Chapter 8: Whispers of Hatred or Anko's Really Good Bad Day
8 Hours Later
The Sandaime Hokage jolted awake at his desk, the weight of exhaustion pulling at his limbs. A thin blanket, meant to provide comfort, had slipped to the floor unnoticed. The sudden movement caused papers to scatter from his desk onto the floor as his mind jarred him back into awareness. His breath came in quick, shallow bursts as his mind scrambled to orient itself. Naruto. The thought hit him like a cold slap to the face. Someone had taken Naruto.
His hand flew to the desk drawer, yanking it open to retrieve a kunai, his fingers trembling as they closed around the weapon's cool metal. He rose quickly, nearly toppling the chair as he hurried toward the door. His chakra flared instinctively, searching for signs of an enemy or any disturbance within the building. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios, heart pounding as if time itself were slipping away.
But his dark thoughts were interrupted by a high-pitched giggle, a sound too innocent for the tension brewing around him.
Hiruzen froze, his grip on the kunai tightening as the laughter echoed through the room. Slowly, he looked up, his breath catching in his throat. There, perched precariously on the ceiling above him, was Naruto—barely a newborn, yet appearing as a small, two-year-old boy. The child's bright jade-colored eyes gleamed with mischief, his tiny form defying all logic as he balanced effortlessly above the Hokage's head.
"Why does he look so old now?" Hiruzen wondered, completely ignoring the whole, walking on the ceiling part. Confusion was etched across his face, and his brow furrowed deeply as he stared at the boy, who now appeared far older than he had been the night before.
Just hours ago, Naruto had been a newborn, barely able to hold his head up, and yet here he was—walking, on the ceiling, mind you, giggling, his bright jade-colored eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint, and all in all doing things he shouldn't be able too.
Hiruzen blinked, shaking his head slightly as if to dispel the strange vision before him. His grip on the kunai loosened, and the cool metal suddenly felt foreign in his hand. Had he fallen into some genjutsu? His mind raced, unable to make sense of the situation.
"Naruto?" he called out, his voice tentative. The child tilted his head, blinking innocently, then broke into another fit of giggles as if Hiruzen's bewilderment were the funniest thing in the world.
For a moment, Hiruzen stared, his panic dissolving into confusion. How was this possible? Naruto's playful giggle filled the room again, shattering the tension as the child swung his legs and gazed down at him with an expression of pure delight.
Then, without warning, the child clumsily lept off the ceiling. Hiruzen's breath caught in his throat as the child landed on his feet but quickly toppled onto his backside. The boy frowned cutely but otherwise didn't seem fazed. Instead, with the single-minded stubbornness only found in the very young, he crawled toward Hiruzen, determination etched into his small, round face.
For a moment, the Hokage felt the weight of the world lighten, a soft smile flickering across his weathered features as he scooped Naruto into his arms. The innocence and resilience in the boy's eyes made Hiruzen's chest ache, a rare comfort in these troubled times.
But the fleeting warmth was shattered by angry cries rising from the streets below. His grip on the child tightened as the sharp bite of reality clawed at him once more.
The roar of the crowd echoed through the Hokage's office, a cacophony of hatred and fear. It slithered through the cracks of the village he once believed was solid and unified, sinking into his bones with a weight that made him feel decades older than he already was.
"Death to the demon!" the voices cried, hate and fear clawing from their throats.
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly, a deep sigh escaping him. "How had it come to this?" he wondered sadly. How had the village he dedicated his life to protecting become so poisoned by fear and ignorance?
Shame gnawed at his insides as he stood there, listening to the venomous chants. His heart, once brimming with hope and pride for the Leaf Village, now felt heavy with guilt. He had failed them. By Kami, he lamented. I haven't just failed them; I've failed Naruto too. This innocent child bears the burden of their hate through no fault of his own.
As Naruto wriggled in his arms, still smiling despite the chaos outside, Hiruzen fought the rising tide of despair within him. He looked down at the boy, wondering if there was still a way to shield him from the worst of the storm brewing outside, a storm that grew louder with every passing day.
Hiruzen's grip tightened on Naruto, his knuckles whitening as the shouts struck him like a physical blow. The calm resolve that had been his shield for years threatened to crack. His face darkened, eyes narrowing as rage churned beneath the surface, dangerous and simmering. The air around him grew heavier, his chakra stirring, subtly vibrating the walls of the room.
Without a word, he released a controlled pulse of chakra, and seconds later, ten kneeling ANBU appeared—silent and swift. Their presence was barely perceptible, each movement a shadow, each breath a whisper of lethal intent.
Hiruzen's gaze swept over them, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He took note of their masks—featureless, devoid of any personal mark. They were Standard ANBU, meaning they didn't have the seniority and or the achievements to wear one of the animal masks that would have denoted them as Elite. Regardless, they were trained to be invisible, tools of the village's will.
For a moment, his thoughts flickered to how impersonal it all seemed, yet this detachment made them perfect for the task he had in mind.
The cloaks draped over their black flak vests fluttered occasionally, disturbed by the faint breeze from the open window, but not one ANBU acknowledged it. Beneath their featureless masks, their eyes were trained on the ground, waiting for the command that would determine their next mission. Their chakra signatures were muted, almost nonexistent, as if they had mastered the art of blending into the very fabric of the room.
These were the shadows he had relied on for years, and now, he would rely on them again.
With detached professionalism, the operatives waited, unmoving, for the orders they knew would soon come. Their postures were rigid and disciplined—no unnecessary movements, no idle glances exchanged.
Oblivious but still sensing the mounting tension, Naruto squirmed in Hiruzen's grip, his tiny fists clenching in the fabric of the old man's robes.
Absently, Hiruzen pulled the infant closer, his aged, battle-worn fingers brushing soothingly over the baby's head, even as his gaze darkened. The cries from outside rose in intensity, drowning out reason.
"Kill the demon!" they screamed, a frantic edge to their cries.
With deliberate steps, Hiruzen strode toward the large, arched window that overlooked the square. His eyes, sharp with decades of experience, swept across the sea of angry faces below, the villagers now resembling a frenzied mob more than the peaceful citizens he had sworn to protect. The air outside seemed to throb with the collective force of their misguided rage.
His lips thinned into a grim line, and with a deep breath, he released his voice in a command that reverberated through the square, cutting through the noise like a blade.
"What madness compels you to call for the death of a child?"
His tone, though not raised, carried the total weight of his authority—each word landing like a strike. The villagers hesitated, some pausing in their tracks, the chaotic shouts momentarily quelling under the sheer force of his voice. His eyes burned with fury as he continued, holding Naruto securely against his chest.
"The Nine-Tails has been sealed, its threat contained! This boy—this infant—is no danger to you."
For a brief, fragile moment, there was silence. The mob wavered, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. But the calm was short-lived. From the back of the crowd, a shrill voice sliced through the stillness, trembling with hysteria.
"My husband saw it with his own eyes! The Nine-Tails vanished, and only the baby remained! He is the demon reborn! Kill him, as the Fourth Hokage would have wanted!"
The crowd erupted once more, their collective fury like the tide rising and crashing, threatening to drown reason in their fear and grief.
"KILL THE DEMON!" The chant spread, taking hold of the mob like a disease. They surged forward, fists raised, voices growing louder.
Hiruzen's patience snapped.
With a flick of his wrist, his chakra exploded outward, spiraling around him in a fierce vortex of raw power. The walls of the office groaned under the sudden pressure, and the ANBU tensed, their masks lowering as they felt the oppressive weight of his chakra flood the space. Naruto whimpered against his chest, his tiny body curling tighter in the Hokage's arms.
"SILENCE!"
The word boomed across the village square, thunderous and commanding, reverberating off the buildings. The force of his voice was enough to bring the mob to a sudden, fearful halt. The very air felt charged, like the calm before a deadly storm. The villagers stood frozen, their eyes wide as the sheer intensity of Hiruzen's chakra left them trembling.
His gaze was sharp as steel, locking onto the mass of people below. His following words were precise and deadly.
"Are a kunai and the scroll that holds it the same thing?"
The question hung in the air, confusing the crowd. They looked at one another, shaken, unsure how to respond. Some muttered quietly, while others remained silent, bewildered by the strange question.
Hiruzen's lips curled into a cold, bitter smile. "Then this boy is no different," he said, each word dripping with authority. His voice, though quieter now, cut just as sharply. "He is the jailer, not the beast. To harm him is to commit treason against the village and the Fourth Hokage's final wish."
The weight of his words pressed down on the crowd, their anger faltering under the enormity of what he had just said. Treason. The word carried a death sentence.
"I will not repeat myself." His gaze swept over them, daring anyone to defy him. "Disperse or you will face the consequences."
The silence was suffocating, the oppressive weight of his chakra holding them in place. Slowly, reluctantly, the crowd began to break apart, their anger doused by fear of the consequences. One by one, they retreated, the square emptying under the Hokage's watchful eye.
Only when the last villager had disappeared from view did Hiruzen allow himself to breathe. His body relaxed, and his chakra slowly receded, the oppressive weight lifting from the air. He glanced down at Naruto, who had calmed, his tiny hand clutching the Hokage's robe.
The old man sighed, his heart heavy. Today, the village had seen a darkness he had hoped would never resurface. But for now, the boy was safe.
For now.
As Hiruzen turned from the window, a sudden tension gripped him. His instincts sharpened, sensing danger from below. Outside, at ground level, three shadowy figures moved with swift, calculated steps through the thinning crowd gathered at the base of the Hokage Tower.
Without warning, they hurled several objects upward. The ANBU stationed inside the tower reacted instantly, blocking most of the projectiles as they shattered against the window. But then glass exploded inward as—something smaller and faster—slipped through, smashing through the window, shards scattering across the floor. It struck the ground just inches from Hiruzen's feet, skidding to a halt.
At first glance, it appeared to be an innocuous-looking object, but Hiruzen's breath caught as recognition flared in his mind. It was a metal ball wrapped with explosive tags, the crimson markings curling like a snake poised to strike. Time crawled as each tag ignited, and the symbols glowed with lethal intent.
But there was no hesitation.
In one fluid motion, Hiruzen's body moved, instincts forged by decades of combat kicking in. His hand snapped forward, wrapping Naruto tightly against his chest as his chakra surged outward in a blinding wave of power. The protective barrier formed in an instant, the azure hue flickering to life just as the explosion ripped through the room. The walls shuddered under the impact, debris raining down in a chaotic storm of dust and stone.
Hiruzen grunted as the shockwave slammed into his barrier, his muscles straining under the force. His back bowed, arms tightening around Naruto as the blast pushed him back a step, then another. Yet he stood firm, absorbing the brunt of the detonation with his own body. The air was thick with the smell of scorched wood and charred paper as the room became a swirling cloud of destruction.
When the dust settled, Hiruzen straightened, his breath coming in sharp, controlled bursts. His robe was singed, the edges frayed, but Naruto, nestled securely in his arms, was untouched—safe. The child's small hands gripped the fabric of the Hokage's tunic, his wide, innocent eyes staring up in unknowing trust.
The ANBU, who had reacted the instant the tags hit the ground, were already in motion. Their bodies blurred with speed, leaping through the shattered window in pursuit of the attacker. They moved as one—silent and lethal, their chakra signatures vanishing as they hunted the culprit with deadly precision.
Moments later, the sound of a scuffle echoed through the square, and within seconds, the ANBU had subdued the attacker. The man, pinned harshly to the ground, struggled briefly before losing consciousness, his body limp under the weight of his captors.
Hiruzen strode forward, his gaze hard as he looked down at the assailant. His heart clenched as recognition hit him like a sledgehammer. The pink hair, now matted with sweat, and the familiar features belonged to someone he had known—a man who had once been a loyal shinobi, a partner of the infamous Banshee Queen, who had seemingly left his violent past behind.
Hiruzen's breath stilled in his chest. He crouched slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto the man's exposed neck. A faint, glowing seal shimmered there—a mind-control jutsu, complex and expertly crafted.
The realization settled over him like a cold, heavy weight. This man had not acted of his own will. He had been a puppet, used and discarded by someone lurking in the shadows. Fury and sorrow twisted inside Hiruzen, a potent mix that burned through his resolve.
"We will not punish the family," he said, his voice low but unyielding. The command carried the weight of his authority. The seal proves he was not in control of his actions. Justice, not vengeance, will guide us.
The ANBU exchanged glances, the tension in the air palpable, as the echoes of the recent attack reverberated through the walls of the Hokage's office. Whoever orchestrated this attack was not only dangerous but also intelligent enough to hide behind a patsy as they watched from the shadows.
As the situation settled, a strange stillness fell over the tattered remains of the office, a silence that seemed to press in from all sides. Hiruzen glanced down at Naruto, intending to check the boy once more when his breath caught.
Naruto's small body glowed, a soft, ethereal white light radiating outward from him. The chakra—no, power—surrounding the child was unmistakable, raw, and potent, far beyond what an infant should possess. It pulsed gently, like a heartbeat, spreading warmth through the air, and for a moment, even the ANBU faltered in their movements. They stared, masked faces turned toward the boy in awe and reverence.
Hiruzen's heart clenched, a deep pang of recognition stirring within him. The aura felt so familiar—so achingly reminiscent of them, of the boy's parents. The memory of Minato's chakra, bright and sharp, and Kushina's overwhelming, fierce love flashed briefly in his mind.
But he quickly pushed the thought aside, his face returning to its usual mask of calm authority. The glowing aura around Naruto slowly faded, dissipating like mist under the morning sun. Hiruzen exhaled, his mind already racing through the implications.
This child, barely a few months old, was already an enigma wrapped in layers of power and destiny. And in the days to come, he would only attract more enemies.
The actual battle, Hiruzen knew, was just beginning.
Hiruzen stood silently, his grip on Naruto tightening as the soft glow around the child faded into nothingness. The weight of what had just occurred settled on his shoulders like a crushing burden. Whoever had used the pink-haired shinobi had intended to provoke chaos, to manipulate the fragile peace within the village, and it was clear the enemy's reach extended further than anyone had anticipated.
His eyes hardened, his mind sharpening to the tasks at hand. There would be no more hesitation.
"Take him to the Intelligence division," Hiruzen ordered, his voice steely as he glanced at the subdued attacker still pinned by the ANBU. "Extract every ounce of information from him. But do it carefully—the seal on his neck is dangerous. I want the culprit behind this uncovered immediately."
One of the ANBU bowed, his form disappearing in a flicker of movement as he and another operative dragged the unconscious man away.
Hiruzen turned to another masked figure at his side, a kunoichi whose sharp eyes gleamed from behind her porcelain mask. "Send a message to the Haruno family," he instructed, his voice softening slightly. "Inform them of the attack and explain the circumstances. The mind-control jutsu absolves them of his actions, but they deserve to know the truth. Make sure they are protected, and remind them that the village stands by them in this."
The Haruno family would be notified, and steps would be taken to ensure their safety. But the puppet master behind the attack, the true enemy, still lurked somewhere in the village, waiting for another opportunity to strike.
The kunoichi nodded, vanishing as quickly as the others, her chakra signature disappearing into the evening shadows.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, his eyes drifting back to Naruto. The child was quiet now, his small hand curled against Hiruzen's chest, breathing evenly despite the chaos that had just unfolded. There was no telling how much danger this child would attract as he grew.
"Danzo," Hiruzen muttered under his breath, his fingers clenching into a fist. If anyone was capable of manipulating an innocent man to stir hatred, it was him. The bitter thought lingered like a shadow across his brow, tightening the weight in his chest. But there was no time and no proof to substantiate his dark suspicions—not yet.
The soft sound of footfalls cut through the tension. From the shadows of the room, Anko emerged with the silent grace of a seasoned shinobi, her presence like a coiled snake ready to strike. Yet as she approached, something in her hardened demeanor softened. Naruto, cradled in Hiruzen's arms, stirred at the sight of her, his tiny fingers reaching out, trusting and unafraid.
With a tenderness that belied her fierce nature, Anko extended her arms, catching the child as he kept from Hiruzen's arms and tumbled toward her. A rare, uncharacteristic smile tugged at her lips as Naruto settled into her hold, his bright eyes locking onto her with a gleeful curiosity. The innocence in his gaze momentarily erased the heaviness in the room.
Kakashi stepped from the shadows, his one visible eye crinkling in amusement as Naruto giggled and pointed toward his mask and headband. "Looks like he's already getting used to the mask," Kakashi said, a faint trace of warmth in his tone.
Hiruzen allowed himself a fleeting smile, watching as the small moment of levity settled in. The laughter, the normalcy, it all seemed so fragile, so fleeting—like a dream one longed to keep but could not hold. Still, for that brief span of seconds, the storm brewing outside the Hokage's window felt distant.
As the moment of levity faded, Hiruzen's face hardened again, the weight of the village's unrest settling back on his shoulders. He looked toward Kakashi and Anko, his tone once again commanding but not unkind.
"Kakashi, Anko," he said, his voice low yet firm, "Take Naruto somewhere safe. The village is still in chaos, and I cannot guarantee his protection here much longer."
Kakashi nodded, already anticipating the order. He pulled his mask up slightly, the easy-going façade gone as the gravity of the situation returned. Anko adjusted her hold on Naruto, the child now resting against her shoulder, oblivious to the danger surrounding him.
With a swift glance toward each other, they both knew what came next. No words were needed.
In an instant, Kakashi and Anko disappeared in a flurry of leaves, their forms vanishing with practiced speed. The sound of rustling leaves filled the air, then silence—only the faint ripple of chakra lingering in their wake.
Hiruzen stood alone by the shattered window, his eyes tracing the space where Kakashi, Anko, and Naruto had just vanished into the night. Outside, the distant murmur of the village began to rise, an undercurrent of tension threading through the once-quiet streets. For a fleeting moment, the only sound in his ears was the whisper of the wind brushing against the remnants of glass on the windowsill.
A deep sigh escaped him, his chest heavy with the burdens that seemed to multiply with every passing hour. Turning away from the fractured scene, Hiruzen moved back to the remains of his desk with the weariness of a man bearing too many scars. The weight of his duty, ever-present and unforgiving, settled on his shoulders like an iron cloak, pressing down with an almost palpable force.
As he sank into his chair, the familiar creak of the old wood barely registered. The noise faded into the background, lost beneath the pounding in his temples. His mind was a storm of tangled thoughts: the explosion that had nearly taken Naruto's life, the mob's unrelenting fury, and above all, the looming shadow of Danzo's scheming. Each thought collided with the next, creating an ever-growing sense of dread.
His gaze drifted to the scattered papers on his desk—reports, council requests, the never-ending tide of complaints—and he felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. No matter how many fires he put out, more seemed to flare up, threatening the fragile peace he had worked so hard to maintain.
But his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Naruto. The boy had inherited far more than just his parents' legacy; there was a raw power in him that defied reason. Hiruzen had never seen chakra radiate from an infant like that before. Whatever Minato had done to seal the Nine-Tails, it had clearly left more than just a lingering shadow inside the boy.
His fingers absently drummed against the desk, his mind returning to the explosive tags that had nearly killed them both. The Banshee Queen's partner was a puppet and a harbinger of something darker.
Danzo, because who else could it be, was moving. But to what end? What could he gain from a simple attack on the child?
Questions continued to swirl in the Hokage's mind as the office door, barely attached to its hinges fell to the floor. Moments later an ANBU appeared in a flicker, kneeling before the desk.
"Lord Hokage," the masked shinobi said quietly, "I have delivered the message to the Haruno family. They are aware that the attack was the result of mind control and are cooperating with the investigation."
Hiruzen nodded, though the news did little to ease the tight knot in his chest. "Good. Ensure they are protected. We cannot afford further unrest."
The ANBU nodded, vanishing as swiftly as he had come. For a long moment, the Third Hokage sat in the heavy silence, watching the flickering candlelight dance over the walls. Shadows loomed, and with them came the distinct feeling that the peace he had fought so long to preserve was slipping through his fingers.
Danzo. He would have to confront him soon, one way or another.
But not tonight, definitely not tonight.
Hiruzen leaned back, the weight of his age settling into his bones as he closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would deal with Danzo. Tonight, the village would rest—and for now, Naruto was safe.
For now.
Kakashi and Anko reappeared on the rooftop of a quiet building, their shunshin leaving only a brief rustle of leaves in the wind. The night air was cool against their skin, and the village below seemed almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos they'd just left behind. Naruto giggled softly in Anko's arms, his tiny hands reaching for the strands of her wild, purple hair.
Kakashi glanced at his partner, his visible eye softening as he watched her cradle the child with surprising gentleness. She rocked Naruto absentmindedly, her expression distant, though her body remained tense. They had both been trained to expect violence at every turn, but something about tonight had shaken them more deeply than they cared to admit.
"We should get him home," The one-eyed Jōnin muttered, slightly shifting the headband that covered his Sharingan. "It's not safe out here for long."
Anko nodded, her gaze flicking over the rooftops before settling back on Naruto. "He deserves better than this," she whispered, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "All of this hatred, the fear… it's not right."
Kakashi sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "The world's never been fair, Anko. But that's why we're here—to make sure he has a fighting chance."
Without another word, they leapt across the rooftops, moving swiftly but silently, Naruto's soft babbling the only sound between them. The village below was quieter now; the angry crowds dispersed, but the tension still lingered in the air. Kakashi could feel it—a heavy, oppressive cloud of suspicion and fear that hung over the streets like a storm waiting to break.
As they neared the compound, Kakashi slowed, his sharp eye scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Satisfied, he landed softly in the courtyard, Anko right behind him.
Anko shifted Naruto in her arms, her gaze lingering on the village beyond the gates. "Do you think it'll ever change?" she asked, her voice low.
Kakashi followed her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he admitted, a rare hint of uncertainty in his tone. "But as long as we're here, we'll fight to make sure it does."
Naruto, as if sensing the seriousness of their conversation, looked up at them with wide, innocent eyes. Anko smiled despite herself, the bitterness in her heart softening just a little. "For his sake," she said softly, her golden eyes narrowing with resolve, "we'll make it change."
Kakashi gave a slight nod of agreement, then motioned for her to follow. Together, they entered the compound, the weight of their unspoken promise heavy in the air. The compound itself seemed to hold its breath, the usual sounds of the village dimming as they stepped inside, a temporary shelter from the turmoil outside.
But the weight of the situation soon returned, settling over them like a thick fog. As they reached the quiet inner chambers, Kakashi's mind, always on high alert, began to race again. He glanced at Naruto, who was now yawning contentedly in Anko's arms, completely unaware of the dangers surrounding him. Kakashi's brow furrowed as his thoughts shifted to the future.
"We'll start his training when he turns three," he muttered, his fingers flipping through the familiar pages of his Icha Icha book, though his focus was clearly elsewhere. The lightness of the moment had evaporated, replaced by the ever-present burden of responsibility. "With his Jinchuriki status, it won't be long before more people take notice. We'll need to protect him every day."
Anko's expression darkened in response as she set the child down so he could explore. Then, her empty hands tightened as she thought about their ward. The peaceful quiet they had just walked into now felt precarious, as if, at any moment, the delicate balance could shatter.
Anko, clearly uneasy with the responsibility, shuffled her feet. The curse mark on her neck, a constant reminder of her past, pulsed faintly.
Naruto looked up at her and frowned the most adorable frown she'd ever seen. But when he reached for her, for some reason, she hesitated. But another look at the child's chubby, unhappy cheeks had her bending down, lifting him into her arms.
Then, before Anko knew it, the tiny blonde suddenly hugged her as tightly as his little arms would allow, and whether he did it on purpose or not, they would never know, but what happened next would shock them for years to come. His small hand brushed against the cursed mark, sending a jolt of pain through her body.
Anko gasped, her muscles locking as the mark flared with intensity. But then—just as suddenly—the pain vanished.
Unknowingly, she dropped Naruto, and unseen by either shinobi, he landed on the ground with a measure of grace that should have been impossible for one so young. Then he plopped on his butt and flicked his wrist, causing a small featureless doll to appear in the palm of his hand.
Meanwhile, Anko blinked, confused, as she looked over her shoulder, her fingers flying to her neck. The mark had faded, its burning torment gone for the first time in years. "What…?" she whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Kakashi, equally stunned, watched as Naruto's hand hovered over a wooden doll, a doll he was almost certain hadn't been there when they arrived. Then he watched, amazed, as the cursed seal slowly transferred to the toy at the exact location it had been on Anko's body, leaving her free of the scourge for the first time in years.
Tears filled her eyes as the realization sank in. She was free—from Orochimaru's grasp, from the darkness that had haunted her for so long. Overwhelmed, she kissed Naruto's forehead, whispering her gratitude through the sobs. Kakashi stepped forward, offering a rare, genuine smile as he embraced them both.
After several happy moments, he released them and gave them his trademark eye smile. "Hey, you two, I'm heading outside to get some air. Be back soon."
Without waiting for a response, he brushed past them, his smile vanishing as his hand quietly slipped the doll from Naruto. Just before stepping outside, he flung it into the fireplace, watching the flames eagerly devour the seal. The crackling fire sent dancing shadows across the room, and Kakashi couldn't help but hope that, somewhere, Orochimaru felt the bitter sting of his defeat.
In a tower far from Konoha, Orochimaru clutched his chest as a searing wave of pain ripped through him. His body convulsed, the steady flow of chakra he'd maintained over his Cursed Seal of Earth unraveling like thread pulled from a tapestry.
His pale face twisted in agony, lips pulling back in a snarl as the pain surged. Every nerve in his body screamed, and with a guttural roar, he released the anguish into the air, his scream echoing off the cold stone walls of his dimly lit laboratory.
The pulse of dark, malevolent energy that rippled through the room warped the very air around him, making the shadows quiver as if they, too, recoiled from the torment of their master. The temperature in the room plummeted, transforming the once sterile lab into a frigid, oppressive space, thick with the smell of burning chemicals.
Nearby, on a metal table slick with remnants of previous experiments, a girl—a test subject—stirred at the sound of his cry. Her wrists and ankles, normally restrained with thick leather straps, were left undone in the chaos of Orochimaru's suffering, a rare oversight. Her vision blurred from the lingering effects of sedation, but clarity slowly returned as she took in the sight of the rogue Sannin writhing in pain. His normally poised and controlled aura had fractured, a suffocating wave of killing intent radiating from his trembling form.
Ignoring the fire in her limbs from countless procedures, she slithered off the table, her bare feet making no sound as they touched the cold floor. Her eyes darted to a narrow drainage slot in the far wall, a hole barely wide enough for a child, let alone a grown woman. But desperation fueled her. Orochimaru was too consumed by his torment to notice her escape, and the rare opportunity to flee was too precious to waste.
Heart pounding, she edged her way toward the slot, every nerve on edge, waiting for Orochimaru to snap out of his anguish and reach for her with those terrible, serpentine eyes. The cold metal of the walls scraped her skin as she squeezed into the darkness, disappearing into the narrow tunnel, the sounds of the lab fading behind her.
Orochimaru's rage exploded. He slammed his fists against the stone walls, sending tremors through the floor. His chakra flared violently, filling the room with an oppressive, tangible force that seemed to warp the space around him. Cracks splintered across the stone floor, spreading like a web of destruction.
Glass vials filled with corrosive liquids shattered, their contents spilling onto the floor with hissing sputters as they ate away at the ground. Scrolls containing forbidden knowledge ignited in bursts of black flame, curling into ash as his chakra swirled into a furious maelstrom, ripping apart anything in its path.
The surgery table flew across the room with a single, savage motion, slamming into the far wall and blocking the slot where the girl had fled. His serpentine eyes, burning with malevolence, narrowed as the reality sank in—a seal, one of his prized creations, had been destroyed.
Minutes passed, but the fury inside Orochimaru only grew, boiling hotter and hotter until his body trembled from the force of it. The sterile lab that had once been his sanctuary was now a ruin—shattered glass, spilled chemicals, and the scorched remains of scrolls littered the ground. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling heavily as he fought to regain control.
But even through the haze of pain, his mind worked, sharp and calculating. A slow, twisted smile crept across his lips, the agony now a mere echo beneath the dark thoughts swirling in his head. One name rose to the surface of his memories—Anko.
Her Cursed Seal of Heaven had always been a point of intrigue. It had never fully awakened, never lived up to its potential. But if it had been broken—if she had somehow freed herself from its grasp—it meant she was vulnerable. Orochimaru's long, pale fingers twitched with anticipation. The thought of reclaiming what was his stirred a deep, burning desire within him. If her mark was truly gone, he would find her, and he would return it—stronger, darker, unbreakable.
His grin widened, a cold, sinister expression that reflected the malevolence brewing inside him. The lab lay in ruins, but it didn't matter. His mind was already far from this place, already plotting his next move. Anko's freedom, if she had truly achieved it, was nothing more than an illusion. She could run, but Orochimaru would find her.
With a sharp flick of his cloak, he turned on his heel and strode out of the lab, leaving the wreckage behind him. The cold, dark shadows swallowed his form, but his thoughts lingered, simmering with plans of retribution. Anko's rebellion was a temporary setback—and soon, she would be his again.
The Following Morning
The tension in the Hokage's office was palpable as Kakashi and Anko stepped inside. The air felt thick and heavy, with the weight of unspoken frustration radiating from the aging man behind the desk.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, slumped over mountains of paperwork, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and irritation. His fingers were stained with ink, his robes rumpled from hours of endless bureaucratic grind. A flicker of amusement danced in Kakashi's single visible eye, though he tried his best to stifle it. Anko, too, bit back a smirk, knowing that laughing at the Hokage's expense was a dangerous gamble.
They approached the desk and took seats in front of him, the worn wooden chairs creaking under their weight. Kakashi cleared his throat, hoping to catch the Hokage's attention without setting off a tirade.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi began carefully, his voice measured. "We need to discuss something that happened last night after we left the compound. It's… nothing bad, per se, so there's no need to worry, but… well, Naruto did something quite unexpected. Something not even Jiraiya could accomplish, and—"
Before Kakashi could finish, the Hokage's patience snapped. His palm slammed down on the desk with such force that the entire surface rattled, ink pots nearly spilling over. The sharp crack of wood reverberated through the room.
"Spit it out," Hiruzen snarled, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "I've already sent a hundred people to prison for violating the law about speaking ill of Naruto, and there are thousands of requests for his execution sitting on my desk—all before seven in the morning! I am in no mood for this, Kakashi! If you don't get to the point, I'll burn that mask right off your face!"
Kakashi and Anko paled at the outburst. Both had known the Hokage for most of their lives—he had been like a grandfather to them—but this was a side of him rarely seen. His chakra flared thick with anger, making the air around them feel heavy and oppressive. The sudden shift in mood caused Naruto, swaddled in Kakashi's arms, to cry out in fear, his tiny body trembling from the harsh vibrations in the room.
The Hokage's face immediately softened as he realized what he had done. His eyes darted to the infant, regret flickering behind the stern mask. Cursing under his breath, he muttered something about not needing a crying baby on top of all his problems. He rose slowly, taking a deep breath to calm himself before focusing on Naruto.
As Hiruzen studied the baby, his sharp gaze caught a faint shimmer, something almost imperceptible at first. His brows furrowed. He made a quick half-ram seal and whispered, "Kai." The genjutsu dissipated, revealing something no one in the room had anticipated.
A cloak appeared around Naruto, adorned with nine black tomoe circling the neck, its fabric flowing down to his ankles. Beneath it, a set of battle armor gleamed—a strange fusion of steel and other metals, resembling the light armor once worn by the Senju clan in ancient wars. The armor was intricate in its craftsmanship, with silver and gold plates engraved with swirling patterns, almost as though the armor itself pulsed with life.
The Hokage's mouth fell slightly open, shock freezing him in place. The cloak and armor seemed to shimmer before slowly dissolving back into invisibility, disappearing beneath the blanket Naruto was wrapped in as though they had never existed. The room fell silent, the tension now mingled with astonishment.
Recovering first, Hiruzen turned his gaze toward Kakashi, silently demanding that he continue. Kakashi shifted nervously in his chair before speaking.
"Actually, Hokage-sama, the armors' new. We came to see you about something else. It's about Anko's curse mark—it's gone." He hesitated, glancing at Anko for reassurance before continuing. "Naruto… he removed it. Somehow, he extracted the curse mark—and a piece of Orochimaru's soul attached to it—and placed it into a toy that neither of us had seen before. The house was clean, I'm sure of it, but suddenly there, the doll was like he conjured it out of thin air. There were no chakra signatures, nothing; it was just there. We were both so shocked…" He looked at Anko sadly before he continued. "I burned the toy and saw a sickly version of Orochimaru appear in the flames before it… withered away."
Hiruzen blinked, then looked at Anko, his expression unreadable. Anko, taking the cue, shrugged off her trench coat and pulled down the collar of her shirt to reveal her neck. The place where the cursed seal had once been was now bare, the skin paler than the rest of her but completely unmarked. Hiruzen's breath caught in his throat.
Anko, trying to fill the silence, muttered with a shrug, "Yeah… when he first touched it, the mark hurt like hell, but after that, I didn't feel a thing. It was like the mark just… dissolved."
Kakashi added, "It's as if Naruto has this… instinct. He just knew how to deal with it."
Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "How exactly did this begin?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity mixed with concern.
Anko and Kakashi exchanged a glance before Anko spoke up. "We were just talking when the mark suddenly started throbbing. Somehow… Naruto sensed it."
Kakashi nodded, continuing the explanation. "When Anko picked him up, he wrapped his arms around her, touched the mark, and then… well, we told you what happened next."
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair; fingers steepled as his mind raced to process what he had just heard. "Naruto sensed it?" he repeated, his tone low with concern. His gaze flickered between the two Jōnin, searching their faces for any further clues.
Anko nodded, her expression serious. "I didn't even think it was possible, not with someone so young. But it wasn't just a feeling—there was intent behind it. Like he knew exactly what he was doing."
Kakashi's usually calm demeanor held a rare edge. "The reaction wasn't normal, even for a Jinchūriki. The way he… I don't know how to explain it, but the second Naruto touched the curse mark, it was like it responded to him, not the other way around."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed deeply. "This could complicate things further than we anticipated. The boy's already a target, and if Orochimaru's mark reacts to him…"
Anko shifted uneasily. "What are you thinking, Hokage-sama?"
"I'm thinking," Hiruzen said slowly, "that we may need to take a closer look at Naruto's abilities—and quickly."
The Hokage's mind raced. If news of this got out… if the village's enemies discovered Naruto's abilities, it could be disastrous. The boy would be hunted. And worse, Danzo would covet him more than ever.
"This…" Hiruzen began, his voice now low and strained, "…this is an SSS-ranked secret, punishable by death if revealed without my explicit permission. No records will be made of this incident. Orochimaru's spies are everywhere, and if they find out about Naruto's abilities… it could spell disaster for all of us."
Anko crossed her arms, her usual bravado absent. "So, what's the plan then? We can't just keep this under wraps forever, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen sighed deeply. "For now, both of you keep training him in secret." He looked at them sternly. "Nothing over the top. Also, wait until he's at least three before you start." He leaned forward and sighed. "If word of any of this gets out… well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Unfortunately, that particular kunai had already been thrown. A certain Sannin was already aware that someone had broken Anko's seal. The backlash had been a beacon, and Orochimaru was already beginning to plan his next move. Thankfully, it would take years for it to come to fruition.
"Now," Hiruzen said, rubbing his temples, "unless you two have anything else, leave me to this wretched paperwork." *Minato, how did you finish all of this so quickly? Damn you to whatever hell the Shinigami has you in…*
Kakashi and Anko exchanged a look, rising to leave as the Hokage sank back into his chair, the weight of responsibility once again bearing down on all their shoulders.
The streets outside the Hokage Tower were alive with the daily hustle, vendors calling out prices, children darting through the alleyways, and shinobi moving swiftly about their tasks. But the undercurrent of resentment was palpable, the shadows of the Kyūbi's attack still casting long, dark scars over the village's heart. As Kakashi, Anko, and Naruto made their way down the main road, the whispers began almost immediately.
"Demon brat… Snake whore…"
The words slithered through the crowd, venomous and biting. Anko's jaw clenched, the tendons in her neck straining. She shoved her hands deep into her trench coat pockets, her fingers twitching, the urge to lash out clear in her posture.
Kakashi, ever perceptive, shot her a sideways glance, his calm demeanor masking the growing storm inside him. He could see the chakra around Anko starting to shift, faint purple tendrils leaking from her form, reacting to her mounting frustration.
Kakashi adjusted his hold on Naruto, keeping the baby close to his chest, and whispered, "Stay calm, Anko. They're not worth it."
Anko's eyes flashed with rage, but she nodded, forcing herself to take slow, measured breaths. Her chakra simmered, the dark aura retreating slightly, though not entirely dissipating. The villagers' insults only grew louder as they passed, emboldened by the anonymity only a crowd could provide.
"Look at them, protecting that monster like it's their own—pathetic."
Kakashi could feel the glares on his back, the malice hanging in the air like smoke. Then, without warning, a sharp crack sounded. A brick flew through the air, aimed directly at Naruto's small, vulnerable body.
Kakashi's reaction was instantaneous. His Sharingan flared to life beneath his forehead protector, his arm snapping up to deflect the projectile with a flick of his wrist. The brick crumbled into dust, scattering across the ground with a dull thud. The crowd fell silent for a moment, stunned by the speed and precision of his movement. Anko turned, her hand halfway to a kunai, but Kakashi shook his head.
"Don't," he warned quietly, his voice low and dangerous. "Let's go."
Anko growled under her breath but followed his lead. The two exchanged a glance, then leapt onto the rooftops, leaving the spiteful crowd behind. The feeling of being watched lingered, though, a prickling at the back of Kakashi's neck. His senses were finely attuned to danger, and something wasn't right.
Unbeknownst to them, a retired shinobi trailed in the shadows below, moving silently through the alleyways. His eyes were hard and cold, the rage within them tempered by years of military discipline. The loss of his wife and child to the Kyūbi's rampage had left him hollow, consumed by grief. Now, only revenge remained, a singular, driving purpose. His fingers twitched as he gripped the specially crafted kunai, its barbed blade glinting under the light. The venom coating it—extracted from rare snakes—was lethal enough to stop the heart in minutes.
As he scaled a nearby rooftop, the shinobi watched Kakashi and Anko leap ahead, and his gaze focused on Anko's back. He threw the kunai with precision, aiming for her heart.
The wind shifted unexpectedly, altering the kunai's path. Instead of hitting Anko, the blade veered toward Naruto, spinning through the air like a deadly whisper. Kakashi's Sharingan whirled into action, but before he could intercept, Anko moved, her body instinctively leaping into the kunai's path. The blade embedded itself deep into her arm, the venom seeping into her bloodstream.
Anko landed hard on the rooftop, blood dripping from her wound, but her face remained impassive, her breathing steady. Her chakra flared wildly for a moment, crackling through the air in dark purple arcs, causing nearby leaves and dust to swirl around her. Naruto whimpered in Kakashi's arms, reacting to the sudden surge of tension.
The retired shinobi, believing his plan had succeeded, rushed forward, his expression feigning concern. "Are you all right? I saw a glint of steel in the sun and—"
Anko cut him off, her voice dangerously low. "How did you know where we landed, old man?"
The shinobi froze, a flicker of panic flashing across his face as Anko's golden eyes narrowed in suspicion. She raised the kunai, now dripping with her blood, and sniffed the blade.
"You reek of snake venom." Her lips curled into a sadistic smile as she licked the blood from the blade, the metallic taste of iron sharp on her tongue. "ANBU-grade poison, huh? You really should pick something stronger. This won't even slow me down."
The shinobi's face drained of color, realizing his mistake. Before he could react, Anko flicked her wrist, sending the kunai spiraling into his kneecap. He collapsed with a scream, clutching his leg as blood pooled beneath him.
"And the ANBU coming for you?" Anko sneered. "They'll make sure you never try this again."
Just as she finished speaking, three ANBU appeared in a blur, restraining the retired shinobi before he could even think of escaping. His screams echoed briefly before being cut off as he was dragged into the shadows.
Kakashi watched the scene unfold with quiet amusement, his single eye crinkling in a subtle eye-smile. "I'll give it to you, Anko. You never disappoint."
Anko glanced at her bleeding arm with a shrug. "He was a joke. Besides, the poison's nothing. I've had worse."
"Still," Kakashi said, his tone softer now, "we need to get you patched up. And Naruto needs his nap."
Anko nodded, wincing slightly as the pain in her arm began to set in. As they prepared to leave, the chakra in the air seemed to settle, and the wild energy that had filled the rooftop moments before was now calm. Naruto, sensing the shift, cooed softly in Kakashi's arms, his tiny hands clutching at the fabric of his cloak.
The trio moved swiftly across the rooftops, leaving the village below to its whispered rumors and lingering hatred. But Kakashi knew this wasn't the last time they'd face such threats. Not with Naruto's growing power—and not with enemies lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike.