Chapter #16: Awakened

Hiruzen's footsteps echoed through the Hokage building as he made his way toward the office. The weight of the recent events bore heavily upon his weary shoulders. As he passed the Hokage chamber, he couldn't help but feel a pang of emptiness, a reminder of the absence of his former student.

Entering the assistant's room, Hiruzen found Shikaku slumped over his desk, drooling slightly from the corner of his mouth. A mix of concern and frustration welled up within the Third Hokage. With a sense of urgency, he lightly shocked Shikaku awake, snapping him out of his drowsiness.

Shikaku blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. His gaze met Hiruzen's, and he immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Hiruzen wasted no time in conveying the events that had unfolded, his voice laced with a hint of underlying sadness.

"Where is Minato?" Hiruzen inquired, his voice tinged with worry.

"He is currently finalizing the non-aggression pact and alliance with the Hidden Sand. He should return tomorrow," Shikaku replied, his voice still carrying traces of drowsiness.

"Why didn't you go with him? Did he take anyone else?" Hiruzen's tone grew a bit harsher.

Shikaku sighed, a mix of exhaustion and resignation in his voice. "We received the alliance documents a month ago, and the meeting was arranged at a border location chosen by their grand elder and Lord Hokage himself. I tried to convince him otherwise, but Minato was adamant about not taking any diplomats." Shikaku's voice held a serious undertone. "Although, after repeated pleas from me, he did agree to take Genma's squad as his guard platoon."

Hiruzen nodded, absorbing the information, his mind already racing with the implications of Orochimaru's desertion. With a heavy sigh, he spoke in a deep, determined voice. "Very well... Orochimaru is to be declared a rogue ninja. Add his name to the bingo book immediately."

Shikaku understood the gravity of the situation and knew better than to pry further. With a respectful bow, he replied, "Yes, Lord Third, right away."

As Shikaku left to execute the orders, Hiruzen found himself alone in his office. He turned his gaze toward the window, where the night sky stretched out in all its vastness. Memories of simpler times flooded his mind, his thoughts drifting toward his three beloved students.

A loud, mischievous kid, a brilliant genius, and a cherished granddaughter of his Sensei's brother. They were so different from one another, yet they had all grown and advanced in their own unique ways. A bittersweet smile formed on Hiruzen's lips as he reminisced about the moments he had once held so dear.

He remembered how proud he was when he promoted Orochimaru to Jounin. The pure smile on his student`s face gave him so much happiness.

Hiruzen`s smile was replaced by a profound sense of regret, eyes glistening as he softly whispered, "Where did it all go wrong?".

In the lonely room, a Kage shed tears.

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Shin's mind buzzed with a mix of anxiety and nervousness as he reflected on his recent conversation with Kakashi. The lack of official announcements regarding Orochimaru's status only heightened his fear.

For the past three nights, Shin had taken to hiding outside his room, seeking refuge in nearby buildings between the hours of midnight and 3 am. He dared not risk sleeping during this time, fearing he would be vulnerable and unable to defend himself. Both Akiko and Hiro, fearing the same, had joined him in his nightly escapades.

It was the third day since the kidnapping, he was meditating in his room. He could feel his mental burden become less and less, which he amounted as a good thing. 

As the clock struck midnight, a knock on Shin's door shattered the room's silence. He knew exactly who it was—Hiro and Akiko, jolly and carefree during the day, yet plagued by the same nighttime fears as him.

The irregular schedule had wreaked havoc on their sleep patterns, resulting in scoldings from Emi, with their buttocks being her new favourite thing to practice her sumo slappings. 

Leaving the orphanage under the cover of darkness, the three boys found themselves in the garden area of the nearest building. Exhaustion had already settled in Hiro and Akiko, their drowsiness overpowering their senses as they slept on the spot. Shin, however, remained on edge, his nerves refusing to let him rest.

Anxiety coursed through Shin's veins as he scanned their surroundings with nervous glances once after every few moments in order to scout any danger, acutely aware that any skilled ninja could detect and capture them easily. The seemingly safe confines of the orphanage offered no respite in his eyes.

As the night grew darker, the distant sounds of stray cats and dogs filled the air. Shin's sleep-deprived mind began to ache, a dull headache forming at his temples. Yet, his deep-seated paranoia kept him vigilant, his gaze constantly darting in every direction, searching for potential threats.

"I can't keep going like this," Shin muttered to himself, his voice tinged with weariness. "I need to distract myself." Determination flashed in his eyes as he gently lifted Akiko's head from his shoulder and placed him on the ground. For Hiro who had placed his head in his lap and made himself quite comfortable in that position, he pushed his head, until it hit the ground.

'The idiot still didn`t wake up' a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Shin's muscles burned as he stretched his body, preparing himself for another round of push-ups. Determination fueled his movements as he began the familiar exercise, his body lowering and rising with each repetition. Five reps had been his usual limit for 1 set, but tonight, as if an obsession, he felt an urge to push himself further.

"I wonder how far I can go," he whispered to himself, his mental fatigue gradually dissipating with each completed rep. The count continued, his voice growing stronger with each number. "Eight... nine..... ten.... eleventh... No, I won't stop there."He forced his body to move.

With sheer willpower, Shin forced his body to move, to keep going beyond his usual limits. Sweat dotted his brow, mingling with the raindrops that had started to fall. The exhaustion and fear that had plagued him seemed to fade into the background as he focused solely on the task at hand.

"Move.. Damn it..... Move... You've got to move, no matter what happens," he repeated, his voice filled a touch of desperation. The fifteenth rep approached, and his body trembled with fatigue, his hands struggling to push himself upward.

"Move... Move..." Shin's voice became a mantra, driving him forward. His mind, hazy from sleep deprivation, his fear of being captured suddenly in the night. All the factors gave rise to his sudden obsession. Tears welled up in his eyes, mixing with the rain that fell upon his face. He refused to let himself falter.

"Just move.....". Finally his hands lost power and he began to fall. 'Is this it?,... No, I will not let it end here'. A strength suddenly awakened within him and resupported himself. A new energy was awakened inside his body, It was coursing through, making its way, reenergizing and reinforcing the body all at the same time. With a surge of determination, he resupported himself, mustering the strength to complete the final rep.

Gasping for breath, Shin held the position momentarily, his body soaked with rain and sweat. The weight of fatigue finally overcame him, and he collapsed onto the ground, his eyes drooping with exhaustion. The rain continued to fall, its gentle patter mingling with the sound of his labored breaths.

Lying motionless, Shin succumbed to sleep's embrace, finding a brief respite from the darkness that loomed over.

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In another corner of the world, a sudden voice rattled,"My mark. Its responding back."

The entity linked with the connection but it was very weak, fading away after a few moments. "It will be sometime until I am allowed to leave." The voice spoke.

It then turned its body towards the other side and moved to devastate the opponent with overwhelming energy output. 

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Author Note: 

Thank you dunkinB, Loalola and DarkApple for your power stones. 

If you like the story so far, please review, comment and yes please send power stones.