a month passed.
The silence in the Hokage's office was almost noticeable. It was broken only by the quiet sound of a pen, which gave this place a special aura: not only decisions were made here, but the fate of the entire village was decided here.
The dark evening outside the window reflected the state of his mind: calm, but with tension, as if the upcoming event was only a matter of time. The Hokage was sitting at the table, and in front of him lay an important report brought by one of the ANBU. He printed out the document, took his time reading and studying it, only occasionally looking at the paper, as if trying to understand not only what was written, but also what was hidden between the lines.
The report began with the fact that some kind of anomaly was recorded in the village. The child who was brought to Konoha after the tragedy immediately aroused doubts in everyone. This was not an ordinary child. A five-year-old boy who survived the tragic death of his parents, but, despite this, demonstrated a strange resilience. He never cried, never showed any of the emotions that were typical for children his age.
"A boy named Ren was found in a destroyed village," the Hokage reread the report, noticing something new each time. "He showed no fear or confusion during the attack. Even when he was completely alone, he remained calm."
He put the report aside and picked up a cup of tea, then returned to the text. It spoke of the boy's unusual composure and his behavior in conditions where most children would show horror. He was not scared, rather the opposite, he was in his own world, completely unempathetic to what was happening around him.
The Hokage examined the report more closely, noting that the conclusion had already mentioned his strange behavior several times. Perhaps his character was the result of trauma, or perhaps something more.
Meanwhile, in another place, in a dark corridor of the village hidden behind the walls, another ANBU agent stood, his figure barely visible in the shadows. He knew that every step had to be precise, just like the entire month they had been watching Ren for the past. This boy was someone who could influence the future without even realizing it.
The ANBU was prepared for anything, but there was one undefined feeling in his heart: this was not just watching a child. He knew that he was not just a witness to a tragedy. There was an emptiness in his eyes that could either be a defensive reaction or something much more dangerous. The boy was not just observing the world around him, he was studying it. But what was hidden behind that look?
The long weeks of surveillance had shown: Ren was secretive and clever. He used his surroundings, observing everyone and everything, as if he knew that one day he would have to do something. But what?
At that moment, there was another light knock in the Hokage's office. He did not turn around, continuing to sort through the materials.
"Come in."
One of the ANBU entered the room, took a few steps, and bowed.
"Hokage-sama," he began, "another report on Ren. We continue to monitor him. Today, he again showed no emotion regarding the events in Konoha. As before, he shows no interest in the other children. Unlike the others, he is often alone. He is hiding something.
The Hokage did not answer right away. His gaze was focused on the children playing in the square outside the window. This contrasted with what was happening inside his office.
"Ren is too calm for a child. Are you saying that he is alone? Is there no one with him? Does he not establish connections with other children, even with those who could become his friends?"
"He avoids communication," the ANBU continued. — In our observation, he is on his own. It could be the result of an injury, or he was like this from the start. But it is unusual.
The Hokage nodded slowly, knowing that at this point they could not do otherwise.
—Keep him under observation, but do not interfere. Let him prove himself. His eyes… they are not like other children. He could be important. But do not rush to conclusions yet. It is too early.
The ANBU nodded and left, leaving the Hokage alone with his thoughts. He looked again at the report, which stated that Ren had hidden talents. His adaptability, combined with his ability to hide his emotions, could not be a coincidence. But what did this mean for Konoha?
The Hokage knew that there would come a time when all this would become clear. But when and how, he did not know.