Hidden truth...

(AN: There will be second upload when I wake up. A mirmir)

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[W10, (Naruto)]

 [Konoha]

"Do come again, take care!" the shopkeeper waved with a warm smile as Minato stepped out of the store, merging into the lively streets of Konoha.

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+Minato POV+

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As he walked the familiar path toward his house, his eyes scanned the bustling marketplace. Merchants shouted their offers, while hagglers bargained for better prices.

Minato chose this was the time to delve back into his thoughts. 'Maybe,' he pondered, 'if Kakashi's observations were to be correct, then perhaps they are not hostile after all, it may even be more than that.'

Lost in thought, Minato nearly walked past the bathhouse. He blinked, surprised to see a familiar figure in a crouched position, faced against the wall. "J-Jiraiya-sensei?"

The older man turned his head at the sound of Minato's voice, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Minato!" he exclaimed, immediately standing up and throwing an arm around Minato's shoulders in a friendly embrace. "It's been too long! How have you been, hm?" Jiraiya was genuinely happy to see his former student.

"I'm doing well, and yes, it has been a while," Minato replied, returning the smile. "It's good to see you too, Jiraiya-sensei."

Jiraiya's gaze shifted to the bag in Minato's hand, his eyebrows wiggling mischievously. "Running errands for Kushina, I see?" he teased, the twinkle in his eye unmistakable.

Minato chuckled lightly, nodding. "Well, you're not wrong," he admitted. But the lighthearted moment quickly passed as a more serious thought crossed his mind. "By the way, have you spoken with Hokage-sama regarding that... situation?"

Jiraiya's expression mirrored Minato's shift in tone. "I did," he said, his voice lowering. "But we didn't get into the details. We're supposed to discuss it more thoroughly this evening. He mentioned you'd be there, along with someone else."

"I see..." Minato hesitated, wondering how much he should reveal. Before he could decide, he felt Jiraiya's firm hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it," Jiraiya reassured him, sensing his uncertainty. "Keep it to yourself for now. We'll get the answers soon enough. Besides, how many people know about this?"

"Aside from me and Hokage-sama, only Kakashi has some knowledge of its existence. He was the one who brought it to my attention. Obito and Rin were curious, but they didn't dig deeper."

Jiraiya nodded, absorbing the information. "Good," he said, patting Minato's shoulder a couple of times before turning to leave. "Any leakage of this could bring heavy, unwanted attention to the village. We need to be careful." He paused mid-step, glancing back with a grin. "And give Kushina my regards," he added, before vanishing in a swirl of leaves, leaving Minato alone in the bustling street.

Minato watched as Jiraiya disappeared, a gentle smile on his face. He continued his walk home, his mind still swirling with thoughts of the upcoming meeting and the mysteries that awaited them. The concept of such anomalies weighed heavily on him. His greatest concern was ensuring that whatever was happening did not bring harm to his beloved village.

Before he knew it, Minato found himself standing in front of his house, the familiar sight bringing a sense of calm amid the storm of thoughts.

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+POV End+

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Minato stepped into the familiar warmth of his home, expecting to be greeted by the comforting sight of Kushina. However, he froze in his tracks as he noticed an unexpected guest seated beside her.

"Huh, Minato," the woman said.

Minato blinked, recognizing her instantly. "Miyako... san?" he stammered, caught off guard by the sudden presence of Kakashi's mother.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Miyako lunged at him with a grin. "Look at you, you've grown so much!" she exclaimed, grabbing his cheeks and stretching them with surprising vigor. She laughed heartily, her joy contagious, while Kushina couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"Mi—Miyako-san," Minato managed to say, his voice slightly muffled by the way his cheeks were being pulled.

With a playful grin, Miyako finally released him, allowing Minato to rub his sore cheeks. "You weren't alone, you know. I did the same to Kushina earlier," she said, ruffling his hair as if he were still a child.

Kushina pouted, crossing her arms in mock annoyance. "We've grown up, Miyako-san. You don't need to treat us like kids anymore."

Miyako waved off the remark with a laugh. "Right, right, but it's been years since I last saw you two. It's hard to resist!" Her tone was light, but there was a subtle undercurrent of nostalgia that Minato couldn't miss. "And~ I'll leave you two alone now. I have somewhere to be." She flashed a sly smile, fully aware of the domestic arrangement between Minato and Kushina but choosing not to comment on it.

Kushina caught the smirk and rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what Miyako was thinking but deciding to let it slide. "Are you by any chance going to see Kakashi?" she asked, her tone softening.

The question seemed to hang in the air, casting a sudden shadow over the room. Miyako's playful demeanor faltered, her smile slowly fading into a somber expression.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken regrets. Just as Kushina was about to retract the question, feeling it had been too intrusive, Miyako spoke. "I can't, not now at least..."

Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance, both feeling the weight of her words.

Miyako, noticing their concern, forced a smile, trying to dispel the tension. "It's not what you think. I'm not abandoning him or anything like that," she assured them. But there was a bitterness in her voice as she continued, "It's just... I have a job to take care of first. I need to get rid of the constraints that bind me."

Her words were cryptic, leaving Minato and Kushina more puzzled than reassured. They wanted to ask more, to understand the pain that clearly weighed on her, but they also knew better than to press too hard.

"If it helps, I can assist you," Minato offered, his voice filled with sincere concern.

"Oh, uh, me too!" Kushina quickly added, raising her hand as if volunteering for a mission.

Miyako laughed softly at their earnestness. "How cute you both are. Thank you, but i'll have to refuse. This job of mine, it doesn't belong anywhere in the elemental nations."

"What?" Minato and Kushina exchanged bewildered looks. Her statement made no sense to them, and yet, it was clear that Miyako was speaking of something beyond their understanding.

"Don't worry about it," Miyako said, waving off their confusion. "For now, I'll have to pay a quick visit to Tsunade. I'll see you two later." With that, she made her way to the door, her departure so swift that Minato and Kushina barely had time to respond.

They watched as the door closed behind her, leaving them in stunned silence. For a few seconds, neither of them moved, both lost in their thoughts.

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[Konoha, root base.]

In a dimly lit room, a man sat stoically in a chair, his single visible eye fixed on the masked individual kneeling before him. The figure had just finished delivering a report, and the silence that followed was thick with tension.

The man hummed thoughtfully, digesting the information. "So, Miyako has finally shown herself after all these years," he muttered, his tone laced with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "What is Hiruzen even thinking," The bandaged man was none other than Danzo Shimura, one of the Third Hokage's former comrades and a disciple of the Second Hokage.

Danzo's sharp gaze shifted to the kneeling figure. "And the boy? How has he been behaving?"

"He appears calm, not panicked after their mission. But he seems puzzled by his surroundings, particularly to those around him and the civilians," the masked operative reported, his voice steady and professional.

"I see..." Danzo murmured as he slowly rose from his chair. He moved across the room to a wooden drawer, retrieving a scroll from within. His movements were deliberate, as if the weight of his thoughts pressed on his every action.

"Kakashi, the boy who sees the lifespans of others, an unknown dojutsu." Danzo's voice was quiet, contemplative, as he opened the scroll case. "With his mother reappearing so soon after their mission, it indicates something significant. It could be that this concerns his ability." He unrolled the old parchment, the faded text gradually revealing itself under the dim light.

He briefly paused, letting the implications settle in his mind. "It's peculiar. Judging by Kakashi's behavior, he seems more confused than distressed. This suggests that the catastrophic event, the one that would have decimated a portion of the population, was somehow averted." Danzo's voice grew even quieter, as though he was speaking more to himself than the operative before him. "Something, or someone, prevented that future outcome."

The scroll bore the handwriting of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Danzo's eyes scanned the intricate script, his gaze narrowing as he reached a particular word that seemed to stand out: 'Door.'

After a long silence, Danzo rolled the scroll back up and returned it to its case with a soft click. His expression was unreadable, his mind already racing with possibilities.

"Your commands, Danzo-sama?" the masked figure asked, breaking the silence.

"We wait," Danzo responded immediately, his voice firm and decisive. "At least we know the crisis has been delayed or diverted. In the meantime, continue to monitor Minato's team closely. We don't know if anyone else has caught wind of what transpired, but if they have..." He turned to face the Root ANBU operative directly, his gaze cold and calculating. "They will undoubtedly target the three of them."

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[Konoha, Later this evening.]

Minato stood before the Hokage building, the grand structure bathed in the soft, fading light of dusk. The sun's slow descent had painted the sky in deepening shades of blue.

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+Minato POV+

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'Just in time,' Minato thought, his eyes briefly lingering on the darkening sky. The day had been long, filled with both routine duties and the weight of the impending discussion.

As he walked up the steps, Minato's thoughts drifted back to his earlier encounters. The conversation with Jiraiya had left him with more questions than answers, and Miyako's cryptic words continued to echo in his mind. 'A job that doesn't belong anywhere in the elemental nations,'

He pushed open the large doors of the Hokage building, the quiet hum of activity within greeting him. The corridors were less crowded than during the day, the evening's calm extending even here. Minato's footsteps echoed softly as he made his way toward the Hokage's office,

Standing outside the office, Minato paused for a moment, before entering.

As Minato entered the Hokage's office, he was soon greeted by the sight of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, seated behind his desk. The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles providing a warm, flickering glow.

Hiruzen looked up from the scroll he was reading, his eyes meeting Minato's. "Ah, Minato. Right on time," he said, his voice calm yet carrying an undertone of gravity. "Come in, we're just waiting for one more."

Minato nodded and stepped further into the room, noticing Jiraiya already seated on a nearby couch. His mentor gave him a nod, a small, reassuring smile on his lips, though there was seriousness in his eyes. It was clear that Jiraiya, too, understood the importance of this gathering.

Jiraiya's leaned back in his seat, watching Minato closely who now sat beside him. "Seems like we're in for quite a discussion tonight," he said, his tone lacking its usual lightness. There was a pause, a heavy silence that lingered between them. Jiraiya glanced over at his student, noticing the deep focus etched into Minato's features. He considered asking what was on Minato's mind but decided against it, not wanting to break his concentration.

But it was Minato who spoke first, turning to face his mentor with a thoughtful expression. "You've known Miyako-san longer than I have. How is she... really?"

Jiraiya understood immediately that Minato had encountered Miyako recently, likely leading to this curiosity. He cast a quick glance at Hiruzen, who was quietly listening in on their conversation, before letting out a sigh. "She's always been a cryptic woman, Minato. Even back in the day, she had this... odd air about her. It's hard to put into words, but she's always kept a part of herself hidden from everyone, it may resolve around that notebook of hers." He said the last part in almost quiet tone.

Minato nodded, absorbing his sensei's words. He tried to piece together what he knew of Miyako, but before he could delve deeper, the door creaked open.

"Speak of the devil," Jiraiya muttered, his tone now carrying a subtle edge.

Miyako stepped into the room, her expression calm and composed. "On time, I hope?"

"You are," Hiruzen confirmed as he stood up from his chair, the familiar pipe in his hand. "Now, it's time we discuss a serious matter. There are a few things that need to be addressed before we proceed further. Mouse!" With a simple wave of his hand, Hiruzen summoned an ANBU operative, dismissing the others that were hidden in the shadows, leaving only one to remain in the room.

Minato and Jiraiya both rose from their seats, moving towards the center of the room.

"First," Hiruzen began, his voice firm, "I want to address the potential crisis looming on the horizon. Based on Jiraiya's latest intel, there's a strong possibility of another war breaking out within the next year. We have that time to prepare and, if possible, to prevent it."

"Minato." Hiruzen turned his gaze to Minato, his eyes narrowing slightly. Minato straightened, his expression resolute. "Based on your report regarding Kakashi's abilities, I've tasked you with monitoring a select group of shinobi who were predicted to die within the year with Kakashi. How has that task progressed?"

Minato bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment before responding. "My apologies, Hokage-sama. I wasn't able to monitor all if not most of the individuals on the list, but I did find at least ten whose lifespans have increased."

Hiruzen nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. "That's sufficient for now. I needed to confirm that theory."

Jiraiya, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up, his confusion evident. "What does this mean? Why are we talking about lifespans, and how does Kakashi factor into this?"

Hiruzen glanced briefly at Jiraiya before turning his attention back to Miyako. "I only learned of this yesterday," he said, his tone grave. "Miyako, it's time to reveal the truth."

Minato and Jiraiya both tensed, with Jiraiya's instincts on high alert as he prepared for whatever might come next.

Miyako bowed her head slightly, her voice calm as she responded, "As you command, Hokage-sama." She closed her eyes, and a strange aura began to emanate from her. The air in the room grew cold.

Slowly, her appearance began to shift. Her skin turned a ghastly pale, almost translucent, as her eyes darkened into hollow voids. Her features sharpened, taking on a skeletal aspect, while her body elongated and thinned unnaturally. Bones seemed to press against her skin, which tightened over them like parchment. Wisps of shadow replaced her hair, and tattered, dark robes materialized around her, accompanied by the ominous form of a large scythe that seemed to materialize out of the very air itself. 

Minato's breath caught in his throat, his eyes wide in shock and disbelief. He could barely recognize the woman who stood before them now. 'Miyako-san…' he thought, struggling to reconcile the woman he had known with the spectral figure before him.

Jiraiya's face hardened, his demeanor completely replaced by seriousness Minato had rarely seen. "What in the world…" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Miyako's transformed gaze shifted slightly, noticing the fear and shock on their faces. She sighed softly, her voice echoing with a hollow resonance. "This is the truth I've hidden from all of you. I'am what you call a Shinigami."

Both Minato and Jiraiya could barely comprehend what they heard. The weight of her words, coupled with the terrifying transformation they had just witnessed, left them grappling for understanding. They had known there was something about Miyako, but this revelation was beyond anything they could have imagined.

Hiruzen, calm and composed despite the tension in the room, met Miyako's hollow gaze without flinching. "Revert back, Miyako," he instructed, his tone firm but not unkind. "I'll allow you to explain your abilities and briefly summarize your origin. They need to understand."

Miyako nodded in compliance, her spectral form gradually receding. Her appearance shifted back to the familiar figure they knew, though now they understood that beneath the surface lay something far more.

With her transformation complete, Miyako's voice returned to its usual tone. The air, though still tinged with the residue of her true form, felt less oppressive.

Miyako explained the truth of her existence, the world from which she came from, her ability to polymorph, seamlessly shifting between forms as she demonstrated briefly for the room. The most important revelation, however, was about her job, the task that had drawn her away from Konoha for years.

Minato listened intently, absorbing every word. When she finished, he took a deep breath, piecing together the information. "So that explains it," he said thoughtfully, his gaze meeting hers. "What you seek, it isn't something that exists in our world to begin with. Furthermore, that explains your 'suppression of chakra', you never had any to begin with."

Miyako nodded, confirming his understanding.

Jiraiya, grappling with the implications of what he had just learned. "To think your son is half of what you are... it's just," He trailed off, struggling to wrap his mind around this new reality. He turned to Hiruzen, seeking clarity. "Why didn't you tell me that Kakashi can see lives?"

Hiruzen took his time, inhaling deeply from his pipe before exhaling a plume of smoke. The brief pause gave him enough to think of response. "You never asked," he replied bluntly,

"EEH?!" Jiraiya's reaction was immediate and visceral. His eyes bulged in disbelief, the casualness of Hiruzen's response almost too much for him to process. How was he supposed to know to ask that? Turning to Minato, hoping for some reprieve from this absurdity. "T— then you could have told me, Minato! Why didn't you say anything?"

Minato offered a sheepish smile, his hand rubbing the back of his head in a gesture that was apologetic. "Well... it's because you never asked."

The shock of their responses was too much for the old Sannin, having him fall back down.

Noticing that the tension had eased, Hiruzen cleared his throat, redirecting the focus of the room. "Now that we have that settled," he began, his voice regaining its commanding tone, "let's move on to the next matter."

He walked over to a drawer and retrieved a scroll, handing it to his ANBU agent, Mouse. She accepted it with a deep bow, her movements precise and controlled.

"What I've given to Mouse here is a list of commands," Hiruzen explained, his eyes sweeping across the room to ensure everyone was paying attention. "These are contingency orders, in case my shadow clone doesn't function as expected."

Jiraiya, now standing up, asked "Shadow clone? What for?"

"To test things out jiraya. And Minato, it's time. Summon the door."

Minato, who had remained silent until now, nodded, understanding the significance of what Hiruzen was asking. He hesitated for a brief moment, the weight of what he was about to do settling on his shoulders. Summoning a door to another dimension within the Hokage's office wasn't something he had ever imagined doing, but he knew it was necessary.

'picture the market, and I'll find my way there.' Thinking back to what the tall entity said, Minato closed his eyes and focused, recalling the details of the market. The memory of the market's interior, the strange surroundings.

A soft shimmer filled the room, followed by a faint hum as the air around Minato began to shift. When he opened his eyes, a door was materializing before him. It was unlike any door they had seen before. Ornate, with a golden hue that seemed to glow softly in the dim light of the office. The door bore an emblem of a scale, intricately etched into the wood, giving it an almost regal appearance.

There was a gasp from Miyako, drawing Minato's attention momentarily, but he kept his focus on the task at hand. As for the others he knew what their reaction would be.

"This is it," Miyako whispered, her voice tinged with both familiarity and uncertainty. "This is the gate that I mentioned... but its design doesn't resemble the one I remember."

Hiruzen, who had been momentarily stunned by the sight of the door, recovered quickly. He turned to Miyako, his gaze sharp. "You mentioned before that the original gate had the emblem of a glass?"

Miyako nodded, still staring at the door with a mixture of recognition and confusion.

Hiruzen considered her words carefully, then nodded to himself. With a quick series of hand signs, he created a shadow clone, which appeared in a puff of smoke beside him. "Based on Minato's report, entering does suppress chakra. My shadow clone will accompany you to test a theory of mine. If my shadow clone dissipates, then we'll know the extent of the suppression. If it doesn't, then there wont be a need for mouse to carry out the commands given."

Returning back to his desk, taking a seat as his eyes swept over the four. "Jiraya, Minato, Miyako and Mouse. Whenever you are ready, you may proceed through."

The four mentioned gazed at the mystical door, and only after a moment, did they comply and took their first steps towards it.

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