As far as Arashi could tell, it was a day like any other. And that meant it was an excellent day to be alive. The ninjas of Konoha were celebrating a great lull in the battle-ridden times they had experienced so recently. The energy of peacetime…the happiness of having the whole family together for dinner…the cheerful yelling of children.
Arashi smiled, looking out the window of the mighty office he seemed to call home now. Two and a half years of work had left him stronger and more experienced…and had brought lasting peace to the walls of Konohagakure. Everything seemed to be looking up, even the rising sun.
Turning away from the window, however, he frowned. Too bad I'm stuck here…with THIS…
Arashi considered pounding his fist on the desk before him, then thought better of it and sat down with an audible sigh. Sarutobi should do the paperwork…I'm too young to be stuck in here…
"YAWN"
Yondaime: The Strength of a Nation
Chapter 4: A Man with Weaknesses
Part 1: The Stench of Death
Wednesday. Another dull day. Classes had let out at noon, and all of the younger children were eating lunch in the picnic area. Among them was an interesting visitor…a 13-year-old returning to chat with his instructors. Too bad for him.
"But, he isn't here today?"
The deep voice of a 20-something year old man replied to him. "I'm afraid not…they called me in to sub for him." An instructor wearing a green jacket shook his head and shoved his hands into his pockets.
A younger kid walked by the 13-year-old, carrying a tray of food, and the elder man blinked. When he looked again, the runt of a visitor had his hands in his pockets, almost mocking the instructor. Before the man could respond, the boy had begun to speak. "Do you know if he'll be back tomorrow? Our next mission isn't until the weekend…"
Nara Shikato sighed, then leaned against the wall of the building. "Sorry…they've got me on day-to-day for him. He apparently had to leave town…something about his family…I wasn't listening entirely…"
The young boy frowned a bit. He had really hoped to see his old instructor. Glancing to one side, he pulled his hands out of his pockets, and grabbed the straw fromthejuice box he revealed in doing so. The boy shoved the straw through the hole and began to drink. Shikato raised an eyebrow. When did this kid get a drink? He just got here…
"Why'd you steal that other boy's juice box?"
"I'm not supposed to be here, so I can't get one. He'll just go get another one when he realizes it." Sure enough, the same kid passed back behind the young man, probably never putting two and two together.
Shikato eyed the younger ninja curiously. "What is your name?"
The boy finished off the drink, and pulled the straw from the box, leaving it dangling out of his teeth as he smiled. "Tell Kanno-sensei that Shiranui Genma came by to visit. Just an effort to spice up life."
Shikato smirked, and nodded as the kid waved and left the academy campus. Kids nowadays. Shikato's premonition was that that kid had probably been a top rookie at one point. It was in his smile. But, all he could read from the kid beyond that right now was…boredom. Shikato tilted his head up to the clouds, considering the fact that peace had reached his doorstep. He never would have imagined teaching at the academy before.
I remember the days when life was interesting…something needs to happen soon.
"Victorious!" BAM!
Arashi felt like he had just repelled a wave of his worst enemies. With a mighty roar and a booming impact, he rose from his seat, slamming the last of his paperwork onto his desk. "You are defeated!" True, it was an empty victory…paperwork would always come back for another round the next day, but he found himself being somewhat proud of being patient enough to get it done. Hey…as long as I don't let it pile up, maybe I'll be able to get outta here every day by…Arashi glanced out the window.
Good God…the sun is setting. A loud sigh echoed against the walls. Ah well...at least the night is young…
Smiling, he grabbed his cloak and turned to the window. Looking out upon the city, he suddenly had the urge to see it all. I need something to do…it's been a while since I've had an opportunity to visit with anyone. Maybe…
His eyes drifted toward a particular person…then a group of people. ANBU.
Why is a group of Anbu standing directly outside of Hokage tower? Soon, he spotted a couple more walking behind them, and a man calling after them. From here, he could only see the man's black clothing, and see that the Anbu turned to him and looked with respect. He waved them off, and the group dispersed. Arashi looked closer, and saw the man's defined face and his interesting mix of black and grey hair.
Sarutobi.
He watched as Saru entered the building, and frowned. Whatever had been going on lately, he hadn't had much time to talk to his more-experienced counterpart this week. Sooner or later, he'd have to find out what had him so wound up. A knock on the office door interrupted Arashi's thoughts. "Come in."
He was expecting an Anbu captain, or perhaps one of the house chuunin…Sarutobi tended to spend some time in deep thought at this time of the day…at least lately. Instead, the man himself entered the room. As Arashi turned to face him, the look on Saru's face immediately set the mood for a long conversation. Arashi took off his cloak and placed it back on the coat rack. Turning back to Sarutobi, he noticed what the man was wearing.
"You're in battle garb, Saru-dono…and you arrive with a full squad and a half of Anbu. What is going on?"
"I apologize, Arashi…I should have kept you better informed about what's been going on, and perhaps things wouldn't have come to this…"
"…what things?"
"I never imagined…he would go this far…"
Arashi blinked. What Sarutobi had just said almost sounded like he was talking to himself. Looking at his elder, he noticed the man was staring into space.
"Sarutobi!" That had the desired effect, jarring the man from his thoughts. Arashi looked at him with a look of concern. "I've been doing paperwork…so you'll have to tell me what's going on…"
Sarutobi calmed down momentarily, and took a seat. Arashi closed his eyes and sighed. It's going to be a long night, isn't it…
Earlier that day…
The days were getting longer as Konoha summer approached, and Haruno Shigete suddenly found himself understanding why their land was known as "Fire Country". As a ninja living in the forest, you wouldn't really feel the difference…shade grants relief. Yet, outside of Konoha…today was not a day to walk without sandals.
The purpose was well worth it, however. Shigete was on a mission to purchase a stroller. In the times of war previously seen in Konoha, no one would really want to take their baby anywhere too far from home…Shigete considered it a sign of the times that his wife suddenly wanted to have the right equipment to not have to lug the baby everywhere she went. The walk perturbed him far more than the cost, but he was not one to complain much. After all, she had born him a son…why should he be angry? As the heat bare down on him, however, he pondered that it might be worthwhile to visit his father. A house with shade that was not too far from the main roads…it would be a valuable rest place, and he may save the man some time on shopping later.
His thoughts mimicked him as he veered off the main road and into the grasslands…he ran through the errands he needed to run the next day, and he smiled as his mind's eye envisioned his son smiling in the stroller…
As he walked, a thought invaded the solitude of his mind…a single thought that was quite disturbing. No matter how he tried to think of other things, his mind seemed to continue to veer directly back…to pictures of himself dying. His adrenaline began to pump. Every time he fought it off, the pictures would return…worse than before…more gruesome.
Suddenly, a picture came so vividly that he could almost feel the brutality. His body froze in place, muscles twitching, eyes wide as he realized that what he was feeling was…perhaps the strongest killing intent he'd ever felt. Someone…something…is here. He attempted to force his body to move, but it wasn't working…his muscles began to spasm with effort. Within the thoughts of death, he caught one in particular…
The slaughter of him, his father, and his entire family.
Shigete closed his eyes and stopped moving. Yes. I have a family to protect. I must stay calm. Opening his eyes again slowly, he quickly took control of his body again. Going down to one knee, he began rattling off hand seals. As he completed the last seal, he seemingly faded from view, and a whisper could be heard. "Mirenai no jutsu…" If anyone had been there, they would have been surprised when the grass rattled, as Shigete rolled to one side, then rose to his feet.
Who in the world has such a strong killing intent way out HERE, and what are they doing? Attempting to get his bearings on what was around, he followed a presence he felt in the distance…carefully moving to avoid making noise.
The area he found seemed to be the entrance to some type of cave…but he wasn't sure if he had ever noticed it before. Sneaking behind a conveniently-placed tree, he peered over towards the cave, and noticed an interesting sight. A man was standing there, much like Shigete had been…overwhelmed by kanashibari. Shigete noted this guy was having a much tougher time doing anything…this was probably the man the intent was aimed after. Yet, despite not being the target, when his eyes veered over to the person doing the binding, he felt no more at ease.
HIM? What?
"Don't worry…you can be as afraid as you want to be…no one will hear your screams where I'll take you, so feel free…"
Shigete gasped as he realized what might be happening here…
The ruthless one paused. He turned his head and looked directly toward the tree in the distance. Slowly, his face turned from slight confusion to frustration as he realized that nothing was there. "Pardon me for a moment." The cruel killer formed an in (hand seal) unfamiliar to Shigete.
It was a good thing he didn't see me do this jutsu…I wouldn't live to tell about it.
"Despite the fact that I cannot see you…don't dare think that I don't know you're there…"
The addition of a new voice to Shigete's mind, especially one as dark and menacing as this one, was not doing much for his mental health.
"You stupid fool…dare you get between a snake and its prey…"
Looking at the evil before him, he could picture the man suddenly becoming a snake and attacking him…and it took everything within him to will himself still.
I must NOT run. I must NOT run. No…
"You will be my dessert!"
He stared directly into the eyes of the snake before him, unflinching, until he felt something leathery slide against his foot, and attempt to slither beneath his sandal. Shigete glanced down, and barely held in a yelp as he noticed the grass he was standing in was covered in cobras.
Dear God...
Slowly, they began to slither up his legs…beneath his clothes…and Shigete began to sweat...
Still he stood.
Sharp teeth tore into his thigh, and his eyes shut in pain, but he avoided yelling. The cobra on his foot slipped beneath his sandal and bit his foot, and for a split moment Shigete almost lost it. Tears began to leak from his eyes…but he remained still and silent...and fought the urge to faint. Fortunately…he was a Jounin who had been through worse torture in his lifetime.
This is a genjutsu…it better be…
"Hmph. Whoever you are…you are resilient."
Shigete fought off the cobras within his mind, and managed to keep his focus on the manipulator. Suddenly, he saw the man drag the binded fellow into the cave…it was then that he noticed the binded fellow was wearing a chuunin jacket of Konoha. The cave suddenly collapsed inward, and melted into the ground. The grass grew in time-lapse, covering the spot as though it never existed.
Shigete reached his hands up into a familiar hand seal. "Kai!" Immediately, the snakes stopped coming, and he was able to relax a bit. But not much at all…not after what he'd just seen. He dropped to one knee and gasped, taking in a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.
No…visits and strollers would have to wait. The 3rd Hokage needed to know this immediately.
"For the longest time, I have suspected that more has been going on in this city than met the eye. Quiet comes before a storm…and pride in knowledge before a failure to notice something. I..."
Before Sarutobi could continue, Arashi impulsively waved him off, called for one of the chuunin manning the tower, and asked him to prepare some tea. Sarutobi cleared his throat and continued.
"Last week I received a report of strange activity on the part of Orochimaru…disappearances for extended periods of time. Today, we received a report from a chuunin on vacation that he had spotted Orochimaru outside of the city. The ANBU reports at the gate said they never saw him."
Arashi didn't put it past Orochimaru to evade the ANBU's sight. After all, if he really wanted to…
"But not only that…the chuunin reported that Orochimaru had body-binded a Jounin, and taken him into some type of underground pit that seemingly transformed into normal grassland soon afterwards."
Arashi frowned. Part of him initially refused this story as outlandish…but then he began to think. Kanashibari to bind with…a Stone Molder jutsu to create the cave...any one of 5 different jutsus to make an underground tunnel, a Mud Barrier jutsu to refill the hole afterwards, and a growth jutsu to make the grass grow back quickly…I can do it, and that means he probably could…
"When I heard about it, I immediately went to search for Orochimaru and disprove this…but I did not find him. Then I thought further…"
Arashi frowned and mumbled. "There have been many chuunin and Jounin who have not returned from their missions promptly lately…"
Sarutobi looked down for a moment, sighed deeply and shakily. "We have found them all."
The word found struck Arashi's ears as a very foreboding word to use.
"I had already suspected that some of the missing were dead, and my worst fears were being fed here…so I brought together a couple of teams of ANBU to search the sewers and the underground tunnel networks for anything strange. Eventually, they spotted a tunnel that no one could remember, and we explored it, and stumbled upon him…"
Sarutobi sighed again, and Arashi blinked. Looking at his superior…and his friend, he suddenly noticed how…deflated the man looked. For the first time in his life, Arashi looked at Sarutobi and truly saw his age.
"I don't know if I can tell this story…"
Earlier that day...
The silence was deafening. No noise...just the dull sight of a room with stone walls, and a barricaded wooden door. Something in the distance looks like a life-size crucifix against the wall, but it draws little attention. A momentary flicker of the lights...and then the room was still. Suddenly, the door opened, snapping the plank of wood that was holding it closed into three. In that moment, three ANBU slithered into the room at top speed, kunais drawn. The sound of more warriors in the hall could be heard. Another door could be heard closing in the distance, and suddenly the voices flaired up.
"You!"
"Hokage-sama! We've found him...dear God...the stench..."
"Oooooooooooohhhhh..."
Immediately another body entered the room...a man dressed in all black, a Konoha forehead protecter catching glare from the ceiling lights. Scanning the room, the man focused his eyes on something in the distance, but not before noticing the rest of the room. A voice came from the distance...
O: "So you have finally found me…I knew sooner or later it would have to happen."
The man in black stepped forward, and the sounds of other footsteps echoed in the room. Sandaime spoke.
S: "What are you doing down here, Orochimaru?"
O: "Have you come to see my work? It's all on the walls for everyone to see…"
S: "My God…"
It becomes obvious that the "crucifix" against the wall is actually a corpse...and thatthere are other tortured souls all around the room...
O: "Yes, I quite agree…they are a bit disgusting…but they grow on you after a while…"
S: "These are Konoha's own…why would you do such a thing?"
One of the ANBU began to wretch. Sarutobi locked his eyes on Orochimaru's, noting the same look he'd always seen deep within them...
O: "Why wouldn't I? What do these bodies mean to me? They serve a greater purpose as they are now than your pathetic flag…"
S: "You can't be doing what I think you are…"
O: "You know what my dream has been for ages…I wish to learn every technique…"
S: "You wish to play God…!"
O: "Not exactly, although in order to do such a thing, I would need to borrow God's immortality…"
S: "So that's what this is…a big experiment?"
O: "My methods have given results, but not quite what I wanted…yet."
S: "You wretched snake…"
Orochimaru chuckles, and nearly slips into laughter before speaking.
O: "Sarutobi-sensei…you seem surprised. Why does this surprise you? You've known me all along…and I'm sure you knew what your decisions would mean…"
Sarutobi freezes for a moment, and then looks down to the ground.
S: "I have been such a fool…believing that someday you would change. That perhaps someone would reach that cold heart of yours and make you into a man…but instead you are nothing but a skilled boy to this day."
O: "Yes, a skilled boy…a boy more powerful than an army! And you are nothing more than an old man…an old man that I have given too much power to."
Sarutobi pauses, confused by Orochimaru's last comment. Orochimaru turns away from Sarutobi, pacing lightly and almost thinking aloud.
O: "It was hope that kept me in check this long…I know how much the people admire me, and yet, how much they fear me and hate my existence. Were they in your shoes, they would have killed me when they had the chance. But none of that mattered, because you decided in your high wisdom to give me an opportunity to grow and learn. I'd thank you for that…for giving me hope…but it made me weak. Because even as I gained hope, I learned to fear losing it. Even as I learned to strike fear in others, I feared. And it wasn't the people that I feared...or failure or anything silly like that...no..."
Orochimaru turns back to Sarutobi, an intensely vicious look on his face.
O: You…YOU are the only thing I have feared from this wretched place, all my life. Because you had the knowledge, and the strength to defeat me…and to end my ambitions. You held all the keys. And I believed that you would use them to unlock my full potential. And yet, despite that belief, when the time came you threw my key out the window! Discarded it to some faithful trash that is lesser…and will not be spoken of here. You threw my dreams to the wolves…and I will feed you to the snakes…"
Sarutobi recognizes his anger as centered over the choice of Arashi as Hokage.
S: "I have given you more than you can fathom…this country has given you its strength…and you spit on it this way…desecrating the bodies of your allies…"
O: "They are your allies, not mine…this foolish country has never been 'mine'…I served you because you served me…not because of blood or some foolish flag. And yet, you betrayed me…"
S: "You were not ready for the responsibility of this office…and you never will be!"
O: "I DON'T WANT YOUR WORTHLESS OFFICE ANYMORE, OLD MAN!"
Sarutobi pauses, hearing Orochimaru's evilest tone. Silence filled the room for a moment, until one of the ANBU shifted a bit. Orochimaru continued.
O: "Why would I want your desk job, you worthless old fool? Hokage is nothing more than a slave's title...an expression of a man's weakness and will to be a victim. I want no part of that foolishness...especially for a village as weak as this."
The words of a jealous fool...the anger in them was obvious. The word "weak" echoed in the air.
O: "There was a time when my legacy was in your hands…when you would decide what I could be and become…when my legend was tied to yours…but no more. I HAVE SURPASSED YOU, SARUTOBI! IT IS I WHO HOLDS THE KEYS…TO BOTH MY FATE AND YOURS…"
S: "If you really believe that, then show me!"
Sarutobi steps forward in anger, and Orochimaru straightens up in reaction. The sound of 15 to 20 weapons being drawn brings a sly smile to Orochimaru's face. Yet, in retrospect, it's somewhat obvious that Orochimaru is a bit worried...away from the sight of the ANBU and Sarutobi, his leg muscles tense up.
O: "If you wish, we could end this now…if you are so willing to attack me. Yet…"
The snake licks his lips...
O: "I don't believe either of us will be truly happy with the result. A battle like this would be titanic…and dangerous. And besides, when I fight you, I want to see your sweat…"
Glancing up, Sarutobi remembers that they are underground, and that a battle down here of this kind would result in utter destruction…
O: "But really, it doesn't matter anyway…because at some point Konoha will fall by my hands…"
S: "You'll never succeed. I won't let you."
O: "Like I said. Old brat. You have no power here, and you know it."
The hands of the ANBU tighten around their weapons, but their movement is cut short by a yell.
O: "Do ANY of you fools REALLY think you have a chance!"
The ANBU back off. Slowly, Orochimaru picks his right leg up, and advances.
O: "I invite you again. If you can really strike me so easily because of all I've done, then I have no choice but to fight."
Orochimaru licks his lips and puts on his most ruthless expression…
To one not caught up in the moment, it was simple to tell that there was a bit of fear in his body…this is perhaps the only man that can kill him. It's too bad no one there could see that. Slowly, Orochimaru's weight shifted to one side...
O: "You won't get a second opportunity…I will strike when there is no defense…and you and your little runt kid will be no match…"
Sarutobi attempts to rouse his anger to fight his own student…almost his son. But, even as he attempts to, his shoulders sink, and his eye contact drifts.
O: "Then…"
Orochimaru makes his move while there is doubt, charging through the ANBU and speeding out of the sewer as fast as he can. The ANBU begin to make chase, but an explosive note hinders their route out long enough for an easy escape.
S: "I've made a horrible mistake…"
As Arashi watched the video, which they'd taken from one of Orochimaru's own surveillance cameras, he was stunned. "Despite how cold he was to many of us, I never would have imagined him doing anything like this…"
Sarutobi had begun to cry not long before the end. "I couldn't…I couldn't bring myself to do it…I'm sorry, Arashi, for all the trouble I've brought you today…"
Arashi sighed, and closed his eyes. For a moment, he attempted to imagine what he would do if Kakashi turned out to be pure evil 10-20 years from now…would he be able to kill someone he'd spent 2 decades teaching? A shudder passed through him at the thought…
"Saru…I doubt I could have done it either…and it's not your fault. It's not like you could have known…"
Sarutobi continued to cry. "Yes it is…I KNEW, Arashi…I knew he wasn't fit for this…and yet I gave him all I had anyway…I've created this monster."
Arashi remained silent.
"He was the type of talent…that shows up only once in a century…and in the time of war I became Hokage in, I couldn't see letting that type of talent slip, no matter what the cost…I was determined to train him, and change his fate."
"His fate?"
"Orochimaru was orphaned. His parents were casualties of a regional skirmish, and when the orphanage he lived in closed down, he eventually ended up here. He wanted to do something where he could make a real difference, and he quickly proved to be capable of ninjutsu. But, he was very self-motivated and cocky once he learned how good he was, and he continually talked about how he would one day be the best…beyond the best…"
"When I began training him, he did a good job of hiding it…so that I wouldn't send him to a psychiatrist or anything…but when you're around someone long enough…you know what they're hiding eventually…deep down, I knew…but I wouldn't admit it to myself…this whole situation would never have happened if I just admitted..."
As Arashi looked at Sarutobi again, he saw a broken man before him. Things were apparently more serous within the mind of Sarutobi than the young boy could imagine. Sarutobi bowed his head before Arashi, and began to cry.
"I'm sorry, Arashi...I've called you to a way of life I haven't lived myself...I have regrets that cannot be fixed..."
Arashi was stunned into silence. He couldn't think of what to say that could help the situation...and Sarutobi continued to cry. Eventually, he settled on drinking his tea, and lightly said..."It's not the end of the world. We'll handle it."
Sarutobi's crying died down some, and the man spoke once more.
"He will come back…I know that…and he might wait out my death in order to attack you…or he may strike soon…there's no telling…the peace I've tried to create my entire life is tainted now…"
Arashi thought hard and long, and realized that there was little he could do. While Konoha had not fallen today, much of his friend's world had. Sarutobi had a bit of soul-searching to do if he was going to come out of this successfully.
"Sandaime-sama...I believe it is time you took a rest."
Sarutobi didn't look up. "You know I can't do that..."
Arashi nonchalantly waved, though Sarutobi couldn't see him do it. "I guarantee you we'll be ok…I've still got two of the Sannin here if anything crazy were to happen…and I've gotten the hang of all of this paperwork. But, I can't stand to see you like this…"
Sarutobi took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself down. Arashi continued.
"Please, Saru-dono…go home and get some rest…see your family…and take the break you were originally planning to a month ago. When you're ready to return, we'll still be here. This isn't your burden to worry about."
Sarutobi closed his eyes, unable to completely stop crying, and bowed before the young one who was showing him so much mercy.
"Arashi...you truly have grown into a fine young man. Thank you."
"Shush. Go get some rest and enjoy yourself."
Five minutes later, when Sarutobi left the building and the village of Konoha, Arashi felt as if he'd done a good thing.
But for some reason, part of him felt like the world had just evolved into a deeper...and darker place. Rewinding the video tape of the confrontation between Orochimaru and Sandaime, he couldn't help but notice just how strongly Orochimaru felt about Konoha's weakness.
Something about the way Orochimaru said it...made Arashi wonder if he felt the same way.
Well, that's the end of part 1 of the 4th chapter that I've been working on for so long...I'll be putting the others up soon. We've got spring break soon, so that's prettymuch a guarantee of some writing happening within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm also working on a few other stories, including Lost Hope, and another little ditty that I haven't posted a chapter for yet, but I've written 3...we'll see when/if I actually put it up though.
The Kakashi Gaiden manga chapters made me re-evaluate a lot of what I've done so far...the 4th seems a lot more mellow in his years as Hokage than I was making him out to be. Ah well. What's done is done...but we'll just imagine that what happens next is what makes him suddenly get so much more serious. I may even rewrite the genin test stuff to be less crude, but we'll see.
I apologize for how much I've dragged my feet on this stuff. Hopefully all the people who were reading before still are!