Talk to the Hokage II
The next morning, Sasuke woke up to a noise coming from his bedroom window. Still half-asleep, he got up and opened the window, trying to identify the source of the sound. Outside, a masked ninja was standing in a nearby tree. "A ninja... is it Anbu or Root?" Sasuke thought, quickly assessing the situation."The Hokage-sama orders you to go to his office immediately, Sasuke," said the ninja, his voice firm but with no trace of hostility."The Hokage-sama is calling for me?" Sasuke repeated, with a tone of surprise that hid his already calculated suspicion."Yes. Now that my message has been delivered, I advise you to go quickly," the ninja replied, disappearing in a blur of leaves, using the [Shunshin no Jutsu]."Sasuke stood there for a moment, watching the falling leaves, and a distant memory came to his mind. "[Shunshin no Jutsu]... interesting." He knew there was an even more powerful version of this technique, the [Ho Shunshin no Jutsu], something he now intended to master.Recovering from his reverie, he hurried to get dressed for the meeting with the Hokage. He put on his coat with the Uchiha clan emblem on his back, determined to keep up appearances. Leaving the Uchiha compound, he ignored the usual stares and murmurs of the villagers, focusing solely on the mission ahead.Arriving at the Hokage Tower, he was greeted by a blonde receptionist with a warm smile. Her kindness was almost disconcerting for someone like Igor, but Sasuke knew he needed to maintain his facade."Good morning, Sasuke!" said the receptionist, tilting her head slightly, with a welcoming expression. "The Hokage-sama is waiting for you. You can go up, he will be ready to receive you.""Thank you," replied Sasuke, in an innocent and polite tone. He looked at the woman for a moment, as if he were assessing the sincerity of her smile."If you need anything, I'm here," she said in a gentle tone, apparently trying to calm any nervousness he might be feeling."I appreciate it," said Sasuke with a slight forced smile, walking towards the stairs that led to the Hokage's office.Entering the office, Sasuke maintained the posture of a 7-year-old, but his eyes were alert, observing every detail of the environment. Hiruzen was sitting behind his desk, his expression full of understanding and caution."Hello, Sasuke. Thank you for coming. I know this hasn't been easy for you, and I'm sorry for the loss of your clan," Hiruzen said, his voice filled with an almost paternal sympathy.Sasuke lowered his head slightly, feigning a moment of hesitation. "Thank you, Hokage-sama," he replied, in a soft and restrained voice. However, inside his mind, Igor already knew the true purpose of that meeting: the Village was interested in the Uchiha clan lands. "He wants to redistribute those lands, for sure," Sasuke reflected, hiding any trace of suspicion on his face.Hiruzen took a deep breath before continuing. "I would like to discuss the future of your clan's lands. We know they are vast and of great value to the village, and we cannot leave them unoccupied for a long time." His eyes were fixed on Sasuke, as if trying to measure the boy's reaction."Yes, Hokage-sama," Sasuke replied, his voice slightly trembling. "What will happen to them?" He asked the question with a touch of innocent curiosity, hiding his true frustration behind an expression of confusion.The Hokage, clearly touched by the boy's supposed vulnerability, continued patiently. "Part of the land will be redistributed for the use of the village. However, we will make sure that you keep a significant area. I understand that these lands have emotional value for you and I want to ensure that they are also part of your future.""Redistributed?" Sasuke repeated, with a touch of surprise in his voice. He lowered his gaze, pretending to be confused, but inside, he already knew that it was inevitable. "I... understand. If it's for the good of the village..." The hesitation in his voice was carefully calculated, simulating the effort of a child trying to understand a complicated situation.Hiruzen smiled gently. "You are very mature for your age, Sasuke. I want you to know that you can always count on the village. Your opinions will be taken into consideration."Sasuke raised his eyes slowly, a calculated expression of gratitude forming on his face. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I just hope that the memory of my clan will not be forgotten." He said, carefully balancing the speech between acceptance and a slight resistance, exactly what one would expect from a child in his position."That will never happen," Hiruzen assured, his voice firm and reassuring. "You are the last Uchiha of Konoha, and your future is important to us all."Sasuke nodded slowly. "I... understand," he said, with a resigned tone, but inside, Igor was already starting to make plans for the future. He knew he needed to get stronger, and this was just the beginning of his journey."Oh, and before I forget," Hiruzen added, "due to recent events, I have decided to grant you a week off from the ninja academy. This should give you some time to recover and process everything."Sasuke was surprised, but immediately understood that this could be an opportunity. "Thank you, Hokage-sama," he replied, with an expression that mixed gratitude and determination.After the meeting, Sasuke said goodbye to Hiruzen and left the Hokage Tower. Walking back through the village, he observed the familiar faces, now tinged with curiosity and compassion, but he remained distant, focused on his own thoughts.Finally, arriving at the Uchiha clan compound, the familiarity of the place brought a mix of nostalgia and determination. He entered his room, closing the door behind him, knowing that he now had precious time to prepare. He would begin to lay out his plan to ensure that the memory of his clan and its lands were protected. The real work was just beginning.