A/N: I'm dropping a few chapters all at once bc they will sort of string together across 3 locations. (1/3)
I'm very "I just have a lot of feelings" today. What comes next for Ch. 9: I am PUMPED bc shit is gonna go down ( ͡° ᴥ ͡°)
Ch. 6 - From The Desk Of The Hokage (cont.)
Word of Tazuna's achievement travels through the family grapevine. Hand-picked by the Hokage to rebuild the village's infrastructure. To get it back on its feet again. A great honor.
As Inori gets older, she finds it harder and harder to believe that her uncle is an exceptional person. Maybe because she has never seen him outside of private moments. Domestic, ordinary moments.
The letter eventually lands in her hands, the envelope bearing the official seal of the Hokage. Forwarded to her from Tazuna. How odd.
She turns it over in her hands. It's something that will undoubtedly be framed and pointed at proudly for years to come.
She unsticks the wax seal.
An invitation. A symbolic key to the village. A gratitude for Tazuna's work.
Then a surprising mention of her. A recognition of her work. A job offer.
She re-reads the latter half of the letter, sentence by sentence. Again, and again.
The Hokage is asking her to lead an extremely sensitive project. Restoring hallowed grounds. Stewarding the dead. What will be a detailed, intimate study of the Leaf.
When in her life has she ever been hand-picked for something? Chosen out of many?
Her eyes drop to the signature. The initials at the bottom: K.H.
Her mind races.
The first thought: He's alive? She had never even thought to ask.
Guilt.
The second thought: He's the Hokage? She knew much less about him than she previously thought.
Doubt.
And then a realization: He remembered her. And he thinks she's exceptional.
Joy.
The letter is a summons as much as it is a beckoning.