Chapter 7

To say that his mind heavy was an understatement, it was plagued with worry not just about his daughter but about his village and the world. As he sat at his desk smoking on his pipe, his mind wondered back to this morning when Emiko woke from her nightmare, how she looked steadfast, determined even when she gave him the list of people she could trust.

To say he was shocked when he saw the main four clan's headmen's names, especially Fugaku Uchiha; he and his clan had been isolated from the village because the elders, and Danzō believed that the Uchiha clan had been behind the Nine-Tails attack that happened several years ago.

But as his gazed upon the notebook that his daughter had given him this morning, he knew that if he opened the book that he would see Fugaku's name on the list of the people that his daughter trusted. He sighed heavily as he removed his pipe and pinched the bridge of his nose. Since Emiko had awoken things have been unsettling and he had a feeling that it was going to get worse far before it got better. Usually his hunches have been ninety percent right since he has been Hokage so, he usually had all the facts so he knew how to prepare for the worse.

Now though he was in the dark, he knew that knowing everything that Emiko knows would cause more harm than good. He knew that he could trust Emiko, ever since he heard her explain how she got here and then to go into the little detail she had given him so far. The look in her dark chocolate pools, the strength and the heartfelt undying love he saw when she talked about this series named "Naruto." It was like the very story about this village give her hope and the love that she had lacked in the world she was from. Maybe it was more of an escape from the terror and horrible things that she endured. Hiruzen was not sure which it was himself but he couldn't deny the look in her eyes was so open, unguarded, and honest. That's how he knew he could trust the unknown girl that is why he took her under his protection.

His thoughts were interrupted again with a knock upon his door, he looked over at the clock on the wall. He sighed before he replaced his pipe.

"Enter."

The door opened and three Anbu entered, the youngest of the three closed the door. They lined up in front of his desk, porcelain mask covered their faces but that didn't stop him from knowing who the three were. He had informed their captain; who stood in front of him that they were to be at his office at 1200 hours today.

"You may remove your mask, I wish to speak to you three freely," he stated firmly as he relit his pipe. He noticed the two of the three subordinates looked at each as they were confused by what he had said but he noticed that their captain had complied to the order he had given. He mentally chuckled and shook his head…

"I wanted to see you three to brief you on a situation, your captain knows some of the details…," he trailed off looking to Kakashi to see if he wanted to add anything. Kakashi stood there alert but there was tension he could see in the young man. "Is there anything you would like to say, Kakashi?"

"I do not trust her, Hokage-sama. She could be a spy trying to gather information on the village or trying to assassinate you, sir," Kakashi said in a serious tone.

Hiruzen propped his elbows on the desk and enlaced his hands together as he studied Kakashi and what he had said. Then he looked to the notebook, he reached over and picked it up. He gazed at it but a moment before he held it out to Kakashi.

Kakashi looked at him a moment before he reached out for the notebook and took it from him. He watched as Kakashi opened it and looked at the first page of the notebook. He watched as puzzlement came upon his face as the young man read through the names that his daughter had written down that morning.

"What is this and why is Tenzō and Itachi listed here along with Itachi's father," Kakashi questioned as he looked back up at the Hokage.

"The list of names you see before you, are people that Emiko said that she trusted… well, except for the last four names at the bottom. The names that are underlined are the names she trust with origins of how she got here," Hiruzen stated, he watched as more puzzlement came to the young ANBU's face. "Now, you have to wonder, if she was a spy or an assassin then why would she list several ANBU and state to me herself that if the people who will be present later today, if they don't believe her, they can by her permission interrogate and torture her if they chose to, to get any and all information from her."

He watched as Kakashi look back up at him in shock, both of the young man's mixed matched eyes were wide and the disbelief was very evident. That was the reaction he thought he would have, Hiruzen smiled softly as he nodded.

"Yes, no one in their right mind from any nation would propose that would they, Kakashi? Beside, did you not say she was disorientated and disbelieved you when yourself told her where she was," he let the question and the statement he made hang in the air.

"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama but Tenzō and I have no idea what you and senpai speak of," the young Uchiha stated.

Hiruzen nodded and got up from his chair and walked around his desk to lean against the front of it as he took a long draw from his pipe before removing it, "The young woman you found outside Konohana almost a week ago now, she has woke up. Now, at the moment I will not go into detail because there will be a meeting later which I want you three to be present. But I will say this until after this meeting I do not want you to speak of her to anyone. She may be in danger, we must do what we can to help her. Do I make myself, clear?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama," both Tenzō and Itachi answered him immediately.

Hiruzen turned to Kakashi; he was still looking at the names that Emiko had listed in the notebook. By what Hiruzen could guess the young man was staring at his own name as many questions ran through his mind.

"Kakashi?"

"I just don't understand any of this, Hokage-sama," Kakashi stated as he looked to the Hokage. "What she is saying could not be possible? The story is too unbelievable don't you agree?"

"Kakashi, I understand why you feel this way. But think of it this way, there have been time traveling jutsu, yes? So, there is all possibility for universal travel or something like that as well, yes? It's a possibility someone has sent her here, for what reason, I do not know and from what I can tell she does not know either. But as Konohana ninja we will be here to protect her as much as we can," Hiruzen stated to the young ANBU captain.

Kakashi nodded as he responded, "Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Good. Now, I have several scrolls I want you to deliver personal, they are to be given to the heads of the clans and it's for their eyes only. Afterwards I want you to be at the hospital at 2000 hours in your ANBU gear," Hiruzen stated as he turned around and hand each a scroll with a clan on it.

All three ANBU agents nodded as they to the scrolls and Kakashi was about to hand back the notebook when Hiruzen shook his head.

"Kakashi, I want you to keep that notebook, at the moment I do not trust it here in the Hokage Tower. I have a bad feeling there is a really bad reason why she put those four names at the bottom of the page. Only you and I know who she will never trust, I want to keep it that way. It is possible that one of those four names had something to do with why she is here or if they find the book and know the meaning behind those names…," he sighed heavily before he continued, "that list and knowing the background of Emiko so far, if they knew that. She would be in serious danger. For some unknown reason to us, she trusts you the most. Though she has not said it, I believe my hunch is correct on saying that. I know you do not trust her yet and I understand why but I ask you to hide it until Emiko; herself ask for the notebook back. Can you do that for me?"

Kakashi had listened to the Hokage and everything he had said, and he didn't understand why the Hokage was so adamant about this girl and her being from a different world. But 'if' it is possible, and everything that she knows would put her in danger. It all came down to did he trust his Hokage and everyone knew the answer to that, and if they ever said he didn't then they wouldn't be seeing the next sunrise.

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Very well…"

The three ANBU replaced their mask and flashed away…

"Thank you," Hiruzen whisper to the empty room as he closed his eyes knowing that Kakashi could not hear him. It gave Hiruzen peace of mind just saying that out loud.