In the dead of night, the full moon hung low in the star-speckled sky, casting an eerie silver glow over the sleeping forest. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves as two figures darted effortlessly across the thick branches of ancient trees, heading toward the Hokage's Tower.
However, one of them suddenly came to a halt, landing soundlessly on a sturdy branch overlooking a clearing near a gently flowing river. His posture stiffened as he tilted his head slightly, sniffing the air.
A faint but unmistakable scent drifted toward him.
"Blood," the masked man murmured. Without hesitation, he changed course, leaping toward the source.
His companion, slightly behind, skidded to a stop before dramatically throwing his arms in the air. "Kakashi! My eternal rival! What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
The silver-haired shinobi exhaled heavily, already tucking a small, orange book into the pouch strapped to his back. "I smell blood nearby," Kakashi replied coolly. "I'm going to investigate."
"Good thinking, Kakashi!" The green-spandex-clad man nodded approvingly, his enthusiasm unshaken even in the dead of night.
Shaking his head at his friend's boundless energy, Kakashi dropped down toward the clearing, his eyes scanning the area with practiced precision. As they reached the edge of the open space, the sight before them made both men pause.
A massive, severed arm lay sprawled in the grass, its unnatural purple skin glistening under the moonlight. Dark, coagulated blood pooled around the limb, soaking into the earth like ink spilled from a broken vial.
Kakashi stepped closer, crouching beside the grotesque appendage, his sharp gaze analyzing every detail. The sheer size alone was unnatural, and the strange skin color only deepened his unease. His fingers twitched toward his supply pouch.
"What are you doing, Kakashi?" Might Guy asked, glancing warily between his friend and the dismembered limb.
Without answering immediately, Kakashi unrolled an empty sealing scroll and spread it out next to the severed arm. "I'm sealing this. I've never seen anything like it... The size, the color—it doesn't even look human." His voice carried a rare note of seriousness.
Forming a rapid series of hand signs, he ended with the ram seal and pressed his palm firmly onto the scroll's kanji markings. "Seal."
In an instant, a burst of chakra flared, and the massive arm warped, dissolving into a swirl of energy before vanishing completely into the scroll. Kakashi rolled the parchment back up and tucked it securely into his jacket.
"We should check the area for more clues before reporting to Lord Third."
Before Kakashi could take another step, a blinding white flash interrupted him as Might Guy struck a dynamic pose, teeth gleaming even under the dim moonlight. "Excellent idea, Kakashi! The first one to find a solid clue wins! Let the contest begin!"
Before Kakashi could protest, Guy shot forward, kicking up leaves as he vanished into the forest.
Kakashi let out a tired sigh, rubbing his temple. "Why am I friends with him again?"
Nonetheless, he followed, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness, knowing full well that whatever had left that limb behind... was still out there.
✨🟣🔵🟢🟡🔴🟠✨
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his massive wooden desk in the Hokage's office, his expression one of quiet endurance. Stacks of paperwork towered on either side of him like miniature fortresses, an ever-growing testament to the endless responsibilities that came with his title. The dim glow of a nearby lantern cast flickering shadows across the room, illuminating the deep lines of age and wisdom etched into his face.
With a weary sigh, he dipped his brush into the ink and scribbled his signature onto yet another document, barely glancing at the contents. Years of experience had turned this tedious process into muscle memory.
A thin wisp of smoke curled lazily into the air as he brought his pipe to his lips, inhaling deeply before exhaling in a slow, contemplative breath. The familiar scent of burning tobacco mixed with the faint scent of old parchment and candle wax, filling the room with a strange sort of comfort.
He leaned back slightly, adjusting his hokage hat, eyes flickering toward the moonlit village beyond his window. Even in the dead of night, Konoha never truly slept. The quiet hum of life outside reminded him of why he endured this never-ending paperwork, and why he shouldered the burdens of leadership.
Yet, as he stared at the next stack of reports, he couldn't help but wonder—was it the threats outside the village that would one day break him... or the sheer amount of bureaucracy?
With another sigh, he tapped his pipe against the ashtray and reached for the next scroll. The Will of Fire burned strong, but even the strongest flames could be dimmed by paperwork.
It wasn't as if he wanted the hat back after dedicating so many years of his life to Konoha. No, Hiruzen Sarutobi had long since resigned himself to stepping down. But Minato's reluctance to reclaim his role as Hokage—especially after what had happened nearly ten years ago—still frustrated him.
Instead of leading the village, Minato spent his days training his two younger children, helping them master the Nine-Tails' chakra. He had lost himself in the lure of a prophecy, one that had convinced him that his twin children were destined for greatness. And in that obsession, he had neglected his eldest son, Naruto.
Hiruzen exhaled deeply, wisps of smoke curling from his pipe as he thought about the boy. Naruto—so much like his father in appearance, yet vastly different in spirit. Years of living in the shadows of his siblings had changed him. Hiruzen could only hope it hadn't been for the worse.
His musings were abruptly cut short when he sensed two familiar chakra signatures rapidly approaching. He raised a hand in a subtle signal to one of the hidden ANBU stationed in the ceiling, silently instructing them to open a window before it was inevitably broken.
Moments later, two figures flashed into the office in a blur of movement.
"Ha! Kakashi! I win!" Might Guy declared triumphantly, pointing at his eternal rival with the enthusiasm of a man who lived for competition.
Kakashi, who had barely looked up from his well-worn orange book, finally turned his lazy gaze toward Guy. "Mm? Guy? Did you say something?" His tone was absentminded, as if he had just now realized his friend was even there.
Might Guy clenched his fist and pointed dramatically. "Curse you, Kakashi, and your hip ways!"
Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose. He was far too old to deal with this level of energy so late at night. Taking another slow puff from his pipe, he exhaled and leveled both men with a tired, expectant look.
"Is there any reason why you two burst into my office at this hour?" His voice was calm, but the weight of long-suffering patience was unmistakable.
Guy, ever the dramatic one, immediately struck a pose, arms crossed as he nodded solemnly. "Hokage-sama, we have made a most peculiar discovery during our nightly patrol!"
Kakashi, as always, was far less theatrical. He simply closed his book with a quiet snap and tucked it away, before adding in his usual dry tone, "We found something unusual, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen exhaled again. Why did he have the feeling that this night was about to get much longer?
Mighty Guy struck another dramatic pose, flexing an arm before pointing a thumb at Kakashi. "My rival here sniffed it out with his legendary tracking skills!"
Kakashi sighed, "We found a severed arm, Hokage-sama," he stated simply, his tone as dry as ever. "A massive one. And it wasn't human."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed, his fingers tightening slightly around his pipe. "A severed arm?" His mind immediately began cycling through possibilities. Was it some rogue summon? A failed experiment? Or something worse?
"Yes," Kakashi continued, slipping a scroll from his flak jacket and placing it on the desk. "I sealed it here for further analysis. Its skin was purple, and the size alone suggests it belonged to something far from ordinary."
Hiruzen reached for the scroll, his weathered fingers tracing the edge as he contemplated the implications. Something about this didn't sit right with him.
Mighty Guy, sensing the shift in mood, crossed his arms and nodded solemnly. "It was indeed a most curious find! And so, as guardians of Konoha, we have brought it to you, Lord Third!"
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers against the wooden desk. "You did well to bring this to my attention. I'll have the researchers examine it at once. Anything else?"
Kakashi stepped forward and produced another item—a familiar pair of green goggles. The moment Hiruzen's eyes landed on them, they widened, and without thinking, he reached for the headwear, his fingers brushing against the worn plastic.
"Where did you find this?" he asked, his voice steady but edged with something unreadable.
"At the edge of the river, in the same clearing," Kakashi replied, his visible eye narrowing in thought. "I've seen these before, but I can't quite place who they belong to."
Hiruzen's face darkened as he studied the goggles, his grip tightening for a fraction of a second. Another fool who's turned his back on Naruto.
Kakashi, just like his sensei, spent all his time training and doting on Menma and Mito—but Naruto? The boy who should have been like a younger brother to him? Left in the shadows, forgotten.
"Lord Third, is everything all right?" Kakashi's voice broke the heavy silence. "Do you know who these belong to?"
Hiruzen took another deliberate pull from his pipe, letting the smoke sit in his lungs before exhaling slowly. His eyes flicked toward the shinobi standing before him as he placed the goggles down on the desk beside him.
"Yes, I do," he said, his voice grave. "Tomorrow morning, we'll visit him. Until then, I want the two of you to keep this quiet. The last thing we need is unnecessary panic spreading through the village."
Kakashi gave a sharp nod. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
Might Guy grinned and threw up a dramatic thumbs-up, his teeth flashing even in the dim light. "Fear not! We shall remain as silent as the night itself!"
Hiruzen resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. He merely gave a weary nod. "Good. You're both dismissed."
With a synchronized bow, the two vanished in a blur of movement, leaving behind only the faint trace of Kakashi's subtle cologne and the lingering energy of Guy's boundless enthusiasm.
Now alone, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his tired gaze fixed on the scroll and the goggles lying before him. As if he didn't already have enough to deal with—now Naruto's possible involvement in this strange discovery weighed on his mind.
Why didn't he come to me?
The thought settled heavily in his chest, but there was no easy answer.
Taking another slow pull from his pipe, he exhaled, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling.
Something was coming. He could feel it in his bones.
*** End of Chapter 3 ***