The Boy in the Park
Chapter Thirty-One
There were three people sitting at a table.
On one side, there was the Hokage. On the other, there were both Naruko and Anko.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" the Sandaime said crisply.
"We have an alibi?" Anko tried weakly.
"I am sorry to say this, but I doubt Haruno-kun's eyewitness will be much of worth, when compared to that of an Anbu," the man nodded towards a corner, where a cat-masked shinobi emerged.
He raised an eyebrow. "So…he's the one who's been following me?"
Hiruzen nodded, and then he blinked. "How do you know that?"
"I'm used to surprise attacks," he replied, eying the two girls who had the decency to look guilty.
The Sandaime calmly took out his pipe and began to light it. "As you know, there are laws set in place for shinobi attacking or otherwise using techniques against civilians."
"But we just pranked her!" Naruko exclaimed, only for Anko to roll her eyes.
"Well done brat: now they know we did it. You need to deny always in interrogations!"
Naruko squirmed and then looked downcast.
Hiruzen sighed. His voice became soft as he spoke. "Naruko, there are laws for a reason," he began carefully. "And there are punishments that always meet the crime."
The Sandaime returned stern afterwards. "You should both be thankful this is Konoha, and my word is law rather than the Daimyo's own, or you'd both be seeing the prison for a long time." He narrowed his eyes on Anko. "What you did was foolish, and because of it I am actually envisioning stripping you of your rank of Tokubetsu Jounin and sending you on a long set of boring patrols…and if it weren't for the risk of you causing a diplomatic incident, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
He then looked towards Naruko. "And you, Naruko…while you are not new to pranks I expected better judgment now that you are a Genin."
Naruko squirmed on her seat.
"However, I will make sure you both learn to value this as an important lesson." He looked towards Anko. "Your punishment will be decided by Ibiki Morino…you are to report to him within the end of the hour."
The woman froze and her eyes grew wide. "I-Ibiki?"
"Yes."
She shuddered. "Can…Can I take the long term patrols, please?"
"No," the Sandaime's voice was tight as it spoke. "A crime without punishment does not teach a lesson."
Then he carefully added. "Your punishment, Naruko, will be decided instead by Haruno-kun," Naruko's eyes widened before they turned to look at him, who was standing with his arms crossed over his chest slightly away from the table.
He locked eyes with her and…he sighed, grimacing as he shook his head.
"What am I going to do to you…" he muttered under his breath. Naruko hung her head in shame.
"Furthermore, you both will field a part of the cost to repair the house," the Hokage's eyes trailed on Anko. "As a Tokubetsu Jounin, you will field the eighty per cent of it."
"W-What!?" Anko sputtered.
"And I expect you both to go and personally apologize for the damage done to the owner of the house."
"W-WHAT!?" Naruko screamed. "No! The woman deserved it! She broke Aniki's arm! You can't tell me I have to say I'm sorry to her, if she doesn't do the same!"
"Naruko!" he chided her, making the girl wince at the tone used. The Sandaime turned his gaze towards him, who sheepishly brought his right hand to his mouth. "Sorry."
"I suspected as much for a reason, which is why I made sure to convince her to not press any charges. This is me, evening the score," the Sandaime said then calmly. "But Naruko, this is the last time I will personally intervene on such a thing. Next time, if you do something like this…I will let it go through the proper channels," he added then slowly. "And as your guardian, it will be Haruno-kun here who will face the consequences of your actions."
Then the Sandaime said the cost of the repairs, and Anko cursed loudly.
It was his hair however, which rose.
He supposed…well, he had put aside Naruko's own contributions to the house —really, he didn't want to take money from a kid— but considering the price in question…he'd use that. It was Naruko's money and it would pay Naruko's crime.
"I understand Jiji," Naruko sniffled slightly. "I swear I won't do it again!"
"Very well, I trust you both know the way to the house you vandalized," the Hokage added. "She is expecting you."
Naruko swallowed, while Anko's shoulders just sagged. They both stood and moved to leave, but when Naruko's eyes turned to look at her Aniki, she saw him talking conceitedly with the Hokage. She was actually pulled out of the apartment by Anko, but not before hearing him say…
"I suppose this will cover the costs of her side."
"Haruno-kun, you don't have to—"
He looked at the door closing, and then shook his head. "I should have warned them more sternly about it. I'm sure at least Naruko wouldn't have gone with it. And it's partly my fault anyway: if I had gone through the proper channels, people wouldn't feel the need to vindicate me."
"Maybe, but you couldn't know they would resort to this," the Hokage sighed. "Have you met with Jiraiya, yet?"
He blinked. "No, I…I should?"
The Sandaime shook his head. He could swear he had heard him say 'you're practically doing his job' under his breath, but he doubted it.
"It's fine, anyway was there something else…"
"The escort," he deadpanned. "Do I really need one?"
"Of course you do," the Sandaime retorted. "You might be targeted after all."
He choked. "What!?"
"There are foreign shinobi who might be interested in seeing the skills of those fighting in the arena beforehand. Why do you think everyone trains privately? Of course, it is extremely rare that such a circumstance might occur, but better safe than sorry right?"
"Hokage-sama…I don't need an escort, really."
The Sandaime sighed. "Fine, Haruno-kun…" he looked towards the boy. "You have to understand that Orochimaru possesses a technique, one that he can use to steal the face of other living being and pass as them. That was how he infiltrated the exams. Naruko is an extremely important member of Konoha, as you know…and you are the closest person she has. If he were to manage too substitute with you…"
"B-But he doesn't even know I exist I hope!"
"Ah, I hope so too. But hope and certainty are different things," the Sandaime commented. "This is why I made sure to have someone watching you all the time."
"You can't be…" he closed his eyes. "You are."
He exhaled. "All right then…It's not like I have much of a choice."
"This is only temporary," the Sandaime reassured him. "Once the tournament is done and the threat dies out, you will be freed from your escort."
He grimaced and then went to grab the money from beneath the sink. He actually was surprised. Naruko had tried to give him quite the bit of money during the years, and it was quite enough to pay her side of the repairs.
One of the Anbu nodded as he took the money, before the Hokage turned to leave.
"Oh, Haruno-kun?"
"Yes?"
"I can't seem to recall…what is your name?"
He blinked. "Oh, well…it's Shinku."
"Crimson?"
He shrugged. "My father liked red…and he didn't have much imagination."
Hiruzen smiled as he left, followed by the rest of his escort.
Shinku turned to the Anbu guard —more like watchdog— and then asked quietly. "W-Would you like some tea?"
The Anbu said nothing, and returned to the shadows.
"How can one go in the shower with someone trailing them?" he muttered to himself as he looked at the time. "H-Hell!" he exclaimed. There was no time for a shower.
He was going to be late for work!
As he hurried off, unknowingly followed by his guard, a white haired sannin hopped down from a nearby roof and calmly sauntered in the apartment —really, the lock was pitiful.
He then cracked his fingers. "Very well," there was a gleam in the man's eyes. "Let us see…friend or foe!"
Then Jiraiya of the Sannin began to look throughout Shinku's house…
For Porn.
Author's notes
Thanks for the time taken.
Shinku is Crimson. Kurenai's name means Crimson too.