Chapter 7
HIKARI HYUGA
It took him a few hours to file all his documents with the administration. He had to find a rundown apartment until he was registered as an orphan and his admission at the academy was processed.
It was a rather lengthy and complicated process, but one that he was able to finish regardless. On the second day, he went to the administration office to check on the status of his admission and registration, only to be directed to the Hokage office, much to his surprise.
And as he stood in front of the leader of the village, he could not help but gasp at the sheer strength and power of the man sitting in front of him. He had seen the man from afar a few times during some clan celebrations, but now, as he found himself under the scrutiny of those piercing brown eyes, he could not help but feel small and insignificant.
Such was his presence that even without lifting a single finger, the man's chakra laced the entire room, projecting his absolute power. And though he seemed like a kind old man, his chakra showed his reality, for the man in front of him could defeat Hikari in the blink of an eye if he so desired.
"You summoned me, Lord Hokage," Hikari eked out, as those lips turned up.
"I did indeed," and this was not a matter that would usually involve him, so it made him wonder just why he had been summoned to his office like that.
And the man frowned as he continued.
"It is rare for the academy to get an application at this time in the term," and he did not doubt that.
"I had doubted the reports about you, but now I see that they don't do you justice," and suddenly Hikari frowned, as he felt the chakra in the air still.
"Fire and Wind. Two chakra natures at such a young age," and he could not help but still, for the man had needed but a glance to know of his skills, and no wonder he was called the Professor.
Unlike his predecessors, the third Hokage was not famous for any Kekkei genkai or signature move. No, his infamy came from the fact that the man was nearly impossible to defeat.
And while Kakashi Hatake may have copied a thousand jutsus, the Sandaime Hokage had mastered a thousand jutsus. He was a veteran of over a thousand battles and so had the experience and the mind to use the most apt technique needed to counter any technique that his enemies could employ.
"You would be a great asset to the academy," and if it were so simple, then why had he summoned him here? The answer came a few seconds later, as the man leaned back and gave a deep sigh.
"But I am afraid I cannot let you join it," and Hikari felt his hopes getting crushed at those words, for he had not expected such an outcome, and could not help but ask in indignation.
"But why?"
Those brown eyes narrowed.
"I believe you already know the answer to that," and there was but one entity in the village that would do such a thing.
"The Clan," or more specifically, the elders, for even now, the elders of the clan held the majority of power. And the reason went beyond that for his enrolment would not just displeasure the Hyuga clan, but the other clans as well.
"Indeed, earlier today, the academy received an objection from the clan concerning your admission to the academy," and Hikari grit his teeth in rage, for this was rather vindictive of them.
Despite leaving the clan, those old coots refused to back down and continued to interfere in his life. But what had he expected, for he had humiliated them, and for the first time since yesterday, he wondered if he had made a mistake.
"But I am not part of the clan," he reasoned, and the Hokage nodded.
"But Lady Hinata is, and they fear that your presence poses a threat to her life," and he could not help but still at those words, as he responded.
"I would never harm Hinata," and she was like a sister to him, and the mere thought of him harming her was a fantasy.
"Indeed, but the Hyuga clan is one of the founder clans, and that comes with a lot of power," and he was not so well versed in the laws and perks of the clans, and did not have a counter to that.
But he had to become a ninja. He had to.
"So, tell me, Hikari Hyuga," and the man refused to take his new name, as he looked him in the eye.
"Do you still desire to be a shinobi?" and he nodded without any hesitation.
"Yes," he answered with certainty.
"Then there are other ways for you to do just that. Other, more brutal and testing ways," and it all clicked at once, for he knew of just one other possible path.
"The ANBU," Hikari guessed, and the man nodded.
"While the Hyuga clan can exert some control over the academy because of their status as a founding clan, the ANBU are a separate division that works directly under the command of a Hokage," and was far more selective and brutal in their training.
"But it is not an easy path. You are well past the age for a usual ANBU recruit, and despite your skills, you would be far behind your peers and would need to work twice as hard to catch up and excel," and that would not matter.
An ANBU's life was brutal. They took the most dangerous missions, and were the silent guardians of the village. While it was never brought up, it was an open secret that after the Uchiha massacre, it had been the ANBU and their sacrifice that had helped to keep the other villages at bay.
Iwa and Kumo had grown bold after the death of the Yondaime Hokage and had tried to test the borders of Konoha. Yet, all the shinobi who had dared to breach the borders had been slaughtered by the ANBU forces, quashing the ambition of their two rival villages.
"In comparison to that, you could walk out of here and live your life as a civilian and know no danger all your life," and the choice was simple, as the man continued in a relatively kind tone.
"The life of a shinobi is hard, more so for those of us who live in the shadows. It is not easy to bear such a burden, so do not take this decision lightly," but Hikar's mind was made up.
"I want to become a shinobi," he declared, and the man's eyes narrowed.
"Even if it means living a life of death and suffering," and he nodded.
"Yes," and so the man took a deep breath.
"Then you are to report to training ground four tomorrow at six. What becomes of you afterwards will depend only upon you," and Hikari gave a bow.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama...."
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HIRUZEN SARUTOBI
Hiruzen watched as the young Hyuga boy walked out of his office, and despite what the boy may claim, he would always remain a Hyuga, even if he had long lost his Kekkei Genkai.
"So, what do you think?" he questioned, as the former ANBU captain of team Ryo slid in from the window, and apart from himself, he was one of Konoha's so-called S-ranked shinobi, whose mere reputation was enough to shield their borders.
He wore the standard ANBU mask, his headband tilted to conceal the eye he had inherited from a fallen friend—a gift that had earned him a name feared across the nations—The Copy Ninja.
"Do you think he has what it takes?" and if there was one shinobi who knew what it meant to be a prodigy, then it was him.
"It is too early to say," he began, but he still was not finished.
"But he is strong," and Hiruzen had sensed the same, for it was not just the refinement of two chakra natures which had impressed him.
It was his control over his chakra as well, and very few shinobi recognised the importance of having good control and how many avenues it opened up, yet the boy had been able to realise just that. His control over his chakra was amongst the finest he had ever seen in a shinobi his age.
"It truly is a shame that the Hyuga clan robbed us of such a child," and he was brimming with potential, yet the Hyuga clan's practices and traditions had kept him shackled until now, but there was still time.
If he were to fulfill his vast potential, the boy would have to work hard, and the most Hiruzen could do was offer him a path.
"You would make a good teacher for the boy," he added, and saw him raise his hand in surrender.
"I am afraid I do not quite agree," and already he had offered him the position, but he had denied the offer, forcing him to look for other options.
"Moreover, I do hope you remember your promise about him," he added a bit coldly, and the mention of Minato's child soured his mood.
"I do," and so he would have to look for a new mentor, and as a former ANBU, Kakashi's insights could be rather vital, so he reached into his drawer and took out a file and slid it towards him.
"What do you think of her?" and from what he could remember, she was a former student of his, and had been trained by him.
He saw him skim through the file as he raised a brow.
"Cat, huh," and it was not as if he did not know her real identity, but it was considered rude to speak about the real identities of ANBU agents, even if to a Hokage.
Cat was amongst his finest operatives, and had the most apt skillset to mold the young Hikari. She had been trained by Kakashi himself, and had continued to hone her skills over the years, and was now a hit-and-run and recovery specialist.
She was a kunoichi who had a mastery in kenjutsu and also dabbled in iryonin jutsu.
"Better her than me," Kakashi's approval, while not sought, was still appreciated as Hiruzen put back the file, and gazed at his predecessor's student, and perhaps it was good that he would not be the one teaching Hikari, especially given that he had yet to recover from the pain and troubles of his past.
"Have you looked into the other matter I spoke of?" he asked, and he shook his head.
"Not yet," and much like his failures haunted him, Hiruzen was haunted by his own set of failures. The greatest of which perhaps was his former student, who had begun to move once more.
"We have nothing concrete yet," and Hiruzen knew that he could not underestimate him, after all, he knew Orochimaru better than anyone.
The latest report from Jiraiya had mentioned his defection from the Akatsuki, and that was another cause of concern for the mysterious organization, which was gathering quite a collection of S-ranked shinobi, yet their purpose and mission remained a mystery to this day.
"Keep an eye out," he commanded as Kakashi nodded.
"He will make a move soon," and the Hatake heir raised a brow at his words.
"How do you know that?" and he had no such intelligence to support his conjecture, but Orochimaru was his student, and Hiruzen knew that he was not one to sit still for long.
"You forget that he was once my student," he reminded him, and he would understand once he had a couple of pupils of his own, but that day would have to wait, for much like before, he had failed another team this year.
"He is not one to sit quietly. He joined the Akatsuki with a specific goal in mind," and that was to obtain the doujutsu of the Uchiha clan, but after failing to get the Sharingan from Itachi, he would try again.
"Keep an eye on Sasuke," he ordered. Kakashi nodded as he vanished from his office, leaving him alone. Hiruzen felt the weight of all these decisions and changing times on his shoulders and looked to the side at the pictures of his predecessors, before his eyes landed on the blonde shinobi who had once sat here as his successor.
And it had been more than a decade now, yet to this day, the village had yet to recover from his loss. And more than that, guilt ate away at him as he looked at those blue, bright orbs and was reminded of another pair of eyes that held the same light and color, and how he had wronged the boy, even if it was to protect him.
"Forgive me..." he whispered as he closed his eyes.
"..Minato."
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