"Ngh…" Tora slowly regained consciousness. She wanted to hold her head as she felt a massive headache coming on from a sudden light shining in her face, however she couldn't move her arms. In fact, she couldn't move her feet either. Once she adjusted to reality, she realized she was sitting in a dull gray room at a table cuffed to her chair.

The door to the room suddenly opened and the female watched as an elder male entered. He had spiky dark hair that was mostly hidden by a hat and an eye patch over his left eye. In his hands was a thick manila folder that he set on the table in front of him. Sitting across from her, he calmly began to speak.

"Your name is Tora, correct?"

"And who are you?"

"My name is Dodai. I was the attendant to the previous Raikages."

She half-expected him not to answer her question. By the way he was acting, it didn't seem like he was the typical Torture & Interrogation employee, so hearing his introduction helped. "How long have I been out?"

"A few days. It's come to my attention that you want to meet the Raikage."

Tora squinted her eyes as the single light in the room flickered. Her body was slow to react to everything, meaning that she was probably given something when she was knocked out. The cuffs nearly felt like an afterthought considering how weak she felt. The only thing she wanted more than to meet her father was a cup of water because her throat was parched.

"Yeah, I'm sure you've heard that I need to return something to him too."

"And what would that be?"

She knew just anyone couldn't walk up and see the Raikage, however there wasn't much she could say without giving her mother and herself away. It was hard to determine whether the man in front of her was actually taking her seriously or just another obstacle on her path. The only person who could know the full truth would have to be her father.

"Nothing lethal."

Seeing as this conversation was getting nowhere, Dodai decided to change the subject. "Why don't you tell me about your use of the Fourth's signature move?"

"The what?"

"You're using an ability and you don't even know what it's called?" The elder male raised an eyebrow in astonishment. "I'm referring to your enhanced abilities as you're shrouded in lightning. It's a technique native to this village."

Tora's mind drifted back to when she first realized she could use lightning. Over the years, the newfound ability was highly inconsistent as she couldn't figure out how to completely master it. Sometimes, she couldn't even get it to appear. "I don't know much about it to tell you anything. It just appeared five years ago."

"And how did it just appear?"

"Look, I don't like beating around the bush and wasting time." Tora spoke directly. "Everything will make sense once you let me talk to the Raikage. You already have me restrained so what more could I possibly do?"

"Then tell me where you got it from."

The door to the room burst open as the new voice spoke demands. In stormed the very man Tora had been looking for. Dodai immediately stood up as A approached the table and slammed his hands down, causing her to flinch out of sheer shock. There was a deep pit of anxiousness as Tora looked into his angered eyes. The words almost couldn't come out of her mouth; however, she'd come too far to let her nerves get the best of her.

"I got it from you."

"So you're going to deliberately lie to me?"

"You think I came all the way here to lie to your face?" Tora clenched her fists, the question striking a nerve. "Guess you'll say I'm lying to you about you being my father too, huh?"

"…What?"

The female sat back in her chair in frustration and focused her attention on a crack in the wall. "Yeah, it's a long story, but you won't believe that either."

"What is your mother's name?"

"Jaga."

The room was silent as A stared at Tora. The female refused to look in his direction, adamant on settling her irritation. A, on the other hand, was studying her features and still processing the information she'd given him.

"Lord Raikage, she may be telling a lie." Dodai reminded the male in a whisper as he also eyed the female. "Let me handle this. There are more important matters for you to tend to than wasting time here-"

"Test her." A moved to leave the room. "If she's telling the truth, then I'll give her an audience."

Tora's eyes widened and she quickly turned her head to watch her father's body disappear beyond the door frame. Dodai was just as surprised as her, however he cleared his throat and went to get a medic. This meant that he had a positive feeling about her, even if it was just an ounce of hope. That was all she needed to help her case.

•─────⋅ ⋅─────•

Tora couldn't tell how long it had been since there were no windows in her holding cell. As she laid on the thin mattress in the bed, she couldn't help but wonder if her mother had been right this entire time. She'd been so selfish and greedy in her quest of looking for her father that she hadn't been thinking of anything else. Now that she thought of it, the last conversation she had with her mother was an argument and that only made her feel worse.

"Tora Dakuo, you've been released. Follow me."

Instantly, she sat up and looked towards the door to see Dodai standing in the doorway. The two walked together in silence through a closed off pathway that she assumed was underground since they had to walk up quite a number of steps to reach their destination - the Raikage's office building. Tora was taken to a room where she was able to shower and choose from a couple of clothing options. In the end, she decided on a halter, no-sleeve gray top with a black undershirt tucked into gray pants. She didn't know where to put her mother's necklace, so she settled on wearing it and tucking it into the halter collar so it couldn't be seen.

"Good afternoon, Lady Tora." A female entered the room after she finished getting dressed. She had light grey hair pulled back into a bun with two strands out and green eyes. "My name is Mabui. I'm the Fourth's assistant."

"I'm guessing this means the test results came back positive." Tora finished re-braiding her hair.

"Lord Fourth wishes to see you when you're ready."

Tora started to walk towards the door, however she stopped, causing Mabui to turn around in confusion. "Since you're his assistant, you know a lot more about him than I do. Do you think he's really happy to see me?"

Mabui simply smiled at the younger female. "You two are very much alike. He really wants to see you."

The two females walked down the corridor together and paused in front of the door to the Raikage's office. Once Mabui motioned for her to go in, Tora let out the breath she was holding and stepped inside.

The room was basically empty let alone some gym equipment in the corner and a couch with a coffee table towards the windows. A was sitting with his legs crossed on the couch casually as if he'd been waiting for her for a while now. Once he waved her over, Tora cautiously stepped forward and stopped in the center of the room.

"I need to know everything from beginning to end."

No hello or anything… What a start. He must be very business oriented.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"There were several tests done and they were all conclusive that we share DNA. I've already accepted you as my daughter so I will treat you like my own."

A patted the seat next to him and Tora awkwardly sat down towards the edge away from him. She'd already taken one leap of faith so she may as well take another and tell him everything, give or take a couple details. She talked about how her mother had her in secret, how their home was attacked so she and her mother had to run away, and how she grew up in the Land of Fire. Starting there would help her feel him out because she couldn't tell him about the Kumogakure ninja or Konoha.

"I also have this…" Tora reached into the neck of her shirt and unhooked her mother's necklace. Opening it, she glanced at the picture before handing it over. "Mom's kept it all these years before she gave it to me."

A held onto the slightly rusted metal and looked down at the small photograph encased inside the locket. He could explicitly remember what happened before and after this picture was taken. It was the day after Jaga's jounin promotion and the two had gone out on a date. It was the first time he'd expressed his feelings towards her and his intent to marry her.

"Is she still alive?"

"Yes."

The atmosphere felt heavy as A's eyes didn't break contact with the locket in his hands. "The last time I saw your mother was the first time I'd ever seen her cry." Closing his fist around the necklace, he finally turned to look at Tora. She had the same spunk as her mother back then and resembled so much of her. "Even though the results are clear, I still don't know you. There's a lot we need to discuss."

Tora nodded in understanding of his words. This was sudden, however it was a start. She only wished her mother were here to join in the reunion.

There was a knock at the door and A let them in. The three shinobi who ambushed Tora outside the village were now standing in front of her. They bowed their heads in respect towards the Raikage, however the two males were equally shocked to see their previous opponent in the room.

"Who is-"

A cut off the orange-streaked male abruptly. "This is my daughter, therefore you will also treat her with respect, Karai."

Karai immediately closed his mouth and gave Tora a look before nodding. The other two introduced themselves, the female being Samui and the male being Nigai. Tora could still feel a bit of hostility, however she accepted it given the circumstances.

"Do not mention this to anyone until further notice, understood? To anyone outside of this room, she is merely a guest. Karai and Samui, return to rounds. Nigai, your new assignment is to be Tora's bodyguard." A ordered. Turning to Tora, A continued speaking as two of the shinobi disappeared. "I have work to do, but afterwards we will talk more."

Before Tora could say anything, she was ushered out of the room as Mabui walked in.