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Naruto and co. doesn't belong to me.
Chapter four
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S e c r e t s
The Beaten Path of Hokages
He woke up with a start, his back immobilised in a ramrod-like position with chest heaving up and down and breaths coming out in rugged pants and wheezes. Entangled in the disarray of blanket were his limbs that were shaking uncontrollably. Blood-shot eyes staring out from grey, weary sockets were wild and their usual shine gone.
"What's the matter?" Kasumi asked, patting his arm and scrutinising his face for signs of unwell in the dimness. Something was not right and his face confirmed it.
Lately, he seemed out of sorts, always discussing with high-level jounins and meeting strangers behind closed doors. A seemingly interminable air of urgency draped over Konoha despite the fact that the Chuunin exam was in the midst of progress. Some huge clout was going to change Konoha and that power was definitely not going to be a benign force.
Holding Kasumi's hand, he shook his shaggy head and tried to smile but his face showed more pain than joy. She was not fazed in the least. His lips had always been tight. Sighing, she moved towards the window to pull open the heavy curtains, letting the weak morning sunlight fall on the ashen man in the bed.
They were married for fifty years. She knew everything about him, his habit of smoking his pipe after waking up, his every snort and nod, his heartily chortle with Konohamaru in a hide-and-seek game, his rare gentle side when he covered her with a blanket during her nap, the way his eyebrows furrowed and arms crossed when in deep thoughts. Ironically, she never succeeded in reading his mind.
"Breakfast is already prepared, get dressed and come down to eat." She said curtly.
He merely nodded without even looking up. She clenched her teeth and marched to the door. Then, her shoulders fell as she stopped in her tracks. He looked sickly. Perhaps she should force him to say something this time, maybe after all these while, he would finally relent. She turned to say something but her words were caught in her throat which went dry with horror. A grave and indecipherable look crossed his face, sending shudders down her spine. She saw the very same expression on his face only once and that one time she saw it was fourteen years ago – the very night he prepared to fight the Kyubi to death. Without another word, hand clasped over mouth, she bolted out of the room.
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Sarutobi the Sandaime tossed the blanket away and hauled himself out of the bed with great effort. Rising shakily to his feet with a deep groan, every step he took unleashed jolts of pain racking every nerve and flesh of his body. He was tired to the core of his bones and it cost every ounce of his strength to balance and move.
A burning sensation directed his gaze downwards to his chest where he saw dark red fluid seeping from a gaping wound. Touching the wound, he watched the blood slid off his fingers and spattered on the floor. He gasped. He… injured? But when? How? He looked at his fingers again. The blood had disappeared as well as the stain on the floor. The gaping wound was gone too. He clutched his head and shook hard. He must have imagined all of it – the blood and the constant presence of a pair of slit-like eyes assaulting him. The horror of the morning's dream had made the shadows around him deeper and darker.
Outside his window, the clamour of the morning began in the streets and aroma of freshly baked bread in the adjacent bakery rose. He squinted up at a weak strand of sunlight muscling its way through the grainy air, just enough of a glimmer to warm his balding head.
As he settled in his wooden armchair, he picked up his pipe and lighted it, then started puffing away. His eyes came to a rest on a sordid vase on his desk which used to be snowy white a long time ago. Intricately carved from white jade and engraved with dragons, the exquisite piece had since fallen into a sorry state and a shade from its old glory. It had been a birthday present from Yondaime and his bride on his fifty-fifth birthday. He shifted his gaze upwards to the wilting daisy in the vase and ran his fingers along the stalk, feeling its unevenness. The faint scent of the daisy lingered in the air and that same scent persisted since Hikari gave it to him during their last training a few days back. She was improving fast as Naruto but he was worried. She was so comfortable being Naruto that she had forgotten her real identity as Hikari and bit by bit stamping out her existence. Every time, she only obliged to release the seal grudgingly at their secret training place after much of his insistence. Even then, she cringed whenever he called the name Hikari. There was much to do and to change yet he was running out of time akin to the wilting daisy whose petals dropped day by day. Each day, his nightmares grew vivider in details and colour while the foreboding of death intensified with the crowing of the rooster at dawn. He took a deep, shuddering breath and pressed his hands together. Decidedly rejuvenated, he grabbed a brush and started to write.
Tsunade,
It has been a long time. Almost ten years have passed since we last met and many things have changed. Now that you've hear from me, I fear that my end is near. A decade ago, you promised to do three things for me in exchange for the knowledge of Amaya's jutsu. The first promise which I asked you to assassinate Gyokusho has been delivered. Now I asked from you the last two favours you promised. The first one is that you come back to Konoha and be the fifth Hokage. It might be unpleasant but please return and succeed me. You wouldn't reject an old man's last wishes, would you? Even if you detest the position, at least stay long enough to choose one that is worthy and honourable to replace you. The second task is no trouble to you. You know where Rie's treasure is and holds the key to it. I ask for nothing more except that you take good care of it. It's of no value to you and me but to someone else, it may be precious. Should you find a person like that, pass it on. Orochimaru, Jiraya and you have taken on different paths which brought you three further and further apart. Yet someday, fate will probably bring you three together again and a battle is inevitable. Remember revenge gains you nothing. Forget about who killed your loved ones. To forgive empowers you much more than Amaya's jutsu. Heed my advice, Tsunade. Farewell.
Sarutobi Sensei
He reached down and opened the drawer to remove a wooden black box. Sweeping the thick layer of dust, he lifted the lid and placed the envelope above a thin pile of parchments and creased sheets, most of it discoloured by age. The click of the box's closure gave him a sense of resolution and a new bout of courage. He was an old man. Death was no fear in his eyes. This time, his fate won't change no matter how hard he fought. He was destined not to see the sunrise tomorrow. Even if the impending battle spelled his doom, he would not be deterred from walking the well-trodden path taken by his predecessors as well as in the future by his successors. For Konoha, all Hokages had chosen the same route. They had put the lives of people of Konoha above themselves, choosing to sacrifice their happiness, families, desires and even their lives. For this single ideal, he was prepared to go against all odds to ensue Konoha's existence. With renewed strength, he stood up from his chair, grim and ready for anything coming in his way. For he was the Hokage of Konoha.
To be continued
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I have replaced the previous chapter four with this and I guess it's pretty boring since no action and stuff, no main characters appearing but this is the last appearance of the third in the story so the whole chapter for him. I know this chapter is short. The next one is going to be post up soon.. For real.. For readers who are still around and waiting this for so long, sorry for the many, many months wait, really apologetic… I appreciate and thank you for your support !! =)
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Dan Inverse – I didn't really watch Noir, just thot that the lyrics fit. Well, I fast-forwarded the story cos if I wrote from the start, it's going to take ages before I reach where I intend the plot to start.
Haruka – Well, I have to disappoint you.. I haven't put Hikari with anyone yet, she might be with Neji or Sasuke or Yuki who I'm going to intro next or any guys I can think of.
Maria – hmm.. They'll not know it till many chapters to come. A couple of them might discover first, especially those closest to Naruto.
Silvermist91 – I'm afraid Akamaru got me!! So that's why this chapter is out.. So keep Akamaru away or at least a safe distance =p
Dadaiiro – Hikari is not going to appear in the village at all cos she'll probably be questioned if seen since strangers are not allowed in the village without permission. She only appeared in front of the Hokage, Kasumi and Tsuki cos they preferred her over Naruto.
SSJ4 Sailor Menz – There is definitely going to be more. But it's a matter of time.
Kurokioku – Hikari will appear next chap but Naruto won't turn into Hikari for a long time../
Asahara – haha.. cool down !! herbal tea for you.. a chap for you so don't be angry. I do care very much about this fiction, just too busy and a tad too lazy to write. But I'll speed up now, so there won't be another 5 months wait. Gomen !!
KizuPL – I know.. I'm supposed to update quickly but . . . hehee I'll try hard to post up as soon as possible but I don't want my story to be trashy. So give me time to work it out..
:D – Arrigatou gozaimasu !! For all your encouragements …
cevgar – I'm not getting cocky or wat by reviews.. I like reviews but I like to write and work out my ideas too.. But it's kinda of hard and limited by my language capability. Anyway, I did rewrite the chap since it's a bit hard to carry on from there. Thanks for your help previously and if you don't hang around, I understand.
Puppet in the corner – Kiiro disappeared with the replacement of the chapter but I'll give Kiiro some cameo.. Cos I really like Naruto havin a pet.
To others who have reviewed, thanks a lot, I've read and cherished everything said..
Ja..
S-Chan