Inquiry

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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13

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The premises, veiled in an endearing red, obscured the eerie ambience cradled within. This notorious, colossal structure revealed itself as the Hokage mansion.

There was this imperceivable, eldritch vibe shrouding the infrastructure. The illumination of the silver moon shone upon the establishment, and it only served to accentuate the uncanny aura, beckoning those nearby to retreat.

Nobody could see it but...

It was just this weird feeling!

As though in support of the denizen's mullings, a subtle chill howled in the air, brushing the landscape with contaminated coldness!

Transitioning to the innards, the source behind this sabotage had been uncovered. The target resided in the Hokage's office, bearing a serious expression. His narrow, slit eyes conveyed a deep-rooted despise for the old Hokage who sat on the tail end of the room.

In contrast to the serious man, the aged Hokage oozed with nonchalance, undeterred by his peer's presence. The aged Hokage seemed to even anticipate what his colleague was thinking.

"Hiruzen," Danzo initiated, his tone hoarse.

"It's been a while Danzo," Hiruzen greeted.

Danzo gnashed his jaws, before continuing, "Hiruzen, don't you think you should've consulted me regarding the adoption of the Jinchuruki?" 

Exhaling a wisp of smoke from his pipe, Hiruzen replied, "So what brings you here with such urgency?"

Aggravated by the Hokage's leisureness, Danzo snapped back, "The village is at stake Hiruzen, I can't afford to be kept in the dark."

Hiruzen gestured at the vacant seat in front, and amicably quipped, "Take a seat Danzo. I'm sure you've come a long way, and we can discuss this more thoroughly."

Complying, Danzo took his seat and deliberated, "Uzumaki Naruto, the Jinchuruki of the Kyuubi, why have I not been informed of his adoption?"

After a moment of silence, Hiruzen sighed, "Danzo, adoption is a private matter, not a decision to be taken lightly. Naruto's situation is delicate, and I believed it was in the village's best interest to handle it discreetly."

Eyes unfurling in alarm, Danzo aggressively countered while motioning with his hands, "Discretion, Hiruzen, has its limits. We are dealing with the Kyuubi here. The security of the village should be everyone's concern, especially mine. The council, the ROOT, we all should have been informed."

Hiruzen paused for a while before nodding in agreement, responding, "I understand your concerns, Danzo, but the adoption was done by a trusted member of the Uzumaki clan. It was a carefully orchestrated plan to ensure Naruto's safety and to keep the Kyuubi in check."

Danzo crossed his arms, countering, " Trusted or not, the Uzumaki clan has a history of producing powerful individuals, and with that comes a certain level of unpredictability. Why wasn't I consulted? What if this decision endangers the village?"

Nevertheless, Hiruzen maintained stoicism, and spoke, "The Uzumaki have shown loyalty to Konoha for generations. Naruto's adoption was meant to strengthen that bond. As for consulting you, Danzo, your methods are often too extreme. I needed a compassionate approach for Naruto's sake. He deserves a chance at a normal life."

Arching a brow, Danzo smirked, and voiced mockingly, "Normal? The child harbours a beast that nearly destroyed this village. There's nothing normal about that, but you intend he's just a mere child? Spare me your ludicrous sentimentality."

"And what do you propose, Danzo? That we cast Naruto aside like some weapon?" Hiruzen questioned.

"Precisely. He can be an asset if handled correctly. Trained from the shadows to serve the village's interests," Danzo snapped back resolutely with not even a shred of remorse.

Hiruzen shook his head, "Danzo, Naruto is not a tool. He deserves to know love, and friendship, and have a chance at a future."

Danzo rebuked, "Sentimental weakness. The same weakness that cost Minato his life and put the village in jeopardy."

"Minato made a sacrifice for the village, and I won't let Naruto bear the burden alone. He will be raised with love and guidance," Hiruzen objected.

A palpable silence prevailed, and the conversation paused momentarily. Danzo eyed coldly toward the Hokage, and inquired in a questioning tone, "You're risking everything for a child's happiness?"

Entering a pensive state, Hiruzen entered a state of momentary cogitation, revisiting the scene that had left him internally anguished, and guilty.

He understood that Hayato was right; Hiruzen had been neglecting Naruto's well-being. He had broken the promise he made with Kushina! Recently, he had a conversation with an enraged Hayato, and with the guilt tormenting him the past few days, he vowed to never repeat his former errors.

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Nii-san would never discard a single soul in this village, no matter how tough their situation, and he will certainly do his utmost to protect the smiles of everyone, Jinchuriki or not. He was a true Hokage.

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As Hokage, he had truly failed. Henceforth, he was not going to revisit his old habits, and from this point on, nothing would hinder Naruto's development. 

Hiruzen will not allow Danzo to run his illicit shenanigans!

In response to Danzo's query, in which he claimed, "You're risking everything for a child's happiness," Hiruzen nodded in affirmation, and questioned;

"And if we lose that, Danzo, then what is it that we're fighting to protect?"

Danzo's eyes squinted, before he remarked, "Hiruzen, you're soft, you always have been, but sentimentality won't protect this village. This decision will have consequences. You've set a precedent without consulting anyone, and the council certainly won't take this lightly. You need to understand we need to control the narrative to maintain order."

Hiruzen responded, "Order, yes, but not at the expense of Naruto's well-being. I'll face the consequences Danzo, but I won't sacrifice a child for political convenience. Naruto will prove his worth to this village, and I believe that in time, the truth will be acknowledged."

"A Jinchuriki cannot have a normal life, Hiruzen. You've endangered the populace by keeping me in the dark," Danzo snapped back. Rising from his chair, he motioned to depart as going against Hiruzen right now was a futile effort.

Hiruzen intoned, "Naruto is not a weapon Danzo. He's a person with the potential for greatness."

Limping toward the door with his cane as support, he spared a final glance at the Hokage. Lips parted agape, he addressed his concerns in a tone of finality, "Potential for greatness or potential for catastrophe, only time will tell."

With his utterance, he exited the establishment, leaving Hiruzen to his musings. Hiruzen's bearing remained composed, and he heaved a sigh of relief before arising from his position. It was time for him too, to depart.

***

Several days had elapsed, and finally, the weekend had arrived. As a student, weekends were a lifesaver, allowing everybody to breathe easy and comfortably, unleashing their toxic burst of vitality. Such was the generosity of the weekends; they wouldn't have to be so immersed in the books.

Time and time again, studying has always proven to be an indescribable bore. To forcibly siphon the knowledge, embed it into the memory, and to preserve it...

Truly an audacious task. 

One would wonder which psycho forged the Academy, to begin with!

[Tobirama sneezing in Heaven] 

In the vast expanse that showcased the prevailing peace and the heartwarming tapestry of the spirited denizens, the heart of Konoha steadily brimmed with vigour. Today, while some of the adults performed mandatory routines to acquire income and provide for themselves, some opted to stay home, treating themselves to a comfortable day at home devoid of disclosure. 

Among such bustling premises, a sole, detached infrastructure stood both imposing and attractive. Additionally, it seemed devoid of snow, hinting at impeccable upkeep, and preserving the natural beauty of the terrain. Flanked to the sides were numerous flowers as they elegantly swayed in response to the ample freeze. Despite the unbearably plummeting temperatures, not a single plant showed any indication of wilting.

Ushering into the internal structure, one of such rooms presented itself as rather... Messy. 

Truly a stark contrast to the presentation outside. While the outside showcased meticulous upkeep, this particular room in the house conveyed lacklustre maintenance.

Additionally, the serenity was disrupted by a miserable pitch...

And it somewhat retained familiarity...

A miserable snore. 

The culprit was a yellow-haired youth who lay on a bed, abnormally postured... Like a serpent. Either he was a flexible freak, or he was unconsciously straining his neck and torso!

(Quite frankly, everyone's been there... Sigh.)

The youth was none other than Uzumaki Naruto.

*RING-RING* *RING-RING* 

Further amplifying the disturbance was the ringing of a clock, its bells clanking ceaselessly to awaken the slumbering Snorlax.

The clock succeeded. 

The snoring of the yellow-haired youth ceased. Grumpily extending his hand, the youth turned off his clock, and groaned while diving his head into the blanket. Thankfully today was a weekend, so he could embrace this sleep...

Or so he thought. 

Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open, and he arose, sitting upright as he lamented his current predicament. His sapphire eyes glimmered like a gem, devoid of lethargy.

And then, an ecstatic grin graced his countenance.

Today was a weekend, but also an important day.

Today was Naruto's training day!

And he'll be training with his uncle!