Kitsune no Ken GAIDEN Chronicles
Written by Neon Majestic
(DISCLAIMER: The Naruto franchise and the characters therein belong to and were originally created by Masashi Kishimoto.)
OoOoO
GAIDEN 67 – Reckoning, Part 5
(N.B. This Gaiden takes place immediately after the events of Gaiden 60.)
Kumo City, 10:30 a.m.
Asama Sandayu, the mayor of Kumo City, was grim-faced as he went through several documents on his desk that needed his signature and stamp of approval. A building permit here, a municipal review there, and still the paperwork seemed like it would never decrease. Still, he knew, it came with the territory of being the face of the city's local government, and he hadn't campaigned for the office with any expectation that it would be an easy job.
One thing he could be exceptionally grateful for at the moment was the fact that, unlike most other cities this morning, Kumo City's police force had not reported any reduction in manpower due to the frankly unprecedented strike action taken up by the nation's police officers. Granted, that had much to do with the department's own history with one of its own having been one of the Nine Terrors, but still…
The low buzzing of his phone on his desk brought him back from his recollecting, and he mechanically picked up the receiver. "Hello, good morning."
"Mr. Mayor, sir, Uchiha Itachi is here to see you—from the Uchiha family," his secretary's voice came over the line. "He insists that it's urgent."
Mayor Asama frowned. "Send him in."
He hung up the receiver, set down the papers on his desk, and waited. Then—knock-knock-knock came from the other side of his office door. "Enter!" he called.
And in came Uchiha Itachi, snappily dressed in a gray suit and tie. "Mayor Asama, good morning," he greeted the older man, approaching the desk.
The mayor arose in greeting and shook Itachi's hand. "Uchiha Itachi…the last time I saw you, you were just touching in your teens," he remarked. "How's your father doing, eh? I promised Fugaku I'd come share a drink with him soon, for old times' sake."
"He's doing fine. Still a lot of work to be done at the Zaibatsu building, but it's coming along," said Itachi.
"Ah, yes, I heard all about that—when those hooligans from LOVE tried to bring Konoha Town under siege," Mayor Asama recalled. "I'm sure it'll cost a pretty penny to repair or replace what they destroyed."
"Nothing we can't handle, don't worry," Itachi assured him. "But in any event, I'm afraid I'm not quite here on a social visit."
"Really, now?" Mayor Asama gestured to one of the two chairs before his desk. "Please, sit. So, Itachi-kun, what brings you to see me, then?"
"Thank you," and Itachi sat down. "Long story short, Mr. Mayor, I've come to discuss a certain person with you…does the name Nii Yugito ring a bell for you?"
He immediately took mental note as the affability seemed to vanish from Mayor Asama's face right there and then. "Alarm bells, yes," the older man responded in a low tone. "What about her?"
"I've been approached to do some…deep-level investigations on behalf of some pretty influential people, let's put it that way," Itachi said carefully, "particularly regarding Nii Yugito's standing here in Kumo City. I'm told that you and she had a rather…frosty encounter some time ago."
"Might I ask why you've been tasked with inquiring about her?" Mayor Asama inquired.
Itachi weighed his words. "Everyone knows the whole unpleasant business with the Kyuushingai started here in Kumo City. A lot of police personnel, both here and in other locations, lost their lives. And I've been made aware that Ms. Nii was a highly-commended member of Kumo City's local department prior to that…and also…" He leaned forward. "…that you and she were of differing opinions regarding how to deal with the local fallout here. It was a rather public difference of opinions, I understand."
The mayor scoffed. "I don't know if it was as public as you've apparently been told, but…" He leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Look, Itachi-kun, I won't beat around the bush with you. A lot of deaths happened here in Kumo City on that first night, and several nights afterward, during the 365 days. My office was flooded with calls from panicked constituents wanting to know what the municipal authorities were doing, wanting to know if the police weren't doing their jobs as well as they ought. So I took a rather…drastic decision."
"That was…?" Itachi prompted.
"To try and downplay the number of casualties we were experiencing—especially among the police." Mayor Asama shook his head. "It seems ridiculous to even attempt, in hindsight, but our people here were scared, and we didn't want worse riots breaking out than were already happening, plus the police were demoralized enough as it was—so what else were we to do? The whole town might have been turned upside down if we'd let everyone know the real death toll. There was enough upheaval on the streets already—letting everyone know how many police and civilians had actually died would have created even more distress than we were prepared to handle."
"The official total number of recorded deaths from the 365 days, across the country, was 247. But the reality said far more than that." Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Look, Mr. Mayor…I saw death up close and personal in the early days of that year, and I saw a lot of people around me die. If I wasn't about to be convinced by that 'official' tally, how would John Public be convinced to accept that number as gospel?"
Mayor Asama scowled now. "I had to make the best of a bad situation. And it wasn't all my decision, either—we city and town mayors have a boss to report to in the Ministry of Local Government, and they ordered us to keep the pandemonium among the public as low as possible, using whatever means we had to use to get it done."
"But Ms. Nii clearly didn't agree," said Itachi.
"Where she's concerned…" Mayor Asama sighed. "Yes, you're right…she was one of Kumo City's finest at one time. I even gave her a few mayoral commendations for sterling service once or twice. But when I gave my mandate to the chief of police regarding how to deal with the city's death toll from the 365 days, I guess she must have heard about it…because next thing I knew, she was in my office denouncing me for cowardice, declaring she wouldn't serve under an administration of that sort, and then she just straight-up quit the force."
"That was then. What about now? Any attempts to mend fences?" asked Itachi.
"To be honest…I'm not certain if that would do any good at this point. Especially given…well…" Mayor Asama looked off to one side for a moment.
"Especially given what?" Itachi prompted.
The mayor's jaw tightened. Then he pulled open a drawer in his desk, took out a magazine, and plopped it on top of the desk for Itachi to see. "Have you seen this publication before?" he asked.
Itachi looked at the magazine…and his eyes narrowed when he saw the cover, with the headline article's title splashed right there for anyone to see: Kyuushingai in Konoha? And there on the cover, clear for him to see, were two figures he knew very well.
"I think I have seen this before, yes. The young man on the cover here…this is Uzumaki Naruto," Itachi commented. "He outed himself as a Kyuushingai on the radio a while back…and then he got all that coverage with the Parliament incident."
"The woman featured on the cover with him is Nii Yugito," Mayor Asama answered. "And…" His voice dropped in volume. "Prior to this publication's release, this wasn't exactly public knowledge, but…the police chief had to make me aware, on a need-to-know basis, you see. This woman…she had volunteered to join the specialized government training program that eventually created the Nine Terrors."
"Go on…" Itachi gestured with a hand.
"The police's top brass was told that the training would allow for increased military capabilities. Essentially, Ms. Nii was to be the prototype among Kumo City's department; if she proved to be successful, there could be possible expansion among the rest of the city's cops. But as we all know, otherwise happened." Mayor Asama sighed. "For those of us who're in the know, the reactions to Ms. Nii's involvement after the fact have been mixed, to say the least. I know for a fact that within the local department, opinions are split down the middle…some say she's no better than the rest of the Terrors, and some consider her a fallen hero."
"And what do you say? You're the mayor, here," said Itachi.
"I say that it's hypocritical for Nii Yugito to criticize my way of trying to contain a crisis, when she and her fellows were at least partially responsible for creating that crisis in the first place," Mayor Asama said stoutly. "But what's done is done, I guess. We can't take back the actions we've already committed."
"…I guess not." Itachi waited a moment. "Just wondering…given this national police strike that's got the Kyuushingai as a possible motivator, do you suppose anyone in your city's authority might try to bring Nii Yugito to book?"
"Well, if the chief of police decides that that's a necessary action, that'll be for him to sign off on. Although considering his statements on the news this morning, I doubt it." Mayor Asama shrugged. "As for me…well, that woman and I may have had our differences in the past, but if she hasn't been causing any new trouble in recent times, why poke the hornet's nest? Unless I get any marching orders to that effect from the government's higher-ups to do so in my capacity as mayor—which, so far, I have not."
"I see." Itachi nodded. "Why poke the hornet's nest, indeed…"
OoOoO
Whirl City, 10:40 a.m.
"Mmm…" Hokuto closed her eyes and savored the citrusy scent and flavor of the tea she was currently drinking. "It's been forever since I had this kind of tea…"
She and Kabure were sitting together at an outdoor table just outside one of the boulevard's cafés, she with her shopping bags on the ground next to her chair and he sitting opposite her. "Glad to be able to oblige you with that," Kabure answered her.
"Yeah." Hokuto set the cup down on its accompanying saucer. "So. About what you said…"
"Straight to the point, eh?" Kabure remarked.
"I'd rather not waste time beating around the bush," said Hokuto. "You said you want to know my thoughts—my thoughts—about everything that's happening. Including the fact that he's been suspended."
"…yeah." Kabure nodded. "So tell me, Hokuto-san…what do you think? Really."
Hokuto's gaze dropped to the table, then shifted to one side. "Being kidnapped by the Star-Boys gang…my fight with Dad before that…and everything that's led up to that…all of it…"
Kabure waited.
"Nothing's so black and white, is it, Mr. Tokisuki?" Hokuto asked, looking back at him. "I talked with my teacher from school on Tuesday…she's of the same opinion like my dad…like a lot of people here in Whirl City. They want the Nine Terrors to hang and burn for what happened in the 365 days, and Naruto with them…but if it wasn't for him, Sumaru and his guys would've still had me and their other hostage captive…and even before that, I met some of Naruto's new friends—imagine that, right? Naruto actually having friends…and they accepted him, even knowing who he was and what he'd done."
"Hmm…" Kabure's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you think of that?"
"…I don't know. I feel…kinda conflicted, you know?" Hokuto answered. "The Terrors caused the 365 days…and my mom died during the 365 days, along with a lot of other people…but Naruto, one of the Terrors, he's come to my rescue twice now, once at Uzushio High School and the other time on the mainland…I know people hate him because of who he is, but…ironically, he's been more of a hero than my own father." She sighed. "How confusing can that be, right?"
"So what about your father, then? How do you feel about him?" asked Kabure.
Hokuto cradled her teacup in her hands, but didn't lift it. "Dad just isn't who he used to be. That much I'm sure of. Ever since…ever since Mom…"
"I believe you." Kabure nodded again. "He misses her. I could see that when I saw him today."
"But this…this vendetta he's got…" Hokuto shook her head. "No, not just Dad—the whole of Whirl City. Even now, after the 365 days…" Her eyebrows knitted. "And now, this strike with the police…it's too much. We've let the pain stay with us to this extent…it's too much, Mr. Tokisuki."
Kabure considered what he would say next. "Hokuto-san…I want to ask you something in all honesty, and I want you to seriously think about what I'm going to ask you before you answer me." He eyed her, making certain he had her attention before continuing. "Hypothetically speaking…if you had been one of the Kyuushingai—"
"Dad would disown me and refuse to admit we have any relation," Hokuto answered abruptly.
"…okay…" Kabure blinked at Hokuto's bluntness.
"I know my dad well enough. I've lived under his roof long enough to know him. I've heard him condemn the Kyuushingai enough times to know what I'm talking about." Hokuto brought the teacup up to her lips and took a mouthful of her citrus tea. "Which means," she added after she'd swallowed the mouthful, "that he's not going to care what I think if it's not in line with what he thinks concerning the Terrors."
"But do you care what he thinks?" Kabure asked.
One corner of Hokuto's mouth curled downward. "I understand why he thinks the way he does. I just don't like the way he goes about expressing it."
There was a moment of silence as Hokuto took another mouthful of her tea. Then she set the cup down again and eyed Kabure. "Question."
"Hmm?" Kabure cocked an eyebrow.
Hokuto's expression was hard. "All this stuff you've been asking me…how will hearing my answers affect the outcome of this whole situation that's come up because of Dad? The police who're on strike aren't likely to change their minds."
"Probably not," Kabure admitted. "But if I'm to be perfectly honest…Hokuto-san, your dad's always been a good cop. If he stays the way he is right now, he'll only end up ruining himself—and that will affect you by extension. And it already has, hasn't it?"
"But what am I supposed to do?" Hokuto protested. "Even if you factor in that I'm the police chief's daughter, I don't have that much pull to make the people change their minds."
"Right now, I'm not talking to the police chief's daughter. That's what I said at the outset, remember? Right now, I'm talking to a young woman who I believe has a more rational head on her shoulders than most people do when it comes to a sensitive subject like this." Kabure's brow furrowed. "And forgive me if I'm picking at an old wound, Hokuto-san, but…the fact that you've been as personally impacted as you've been, and yet you can still be objective enough to look at all the angles before drawing a conclusion fueled by emotion…that has to count for something. Hokuto-san…you and your dad might not be on the same page right now, but I don't doubt that you still love him, even with how he is now. I think he needs to be saved from himself, don't you?"
Hokuto looked down at her tea; the cup was now halfway full. "How?"
Kabure shook his head. "He's a cop. Cops prefer logic and straightforward facts. So tell him the truth in as factual a way as you can."
"No—I mean, how do I get him to actually listen?" asked Hokuto.
"That…" Kabure looked down at the table. "…I don't have the answer to. But one thing I'm sure of is this: despite everything, you still have a voice. You just need to figure out how to actually use it."
Hokuto looked down at her tea again, frowning as she mulled over what Kabure had just said.
OoOoO
Back in Kumo City, 10:50 a.m.
Takumi Kujaku was still at her dwelling, lying face-up on her bed, her hand clutching the magazine she'd confronted Kisuke with earlier. Her glare was deeply focused as she looked at the book…but her mind was operating at a mile a minute as she absorbed, again and again, the information on first one page and then the next.
She'd been reading the specific article with Nii Yugito's included picture again and again ever since she'd thrown out her badge and gun and slammed the door in Kisuke's face. Now, as she'd also occasionally been doing over the past more than an hour, she set the magazine aside and picked up her cell-phone, bringing up the internet browser and scrolling through the various pulled-up pages.
The article in the magazine, for all that it was an admittedly trashy gossip magazine, had been amazingly detailed in the actual factual information printed amid the various other stuff that the publishers had sought to pass off as truth. That the internet was there on her phone to confirm a good amount of detail was helpful, too.
She read and read, alternating between the book and the phone's browser. Her overall focus never broke.
Her decision was made.
A little while later, she'd thrown on a blue blazer and jeans with black high-top sneakers, headed out the door, and was roaring off down the avenue in a dark blue Chevrolet Cobalt coupe.
OoOoO
11:00 a.m., Yu City.
Minato was still waiting in the car for Oishi Taiseki to come back out of his house. It had been forty-five minutes since Taiseki had gone inside to call his attorney, but Minato was prepared to wait all day if he had to. He wasn't leaving without answers, come hell or high water.
He noted a movement in his rearview mirror, a sleek red Acura NSX pulling up along the curb behind his vehicle. His eyes narrowed, but he made no effort to move, watching instead as a sharp-faced man with gray hair tied back in a tall ponytail exited the Acura and walked up to his car, a briefcase in one hand. The man went up to Taiseki's gate and pushed the buzzer before taking a step back.
"Yes?" Taiseki's now familiar voice came over the speaker, sounding noticeably irritable.
"Taiseki, it's me—Shirakumo. Come on out here, please, and don't say a word once you do," the new arrival advised.
"Yeah, gotcha. I'll be out now."
The newcomer now turned and regarded Minato, still sitting at his wheel. "I take it you're the government representative I was told about?" he inquired.
"I am." Minato exited the car and reached into his coat to pull out his ID and hold it up. "Here you are."
The man examined the ID for a moment. "I see…from the Ministry of Justice. Well, this should make things a little simpler." He in turn reached into his coat's breast pocket and took out a card. "I'm Mr. Oishi's legal counsel. My card."
Accepting the card, Minato looked at what was written on it. "Hayama Shirakumo," he read the inscribed name. "I assume you gave your client adequate advice when he called you?"
"I always do." Shirakumo sniffed disdainfully.
The sound of Taiseki's front door opening caught their ears, and they both looked up as the man himself came back out, looking stoic as he came down the walkway and exited the gate. "Shirakumo," he said to the lawyer with a brief nod.
"Mmm-hmm." Shirakumo returned the nod before turning his full attention back to Minato. "Now, Mr. Namikaze, my client says you've come here to talk to him concerning his police academy batch-mate, Mr. Kaiza, regarding allegations that there was contact made with one Uzumaki Naruto in Konoha Town."
"'One Uzumaki Naruto,' counselor?" Minato returned. "I'd like to think everybody knows who that person is by now. You make it sound like he's still a relative unknown."
"Well, I don't know all the names of all the famous figures around the world, Mr. Namikaze—do you?" Shirakumo countered. "In any case, I fail to see what the issue is here. Mr. Oishi and Mr. Kaiza are longtime friends; Mr. Kaiza came to visit; they shared some drinks and swapped old stories. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"What about the part where your client was seen in Konoha Town with Mr. Kaiza yesterday morning? I have a witness who places both of them at Uzumaki Naruto's house, plus the account of same from Uzumaki Naruto himself," Minato pointed out.
To Taiseki's credit, Minato mentally noted, he maintained a perfect poker-face. Shirakumo, on the other hand, scoffed. "Really, now? My client is a decorated member of the Yu City police force. His integrity has never been under question. Are you trying to accuse him of some kind of crime?"
"You mean he didn't tell you what I told him to tell you earlier? If your client refuses to say what he knows, he could run the risk of being charged with obstructing a government investigator in the course of duty," said Minato. "That's not something he's going to want on his record. You'd do well to tell him that."
"That's assuming you even have a case to investigate, Mr. Namikaze," Shirakumo retorted. "I have been watching the news, you know. I'm well aware of the actions that have been taken by police officers across the different towns and cities in support of Mr. Kaiza, and naturally Mr. Shirakumo here is in agreement that what was done to his friend was a miscarriage of justice. Plus, last I heard, there's no law against employees of a given sector to take industrial action if they see fit to do so. If you're going to persecute my client for similarly supporting his friend, then you're wasting both his and my time."
"Then how about charging him for being an accessory to intimidation and harassment, on top of obstruction?" Minato demanded. "Add in the fact that the police's protest began exactly one day later, with Kaiza as the focus, and it becomes very questionable at the very least. And if Mr. Oishi here is found to have been knowledgeable about anything related to that…"
"You've still got nothing to hold over my client, Mr. Namikaze," Shirakumo answered.
"Then shouldn't it be a simple matter of saying where he was yesterday morning, if he wants to say my two witnesses are lying about him being at the Uzumaki place?" Minato returned. "That is, if that's what he is in fact saying…but then that begs the question, why would they make up a story of that sort about Mr. Oishi?"
"Perhaps you should ask them. And as of right now, my client is exercising his right not to answer any further questions, unless he wishes to either change his mind or have me answer further on his behalf. Mr. Oishi…?" he turned to look at Taiseki.
"We're done here," Taiseki said flatly.
"Well, there you have it. So unless you have any additional support for your claims about my client, then I'm guided by my client's instructions." Shirakumo nodded to Taiseki. "Go on back inside now, and don't let this bother you any further. And you, sir," directed at Minato, "in case you're thinking to act on those empty threats of arresting Mr. Oishi, you'd better come with a properly justified and ironclad warrant, or else I'll file my own suit against you on his behalf for harassment. Good day, now, sir."
"…I'll be in touch." With a short and curt nod of his head, Minato turned and entered his car, and a moment later he was driving away, only once glancing back in his rearview mirror to see Taiseki going back into his yard while Shirakumo remained on the sidewalk, watching his departure.
OoOoO
11:25 a.m., in Konoha Town, on a certain quiet street, where at that moment a certain girl with blond hair done in a certain distinct ponytail, carrying a basket with what seemed to be vegetable items, was just preparing to walk up the driveway to the front door of a certain particular dwelling.
"Quite an order Kushina-san made," Ino remarked aloud, looking into her basket and scrutinizing the lettuce, cabbages, bell peppers, carrots and tomatoes it contained. "Oh, well, at least we'll make some good moolah from this delivery!" and with a bright smile she ascended the front porch.
Vrrm-vrrm…
Ino was just raising her hand to knock on the front door—but the sound of a car engine pulling up behind her caught her ear and halted her movement. "Hmm?"
Glancing back, Ino beheld a caramel-colored new-model Volkswagen Beetle easing up to the curb right in front of the house, and at its wheel was a dark-haired man with a sharply-trimmed beard. The man now shut off the vehicle and exited it, walking briskly up the walkway. "Good morning, miss," he greeted Ino. "I take it this is the Uzumaki house?"
"Uh, yeah," Ino replied, and she took in his dark blue suit and light green tie. "And you are…"
"From the Whirl City police department," and he reached into his coat and pulled out a badge and held it up for her to see.
Ino cocked an eyebrow as she looked at the man's picture-ID accompanying the badge and read the name underneath—Okura Ittan. "Internal Affairs," she read the additional info on the badge. "I'm assuming you're here on some kind of official business?"
He nodded. "Something like that." Then he reached forward, past her, and knocked on the door himself. "And you're here on business yourself, I assume," he added, nodded toward Ino's basket.
"Yeah. I'm delivering an order that was made from here." Ino's gaze narrowed a little. "You're from Whirl City…I know a little about Naruto's history back there."
"Oh?" Ittan eyed her.
"Yeah. He told us about it." Ino nodded once. "About Uzushio High and the incident he was part of there."
"Hmm." Ittan's look was sharp. "One question, young lady. If you know that much, then why are you associated with someone like him?"
Her response was immediate. "Gratitude for saving my life."
His eyes widened a little at that—but he had no chance to respond, for just then the front door opened, and there stood a certain redhead with a spatula in one hand. "Ah, hello, Ino-chan, good timing!" she greeted the blond. "And…hello there, formally-dressed fellow who I don't know," she added to Ittan, before suddenly affixing a flat look toward Ino. "Oi, Ino-chan, tell me you haven't started dating older guys for pay now."
"What? Seriously?" Ino looked indignant. "Kushina-san, don't be so rude! I'm not that hard-up for cash!"
"Ahem." Ittan cleared his throat to grab their attention as he pulled out his badge again and held it up for Kushina to see. "Okura Ittan, from the Whirl City Police Department's Internal Affairs bureau. I've come to speak with your son, Uzumaki-san."
Immediately Kushina's mirth vanished. "You're here about Kaiza. Go on and take the veggies inside, Ino-chan, and pack them in the fridge for me; I'll fill you in later," she directed this bit toward Ino.
"Okay…" Ino blinked at the sudden shift in mood, but nevertheless she complied, pausing only long enough to give Ittan a second-long glance before stepping past Kushina and going into the house.
"Hmm." Ittan waited until he was certain Ino was out of earshot; then he spoke again, in a lower tone. "Kaiza's been here, then."
It wasn't a question, Kushina knew that. "Yeah. Naruto informed me that he and Kaiza had words yesterday."
Ittan sighed deeply and with obvious aggravation. "Damn Kaiza. I just knew that guy would do something as stupid as this. All right, fine." He shook his head. "Where is your son now?"
"He went off for a medical checkup. He's still got injuries from his fight with Gaara, the leader of LOVE," Kushina answered. "If you're willing to wait, I could put on some tea for you."
"Appreciated. I do need to speak with your son immediately." Ittan bowed slightly. "I'll wait here until he returns, then, with your consent."
"However."
Hearing the ominous note in the woman's voice, he looked up—and he could see the no-longer-disguised hostility in her eyes.
"It may have been some time since Naruto was a resident of Whirl City," Kushina continued, "but do not think for a moment that I have forgotten how you people tried to crucify him for that incident that was not even started by him in the first place. Therefore, understand this: you may be law enforcement, but if you try to pull a fast one on my son like your boy Kaiza has done, I will use every legal method I know of to make your life as miserable as possible, and then amplify the misery up to eleven. Do I make myself abundantly clear, Mr. Okura?"
"…duly noted, ma'am." Ittan nodded. "I'll be coming in, then."
OoOoO
END GAIDEN 67
00000
NEON MAJESTIC: And another chapter in the Reckoning arc of the Gaiden chapters is FINALLY done!
On that note…hi, everyone! I realize it's been a year and four months, roughly, since the last time I did any form of update on the Kitsune no Ken story, but don't worry—I haven't forgotten about the story. It's just that the past year-and-change has had me swamped with work and other forms of stress that comes with the ugly business called adulthood.
Speaking of which…I've been thinking recently of doing a revamp of several past chapters of the main story, in order to do a bit of tidying up of the world-building that I was doing with the story's setting. I've also been doing a bit of updating to the story's trope-page as well, but for any tropers out there among the loyal readership, feel free to add your own tropes there as well, including on any subjective-trope subpages you decide to create (as the story's creator, I'm not allowed to create those pages myself).
By way of identifying the characters introduced in this Gaiden chapter: Asama Sandayu was the personal assistant for Yukie Fujikaze in the first Naruto movie. Ittan was an Iwagakure shinobi who didn't have a revealed surname in canon. Hayama Shirakumo was a Konoha shinobi.
Now…next Gaiden chapter, the Reckoning arc continues! How will Hokuto handle the conflict she now faces concerning her father's actions? What is Kujaku planning to do? How will Minato respond now that Taiseki has lawyered up? And what's next now that Ittan, of the Whirl City Internal Affairs division, has shown up at Naruto's house? Stay tuned!