PART 4.

His work was accomplished.

He had carried out the orders that had been given to him, and despite his palpable nervousness, he was aware of the importance of the success of that task. Sumire walked the streets of Konoha with her head down.

Sweat trickled down her face, unable to contain the constant surprise and fear that overwhelmed her when she met someone's gaze or saw something that reminded her of her Konoha.

He would look at a sign and shudder, turn to go in another direction and end up bumping into someone else.

The simple act of looking people in the eye was terrifying to her. Caught in the bustle of the village's commercial area, she paled. Everything around her seemed to be past: the ground, the air, even people who were possibly not alive when she was born.

Emotions filled his eyes. He moved forward with determination, but he blended into the less crowded streets, either because of the need to stay out of identification or simply because he did not want to face the gaze of other people.

Her eyes narrowed before the world around her, her innocent face shadowed by the fear that invaded her at that moment.

Sumire had received indirect training from Shikamaru-san in handling documents and communicating with high-ranking people. However, only weeks before he had discovered the harsh reality he faced.

With two Anbu serving the Hokage directly under the orders of the Nara, Sumire found herself in charge of protecting Konoha while the few surviving ninja searched for answers.

What would those answers be? Of the little he had been told, he knew only about the jutsu and the first action he would take when he stepped on konoha soil. He was unaware of the status of the surviving ninjas and didn't even know if his friends were safe.

He tried to find some cracks in the brief conversations and exchanges of words with the two Anbu. She longed to find a window that would give her a glimmer of hope, a fleeting light that would momentarily take her away from constant duty. However, he got nothing.

Each interaction ended abruptly, either on the part of Hinoko-san's companion or Hinoko-san herself.

Sumire pressed the fabric of her blouse against her abdomen, walking hurriedly and staring at the floor. Those two Anbu, clearly older than her, behaved like adults, but like adults who acted according to orders that she had not even given.

Suddenly, she felt the heat hugging her skin. She felt uncomfortable and felt the sweat sliding down her arms.

"Right now, we're taking steps to trick Konoha and avoid being discovered so soon. But... once Shikamaru-san's orders have been completed..." Sumire's eyes widened. His throat cried out for a drink to relieve the dryness. In her mind appeared the two Anbu of Shikamaru, standing out in front of her. "The page will be blank... and they two will be waiting for my orders, as their successor."

Sumire stopped her steps. She was alone in an alley, where the sunlight barely penetrated, surrounded by sewers and garbage. His fists were clenched against his chest, trying to hide between his shoulders.

"Wait... Me? Shikamaru-san's successor? That's it... completely impossible."

It was an undeniable truth.

As a supporting character with potential, but unpolished, she had nothing to do in that role.

She, being Konoha's intellect? He had barely caused any damage to the village during his time at the academy...

That idea was not only ridiculous, but also hypocritical and shameless. He was not only an intellectual ant in front of the brain of the Nation, but also in front of that man's son. Shikadai, a good friend, was a thousand times smarter than her.

He realized that the reason he hadn't discovered her was because he had a truly good heart. An almost disinterested façade and a cheeky attitude. But a ninja with a noble heart and a pure soul, who had been able to forgive her, just like Boruto, another good friend, who had been caught cheating in the Chunin exams.

In front of her good friends, she felt insignificant. She didn't have the potential to be an outstanding ninja, she could barely perform simple tasks in the labs.

Just a few months ago, she had had the opportunity to observe the work of the Hokage's advisor up close thanks to the trust he placed in her as a liaison between Katasuke-sensei and Amado.

Since the old man's disappearance, however, Sumire had experienced growing anxiety, an almost paralyzing fear that had brought her to the brink of fainting in the man's office. Despite this, Shikamaru never showed any signs of concern.

Instead, she confided in Ada many things that Sumire hadn't been informed about until just a few weeks ago. It was evident that the Nara was not a naïve man.

He had kept her present in conversations with renowned people, making her hesitantly respond to questions that came up unexpectedly, all related to what Sumire had witnessed in the meetings.

All that, every dialogue, every encounter, was a training that I now had to resort to in the midst of these circumstances.

However, many of those threads now seemed unplugged.

Although Eida might be aligned with Shikamaru, Sumire's frightened mind could easily question that alliance. Amado's disappearance and the refusal of the ninjas chosen by the Seventh to participate in the impending war only added to the uncertainty and tension in the village.

The shadow of war, with its horrors and its lessons, had marked a whole generation. Those who had survived clung to the wise conduct of avoiding conflict at all costs.

However, the violet-haired young woman was now facing an overwhelming dilemma, with thoughts spinning in her mind like a roulette wheel of uncertainty, betting on her own worthlessness.

Now, his task was to take care of the paperwork, a distraction documented while hiding under the façade of a Genin. However, I knew that this lie had a limited shelf life.

The moment she was discovered, she feared that she would not even have a chance to explain what happened. No one would believe his strange story of coming from the future, let alone confess it to the Hokage.

He would risk selling Konoha if he did. The Other Ninjas of her time, who had been transported back in time like her, were unaware of the few who had remained in the village. Sumire knew this because Shikamaru had warned her about the importance of not communicating with the Konoha ninja who had traveled from outside the village walls.

There was a possibility that his message would be intercepted by those who prioritized those of the future, who could discover the alleged betrayal between Shikamaru, the Hokage and the others who made a pact.

They would take advantage of this "betrayal" to undermine the village and prevent Sumire from gaining the trust of the ninjas of the past and forming an alliance.

After thinking about it, she felt trapped in a web of threats. Any missteps within the village would expose her, attracting the attention of the other Ninjas and endangering Konoha.

Every suspicious move, every hint of discovery by the cult, could set off a chain reaction that would take the war directly to Konoha. The situation was appalling, and in the middle of it all, there were the children.

Sumire had work to do: ways to hide, orders to follow, and plans to make. And, to top it all, the responsibility to protect those children, among whom was the younger sister of one of his great friends, Uzumaki Boruto. Himawari, the small, vulnerable one, represented an additional emotional burden for Sumire.

He quickened his pace, entering a narrow street flanked by small apartments. It was the most humble and desolate side of Konoha I had seen so far. While he had witnessed weathered buildings in the past, they had always maintained a dignified appearance in the center of the village. However, here, on the margins of the tourist site, loneliness and abandonment reigned.

With insecurity squeezing her neck, Sumire inhaled deeply. At the end of the narrow street, some people were grouped, whom he recognized immediately. His heart pounded as he fought the urge to look up and face what was to come.

"Sumire-san!" They called her, interrupting her thoughts. 

At the call of the Genin, both the adults and the children who were there turned to finally notice the approach of the young girl.

The lady with a wrinkled face and worn dress waited with total tranquility. She was interlacing her fingers on her belly, ready to continue the conversation once the girl arrived. On the other hand, for the man in his thirties, the wait was tolerable.

His face wore a serene expression, as the children around him huddled together, eager to be closer to Sumire.

When she finally arrived, he made an effort to keep his composure in front of the woman. The children, with fear and sadness reflected on their faces, turned their backs on him.

Sumire strove to convey understanding, puffing out her cheeks slightly in a gesture of empathy. The little ones understood his message in a matter of seconds.

"Oh...? So she's the other one you talked about?" The woman caught Sumire's attention with confidence in her tone. 

The tension made it difficult for Sumire to respond with a smile to the woman's friendly gesture. Before I could think of an answer, the man who was present calmly intervened, smiling just like the woman.

"Yes, her name is Sumire, and she'll stay with the kids." He said calmly. With that statement, the students of the academy gathered around the Genin. 

"What we saw today was horrible..." Lamented the brown-haired woman, shaking her head softly. "It's hard to believe that tourists like you came here for a vacation and ended up witnessing a funeral and an attack."

As Sumire checked the physical condition of the six children, she opened her eyes to the tallest man. With wisdom and respect, he placed his hands behind his back and straightened the posture. Sumire noticed his gesture and followed his gaze to his fingers.

It was a sign he had rarely witnessed, but he understood immediately: "Go with the flow."

"How horrible... What bad luck..." the woman murmured regretfully. 

"I can only agree with you, ma'am. The man replied gently. "Konoha is a beautiful village, and its people are just as good. I look forward to having my students here as we settle our issues and leave safely.

"Come on, come on. Don't worry about it."

The brief exchange of words went smoothly. Sumire remained silent throughout the conversation, even when the woman tried to get some opinion from her about the payment plans.

The state of the small apartment was briefly discussed. It was simply a room with a bathroom at the end of the hall and a gas stove directly at the back of the room.

As the descriptions were given, Sumire grasped more details about the lie they were weaving. Now, both she and the children played the role of students who came from a distant village to learn about foreign cultures in the company of their teacher.

It was a simple lie, but one that could prove to be more than a salvation to prying eyes.

The spiral staircase led to the narrow street. The metal door, creaking like an old machine, was opened with a key as old as the dust that covered the floor of the apartment.

The children did not hide their displeasure. They looked visibly uncomfortable in that strange environment, making gestures of disapproval and even stepping back to get away from the dead-end situation. Sumire, ahead of them, poked her head into the lonely apartment.

The smell of abandonment permeated the air.

"It will be about 90 Ryō by the state." The woman said, revealing how desolate the place was. His voice echoed off the walls as Sumire and the children explored the scarcity of life. "It's the cheapest you'll find during your short stay. I live downstairs, in case they need anything while you're gone."

"Thank you very much, ma'am."

"Come on, come on."

The two adults left the small room. Sumire could still hear their voices as they spoke on the stairs, moving at a slower pace than the young men.

"What are we doing here...?" Neon, the girl with the glasses, asked as she approached the group that crowded around Sumire. 

He got the whispers of his friends, who scanned the dusty room with puzzled looks. Sumire, without intending to appear insensitive or much less disinterested, pushed away two of the children who were blocking her way, her eyes focused on gathering information that would confirm what she already suspected as she advanced towards the center of the room.

The wood beneath his feet emitted a loud creaking sound. The dust rose in silent clouds, and cobwebs hung visibly from the ceiling and corners. Sumire paused, not because of the room's decaying state, but because of the cruel reality that lurked behind her presence in that place.

When her eyes noticed a small window in the visible back of the room, Sumire turned to her. He had to knock on it a few times to loosen the lock, and the slight noise attracted the attention of the academy students, who approached his position curiously.

Almost throwing his own body on the other side of the window, he managed to open both wooden doors and look out to see the landscape that had touched them. The normal life of the families huddled together was out there, with the scent of clean clothes wafting through the air.

"It's the most we can afford for now." The man from before spoke as he seriously entered the room. His face, vaguely reminiscent of that of a well-groomed monkey, drew the children back. This reaction stopped him in his tracks, and he hesitated before continuing with his words. "The country has not given us many resources to exchange for the local currency. For this reason, there are few like us who have money in their hands. We have to spend it wisely until we get more on our own."

Looking into his eyes, Sumire forced herself to keep her composure. He had learned that showing his anxiety only made things worse.

"Have you done what we asked of you?" The man's question turned the children to Sumire. 

She nodded.

"Hai." He confirmed. "The IDs were delivered."

"Very good. With that..." The brown man looked into a corner of the room. "If Hinoko consistently does his part, then we won't have to worry about them going through his records again. Unless they're suspected of something, which is a pretty long shot."

"How can you be so sure, Ro-san?"

The covert Anbu shuddered slightly. Honestly, I didn't expect the girl to mention her name, given her current position.

He pulled himself together, clearing his throat.

"It's something very serious for this Konoha what's happening. I wouldn't involve you in this if you see them, they're just children."

"Even so..."

Sumire's countenance darkened.

I couldn't take it anymore. He had been holding back that fear ever since he set foot in the Hokage tower, and he really needed to let it out. The only reason he didn't demand further instructions and information from Anbu was because the children were present. They weren't ninjas yet, and by now, they still couldn't be left alone for long.

As if Sumire were trying to cover a hose hole with a finger, her concerns began to flow, with fear reflected on her face and caution in her voice.

"The Hokage... The Hokage saw me." The disorder in her thoughts set off alarms in the eyes of the children around her. "It's impossible, isn't it, Ro-san? Traveling to the past is complicated enough. The last thing we need is for the Hokage to discover us."

"The Hokage...?"

"Hokage-sama?!" Eho exclaimed in a whisper, her face turning pale in disbelief. "Which one...? Which Hokage are you referring to?"

Ro, the Anbu man, watched the children for a moment. They shrank under his gaze, aware that they must remain and listen.

"I am afraid to tell you, children, that our situation is quite serious." He announced solemnly. His gaze drifted to the cityscape outside the window. "It no longer makes sense to think that traveling to the past is impossible. Because we have already done it. Now, our only option is to survive." When his eyes met Eho's, the boy swallowed hard at the gravity of his words. "Before we were sent, we were given the mission to protect this village of Konoha. If the Hokage suspects you, our plans will be compromised."

"And what will happen if the Hokage discovers us?" Harika, the Aburame girl, asked, with an obvious tremor in her voice. 

"It's better that we don't know." Anbu said with resignation. "If ignoring the answer means that we will be able to accomplish the mission without involving this world, then I prefer not to know."

"And what is that mission?" The trembling voice of a petrified girl seeped into the conversation. "What is it about?!"

It was a mixture of fear, nervousness and anxiety. However, an almost determined tone was familiar to both ninjas. Sumire and Ro turned to Himawari. The girl, in her yellow sweater and white pants, looked about to crumble under the pressure.

Visibly in need of context, Sumire's heart softened.

Boruto had shown the same determination when he was at the academy. I had even heard that it hadn't changed since. However, just like Boruto back then, Himawari's abilities would have a limit due to his position in this matter.

She and her friends were not ninjas.

"It is a very dangerous mission." Ro said, visibly surprising Sumire. " He later realized that he had been glaring at the man the whole time. "The only thing we can tell them is not to present themselves so easily to other people. Do not go out unless you are accompanied by one of the three of us. Is that clear?"

"But...!" Himawari tried to interrupt. 

"That's unfair!" Osuka, the red-haired girl, exclaimed, barely managing to speak. The bags under her eyes showed her deep sadness and despair. "We have nowhere to go anymore. Our parents... our family, they're all gone. Now we are who knows how many years in the past! And they won't tell us anything?"

The raw and direct perspective launched by Osuka clouded the judgment of those observing the situation from a distance. Neon and Yuina didn't know where to direct their gazes.

Osuka put her hands to her head, desperate. Tears welled up in their eyes as if they were starring in a scene from one of their favorite stories in real life. The simple act of crying was already nostalgic enough for her, like seeing someone else's life.

Her parents, frequent visits, her life at the academy... Everything had disappeared in the flames of a confused past.

He had given up hope of waking up from this never-ending nightmare. She had refused to sleep in the hospital, because that wouldn't get her back home. Not to their home, not to their parents.

In the relationship game, his friends were in the lead, with Neon in the lead. However, what Osuka had expressed was not completely out of touch with reality. It was his world, his bitter fate. They had the right to know the truth, even if it cost them their own security.

Sumire tried to comfort them, offering them her shoulder to cry on. But she was immediately rejected when one of the girls shuddered and abruptly moved away from her hand.

Ro gave him a crude look, more intent on conveying understanding than instilling fear. He was instructing Sumire to stop his attempts to comfort them for now. They needed time to reflect on what had happened and find their own refuge. They didn't have the psychological training she had ever received.

Sumire endured the strain on her as best she could. A mixture of shame and helplessness paralyzed his muscles. He frowned. If she continued like this, she would be frozen at crucial moments, unable to say what was necessary. On a verbal battlefield, he would surely regret having kept silent because of that mania he had.

The atmosphere became sour and tasteless. There was no more to say if they were not all present. Children of Himawari's age were silent, afraid of falling apart. As Osuka was done, she was closely followed by her closest friend. Neon could only follow her for a few steps, unable to hold back tears.

In the empty room, where only Osuka's sobs could be heard, Ro unlocked his stance. Something outside, through the window, had caught his attention.

"What is happening?" Genin whispered in a barely audible tone, aware that she did not want to be heard by the children. 

"Hinoko is back." He replied, looking into her eyes after making sure not to lose sight of what he had noticed in the street landscape. "You just sent a signal. He's coming up the stairs."

"A sign?"

"Yes. And that's what worries me." Ro turned to the entrance of the small apartment, waiting with a thoughtful expression for his companion to pass through the door. "Hinoko's abilities are not flashy. But if you use them too freely, you risk being discovered. What is going through your mind?"

Sumire couldn't help but feel the intensity with which the man stared at the door, as if he were waiting for the right moment to act as soon as someone appeared. That disturbed her a little.

But at the time, his concern about Ro's behavior was insignificant compared to the words he spoke. More than the hidden abilities of those Anbu, he was terrified of what he might be up to.

With the creaking of the wood, all eyes went to the door.

The sunlight barely filtered through the figure blocking his path. As the person advanced towards the small room, his silhouette became more and more defined. However, being someone known to the children, they did not feel afraid of his presence.

Hinoko, a woman in her twenties, found the eyes of Ro, the sturdy man, as soon as she crossed the threshold. The chestnut, whose name in his Anbu work was "Soku", always maintained a close relationship with the Hokage Advisor. Sumire was the one who knew best in that room, other than Ro.

Her short hair framed her face, with slightly longer bangs on the left side. He wore a beige jacket over a black shirt, with his hands freshly pulled out of his pockets. That was his incognito clothing.

Two earrings stood out in her ears, one large and round orange, along with a smaller white one on each lobe. Sumire also noticed the orange hue of her nails.

Hinoko's intense gaze caused Sumire to press her tongue against her teeth, containing any hint of nervousness. The woman's terse but direct congratulations did not surprise the Genin, who nodded hesitantly in response.

"You did very well in there." Hinoko said, without softening her gaze. 

Sumire nodded similarly tersely.

"Yes... You did very well too." He replied, with a barely audible tone. 

Ro took the lead in the silence, taking a few steps forward.

"What's going on?" He whispered, trying to break the tension. 

There was an awkward pause, which Sumire and the children felt clearly. However, Hinoko kept his expression impassive. While she was known for her almost unchanging face, her tone was always appropriate for the situation. He knew how to address people, regardless of the coldness of his countenance.

"Sumire-chan. Please close the window." Hinoko said calmly. "I'll close the door."

Sumire took a few seconds to react. Her movements seemed out of sync with the nervousness that invaded her. Without questioning the order, she went to the window to close it, while Hinoko turned her attention to the children, who had clustered in a corner of the room, watching her with restless eyes.

"We cannot afford to be separated from you. So please keep this a secret. You shouldn't mention anything you hear here, okay?"

The children exchanged glances with each other. Without needing much thought, they nodded once Hinoko offered them a reassuring half-smile.

Carefully, he placed his hands on the front door, meticulously examining the lock with his fingertips. The deep blue of his eyes reflected a determination as firm as the purest diamond.

"We'll have to change the lock..." He muttered. 

"What do you want to talk about?" His companion Anbu asked, adjusting his tone so as not to be heard outside the room. "Why did you use your skills so carelessly? We could be discovered, and that would get us into serious trouble."

Ro's tone was calm and measured, with no intention of confronting or frightening the children.

After staring at it for a few seconds, Hinoko took his hands out of his jacket pockets and climbed the only step after the entrance.

"I have verified that everything is in order in the registration room. It seems that they have not noticed the addition of our IDs. Given the gravity of our situation, I can't afford to explore further."

"And what did you find out?" Ro asked, with surprise in his voice. 

"I was able to get some information." He turned his gaze toward Sumire. "You too, right?"

Sumire didn't know how to respond.

"I did not have the opportunity to access the Hokage's residence." Hinoko reported. "I could only check the records before you walked in and after you came out. But what I heard seems more than rumors."

Ro looked intrigued.

"What rumors are you talking about?" Ro asked, directing his gaze to Sumire. "I haven't heard anything about it."

"And it's better that way." Hinoko's tone rose slightly, as if he was reprimanding. Then, he calmed down as he continued. "You took care of the children while Sumire and I were away. If you got involved in something, they could be in danger. What do you think would happen if Danzo-"

"The Hokage..." Sumire interrupted, attracting the gazes of Hinoko and Ro. The Genin sought to find clarity in her thoughts as she expressed them aloud, reflecting her confusion on her face. 

For some reason, I didn't feel as scared as I did before I got there. She knew she was being listened to by obvious allies who possessed more knowledge than she did, and she wasn't afraid to share what she knew.

But he was still afraid to discover the meaning of his own words.

"The Hokage mentioned that she was on her way to a meeting and that she didn't want to be disturbed." Sumire revealed, noticing the obvious uneasiness on the Anbu's faces. "What could it mean? A meeting of what...?"

"Who does the Hokage turn to when something happens in the village they protect?" Hinoko frowned, causing Ro to vouch for her, keeping his gaze on the disturbed Sumire. 

"To his advisors."

With that frank answer, Sumire plunged into the abyss of her memories. In the gloom of his mind, he quickly went through the less significant moments he had witnessed between the seventh Hokage and his advisor.

Whenever a problem arose, no matter how trivial, the seventh called Shikamaru-san. The Nara was the first to arrive, with a blank mind but ready to help their leader. Sumire had seen him act like this on countless occasions.

If Tsunade-sama, who now held Hokage's position, met with his advisers, it meant that the situation was serious.

"What is the next step?" Sumire asked, looking for directions. 

"Our costume will be overlooked in a few weeks. We must find another alternative to remain hidden without being discovered." Ro expressed his opinion with determination, ending the discussion. 

Hinoko nodded in agreement, his serious face reflecting the gravity of the situation.

"In the time we have left, we must act cautiously." Hinoko warned. "We must avoid attracting attention and make sure that no one plays against us. That we are discovered by the Konoha people is not in our plans."

"And who would be interested in harming Konoha?" Sumire joined in, holding her nerves and clenching her fists with determination. "In addition to those who are outside, are there others who seek to harm the village?"

"Not just Konoha." Ro replied, his voice taking on a darker tone. Shikamaru-san suspected this outcome. "That's why he helped us through some of the portals that opened inside. If outsiders were to find out about our existence..."

"They would abandon any treaty and attack indirectly, because they would treat their action as a secret benefit to Konoha." Sumire completed, without waiting for permission to continue. "I still don't understand that treaty... What exactly is it that prevents you from directly destroying Konoha now? The protections they plan to put in place suggest that they will seek to harm it indirectly."

Hinoko noticed that he was still wearing his shoes and took them off, carefully placing them in front of the door.

Sumire couldn't help but feel some admiration, despite the suspense in the air. The apartment was noticeably dirty, but Hinoko thought it prudent to take off his shoes. A choice that stood out from the rest, who were still wearing them.

"Apparently, there are aspects of the much-mentioned pact that we are not yet aware of." Hinoko reflected as she crouched, staring at her shoes. "Promises, fulfillment, loyalty... It seems that everything is at stake. They looked directly for the Hokage because he was the most powerful, but he was not at his best either."

"You mean...?" Sumire began, surprised. 

"Hokage-sama was not in full power." Hinoko confirmed in a muffled tone, sighing heavily. "He's been weak for months. For this reason, he used his own Chunin to negotiate. In other words, he used them as trading tokens, just like the other villages used their ninjas. Although the leaders of those villages would be outside the village, unlike us. That's what Shikamaru meant."

Himawari's voice interrupted the conversation, causing the three of them to turn to her.

The Hokage's youngest daughter, who was in front of her friends, was visibly petrified. His eyes darkened, and his jaw trembled as he spoke.

"Did Shikamaru-san do all that to help my dad? All?!" He asked incredulously. 

"Everything...?" Sumire repeated, puzzled. 

"We are talking about the absence of the Hokage." Hinoko clarified to Sumire. "Maybe you haven't noticed it because you've been busy frequenting places that coincide with Shikamaru's visits. But the Hokage has been absent from his residence, and although he didn't spend much time at home, he used to see his family about three times a week."

"So Shikamaru-san has everything planned out?" Himawari asked, still astonished. 

"From start to finish." Ro said, responding to the violet-haired young woman. "Shikamaru-san knew that the descendants of the scroll's creators would harm great nations because they have a weapon that the past did not possess: the truth about many things. They can sell information to increase their control in certain areas, among other things, since they are not tied to any particular village. They will not hesitate to harm Konoha or other places to prevent the secret of their most precious treasure; The Parchment, let it be known by people outside his family."

"It sounds very peaceful when you call it 'mentality.'" Hinoko reproached, fixing her attention on Sumire. "Listen, Sumire. We cannot allow them to harm Konoha in any way. Not to neighboring villages, not to large nations, not to anyone. That contract cannot be broken, because doing so would cause the death of the one who breaks it. That is why it is called the 'Blood Pact'. It means that since half Konoha signed the contract, they are at a numerical disadvantage. They must be very careful even when breathing. But, if someone from the past overhears them or discovers them, causing harm to Konoha, they are not held responsible, because they did not betray the pact. They were only listened to. They are cunning bastards."

At this moment, Sumire swallowed nervously before asking her question, fearing a possible reprimand.

"May I ask... Who do they mean when they say 'They'? ¿Refer... to the Chunin of Konoha who disagreed?" He asked cautiously. 

Hinoko and Ro closed their eyes in contemplation, indicating the seriousness of the matter. As Ro frowned, Hinoko frowned even more, showing obvious annoyance. Sumire would swear she could see the throbbing vein next to his eyebrow.

"The dealings were not peaceful, Sumire." Hinoko confessed solemnly. "There were serious problems between the villages, and even some of their Ninjas might distrust ours. Even though they agreed on rules and an oath to preserve peace between us, those rules do not apply to the Ninjas who were not present at the oath. Small villages and even some hidden villages refused to cooperate. Apparently, Boruto-kun and Kawaki's situation has filled them with distrust. The reason they agreed to negotiate with suspicious people was because those people secured them a pass to send their people back in time, that's all. So the opposition of our Cunin is the least of our problems. We have to be aware of others; Those who are surely planning to take over the past."

Sumire felt like she was unraveling an intricate knot, the first of many she would face. Each answer revealed opened the door to new unknowns and paths to explore. It was a labyrinth of confusion and revelations, where every step could be crucial not only to his survival, but also to that of his allies.

Shikamaru-san had done her part, anticipated her every move, and now it was her turn to move on, armed with the torch of knowledge. Sumire swallowed determinedly.

"Excuse me, but hasn't Shikamaru-san hinted at something else?" Sumire asked sharply, catching the Anbu's attention. 

"Anything else?" Ro raised an eyebrow in response. 

The young woman nodded firmly.

"It seems that Shikamaru-san provided them with information, but he may not have revealed everything due to the contract." Sumire explained. "If a contract allowed travel to the past, it must be full of conditions that both parties must meet: The Villages and the Summoners, with the Scroll. It is possible that Shikamaru-san feared for those conditions and left clues in our conversations, or perhaps he left them elsewhere. Since we don't Covenant, we're not bound, Yet, if we do something wrong... we run the risk of breaking some rules that may involve even those who did not agree. We are from Konoha, Konoha agreed; It would not be surprising if that invoking family has feared even those of us who do not agree. Shikamaru-san may have left something behind."

"And if not?" Ro interjected, showing a slight hint of uneasiness in his expression. "The situation required control. It is possible that, as painful as it may be, Shikamaru-san did not have the opportunity to convey something. We may have to do it ourselves."

"That old man wouldn't do something like that." Hinoko said with conviction. 

Hinoko finally broke the silence he had maintained, although he did so in a voice that did not intimidate the students of the academy, but did force them to pay attention to their own thoughts. It seemed as if the Anbu was peering through the boxes of her mind for answers.

"He may seem oblivious when he's working, but he always helps the Chunin with his intellect." She commented. "If what Sumire says is true... it is quite possible that Shikamaru has left something behind. In some conversation, or maybe something else."

"Aren't you exaggerating?" Ro intervened, but his question was ignored by Hinoko, who continued to be immersed in her memories. 

His partner seemed hurt by Hinoko's insistence. Meanwhile, Sumire did the same thing as Anbu: she went through her memories for clues, frowning and biting her nails in frustration.

With the leading minds silent, the children looked at each other uncertainly. They did not know what to do or whether they should have an opinion. They were afraid of asking the wrong question and triggering an unfavorable reaction.

Harika, her cheeks sticky from dry tears, looked at the Uzumaki girl's back curiously.

Himawari Uzumaki clenched his fists, keeping them firmly attached to his thighs. The redhead wondered if the descendant Hyuga was dealing with some internal dilemma, as she didn't look up from the ground.

This situation was potentially dangerous. Harika knew better than anyone, even more than Yuina and Eho, about Himawari's power. Although he hadn't yet deployed his full potential due to his limited range, right now, his Byakugan, his thoughts and opinions were invaluable, even more so than a bandana on his forehead.

Himawari possessed an undeniable talent and Harika fully recognized it. Moreover, it was evident that he had unwavering willpower.

Harika understood that when she thought things were easier for Uzumaki because she was the daughter of the Hokage, she was seeing a distorted picture of reality.

She understood that people did not see Himawari Uzumaki, but the kind and tender daughter of the Hokage. However, no one could know Himawari as deeply as she and her friends.

That's why, like Harika, the other children didn't take their eyes off the lavender-haired girl's back.

On the other hand, Himawari contemplated his world plunged into darkness. Her past, her memories... they vanished into the gloom. Only fragments of what was once his happiness remained.

To her, the most precious thing had vanished. His family, his friends... There were some friends still alive, but they shared the same sadness. Everything became an amalgam of bitter memories and feelings of desolation that weighed on his stomach.

How could she relieve that pain that gnawed at her?

She wrinkled her brow and clung to her belly with regret.

"Why are we going ahead then?"

He looked down at the Anbu and Sumire, who were engaged in discussions about past conversations with the mysterious individual, as a tangle of empty words emerged in the conversation.

I listened vaguely to the subject of the much-mentioned "Pact", and the question of who would assume responsibility for those who agreed to it and were no longer there.

He listened to it half-heartedly, but with a bitter clarity that permeated his ears.

Himawari couldn't connect with them. To her, those three were getting farther and farther away. She and her friends were relegated to oblivion.

"We don't have ninja skills. We have not completed training at the academy, we have not even passed the exams to assess our abilities." She tightly tightened the sweater that covered her abdomen, her gesture reflecting the bitterness she felt inside. "We are useless in this dangerous situation. If after being rescued the only thing we do is hide in some corner of the village, while we are protected by them... So why did they save us? Why didn't Dad give me some clue to exert myself, if my salvation was already assured?"

"Himawari-chan..."

Yuina called out to her best friend in a barely audible whisper, but stopped when Himawari gasped, evidently disturbed. The expression of the blue-haired young lady twitched as she clasped her hands and clenched them tightly.

He avoided meeting the gaze of others, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. None of them were required to speak, and she wasn't obligated to look at them either. For some reason, she felt ashamed of her own inaction.

"I need... I need you to help me understand."

Himawari was carried away by his body's survival instincts. He had held his breath for a long time, and now he was taking a hurry as his mind went over and over again scenes from his life: his childhood, the photos in his home, the hugs from his parents, the visits of his parents' friends...

Endless memories swirled in his head, and the only thing interrupting this whirlwind was his own voice echoing in his mind like a broken record.

Each repetition of "Dad" pounded his heart hard, nearly drowning out the outside world as he brought a trembling hand to his chest.

"What am I useful for, Dad?" His voice trembled, almost lost in the racing cadence of his heart. 

Tears threatened to blur his vision as he repeated his father's name over and over again, searching for answers that never came.

"What am I Useful For, Dad?"

(~~~)

The morning light hit the blond's eyes squarely as they slammed open. The sunlight was so intense that Naruto was forced to rub his eyes to relieve the burning sensation, as if life itself manifested in all its luminosity.

"How strange..." He muttered to himself, as he looked at the scattered houses below him. 

After a brief visual examination, he rubbed his eyes again, this time with both hands, for the figures that crowded the streets of Konoha were still barely distinguishable to him, like specks on the horizon.

Naruto was standing on a tank of water, his expression hardened by the last few hours of hard work. Konoha was in turmoil, and all seemed to be at a standstill waiting for further orders from the old Hokage.

He frowned, clenching his fists determinedly. What was happening and why did he seem unable to do anything about it?

When he tried to approach his sensei and captain for answers, he was instantly ignored. They acted as if he didn't exist.

At times like this, he used to turn to people he trusted completely. But this day could not be more inopportune.

The day before had been sad for everyone, especially for some good friends of the blond. The loss of a great person at the hands of the madness of a third had been like a direct blow to the knees.

Would he really get strong that fast? What happened in Konoha only served to make him realize that no one and nothing would wait for his training to come to an end.

He couldn't afford to delay and not show results. He also couldn't afford to shed tears as his training languished, or stand there as these worries piled up on his shoulders.

He wanted to vent by crying for his own slowness and uselessness. But he couldn't afford to waste time crying when he could be training.

However, he also couldn't train if Kakashi-sensei didn't monitor his progress.

Looking at his battered palm, Naruto clenched his fist tightly, building up enough determination to channel it and release it when he was in front of his target.

A good friend had been injured in the events of the previous day. Now, the entire village was mourning those who had been affected by the phenomenon. When it all happened, Naruto had just returned home. He didn't feel like going anywhere, and it was clear that training had been canceled.

The question was the same for everyone: "Who was responsible and what was their purpose?"

Naruto was determined to find out, even if it meant testing the meager skills he had developed against the enemy.

A half-smile was drawn on his lips. An almost unknown emptiness in her chest caressed her soul as if trying to console her. Naruto felt an eerie but comforting peace, a sense of freshness welling up from the depths of his heart.

What happened was not a sign to surrender. It was a confirmation that I was on the right track. An endorsement of his skills, which enriched Konoha with good ninjas who would one day be like him.

Gathering momentum, Naruto wiped the sweat from his nose with the forearm of his orange jacket and jumped out of the water tank, disappearing among the rooftops of Konoha.

If anyone was going to get to the bottom of this situation, it would be him. No one else was as prepared as he was to catch the culprit, and perhaps investigate Akatsuki's subject further.

The success of a search mission was in the hands of someone willing to take the initiative. And that someone would be Naruto Uzumaki.