" I said honestly. He nodded before sliding open one of the drawers in his desk. "If you have, maybe this can tell." He held up a small piece of paper that had a silver like tint to it. It was blank with a square in the middle. I looked at it, puzzled.
"What is it?" I asked. "This will tell me your chakra nature. If you could channel your chakra into your hands while holding it, a color or two will show on this paper, determining your nature. If you can do so, then we'll know that you've had training." He explained slowly. He handed me the slip of paper and I took it carefully into my hands.
At first, nothing happened. So I concentrated on my hand. I didn't know how to manipulate chakra, let alone if I had any. I concentrated hard, and sure enough, it started to change color. One half of the square turned yellow, while the other half turned blue.
The Hokage smiled as he looked at the paper. "Ah, so your chakra natures are lightning and water. So you must be a ninja." I stared at the paper, then at him before breaking out in a grin.
"I'm a ninja…" I mumbled happily. The Hokage chuckled at me and Kurenai smiled softly. "So, now, onto your living arrangements. While you were still unconscious in the hospital, the Inuzuka family came to see you."
"Kiba's family?" I interrupted. "Yes Kiba's family." "Why did they visit me? How long was I unconscious for?" I questioned, raising a brow. This time, Kurenai spoke. "Only for about 2 days. Well, they didn't exactly visit. They haven't actually seen you yet, besides Kiba. But they came because we thought that maybe you could be related to them, since, you know, you have the same markings. Anyways, we did a blood test. Turns out, you're not related to any of them." She spoke mater-of-factly.
"Anyhow, since you all must be of the same clan and you have nowhere else to go, maybe you can move in with them. That is my decision. Kotetsu!" The Hokage called out. I looked around, wondering who he could be yelling at. There's nobody else in the room.
Suddenly, a man with spiky black hair and a bandage going across his nose poofed into the room. He quickly bent down onto one knee before questioning, "Yes, Lord Hokage?"
"Summon Tsume and Hana Inuzuka along with Kiba who is out in the hall." He ordered kindly. The man, Kotetsu, bowed. "Yes, Lord Hokage." He said before poofing back out of the room. I blinked. That was soo cool! "When can I do that?" I asked, pointing to the remainder of the smoke from Kotetsu's departure. Kurenai chuckled and the Hokage smiled before shaking his head softly. "All in due time, Ashi."