The next morning, Amamiya Rei cradled the ever-sleepy little Naruto in his arms as he walked into the Hokage's office.
Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, his aged face lined with weariness as his gaze fell upon Rei. He could not help but recall the words she had just spoken, standing up for Naruto and for Minato and Kushina. A trace of helplessness and bitterness surfaced on his weathered face.
He pressed his fingers to his brow, as though to rub away a headache. The rumors spreading through the village had clearly weighed on him as well.
"I will have the matter forbidden from further discussion," Hiruzen said slowly.
Yet even as the words left his lips, both he and Rei knew such words were but a hollow promise.
To forbid such talk was utterly meaningless. Gossip would continue to spread unchecked.
It was nothing more than a flimsy excuse, a perfunctory reassurance meant to appease Rei.
And unfortunately, Rei,could only bow his head in quiet resignation.
Not that he was entirely without options…
If he were to make a scene—crying, screaming, even threatening self-harm—it might force the Hokage's hand. But such tactics were utterly at odds with his character. That simply was not who Amamiya Rei was.
So the Hokage shifted the subject swiftly.
"Later, Kakashi will escort you to the ANBU for registration," he said.
No sooner had he spoken than a shadow flickered past the window.
Hatake Kakashi, masked and silent, appeared before Rei without a sound, as though he had stepped out of the very air itself.
Rei's dark lashes lifted, and her gaze softened at the sight of him. In her clear eyes shone unguarded trust.
Hiruzen caught the exchange and gave a small, satisfied nod. "I'll assign Naruto a caretaker. From now on, you won't need to watch over him every day yourself."
After all, assigning a Wood Release user to nothing more than babysitting duties was far too much of a waste.
Rei nodded faintly, lowering her gaze to the sleeping child in her arms. With infinite gentleness, she handed Naruto over to the ANBU operative who had stepped out from behind the Hokage.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
The infant, who had been peacefully asleep, suddenly burst into tears the moment he left Rei's embrace. His shrill wails filled the office, and even the ANBU's mask could not conceal his fluster.
Hiruzen's brows furrowed at once. He cast a quick look at Rei, who had faltered at the sound of the infant's wails, doubt flickering in her eyes. His voice hardened.
"Take him home. The caretaker should have already arrived, she has experience raising children."
The ANBU vanished with Naruto in his arms, leaving behind only the echo of crying.
"All right. You two may go," Hiruzen said to Rei and Kakashi.
Under Kakashi's guidance, Rei left the Hokage's office and made his way toward the ANBU headquarters.
His visit was primarily to complete registration—assigning him a ninja number and recording his basic information. As a member of the ANBU under the direct command of the Hokage, Rei , like all others, would bear the mark of fire branded upon his arm.
With Kakashi leading the way, the process was carried out swiftly and without incident.
When it came time for the tattoo, Kakashi brought Rei to a small, dimly lit room tucked away in ANBU headquarters. The air was heavy with the sharp scent of ink.
The cramped chamber was crowded with tattoo instruments and chairs. A single lamp glowed faintly in the farthest corner, illuminating a blue-haired shinobi whose lazy posture clashed with the rigid discipline of the ANBU
"Yo!"
"Well, if it isn't Kakashi."
"What a rare guest!"
A blue-haired ninja glanced up at the door, his eyes brightening as a mischievous grin spread across his face.
When his eyes slid to Rei, and for a heartbeat he froze. Awe flickered across his face, followed by a teasing smirk. "And who's this? Your little girlfriend?"
Rei: "…"
Kakashi's voice was cold and unyielding. "She is my junior." The edge of killing intent in his tone silenced further jest.
The blue-haired ninja clicked his tongue, but wisely held back. He patted the chair before him and beckoned with a grin.
"Come here, little beauty. I'll make sure your tattoo looks perfect."
Rei moved obediently. As she rolled her sleeve up to the shoulder, her skin revealed itself—pale as carved jade, slender and fragile, gleaming faintly beneath the lamplight. The shinobi could not help but mutter an admiring curse under his breath.
"So beautiful… almost too perfect to mark."
For a fleeting moment, he was tempted to mark her skin with designs of his own choosing. But he quickly abandoned the thought—for if he dared, Kakashi might very well kill him.
Setting aside his frivolity, the blue-haired ninja picked up his tools with sudden seriousness. The needle, glistening red with dye, pressed into Rei's pale skin.
Her brows knitted, and she turned her face away. Her lashes trembling like wings of a butterfly. Pain bloomed in silence—soft and fragile—yet she endured without a word.
It hurt. Tattoos always did—but ANBU's crude technique made the pain all the worse.
Kakashi's gaze lingered on Rei—the faint crease in her brows, the subtle tightening of her lips.
It was the first time he realized just how beautiful she was.
So beautiful it could steal a man's breath away.
"All done!"
After what felt like an eternity, the blue-haired ninja finally set down his tools. "Perfect!"
He wiped her arm clean with a fresh cloth and leaned back to admire his handiwork with satisfaction.
Rei lowered her gaze to inspect the mark herself.
The crimson flame etched upon her arm seemed alive, flickering with an eternal burn.
Rei lowered her sleeve and, with soft politeness, said, "Thank you, Kakashi-senpai."
Kakashi shook his head silently.
After receiving her ANBU uniform, Rei followed Kakashi out of the headquarters.
But just as they were leaving, Kakashi halted mid-step.
Rei stopped as well, her eyes following his gaze forward.
At the base of a descending stairwell, where light and shadow met, stood a pale, slender figure.
A serpentine gaze crawled across Rei's throat like ice.
From the shadows emerged Orochimaru, his pallid face curved into a smile.
And that smile was directed at Rei.
"Amamiya Rei… I haven't mistaken your name, have I?" Orochimaru enunciated slowly, savoring each syllable.
Kakashi shifted subtly, placing himself in front of Rei like a shield.
"Orochimaru-sama," he said evenly, "Rei has other tasks to attend to. We'll take our leave."
Without hesitation, he seized Rei's wrist and led her past, brushing shoulders with the Sannin.
Only when they stepped into the sun did the suffocating chill dissipate.
"Who was that?" Rei asked softly, looking up at Kakashi.
"Orochimaru," Kakashi replied. "One of the Third Hokage's disciples."
Then he paused, his tone firm.
"Don't ever be alone with him."
"I understand." Rei nodded obediently.
Her simple compliance made Kakashi pause for a heartbeat. He studied her carefully.
"You're not even curious why?" he asked.
Rei's lips curved in a small smile, her eyes bright as she answered, "Because I believe in Kakashi-senpai."
For a rare moment, Kakashi was at a loss for words. His gaze slipped away from her face, and he resumed walking.
She followed him closely, her steps light, as if she feared to fall behind.
"Kakashi-senpai, what missions will I have?"
Kakashi glanced back at her. Foolish girl.
And yet… endearing.
"You don't have any yet," he said at last. "What I said earlier was only to avoid further contact with Orochimaru."
"Oh." Rei nodded, accepting it without question.
Watching her, Kakashi suddenly thought of something. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
He brought her to the Hatake clan grounds—his father's home, long abandoned. Since his father's death, Kakashi had lived alone in a small apartment. This was the first time he had ever brought someone back to his clan's home.
Unlocking a sealed chamber, he guided Rei inside.
Every wall was lined with blades of every size and shape.
"Wouldn't a long blade suit you better?" Kakashi asked, leaning against the doorframe. "Choose whichever you like."
Rei's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Kakashi nodded. "Any of them."
She circled the room slowly, her gaze sweeping over the gleaming weapons, until at last her eyes fell upon a single long sword mounted on the wall.
She reached up, fingers brushing the hilt, and drew it free.
Cold steel glinted in her eyes.
The weight, the balance—everything felt as though the blade had been made for her.
This one.
Her body itself told her so.
"Kakashi-senpai, I want this one."
"Good." Kakashi nodded, closing the door once the choice was made.
Elsewhere.
In a hidden laboratory, Orochimaru observed the reactions of his test subjects, jotting notes with steady hands.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
Without turning, he already knew who it was.
"Amamiya Rei possesses Wood Release," he murmured, "But not at the level of the First Hokage. Her cells may be more… compatible."
At the sound of the voice behind him, Orochimaru's lips curved upward.
"Yes… I, too, desire her cells. But claiming them will not be so simple."
"I will find a way," the figure behind him replied.
Orochimaru's smile deepened. In the reflection of the glass, a bandaged face stared back.
---